Journal of Environmental HealthVol. 74No. 9 May 2012

Carpet is well known for its ability to accumulate dust, organic material, and microorganisms.

In the Journal of Environmental Health‘s cover feature this month, “Bacterial Amplification and In-Place Carpet Drying: Implications for Category 1 Water Intrusion Restoration,” the authors (Jim Holland, John Banta, Boni Passmore, Mark Ayers, Sean P. Abbott, Eugene C. Cole ) investigated whether in-place carpet drying processes resulted in bacterial amplification after flooding residential
carpet with clean water. They found that bacterial amplification occurred in all test areas and that appropriate response time for carpet pad salvage is considerably shorter than the current industry recommendation of 72 hours.

Jim Holland, REA, RestCon Environmental
John Banta, CAIH, RestCon Environmental
Boni Passmore, PhD, RCAnalytical
Mark Ayers, CAC, RestCon Environmental
Sean P. Abbott, PhD, Natural Link Mold Lab, Inc.
Eugene C. Cole, DrPH, Brigham Young University

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Keeping the official name of the organization IICRC, while using the cleantrust, an IICRC program, in consumer-facing materials, allows the organization to build on its more than 40-year history of identifying and promoting an international standard of care for the cleaning, restoration and inspection industries. The IICRC will continue to issue certifications, write and promote standards, and approve schools and instructors. All industry communications will refer tot he organization as the IICRC.

As a service mark of the IICRC, the cleantrust should be used by Certified Firms and technicians on all consumer-facing materials. Using the cleantrust logo as a service mark will enable more name recognition and end-user awareness outside the industry, which has been cited by registrants as one of the organization’s greatest challenges. With the cleantrust logo and patches, IICRC technicians will be easily recognizable as consumers look for and trust symbols of technical proficiency and high ethical standards.

All cleantrust materials previously purchased for end-user recognition or communication may continue to be used. Moving forward, whenever the cleantrust is listed, it will be noted that it is an IICRC program, linking the two together.

“We’ve heard feedback from registrants and feel the combination of IICRC and the cleantrust, an IICRC program, will help our organization honor its position in the industry while generating increased end-user awareness,” said Darrell Paulson, IICRC chairman. “We’re poised for growth as we move into the future with open lines of communication and an opportunity to market ourselves beyond the industry.”

The IICRC will retain the use of the updated logo, which represents the strength and breadth of the organization. Updated materials with the new IICRC logo and design will roll out gradually in the coming months. The website has been redesigned according to these guidelines on the website and is now live at www.iicrc.org

For questions and additional information about when to use the IICRC logo and when to use the cleantrust service mark for end-users, download a copy of the IICRC’s brand guidelines on the website or contact headquarters at (360) 693-5675 or info@iicrc.org.

About the IICRC
The IICRC is an international, ANSI accredited standard development organization (SDO)that certifies individuals in 20+ categories within the inspection, cleaning and Restoration industries. Representing more than 54,000 certified technicians in 22 countries, the IICRC, in partnership with regional and international trade associations, represents the entire industry. The IICRC does not own school, employ instructors, produce training materials, or promote specific product brands, cleaning methods or systems. To know if a technician has received proper education and training, consumers should look for the cleantrust patch and logo, the service mark of the IICRC.

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Links for more information:
Message from the Chairman
FAQs

IICRC Board Votes to Return to Original name

Keeps clean trust as the consumer-facing service mark

(VANCOUVER, Wash.) – The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) announced today that the Board of Directors has voted to return the formal name of the organization to the IICRC, keeping cleantrust as the service mark of the organization. The full details surrounding the transition will be announced at the Certification Council on April 22, 2012.

“We’ve heard the feedback from registrants over the past few months and considered many options,” said IICRC Chairman Darrell Paulson. “Ultimately, the board has decided to use the IICRC as the main brand and use the cleantrust as a service mark. This allows us to honor the 40-year history of our organization, while also working to gain more awareness with end-users. We are still working through all of the details and we thank the inspection, cleaning and restoration community for their patience during this process.”

The IICRC will retain the use of the updated logo, which represents the strength and breadth of the organization. The shape reflects a globe, symbolizing the IICRC’s international status. And like the organization, the logo is made up of many different parts that are working together in a unified pattern, depicting an organization that is deep in knowledge.

“Together, this powerful brand combination of IICRC and the cleantrust, will enable us to constantly work towards our mission of identifying and promoting an international standard of care that establishes and maintains the health, safety and welfare of the built environment,” said Paulson.

Updated materials with the new IICRC logo and an updated design will gradually rollout in the coming months, including ID cards, brochures, introductory video and a new website.

(Source)

(VANCOUVER, Wash.) October 14, 2011 – The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) announced today the change of its name to The Clean Trust at the fall 2011 Meeting & Instructors Symposium. Along with the new name, a new, updated, branding campaign will be rolled out in the coming year.

“The Clean Trust lets people know exactly what we do, in a business-like, technical, professional way. We train. We set the standards. We certify. We vouch for a technician’s ability and professionalism and thereby ease our customer’s worries and concerns,” said Paul Pearce, The Clean Trust Chairman “Although the acronym of the IICRC also had a meaning; it wasn’t as direct and easy to understand.”

The Clean Trust’s focus on cleaning, restoration and inspection, its three core areas of expertise, will remain the same as the IICRC. Additionally, the certification and standards on which the IICRC has built its reputation will remain at the core of the organization. The Clean Trust will continue as an ANSI Standard Development Organization (SDO) and pursue the development of standards for the industry as a whole, aiming to provide the most up to date education for its registrants.

“The leadership discussed at length the benefits of a name change and ultimately decided that it was in the best interest of our registrants to move forward with a new name,” continued Pearce. “The name, The Clean Trust, reflects our mission to identify and promote an international standard of care that establishes and maintains the health, safety and welfare of the built environment.”

The Clean Trust signifies the expansion and growth of the IICRC. For almost 40 years, the IICRC has built a strong reputation within the cleaning, restoration and inspection industry, but there has been an unclaimed opportunity to gain momentum with other audiences, particularly the general public. The change to The Clean Trust name provides additional marketing opportunities for the organization to continue to propel its growth.

Materials with the new name and an updated design will gradually rollout through the next year. Available now for registrants and Certified Firms are new ID cards, a general overview brochure, patches, and decals. An introductory video will also be shown during training courses. In the coming months, the organization will provide updated standards covers, trade show booth, newsletter and website.

For more information, please contact The Clean Trust headquarters at (360) 693-5675, or visit the current website ( www.iicrc.org) to review the list of frequently asked questions regarding the new brand.

About The Clean Trust
The Clean Trust, formally known as The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), is an ANSI-accredited standards setting body for the flooring inspection, floor covering and specialized fabric cleaning and disaster restoration industries. Organized in 1972, The Clean Trust currently represents more than 5,700 Certified Firms and 54,000 Certified Technicians in 22 countries. The Clean Trust, with participation from the entire industry, sets standards for inspection, cleaning and disaster restoration. The Clean Trust does not own schools, employ instructors, produce training materials, or promote specific product brands, cleaning methods or systems. It approves schools and instructors that meet the criteria established by The Clean Trust. The Clean Trust also serves as a consumer referral source for Certified Firms and Inspectors.

Article by Mark Vondracek

Monday, January 10, 2011
Bacteria and the Human Body
Thanks to Regan:

The video opens up with an interesting point: On and inside of the human body there are 10 times as many bacterial cells as there are human cells. Not only that but these bacterial cells constitute 100 times as many genes as there are in the human genome. Essentially our biological systems are 90 to 99% bacterial, depending on how you look at it. The idea that bacteria can exist in this symbiotic relationship with humans to such a great extent makes you realize just how complicated biological systems can be. This idea really hits home when you look at how complicated something even as small and primitive as bacteria can be. Bassler shows an incredible example of the complexity of bacteria as well as symbiotic relationships with Vibrio fischeri. This bioluminescent bacteria exists on the the body of the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid and is actually used to hide the squid’s shadow by producing enough light to counteract the light shining down on squid’s back! With the help of Vibrio fischeri, this squid is the stealth bomber of the sea as Bassler puts it.

Almost as cool is how the bacteria work. The Vibrio fischeri only turn on when there is a large amount of it existing together, and when it does turn on, all the bacteria cells turn on at the same time. This is because the Vibrio fischeri, as well as all other bacteria, secrete molecules that can be detected by nearby bacteria cells. When the bacteria detects enough of these molecules it will light up. This idea is exactly the same in harmful bacteria that invade human bodies. The bacteria enter the body, replicate, and then when they recognize there is enough bacteria to take on their host they become virulent and all attack at once.

The most interesting part of all of this is how this knowledge can be applied. Most bacterial infections today are fought with antibiotics that work to kill the infectious bacteria by some mechanism such as destroying the bacterial membrane or halting the bacterias’ ability to replicate. The major problem with this strategy is that the antibiotics don’t kill all of the bacteria and can give mutant, more drug resistant bacteria less competition by killing off all the weaker bacteria. Eventually it could come to a point where our antibiotics are hardly effective for treating bacterial infections. What Bassler is proposing would be not to kill the bacteria, but to block their communication. Her lab discovered that the molecules that bacteria secrete bind to proteins in other bacteria cell membranes allowing them to communicate. They also developed a method for disabling this communication by introducing a molecule that binds to these receptor proteins and blocks the other molecules. Could this method be the future to making safer, more effective antibiotics? I think it is something that is definitely worth looking into.

If you are in Vegas, be sure to stop by the Restoration Consultants booth and say hi!

The class was a large one and the students all seemed to actively participate in the learning process.

Below: Guest instructor, John Banta, leads a conversation with the class.

Below: Instructor, Jim Holland, gets animated.

Below: Instructor, Jim Holland, shows off some useful equipment.

Dr. Passmore talks about RC Analytical‘s Empower Program, which provides lab analysis and support services to the professional remediator, as well as the dangers of mold.

Dr. Boni Passmore has a doctorate in Biochemistry and Biophysics from the University of California at Davis with over fifteen years experience conducting biological research, the majority in the field of plant pathology. Dr. Passmore has designed and conducted several independent research projects, trained graduate students and visiting scientists, and written and edited articles for peer reviewed scientific journals.

For five years, she has owned and operated a home improvement company specializing in the analysis and improvement of residential buildings for indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

Maine Renovator Faces Penalty for Violations of Lead Renovation Rule

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency
Release date: 05/16/2011
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – May 16, 2011) – A Rockland, Maine renovator is facing penalties for allegedly violating requirements designed to protect children from exposure to lead-based paint during painting and other renovation activities.

According to information gathered by inspectors from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and EPA, two workers employed by Colin Wentworth of Rockland failed to contain dust and debris generated by lead paint removal activities during a repainting project in October 2010. Although Mr. Wentworth had completed the eight-hour course required by the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, he did not provide the required training or supervision to his employees to ensure that they followed the required work practices prior to their use of high-speed dust-generating power tools to remove lead paint from the building. Mr. Wentworth also failed to take steps to obtain the mandatory lead-safe certification for his firm.