By Matthew Spieler
HICKSVILLE, N.Y.—Installing carpet, for whatever reason, has never been able to gain the type of recognition garnered by other home improvement and building industry trades, such as electricians, plumbers, roofers, even painters. That may soon change thanks to an industry-wide effort is now under way to create a national carpet installation standard through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Spearheaded by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and sponsored by the World Floor Covering Association ( WFCA) and the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI), the initiative is known as “S600 Carpet Installation Standard and Reference Guide.” IICRC has set up a S600 Consensus Body Standard Committee. James Mullins of Shaw Industries has been named chairman, and Barry Costa of Aspire Educational Institute will serve as the vice chairman.

“One common issue for the carpet industry is standardization of the installation process,” noted Costa. “IICRC is working with carpet manufacturers, retailers and the installation industry in the development of this standard. It will take everyone’s cooperation to make this effort work. This consensus process will allow everyone to be heard at the table and have an opportunity to contribute equally to the process.”

WFCA and CRI are providing the funding for the S600 project while IICRC is doing the leg work since it is an ANSI accredited standard setting body and, as Frank Hurd, CRI’s vice president and COO, stated, it has “a long relationship with the carpet industry so it appeared to be a natural fit.”

When complete, which is expected to take approximately three years, as it must go through an exhaustive process before officially becoming a standard, S600 will be co-owned by the three organizations.

Chris Davis, WFCA’s president and CEO, said this means “we collectively will be responsible for updating the standard as necessary under ANSI guidelines. There is no anticipated income stream coming out of the development of this standard.”

The flooring industry has been trying for many years to create protocols for the professional installation of carpet. The most notable are CRI’s 104 and 105, which have served as the industry standard for installing commercial and residential carpet, respectively. Organizations such as the International Certified Floorcovering Association (CFI) and the International Standards & Training Alliance (INSTALL) have developed their own certification criteria that go well beyond CRI’s recommendations.

These efforts have helped raise the overall skill level and professionalism of installers. But the lack of an all-encompassing national standard has kept the industry from being able to offer end users a true comfort level in knowing the product is being installed by a skilled professional using nationally accepted methods.

Gold standard

Davis said S600 can change that because “an ANSI standard is essentially a gold standard of standards. It signifies that a thorough and rigorous process was undertaken to develop the standard with all stakeholders having an equal vote.”

He added, “If you look at other industries where ANSI standards have been implemented what you will see is clarification of responsibilities and improved professionalism— resulting in fewer problems and thus, fewer claims— which really enhances consumer satisfaction. Installers will be trained to a uniform standard; retailers and contractors will be able to hire certified installers they know will have specific training and skills, and manufacturers will likely see claims related to installation diminish.’

In three years, Costa said, “we believe this new standard will greatly enhance the state of the art of carpet installation and there will be a new cooperation within the overall carpet industry. The ultimate beneficiary will be the consumer.

Jim Walker, CFI’s CEO, said this action could not have come any sooner. “The carpet industry is only one of few that does not recognize an ANSI standard for the installation of its products. Because of this, far too many who perform installations are not qualified. As we all know, all that is required today is a warm body, the ability to work fast and a cheap price. This must change, and it is CFI’s goal that by adopting [S600] all persons involved in flooring installations will be held to a standard whereby our customers receive what is expected at the time of the sale—a quality product installed by a qualified person.”

John McGrath, director of INSTALL, agreed it is time “to establish standards the industry can recognize and embrace, and an ANSI standard is very highly recognized.”

But, like Walker told FCNews with regard to CFI, McGrath noted that INSTALL has “established high standards and we are hopeful that a recognized and respected organization like ANSI keeps with the bar that we’ve set. We have also voiced our belief that these new standards need to address the legitimate concerns of the customers, dealers and mills.”

Both stressed S600 must take into account the highest levels of criteria their groups have established in recognizing professional installers which are directly related to achieving customer service by providing installations performed by those who are most qualified. Otherwise this is a “missed opportunity.”

Walker noted, “It is time for all parties to address training, experience and ability to deliver the type of installations expected by our customers.”

McGrath noted INSTALL is built through an alliance of all players—mill to installer—and the ANSI process is similar in that it strives to get contributions from all parties. “We are eager to help something that will benefit everyone in the industry that appreciates quality and professionalism.”

Multiple participants

Costa said both CFI and INSTALL, as well as other organizations, have been invited to participate in creating the standard. “Both CFI and INSTALL have accepted the invitation, and we are very proud to have both groups involved in the process. Our hope is as many installers as possible will become certified because that will raise the level of quality of carpet installation, which is in the best interests of the industry and end user of carpet.”

Christopher Capobianco, chairman of the Flooring Contractors Association (FCICA), said the group will also be represented in the process. “Our members have a broad range of experience in carpet installation, especially from the commercial side of the business.”

He added FCICA also has a good working relationship with IICRC over the last dozen years, noting he has been the chairman of its Resilient Floor Inspector Technical Advisory Committee.

CRI’s Hurd added, “It is our intention for them to be engaged in the process of developing the ANSI standard… because it will be a great benefit to an area of concern for the entire industry—proper installation of carpet.”

Paul Pearce, IICRC’s chairman, said having WFCA and CRI on board will help create a standard that will be “accepted across the industry” and that by having Mullins and Costa leading the committee, “we know that the process will be upheld to the highest standards.”

Goodbye 104/105

While CRI’s 104 and 105 guidelines have long been the carpet industry’s criteria for setting minimum installation standards, S600 will replace them. Actually, CRI recently revised the standards into one 35-page “carpet installation standard” document effective Oct. 1.

“It is being used as the basis for the S600,” Hurd said. The new, combined standard represents over 25 years of information-gathering and installation expertise compiled by the members of CRI’s Installation Issues Management Team, which comprises manufacturers, professional installers and other interested parties.

While the CRI standard will be used as the basis for S600, Davis noted in many instances it is likely processes and procedures developed by groups such as CRI and INSTALL will be validated. “Understand,” he explained, “we are now just embarking on the journey—which will require input from all concerned, and that a consensus will come out of this. The end result is not a foregone conclusion.”

One thing that nearly all parties do hope will happen is that carpet manufacturers will add wording to their warranties specifying their products must be installed by installers certified under the ANSI standard.

This could be done because once a standard is created, courses will also be developed by a variety of likely players— those currently offering instruction, manufacturers and others— and a certifying body will accredit those teaching the courses.

Davis said IICRC currently does this for flooring inspection, specialized fabric cleaning and disaster restoration and it is likely it could play this certifying role for the floor covering industry as well, since it has the systems and mechanics in place to do so, and a successful track record. “However, that has not yet been determined, nor needs to be determined at this point in the process.”

When CFI was created in 1993, Walker said it established a goal to tie warranties to quality installation. “It’s been a long journey. We recognize the ANSI standard may be the vehicle by which this is achieved. It would appear the implementation of S600 would be one giant step that could only lead to a better warranty for the customer. If it is not, the carpet industry has done a disservice to those who purchase its products.”

Davis pointed out that other installed product categories have done this so “it is highly likely that over time the mills will make the utilization of certified installers a requirement to enforce their warranties. But, it is not likely to happen overnight.”

Volunteers needed

To ensure the process involves as many interested parties as possible, Costa said the organization is looking for industry volunteers to participate on the committee. The committee will meet approximately four times per year. However, sub-committees continually work online and via conference calls. There will be between 15 and 20 members on the voting committee of the S600 Consensus Body Standard Committee and more than 35 volunteers assigned to specific sub-committees and topics.

“We’re looking for professionals who are dedicated to moving this document forward,” Mullins said. “With eachnew standard comes new challenges and we need a group of people that are excited about this.” To apply for committee membership, email Mullins at james.mullins@shawinc.com or Costa at barry@aspirecentre. com, or call IICRC at 360.693.5675.

Mullins and Costa said those selected to participate will be notified by Aug. 15, but not everyone who applies will become a consensus body voting member.