The ISSA Standard for Measuring the Effectiveness of Cleaning in K-12 Schools (Clean Standard: K-12 or Clean Standard) is a powerful tool that can help elementary and high schools fight the spread of infectious diseases and otherwise improve the quality of the indoor environment by empowering schools to monitor, maintain, and improve the effectiveness of their cleaning programs.
Developed by ISSA and the Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI), the Clean Standard sets forth a standardized approach to measuring the effectiveness of cleaning in K-12 schools that incorporates an objective means of measurement—adenosine triphosphate (ATP) meters—along with traditional means of assessing cleanliness.
Whether they are schools, office buildings, nursing homes, or some other type, the vast majority of facilities usually judge cleaning effectiveness by the senses—sight, smell, and even touch. Unfortunately, this approach by itself is inadequate in this age of MRSA, Norovirus, Enterovirus D68, Ebola, and other environmental pathogens that cannot be detected by the senses alone. Realizing this shortcoming, ISSA and CIRI, along with a diverse group of stakeholders, developed the Clean Standard: K-12, which incorporates ATP systems to provide a quantitative means of measuring cleaning effectiveness. The Clean Standard: K-12 provides schools with a framework for objectively measuring and monitoring the level of cleanliness at their facilities thereby contributing to the quality of the indoor environment for the benefit of the health and welfare of students and staff alike.
Overview & Background
The Clean Standard: K-12 is a performance-oriented standard that is focused on achieving and maintaining an effective cleaning program through the use of a systematic approach and standardized guidelines to measure and assess cleaning effectiveness on a periodic and consistent basis. Specifically, it addresses: Desired levels of cleanliness that can be reasonably achieved Recommended monitoring and inspection procedures designed to measure the effectiveness of cleaning procedures using quantitative measures (i.e., ATP meters) and traditional methods (i.e., sight, smell, touch) How to use the results of monitoring and inspection to evaluate and improve the cleaning processes and products critical to maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for students and staff.
The standard also provides a structured approach to addressing those situations where the school facility’s condition and cleanliness is less than desirable. By assessing cleaning effectiveness, schools can improve the cleaning process and ensure that a desired level of cleanliness is achieved and maintained.
Cleaning for Health
Effective cleaning is especially important in light of the growing body of evidence that concludes that improved hygiene in schools results in reduced illnesses and absenteeism, improved learning, and overall has a positive impact on the health and productivity of students.
For example, it has been established that the level of cleanliness is a key factor involved in the spread of viral disease in crowded indoor facilities—including schools. In addition, improved cleaning of floors and desks in schools has been shown to reduce upper respiratory problems. Furthermore, the exposure and health benefits associated with a reduction of airborne pollutants—achieved through effective cleaning practices—have been demonstrated in a long-term cleaning effectiveness study. And recent studies collectively indicate that the targeted cleaning of high touch points in schools result in reduced illnesses related to bacterial contamination, reduced sick building syndrome symptoms, and reduced absenteeism due to infectious illness.
Consistent with such studies and findings, the Clean Standard: K-12 research suggests a reasonable connection between the reduction of ATP contamination and healthier indoor environments. Concurrent with ATP testing, the researchers tested surfaces for culturable bacteria using a different method—RODAC plates. The simultaneous RODAC testing demonstrated that a reduction in ATP was accompanied by a consistent reduction in culturable bacteria. The researchers, therefore, were able to reasonably conclude that a reduction in ATP suggests both a cleaner and healthier surface.
Research & Development
The Clean Standard was developed through a consensus-based process that garnered the input of all major stakeholders in an open and transparent manner. In addition, the standard development process was guided by independent research, including thousands of ATP measurements from high-touch surfaces recognized as posing health risks in schools (i.e., desks, cafeteria tables, and restroom sinks and stall doors). The ATP measurings were conducted in numerous schools across the United States to account for potential geographic or climatic variations.
The details of the research are set forth in “ATP as a Marker for Surface Contamination of Biological Origin in Schools and as a Potential Approach to the Measurement of Cleaning Effectiveness,” in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (June 2013).
The research indicated that the standardized measurement of cleaning effectiveness could be used as a practical approach to improve the cleaning practices and contribute to a healthier school environment. Specifically, the research validated ATP measurement systems as a “relatively simple, rapid, and affordable measure of the level of biologically sourced contamination on the interior surfaces of schools.” The research further concluded that ATP is an “excellent candidate marker for the monitoring of biologically derived soiling/cleanliness”
In addition, the research produced reasonable range values of cleaning effectiveness based on ATP measurements (for three different ATP meters) for each surface type tested, and concluded that these ranges “…may be used in a standardized and routine approach to monitoring cleaning effectiveness in school buildings based on the detection and quantification of biologically derived soiling.”
Scope & Purpose
The Clean Standard: K-12 applies to K-12 school facilities, including both public and private institutions, and may be applied in all geographic regions. The Clean Standard: K-12 includes the following elements: (a) a building audit to assess the level of cleanliness at a school facility, (b) periodic measurement of cleaning effectiveness using ATP meters, and (c) establishment and implementation of corrective actions in the event the school is not achieving the desired level of cleaning effectiveness. These elements are intended to be used in a systematic process to determine the background condition and cleanliness of a school and also provide for periodic measurement of cleaning effectiveness at the facility. This process makes it possible to assess and improve the effectiveness of cleaning regimens used at any given school. In other words, the Clean Standard: K-12 empowers schools to select a cleaning process that achieves the desired results in the most effective and economical manner.
Corrective Action
Perhaps the greatest value of the Clean Standard: K-12 is the corrective action required in the event that current cleaning effectiveness is determined to be less than desired. Specifically, in the event that a school’s cleaning is determined to be ineffective or otherwise in need of improvement, the Clean Standard calls upon schools to take the appropriate corrective action.
In determining the appropriate corrective action to take, the Clean Standard: K-12 first requires the identification of the cause of the ineffective cleaning, which at a minimum includes a reevaluation of the cleaning processes, frequencies, products, and tools. Common causes of ineffective cleaning include inadequate cleaning frequencies, incomplete cleaning, skipped cleaning, inadequate training, and inappropriate products or processes.
After identifying the cause, the Clean Standard: K-12 requires corrective action be taken. The specific corrective action should be based upon a candid dialogue between the expert conducting the Clean Standard: K-12 evaluation and the school’s supervisory personnel, facilities manager, and/or building engineer. In general corrective action may include:
- Modification of cleaning process, products and/or tools and ensuring compliance with cleaning best practices as outlined in ISSA’s “Principles of Cleaning,” “Facility Cleaning and Disinfecting Checklist,” and “Classroom Cleaning Area Guide”
- Ensured adherence to custodial management best practices as defined in the ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS)
- Comprehensive employee training
- Change in cleaning times and/or frequencies
- Implementation of a hand-hygiene program consistent with the guidelines and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
We invite you to learn more about the Clean Standard: K-12 by visiting www.issa.com/cleanstandard where you will find the complete text of the standard as well as collateral materials that provide direction on how the standard might best be used by all channel partners. In addition, ISSA and CIRI are working on the next iteration of the Clean Standard the Clean Standard for Measuring the Effectiveness of Cleaning in Institutional and Commercial Facilities, which will focus on commercial and institutional facilities, such as office buildings, retail stores, hotels, and similar entities. More information on this standard will be available shortly so stay tuned to ISSA!
