What Cleaning Industry Research Institute does

Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific, educational and research institute established in 2006 and operating continuously since 2007 from the United States. It is the only independent, impartial institute focused specifically on cleaning and building maintenance research, and it functions as the research arm most closely aligned with IICRC (its primary contact and partner uses the [email protected] domain). The organization's stated mission is to translate academic research into evidence-based practice for the cleaning and disaster-restoration industries, addressing a structural gap in which practitioners historically relied on visual inspection and untested assumptions rather than validated methods and objective measurement tools (e.g., ATP meters).

CIRI's product portfolio centers on knowledge assets rather than technology. Core outputs include the Journal of Cleaning Science (the only peer-reviewed technical journal serving the commercial and residential cleaning and disaster-restoration industries, following a blind peer-review process), Cleaning Science Quarterly, the CIRI Library of research articles and white papers, and the CIRI Learn educational platform organized around cleaning measurement, food service, green cleaning, health and hygiene, healthcare, IEQ measurement, and schools. The institute also runs the CIRI Science Symposium (2026 edition in active registration) and co-hosts the Healthy Buildings Conference with ISIAQ, an event featuring more than 200 science-based presentations. In partnership with ISSA, CIRI co-developed the ISSA Clean Standard for K-12 Schools — a toolkit downloaded more than 2,000 times and validated in four school districts — and built associated certification and training programs distributed through ISSA's network of 6,400+ members. Distribution is primarily digital (ciriscience.org and membership.ciriscience.org), supplemented by partner channels and social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn).

The business model is membership-based nonprofit economics. CIRI generates revenue primarily through membership dues and subscriptions that grant access to the journal, webinars, events, technical papers, white papers, and member forums, with eligibility expanded in 2021 to contract cleaners, in-house cleaning professionals, disaster-restoration professionals, consultants, manufacturers, distributors, trade associations, academic institutions, and government agencies. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, leadership is John Downey (Executive Director) and Sarah Larsen Miller (executive team, joined March 2021), and governance is provided by a Board of Directors and the Cleaning Science Advisory Council (CSAC). Industry partners include IICRC, ISSA, ISIAQ, the Restoration Industry Association, IAQA, and BSCAI.

Name

Cleaning Industry Research Institute

Legal name

The Cleaning Industry Research Institute

Website

https://ciriscience.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces peer-reviewed cleaning-science research, the Journal of Cleaning Science, white papers, and certifications for cleaning, restoration, and indoor environmental quality professionals worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Granville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues and subscriptions: CIRI operates as a 501.c.3 nonprofit that generates revenue through membership fees. Membership provides access to the peer-reviewed Journal of Cleaning Science, webinars, events, technical papers, white papers, and member forums. Businesses including manufacturers, distributors, contract cleaning companies, disaster restoration contractors, trade associations, academic institutions, and government agencies can become members.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CIRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education institute that conducts and disseminates science-based research for the cleaning and restoration industries. It publishes the peer-reviewed Journal of Cleaning Science, Cleaning Science Quarterly, and the CIRI Library of research articles and white papers, while hosting the annual CIRI Science Symposium and Healthy Buildings Conference. It also develops certification and training programs around standards such as the ISSA Clean Standard for K-12 schools.

Product overview

CIRI operates as a nonprofit research institute offering a unified portfolio of scientific publications and educational resources for the cleaning and restoration industries. The core offering includes the peer-reviewed Journal of Cleaning Science and Cleaning Science Quarterly publications, supplemented by the CIRI Library containing research articles and white papers. The institute also organizes the CIRI Science Symposium and provides educational content through the Learn platform. A certification program based on the ISSA Clean Standard is offered for validating cleaning effectiveness in school environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Journal of Cleaning Science (JCS)
• Cleaning Science Quarterly Quarterly publication covering cleaning science research topics including surface hygiene, disinfection methods, mold contamination, floor care, and environmental management.
• CIRI Library Digital repository containing research articles, white papers, and publications focused on cleaning science and indoor environmental quality.
• CIRI Science Symposium Annual scientific conference bringing together researchers and practitioners to discuss cleaning science, restoration practices, and indoor environmental quality.
• CIRI Learn Educational resources covering cleaning measurement, food service, green cleaning, health and hygiene, healthcare, IEQ measurement, and school cleaning.
• ISSA Clean Standard Certification Program Certification program developed by CIRI in partnership with ISSA for evaluating cleaning effectiveness in K-12 schools using ATP meters and traditional inspection methods.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Clean Standard toolkit downloaded 2,000+ times
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIICRC is the parent organization of CIRI. The email contact is [email protected] and IICRC logo appears as the primary industry partner. IICRC is a not-for-profit, professional organization that establishes standards and certification for the inspection, cleaning, and restoration industries.
• ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISSA is the leading trade association for the cleaning industry worldwide with more than 6,400 members. CIRI and ISSA collaborate on the Clean Standard for K-12 Schools, with ISSA hosting the standard's online toolkit and CIRI developing certification and training programs around it.
• ISIAQ (International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISIAQ is an international, independent, multidisciplinary, scientific non-profit organization. CIRI co-hosts the Healthy Buildings Conference with ISIAQ, which features 200+ science-based presentations bridging research and practice.
• Restoration Industry AssociationmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner supporting the disaster restoration sector with science-based practices and research collaboration.
• IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner focused on indoor air quality, complementing CIRI's indoor environmental quality research mission.
• BSCAI (Building Service Contractors Association International)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner representing building service contractors, supporting professional cleaning industry research dissemination.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association): The leading global trade association for the cleaning industry with 6,400+ members and the channel partner that hosts the ISSA Clean Standard toolkit. Comparable as a membership-based industry organization serving overlapping contractor, manufacturer, and distributor audiences.
• BSCAI (Building Service Contractors Association International): Trade association representing building service contractors, including commercial cleaning firms, and a listed CIRI partner. Comparable because its contractor members are a key buyer segment for CIRI's research and certification programs.
• ASHRAE: Large professional society for HVAC/R and indoor environmental quality, having absorbed the Indoor Air Quality Association. Comparable as a major standards- and research-setting body covering IEQ — a core topic area for CIRI's Healthy Buildings and IEQ Measurement work.
• AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Association): Professional association for occupational and industrial hygienists covering workplace exposure assessment and IEQ. Comparable because it works on overlapping topics such as surface contamination, disinfection, and indoor environmental health.
• IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification): Functions as CIRI's parent organization and is the dominant standards/certification body for inspection, cleaning, and restoration. Comparable because it operates in the same cleaning/restoration standards space and shares membership audiences with CIRI.
• Restoration Industry Association (RIA): Trade association serving the disaster restoration industry and a listed CIRI industry partner. Comparable because it represents many of the same restoration professional members CIRI serves with science-based remediation research.
• American Cleaning Institute (ACI): Trade association for the U.S. cleaning products industry, funding research on cleaning ingredient and product safety. Comparable as a cleaning-industry research and education organization with overlapping manufacturer and scientific audiences.
• ISIAQ (International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate): International scientific nonprofit advancing indoor air quality research and co-host of the Healthy Buildings Conference with CIRI. Comparable because both focus on evidence-based IEQ science and bridge academic research with practice.
• IEHA (International Executive Housekeepers Association): Association for in-house cleaning and housekeeping professionals across hospitality, healthcare, and commercial real estate. Comparable because it serves one of CIRI's core member segments — in-house cleaning professionals — and competes for continuing education engagement.

Others

• Cleanfax / BNP Media Cleaning & Maintenance Management (CMM): Trade media and information brand serving the commercial cleaning and restoration industry. Comparable as an ecosystem participant that disseminates cleaning-industry research, education, and standards content to overlapping practitioner audiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CIRISCIENCE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciriscience
• Instagraminstagram.com/ciri_institute
• Xx.com/CIRISCIENCE

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cleaning Industry Research Institute