Floorcare costs represent a significant percentage of commercial cleaning budgets. Although controlling those costs requires thoughtful purchasing, battery selection for your floorcare equipment isn’t always given the careful consideration it needs. Whether you want to eliminate battery maintenance, cut equipment downtime, decrease operator errors, or lower the total cost of ownership (TCO), understanding the pros and cons of your battery options can help you reduce costs and find the floorcare equipment solutions you seek. Battery life depends on the battery type and how carefully you follow the manufacturer’s maintenance, charging, and operating guidelines. User errors cause many, if not most, problems with floorcare machine batteries. Newer battery technologies let you avoid expensive maintenance and training as well as reduce downtime and user errors. Let’s look at the different technologies and their pros and cons. Deep-cycle lithium-ion batteries If you want outstanding longevity and performance, these maintenance-free batteries can be game changers for you. They feature an electronic battery management system (BMS) that monitors the batteries, gives them extraordinary capabilities, and cuts downtime. The batteries last up to 10 years, fully charge in four hours, and generally discharge safely between 90–95%, giving them the most extended run times and lowest TCO of all the options. They also accept opportunity charging—the practice of charging a battery while it still has a partial charge—and maintain consistent power regardless of the state of charge. Lithium-ion batteries have a low self-discharge rate that allows for long-term storage without frequent charging, and they weigh considerably less than other batteries. When used in small, walk-behind floorcare machines, they may require counterbalance. These batteries are available in 24-, 36- and 48-volt models, with the 24-volt being the most popular. However, big, 36-volt floorcare machines with heavy usage can benefit from the higher voltage options. On the downside, lithium-ion batteries carry a significantly higher price tag than other options and currently offer limited recyclability. But they can be a good choice if you keep your equipment for five years or longer, use the battery for 10 or more years, require the most extended run times, and shop for equipment based on its TCO. The best models meet stringent SAE standards for vibration resistance and deliver longer runtimes than others. On the safety front, look for lithium-ion batteries with a stable lithium-ion-phosphate (LFP) formula and a smart BMS with builtin redundancies against short circuits and overheating. Deep-cycle premium AGMs with carbon additives Premium absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries with carbon additives don’t offer the lifespan, rapid charging, and extended run times of lithium-ion batteries, but they strike a balance between standard AGM and lithium-ion. They overcome many of the limitations of standard AGM. Plus, they are maintenance free. Based on trusted valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) technology, premium AGM batteries deliver up to two to three times the cycle life of standard AGMs, work in a partial state of charge (PSoC), and accept opportunity charging without damage. This allows crews to grab quick charges during breaks or lunch, extends the workday, and reduces the likelihood of damaging operator errors—options not available to crews using standard AGMs. PSoC operations and opportunity charging are especially important for facilities that clean multiple times daily. These facilities include grocery stores that clean at night or during early morning hours, but also spot clean throughout the day, as well as large warehouses that clean various areas at different times. Premium AGM batteries have plug-and-play compatibility with standard AGM chargers and algorithms, and they’re 99% recyclable. Several manufacturers make premium AGM batteries with carbon additives that prevent sulfation and preserve the negative active material. But to increase the return on your investment (ROI), look for models that also feature technology that helps prevent the degradation of the positive active material. This further extends battery life. Top-of-the-line premium AGMs deliver up to three times the life cycle of standard AGMs and are validated at 2500 cycles at 100% depth of discharge (DoD). In comparison, most premium AGM batteries only double the cycle life of standard AGM. For specific applications, such as cold storage areas, make sure the batteries deliver robust performance in extreme temperatures. The best premium AGMs operate in temperatures ranging from -40o F to 160o F (-40o C to 71o C). Buy batteries tested to withstand long-term, repeated PSoC operations to ensure high performance. Premium AGM batteries with carbon additives are a good option if you want a maintenance-free battery that withstands user abuse, you keep your equipment for three to five years and want to use the same batteries, or you operate in extreme climates and need opportunity charging. Deep-cycle standard AGM If you prefer a maintenance-free battery at a lower entry price, consider a standard AGM. The electrolyte in this battery is absorbed in fiberglass mats instead of being free-flowing, requiring no watering. This feature makes them more vibration resistant than flooded lead-acid batteries (which will be discussed in the next section). They also charge faster, can be stored and installed in any orientation, and can withstand cold temperatures. However, standard AGM batteries are not designed for opportunity charging or PSoC operation, and they become damaged and even fail if these activities are done repeatedly. Standard AGM batteries might be suitable for those who demand maintenance-free batteries at the lowest price point and use their equipment in cold to mild temperatures but not in extreme heat. Deep-cycle flooded lead-acid Flooded lead-acid batteries feature the lowest purchase price of all the options. If you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding maintenance, charging, and watering, they deliver years of durability, reliability, and performance. The main drawback to this technology is that, unlike the other batteries, they require regular maintenance and employee training. These requirements can be a problem given today’s high employee turnover combined with the need to assign maintenance responsibility and keep employees accountable. These batteries must be fully recharged after each use. They are prone to corrosion, sulfation, and early battery failure if repeatedly used in PSoC or opportunity-charged mode. Further, some applications don’t allow
According to an article on phys.org, newly developed titanium oxide nanoparticles, when added to paint, can cause walls to clean themselves, as well as the air in the room. A research team from TU Wien (also known as the Vienna University of Technology) and the Università Politecnica delle Marche in Italy has developed the nanoparticles. When added to ordinary paint, the nanoparticles use sunlight to activate the paint’s self-cleaning attributes. According to the article, the nanoparticles bind substances from the air and then decompose them afterwards. As such, a painted wall can clean the air and also clean itself. By doing so, the wall can help eliminate pollutants in indoor air, improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and combat “sick building syndrome,” a situation where poor air quality affects the health of a building’s inhabitants. “For years, people have been trying to use customized wall paints to clean the air,” Günther Rupprechter, professor at the Institute of Materials Chemistry at TU Wien, told phys.org. “Titanium oxide nanoparticles are particularly interesting in this context. They can bind and break down a wide range of pollutants.” According to the study, 96% of air and wall pollutants can be removed by simple sunlight using this technology. “We have now investigated this phenomenon in great detail using a variety of different surface and nanoparticle analysis methods,” Qaisar Maqbool, one of the study’s authors, told phys.org. “In this way, we were able to show exactly how these particles behave, before and after they were added to the wall paint.” According to the article, further study is planned, with the eventual intent of producing a commercially available paint. To view the study on the technology, click here.
Be sure not to miss CMM’s upcoming FREE webinar, Getting the Full Story on Product Safety: Separating Myths From Facts, being presented April 23 at 1:00 CT. From debunking myths to offering essential insights for cleaning professionals, this one-hour session will help you learn more about product safety and improve your ability to pick the right cleaning products for your business or facility. As an attendee, you will learn: Critical information cleaning professionals need to know about the products they use What makes a study worthy of attention or concern for product users and building occupants Understanding a cleaning product label and safety data sheet details And much more! The event’s expert panel includes: Charles Gerba, PhD—Professor of Environmental Microbiology at the University of Arizona Mark Warner—National sales manager for The Bullen Companies, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania A live Q&A session will conclude the webinar, so be prepared to present our experts with all your product safety questions, challenges, and concerns. Register for the free webinar today!
According to a press release by the Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Sheriff’s Department, a maintenance worker died while cleaning one of the community’s water tanks. On Friday, March 23, Carlos Medina, a 30-year-old man from El Paso, Texas, was cleaning off sentiment inside the Blair, Wisconsin, city water tank using a 90-foot suction tube. Medina was wearing scuba gear and a wet suit during the work. Two co-workers who were also at the site noted that he had been in the tank approximately 45 minutes, at which point Medina stated that he was starting to feel cold yet continued to work. The co-workers speculated that Medina then entered a hypothermic state and lost strength and mobility in his hands. Ultimately, Medina became tangled in the suction tube, leaving his co-workers unable to remove him from the tank. When first responders and law enforcement arrived at the scene, Medina was found motionless, roughly six feet below the surface of the water. Together with the co-workers, they were able to remove Medina, but life-saving measures performed on him were unsuccessful. The incident remains under investigation.
The U.S. House of Representatives, 24 states, and multiple municipalities all across the country proclaimed March 24–30, 2024, International Cleaning Week, which celebrates the value of clean and the important, positive impact that cleaning has on public health, the environment, and our economy. This designated week represents a unique opportunity to raise public awareness about the value of clean and show appreciation for cleaning professionals around the world. A total of 24 states including—Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, as well as the territory of Puerto Rico—all officially designated a week dedicated to the industry. Six states (Connecticut, Oregon, North Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and WV) recognized a Cleaning Week for the first time in 2024. Additionally, Congressmen Darin LaHood (R-IL-18) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8), introduced a bipartisan resolution to the U.S. House of Representatives stating, “That the House of Representatives—recognizes the commitment and essential services provided by the cleaning industry in maintaining clean and sanitary conditions; and supports the designation of ‘National Cleaning Week’ to continue to promote safe and clean environments at work, in schools, and at home.” “I am proud to reintroduce the National Cleaning Week Resolution, this year alongside my friend, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi,” said Rep. LaHood. “National Cleaning Week provides us with the opportunity to highlight the hard work of so many essential workers in Illinois who keep our community facilities, businesses, schools, and hospitals clean and safe. In Congress, I will continue to be an advocate for Illinois’ critical workforce, and I look forward to recognizing National Cleaning Week.” “I’m proud to partner with Congressman LaHood and ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, to introduce this bipartisan National Cleaning Week Resolution,” said Rep. Krishnamoorthi. “Essential frontline cleaning professionals work tirelessly to ensure that our schools, hospitals, offices, and public spaces are safe for us all. I look forward to the formal designation of ‘National Cleaning Week’ to honor these public servants and highlight the importance of their work.” “ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, thanks Representatives LaHood and Krishnamoorthi for introducing this bipartisan National Cleaning Week resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the 20+ governors that have also recognized Cleaning Week in their states,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “The cleaning industry is honored to receive this recognition of the critical role that frontline cleaning professionals, as well as the manufacturers and distributors of cleaning products play in keeping our country clean, healthy, and safe. Accordingly, these resolutions and proclamations contribute significantly to changing the way the nation and the world view cleaning.” Six other organizations joined ISSA in supporting International Cleaning Week in 2024, American Cleaning Institute, American Society of Interior Designers, Exhibitors & Conference Alliance, FMI, The Food Industry Association, Household & Commercial Products Association, and International Well Building Institute. “Cleaning and disinfecting have become common practices in our daily lives that we probably don’t even realize how important they are for keeping people safe and healthy, especially from the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19,” said Steve Caldeira, Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA) president and CEO. “International Cleaning Week gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many companies across the globe that make such a positive impact and recognize the industry’s contributions to improving public health.” “Clean is foundational to the success of face-to-face business events like conferences and trade shows. On behalf of the entire business events ecosystem, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance is delighted to join ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association in celebrating International Cleaning Week and raising awareness of the value of clean to safely bringing exhibitors and attendees together to learn, connect, and transact at business events across the United States and around the world,” said Tommy Goodwin, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance vice president. “We know that cleaning means so much more now than it used to. In everyday life, we see that cleaning is caring,” said Brian Sansoni, American Cleaning institute senior vice president of communications and outreach. “We know that cleaning can contribute to our physical health, from washing our hands with soap and water to properly cleaning and disinfecting to prevent the spread of germs that can make us sick.” “The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is delighted to support the 2024 International Cleaning Week, an initiative by ISSA to demonstrate the importance of clean and healthy buildings. As a professional association serving all those in the interior design industry and practice, ASID advocates for policies that support safe, sustainable, inclusive, healthy, and efficient design and construction. ASID, together with ISSA, recognizes the importance not only of efficient cleaning materials and methodologies but also of design specifications and furnishings that advance the safety, health, and well-being of all building occupants. Learn more about how interior designers play a key role in creating and maintaining – or even reimagining – clean spaces for all who live, work, play, and heal there,” said Lauren Earley, Esq., ASID associate director of government and public affairs. “Cleaning and sanitation are at the heart of what the food industry does every day. FMI members ensure properly sanitized environments in food preparation and manufacturing facilities, maintain healthy spaces for customers as they shop in stores, and follow the highest food safety standards as employees prepare and handle the fresh product offerings that consumers enjoy. Fostering a safe, clean environment for our employees and customers would not be possible without the continued advances of the cleaning industry and cleaning products, and we are proud to support International Cleaning Week,” said Jennifer Hatcher, FMI chief public policy officer and senior vice president of government and member relations. “We are excited to celebrate International Cleaning Week, highlighting the essential role of cleaning and sanitization in enhancing the safety, health and protection of American families,” said Rachel Hodgdon, International WELL Building Institute president and CEO. “As a key element of a holistic approach to healthy buildings, cleaning protocols can help support individual safety and organizational resilience by reducing the risk of infectious