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SWEEPING SERVICE

The AFS Sweeping Process

The key to any successfully parking lot sweeping division is the ability to effectively pay attention to the details. The details are what separate sweeping companies apart from one another.

First, AFS spends close to 60% of the time out of the sweeping unit. Our philosophy is simple, the more time out of the vehicle the better parking areas look.

Second, organized sweeping patterns are established to ensure cleanliness and consistency. Establishing a plan on each property reduces buildup in corners, sand build up or accumulated trash along landscaped islands and the outer lying areas.

Third, most areas are detailed with a high-velocity leaf blower moving debris away from the following areas so the parking lot sweeping equipment can collect the debris into its hopper. These areas consist of but not limited to corners, cart corrals, parking areas, curbs and wheel blocks, building edges, under canopy sidewalks, egress drives, rear service areas and dumpster areas.

Fourth, trash receptacle liners are typically replaced when 50% of the bag is full of debris.

What Makes American Facility Services Sweeping Division different?

Let’s start by saying all sweeping contractors face the same daily issues such as…

• Personnel
• Training
• Equipment Failures
• Scheduling

“The difference”

AFS puts uncompromising emphasis on safety, quality, and customer service within its sweeping division.

• Safety - (AFS puts safety first)
• Drug free work place
• Safety incentives awarded to our staff
• Weekly safety meetings
• Training

- On the Job Training
Facility Cleaning Techs (FCT) are trained by others with years of experience.

- Class Room Training
AFS created a 40 minute training video that explores the different environments that a FCT is responsible to clean. This video outlines AFS & customer expectations.

- Training Manuals
Training manuals are handed out to our FCT to reinforce the knowledge they have gained from the class room and on the job training.

- Testing
FCT in training must score a 90% or better on the written exam.
If they score below the bench mark, training is repeated again.

Quality Control

Site Inspections
Client Service Representatives (CSR)/Property Advisors (PA) routinely inspect the condition of your property as often as necessary. Any time a CSR/PA visits a job site an e-mail notification is sent out from our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software before they leave the job site. During the routine inspections you will also be notified of any issues observed. For example, oversized debris, potholes, graffiti etc…

Maintenance
Equipment failures are a nature of a sweeping business. Our Equipment is routinely inspected and maintained on a daily basis minimizing equipment failures. Don’t worry because AFS has enough back up equipment to keep the operations going.

Incentive Program
This is another incentive that plays a major role in quality assurance. Quality Bingo is played on a month basis and the staff has the potential to earn thousands of dollars per month.

Customer Service

24 hours
AFS is wired in 24 hours a day 7 days per week. We have every technological communication device available from mobile phones to mobile e-mail.

Client Service Representative/Property Advisors
You will begin to develop a strong relationship with one person at AFS right from the beginning. After we listen to what you want, we will then tailor our services to meet your needs. From this point on, your personal Property Advisor will be available 24 hours a day. They will make frequent visits to your account(s) notifying you every time they are on site via an e-mail site inspection. Property Advisors are equipped with mobile technology for faster communications. During site inspections, Property Advisors are measuring the level of service you are getting from AFS. In addition, Property Advisors will make notes of any issues found on the property. For example, potholes, oversized debris, graffiti and the list goes on. Again these issues are documented and photographed and sent to you via e-mail before the Property Advisor departs from the job site.

Sweeping 101
Education

American Facility Services uses two types of sweeping applications which are…

Mechanical Sweeping
The mechanical sweeper works by picking up the debris from the roadway and moving it into the sweeping path, where the rear broom sweeps the debris onto a conveyor system, which in turn carries the debris to a hopper.

Regenerative Air
The system is split into two major components. One of these is the forced air or pressure side. The other is called the vacuum or suction side. Although exact inner workings vary from unit to unit, the following is a general description of how the sweepers operate.

Sweeping 201

Why should you keep your parking area clean?

• The outside parking areas are where business owners hope their potential customers will derive an initially avorable 'first impression.'

• Having a clean parking lot projects an image of success, and people prefer to patronize the successful.

• A parking lot cluttered with debris can take away from even the most beautiful landscaping. People may even hesitate to venture in, if they see the potential for a flat tire in your parking area.

• Storm water runoff is fast becoming a factor in our environment. Sweeping your parking area on a regular basis can help to minimize pollutants in your storm water stream.

• It is virtually impossible to develop or retain the desired competitive edge if a business ' exterior, including the parking area, is unkempt.

• When your parking area is clean to begin with, shoppers are less likely to throw trash out of their cars when they come to shop.

• Sand, dirt, and other trash are abrasive. They will shorten the life of pavement, as well as the service time of any seal coating, striping, etc.

• The professionalism of the local business community at large is projected by each of the businesses within it.

• When dirt is allowed to stay on pavement, it quickly starts deteriorating the paving material. Replacement costs for pavement far exceed the routine expense of sweeping.

Maintaining the Image of Your Property

Studies have shown that cleanliness ranks as a top factor in determining where people shop, and external cleanliness is seen by many as equally important as that of the interior of the building. Here are some of the major reasons for sweeping your property regularly:

• Outside parking areas are where business owners hope their potential customers will derive an initially good ‘first impression.’ The way the outside area looks also projects an image of how the rest of the concern will be operated. If exterior maintenance is slipshod, then potential customers might well expect the internal cleanliness and other affairs of the mall or business to also be poorly run.

• People like to patronize the successful. Clearly, all businesses would choose to have a clean parking area, all other considerations aside. The unwillingness or inability to keep a particular area cleaned projects an image of not being successful.

• Shopping centers are finding maintenance of market share to be an increasingly competitive proposition. It’s virtually impossible to develop or retain the desired competitive edge if the grounds on the exterior of the business are unkempt.

• Even the most beautiful landscaping project is negated by a parking area which is cluttered with debris. If it has objects which might flatten a tire, people hesitate to drive in due to the potential for tire damage.

• Correct management of storm water runoff is a big factor for owners of parking areas today. Sweeping is a Best Management Practice (BMP) for storm water runoff, and a structured sweeping program can help to ensure the business is doing all it can to minimize pollutants in its storm water runoff stream.

• When a parking area is clean to begin with, shoppers are more careful throwing trash out of their cars when they come to shop.

• Sand, dirt and other trash are abrasive, and will shorten the useful life of pavement, as well as the length of service time of any sealcoating, striping, etc.

• The professionalism of the local business community at large is a composite of the individual images projected by each of the businesses within it. When people have several places where they feel comfortable shopping in a particular neighborhood or township, traffic is increased throughout the entire general area.

• When a parking area remains unswept for a long enough period, it will attract rodents and other potentially disease-carrying or dangerous animals.

• Keeping litter picked up reduces the chances of slip-and-fall injuries, as well as the business property’s potential liability in any resultant lawsuits.

• When dirt is allowed to stay on pavement, it quickly starts deteriorating the paving material. This is especially true when enough dirt collects to start plants growing, since their roots cause cracking in cement and asphalt. Replacement costs for pavement far exceed the routine expense of sweeping.

Sweeping 301

FINDING A SWEEPING CONTRACTOR

Does the sweeping contractor have a good reputation?
Ask the contractor for a comparable reference list. Just because they do a great job at the local corner store does not mean they have the equipment or employees to handle a large shopping center.

Do they carry adequate insurance?
In today's society, proper insurance coverage is critical. The sweeping company should present you with a copy of their insurance certificate so you can review it and be sure it meets your requirements. You could be held responsible for a company that is under-insured, so don't take chances.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR SWEEPING SERVICE PROVIDER…

Check with your sweeping contractor to see what is included in their price. If you have additional needs that are not included in the price (e.g. emptying trash cans, blower work behind the building), just let them know so they can price accordingly. There are also a few things you should know about sweeping services.

These machines are designed to pick up trash (e.g. cigarette butts, paper, and sand). They are not built to pick up large debris or liquids.

They do not remove stains (e.g. oil spills) from pavement.

If you decide to have your lot swept once a month, you cannot expect it to look clean for the entire month. It will begin to accumulate trash and debris immediately after being swept.

Sweeping contractors cannot be held responsible for slip-and-fall accidents. These machines will keep your lot looking neat and tidy, but they will only be on-site for a limited time. Something can spill, leak or blow into the area after the contractor has swept the lot.

Fifth, our staff is trained to report any issues that may be observed during the service visit such as lighting issues, pot holes, tenant abuse, overflowing dumpsters, oversized debris and even windy conditions. Crews are equipped with digital cameras so that pictures can be taken of issues observed. These pictures are sent to your assigned AFS Property Advisor who will then address the issues with you via e-mail.

AFS provides interior/exterior commercial building services such as:

• Sweeping Services
• Porter Services
• Janitorial Services
• Pressure Washing Services
• Sealcoating & Line Striping Services
• Asphalt Repair Services
• Parking Lot Maintenance Services
• Building Maintenance Services
• Painting Services

American Facility Services provides its many services to…

• Shopping Centers
• Malls
• Office Parks
• Industrial Parks
• Apartment Complexes
• Condo Associations
• Homeowner Associations
• Hotels
• Theme Parks
• Commercial Property Mangers & Owners
• Developers
• Construction Companies

American Facility Services is standing by 24 hours a day to assist you.