Simon Institute has announced the non-profit organization has been accredited as a developer of American National Standards by ANSI, including basic custodial, housekeeping, janitorial management, training, tasks and time standards.

The Simon Institute aims to advance the profession and respect of the cleaning industry. 

Paul Condie, president of Simon Institute, called the accreditation a large step for innovating custodial programs in the United States. 

“Since forming in 2002, the mission of the Simon Institute has been to legitimize and advance the profession of cleaning,” he says. “The janitorial/custodial industry is an estimated $200 billion segment of business that has few American National Standards attached to its budgets. It’s really amazing that our profession has gone this long without them.”

What does this mean for cleaning operations throughout the country? 

“A standard cleaning approach must be based on benchmarking among multiple facility segments, best practices, scientific cleaning and be formed through a consensus process,” Condie says. “Businesses recognize that there is value and opportunity to be found in standardized services and cleaning materials that enhance environmental quality and the quality of life.”

Simon Institute realized that ANSI was the best vehicle for driving standardization after attending World Standards Week in Washington D.C., last fall.

“It was interesting to see so many different lines of business gathering in the nation’s capitol to network,” says Ben Walker, publicity chair for Simon Institute.  “The big takeaway for Simon Institute was that competitive interests were able to gather in the same room and have thoughtful, meaningful discussions about advancing their respective industries. It ultimately drove the decision to move forward with the accreditation process.”

The accreditation process included an initial 30-day public review period. Simon Institute’s application and proposed consensus bylaws were published on Simon Institute’s website, ANSI’s weekly publications “What’s New” and “Standards Review” as well as social media.  Once that process was completed, ANSI’s standards subcommittee and Executive Standards Council reviewed Simon Institute’s bylaws and application to ensure that they were in alignment with ANSI’s essential requirements for consensus. 

“It was a thorough five month process,”  says Condie.  “We’re really excited about the accreditation. Now we can formalize the Standards Writing Committee for drafting of standards for public review.”

Simon Institute’s represents  the interest of forward thinking custodial management from all segments of the cleaning industry including higher education, K-12 schools, building service contractors, professional sports arenas, industrial, federal government, manufacturing, facility management groups and academics.