Compliance
GBAC STAR Certification: What It Actually Means
Everyone in cleaning says GBAC-trained. Here's what the certification actually is, and what it isn't.
GBAC is the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a division of ISSA (the cleaning industry association). GBAC STAR is their facility accreditation program — a documented standard for infection prevention and outbreak response.
Two things GBAC means
- GBAC-trained technicians — individual certification (taken by cleaning-company employees, renewed every 2 years)
- GBAC STAR accredited facility — the building itself is certified, reviewed annually by GBAC
Most cleaning vendors who say 'GBAC-trained' mean the first. Fewer buildings have the second.
What the training covers
- Infection prevention and control
- Outbreak response protocols
- Proper PPE usage
- Chemical safety and efficacy
- Cleaning process flow (clean before disinfect)
What GBAC doesn't certify
Product selection (EPA does that). Your local building codes. OSHA compliance. HIPAA. GBAC is one layer — a good one — but not the whole stack.