“No Toilets”

In spite of the massive Clean India Campaign, there are villages with no toilets at all. The 13 families staying in the West Hill of Kozhikode have no access to toilets. Some are used to go to the General Hospital on Kozhikode beach, three kilometres away from home, to use the toilet there.

With a promise to build an apartment for them, the families were temporarily rehabilitated from Muthalakkulam to Kalluthankadavu. However, 21 years have passed since then, the families are left with sheds in a compound with no facilities.

“No Toilets”

Is Peeing Political?

The UK Government recently funded $54,000 to a toilet research that aimed to explore and disrupt perceived notions of ‘access’ and ‘identity’ and to find ways of articulating the idea that ‘peeing is political.’

The research points out the traditional thinking behind the toilet establishments. “Thinking around toilets, and their function as material as well as socio-cultural environments, presents an opportunity to think in multi-faceted ways about forms of identity. Toilets often present a stark visual and material enactment of a gender binary in ways that can be problematic for trans, genderqueer, or non-binary people who do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. Conversely, it is often the ‘accessible’ (disabled) toilet that provides a gender-neutral space. For some disabled people, this can serve as an example, reflected in the built environment, of the oppressive assumption that they are genderless and asexual.”

While using arts- and practice-based approaches to experiment with ‘toilet talk’ as a method of investigating issues of ‘access’ and ‘identity’ in relation to gender and disability, the research and activities focus around gender and disability, seeking to consider additional intersections of identity including race, ethnicity, age, religion and faith.

Is Peeing Political?

No-Touch Cleaning System

Excel International Group has introduced KaiVac 1250 No-Touch Cleaning® System to the Indian market. A Hygienic Solutions for Every Commercial Restroom the KaiVac 1250 is compact, lightweight, easy to maneuver and transport. However, it packs a powerful 500psi pump and a heavy duty three-stage vacuum motor. In addition, it supports many add-ons and attachments that round out its already versatile performance.

Features

High-Powered Indoor Pressure Washer:This high-pressure spray effortlessly washes away soils, bacteria and other bio-pollution that other cleaning methods leave behind – leaving fixtures, floors and walls sparkling clean.

Reliable Wet Vacuum Motor: Well-built and reliable, the powerful 3-stage vacuum motors in our No-Touch Cleaning systems efficiently remove all soils, bacteria and cleaning solution, leaving floors clean, dry, free from
bio-contaminants and ready for immediate use.

Industry’s Best Squeegee Blades: Developed for cleaning performance and durability in “hostile” environments, the squeegee blades are engineered for maximum soil removal. Plus, they are chemical, grease-and wear-resistant for extra-long life.

Convenient Dumping & Filling: Save time and avoid worker injuries by dumping dirty water in the nearest toilet through the drain hose and filling clean water at the nearest sink with the fill hose.

Accurate Chemical Metering: It saves on chemicals with color-coded tips that control accurate metering of our chemicals from 1, 2, 4, 8, and 20 ounces per gallon. Charts are included to match color tips for appropriate dilution.

HEPA Filtration Exhaust and Blow: KaiVac 1250 includes HEPA filtration on wet or dry vacuum exhaust for optimum indoor air quality. Plus, the 300mph HEPA filtered blower allows to effortlessly and instantly dry fixtures or dust high areas. 

 

No-Touch Cleaning System

Role of technology in FM for best practices

In any organization, technology constitutes only one-seventh of its resources. Moreover, used in isolation, it is bound to fail. As Sreedhar Saraswathi, Business Head – South Asia, ARCHIBUS explains, the technology integrated with organization’s people, time and finances is the best way forward. The emphasis should be on 5-Cs: Continuity, Consolidation, Control, Collaboration, and Citizenship.

DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES can be utilized to maximize the real estate, space and building assets, offering cost savings and value. These technologies include.

• Building Information Modelling (BIM) that provides building data in digital format to operators and planners and helps improve the performance and costs of the project. Integrating BIM data with other building systems allows data to be continuously updated over the life of the building improving data visibility and efficiency. The latest BIM version available is 8.0.


• Computer-Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) that uses IT-based systems in the built environment, combines Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and database with specific facility management abilities such as, identifying departments and staff, space access rights and security level, as well as space planning and forecasting etc. When multiple data is integrated on one platform, the same is known as Computer-Integrated Facilities Management (CIFM). It provides a single, comprehensive repository of information that tracks the organization’s people, places and physical assets.


• Facility managers can use the BIM model to scenario plan and configure spaces more efficiently. When integrated with engineering, the same software is termed as Total Infrastructure and Facilities Management (TIFM). These systems are comprehensive, integrated solutions that tie together the people, processes, places, and physical assets which form the core of productive organizations.


• The latest software platform for FM is an integrated workplace management system (IWMS) that helps organizations optimize the use of workplace resources, including the management of a company’s real estate portfolio, infrastructure and facilities assets. On the other hand, Ubiquitous infrastructure and facilities management (UIFM) can collate data in any shape and form like SQL, Excel, Oracle etc. in the framework to generate reports for facility managers. UIFM connects over 10,000 touch points to and from real estate, infrastructure and facilities management activities.

Enterprise Information Modeling, an industry standard scheme, models the organization’s infrastructure, supports the workflows, processes, and activities within the four disciplines – Infrastructure Management: Properties, Facilities, Technology, and Operations Management. It provides a holistic approach to Facilities and Infrastructure lifecycle management.

While BIM focuses on technologies and models, EIM emphasis is on workflow and processes. It covers building’s entire lifecycle by helping allocate, optimize, enable and preserve the resources i.e. addressing the five Cs for personal and organizational benefits. EIM correlates design data and finance and master planning data with the rest of the enterprise.

Using BIM with FM

Typically, data is lost as each stakeholder adds and edits data. The FM wastes time trying to recreate that data. Facility managers and owners don’t look at facilities one building at a time. They look at 10, 100 or even 100’s of building and try to gain efficiencies across portfolios. By storing BIM-generated data an owner can gain efficiencies across the entire portfolio rather than one building at a time.

BIM can model physical relationships and capture data and when used with FM platform can analyze, manage and manipulate the data for its consumers which can be anyone from the CEO making strategic decisions to the office employee need the heat turned down in his office. With BIM an organization can save 2-3% but by combining BIM with FM, it can save up to 34%. by ensuring:

• Robust Data/Information Connectivity and Quality Assurance


• Improved Building and Asset Lifecycle Management


• Enterprise-Wide Scalability and Accessibility


• Automatic Financial System Updates


• Improved On-going Collaboration


• Increased Productivity and Profitability

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is now becoming prevalent for both businesses and consumers, whether through Apple’s iCloud, use of social networks or shared software such as that available from Google. It allows organizations to benefit from reduced costs and increased productivity. The various modes of deployment are:

• On-Premise: Traditional Sales Model where the customer owns software and deploys on-Site.


• Off-Premise Hosted: Known as “Condo” Model where the customer owns Software and is hosted by 3rd Party Off-Site.


• On Demand: “Software as a Service” (SaaS) Model where the customer does not own software.


• On Demand –Dedicated Server: SaaS Model where the customer does not own software

Mobile Devices and Apps

In today’s work culture of flexi-hours and off site work locations, mobile devices maximize staff productivity by providing services and data at the pointof- activity, leverage the existing IT infrastructure. Various apps on phone for workplace, facility, property and, asset management help coordinate with organization on go securely, supporting wide range of consumer devices and enabling an increasingly mobile workforce within an agile and changing workplace.

Strategies for Mobile Framework

• First generation – Bespoke solutions using Palm OS and other early mobile technologies


• Second Generation – Commercial solutions from AI/ADNs/ISVs using vendor-centric technologies such as Windows CE and BlackBerry


• Third Generation – Embedded hybrid Mobile Framework to support multiple mobile OS with full security and device control

Social Media

Social media like WhatsApp, Twitter among others are the new brand building tools as well as channels for consumer grievance redressal. They offer services that earn an organization blue dollar meaning bringing revenue indirectly. For example, a customer complaint of newly bought vehicle breaking down posted on Twitter was immediately noticed by the CEO of the company who extended instant solution and thus the company earned rave reviews from the customer in turn encouraging others to buy their product. Similarly, in China a messaging app on metro stations is being used by the citizens to post pictures and problems for the department to address those within a short time.

Intuitive Business Transformation

A traditional consultant-driven transformation shows limited results as top down solutions from consultants are usually resisted by associates and middle management. Whereas, horizontal interactive collaborative solution using Intuitive business transformation tool and UIFM ensures the involvement of all the stakeholders and enhances productivity. This approach creates knowledge via Information and data sharing by – asking consultant and/or executive about data and information needs, listening & offering feedback to colleagues and partners about additional opportunities related to their Services-Driven Data and Information in addressing the business and operational need and lastly analyzing to determine the costs and value associated with each additional opportunity. Work with Colleagues and Partners to identify and deploy appropriate IBT Initiatives that will meet knowledge expectations.

Big Data Management

APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities was founded in 1914. It is dedicated to the maintenance, protection and promotion of quality educational facilities with over 1500 learning institutions and 4700 members in U.S., Canada and other countries. It runs FM courses and uses technology to collate information from students and members across the globe to churn out big data of reports and papers. The organization offers an extensive collection of resources designed to help the facilities professional keep abreast of trends in the field, enhance your performance, and grow professionally.

RFID

(RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. The systems can be classified as an Active Reader Passive Tag (ARPT) system, which transmits interrogator signals and receives authentication replies from passive tags. Or an Active Reader Active Tag (ARAT) system using active tags awoken with an interrogator signal from the active reader. Alternatively, in places like exits gates of shopping centres, fixed readers are set up to allow a highly defined reading area for when tags go in and out of the zone or hand-held mobile readers can be used. RFID can also be used to track people such as doctors in a hospital in case of an emergency.

“A platform encompassing -property management, asset management, facility management, building operations & sustainability is called Enterprise information modelling EIM.”

The latest Green RFID Enterprises seamlessly integrate databases and passive UHF RFID technologies and digital photography. The system is easily interfaced to client’s existing data base systems providing immediate enhancements to safety, security, visibility and life experience of these systems.

Most phones have NFC (Near Field Communication) that organizations can use as identity cards, instead of issuing RFID cards/badges. Emergency services too can be provided through NFC that That can even translate languages while communicating. Likewise, for facility maintenance, mobile phones can be embedded with scanner to conduct equipment condition assessment. The employee can scan the machine to check for listed conditions, the scanner scans the malfunctioning parts that flashes on the server.

GIS

Till five years back there were very few vendors for geographic information system (GIS). Today, all smartphones have GIS system like Google maps etc. The intersection of Facilities Management and GIS delivers powerful new information for planning, training, and responding to natural and man-made events. For example, a custom map service shows the juxtaposition of a hazmat event with a number of SAIC office locations, and the floorplan for an office that’s closest to the event origin. If this was your facility, you could know who was in the building, what the effects of the event might be and how your response should be executed to safeguard these people.

Virtual / Augmented Reality VR/AR

The technologies having a great impact on the FM sector are Virtual and Augmented reality. While, virtual reality is all about the creation of a virtual world that users can interact with, augmented reality shows beyond what can be seen, like an x-ray. Augmented reality means that computer-generated sensory input is added to the real-world environment. Whereas in AR the real environment is augmented, virtual reality uses a complete virtualization of the given circumstances.

The empirical accuracy of the system helps improve decisionmaking during construction or facility management activities. It enables prompt identification, processing, and communication of discrepancies between actual and expected performance. The technology also aids project managers to proactively decide on corrective actions and minimize the cost and delays.

Conclusions and Opportunities

Undoubtedly, technologies like BIM & Mobile applications have enhanced process quality with technical advancement and visualization of data and information have increased FM efficiencies even further. The time is now to start adopting these technologies and service offerings proactively and for FM leaders and managers to learn how to ask, listen & analyze, and market themselves as “Chief Value Officers” and “Chief Revenue Officers”.

Role of technology in FM for best practices

Working towards Sustainability

Sustainability has a long-term impact on our environment and the generations to come. As stakeholders of the laundry industry, it falls upon the industry players and service providers to take responsibility to give time to nature to recreate itself by limiting the use of natural resources. In a high level panel discussion during LaundrexNet knowledge sharing session held in January 2016, eminent speakers discussed sustainability in laundry. Excerpts:

The Panel Members: Uwe Stahl, Managing Director-Stahl, Germany; Timothy R. Nymberg, Vice President-APAC; Vijay Rodda, Laundry Consultant and Sumeet Verma, Managing Director-Buzil Rossari Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai.

Sustainability in general, depends on two factors – cost and its impact on the society and stakeholders. Cost has various aspects, including primary expenses such as chemicals, water, energy, fuel, salary and machinery. It also involves secondary expenses which include telephone, computer, paper work, packaging and logistics. While, these are some of the expenses that can be moderated and if done so, without compromising on the quality, sustainability increases. Both factors must commensurate with each other for a sustainable business model in any field.

There are five main stakeholders for any industry, including laundry customer or guest, shareholder, staff, supply chain and the society. Society, specifically is affected by a range of factors like pollution (land, air, water and noise) besides usage of resources whether renewable or non-renewable. These factors could lead to problems for any business.

Role of machinery

Speaking of expenses incurred in procuring machines, Uwe Stahl opines that “procurement is one-time investment and it is the operational cost that affects sustainability in terms of water usage, servicing, compatibility of different kind of clothes and chemicals, damage to laundry, energy consumption and emerging pollutants impacting health of the workers.”

In fact, the more one invests in the set-up, the more it adds to sustainability. Efficient use of resources, improves the quality of life. “It is not about a chemical or equipment, it is all about balancing the laundry operations. Adequate dosing and dispensing coupled with uninterrupted operations, minimum rewashing and a balance of the chemistry involved play a significant role in sustainability,” adds Timothy.

Explaining sustainability in terms of laundry, Sumeet Verma says, “Sustainability is all about using the resources — water, chemical and energy — efficiently to save the environment. I use an analogy for laundry that machine is the body, dispensing is the art and chemical is the blood. We should have benchmarks defined for each and every procedure and equipment involved. If all these benchmarks are within parameters, the cost will automatically come down. Water quality, mechanical action, chemical dilution, time and temperature are the five operational parameters and are the key to achieve sustainability goals for any small or large laundry establishment.”

From ecological perspective, Sumeet prefers liquid based chemicals over powders, as they all have phosphate base that tend to pollute the environment. “So when we speak about sustainability, it is not just the cost but the entire ecosystem that needs to be considered. Powders also take time to dissolve in water unlike liquids. Efficient dosing programme can also help in sustainability.”

Sorting linen

Laundry efficiency depends on the processing system used for handling soils. Generally, sorting depends on three types of soils — low soil, medium soil and heavy soil. One can have an over designed system in case of heavy and low soil laundry processing.

Timothy elaborates, “Sorting of laundry is very important along with a tailor-made dosing system for classified laundry besides adequate and optimised usage of all resources. With powders, the product is dependent on manual operations. Any delay from the operator’s end may put extra load on the machine, causing more wear and tear to the parts. Moreover, powder-based chemicals do not rinse out easily, that’s why liquid dispensing is more efficient and accurate as compared to the powder.”

Q&A Session

“We face the issue of stain removal of dotted spots on cloths, which can be taken care of in case of white clothes but it is not easy to get rid of gutka or ball pen ink stains from coloured clothes. We cannot use harsh chemicals on coloured clothes as they may lose the original colour.”

– Chandrakant Kadam, Paris Laundry, Pune

“In case of gutka and other food stains you may use Dry Ethanol Amine (DEA) treatment. In case of ball pen spots that tend to spread on application of chemicals, we need to remove the stain in two steps, as the ink contains wax and colour. First, we need to remove wax by putting a rough quick absorbing cloth below the spot to avoid spreading of stain and then use another chemical like DEA to remove the stain. It is effective in coloured laundry too.”

– Vijay Rodda

 

“We are facing a problem in handling the rubber supported curtains, as the rubber part becomes sticky after application of chemicals. How to resolve this problem?”

– Amrut Shah, WashINC, Mumbai.

 

“Rubber tends to react with alkaline substances and if the wet wash medium pH is above 10 then the rubber becomes sticky. So dry cleaning is best option for such kind of laundry. But if you are using wet wash avoid any detergent, boosters or additives that may raise the pH beyond 10. Use special detergents or neutral detergents to wash rubber support laundry.”

– Sumeet Verma

“What are the existing laws for laundry waste disposal in India? Do we have as stringent norms here as in western countries?”

“In India, the pollution control board has set norms for wastewater and effluent treatment and conducts regular checks and audits for laundry units. All the laundry shops and units need to comply with the norms to continue with their certification to run the business. And the body is trying hard to reduce the usage of PERC in laundries, which is a hazardous chemical. Our environmental standards are continuously being revised to check the use of PERC.

In foreign countries, the regulations are very strict and the sector is governed by specific agencies. In India, the norms are not equally strict in the absence of a dedicated governing body to look after the laundry sector, but gradually the pollution control bodies are upgrading the regulations.

In the US, serious efforts are being taken to wipe out usage of PERC in laundry business, which is considered the first hand choice for dry cleaning. Brazil has reduced the utilisation of PERC from 100% to 5% and Japan is evolving in that direction.

What is the scenario of the Indian laundry sector, with respect to sustainability?

If we map the laundry across India, we are in a nascent stage. Most of the laundry sector has a long way to go, as very few people working on a good mechanised system; very few facilities are equipped with a high quality dosing system and very less percentage of operators are using liquid laundry detergent.

Colour Bleeding
How to control colour bleeding of cloths in laundry?

“Ideally, any properly designed garment should not bleed but in practice we see about 3-4% of the entire batch leave colour in the process. So we must check each cloth before putting into machine and applying chemical treatment. You need to wash such garments separately and bill the extra charges to the customer.”

– Vijay Rodda

 

Working towards Sustainability

E-waste Recyclers’ Certification in India

Simply defined, e-waste is the waste generated from used electronic devices and household appliances which are not fit for their originally intended use and are destined for recovery, recycling and disposal. As per the estimates of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), worldwide 20-50 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste, including old phones, TVs, microwaves, washing machines, dishwashers and computers (contain hazardous materials including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead and mercury), is getting discarded into landfills each year. Pallavee Khanna, Emergent Ventures India Pvt. Ltd highlights need-of-the-hour e-waste recyclers’ certification.

AS PER the Global E-Waste Monitor Report (2014), 41.8MT of total e-waste was generated globally in the year 2014. Based on the data obtained from the report, it is estimated that there would be a ~19% rise (i.e. 49.8MT) in the total amount of e-waste generated, and 14% increase in e-waste generated per inhabitant (6.7kg/ inh.) in year 2018. Thus, an increasing trend in global e-waste generation data in – absolute terms and per inhabitant is observed with the increase in global population (Figure 1). Considering the same growth rate, the waste generation data is projected for next 15 years till year 2030. It is found that, with a 19% increase in global population (8.4 billion) in 2030, the global waste generation data in absolute terms is expected to rise by 76% (and become 73.7Mt) whereas waste generated per inhabitant is expected to rise by 58% (and become 9.3 kg/inh.) in the year 2030 as compared to that in year 2014. The magnitude of the e-waste problem would be thus huge if not tackled in time!

On assessment of continent-wise e-waste generation (in year 2014), it is found that Asia generated the maximum e-waste of 16MT which was 3.7 kg/inh.

E-waste recycling in India

According to Central Pollution Control Board’s data (CPCB, 2015), in 12 Indian states, 138 units of dismantler/recyclers having a total capacity of 349,154.6MTA have been registered as on 27th November 2014, showing an increase of 8% (i.e. 149 units) and 32% (i.e.461,058.7MTA) respectively registered as on 14th December 2015 (CPCB, 2016).

Some of the rules, regulation and related to e-waste in India are as follows:

• The Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2003


• The Hazardous waste (Management. Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008


• Management of E-Waste, Guidelines, 2008


• The E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011


• Electronic Waste Handling and Disposal Draft Law, 2013

Adverse effects of e-waste

• The e-waste generated in 2014 contained an estimated 16,500kT of iron, 1,900kT of copper, 300T of gold (equal to 11% of the world’s total 2013 gold production), as well as silver, aluminum, palladium plastic and other resources with a combined estimated value of USD 52 billion.
• Toxins in that e-waste include 2.2MT of lead glass, 0.3MT of batteries, as well as mercury, cadmium, chromium and 4,400 tonne of ozone-depleting substances (CFCs).
• Health problems associated with such toxins include impaired mental development, cancer, and damage to livers and kidneys.

Why e-waste recyclers should go for certification?

E-waste contains several toxic materials such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, which must be processed, recycled and disposed responsibly in order to prevent harm to the eco-system. Unfortunately, about 95% of the electronic waste produced in India is handled by the informal recycling sector, improperly using crude techniques and polluting processes (like open air incineration, acid stripping and manual dismantling) and employ poorly paid workers, including women and children in these hazardous processes, which leads to environmental pollution and grave health risks.

Industry certification programs are thus need of the hour as they set requirements for safer recycling and disposal of e-waste.

Globally there exist some of the following e-waste certification programmes (an indicative list) which include guidelines that define responsible and effective e-waste management:

• R2 Solutions (R2)


• The Recycling Industry Operation Standard (RIOS)


• The Basel Action Network (e-Stewards)

In order to prevent aforementioned environmental pollution and health hazards associated with electronic waste, and ensure recovery of valuable resources, one needs to look for a good electronic waste recycler, who ensures sustainable and responsible recycling. Thus, having an e-waste certificate would have several benefits:

• Distinguishes a company as an industry leader and positions it as preferred recyclers of e-waste and supplier of recycled material.


• Ensures transparency and indicate a company’s level of compliance.

Creates confidence that the organization is abiding by the data security standards. Data security is essential for both individuals and corporate organizations as most transactions take place electronically and once these electronics reach the end of their useful lives, the data on them must be destructed to ensure that information is not misused. Responsible e-waste recyclers ensure that their data is either put straight into processing or kept in a secure place until its processing and destruction occurs.

E-waste Recyclers’ Certification in India