March 2018
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Peter Craig and Ken Lozen of the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) came up from the US, March 12th and 13th, to hold their first Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Certification course in Canada. Fifteen students took the course at the BC Floor Covering Association office in Surrey B.C. The training included a lecture in preparation for a 40 question exam, discussions around four different tests, examples of some real life concrete issues and solutions and a practical examination involving all four tests.
The four tests covered were:
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February 2018
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National Floor Covering Association of Canada welcomes Dean Stamper, Director of International Quality for Shaw Industries, to its' Board of Directors. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-stamper-2ba1834/
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January 2018
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National Floor Covering Association (NFCA) welcomes Alberta Floor Covering Association (AFCA) on board as an affiliate member. AFCA has represented the floor covering industry in Alberta since 1979 and are the source for industry information and support in their province. NFCA looks forward to working with AFCA to further promote industry standards into the future.
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November 2nd 2017
Who: The CSC (Construction Specifications Canada) Vancouver Chapter
What: A different kind of trade show. Cocktail Reception Party
When: Thu, 02 - Nov-2017 15:30 - Thu, 02-Nov-2017 19:30
Where: 180 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC @ (Moxies/Sandman)
Why: This was a great success last year, Let’s do it again!
What: A different kind of trade show. Cocktail Reception Party
When: Thu, 02 - Nov-2017 15:30 - Thu, 02-Nov-2017 19:30
Where: 180 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC @ (Moxies/Sandman)
Why: This was a great success last year, Let’s do it again!
IDC Vancouver Networking Evening
Event Date: November 1, 2017
Location: Blackburn Young Office Solutions, 100-1111 Melville Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3V6Registration is complimentary!
Join IDC Staff, IDC Industry Committee Members, and IDC members in Vancouver for our next networking reception hosted by IDC Industry National Partner Knoll at Blackburn Young.Enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres and cocktails provided by our host while catching up with fellow members.Hosted by: Knoll and Blackburn Young Office Solutions Inc in partnership with IDC Industry Committee
Follow this link for details and registration: IDC Networking evening - Vancouver - November 1, 2017
Event Date: November 1, 2017
Location: Blackburn Young Office Solutions, 100-1111 Melville Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3V6Registration is complimentary!
Join IDC Staff, IDC Industry Committee Members, and IDC members in Vancouver for our next networking reception hosted by IDC Industry National Partner Knoll at Blackburn Young.Enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres and cocktails provided by our host while catching up with fellow members.Hosted by: Knoll and Blackburn Young Office Solutions Inc in partnership with IDC Industry Committee
Follow this link for details and registration: IDC Networking evening - Vancouver - November 1, 2017
September 2017
NFCA's Annual General Meeting and Fall Social, September 14th, Vancouver, British Columbia.
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Members of NFCA and guests from the A&D community gathered together for cocktails and conversation in Vancouver, British Columbias, Yale Town district on September 14th 2017.
Sally Mills, Principal of Kasian Architecture and Vice President of IDC (Interior Designers of Canada) shared her experience and knowledge and took questions from the floor. Great information was shared. There was a review of NFCA's activities over the past twelve months, two new Board members were voted in and future activities were discussed. Thanks to all those who attended and to the sponsors who made it all possible. For the full article, download the pdf below. |
| nfca_first_annual_general_meeting_and_fall_social.pdf |
July 2017
NFCA Quality Assurance Program - good or bad for the construction industry? Read the article
June 2017
Flooring and concrete with a high Fly Ash content don't mix, or do they? Read the article
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May 10th 2017
Poor construction practices and floor covering products don’t mix.
As a manufacturer of commercial flooring products, how do you ensure your product is properly installed and your precious brand is protected through the chaos of construction? How do you ensure your carefully written installation guidelines are read and followed? Do you employ tech reps to monitor the installation? Do you write your specs in bold and caps? Or do you just throw up your hands, hope for the best and include the cost of anticipated claims in your pricing?
Considering the time, energy, dollars and resources that are invested into producing flooring products, it seems strange that as an industry, we fall so often and so hard at the last fence… site preparation and product installation.
What’s the problem?
Because flooring is one of the last significant trades on site, it faces some unique challenges. By the time the floor contractor arrives on site, the budget is long spent, deadlines and penalty clauses are looming and to compound the scheduling issue, all other trades are booked off the job to accommodate the floor installation.
At this late stage, reasons for delaying are not what the general contractor wants to hear. Conversations about acclimation, moisture testing, heat and indoor environmental conditions either don’t take place or end in ‘just get the job done’.
Poor construction practices and floor covering products don’t mix.
As a manufacturer of commercial flooring products, how do you ensure your product is properly installed and your precious brand is protected through the chaos of construction? How do you ensure your carefully written installation guidelines are read and followed? Do you employ tech reps to monitor the installation? Do you write your specs in bold and caps? Or do you just throw up your hands, hope for the best and include the cost of anticipated claims in your pricing?
Considering the time, energy, dollars and resources that are invested into producing flooring products, it seems strange that as an industry, we fall so often and so hard at the last fence… site preparation and product installation.
What’s the problem?
Because flooring is one of the last significant trades on site, it faces some unique challenges. By the time the floor contractor arrives on site, the budget is long spent, deadlines and penalty clauses are looming and to compound the scheduling issue, all other trades are booked off the job to accommodate the floor installation.
At this late stage, reasons for delaying are not what the general contractor wants to hear. Conversations about acclimation, moisture testing, heat and indoor environmental conditions either don’t take place or end in ‘just get the job done’.
- What’s the solution?
The NFCA Quality Assurance Program (QAP) was created to address these issues so that if early installation of the floor coverings was chosen over ensuring a product warranty, the entire construction team would know about it and make the choice together.
QAP ensures:
An independent voice for product installation guidelines is on site.
- A level bidding field exists and an experienced floor contracting firm is on the job.
- Trade or Product Certified installers are on site.
- The construction team (and building owner) will be alerted if site conditions don't meet manufacturers installation guidelines prior to installation.
- A reduction in claims because the product won’t be wrongly blamed for poor performance.
Without the Quality Assurance Program, nothing will change the General Contractor’s understandable motivation to install the flooring early to meet deadline.
An example of QAP making a difference
QAP was specified on the renovation of a commercial retail space, A 30 year old building, slab on grade sub-floor, requiring 20,000 square feet of new flooring.
Prior to the floor installation start date the owner’s representative phoned me to ask, “does NFCA really need my General Contractor to take twenty two moisture tests on a thirty year-old slab?”.
My response… “do you want the manufacturers’ warranty?”. The owner replied ‘of course’.
I said, “Then the manufacturers requires ASTM F-1869 testing be performed to prove the slab is dry prior to installation if warranty requirements are to be met”.
The owner replied “Understood, we’ll get the tests done.”
That week the tests went ahead as per NFCA and manufacturers’ instructions which meant, no corners were cut because a third-party testing agency was hired by the General Contractor. Ten of the twenty two tests failed, proving the north side of the slab was wet from a groundwater source. To maintain the construction schedule the owner approved payment for a moisture barrier and the installation went ahead on time with warranty intact. This process potentially saved the owner thousands of dollars in future moisture related flooring issues.
There are numerous such examples of QAP preventing problems that otherwise would have led to floor failure of some kind: acclimation concerns, wrong adhesives, floor flatness issues, even rain pouring in through uninstalled windows onto a slab that was scheduled to receive sheet rubber flooring the next day.
Without a QA Inspector, the usual pressures influence the flooring contractors’ decision to install against better judgement. He/she wants to get paid, wants the project to go well, wants to build a good relationship with the general contractor and wants a shot at the next job. Delaying the project is not going get this wish list fulfilled.
There is no doubt that QAP works, all you have to do is talk to those who have used it and to other industries who have successfully operated their own QA Programs for years. Meanwhile, NFCA is working to promote the message to the construction industry. This is how we will raise standards, effect change, reduce claims and leave clients with the flooring they expect.
Testimonial - Fraser Health, Capital Projects, British Columbia reported that the Quality Assurance Program inspection service was ‘very beneficial’ during construction of the Hope Centre Hospital in North Vancouver and would recommend the service for future projects.
HOpe Centre Hospital
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March 9th 2017
FCITS Floor Covering Inspector Certification Course in Surrey, BC.
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Ken Downey (President) and Beth Brown (Vice President) of Flooring Consultants and Inspector Training Services (FCITS) brought their certification program to Surrey, British Columbia and trained 20 flooring professionals on how to inspect floor coverings properly. Every participant passed the course and became FCITS certified. The course was full to capacity and a great success.
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March 7th and 8th 2017
Alberta education seminars
Edmonton
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The first education events to be put on by NFCA in Alberta were held in both Calgary and Edmonton, March 7th and 8th. Both events were sold out and very well received. Seminar content included National standards, moisture testing and floor flatness. Brent Melnyk from AIT (Apprenticeship Industry Training) and Derrek Autzen of INSTALL also spoke about installer certification opportunities. A second education event is planned for later this year.
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January 20th 2017
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Why concrete sub-floors are a constant source of conflict on site.
This is a great article published in The Construction Specifier that explains why the issue of concrete flatness exists. Title: Bridging the Specification Gap between Divisions 03 and 09: Concrete and floorcovering associations unite. Click for article. |
January 10th 2017
Message to NFCA members,
It’s been two and a half months since we held the VIP breakfast meeting in Langley, B.C., where we talked about the NFCA message and mission and invited attendees to join. We had hoped for fifty-one percent of those invited to say “yes” in the first year, since the meeting, eighty percent have joined. This is a great start.
NFCA members have agreed that without change, the status quo will remain. This means claims will increase and trained, certified installers will become increasingly scarce. Members can be instrumental in helping to affect positive change through improved communications, connecting with education, offering feedback on what is and isn’t working in the industry, and supporting one another with standards that we can all agree on and refer to.
What’s new?
At the last Board of Directors’ meeting on December 8, the 2017 budget was approved. In addition, two committees were formed; one to update the NFCA Floor Covering Reference Manual and one to address education and installer training.
Other business:
As a trusted and unbiased source of information for all construction parties dealing with floor covering installations, NFCA presents an opportunity to bridge the gaps between architects, General Contractors, Owners and Flooring Contractors with meaningful communication to help them anticipate and avoid the installation challenges we all know so well.
Thank you to those companies who have embraced the message and come to the table. You are making change possible. Let’s work together and maintain a steady course as we get the first year underway.
Feel free to call me with questions any time.
Chris Maskell
President
NFCA
It’s been two and a half months since we held the VIP breakfast meeting in Langley, B.C., where we talked about the NFCA message and mission and invited attendees to join. We had hoped for fifty-one percent of those invited to say “yes” in the first year, since the meeting, eighty percent have joined. This is a great start.
NFCA members have agreed that without change, the status quo will remain. This means claims will increase and trained, certified installers will become increasingly scarce. Members can be instrumental in helping to affect positive change through improved communications, connecting with education, offering feedback on what is and isn’t working in the industry, and supporting one another with standards that we can all agree on and refer to.
What’s new?
At the last Board of Directors’ meeting on December 8, the 2017 budget was approved. In addition, two committees were formed; one to update the NFCA Floor Covering Reference Manual and one to address education and installer training.
Other business:
- The new NFCA website (www.nfca.ca) is now complete with members and their representatives listed in each province and territory.
- The first NFCA education event in Calgary and Edmonton is being planned for March 2017.
- We have FCITS (Floor Consultants and Inspector Training Services) coming to Surrey, B.C., in March to hold a 5-day Floor Inspector Certification course.
- Vancouver Coastal Health signed up for their first Quality Assurance Program (QAP) and asked to deal directly with the association instead of going through the bid system.
- NFCA is connecting with certified inspectors in other provinces to offer unbiased, professional third party floor inspections. Services that ensure acceptable site conditions are provided by the General Contractor prior to floor installation start date.
- Stantec Architecture and the City of Vancouver have both requested NFCA inspections in the last month.
- NFCA will have representation (with booths) at the following trade shows:
- CSC (Construction Specifications of Canada) National convention in Kelowna, BC.
- CHES (Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society) in Penticton, BC.
- EFMA (Education Facility Managers Association) in Penticton, BC.
- CSC (Construction Specifications of Canada) National convention in Kelowna, BC.
- NFCA has assembled five core EU seminars available for architects, the details of which can be found via the education tab at www.nfca.ca. These seminars provide valuable flooring information on subjects that are commonly misunderstood by other construction parties.
As a trusted and unbiased source of information for all construction parties dealing with floor covering installations, NFCA presents an opportunity to bridge the gaps between architects, General Contractors, Owners and Flooring Contractors with meaningful communication to help them anticipate and avoid the installation challenges we all know so well.
Thank you to those companies who have embraced the message and come to the table. You are making change possible. Let’s work together and maintain a steady course as we get the first year underway.
Feel free to call me with questions any time.
Chris Maskell
President
NFCA
Posted November 17th 2016
Inspector Certification Course coming to B.C., March 2017.
The demand for certified floor inspectors is increasing, so in partnership with the Floor Consultants and Inspection Training Service (FCITS) of Dalton, Georgia, the NFCA and BCFCA are hosting a 5 day floor inspectors certification course in Surrey, BC.
This intense, five day course will cover both Carpet and Hard Surface floor coverings and will be a complete and real flooring inspector certification. Those students who pass the course will acquire the FCITS designation.
Course Full
This intense, five day course will cover both Carpet and Hard Surface floor coverings and will be a complete and real flooring inspector certification. Those students who pass the course will acquire the FCITS designation.
Course Full
Posted October 25th 2016
NFCA VIP Breakfast, October 18th at the BC Floor Covering Expo.
Guest speaker, Peter Fassbender, MLA.
Representatives from among the best firms in the industry (over 40 manufacturers and flooring contractors) gathered at a special breakfast meeting hosted by the National Floor Covering Association (NFCA). The objective of the meeting was to bring together a select group of industry leaders to talk about how we can all work together to bring about positive change in terms of more successful installations through better communication, quality assurance and education. The hope is that by building membership and momentum, we will gradually realize these goals.
Guest speaker, Honorable Peter Fassbender, discussed the importance of standards, the value of the Floor Covering Reference Manual and how the NFCA provides a platform and opportunity to have a unified voice of support.
Chris Maskell, President of the NFCA Board of Directors followed Mr. Fassbender, presenting the opportunity in detail, invited manufacturers, suppliers and commercial flooring contractors to participate and help lead change. A key part of that change is the need to get the Quality Assurance Program specified in the majority of commercial flooring projects. Maskell told guests that this is a service other trades, such as painters, millworkers and roofers have successfully implemented to guide their industries for over 30 years. He stressed that now it is time to do the same in flooring.
We were encouraged to see so many industry leaders and influencers such as Mannington, Forbo, Armstrong, Polyflor, Interface and Jordans in attendance and open to hearing what we had to say. We were also pleased to have Gay Woodward at the breakfast. Gay is one of the original architects of the Floor Covering Reference Manual that guides the QA program. Without her perseverance and vision, we would not be here today.
Looking ahead - we will continue the dialogue across the industry, work with and support the NFCA members, develop more educational opportunities, build relationships with health authorities, school districts and all relevant parties in the construction community and report on our progress.
Guest speaker, Honorable Peter Fassbender, discussed the importance of standards, the value of the Floor Covering Reference Manual and how the NFCA provides a platform and opportunity to have a unified voice of support.
Chris Maskell, President of the NFCA Board of Directors followed Mr. Fassbender, presenting the opportunity in detail, invited manufacturers, suppliers and commercial flooring contractors to participate and help lead change. A key part of that change is the need to get the Quality Assurance Program specified in the majority of commercial flooring projects. Maskell told guests that this is a service other trades, such as painters, millworkers and roofers have successfully implemented to guide their industries for over 30 years. He stressed that now it is time to do the same in flooring.
We were encouraged to see so many industry leaders and influencers such as Mannington, Forbo, Armstrong, Polyflor, Interface and Jordans in attendance and open to hearing what we had to say. We were also pleased to have Gay Woodward at the breakfast. Gay is one of the original architects of the Floor Covering Reference Manual that guides the QA program. Without her perseverance and vision, we would not be here today.
Looking ahead - we will continue the dialogue across the industry, work with and support the NFCA members, develop more educational opportunities, build relationships with health authorities, school districts and all relevant parties in the construction community and report on our progress.
Posted September 28th 2016
BC's Flooring Expo - October 18th 2016
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This one day event promotes education to anyone who has an interest floor coverings and their installation. Floor Contractors, Project managers, facility managers, architects, designers, installers, general contractors make up the audience. Admission to the exhibitors hall is free, parking is free, lunch is included and there are seminars throughout the day. View details and register online at http://www.bcfca.com/bc-flooring-expo-2016.html
As a Recognized Education Provider the NFCA will be putting on 3 CEU Seminars at this event. For information and to register online go to https://www.nfca.ca/education.html |
Posted August 25th 2016
| nfca_article.pdf |
