Sustainable Building Technical Manual - Etn-presco.net

❑ Remove dust.Use a vacuum with high-efficiency vacuum bags and High Efficiency Particle Air(HEPA) filters, which capture particles rather than spread them.❑ Avoid overwetting carpets.Too much water can damage carpets and create ideal environments for biocontaminantgrowth. Carpeted entryways as well as other high-traffic areas should receive interimcleanings with a bonnet system. Highly effective, these cleanings can be done as frequentlyas necessary, and require an area to be closed off to traffic for less than an hour.❑ To remove particles and biocontaminants deep in carpet backing, periodicallyperform deep cleaning with a carpet extractor.The deep cleaning process requires long drying times and can potentially damage thecarpet, so do not deep-clean more than twice a year. Check the carpet manufacturer’sinstructions.❑ Dust-mop hard floors frequently.Dust-mopping with a water-based mop dressing is the single most effective way tomaintain hard floors. Damp-mop and buff or burnish floors as required. A base of sixto 12 coats of floor finish is long-lasting and reduces the frequency of floor strippingand re-coating.❑ Immediately remove spills on hard floors and carpets.Removing spills minimizes tracking to other areas and prevents the formation of hardto-removeor permanent stains.❑ Routinely clean window coverings.In effect, window coverings serve as filters for outside pollutants.Entrances and Lobbies❑ Pay special attention to entrances and lobbies.Keep as much soil outside the building as possible by trapping dirt and dust at entries.Furnish entryways with mats, grates, and other devices to remove soil from foot trafficentering the building. Also, use effective air filtration devices.❑ Both entryways and air-filtration devices require routine maintenance.Establish a procedure for cleaning them regularly, and a plan for keeping them clean anddry in severe weather and during special events, when foot traffic is unusually heavy.Stairs and Elevators❑ Keep stairs and elevators free of pollutants.Stairs and elevators act as chimneys or breezeways that draw pollutants from lower toupper floors. These areas must be kept free of dust, bacteria, particles, gas emissionsfrom cleaning products, and, in the case of elevators, emissions from lubricants andother products used in their operation and maintenance. Because of potentially heavyfoot traffic, these areas often require frequent inspection and cleaning. Maintain thefloors, whether carpeted or hard-surface, as described earlier in this chapter in “Floorand Carpet Care.”Offices, Work Spaces, Classrooms, Libraries, and Living Areas❑ Develop a cleaning plan for interior spaces.Indoor air pollution can actually be many times higher than pollution outside.Organize cleaning and maintenance schedules to meet a building’s required standardsof health and appearance, basing plans on the types of activities performed in thebuilding, the number of people occupying it, and other factors that influence soilloads and types.– Trap dirt, dust, and other soils at entryways of offices, work spaces, and living areaswith proper matting.