Fritz Rench, Chairman of Racine Industries, told me that Host struggled in the CRI testing program to achieve the Bronze rating. Someone from CRI should visit the Pasco County schools in Florida. I did and was impressed with the premises, the training program, their director, Eddie Flicker, and especially the very old C & A (Tandus) carpet. Eddie told me they use Host® products, training and equipment exclusively in their maintenance program.
I saw a kindergarten with carpet older than the children sitting on it, that looked great. A high school had fifteen year old C&A Power Bond® carpet that had been damaged by a leaking air conditioner. It probably didn't look much better the day it was installed. I met enthusiastic personnel who could actually answer questions about the products they were using.
CRI should be embarrassed to sanction tests that would classify HydraMaste®r, Steamway® and Host at the lowest Bronze level and a little rental machine at the highest Platinum rating. If Consumer Reports® and Lisa Wagner's expose' doesn't convince CRI to give up their testing program, they've really got their collective heads up their...er, in the sand.
Note of full disclosure: I have no financial ties with Racine Industries. We're just friendly competitors, but Fritz let the fox in the henhouse so you know he trusts me.
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