Your Guide to Cleaning Ceramic Floors

1
Top Floor Care Tips Based on Traffic
Conditions
2
Traffic Conditions Dictate Floor Care

• Soils such as sand, dust, and grit are generally
  not a significant problem for floors until people
  and equipment are introduced to the environment.
  These dry soils have sharp edges and when walked
  on or rolled over, they can start abrading,
  eroding, and otherwise damaging the floor and its
  finish.The number of people and mechanical
  vehicles traveling on a floor is referred to as
  traffic, and the amount of traffic on the floor
  will help determine the amount and type of
  cleaning and maintenance the floor will need.

3
Low Traffic Conditions
A low-traffic environment is a small space where
approximately 100 to 500 people may walk through
each day. Examples include small offices or
retail stores. Daily sweeping and vacuuming
is required to remove light debris, dust, and
other soils. Weekly wet floor maintenance should
be all that is needed to maintain a thorough
clean.   
4
Flooring for Low Traffic Conditions
Due to the low volume of people filing through
each day and the minimal maintenance required,
low traffic conditions have the greatest range of
optimal flooring types that can be considered.
Options include hardwood, laminate, tile, natural
stone, carpet, vinyl, and cork, for example.
5
Medium Traffic Conditions
A medium-traffic environment encompasses smaller
class "A" and class "B" buildings. These
facilities typically have 500 to 1,500 people
walking through them each day and will require
daily cleaning. In addition to a daily sweeping
or vacuuming, a wet maintenance routine at the
end of each day is needed to maintain a thorough
clean.   
6
Flooring for Medium Traffic Conditions
Medium traffic areas can use a mix of flooring
that both the low and high traffic areas can
utilize. Examples include commercial bamboo,
tile, solid hardwood with a strong hardness
rating, and concrete, for example.
7
High Traffic Conditions
High-traffic facilities face anywhere from 1,500
to 100,000 people or more every day. Examples
include large office buildings, sports complexes,
hospitals, schools, and transportation centers
like airports and bus stations. These floors are
constantly being soiled and require floor
maintenance multiple times throughout the day. 
8
Flooring for High Traffic Conditions
High traffic conditions are best met with tough,
durable, and solid flooring that can handle the
wear and tear that the area will face daily and
over time. The ideal floor types are ceramic that
is rated 4 or 5 on the PEI chart, concrete,
natural stone such as granite, limestone,
sandstone, laminate flooring with a thick layer
of melamine resin, and engineered or solid
hardwood with a strong hardness rating.
9
Traffic Patterns Vary
It is important to realize that certain areas
within a facility may have multiple traffic
patterns over time or multiple traffic patterns
within the facility at any given time. As an
example of the latter, lobbies, primary walkways,
and entries into retail stores can be
high-traffic areas while other areas within the
same facility may have medium or even low
traffic.To ensure proper floor maintenance,
cleaning professionals need to be clear on which
areas need the most frequent attention and should
consider preventative care as well. This ensures
the floors are maintained, reduces costs, and can
help reduce restorative cycles. 
10
Performance Systems Janitorial Supply offers
high-quality refurbished machines that have been
tested by trained technicians. In addition to
machines, PS Janitorial provides operating
assistance, as well as parts, rentals, and repair
services. Contact a consultant to find the most
productive, easy-to-operate, and safest machine
to meet your needs.   Website
http//www.psjanitorial.com Phone [phone]
11
SOURCES

1. http//www.bir.org/industry/plastics/
2. http//www.bir.org/industry/plastics/
3. http//www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/plastics
   .htm
4. http//www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagenamerecycl
   ing_facts_and_stats
5. http//www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagenamerecycl
   ing_facts_and_stats
6. http//www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/plastics
   .htm
7. http//www.bir.org/industry/plastics/
8. http//environment.about.com/od/recycling/a/benefi
   ts-of-plastics-recycling.htm

12
SUMMARY
Traffic conditions primarily dictate the level of
care and maintenance a facilitys flooring needs.
Maintaining the appropriate care program ensures
floors last a long time while boosting aesthetic
appeal and overall cleanliness of a facility.