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NEWSFLASH!
IICRC Archived News Stories
The Carpet and Rug Institute Addresses Seal of Approval Issues
April 16, 2007
The following letter was recently published by The Carpet and Rug Institute
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Dear Interested Parties:
Over the course of the last few weeks, The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has been working diligently through its various committees to improve our Seal of Approval (SOA) Program for truck mount extractors in an effort to be as inclusive as possible.
We understand the anxiety among some and will continue to try to resolve those concerns. We hope the majority of those involved will understand that we are trying to provide a testing program that is both fair and equitable. Our goal is to identify good cleaning products and make it easier for those using the products that work to differentiate themselves in the marketplace from those using less reputable products. CRI has reached out to many of those with legitimate concerns with our current program and included them in the decision making process as we move the SOA Extractor Program ahead.
The CRI Cleaning and Maintenance Issues Management Team (C&M IMT) has put together an amendment to our original SOA Program for extractors that will include three new categories with sub-groups in each of those categories as a way to offer more good cleaning products an avenue into the SOA Program. Again, the CRI goal is not to hamper those utilizing good cleaning products but rather enhance their efforts.
These new categories include: Older truck mount machines made by manufacturers already in the SOA; truck mount units from manufacturers that are no longer in business; and currently manufactured truck mount units from manufacturers not in the SOA Program.
Attached, you will find a more detailed description of each of these categories. Like any good testing program, we fully expect that our SOA Program will continue to evolve, and as it does, it will continue to identify quality products that will enhance the customer satisfaction in their carpet investments.
As the program has evolved, we have been disappointed to see that some manufacturers have attempted to circumvent both the letter and spirit of the program in order to get products and machines to pass. A considerable amount of time has been devoted to dealing with these issues. An outside review panel consisting of recognized experts in the cleaning industry has been organized and tasked with evaluating these situations and making recommendations on their appropriateness.
The overriding spirit of all CRI efforts is to better serve the consumer. The cleaning industry is a critical part of carpet manufacturers' efforts to improve consumer satisfaction with carpet. Your success is critical to our success.
We welcome your comments and will consider all constructive input. As stated above the SOA Programs will continue to evolve and, with your input, improve.
Sincerely,
Werner H. Braun
President, Carpet and Rug Institute
Carey Mitchell
Chairman, Cleaning & Maintenance IMT
CRI Cleaning and Maintenance (C&M) Issues Management Team (IMT) Work Group (WG)
With Revisions from the March 27, 2007 IMT Meeting
I. Truck Mounted (TM) Units that are:
A. Currently offered -
1. Equipment manufacturers may obtain Bronze, Silver or Gold SOA Certification by having a current model tested and approved by CRI. If manufacturers elect to do so, the SOA Certification level attained may be used in marketing and advertising programs.
2. Service providers (SP) using TM equipment SOA Certified may become an authorized Service Provider by signing a SP Participation Agreement confirming their use of SOA Certified TM Cleaning Equipment and SOA Cleaning Chemicals. Service Providers may promote the TM Extraction unit’s SOA Certification level, i.e., Bronze, Silver or Gold.
B. Discontinued Models -
1. Owner/operators of discontinued TM Extraction units may become SOA Service Providers by providing CRI a signed affidavit stating that their model(s) meets or exceeds the minimum standards set forth by CRI, as listed in item 3 below. The owner/operator of a discontinued TM Extractor Unit Model must also sign a SP Participation Agreement asserting the use of the Extractor meeting the minimum standards below and by using SOA Cleaning Chemicals.
2. TM unit Minimum Standards:
a. #3 blower
b. 160°F water temperature generated at the unit
c. 350 psi
II. TM Manufacturers No Longer in Business (“Orphaned” Units):
A. Group Testing Option:
1. Owners of discontinued TM Units can join together for cost sharing in testing one unit of a given model.
· Individual owners of the model being tested in the group must sign an affidavit specifying that their unit meets or exceeds the Minimum Standard stipulated in I.B.3 above.
2. Regardless of certification level achieved by the test unit as long as it is minimum of bronze, Group Owners may, if desired, promote the TM Extraction Unit as having achieved the SOA Bronze Level Certification, but no higher.
3. Any owner of that model in the group may become a SOA Service Provider by signing a SP Participation Agreement, and pledging use of equipment that meets the minimum standards as stated in #3 above and SOA Cleaning Chemicals.
B. Individual Model Owner Option:
1. Equipment owner must sign an affidavit that the model meets or exceeds the Minimum Standards set forth in number I. B. 3 above.
· No SOA testing is required and no certification is issued.
2. The owner will then be eligible to become a Service Provider by signing an SOA Service Provider Agreement and pledging use of equipment that meets the minimum standards as stated in #3 above and SOA Cleaning Chemicals.
III. TM Manufacturers Not Electing to Participate in the CRI SOA Program:
If an equipment manufacturer chooses not to participate in the CRI SOA testing program, owners of that manufacturer’s TM unit may supply CRI a letter from the OEM stating that the Manufacturer elects not to participate in the SOA Program. At that point:
1. Refer to II-A, Group Testing Option.
2. Refer to II-B, Individual Model Owner Option.
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Click here to download the CRI Seal of Approval Service Provider Packet
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