Installed 18 of these bad boys earlier this year for a major client at their sites throughout Yorkshire.
Performance criteria as follows:
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These units provided the client with a new way of cleaning in an area that was problematic for them, and will ultimately save them hundreds of thousands of pounds over the next few years.
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It’s a win/win for customer and supplier!
| This is one of the projects we’ve been up to over the last few months.
A high pressure, hot water tankwash system for one of our customers. 150 bar pressure, 85oC temperature with 8 cleaning heads, its a great system if you don’t want to go to the trouble and expense of buying and running a steam boiler. Great for cleaning IBC’s too! |
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Once the specification was agreed, the self-contained unit was built up and tested at our depot in Knottingley before being shipped to our customer in the North East and delivered as a “Plug & Play” solution. Once connected to the customers existing water, fuel and electricity supplies, exhaust flues were added, remote controls and high pressure pipework connected and the system was good to go!
Our customer is absolutely overjoyed with the equipment and the significant improvements that it has made to their cleaning operation.
This build method can be utilised to provide many bespoke tanker cleaning, IBC cleaning and tote cleaning solutions with the minimum inconvenience to the customer as the build process is all done off site.
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First, it is very important to express thanks to all employees who have been committed and managed to keep working through this difficult period.
We have managed to keep the operations going and continued to satisfy our customers service needs. Even more important, we have been able, with everybody’s help to ensure that there was continued employment for all.
Our aim is to have people back-to-work in the office in order that operations can continue to be 100% effective.
In order to ensure that we can all get back-to-work safely, not only have we carried out a risk assessment, but we have also established a phased plan.
All of the controls we have implemented are detailed within this briefing note and all employees must comply.
Remember, we have still had employees working in the office and this has been successful without any health issues.
Commuting to/from Work
When commuting to/from work it is important to protect yourself and others from catching or passing on the virus. If you have to use public transport, try to keep to yourself and use gloves to protect yourself from dirty surfaces e.g. door handles. Government guidance should be followed for the protection of yourself and others.
If you are car-sharing, try to ensure that the other people are taking similar precautions to you.
Wearing of Masks
There is no evidence at present that confirms the use of a mask will prevent you from catching a virus. Although, there is no harm in taking the precaution especially if using public transport. We will not be requiring any employee to wear a mask or face covering in the office.
Cleaning of Hands
The authorities consider hand cleaning to be the most effective way of controlling the spread of the virus. It is also important to note that alcohol gels are for general protection. The only way to ensure your hands are clean is to wash them with hot water and soap followed by drying them. Alcohol gels are to be used between hand cleaning, but following trips to the bathroom, kitchen and handling communal items, hand cleaning with soap and water must be done.
Upon entering and leaving the office, we request that you sanitise your hands with the sanitiser provided.
Using Equipment in the Office
Use only your own telephone and computer. If you have to use any communal equipment, please wipe any surfaces down after you have used it for the next person.
The office layout has not changed as it provides a good level of individual space without having to come close to others.
Hygiene and tidy desk rules should be adhered to in order that any risk is minimised.
Using the Toilets
We all must be vigilant about cleaning our hands especially after using the toilet. To try and prevent over-crowding, the following rules are in place:
Male Toilets – 2 people maximum.
Female Toilets – The female toilet is only designed for 1 person at a time.
These will be cleaned daily.
Using the Kitchen
The following rules apply to the kitchen and also for break/lunch arrangements:
We are allowing a maximum of 1 one person to use the kitchen at any time.
Reduce your Risk
You should try to refrain from touching your face, nose & mouth and this will reduce the risk of spreading any bacteria from your hands to areas that will allow the virus to get into the body.
Coughing and Sneezing
If you have to sneeze, you MUST try to catch it in a tissue and put the tissue in a closed container. Then clean your hands. The same applies to coughing, you must prevent the spread of germs and bacteria.
If you do not have any tissue at the time, use your hand or inner side of your elbow to catch the cough and sneeze. Then clean your hands.
Symptoms
It is still a personal responsibility to inform your Line Manager if you think you have any symptoms. Do not hide symptoms, let us know so we can assist you accordingly.
Items for Cleaning and Protection
Fleetclean continue to make orders for items such as tissues and alcohol gels. The alcohol gel is in short supply so we encourage you to carry your own if you have some.
Visitors
There will not be any non-essential visitors to the office unless expressly agreed by the Directors. Couriers will be met at the door and not allowed inside. If it is absolutely necessary for the Courier to enter the office, they must be restricted to the reception area.
Drivers at Tankwash
Drivers should under normal circumstances should remain in their cab. If they need to assist with the cleaning activity, try to maintain a safe distance.
Drivers may use the toilets, but only 1 at a time.
REMEMBER, CLEANING YOUR HANDS WITH HOT WATER AND SOAP IS THE PRIMARY WAY TO PREVENT CATCHING AND SPREADING THE VIRUS.
Do NOT take any chances. If you have a concern, have it checked.
There are many reasons to want or need to clean an IBC or Tote. It may be that you are a company who uses Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC’s) also known as Totes for transporting raw ingredients, chemicals or liquids.
Top Tips for Safe DIY IBC Cleaning:
Companies who use IBC’s will often require periodic cleaning to ensure no cross contamination of product or the IBC’s are safe for disposal. In some cases the IBC’s will require periodic testing and inspections to ensure they are fit for use. Companies who handle IBC’s will be aware of the legal requirements of IBC fleet management.
There are obvious differences in the clean required for a DIY enthusiast and a company who uses IBC’s. To effectively clean an IBC for reuse, particularly in the IBC fleet hire market, you would require a professional IBC clean which is recorded and traceable.
The DIY enthusiast may find a cold water rinse with the garden hose is all that is necessary. It all depends on the last product and the use for which the IBC is intended.
Why is the last product important?
IBC’s are widely used to carry hazardous products and IBC’s acquired for DIY use are often found in a ‘casual’ way. This creates potential risk of harm to the environment and human life.
Only IBC’s which can be positively identified as non hazardous should be cleaned by individuals. If no labels exist and there is no available data on the last product – you should assume that the last product is hazardous and ensure a professional clean is performed.
It is important that you know what the IBC last contained. Labels may be attached to the IBC, however this may not reflect the product it LAST contained as it may have been used many times since by different people, although these labels will give you some indication as to a product it ONCE contained.
Hazardous product is just that; hazardous, and so care must be taken when an IBC has hazardous labels attached.
The following signs indicate the IBC once carried a hazardous product. If your IBC or Tote has labels which contain these signs, please do not handle or take ownership.
To transport empty dirty IBC’s with a known hazardous product requires an ADR license so you may also be liable for the costs of transport, cleaning and disposal.
IMPORTANT – If no labels exist or there is no available data regarding the last product, you should ensure the IBC is cleaned by a commercial IBC cleaning Station.
So what is a Professional IBC Clean?
A professional IBC clean is performed by skilled operators, who understand hazardous chemicals and have the safety procedures, equipment and infrastructure in place to handle them.
Using high pressure water via omni-directional spinner heads and powerful pump sets, the IBC has every inch of its surface area cleaned with high pressure water. Where the last product is resistant to water, post wash preparation is performed while a chemical can be added to the wash water to assist product breakdown. The chemical and physical clean combined ensures the IBC is cleaned properly.
Along side this, the waste water is processed ready for clean water discharge or contained for lawful disposal. This is important when cleaning hazardous materials. IBC cleaning companies are bound by environmental and company law including Health & Safety Legislation which ensures a safe Cleaning process and environmentally friendly disposal of hazardous wastes.
A professional IBC Cleaning company will issue a Cleaning Document such as the European Cleaning Document (ECD) to evidence your IBC has been cleaned and poses no environmental or hazardous threats – effectively recording the IBC has been cleaned professionally.
Please contact us if you wish to learn more about our commercial IBC cleaning sales, hire and cleaning services we offer.
Fleetclean have been experimenting with Ultra High Pressure Cleaning (UHP) and the results are incredible. The experiment was performed to understand the effect Ultra High Pressure Cleaning would have on a stainless steel IBC and if any damage would be caused to the IBC structure and ancillaries.
We found that the UHP cleaning removed all of the stubborn stains and product from the IBC but did not effect the integrity of the IBC and its ancillary parts.
If you would like to discuss how Ultra High Pressure (UHP) cleaning could help you clean your IBC’s then please contact Fleetclean on 01977 607087.
Fleetcleans technical engineering team built this custom recirculation IBC Cleaning System to combat stubborn and difficult to clean products.
Stubborn or difficult to clean products can take hours to clean using the high pressure total loss system we use for all our IBC and Tanker washes. The main issue being the additives required to bite into the product are not in sufficient dilution rates and are often expensive. A total loss system wastes much of these additives.
As this system recirculates the residues after filtration, the benefits are the water used can have more concentrated dilution levels of additives. These additives break down the product and provide a more aggressive clean – perfect for the more stubborn products.
This recirculation cleaning system has increased our cleaning capabilities and improved service levels of our IBC cleaning business. Initial trials have reduced cleaning times by up to 75%.
If you require a system like this or something similar Fleetclean can build one to your custom specifications.
High pressure cleaning heads are the equipment of choice when it comes to commercial cleaning of IBC’s. Cleaning heads, often referred to as spinners because of their cleaning action, are used widely throughout the tanker and IBC (Tote) cleaning industry in the UK and across the world.
Why use a cleaning head (spinner)?
The benefits of using omni-directional cleaning heads are:
In short, the cleaning heads provide a superior clean. A clean which is safe, quick, efficient and consistent. A clean which can be tailored to meet set requirements such as temperature, pressure and volume to ensure the most efficient clean is achieved considering the containers material and size.
As the cleaning heads are placed in the centre of the container and operate at high pressures (often up to 140 bar or 2000PSI), every inch of the IBC is consistently cleaned including the difficult to reach areas such as top corners. Something which cannot be achieved by a pressure washer lance or hose adapter.
Can you sanitise an IBC using a cleaning head system?
Yes – water at temperatures up to 90’c (195’F) can be pumped through the Spinner. Injection of a Chemical (sanitizer) can also be achieved.
How much do they cost?
There are many different cleaning heads available on the market today. The costs of which vary according to the equipment. Typically £2000 (GBP) would buy a cleaning head suitable for cleaning a road Tanker where an IBC which requires a low pressure “rinse” would cost a lot less. Cleaning Heads offer a superior costs saving on the alternative options while providing a faultless clean every time.
What else is required?
Entry level IBC Cleaning systems consist of a pump which will produce the pressure required to run the spinner of choice a water supply and a connecting hose. At the opposite end of the spectrum, fully automated IBC cleaning systems can be manufactured to customer specifications. It all depends on what it is you are trying to achieve, the resources you have and the budget you have to work with.
Where can I get more information?
Please contact Fleetclean on +44 (0)1977 607087. Fleetclean Ltd is a UK Based Commercial Cleaning Company who specialise in the Cleaning of IBC’s (Totes) and supplies IBC (Tote) cleaning equipment. With over 25 years in the Commercial Cleaning of Tankers and suppliers of commercial cleaning equipment – Fleetclean can advise, supply and fit the best equipment for your requirements.
The video below shows a real time IBC Clean. Please go to 1 minute 50 seconds to see the internal view of the cleaning head in action.
The current situation at Fleetclean is as follows:
Our washbays are currently operating normally, as is our sales hire and service operation.
Our staff are being temperature monitored at the start of their shift and the readings recorded. Any member of staff who shows signs of a fever or a persistent cough will be sent home to isolate as per government guidelines.
Similarly any member of staff whose family or house-sharer show signs of the virus must declare the situation and self-isolate as per government guidelines.
We have adopted social distancing and ask that all personal space, to a minimum of 2 metres is observed. Any visitor to site who does not comply with this condition will be refused entry to/ejected from site.
Fleetclean provide an essential service to the food and transport industries through the operation of their tanker cleaning bays, enabling food and chemical product to reach its destination on time and in prime condition. Without tanker cleaning there would be significant disruption to food supplies and production of goods. We therefore intend to keep our staff safe so they may continue to provide this vital service.
Similarly, our sales hire and service operation provide essential services to the cleaning industry, enabling our customers to provide a clean and safe environment for their staff to operate in. A hygienic workplace is clearly a safer environment in which to operate than a dirty one.
We will continue to provide these services to the best of our ability during this extraordinarily difficult time.
Please also read our Covid-19 Back to Work Plan.
