What is the IICRC and Why Does It Matter?
The IICRC is the best-known organization for certifying inspection, cleaning, and restoration businesses. They provide certification programs that ensure the highest standards in water damage restoration, carpet and upholstery cleaning, mold remediation, and other cleaning tasks. A certification from this organization is proof that a business is serious about helping its customers and the greater community.
Background
The IICRC, known as the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, is a nonprofit organization that issues certifications of high standards to cleaning workers and companies. This U.S.-based organization determines the industry standards of building health and safety that are acceptable in the cleaning industry. The IICRC is a standard-development organization (SDO) that is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The purpose of the organization is to develop strict, universally accepted standards for inspection, cleaning, and restoration companies to follow.
Why Industry Standards Are Important
Industry standards are necessary to ensure that most professionals in the industry are following strict rules and regulations. They are less likely to cut corners to get the job done and jeopardize the health and safety of their clients.
IICRC develops and promotes industry terms that are used by most professionals in their industries. Their standards pertain to the professional cleaning, inspection, and restoration services of carpets, stone, upholstery, and textiles. They set rules that affect how safely and effectively water damages are restored in homes or buildings, how mold is remediated, and how crime scenes are cleaned and restored.
For instance, water damage restoration is a major service that is needed in flooded homes. Restoring a home from water damage is not the same as vacuuming and cleaning the carpet. There is a multitude of steps that must be completed, and missing one step could ruin the entire restoration project.
Without IICRC standards in place, many customers will complain to consumer protection agencies about lazy, reckless companies. Homeowners will be overcharged for low-quality services that they could have done themselves. Countless home and business owners will spend thousands of dollars extra on additional repairs. Some of them will lose their properties altogether. The IICRC protects business owners from being sued and protects consumers from being taken advantage of by businesses.
Thousands of certified cleaners have been approved by The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification and accepted by the public. Every certified technician has promised to provide the highest quality cleaning for your home or business and continues to learn new techniques every few years. The IICRC exists to show care and respect for individuals and businesses that need good services.
