IICRC Publishes New Standard for Upholstery

Contributed by BSM Staff

LAS VEGAS -- The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has published a new national standard for professional upholstery cleaning.

The ANSI/IICRC S300 standard describes the systems, methods, and procedures to be followed when performing professional upholstery cleaning.

This standard was created primarily for use by professional cleaners, and secondarily for other materially interested parties (MIPs) such as upholstery fabric and furniture manufacturers, industry suppliers, retailers, and distributors.

Though it does not specifically address the processes and procedures for restoring or remediating smoke or microbially contaminated upholstery, the IICRC S300 Standard includes the following which are described in detail:

  • Fiber, Construction, and Styles
  • Principles of Professional Upholstery Cleaning
  • Equipment and Tools
  • Pre-Cleaning and Post-Cleaning Inspections (Administrative Procedures)
  • Methods and Systems of Cleaning
  • Leather Cleaning
  • Spot and Stain Removal
  • Fabric Protectors
  • Residential vs. Commercial Maintenance and Cleaning
  • Safety and Health
  • Limitations, Complexities, Complications, and Conflicts

Ed Hobbs, IICRC S300 Consensus Body Chairman, said it was “my true honor to serve with Paul Pearce as the Vice Chair, and the other members of the S300 Consensus Body in completing the Standard. As a result of countless hours of volunteer time by the S300 Consensus Body and others over the last seven years, the Institute now has an upholstery cleaning standard that is ANSI accredited and includes many updates from the First Edition.”

Brandon Burton, IICRC Standards Chairman, said, “It takes a massive commitment from a large body of volunteers to bring a new standard to the Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Industry. On behalf of the industry at large, I’d like to extend our gratitude to the S300 Consensus Body, and, in particular, to Ed Hobbs and Paul Pearce, Chair and Vice Chair, for bringing this valuable Standard of Care to reality as an American National Standard for the first time.”

For more information, go to iicrc.org.