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Executive Report
The Power of Association

Associations can do a lot of good for their members. And frequently the doing is through the initiative of members who seize an opportunity that moves an entire industry a step forward.

The restoration industry is now witnessing such a moment. In January, RIA member Joe Arrigo, along with a group of roofing contractors, played a key role in persuading Colorado’s House Majority Whip to introduce a bill that, if passed, would preserve the rights of consumers to select the contractor that they felt was best qualified to perform restoration work on their properties.

At his own expense, Joe hired a lobbying firm to guide him through the process of building awareness for the bill, HB 06-1006, recruiting supporters in the business and consumer action communities, and preparing testimony for hearings. Despite an expectation of strong opposition to the bill, the House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor referred the bill on a 13-0 vote … unanimous votes by politicians are rare these days, and this vote augurs well for HB 1006.

HB 1006 has been scheduled in the House Appropriations Committee and, if referred from there, will go to the floor for a full vote … which could be where the real work starts.

What this means for the restoration industry is that legislatures in other states will be encouraged to support similar laws brought to them by RIA members. Momentum can take years to build, but our industry has been fortunate to witness what could be the start of a movement in the restoration industry.

To learn more about HB 1006, you can visit the Colorado General Assembly web site. And if you want to help your fellow members in Colorado, as well as help yourself, financial support is needed. Remember, today the attention is on Colorado. This can work in your states, but first we need to prove success in Colorado.

Don Manger

Executive Director

If you want to help the 1006 effort, contact NewsbreakDEM@RIA.org.

RIA NEWS

Breaking News
RIA Briefs
Toolbox Tips
Marketing Savvy
Product Spotlight
On Press Now

INDUSTRY NEWS

"Met Unveils Newly Restored Facade"
"Floor Maintenance: Finishing Touches"
"Master the Art of Motivation"
"Toxic Courthouse Still a Concern"
"Management Tips -- Software"
"Restoration Lets Historic Synagogue Breathe Again"
"Cooked Goose"
"New Warning to Car Fleet Bosses Over Mobile Phone Use"
"What Lurks Underneath Your Carpet?"
"Win Big Business with a Dot Com"
"The Big Sneezy"
"OSHA Sets Limit on Workplace Chromium"
"Wood Finishers Demand Will Strengthen, but at a Slower Pace"

RIA NEWS

Breaking News

Task Force Tackles Terrorism Risk Insurance

A Presidential task force will be accepting comments and recommendations on the long-term availability of terrorism risk insurance. The formal announcement appeared in the Federal Register on February 28, and comments will be accepted through April 14.

The Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005 was enacted on December 22, 2005, and requires the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, as well as other affiliated interest groups to perform an analysis regarding the long-term availability and affordability of insurance for terrorism risk. The types of insurance involved include group life and coverage for chemical, nuclear, biological and radiological events. The President’s Working Group is required to report its findings to Congress by September 30, 2006.

CDC Work Group Issues Mold Prevention Strategies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released a publication that provides information for public health practitioners, building managers and operators, environmental consultants, contractors and the general public on how to limit mold exposure and prevent mold-related health effects.

Written by the CDC Mold Work Group, the topics covered include: assessing exposure, clean up and prevention, personal protective equipment, health effects and public health strategies, and recommendations.

Health care providers are particularly cautioned to watch for unusual fungal-related diseases since sufficient evidence exists of an “association between several adverse health outcomes and exposure to damp indoor environments or to materials contaminated with fungal growth.” Clinicians are also encouraged to report cases of mold-induced illnesses to the local health authorities to assist in health monitoring and information gathering efforts.

A full copy of the report can be accessed at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/report/.

Cat Bond Market Shows Growth

A report issued by MMC Securities showed an unprecedented level of activity in the catastrophe bond market in 2005. The Catastrophe Bond Market at Year-End 2005: Ripple Effects from Record Storms, is joint study by Guy Carpenter & Company, Inc. and MMC Securities Corp., and is the fourth installment of their annual review of the market.

By year-end 2005, the total outstanding risk capital was $4.90 billion, a 21% increase over the $4.04 billion in 2004. Sixty-nine catastrophe bonds have been issued since 1997.

Katrina’s devastation is also expected to cause the first loss to a publicly disclosed catastrophe bond, the KAMP Re 2005 Ltd. issuance, which was a $190 million transaction.

European Airlines Prepare for Bird Flu

Taking a page from the SARS epidemic two years ago, European airlines are training their staffs on how to respond to the possibility of the avian influenza pandemic. While the risk of encountering someone on board an aircraft with the bird flu is almost non-existent, the airlines are working closely with governmental and health agencies to be prepared for a worse-case scenario.

According to the CDC, the avian influenza virus is found chiefly in birds and the risk of catching it is low because the viruses usually do not infect humans. For the most part, infections in humans usually originate from contact with infected poultry or surfaces that have been contaminated with the secretions from infected birds. Symptoms in humans are typical influenza-like, ranging from fever, cough and a sore throat to eye infections, pneumonia or severe respiratory diseases. Laboratory studies indicate that U.S. prescription medicines approved for human influenza will also work for avian influenza in humans.

Compiled by Patricia L. Harman

RIA Briefs

Cleaning & Restoration Professionals Visit Savannah

Savannah, Georgia is hosting RIA’s 61st Annual Convention and Exhibition this week. More than 600 industry leaders have descended on the historic city to learn about infrared and drying technologies, environmental laws and regulations, changing cleaning standards, disaster response, rugs from Persia and India, cleaning for the immuno-compromised and creating healthy school environments. The event has attracted international members from Australia, Dubai, Ireland and Canada, as well as professionals from across the U.S.

Chip Bell of the Chip Bell Group will deliver the keynote address on Magnetic Customer Service. Individuals who have completed their required coursework will receive their advanced designations of Certified Restorer, Certified Rug Specialist, Certified Mold Professional, Water Loss Specialist or Certified Mechanical Hygienist.

The Association will also elect its new officers for 2006-2007 and will begin finalizing its strategic plan and priorities for the next 3-5 years. Look for the convention recap in the May 2006 issue of Cleaning & Restoration. Presentations from the convention will be available at www.RIA.org by the end of March.

RIA Plans First Environmental Conference

On Nov. 1, 2006, environmental professionals will be attending RIA’s Environmental Conference and Exhibition in Denver, CO. The sessions will offer an in-depth look at some of the concerns arising from the cleanup efforts along the Gulf Coast region and in Florida, present practical steps for undertaking large-scale environmental or building projects, investigate some of the issues surrounding the remediation of clandestine drug labs, and discuss specific mold cleaning recommendations and clearance protocols. The daylong conference will end with a joint exhibition with RIA’s Restoration Conference.

Weathering the Storm 2: Survival, Prosperity and Market Leadership

This sequel to last year’s Weathering the Storm conference shows owners and managers how to take their businesses to the next level. Among the topics to be covered are: complimentary add-on services; fire remediation topics such as ozone, corrosive residues and contents restoration; improving strategies for dealing with customers and employees; and how to gain the inside track and effectively market your company.

The two-day core conference opens Wednesday evening with a reception and exhibition featuring many of the latest products and technology for the restoration industry. There will also be two optional workshops on Saturday for those who want to learn how to use Xactimate 24 more effectively and a marketing idea exchange session open exclusively to RIA members.

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Toolbox Tips
Marketing Savvy

Toolbox Tips

Best practices for cleaning and restoration professionals

Hot or Lukewarm Your “Steam Cleaning?”

By Steven M. Spivak, Ph.D.

What do you believe is the actual cleaning solution temperature when it's in
intimate contact with dirty or soiled carpet fibers? Let's work it out.

Assume for example, that the preheated hot water extraction (HWE) detergent exiting at the truck mount is 180F (80-82C or Celsius/centigrade). It flows through the solution lines and can drop 5-10F (3-5C) or more, depending on the hose run length and outside temperature. It arrives at the wand spray jets at perhaps 165-170F. Not bad so far.

But immediately upon becoming a fine spray, the dispersed detergent solution hits the "shocking cold" air space, which is only 70F or ambient temperature. This initial temperature difference of roughly 100F, i.e. between the solution temperature and surrounding air, causes an immediate precipitous drop in the solution temperature. It can drop 30-40F degrees in that small air space before it actually hits the carpet pile tips. Now it's only 140F or 60C, medium warm.

The solution pounces onto the carpet fibers, also ambient or at room temperature, around 70F or 21C. By conduction (heat losses), cleaning solution at the interface with carpet fibers can rapidly plummet to 100-110F. Given intimate cleaning contact with carpet fibers, the detergent solution might be as low as 110-120F (or 43-49C), even if the truck mount temperature was at its maximum setting. So you're possibly cleaning with only lukewarm water. That's generally much better cleaning than starting with cold water, but a far cry from super hot where it began. Let us know (newsbreak@RIA.org) if you've ever measured or tested it and what temperatures were found to be real hot, or not?

Dr. Steven Spivak is RIA’s textile expert.

Marketing Savvy

Website Words

If you’re updating the copy for your website, don’t make the mistake of using the same writing style and verbiage you included in your printed materials. Writing for the Web means writing in shorter sentences and breaking the information down for easy scanning. Bullets, small blocks of information, and short, snappy copy will draw your readers in more quickly without turning them off.

Avoid the E-mail Trap

E-mail has become a great way to stay in touch with the world, but it’s a major time drainer – especially if you check it frequently. Jerry Stevenson, a consultant in Dallas, TX recommends turning off the e-mail prompt for incoming e-mail and checking it no more than a few times a day. Not every e-mail demands an immediate response and a 24-hour response time is acceptable.

Another time waster with e-mail is responding to the entire group when a response to the sender or select few would be just as acceptable. Stevenson also says that if you need an immediate answer from a specific individual – Instant Messaging might be a better way to go.

Source: Writing That Works, www.writingthatworks.com.

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Product Spotlight

RIA offers a host of products to help you make the right impression on your customers and let them see you for the professional you are. The Association also publishes a number of reference guides and resource materials to keep restoration professionals up-to-date on current information.

Fungal Contamination: A Comprehensive Guide for Remediation*
This book is the first of its kind to provide a detailed description of mold control techniques within a framework that clarifies the diversity of opinions on the subject of mold. It pulls together the latest techniques and important references in an organized fashion rather than a compendium of separate articles. Fungal Contamination: A Comprehensive Guide for Remediation, written by Michael Pinto, Ph.D., CEO of Wonder Makers Environmental, Inc., and David Janke, Bioaerosol Analyst, also of Wonder Makers Environmental, Inc., weaves together basic information about mold with an understandable overview of its health effects.

*Now updated to include new information on Anthrax.

Members: 1-4 copies $115.00 ea.
Nonmembers: 1-4 copies $125.00 ea.
Call for pricing on greater quantities

Ready Reference Upholstery Cleaning Guide
A convenient, portable tool for professional cleaners. The flipchart format contains over 35 fabric swatches with specific information on identifying and cleaning a wide variety of upholstery fabrics. Bound in a sturdy, vinyl binder, it serves as a practical tool for everyone involved in the cleaning operation of your business.

Members: $125 each
Nonmembers: $155 each

Ready Reference Drapery Cleaning Guide
A convenient guide for professionals, this portable flipchart provides over 30 fabric swatches, along with information on identifying and cleaning a wide range of drapery and lining fabrics. This guide will further expand your knowledge of drapery cleaning and enhance your cleaning skills.

Members: $125 each
Nonmembers: $155 each

Check out these and other products at http://www.RIA.org/resourcelibrary/marmaterials.cfm.

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On Press Now

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up in the April issue of Cleaning & Restoration:

Preserving the Past

By Patricia L. Harman

Hurricane Katrina roared into the Gulf Coast area last August, destroying almost everything in her path. Now, RIA members are playing an active role in helping residents and businesses pull their lives back together. Learn how one company was instrumental in preserving many historical documents in the New Orleans Notorial Archives.

Green Cleaning is More than Chemicals

By Robert Kravitz

Green cleaning is no longer just for the environmentally conscientious. As many companies are discovering, green cleaning now has tangible benefits. But if you think it merely involves using certain approved cleaning products, think again.

The Collections Animal

By Keith E. Desserich

Restoration work has always been a cash management business at heart, but how do you handle the inevitable struggle with the collections animal? It takes understanding and applying three basic concepts: accountability, firm financing and awareness.

Not a subscriber? Then click here to order your subscription to RIA’s monthly, award-winning technical journal https://www.RIA.org/commerce/crmag_subscription.cfm.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

"Met Unveils Newly Restored Facade"
Newsday (03/06/06) Hajela, Deepti

The restoration of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Fifth Avenue façade was completed earlier this month. The four-year project marks the first renovation of the more than 100-year-old New York museum. It cost $12.2 million to scrub the four-block-long façade and use limestone from the original quarry to make repairs. The museum's director, Philippe de Montebello, says the façade has been restored to its original condition. The city and federal government contributed $6.1 million and $1.6 million, respectively, to the project, and the remainder of the cost was covered by private donations.
(Web Link)
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"Floor Maintenance: Finishing Touches"
Carpet & Floorcoverings Review (02/28/2006) P. 25

Companies that sell floor coverings need to inform customers of maintenance issues, even if they are worried about losing a sale in a slowing market. Many customers are unaware that wood floors need maintenance and require that they control indoor temperature and humidity. "Most consumers think that when they buy solid or engineered wood that it is 100 percent stable whatever the onsite climate or usage and that the surface can't be damaged," says Steve Grinwood of Osmo UK. The company offers Polyx Hard Wax Oil to replace oils and waxes that are depleted with wear. Even customers who choose laminate for its durability and ease of care should be told about spot cleaners, concentrated cleaners, and other products that can keep the floor looking like new. Companies that inform customers about the necessity of regular maintenance are more likely to get repeat business and build up the material's reputation, according to experts.
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"Master the Art of Motivation"
Cleaning & Maintenance Management Online (02/06/2006) Clipperton, Gary

There are several things cleaning companies can do to motivate unproductive workers, according to National Pro Clean Corp. President Gary Clipperton. They should eliminate misunderstandings and confusion by explaining the required tasks and ensuring that workers have the resources to get the job done. They should make sure employees have plenty of time to finish the job and avoid formal relationships that underscore the hierarchy and bureaucracy evident in many businesses. It is important for managers to create a people-oriented environment where employees are respected, mentored, and allowed to grow, keeping in mind that intimidation does not make loyal workers. This can be accomplished by providing awards, promotions, and benefits to motivated workers; making themselves available to workers throughout the day; avoiding anger when mistakes are made or an employee's behavior is less than desirable; and ensuring that workers have received enough training to adequately complete their assigned tasks.
(Web Link)
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"Toxic Courthouse Still a Concern"
Monterey County Herald (CA) (02/24/06) Sanchez, George B.

The old Monterey County jail on West Alisal Street in Salinas, Calif., has been embroiled in litigation since 68 sheriff's deputies filed a class action lawsuit against the county for neglecting to tell employees about the airborne lead and toxic mold found in the building. A 1997 inspection by ATC Associates uncovered lead-based paint and asbestos, and excessive levels of mold and lead dust were found during an inspection three years later. ATC Associates told county officials after the first inspection that they had a legal obligation to inform employees of their findings. The building was closed in Sept. 2000 by the county's capital projects director--except for the holding facility, which was shuttered the following year--and many records were lost due to contamination. Numerous employees have filed workers compensation claims for such "minor, permanent disabilities" as asthma, headaches, and sinusitis, according to attorney Emmett O'Boyle. The courthouse is back in the news because the companies that renovated the building, Nova Partners Inc. and Skanska USA Building Inc., are facing criminal charges for allowing asbestos to enter the air. Courthouse administrators and their employees met last week to discuss health and safety concerns.
(Web Link)
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"Management Tips -- Software"
CM-Cleaning & Maintenance Management (02/01/06) Bier, Larry

The use of software can enhance many aspects of the cleaning industry, such as communications between companies and customers. In addition, providing a printed worksheet to personnel gives them a timeline for the work that needs to be done, thus improving accountability and professionalism. Software also allows companies to modify the statement of work in a timely manner to satisfy the client's requirements. Software programs can cost as much as $200,000, and companies can determine the return on investment by looking at job retention and new work. To achieve a successful implementation, companies need to assess their needs to choose the appropriate software and provide training so that workers know how to use it.
(Web Link)
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"Restoration Lets Historic Synagogue Breathe Again"
Providence Business News (RI) (02/25/06) McBride, Ryan

A 1997 structural analysis of Newport's historic Touro Synagogue--the oldest standing synagogue in North America--found that the 250-year-old building was "self-destructing," according to Touro Synagogue Foundation CEO Michael Balaban. The 800-page report found that nearly two dozen coats of paint were restricting the flow of air through the brick walls, allowing moisture to build up and mold to grow. There were also concerns about buckling roof timbers, rotted window sashes, and corrosion. Preservation commenced in May 2005, involving the removal of exterior paint and the installation of a gutter system, new plumbing, a new boiler, a sprinkler system, and fire alarms. Epoxy was used to salvage corroded wooden fixtures, and ceiling timbers received steel reinforcement. Additionally, outside firms were used to repair the window sashes and brass chandeliers. A certificate of occupancy is now needed for the building to reopen.
(Web Link)
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"Cooked Goose"
Floor Covering News (02/13/06) Vol. 20, No. 24, P. 5; Perron, Scott

States that generate revenue from issuing Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) licenses should make sure the information their licensing division provides the public is accurate, according to Scott Perron of Perron's Flooring America. As owner of a flooring company in Connecticut, Perron writes that the licensing division for his state told a potential customer that his company's HIC license was invalid and a complaint had been lodged against the company, advising her not to do business with his firm. The truth of the matter was that the licensing division flubbed the filing, the complaint was misread by the clerk who handled the customer's inquiry, and the division never followed up with the company. As a result of the licensing division's mistake, the company lost a $4,200 job.
(Web Link)
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"New Warning to Car Fleet Bosses Over Mobile Phone Use"
The Cleanzine (02/16/06)

Despite laws that prohibit cell phone use among drivers, Britain's Department of Transport says 1.5 percent of car drivers and 2.4 percent of van drivers talk while on the road. Charles Davis of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents says companies who give their employees phones must institute policies that prohibit their use when driving. Davis notes that companies "have a moral responsibility to protect their employees and those on the road around them." He adds, "Mobile phones need to be dealt with as part of an overall policy for managing occupational road risk." Studies show that drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in accidents, regardless of whether they use hand-held or hands-free devices.
(Web Link)
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"What Lurks Underneath Your Carpet?"
Asbury Park Press (NJ) (02/22/06) Naujeck, Jeanne A.

The Carpet and Rug Institute reports that nylon, acrylic, polyester, polypropylene, and other synthetic fibers comprise 97 percent of carpets made in the U.S. Carpets are traditionally made of yarn that is stitched through a polypropylene backing material. It is dyed, bound with a synthetic latex adhesive, and treated to make it soil- and stain-resistant. The carpet is placed on a pad made of urethane foam, bonded urethane foam, or scrap synthetic fiber when installed. According to Air Quality Sciences President Tom Worthan, the process puts 20 to 150 different chemical compounds in the air. However, Worthan notes that the carpet industry is strictly regulated, meaning that it does not contribute much to air quality. Carpets with the Carpet and Rug Institute's "Green Label" are free of formaldehyde and boast very low levels of styrene and 4-PC emissions.
(Web Link)
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"Win Big Business with a Dot Com"
Cleaning & Maintenance Management Online (02/01/2006) Cermak, Mark

More and more consumers are shopping for products and services online, making it important for small businesses to have a Web presence. The site must look professional and provide detailed information about the company, including things that cannot be covered in a print ad or a telephone call. Required features include service- and industry-related content, contact information, testimonials from satisfied customers, price-quote and feedback forms, and a frequently asked questions section. Consumers should also be given the option to sign up for an email newsletter, and there should be a link to the current newsletter. Company and family photos are important as well, as they put prospective customers at ease and help forge trusting relationships. After creating a site, companies must promote it via email, search engines, regional directories, links on other sites, and press releases. Additionally, the Web address should be put on their business cards, print ads, letterhead, signs, and outgoing messages.
(Web Link)
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"The Big Sneezy"
Washington Post (02/20/06) Weeks, Linton

Roughly six months after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, the streets of New Orleans have yet to be normalized. Heaps of debris on city and suburban sidewalks emit reeking fumes, consisting of things like soaked carpets, old linoleum, rotting clothes, and dumped appliances. Many refrigerators destroyed by rot sit on streets, wrapped in duct tape. Artist Tom Varisco, who has compiled photographs of New Orleans' streets for a book entitled "Spoiled," says the smell of mold from the houses is the most offensive odor in the region. A few homeowners in communities like Gentilly try to salvage their destroyed homes, wearing paper jumpsuits and face masks to protect themselves from the dust and mold. In some parts of the metropolitan area, however, there are no indications of mold, such as the Mirabeau Avenue Bridge and some areas in downtown.
(Web Link)
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"OSHA Sets Limit on Workplace Chromium"
Washington Post (02/28/06) P. A6; Weiss, Rick

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently passed new limitations on the amount of airborne hexavalent chromium that can be present in workplaces--five micrograms per cubic meter of air in an eight-hour period, which is far less than the current limit. However, environmental and labor activists note that the limitations are 20 times higher than the initial limitations proposed two years ago. Steel workers, welders, chrome platers and paint and pigment manufacturers are all exposed to the chemical in their workplaces, but those workers are unlikely to see improvements based on these standards because their employers already meet the new limitations.
(Web Link)
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"Wood Finishers Demand Will Strengthen, but at a Slower Pace"
Chemical Week (01/25/06) P. 23; Walsh, Kerri

The Freedonia Group anticipates that U.S. demand for wood protection coatings and preservatives will grow 2.7 percent annually, to $3 billion in 2009, even though the market situation will remain difficult. Growth has slowed from 3.3 percent annually between 1999 and 2004 to 2.7 percent from 2004 to 2009, the company says. Ongoing sluggishness in the market is persuading coatings manufacturers to concentrate on a variety of end-use markets like cabinets and flooring, Freedonia notes. But demand will be buoyed by the steady production of pressure-treated lumber, it projects, as well as robust levels of spending in the areas of construction-based repair and home improvement. Demand for coating and preservatives will be greatest in the interior wood applications sector, including cabinetry and flooring, predicts Freedonia. However, demand has fallen for exterior applications like siding and windows and doors because of increased plastics use, the firms says.
(Web Link)
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March 2006