The 47-Point Overhead
Hygiene Protocol.
The first and only nationally standardized protocol for indoor overhead surface cleaning. Built for health code compliance, liability protection, and consistent delivery across every facility type and every market.
Before the IOH, every operator made their own rules.
Commercial overhead cleaning — ceiling tiles, grid systems, HVAC diffusers, structural surfaces, light fixtures — was performed without any consistent protocol, chemical specification, or documentation requirement. One operator used one method. The next used another. Neither produced documentation. Neither had been trained to a published standard.
When a health inspector asked whether overhead surfaces had been cleaned to code, facility managers had no answer. When an insurance claim involved airborne contamination from an overhead surface, operators had no documentation to defend themselves or their clients.
The IOH 47-point protocol was developed to close that gap permanently — creating a single national standard that any trained operator can follow and any inspector can evaluate.
The 47 Checkpoints — Summary View
The complete protocol is provided to IOH Certified operators upon certification. The summary below documents the five protocol phases and their primary checkpoints.
| Points | Phase | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1–7 | Pre-Service Assessment | Facility walk-through documentation. Surface condition baseline. Health hazard identification. Client briefing. Photo documentation of pre-service condition. HVAC system status confirmation. Containment setup verification. |
| 8–16 | Surface Preparation | Containment placement and seal verification. Drop protection for all active surfaces. Equipment staging and chemical pre-mix verification. Label and SDS compliance check. Personal protective equipment confirmation for all technicians present. |
| 17–28 | Chemical Application | Solution preparation to IOH specification by surface type. Application sequence from highest surface to lowest. Dwell time documentation per chemical and surface. Coverage verification. Chemical concentration verification. Safety boundary maintenance. |
| 29–39 | Cleaning & Rinse Sequence | Surface cleaning sequence by facility category. Rinse verification by surface type. Residue inspection and secondary treatment where indicated. HVAC diffuser and return air grille specific protocol. Tile and grid system specific protocol. Structural surface protocol. |
| 40–47 | Documentation & Sign-Off | Post-service photo documentation. Facility Compliance Report completion. Technician attestation signature. Facility manager review and countersignature. IOH registry record submission. Client copy delivery. Next service recommendation. File retention confirmation. |
The paper trail that protects everyone.
Facility Compliance Report
The primary deliverable of every IOH service event. Documents the date, facility, technician, surfaces cleaned, chemicals used, protocol checkpoints completed, and compliance attestation. Formatted to satisfy health department inspection requirements in all 50 states.
Pre-Service Photo Documentation
Timestamped photographic record of overhead surface condition prior to service. Establishes baseline for insurance, liability, and regulatory purposes. Delivered as part of the Facility Compliance Report package.
Chemical Application Record
Documents every chemical used during service — product name, EPA registration number, dilution ratio, application method, dwell time, and surface type. SDS references included. Required for OSHA compliance in food production and healthcare adjacent facilities.
IOH Registry Record
Every service event completed by an IOH Certified operator is recorded in the IOH compliance registry. Facility managers can request a registry verification report at any time. Provides an independent third-party record that survives operator turnover.
Ready to operate at the national standard?
IOH Certified operators are the only overhead cleaning professionals trained and assessed to the 47-point national protocol. Apply for certification or find a certified operator in your market.