Why Transition to Performance-Based Cleaning, I.E., the EVS 914:2012 (INSTA) Standard?

The term INSTA has been in use in Estonia for a long time. Standard EVS 914:2012 Agreement and Evaluation of Cleaning Work has been an official standard in Estonia since 2012. The rapid adoption of the standard has occurred in recent years. The Puhastusekspert team is pleased to note that for all our regular clients, inspection results have predominantly been in order over the past year. This has been ensured by regular inspections and the joint efforts of all parties to rectify non-conformities.

The standard is increasingly used in the purchasing, selling, and evaluation of cleaning services. Based on user experience, it can be stated that this standard makes life easier for all parties. Both cleaning service providers and buyers have highlighted that significantly less time and energy are spent dealing with constant dissatisfactions. Quality is more stable because specific and measurable cleanliness goals have been set. The freed-up time and energy can be invested by the service provider in service development. On the part of the service buyer, managers typically have many responsibilities that they can calmly focus on.

The core idea of the standard is a precise definition of how often and how clean it must be. This sets precise goals for the outcome. However, in cleaning, it is always possible that some dirt is simply not visible from a certain angle. Short-term, isolated dirt is not a problem during INSTA inspections. If, for instance, a single candy wrapper was simply not noticed once and is removed tomorrow, it is not actually a problem. Often, individual stains or hairs can cause a disproportionate amount of work for many people. This is unnecessary. It is problematic when incorrect cleaning methods are used and surfaces are literally smeared, or when certain areas remain uncleaned for extended periods, such as the tops of cabinets. This is a problem, and INSTA inspections immediately identify such situations. Thanks to INSTA, both the service buyer and provider can focus on what is important.

Why adopt the EVS 914:2012 Standard for Agreement and Evaluation of Cleaning Work Quality?

• Creates a common understanding for all parties (service buyer, seller, cleaning operative), which is the primary prerequisite for service success.
• Enables objective evaluation of the outcome, i.e., cleaning quality.
• The service buyer receives the desired cleanliness, which activity-based cleaning often does not guarantee.
• It is easy for the service provider to use the standard in the sales process, i.e., to ascertain what cleaning quality the client desires.
• The number of complaints or deficiencies decreases, which saves the working time, effort, and stress of all service parties.
• As a result of cleaning quality inspections, the service provider receives clear input for the development of work processes and services.
• The results of quality inspections provide an excellent overview of what to focus on in service development and what to teach employees.

If you also wish to purchase, sell, and evaluate cleaning services based on performance, then we offer a training course for this: EVS 914:2012 Standard for Agreement and Evaluation of Cleaning Work Quality (INSTA) Level 3 Knowledge Training (24 hours)