By Matthew Spieler
LAS VEGAS—As flooring designs and textures become more intricate and technologically advanced, the need for a well-educated and trained installer is greater than ever. As proof of the greater importance being placed on professional installation is the growth of the International Standards & Training Alliance (INSTALL).
“By the end of this year we will be national as well as all through Canada,” said John McGrath, director of the program, which is a working cooperative of various industry sectors such as mills, contractors and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC).
Through UBC, INSTALL has access to more than 250 training centers, where it provides hands-on and classroom education. And, because it is overseen by the organization, “the curriculum is the same everywhere,” he explained. “This way, no matter where an installer gets his training, he will have received the same education as someone who trained on the other side of the country. Our foundation is training, and to do it right at each location it’s all about being consistent. It’s how you build credibility.”
Flooring is actually just one of eight trades that fall under UBC, but McGrath noted it happens to be the most advanced because it is the craft with the biggest need for professionally trained mechanics.
To ensure it is meeting the needs of the industry, he said INSTALL has worked directly with manufacturers of both soft and hard flooring surfaces “because they know what’s best for their products.” Not only has the actual program been developed through this cooperative effort, every two years the organization reviews it with mills in order to make sure it remains up-to-date. “We look at ourselves as a distributor of manufacturer’s training; we help get it to the people who need it the most.”
Gary Kloth, UBC’s international representative for floor covering, cited this as a key difference with INSTALL. “With our program we work with all the flooring services, not just one type, so our members are more diverse in their skills.”
McGrath added INSTALL is more than just a training organization as its flooring curriculum now includes certifying installers who successfully go through the education process and pass a test. Currently there are 14,000 installers under the UBC banner and 1,400 of them have received certification. “No one gets accredited until they pass the test—it’s not about tenure.”
Within five years, he noted, “we want to get everyone who is eligible certified. Training is one thing, but the true value of being able to show the world you are a professional at your craft comes from certification.”
Currently in the middle of a massive expansion effort that will double its flagship training space here to 700,000 square feet and add 200 dorm rooms to its existing 130 by 2010, there are two main functions of the 14-acre campus, noted William Irwin, executive director: First, research and development for putting together the various training curriculum UBC offers. This is no small task considering “we are the sixth largest technical manual writer in the world.” The other use is to train the trainers. With over 300 courses available, “we even train OSHA inspectors. There are people coming here year round for different types of training.” This includes allowing manufactures to conduct training classes on the premises.
For more information on INSTALL, call 215.582.4108.
