DALTON, GA — The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has announced the expansion of its Seal of Approval (SOA) testing and certification program with the addition of two new testing categories and a Platinum level for the existing extractors and deep-cleaning systems programs, according to a press release.
According to the release, the changes — approved by CRI's Cleaning and Maintenance Issues Management Team — include a new pet odor and stain category as well as an energy efficiency rating for vacuums.
Carey Mitchell, chairman of CRI's Cleaning and Maintenance Issues Management Team and director of technical services for Shaw Industries, said: "The Seal of Approval program encourages improvement. When we have companies that have re-engineered [their products and equipment] and we see these kinds of results — that's what the Seal of Approval is all about."
The pet odor and stain category will join the existing spot remover, pre-spray and in-tank solutions categories in the SOA program, the release stated.
According to the release, the Platinum level for the extractors and deep-cleaning systems — reserved for equipment or equipment plus cleaning solution combinations that remove 90 percent or more of available soil — has been awarded to the following products: Chem-Dry® PowerBase® 10 or PowerBase® 5 with PowerHead®; Chem-Dry's Revolutionary truckmounted system CTS-330 with PowerHead®; Dustbane 1000 XT; Mighty Pack by Rug Doctor; Stanley Steemer truckmounted model 5450 with wand; Stanley Steemer's truckmounted model 5200-5400-5500-5600 with wand; TCS Warrior 18; Unisource FastBreak 10; Unisource FastBreak 20; Unisource FastBreak 8; Commodore 20 and Priza from Windsor Industries; Windsor Cadet CDT7; Windsor Clipper CLP12; and ZeroRez® Cleaning System.
CRI President Werner Braun said the energy efficiency rating for vacuums — which evaluates the ratio of a vacuum's energy use and its cleaning effectiveness — should begin very soon, possibly within the next few weeks, the release stated.
