Cleaning certification organization IICRC and its affiliated trade association IICRCA held the grand opening of their new Global Resource Center at the start of Surfaces in Las Vegas yesterday.

[EasyDNNnewsToken:Left Justify Embed 300 x 250]On January 27th, just before the opening of the Surfaces Show in Las Vegas, guests and press convened for the Grand Opening of the new Global Resource Center of the Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). The facility also houses the offices of the newly launched IICRC Association (IICRCA).

“The IICRCA has the goal of unifying the industry and spread the mission and standards of inspection, cleaning and restoration worldwide,” said Tony Wheelwright, IICRC chairman. “The association will aim to be a central resource for industry professionals to grow their businesses and better serve their customers.”


In the past, many have objected to the idea of a single, unifying organization, fearing the loss of their own unique identity within the industry. The key, as Wheelwright explains, is that the IICRCA “calls for an agreement among the [IICRCA] and the current associations to support each other in missions while remaining independent in name and funding.”

In addition to expanding their legislative and public advocacy of a professional and intrinsically valuable cleaning industry, the IICRCA has pre-negotiated a large collection of business discounts on uniforms, office supplies, wireless devices and plans, and even gasoline.

Over 30,000 cleaning companies across the globe are eligible to join because they are members of an affiliated association or franchise. As of the end of 2013, 12 associations and 6 franchises have established membership affiliation with IICRCA, including the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International (ARCSI), the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), the Carpet and Fabricare Institute (CFI), ServiceMaster, Rainbow, 911 Restoration, GUS Brand, SFG Franchise Group and Paul Davis Restoration, among others. For a complete list, visit IICRCA.org.

 

Tony Wheelwright is the Chairman of IICRC and former Chairman of the newly launched IICRCA – Institute for Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification Association. Dedicated to professional education, Tony is the founder of Smoke and Mirrors, Inc., and has served on the boards of the Carpet Cleaners Institute of the Northwest as well as IICRC and now IICRCA.