Good equipment is half the result. Here is the cleaning trolley assembly, the vacuum's filter classes (dust class L/M/H and HEPA), floor washing machine, single disc/orbital machine and steam cleaning — with choice according to task and daily maintenance.
Introduction
A cleaning technician works with a complete system of equipment, and the choice determines both quality, time and ergonomics. This article gives the overview: from the cleaning trolley that carries everything, through the vacuum cleaner and its filtration, to floor machines and steam cleaning. Specific models, capacities and filter classes are on the machine's data sheet — here we explain the principles so you can choose correctly.
The cleaning trolley
The cleaning trolley is the work site's pivot point: it collects products, cloths, mops, bags and tools so everything is at hand, and the employee does not have to walk back and forth. A good trolley is also a hygiene tool because it physically separates clean and dirty equipment and the different colour zones.
- 01Separate clean and dirty — clean cloths/mops are kept separate from used (e.g. closed bag/container for used).
- 02Colour zones separated — space to keep red/yellow/blue/green equipment apart so colour coding is maintained.
- 03Pre-wetting/opening — bins for pre-wetted cloths and mops so moisture and dosing are consistent.
- 04Dosed chemicals — concentrate and dosing equipment so you mix correctly and not overdose.
- 05Waste and consumables — bags, paper, soap for refilling; lid over open containers.
The vacuum cleaner and the filtering
A vacuum cleaner is only as good as its filter: if it sucks up fine dust and blows it back out, it has moved the dirt, not removed it. Two concepts are important — dust class (what type of dust the machine can be used with) and HEPA (the filter's efficiency on fine particles).
Dust class L, M and H
Industrial and professional vacuum cleaners are classified under the standard EN 60335-2-69 into three dust classes according to how hazardous to health the dust they are approved for is. The class sets a requirement for the filtration level. The standard is paid, so Discebo does not reproduce the percentages — they are in the standard and on the machine's data sheet:
| Dust class | Til fx |
|---|---|
| L (low hazard) | Common household/office dust, harmless dust. |
| M (medium hazard) | E.g. wood dust and some mineral dust. |
| H (high hazard) | Health-damaging/cancer-causing dust, e.g. asbestos, mould spores. |
HEPA filter (EN 1822)
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) is a filter class defined in EN 1822. The two relevant classes for cleaning are H13 and H14, which are of interest, for example, in the healthcare sector and where allergens and fine dust must be removed from the air. The efficiency per class is given in the paid standard and on the filter's data sheet:
| HEPA class | Typical use |
|---|---|
| H13 | Among other places, in the health sector. |
| H14 | Stricter requirements, e.g. clean rooms. |
Floor washing machine
A floor scrubber (scrubbing/drying machine) washes and suctions dirty water in one pass. It significantly increases productivity on larger, open areas compared to manual mopping, gives uniform results and leaves the floor nearly dry so it can quickly be walked on. Models are available in walk-behind and ride-on versions depending on area size.
Enkeltskive-/rondelmaskine
The single-disc/rotary machine (with low speed) drives a rotating pad or brush and is used for scrubbing, scouring and cleaning — including as part of floor treatment (see that article). With a high-speed machine a polish film is buffed/polished instead. The pad colour is chosen according to the task roughness.
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