CaDCR staff writer
The B.C. Floor Covering Association (BCFCA) represents flooring retailers, installers, manufacturers and distributors. “The BCFCA and its province-wide membership are dedicated to continuously raising the standards of excellence in the carpet, hardwood, resilient, laminate, cork and bamboo floor coverings industry,” its website reports.
As an example, the association has restarted its annual Flooring Expo and Installers Convention, held last year in Langley and this year scheduled for Kelowna on Oct. 20.
The event includes of a full day of installation training sessions and a product trade show. Before 2014 it had been several years since the previous event took place.
The association supports improved training to reduce flooring failures, because these problems generally relate to either site conditions and/or training.
In May and June alone courses included Intermediate Floor Covering Installation, Conflict Management, Intermediate Sand and Finish, Negotiation Skills, Teambuilding and Succession Planning.
BCFCA also offers Installation Review Quality Assurance Program (QAP) inspections. According to BCFCA’s website, the inspection service is designed “to ensure floor coverings are installed according to nationally recognized standards as detailed in the NFCA Floor Covering Reference Manual.”
“This Installation Review, Quality Assurance Program (QAP), is a specifiable, third party inspection service operated by the Master Floor Covering Standards Institute. This service is aimed at larger commercial flooring projects.”
Meanwhile, the NFCA (National Floor Covering Association) Floor Covering Reference Manual, a BCFCA focus for several years, contains about 1,000 pages of architectural specifications and reference guides and installation instructions for general contractors, flooring contractors, architects and owners.
New in 2014, the manual is available online free to members and through an online marketplace for non-members. Viewers can download sections for free, and pay a fee for the full specifications.
The manual also explains trade qualification requirements. Installers who complete the registered provincial apprenticeship training programs are deemed to be ‘Trade Qualified’ under the NFCA Quality Assurance Program (Part A05).
The two training programs are: INSTALL (International Standards and Training Alliance) practices for certification and the inter-provincial Standards Red Seal Program.
The BCFCA’s representation from all industry sectors provides good coverage to promote and support the industry. Its inspection services provide a resource for consumers who have concerns and its internal programs and information help ensure retailers, manufacturers and installers have the tools they need.
For more information on BCFCA, visit www.bcfca.com.
