Hello,
Just thought I would introduce myself.
My name is Colin Nation. I am the director of WoolSafe Australia which the Australian branch of the WoolSafe Organisation which is a worldwide certification body for carpet cleaning products and for professional carpet cleaners.
WoolSafe was a testing program initially set up by the International Wool Secretariat. When that was disbanded in 1990 the two leading wool scientists, Mr Paul Bakker and Dr Eric Brown decided to continue the valuable testing program. Paul Bakker is the CEO of the WoolSafe Organisation that runs the accreditation program, and Dr Brown runs a company called Cleaning Research International which is the testing facility for the Woolsafe Program.
Chemicals are submitted for testing by a chemical manufacturer, and if it passes all of the tests then it is awarded the Woolsafe Certification an dis allowed to use the WoolSafe logo. Chemicals must pass "defensive" tests to ensure that they do not cause problems with the wool fibres and they must also pass the "performance " tests which ensure that the product actually works as the manufacturer claims.
In 1996 a training and testing program was introduced for professional carpet cleaners. In order to be come a Woolsafe Certified Operator a carpet cleaner must meet the strict requirements of the Woolsafe program. they must have had a minimum experience level and have completed formal training. they must then attend the specialist WoolSafe carpet cleanig training. They must also carry suffient public liability insurance , be a member of an industry association, and must use WoolSafe approved cleaning products when cleaning a wool or wool rich carpet.
This program has been operating in Australia over the last few years and the network of Woolsafe Certified Operators is growing.
There are also a group of WoolSafe Registered Inspectors who have been personally trained by Dr Eric Brown. The Inspectors can help solve a number of issues to do with carpet related problems. The inspectors have many years of experience and have been trained in inspection and testing techniques to answer a range of questions that arise during the life of a carpet. They can inspect a carpet and carry out some limited on-site testing and write reports on the results.
The new Woolsafe webiste is nearly complete and will have lots of information that will help carpet owners, (and not just wool carpets either.)
I will try to pop in from time to time and help out where ever I can.