Understanding building needs
February 21st 2007 The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners was established in 1986 as the City of London’s 97th Livery Company, having been formed as a City Guild in 1972.
Membership is made up of some 280 senior directors and managers, representing the majority of Britain’s top cleaning and support service management companies, as well as manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. Between them, the companies represented employ in excess of one million cleaning and service staff and manage the day to day cleaning of a substantial proportion of Britain’s commercial and public buildings. The Company is, therefore, uniquely placed to understand the cleaning needs of all types of building and to highlight the benefits to be gained from addressing the issue of cleanability, at an early stage in building design and construction.
Building Cleanability Awards
Major advances have been made in recent years in building design and technology, both for new building development and older building refurbishment. The needs of building occupiers and users are increasingly taken into account, by architects, designers and construction or refurbishment contractors, keen to provide the optimum working environment for both staff and visitors. Visual impact is considered important, along with up to date building management techniques.
The cleaning needs of a building are often addressed after completion of building or refurbishment work. Given that the ambience of any building depends quite significantly on the level of cleanliness maintained, the subject of cleanability and the early identification of cleaning needs, are issues which require a higher profile at the design and construction stages of building development.
Considerable savings in building operational costs can be achieved, where cleanability issues have been taken into account.
It is for these sound financial benefits that The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners decided to take the initiative by introducing The Building Cleanability Awards scheme in 1995. After two pilot schemes in London in 1995 / 1996 and 1997 / 1998 and a further scheme covering the South East in 1999 / 2000, three national schemes have been held in 2001 / 2002, 2003 / 2004 and 2005 / 2006. Nearly three hundred buildings have so far been assessed for a Building Cleanability Awards, from all over the UK.
The 2007 / 2008 Building Cleanability Awards are being promoted at The Cleaning Show and nominations are invited for buildings anywhere in the UK in the following categories:
Nominations will be received up until 30th November 2007 and each building nominated will receive an assessment visit from one of the authorised Assessors, between September 2007 and March 2008. Results will be announced in June 2008 and the Awards Presentation Luncheon will take place on Monday 14th July 2008 in London’s famous Guildhall More articles from The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners: | 
