Flooring April/May 2021 by Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd

April / May 2021

Remodel over Removal P8

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Flooring Magazine is now on: @flooringmagazineaustralia @flooringmagazine @flooringmagazine

Contents

vol 39 no 2

News

Editor’s Note

Introducing Australian Made week

Training 18

Why Apprentices?

Spotlight On 22

One lineal metre of carpet at a time

Feature 25

How to make a better choice for people and the planet

Company Profile 38

An innovative business with traditional values

Technical Bulletin 40

Stopping stains and discolouration

Welcome to the April / May issue of Flooring Magazine. Inside this issue you will find our Eco and Sustainability Feature where the team at GECA help explain how to remove the doubt and confusion when choosing flooring products with our planet and people in mind. Our Icon this month is John Adkins, aka Johnny Red, who recently retired after 45 years in the flooring industry. Margaret Hewett details Adkins many successes and explains why he is a true carpet industry icon. Please feel free to contact me directly regarding any news or product information that you would like us to publish by email at – michelle.cammiade@elitepublishing. com.au Don’t forget to join our online community and visit us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Until next time, enjoy your read.

Michelle Cammiade

Icon

Editor

John Adkins

Safety 46

Why and where to use tactile indicator studs

Flooring Magazine is now on: @flooringmagazineaustralia

Front Cover

@flooringmagazine

Danlaid Australia www.danlaid.com.au

@flooringmagazine

Flooring April/May 2021

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News

In Memory of Matthew Butcher It is with great sadness that Flooring Magazine advises the tragic passing of Matthew Butcher aged 46, on Sunday 11th May 2021. Mathew was a lovable character and popular figure in the NSW flooring market. Matthew was best known for his sense of adventure, his willingness to help and find solutions for all in his circle along with his desire and ambitious nature to succeed.

Matthew joined the flooring industry in 2009 and was a valued employee of Holdfast Adhesives, Clovelly Carpets, Australian Flooring Supplies and Ontera Miliken Carpets. Matthew is survived by his beautiful wife Michelle and their four children – Tneil, Skye, Kirralee and Ryan. Matthew’s passing is a heart-breaking loss for the

Introducing Australian Made Week The Australian Made Campaign (AMCL) is excited to announce the launch of the first ever Australian Made Week. Running from Monday 24 May to Sunday 30 May 2021, Australian Made Week will encourage consumers to actively focus their buying activities on genuine Aussie products while celebrating and supporting local makers and growers around the country. The only initiative of its kind, significant resources will be committed to promoting Australian Made Week with a multi-channel advertising campaign scheduled to run across TV, radio, out-of-home, print, online and social media, along with a curated PR campaign. The AMCL team want you to get involved. Partners and licensees of AMCL can get

involved in Australian Made Week by: • Promoting your Australian Made products alongside the Australian Made logo • Running an Australian Made sale event and or promotion • Sharing Australian Made Week assets across your social networks (these will be provided to you soon) with the hashtags #AustralianMade #AustralianMadeWeek • Telling your Australian Made story • And spreading the word about Australian Made Week to your customers In the coming weeks, AMCL will be announcing a high-profile Australian Made Week ambassador to lead the campaign and providing free assets for businesses to use in marketing activities in the lead-up and during Australian Made Week, so keep an eye on your inbox.

flooring industry; the world has lost a true gentleman. Matthew’s values espoused his kind and gentle nature, may his dear soul rest in peace.

LG Hausys appoints new manager Part of the LG global corporation, LG Hausys has been developing and producing high performance flooring for over 70 years. With principal manufacturing locations in South Korea, LG Hausys specialises in resilient flooring in homogeneous and heterogeneous formats, with a particular emphasis on LVT (including SPC). LG Hausys has a long-term core of partners within the Australia and NZ markets, and is looking to add increased value to their partners. To accelerate LG Hausys strategic objectives within this region, they have made the decision to appoint David Huxley to the role of Country Manager ANZ effective March 2021. David Huxley is well known within the ANZ flooring industry. His extensive experience has been gained over 15 years with Tarkett Australia where he held various senior sales and marketing roles within residential and commercial segments. David will be focusing on existing partners with a particular emphasis on range extensions and adding further value. Moreover, further exposure of LG branded flooring concepts within ANZ, and leveraging the existing LG brand values, is also a focus for development.

Flooring April/May 2021

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Modular Hybrid

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News

Apprentice Charity Workshop – Ronald McDonald House Randwick FCIA completed the first Apprentice Charity Workshop for 2021 at Ronald McDonald House Randwick. Eight flooring apprentices attended this workshop and re-floored the kitchen areas, family, meals and dining area, a hallway and set of stairs.

Not only do they have a beautiful new look to the House for their families to enjoy, but also the experience of having the FCIA team and the apprentices in the House creating this for them. The apprentices are learning all the techniques necessary to lay the flooring, while also having to work safely in a busy environment full of children. Their time in the House also gave them an opportunity to connect with the families and hear their stories. As many of the apprentices come from regional areas it meant that they could really understand what it was like to be so far away from home.

The apprentices that attended did an amazing job and should feel incredibly proud of what was achieved. All of this would not have been possible without the support of the following: • Employers • Site Supervisor • Industry trainers • MJS Floorcoverings • Armstrong • Mapei “Thank you all so much for your support.” said Fiona Wischnewski, National Training Manager FCIA Ronald McDonald House Randwick The team at Ronald McDonald House Sydney care for the families of some of the sickest children in Australia. Families travel great distances to have their children treated for serious and life-threatening illnesses in Sydney Children’s hospital.

So, staying in Ronald McDonald House becomes a home away from home often for months at a time. And so, it is vital that the House both looks and feels like a home. Therefore, it has been a fantastic opportunity to welcome FCIA into the house to help create that warm and welcoming feel by providing the most amazing vinyl plank flooring throughout the communal spaces and bedrooms. The colour and texture of the vinyl complements the existing colour scheme and furniture and feels kind underfoot to tired feet that have walked back and forth to the hospital all day.

“We are incredibly happy with the outcome of our flooring and the beautiful difference it has made to our House and we look forward to working again in the future with FCIA on more exciting flooring projects.” said Dianne Mangley, Operations Manager at Ronald McDonald House Sydney.

Flooring April/May 2021

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Product Update

Remodel over Removal

n the hallmark year of 2020 renovations and refits increased in popularity due the lower cost and time saving benefits compared with a new build. Danlaid Australia and Alternative Surfaces are a team that help renovators achieve a modern look with their expert installation teams and innovative range of products that can be applied directly over an existing substrate, allowing you to remodel without removal. Remodelling with an overlay system like X-Bond or Quartz Carpet allows you to remodel your surface without the added costs and environmental impact of removing an existing surface such as old tiles. Renovators rejoice with X-Bond and Quartz Carpet For those after a concrete look, X-Bond is a water based, cementitious overlay system which combines stone and liquid polymer. X-Bond is hand applied at 3mm thick to floors, walls and joinery. This Seamless Overlay System is applied in situ over a range of substrates including concrete, tiles,

compressed sheeting, plaster, villa board, brick, ply, laminate and MDF. X-Bond can be applied both internally and externally in a range of projects including residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, education and public spaces. Providing durability, versatility and a seamless look, X-Bond is becoming a preferred finish for clients who are looking for an alternative floor, wall or joinery finish. Another versatile surface covering that is high in demand is Quartz Carpet. Quartz Carpet is a resilient and durable floor covering that consists of quartz stones and a high-quality binder. The Quartz stones come in various colours and are available in 1-2mm and 2-3mm sized stones. Quartz Carpet is hand trowelled over existing surfaces at approximately 5-7mm thick for foot traffic and 8-15mm thick for vehicle traffic. The system follows the existing substrate to give the visual appeal of a seamless surface.

The quartz stones can be applied over a range of substrates including concrete, tiles, compressed sheeting, plaster, villa board, ply and MDF. This finish can be applied in residential, commercial, retail, educational and industrial projects. For internal applications the pore filled finish is used; the spaces between the quartz stones are filled making the floor a moppable surface. The open pore finish is used externally as it is water-permeable and UV stable.

Your seamless overlay system specialists Founded from a single office in Melbourne in 1997, Danlaid Australia has undergone continual growth to now provide a national capability across Australia with operations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra, Regional Victoria, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Mackay 10 and Townsville. Danlaid specialises in

Flooring April/May 2021

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For those ‘splash & dash’ moments.

100% water-resistant laminate floors, fully protected thanks to our pioneering hydro+ technology. Back in 2008, BerryAlloc was the first company to bring this innovation to laminate flooring. Our Ocean+ collection contains authentic, lifelike wood designs and realistic embossing, with high levels of abrasion and scratch resistance. Available in two sizes (standard and long planks, four bevels) and two thicknesses (8 and 12 mm). Something for everyone! Want to find out more about our laminate collections? Reach out to our Sales Manager, Ümit Arisoy: umit.arisoy@bintg.com

lifetime residential warranty

www.berryalloc.com

4 bevels

long planks

water resistant laminate.

Product Update

10 “What our clients love most about our products X-Bond and Quartz carpet is the versatility. Having the ability to resurface an existing floor finish (like 80s style tiles) makes it easy for clients to achieve a modern finish in their home, shop or workplace and can help their bottom line as the cost involved with having to remove and dispose of the existing floor finish is eliminated which is better for the client, builder and the environment. Our products continue to evolve, and we’re excited to see the different applications X-Bond and Quartz Carpet are being specified for nationally,” Laura, Manager, Alternative Surfaces. You will find X-Bond and Quartz Carpet installed in projects throughout Australia, including R.M. Williams National Rollout, AMG Mercedes Showrooms, HOYTS Cinemas, Viktoria & Woods, Victoria University, the Audi Showroom and many more. Remodelling the future of surfacing design Working closely with Architects, Interior Designers, Builders, Flooring Contractors and Homeowners, Alternative Surfaces and Danlaid are committed to delivering high quality finishes throughout Australia.

preparation and protection of concrete in commercial and civil construction. Services include epoxy coatings, waterproofing, floor levelling and screeds, scarifying, diamond grinding, removal of coverings and topping screeds, captive shot blasting, concrete repair and expansion joint installation. In 2009 a partnership with Alternative Surfaces, a Melbourne based company specialising in the supply and installation of designer surfaces and floorcoverings, was created leading to the expansion and increased popularity of these designer flooring finishes. For 20 years Alt. have been excelling in providing alternative surface solutions to their customers Australia wide. Alt proudly offer the very best in premium floor and wall finishes, overlay systems, seamless surfaces, concrete coatings and concrete resurfacing options. As one of Australia’s go-to companies for modern surfaces, Alt have sourced high quality

Flooring April/May 2021

“We will continue as always to successfully deliver complex projects, large and small, at a high standard for our clients. We have an exciting year ahead as we continue to upgrade our equipment and capabilities as well as our processes and systems, ensuring the ongoing strength and sustainability of the business,” Danlaid Managing Director, Angela Stevenson.

products from around the world that can be used on floors, walls and joinery both internally and externally.

Danlaid currently has franchises operating in 6 locations throughout Australia with further opportunities available in Adelaide, Hobart, and Perth. A Danlaid franchise is a proven business model, a turn-key operation backed by exceptional head office support. If you would like to know more, please contact Danlaid directly. www.danlaid.com.au

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Reimagining a Classic

Long Grain II reimagines the versatility, design and classic colour palette of our popular Long Grain carpet tile, to deliver next level flooring suitable for any commercial project. Available in 11 easy-to-style colours featuring a finely banded contrast pattern, the patterned loop pile of Long Grain II can be installed in ashlar for a traditional look, or quarter-turned to create a unique effect on the floor.

Contact your local GH Commercial representative to order sampling and discuss your next commercial project.

AU: 1300 444 778 | NZ: 0800 500 210

These Australian Made Long Grain II carpet tiles are Declare Red List Free with a Level 4 Environmental Certification Scheme (ECS) rating. Constructed from our 100% Straton ® Solution Dyed Nylon and backed with industry trusted Enviro Bac ®, they are rated Contract Extra Heavy Duty & Stairs for the toughest of foot traffic. Long Grain II tiles are stocked locally making them the perfect entry level commercial flooring choice.

WWW.GHCOMMERCIAL.COM

Product Update

Auditorium Edge – a new solution for an old problem Australian Accessories with BBS – Australia’s local installation accessories maker As an Australian maker of installation products, the team at BBS are always being challenged to service their installers with new solutions for changing floorcoverings. Carpet constructions have undergone constant change as many manufacturers try to lower their production costs and to improve on the carpet performance. At first this was the introduction of synthetic fibers to replace natural wool and jute and now the trend is to use recycled materials like processed plastics. BBS adapted to these changes in the carpet thickness and construction by putting different pin heights into their gripper so that it can securely hold the stretched carpet without having pin tips protrude through to the face pile and into the feet of unsuspecting occupants.

In the brief BBS were given the new trim had to: act as a carpet tile edge, protecting the corner of the installation, be flexible so it could be installed on a curve, and to match seamlessly up against the carpet tile nosing #204. And as the floating market changed from laminates to vinyl plank and then to luxury vinyl tiles and hybrid they had to design and add new trims to their range to match the needs of these new floorcoverings. Recently they were asked to solve a new challenge for a carpet tile finishing trim in curved auditorium spaces. After successfully designing new carpet tile stair nosings that complied with AS 1428.1, Design for Access and Mobility installers found they needed a matching Auditorium Edge away from the walkway steps. This trim would not be a stair nosing and would be installed behind the seating

The result they came up with was their #205, Auditorium Edge. It has the same face as the #204 Carpet Tile Nosing, so that the two fit seamless together as though they were one continuous trim.

Its shape is sturdy enough to form a strong edge to protect the edges of the carpet tile on both the riser and the step in commercial high traffic settings. And it can be easily curved to follow the auditorium shape without kinking or losing its integrity.

When thicker luxury foam underlays were marketed to provide superior underfoot comfort BBS had to redesign their gripper manufacturing machines so that they could process thicker plywood strips. The result was an innovative 9mm gripper that could be used with conventionally installed carpet over these thicker underlays without producing an unsightly waterfall effect at the edge of the room.

#204-5 installation

Flooring April/May 2021

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Product Update Australian made intelligence Polivac International is Australia’s leading manufacturer of commercial cleaning equipment and major exporter of advanced cleaning technologies worldwide. All machines are designed and manufactured in Australia, hence ensuring quality and reliability for each product. With over 70 years of expertise, they have meticulously designed heavy-duty sanding machines. Polivac Sanders have five different product ranges which includes the Slow-speed SV25 Supervac and High-speed SV30 Supervac Vacuum Sanders, Polivibe – Oscillating Floor Sander, Slow-speed SV25 Sandivac and Highspeed SV30 Sandivac Floor Sanders. Finding the right sander that performs tough sanding jobs without creating a dusty mess is a challenge. Polivac has diligently designed the Slow-speed SV25 Supervac and Highspeed SV30 Supervac Vacuum Sanders to meet this challenge. These machines are packed with features that aid in executing tough sanding jobs. The Slow-speed SV25 Supervac Vacuum sander is powered with 1.1 kw, 4 pole motor and 188 rpm pad speed. The Highspeed SV30 Supervac Vacuum sander is powered with 1.5 kw, 2 pole motor and 364 rpm pad speed. Both these vacuum sanders are equipped with a 400-watt long life motor which

is fitted into the vacuum canister along with a by-pass dust separator for superior dust extraction, making it super easy to separate and remove dust as compared to standard sanders. Now there is no need to vacuum after your tough sanding jobs, these machines clean the indoor dusty mess while sanding. All Polivac sanders are fitted with extra weight that offer ideal downward pressure to ensure sanding work is done effectively. These features allow the sanders to offer high performance required to satisfy the rigorous demands of floor sanding applications. Both the Supervac sanders can be used for scrubbing after switching off the vacuum motor. The SV25 Slow speed Supervac Sander can also be used for any stripping application, hence you get multiple jobs done with just one versatile machine. The Oscillating Polivibe Sander is a new generation machine, that is designed after extensive research for changing industry requirements. This sander is powered with a 1.1 kw motor and provides an oscillating speed of 2850 oscillations per minute. It is equipped with pivot point design for better distribution of weight and fitted with additional weight for increased downward pressure that provides improved sanding efficiency. Armed with a vacuum system this resourceful machine makes it easy to vacuum while sanding.

Product Update

Interior design that influences workplace productivity

s Australians gradually return to the workplace, embracing a newly acquired flexible work routine as a result of COVID-19, landlords, tenants and building managers have an opportunity to invigorate the interior design of their properties, and consider new ways of creating positive work environments for employees. Colour plays a huge role in creating positive spaces. The two complementary colours that Pantone has put forward this year, are arguably the most relevant yet in addressing a global sentiment and a need for hopefulness and strength in work and public spaces as we navigate our way through the pandemic. Interface, the global flooring company specialising in carbon neutral carpet tile and resilient flooring, including luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and Nora rubber flooring, closely monitors the sentiment. Rapidly changing need states that its customers must address in designing workspaces to best fit the current state of play in office and workspaces. Whilst social distancing and separating strategies are being activated, the

workplace design elements, often driven by colour, have become more essential than ever in facilitating creation of a sense of holistic wellbeing and security. Wellbeing has perhaps become the new normal. As such, Interface is inviting interior designers to take inspiration from the Pantone Colour Institute’s annual colour trends and has a selection of modular flooring carpet tile products drawing from these trends that can be used in designing beautiful positive spaces that inspire happiness, strength and hope.

Tetchie Tregent heads up the design studio and concept design team for Interface across Australia. Tetchie comments, “In terms of interior finishes, inspiration from Pantone’s Ultimate Gray can be used as a foundational base carpet for common areas such as workstation areas. Illuminating Yellow inspired materials can be used alongside these grey tones as the perfect complementary yet energising colour to zone areas of activation and collaboration within the office, as well as wayfinding and safe distance spaces.” “Interface products that can help add a vibrant and uplifting vibe to interiors include new Broome Street in Yellow Glass. A contemporary flooring design, Broome Street embraces an unconventional grid pattern and features a lively injection of contemporary colour. It is perfect for defining zones within interior spaces.” The marriage of yellow and gray is indeed the new on-trend, inspiring combination of the moment when designing an office environment.

Flooring April/May 2021

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IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY Oscar Wilde

More information on www.uzin.com.au and www.uzin.com.nz

UZIN. ET LE SOL T‘APPARTIENT. UZIN. YOUR FLOOR. OUR PROMISE.

Retailer of the Month

No cliché’s, just good business Story by Philip Ashley

Brett Rogers is co-Director of Rosebud Flooring Xtra on the shores of Port Phillip Bay, south of Melbourne in Victoria. A resourceful man, Brett surrounds himself with the right people whom he credits with, “Making my job a whole lot easier.” Brett Rogers has spent his entire working life in the retail sector. Leaving school early, he started out as a trolley boy for a supermarket chain in Bendigo, working his way up to eventually become store manager. Moving to Melbourne, Brett continued in supermarket retailing before moving to Bunnings, a Company he said, “Was great to work for.” As department manager they moved him around to five different stores in his eight years with the hardware giant but one day, working hard and with the ‘Masters’ Group about to enter the hardware retailing sector, Brett woke up and thought, “I might as well put this effort into something of my own.”

Flooring April/May 2021

16 base, but like many long-term businesses, it needed building up. Brett had only a year to make an impact, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australian shores early last year. One of Brett’s primary concerns was a team he could rely on to support the fledgling Rosebud Flooring Xtra Franchise. Brett says, “Surround yourself with the right people and your job becomes so much easier.” In the shop is store manager James Brown who jokes, “Yes, I feel good,” in honour of the late great singer by the same name. Brett credits James as being key to the success of the business. Matt Grossbergs and Chris Davey work in sales along with Co-Director Ben Shiryar who has many years in the flooring industry, and of course Brett himself. Installations are done through subcontractors and here again, Brett has sought out the best crews.

And so, twelve years ago, after sizing up his options, Brett set up a furniture retail store in a nearby bayside suburb. Brett used his retailing and communication skills to make the venture a success, and along the way, brought in two partners who co-incidentally were involved in the flooring industry. The three of them would go on the invest in the Flooring Xtra store in Rosebud, only two years ago now. The Rosebud outlet had been operating as an independent flooring store for 35 years and had an established customer

A major concern Brett has is that not enough young people are coming into the flooring trades. He would like to see more effort in promotion of the flooring trades and mentions the Floor Covering Institute of Australia as one organisation making a difference there. Brett has one of his four sons (he also has two daughters) already working in the industry. Brett says, “There’s a huge amount of potential in the flooring industry. I love the people we deal with and the customer engagement. The industry has a great future.”

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Retailer of the Month

Rosebud and the numerous towns along ‘the strip’ are holiday destinations for Melbourne’s everyday families who crowd the foreshore caravan parks during holiday times. Brett tells us he was one of those holiday makers for many years and didn’t really venture further inland. He said, “I was shocked to see how densely populated the area really is.” Despite such a good catchment, Rosebud Flooring Xtra does work ‘right up to the city and even over the West Gate Bridge into the western suburbs,” all word of mouth of course.

Brett, Ben, and Kevin’s clients are mostly domestic, but they do take on commercial jobs from time to time, jobs like the Dromana courthouse and Rosebud Hospital. There are also a lot of estate agents along the coastal strip from Dromana to Portsea they serve, and a lot of business comes their way from those. There are a lot of rentals and Airbnb’s in the area. The demographic of the Mornington Peninsula is unique in that there are basic homes that have been there decades, and in certain areas, mansions owned by some of the most well-known businesspeople in Australia. Despite the range of opportunities, Brett describes the area as, “Like a little country town with an old demographic.”

Brett credits much of their success to their online and social media presence. He believes that there will always be a need for a physical presence, but that a digital presence will be more important in the future. He says, “We get a lot of work online but when you’re offering a product with a 25-year warranty, the customer wants to know that warranty has value. Having a shopfront, bricks and mortar, adds to that perception and gives them peace of mind that you’re not going anywhere anytime soon and can actually honour that warranty.”

Outside of work, Brett spends time with his family, and only recently, his first grandchild. He enjoys getting involved in his children’s sports. Brett enjoys the odd game of golf and still plays cricket for local clubs. One of his son’s is in an emerging cricket talent program and they recently toured England and Ireland together. Brett also owns a modest boat and can often be found either on Port Phillip or Westernport Bays; fishing or just enjoying the open water. Whether it’s at work, with family or a client, Brett and his team strive to deliver the absolute best service. No cliché’s, simply good business.

Look what’s NEW! Welcome to Airstep Online Ordering, where you can now order both Underlay and Hard Flooring products at your convenience, 24/7. We invite you to register using the link below: https://eorder.airstep.com.au/Account/RegisterAir For more information, please contact your Airstep Account Manager.

www.airstep.com.au 1800 803 545

www.imaginefloors.com.au 1800 803 545

Training

Why Apprentices? Brought to you by the FCIA

ith the ageing workforce claiming many installers annually, there is now an urgent need to attract new younger people into this trade to fill the gap. As a business, the FCIA has been instrumental in encouraging flooring businesses, to employ flooring apprentices as a way of bringing in new people into an old industry. But why apprentices? We asked some of our member employers the same four questions and the results were surprisingly very similar: Why did you choose to employer an apprentice? There is a shortage of layers in the industry nationwide which will have a direct impact on facets of the flooring industry. The current government incentives make it a good choice. Angela Smit – Andersen’s Wagga Wagga

Our long-term plan is to have qualified installers that we have trained and understands our level of quality expectations and culture. Jennifer Mann – Hawksbury FlooringXtra We have an aging workforce with very little new blood coming through. Hiring apprentices is a way of inducting new people into a wellpaid industry with many different career opportunities. Kurt Terry – Terry Bros Carpet Court (Young, Cootamundra and Yass) We choose to employ apprentices for several reasons, firstly installers are the X factor in our business as anyone can sell flooring but not everyone can install it. The more apprentices we employ the easier it will be to sell flooring and be confident that you can install it. If we do not have a good collective of installers, we don’t have a business and we all need to do our part to future proof the flooring industry. Richard Beaumont – Devonport Floorworld

By employing apprentices, I feel we are introducing new, young people into and industry that can be extremely rewarding and offer many different career opportunities once they have completed their apprenticeship. Andy Deaville – Southern Highlands Carpet Court What do you feel the benefits are of employing apprentices? You get to train someone from day dot so there are no bad habits to work against. There are also good government incentives to assist employers. Angela Smit – Andersen’s Wagga Wagga The benefit is to have the apprentice understanding how we operate and to be part of our team. Jennifer Mann – Hawksbury Flooring Xtra You can guide them and mould them into quality installers. By doing an apprenticeship they are learning the correct way to do things and they also get to learn about new products and techniques. Kurt Terry – Terry Bros Carpet Court (Young, Cootamundra and Yass) The benefits of employing apprentices are knowing they are getting trained correctly and it’s a great feeling to see a young person get a great satisfaction out of their work and becoming a tradesperson is a rewarding job. Richard Beaumont – Devonport Floorworld

Above: Andersen's Wagga Wagga Flooring April/May 2021

By employing apprentices, we are helping to cement the flooring industry as an industry that invests in training its people to become quality craftspeople. We can be instrumental in supporting a new generation of flooring installers. Andy Deaville – Southern 20 Highlands Carpet Court

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Influence Key policy decisions

Take advantage of the only Association which was established to provide a voice for every sector of the flooring industry. We represent the interests of Manufacturers, Suppliers, Retailers, Commercial Contractors, and individual installers to government, industry, training providers and stakeholders in the Building and Construction sector.

A sustainable workforce FCIA is future proofing the industry by addressing skills shortages though our unique apprenticeship programs. We source candidates to take up apprenticeships in Flooring Technology.

Member support services Gain access to a wealth of information and expertise regarding industry best practice in resilient, timber, and carpet installation. Our team of independent consultants can provide expert advice and insights into flooring failures, moisture problems, and Australian Standards.

Help overcome decades of government indifference to the flooring industry. FCIA works tirelessly lobbying and making submissions on Members’ behalf to key government licensing and funding bodies.

Industry engagement Through the FCIA, Members gain access to peers, industry leaders and influencers. FCIA is affiliated with the Australian Industry Group and collaborates with National and state-based flooring associations in the pursuit of industry excellence. We have established a national “learning community” comprising schools, careers networks, TAFE and private training providers, Apprenticeship Network Providers, leading charities, and government stakeholders to drive innovation and quality in the training and recognition of flooring installers

FCIA Membership offers you a one-stop shop in strategic advice, best practice solutions, skills development and products and services designed to make your business competitive, successful and compliant. To find out more call +61 3 9822 6163, email info@fcia.org.au or visit our website on www.fcia.org.au

Training

20 for the flooring industry. Andy Deaville – Southern Highlands Carpet Court Why is on the job training so important to the flooring industry? It is very much a learned skill and physically carrying out tasks makes perfect sense. Angela Smit – Andersen’s Wagga Wagga Because every installation has its own challenges and it is impossible to learn without being hands on. Jennifer Mann – Hawksbury Flooring Xtra

Above: Southern Highlands Carpet Court Why do you think it is important for the Flooring Industry to have its own Industry based RTO? The current shortage in the industry is only going to get worse. We need to start training now and having a dedicated RTOP is the most efficient way. Angela Smit – Andersen’s Wagga Wagga

finish and streamline the whole process and I believe this is a key factor for people taking on an apprentice – they want it to be simple. Richard Beaumont - Devonport Floorworld By having a flooring industry RTO there is assurance that there is a body that is there to serve the best training needs and interests

On the job training is so important to this industry as it is realistic. Everyday our jobs are different, and apprentices need to know to how to manage these situations. On the job training teaches them this. Kurt Terry – Terry Bros Carpet Court (Young, Cootamundra and Yass) On the job training is a massive bonus for our guys as every day is different and the skill sets, they pick up on the job are incredible considering there are a lot of aspects to learn in flooring. Sometimes you just can’t teach that in a classroom. Richard Beaumont – Devonport Floorworld

I think it is important for installers to have a qualification that is recognised so it helps the installer for work and helps stores know that a potential installer is a legitimately trained tradesman/woman. Jennifer Mann – Hawksbury Flooring Xtra A flooring industry RTO is there to serve the interest of the flooring industry. It has the ability to consult directly with all of industry to ensure it continues to train apprentices in what is required within this industry. Kurt Terry – Terry Bros Carpet Court (Young, Cootamundra and Yass) It is important for our industry because no one knows it better than the people in the industry to perform the training. It would give us a complete package from start to

Flooring April/May 2021

Above: Devenport Floorworld www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Training On the job training keeps it very real for our apprentices and helps them gain a better understanding of the trade. Andy Deaville – Southern Highlands Carpet Court

Apprentice Feedback What do you enjoy about the flooring apprenticeship? I enjoy the ongoing learning and mentoring from many experienced people in my workplace. I also like that I know there is job security in this role over time and that I am working towards something that gives me independence and in the long run a constant income. Jarrod - Andersen’s Wagga Wagga I like learning about the different products and how each one has a different way of installation. Matthew - Hawksbury Flooring Xtra

21 Learning correct ways to install flooring, getting taught by past installers and also working along with other apprentices. We enjoy that suppliers also help with some training and product knowledge. Brett, Ryan and Tom – Southern Highlands Carpet Court

opportunity, we love that you're not always doing the same floor or job type every day. There also are a variety of tasks we do to share it around to give everyone a go. Brett, Ryan and Tom – Southern Highlands Carpet Court

Would you recommend it to other young people? Why? Yes, I would recommend it, there is never a shortage of work so it’s a long-lasting career. Angus - Andersen’s Wagga Wagga

In conclusion, the flooring industry is a hardworking industry that offers its apprentices an amazing opportunity to learn – it is almost a blank canvas.

Yes, because it is a good trade to get into, there is a lot of pathways you can go down and the apprenticeship exposes you to all the different options. Matthew - Hawksbury Flooring Xtra Yes, we would recommend this to other people. It is a great learning and career

With the right employers who understand that by supporting training and continually upskilling your staff you create a learning environment that is holistic and intuitive which improves the skills and knowledge of all within the industry. This can only have positive effects on their business, which ultimately lifts the standard and prosperity of the industry as a whole.

Spotlight On

One lineal metre of carpet at a time

tarting its journey from humble beginnings in the town of Gatton, just west of Brisbane in the late 1950’s, Andersens went from strength to strength, now boasting an impressive 48 retail outlets, from Cairns to Wagga Wagga and as far West as Roma. A pioneer in the floor coverings industry since its inception, Andersens is a story of old-fashioned hard work, hardship, and dedication. Where it all began Founder, Jack Andersen was born in March of 1950 in the town of Gatton to Roderick and Gladys Andersen – Rod, a cabinet maker by trade, who also made furniture for the Gatton locals, which lead him into furniture retail and floor coverings.

In 1978, when Jack was 28 years old, Jack’s father parted ways from the furnishings and floorings business, leaving Jack to make it his own. It was that year the first Andersens Carpet shop opened in Railway Street, Gatton with a few samples and not much else. History in the making After managing on their own for the first few months with two kids in tow, it was time Jack and his wife, Darlene brought in some help. Darryl Charlton came on board as their first salesman, (who would soon become Andersens first franchisee) and the business only continued to grow. A bigger space was purchased in 1979 – the old Gatton picture theatre was gutted and soon housed a showroom, an office space, and

a warehouse. It wasn’t perfect – tight and with its quirks, but it was a step forward and was pivotal in Andersens continued success. In 1981, Jack opened a new showroom in Toowoomba where he hired his first paying customer, Nino Marchetti from back in 1978 as the Showroom Manager. Soon after, Jack hired his third employee, Ned Hagen who had previously worked for his opposition – testament to the reputation Andersens was very quickly building. With a great team behind him, wellrespected relationships built with all their customers and success in word-of-mouth advertising, Jack extended his quotes to smaller towns outside of Toowoomba. Warwick, Kingaroy, Dalby, Roma, and Stanthorpe – all towns today which now have Andersens stores. There was never a plan to expand, however with help from Darryl Charlton, 1984 saw Ipswich become home to Andersens third showroom. The idea his own, Jack and Darryl agreed Darryl would open the store, using the Gatton warehouse. He could call the business anything he liked, but Darryl was insistent on calling it Andersens and the deal was settled on a handshake. Darryl was the first Andersens franchisee. 24

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60 YEARS OF SUCCESS | MARKET LEADER LARGE WAREHOUSE WORLD CLASS TRAINING & SUPPORT

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From strength to strength From 1986 through to 1994, the Andersens portfolio grew by another 12 stores – a growth rate never seen before in the floor covering industry. And this growth period brought about many evolutions for Andersens, some of which are still in existence today. It saw the hire of a new Group Operations Manager and the build of a brand-new warehouse on the outskirts of Gatton, which at the time Jack thought would be too big. The showroom and offices also moved to a new building adjacent to the new warehouse, marking the end of an era at the Gatton picture theatre and where the warehouse, showroom and Andersens head office remain today. It was in this period Jack envisioned having his franchise stores sharing in the profit of the group – a vision he was passionate

about, which has today garnered over 10 shareholders. It was the ‘90s when Jack brought his two sons, Peter and Paul into the business, further cementing its name as a family run business through and through.

The end of an era After more than four decades at the helm of the Andersens Carpets empire, at the age of 62, Jack Andersen retired from the family business. A business which became one of the most respected market leaders in the floor covering industry, not only for its exceptional product quality and range, but for setting a benchmark for warranties and a level of customer service the floor coverings industry had never seen. From the staff to its customers, honesty and integrity are engrained values in the Andersens name, present in every pillar. To be part of Andersens was and always will be more than just a business relationship. To be part of Andersens is to be part of a family. Andersens is expanding with four new stores currently in development and financial incentives for independents to convert across to Andersens and benefit from the brand support, training, supply chain and marketing. If you would like to know more and a confidential discussion with their Group Expansion Manager, please call Dean Lightfoot on 0408 067 439 or email dlightfoot@andersens.com.au

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Be recognised for your sustainability credentials with GECA

Flooring - How to make a better choice for people and planet

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Demonstrate your leadership in sustainability

Article by GECA

When choosing flooring products with our planet and people in mind it can be a hard to navigate between what is greenwash and what really is a better choice. How much do we know about the impact our floors have on the environment, our health and of others, and its social impacts? At GECA, we are here to help make these choices a lot easier for you. By removing doubt and confusion so you can identify products that are a better choice. We run Australia’s only independent, notfor-profit, multi-sector, ecolabelling program with over 25 standards. Our rigorous standards follow ISO 14024 principles and ISEAL frameworks for global best practice in ecolabelling, which are then independently assessed by our third party approved Assurance Providers.

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Increase the procurement channels of your products Comply & be recognised with green building schemes in Australia & globally such as Green Star, WELL, & ISCA Give your business a sustainability advantage Show your products meet world class standards

Organisations are licensed to use our ecolabel for products and services that have been independently assessed to have met our standards. We have an array of flooring products to choose from, certified under our Floor Coverings, Hard Surfacing, Carpet and Adhesives, Fillers and Sealants standards.

Take advantage of the rapid growth of the green building industry & consumer demand We actively build recognition & promote your business

So, what are some of the questions and considerations to make when it comes to flooring products? The main environmental impact comes from the different types of raw materials used, products for surface treatment and glue, and from the energy used during manufacturing. Flooring can also affect indoor air quality if it emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs), triggering respiratory conditions. Fit for purpose It is important to make sure that any flooring product you choose is fit

Get the recognition your products deserve - contact us today!

+61 2 9699 2850 geca.eco

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26 With so many different criteria to consider, it can seem overwhelming. Further each type of flooring material, such as timber, tiles, stone, rubber, carpet, linoleum, cork, and vinyl, all have their own specific criteria and impacts to consider. We’ve taken the hard work out of making a better choice for people and planet. Our ecolabelling scheme takes all the potential environmental, health and social impacts and more into account. Providing you with an independent, reliable, and credible way to make a better choice.

for its intended purpose. It needs to be able to comfortably withstand the expected amounts of foot traffic in the installation area – flooring that needs replacement every couple of years is not a great solution, environmentally-speaking. It also needs to be easy to clean and have a good manufacturer warranty. Social and ethical considerations Nothing is truly sustainable if it only looks at the impacts on the environment and ignores the treatment of people. Exploitation can occur in many ways, such as unsafe work conditions or little to no pay. Modern slavery is a term used to cover a range of exploitative practices, including slavery, human trafficking, child labour and forced labour.

Adhesives, fillers, and sealants Typically used for flooring products and installation, yet they can be overlooked. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a big issue for adhesives and can trigger respiratory irritation, allergies, headaches, and asthma. Formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen, is a particularly common VOC found in adhesives and resins, despite its toxicity to humans.

Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and lithopone are a few examples of compounds often found in adhesives. Production of these compounds uses large amounts of energy and generates high volumes of waste, as well as resulting in air and water emissions.

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We will dive deeper into some of the specific considerations for different flooring materials in coming issues; now let’s take a closer look at carpet.

How to choose better carpet When you’re looking at the sustainability of a carpet, you need to look at the product’s entire lifecycle. That means from the sourcing of raw materials to manufacturing, installation, use and maintenance and finally its ultimate disposal. This applies to all components of the carpet system including the fibre, the backing or padding material, and the glues and adhesives used for binding. 28

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Carpets made in Australia, by Australians, for Australia’s future. Beaulieu Australia is the premier producer of environmentally friendly textile floor coverings in Australia. Select carpets have been approved by the National Asthma Council Sensitive Choice Program. Activecare Exclusive.

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28 retardant treatments typically contain a class of compounds called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, which have been found in measurable levels in human blood and breast milk. They’ve been linked to thyroid and hormone disruption, and other chemicals classed as flame retardants have been linked to cancer. If a carpet has reached the end of its life, it should ideally be recyclable – the backing should be easily separable from the rest of the carpet, and the manufacturer or retailer should have take-back or recycling schemes in place for their products.

Natural versus synthetic fibres Answers to questions such as “synthetic or natural fibres?” or “what chemical treatments have been used?” aren’t necessarily as clear-cut as they might appear. Natural fibres, like wool, are not always necessarily better than synthetic fibres from an environmental perspective. Wool fibres can be treated with solvents and detergents during processing, and effluent from scouring operations can contribute to water pollution if it isn’t properly treated. However, natural fibres may have natural stain resistant properties, eliminating the need for nasty stain-repellent chemical treatments, and should only emit low amounts of VOCs. Natural fibres are also renewable resources and biodegradable.

On our website product database, you can find GECA certified carpet by Shaw Contract Group, RC&D and Modulyss and other flooring products by Spectrum Floors, Regupol, Forbo Flooring Systems and Alseal (Flooring adhesive) that have been assessed to meet best practice environmental, human health and ethical impact criteria. And if your favourite product is not listed, why not ask them to get GECA certified. Want to have your products GECA certified? The first step is to submit an application form, receiving in return a no obligation free quote from our Assurance Assessment companies.

You will then need to decide which quote and company you would like to go ahead with to conduct the assessment process, which involves a desk-top and onsite audit. A conformance assessment is conducted, and a verification report is produced as a result. When you have completed your assessment, you will then be awarded a GECA licence certificate and the rights to use GECA’s ecolabel mark on your certified product to win over consumers looking for a sustainable choice. Contact us today +61 2 9699 2850 info@geca.org.au www.geca.eco

ABOUT GECA

GECA is an independent not for profit that assists in cutting through the greenwash by certifying leading sustainable products and services. GECA is recognised as a mark of trust. Our scheme was the first of its kind in Australia and has more Australian certified products than any other scheme. We empower architects, builders, suppliers, designers, procurers, and consumers to have confidence in their purchasing decisions and trust GECA certified products to be healthier, safer, and better for the environment. We offer a range of services to assist an organisation on its sustainability journey. We work with our clients to achieve a shared vision of a sustainable future for people and the planet.

During manufacture, synthetic fibre production can result in the release of sulphur or nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution. Foam used for carpet backing may also have been manufactured using ozone-depleting chemicals or may present a risk to human health through the inclusion of potentially carcinogenic compounds such as 1,3-butadiene. There are also chemical treatments and dyes to consider. Stain-repellent and fire-

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Feature

Circular solutions for a better future B.I.G. Yarns launches EqoCycle recycled content yarns designed with circular economy benefits and high performance for the carpet industry. B.I.G. Yarns, a division of Beaulieu International Group, announces its latest development, EqoCycle, a fully recyclable PA6 yarn with 75% recycled content, offering the same high-quality performance of virgin PA6 yarn. The new recycled yarn based on postindustrial waste supports contract, automotive and residential carpet manufacturers with a drop-in circular solution to reduce the ecological footprint of their end products. Sustainability – Our Future There is no doubt that human activity is having an adverse effect on the natural environment in which we all live. Consumerism has reached unprecedented levels that cannot be sustained unless we find ways to reduce the demand on our natural resources.

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Beaulieu Australia view environmental stewardship as the key for a sustainable future and are excited to be part of the Beaulieu International Group (B.I.G) EqoCycle initiative.

with inter- company colleagues at B.I.G Yarns to develop a colour palette and product range specifically designed for the Australian and New Zealand markets, made from this environmental responsible yarn system.

Beaulieu Australia have collaborated closely

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Feature

Global outlook with local service F. Ball is a recognised leader in the development and manufacture of flooring adhesives and floor preparation products for specialist flooring contractors. The company’s success is based on their commitments, which aim to deliver ongoing customer satisfaction through optimised product performance and user experience. Their commitment to research, develop and manufacture products that deliver world class performance is backed by the same values they established when they were first founded in 1886, taking a long term view and building sustainable, trusting and mutually beneficial partnerships with wholesalers and customers alike.

commitment to maintaining the highest levels of quality and performance across all areas of the organisation can be witnessed in its accreditation to international quality management and environmental standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, as well as BS OHSAS 18001, which specifies the best practice requirements for occupational health and safety management. Innovation in meeting demands Over recent years, the company has developed products that are low odour and solvent-free, as well as producing underlayments and adhesives that are suitable in biologically sensitive areas

Still a family-owned business, F. Ball has developed into an international operation, supplying products globally, using an established network of specialist agents and partners like Visionary Living. In addition, much of F. Ball’s literature and technical data is available in many languages. Quality and performance Above all, it is the performance of the company’s products that have established the F. Ball name as having consistently high-quality flooring adhesives, smoothing underlayments, waterproof surface membranes and primers. The company’s

F.Ball products are exclusively supplied through Visionary Living in Australia.

such as those found in hospitals and other healthcare environments. Commitment to excellence The company’s iconic and unrivalled Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG®) provides adhesive recommendations for over 5,500 brand name floor coverings from over 200 leading, international manufacturers, which have been tested and endorsed by each individual floorcovering manufacturer. Sustainability In compliance with ISO 14001 standards, the company evaluates its activities on-site at their Staffordshire headquarters as well as the entire life cycle of all their products when looking for ways to be more sustainable.

Flooring April/May 2021

This includes considering the materials used to make their products, manufacturing processes and how the products can be recycled or disposed of responsibly following use. They have also introduced recyclable packaging for several products, with much of the new packaging itself manufactured from recycled materials. This provides contractors with a convenient means of recycling the new buckets and bottles, limiting what goes into landfill.

Through quality, innovation and design, Visionary Living has established itself as a leader in its represented market segments in Australasia. Combining a wealth of internal expertise with some of the world’s largest manufacturers, Visionary Living offers its customers exclusive products with a focus on quality and unique selling attributes to ensure value through differentiation. web www.vlcommercial.com

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Feature

Healthier Carpet Creating a healthier home just became a whole lot easier with triexta carpets. Healthier homes from the ground up When it comes to material health, it is what’s on the inside that matters most. Leading the way in healthy and environmentally conscious flooring, triexta carpets by Godfrey Hirst and Redbook are the first residential carpets in Australia to be officially certified Declare Red List Free. What is the Red List? The Red List is a register of manufacturing ingredient nasties such as BPA, PVC, fluorocarbons, added formaldehyde, VOC’s and phthalates. Achieving the Red List Free certification guarantees that Godfrey Hirst and Redbook triexta carpets contain ZERO Red List chemicals. Why it’s important? Interior finishes and furnishings can contain Red List pollutants that have been medically associated with a range of health issues. Acting as a nutrition label for building materials, Declare Red List Free is the gold standard of environmental certification and product transparency. Carpets with the Red List Free certification offer absolute peace of mind for anyone looking to create a healthier, safer and more sustainable home.

The label addresses three key concerns: • Where does a product originate? • What is it made of? • Where does it end up at the end of its life?

For the greater good Going further than just the health of your own home, buying a Red List Free product has a positive effect on the greater environment. Chemicals on the Red List have been found to: • Pollute the environment • Bio-accumulate up the food chain until they reach toxic concentrations • Harm construction and factory workers How was the certification achieved? To achieve this, Godfrey Hirst and Redbook worked with their entire supply chain to identify, source and utilise healthier manufacturing ingredients. The entire chemical composition of triexta carpet was scrutinised to a threshold of 100-parts-per-million; essentially creating a nutrition label of ingredients. The result? Absolutely no Red List chemicals used and the highest Red List Free certification on all Australian made triexta carpets by Godfrey Hirst and Redbook.

With the transparency of the Declare Red List Free program, you can make an informed decision to select a floorcovering that creates a safe and healthier home environment. There are three levels of certification: Declared (good) - This base level of transparency, while revealing a product’s ingredients, will nevertheless contain some Red List ingredients, which will be highlighted. Red List Approved (better) – Where chemicals or product ingredients have no available public information, or a manufacturer is unable to publicly identify an ingredient due to proprietary registration. Products may potentially contain Red List chemicals, which, if identified, will be highlighted in orange. Red List Free (best) – Complete ingredient disclosure revealing ZERO Red List chemicals. All Godfrey Hirst and Redbook triexta carpets achieve the best Red List Free certification. web www.ghcommercial.com

The nutrition label for building materials Declare Red List Free certified products offer full transparency revealing ZERO Red List chemicals, providing you with peace of mind that you are selecting a healthy building product for a healthier and safer home.

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Feature

RLA rationalises flooring adhesives RLA Polymers the iconic Australian manufacturer of adhesives, sealants and cementitious mortars is unveiling their forward-thinking brand strategy for the Australian flooring market. Craig Hildebrand RLA’s National Sales Manager explains; RLA’s history spans some 55 years and throughout this history, there has been an enduring diversification strategy of its flooring related product offering. As the oldest Australian flooring adhesive manufacturer, RLA has acquired and developed many iconic flooring adhesive brands including Roberts, Polymer, Green Solutions, Holdfast and Aftek. Today RLA’s management team, led by Troy Hogan, recognise the important link between brand strategy and the organisation’s strategic intent. Throughout the second half of 2020, the business undertook a deep dive into all RLA flooring brands and products. Following this analysis, the business decided to streamline its brand and product strategy. The rationalisation program culminated in the reduction of its five brands to two main flooring brands. Hildebrand said the surviving brands identify the strengths of RLA today in line with RLA’s vision for tomorrow and beyond. The second critical part of the rationalisation program focused on RLA’s guiding principles, which include; innovative

material science, the environment and the impact on human health. This resulted in developing new products, modifying existing products and the deletion of others. Hildebrand went on to say, the rationalisation program fleshed out several key learnings. Firstly, they uncovered the underlying strengths of the Roberts and RLA brands in the flooring market. Secondly, their guiding principles drive technologies that enhance their core competencies to ensure the business creates value for all stakeholders. Hildebrand also suggested the strength of the Roberts brand and its national distribution network, with its key distribution partners, including Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS) and Aussie Floorcovering Distributors (AFD) ensures the product range is accessible to the entire national flooring market. Furthermore, the Roberts range is well known for its market leading innovative technologies that includes the GreenTag family of products.

The business also acknowledged the role of its other strong flooring brands such as Polymer, Green Solutions, Aftek and Holdfast. These brands represented a strong past in both branding and preceding technologies. Whist these brands are proudly immortalised in the business and the flooring market, the RLA brand links the organisations guiding principles and strategic intent. For these reasons, the RLA brand partners the Roberts brand in the market. The culmination of the rationalisation program also reveals a fresh new look for the Roberts adhesive range. The Roberts range now offers a complete flooring solution from moisture suppression products, subfloor primers, SLC’s and adhesives. RLA has designed and developed the Roberts One System Warranty for textile, resilient and timber floorcoverings. For more information about the Roberts One System Warranty, please contact RLA and or our Roberts distribution partners. web www.rlapolymers.com.au

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Another innovative solution from the team at RLA.

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Interface launch their first carbon negative carpet tile Interface have launched their first carbon negative carpet tile. Helping you reduce the carbon footprint of your spaces and the latest milestone in the Interface Climate Take Back mission. The new Embodied Beauty carpet collection contains three carbon negative styles that use their new backing CQuest BioX. This backing combines new bio-based materials that store the most carbon alongside increased levels of recycled content. When combined with specialty yarns and tufting processes, this results in a carbon negative carpet tile when measured on a lifecycle assessment from cradle to gate. In

other words, at the point their product leaves the factory, there is less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than if the carpet tile had not been manufactured in the first place. In addition, taking responsibility for emissions once the product leaves the factory, they have ensured that this product is carbon neutral through its entire life cycle through their Carbon Neutral Floors programme. Interface’s path to carbon negative Interface began their journey to develop carbon negative products following the adoption of their Climate Take Back mission in 2016 and long-term goal to be a carbon negative enterprise by 2040.

In 2017, their engineers explored whether it was possible to create a carbon negative carpet tile, unveiling the Proof Positive tile, a one-off prototype that was the starting point for developing a market-ready solution. The release of their first carbon negative product represents the realisation of this ambition and is the latest milestone in Interface’s pursuit of sustainability – as they incorporate carbon negative carpet tiles into a collection that is now available in Australia. Rethinking carbon as a resource Guided by materials science and inspired by nature’s carbon-storing abilities, Interface have pioneered the use of responsibly sourced bio-based materials in their carpet tile backings. These materials use the power of nature to store carbon in a stable and durable form; helping to control carbon emissions by keeping them stored in their products and out of the atmosphere. By combining these materials with the use of high levels of recycled content, Interface can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their products. In addition, they can get closer to turning off the tap to the use of fossil-fuel derived materials, keeping these carbon intensive materials to a minimum. Whilst also ensuring that at end of life their products are ready for reuse and recycling. web www.interface.com

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CARBON NEGATIVE FLOORING FOR BETTER IMPACT

Product Shishu Stitch [-CO2] and Sashiko Stitch

We know the impact our flooring has on our world – whether it’s carpet tile, LVT or nora rubber. And we’ve been leading the way by reducing the carbon footprint of our products for more than two decades. Now we’re proud to introduce our first cradle-togate carbon negative carpet tile designs: Shishu Stitch, Tokyo Texture, and Zen Stitch all part of the Embodied Beauty™ collection. Taking our cue from nature, we’ve learned to work with carbon by using it as a building block to engineer better products. The carbon negative materials in the CQuest™BioX backing, in combination with specialty yarns and tufting processes, result in a carbon negative carpet tile. The finished product brings together durability, industry-leading design, and a negative carbon footprint that ultimately benefits the planet and shows that great design and sustainability are inseparable. Together, we can build a healthier planet.

CARBON FOOTPRINT

interface.com #lovecarbon

Company Profile

An innovative business with traditional values

pectrum Floors was established in 1976 as a business to supply quality commercial floor coverings. The family owned and operated business, located in Tonsley, a southern suburb of Adelaide in South Australia, has always seen quality as a benchmark to success. Add to that the traditional values of honesty, integrity, and sincerity, and you get a business that supplies a superior product with the support and backup you would expect from a successful, 45-years young company. Spectrum Floors supplies a broad range of commercial floor coverings for the most demanding applications. Failure is not an option when you lay sports flooring for the Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast) and the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra). The education sector is another challenging flooring environment that benefits from Spectrum’s expertise in certified rubber flooring product that provides high durability and abrasion resistance, low volatile organic compounds and superior acoustic and antibacterial properties.

Spectrum Floors’ founder has been front and centre at the business and is well-known in the trade for being open and honest. A solid trade background with an abundance of product knowledge puts David at the very top level of expertise in the commercial flooring industry. And while he is now semi-retired, Spectrum Floors continues to benefit from his input, and the proficiency of his team, built up over decades of service to the flooring industry throughout Australia. In 1984 Spectrum Floors started selling the family-owned Italian Mondo rubber flooring and now includes the Artigo range from the Mondo Group of companies.

A focus on environmentally responsible products. Spectrum Floors search the world for innovations and superior quality in flooring products. Their commitment is to long-term service that will keep Spectrum successful for the next generation. An initiative was to gain certification with Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) that has helped to promote the environmental benefits of their certified rubber flooring products. It has become a mindset at Spectrum Floors to source and supply the best and most environmentally friendly products. As they say, “We’re green and proud of it.”

GECA is a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to promote environmentally preferable products and services. Spectrum Floors’ range is a thoughtful selection of quality products based on premium European supplies and a number of them are GECA certified. Spectrum recognised the growing trend for sourcing and specifying environmentally friendly flooring early, and the importance of indoor air quality within the built environment.

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Company Profile David said, “With GECA certification, we can verify that our products meet and often, exceed project requirements and environmental standards.” But Spectrum Floors goes much further than just supplying quality eco-conscious product. David adds, “We are committed to analysing all waste products and recyclable materials including the packaging. We take every opportunity to research, market, recommend and use products with environmental and sustainable responsibility.” A great example is Spectrum Floors’ supply of environmentally

friendly product to the Burgmann Early Learning Centre in Canberra that was designed to incorporate indoor/outdoor connections, rhythm and movement, warmth, and flexibility. Spectrum Floors’ quality product range Spectrum is a preferred supplier of GECA certified Mondo Artigo rubber flooring that includes the Stud System range, based on the original Pirelli design. Artigo is World leading flooring installed in the Mercedes Benz headquarters in Italy, the CN Tower in Toronto and through Spectrum Floors, throughout Australia. Commercial vinyl flooring with acoustic and anti-bacterial properties; indoor and outdoor sports floors, Gradus stair nosing, efficient entrance matting, floor trims and accessories complement the extensive range of flooring products available from one of Australia’s leading suppliers.

An Australian Trusted Trader In 2018 Spectrum Floors was one of the first 100 Australian companies to receive Australian Trusted Trader certification, a testament to the values of this 100% Australian owned business. Quality European products; environmentally preferable rubber flooring, and outstanding customer service define Spectrum Floors, the Adelaide-based flooring supplier where honesty, integrity and sincerity really is what they practice.

Technical Bulletin

Stopping stains and discolouration of resilient floorcoverings Asphalts and some rubber products, such as shoes, wheels, and floor mats, may contain chemicals that when they come into contact with PVC vinyl and linoleum floorcoverings, can cause permanent staining and discolouration. This is often seen where foot traffic exits off a busy road or areas adjacent to forklift areas in commercial buildings. A chemical reaction or migration will occur if the rubber is left on the surface for long periods. Entrance mats such as Forbo Coral matting will help stop and collect most contaminates and make internal cleaning much easier and safer.

whatever meets with them, whether that be shoes, wheels, etc., leaving behind dirt, contaminates and micro rubber particles. Therefore, proper maintenance procedures are the most critical element in maintaining a floor’s slip-resistance and long-term appearance. If these floors are not maintained in such a way as to remove all contaminating particles and debris, staining and discoloration will occur, and safety will be compromised. The only effective way to remove surface soil and contaminants is to vacuum then scrub the floor with nylon brushes, then wet vacuum up the cleaning solution. A mop and bucket system merely dilute soil and contaminates spreading the resulting dirty solution evenly across the floor, this can be seen on coved vinyl and referred to as a high tide (dirt) mark on the cove. Common sense should also be used when making colour selections for a particular area and application. No flooring is impervious to every type of stain or chemical. Lighter colors will show stains and soiling much faster and require much more maintenance than mid to darker colours.

Abrasive action of safety floor on rubber soles True, slip-resistant or safety type floors contain abrasive particles designed to provide traction and slip resistance under foot. In application, these abrasive particles act like sandpaper, quickly wearing down

Flooring April/May 2021

Staining is also true for the underside of PVC floorcoverings and why paint, oil and other contaminants need to be removed from subfloors as per the Australian standard or the risk of the stain transposing to the surface could occur. No one floor covering is suitable for every type of application. When selecting a floorcovering for a particular application, several aspects should be considered, such as: • Use, safety and contamination • Type and frequency of maintenance i.e. manual or machine cleaning • Stain and chemical resistance for the application • Indentation resistance • Indoor air quality • Aesthetics • Life cycle costs If you have any doubt as to the suitability of a product for an application, check with the manufacturer.

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creating better environments

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John Adkins: aka Johnny Red retires after 45 years in the carpet industry Story by Margaret Hewett

ohn Adkins started in the carpet industry not long after he and his family were blown out of Darwin by Cyclone Tracey. He and his wife Jan with their two boys Michael and Matthew evacuated to John’s home state of Tasmania early in 1975. Real estate was John’s forte at the time, but he found it difficult to get into the industry in Tasmania. He secured a job in the retail side of the carpet industry at Newton James in Hobart. Around this time an area manager’s position looking after Southern Tasmania was advertised by Pacific Carpets International, makers of the brand Redbook Carpets. John secured the position. Over the next few years, it was realised that Tasmania was overrepresented by four account managers - economically this was not viable. John secured the position of state manager, hence closing the Launceston office. John’s immediate superiors in those days were Les Chantler and John Carland. During 1977 John urged Pacific Carpets International to allow him to take on Tasmania as a sole commission agent. This eventually came to pass in 1978. J&R Distributors was formed in conjunction with Richard Kasprzak, John’s then sales representative. Richard Kasprzak left J&R Distributors in 1987 and represented Godfrey Hirst Carpets until his retirement a few years back. During the eighties J&R conducted three sales seminars, entitled: Challenge for the 80’s, Sell it right the first time and Sales with

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profit. The seminars were conducted over a full weekend at the Silver Sands Motel on the east coast – the whole motel was booked out on each occasion. All retailers, management and sales staff were invited. The initial conference attracted 72% of the trade and for the final conference 84% attended. Various guest speakers from the industry attended

these seminars including; Fibre Makers, Stainmaster, Sanitize, Stainrelease, the Tasmanian Director of Consumer Affairs, and senior sales personnel from Redbook Carpets. The eighties and indeed the nineties presented a great opportunity for the relaunch of the Redbook Brand and as a result John started producing television,

radio and newspaper commercials designed for individual stores and in conjunction with group stores. The slogan “If it’s not Redbook - it’s not Carpet” tagged nearly every commercial. Most retailers welcomed John’s in-house sales training programs for group and individual stores. He also conducted one- on- one training.

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To complement these training programs two factory tours were conducted during the nineties. Each group comprised 40 or more retailers and sales personnel. They were ferried overnight across the Bass Strait to tour the Redbook Mill; foam underlay factory and a yarn manufacturing plant. The Redbook Brand became the number one brand boasting over 50% of the Tasmanian market. John’s nickname around the trade was Johnny Red.

Richard began purchasing waterfall stands and building wall racks to display drapes. Retailers were happy to let Redbook take up as much space in their store as required – of course this cut out the opposition from gaining any display areas for themselves. This tactic was used throughout Tasmania, so much so that when an opposition representative called on a store that John and Richard were erecting stands in, the rep would just walk away muttering, “I give up”.

It was during the early eighties that John and Richard decided to double the Redbook product range by giving each range a second name. This was frowned upon by Redbook management; it was something new and innovative. When they were forbidden to continue with the practice, they printed their own labels and carried on. Eventually head office saw the merits of extending the range and adopted it nationally. John believed that all representatives’ vehicles should carry the company logos – this practice was made mandatory in Tasmania.

Advertising was another of John’s fortes. He would beg head office for an annual budget of say $10,000. He then connected with the television stations in the state and produce the ads himself. He had the ability to turn the $10,000 into $100,000 by encouraging individual retailers and groups of retailers to participate.

Floorcovering marketing in the early seventies, eighties and nineties was generally ad-hoc. John recognised the potential of imitating what suppliers did with the major supermarkets and that was to secure floor and wall space for Redbook. John and

Flooring April/May 2021

During the period of fashion change from multi-coloured cut and loops to plain pastel shaded plushes and twist pile carpets a plethora of complaints emanated from consumers who couldn’t understand why their carpets were matting and tracking. John conducted a survey of twenty odd consumers who had purchased the same Redbook carpet over a period of five years. The result of this work shone a light on the difference between multi-coloured versus

plain carpets. Multi-coloured carpets hid a multitude of sins including, dirt dust and tracking whereas plain pastel coloured carpets highlighted these problems. Body oil from our socks and stockings was another contributor to matting and tracking – humans express up to a third of a cup of moisture into the atmosphere daily from our footwear of which around ten percent is body oil. Once we take our shoes off at the door, we transfer a small film of oil onto the surface pile of the carpet – over time this adds up causing the pile to become matted and because of its stickiness attracts dirt. As a result of his survey the first label with the graphic of an upright vacuum cleaner used on the backs of carpet samples was created by John. This label in various forms was adopted by many manufactures worldwide. John was successful with every take over and amalgamations that transpired with the Redbook Brand over the years. He became an employee together with his wife Jan when Shaw Industries bought out the Redbook, Minster and Invicta Brands. He was promoted to Tasmanian manger with two trainee account managers (one of whom was Brendan Fall now with VCC) and office staff. John was also given the responsibility to educate trainee sales representatives sent over from Melbourne. This situation continued

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Icons John conducted a survey of twenty odd consumers who had purchased the same Redbook carpet over a period of five years... As a result of his survey the first label with the graphic of an upright vacuum cleaner used on the backs of carpet samples was created by John. This label in various forms was adopted by many manufactures worldwide.

John is also a past Branch Chairman and State President of the Knights of the Southern Cross. John and Jan would like to thank all their past and current clients for their support and loyalty over the past 45 years, many of whom have become great friends.

until Shaw sold the business to Feltex. Then around 2005 everything went pear-shaped for Feltex and John was retrenched. He also employed his son Michael who is now working for Carpet Cutters Commercial in Sydney. John semi-retired at this time and did some part time work for the late Ivan Mercer of Windsor Agencies. It was during this time that Ivan had a serious accident at the warehouse and sadly ended up as a quadriplegic. John purchased Windsor Agencies in 2008 unfortunately just when the GFC happened. This ultimately caused the closure of the warehouse, retrenchment of staff, vehicles, forklifts etc. Since 2011 John has been operating for his home with Jan. During John’s 45 years in the trade he has built his own home at Kettering, built a home for one of his sons , built a 34ft steel cruiser, founded the Channel Theatre Company and performed in over forty five productions and directed many shows, including South Pacific, Carousel, My Fair Lady, Sweeny Todd, Oklahoma just to name a few. John also wrote the Musical Arthur Circus which had its world premiere in Darwin in 1974 and later at the Theatre Royal in Hobart. He also wrote the one act play Five Blind Mice for the annual Deloraine Drama Festival taking out second prize. Currently John is a member of the Sing for your Life Choir which toured Ireland in 2018 for the International Choral Competition and is artistic director of the Act Your Age theatre group.

Save The Date. FAV’s Annual Gala Awards night is back & bigger than ever in 2021. When: 7th August 2021 Where: The Plaza Ballroom 191 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 Dress Code: Black Tie Flooring Association of Victoria’s 5th annual awards night is an opportunity to celebrate the industry’s resilience and acknowledge flooring excellence. All enquiries for event sponsorship or to book membership tickets, please contact favawards@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible in 2021. Come support the industry Victoria!

Flooring April/May 2021

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Safety

46 Why and where to use tactile indicator studs

Tactile ground surface indicators empower the visually impaired to navigate with confidence

pedestrians to impending hazards in their line of travel, helping them determine how best to proceed.

Supporting building professionals Australiawide, Classic’s mission is to enhance the accessibility and safety of public spaces for everyone. The team at Classic strive to better serve the community by giving people with disabilities the right to dignified, safe and independent access to the built environment. According to Vision 2020 Australia, it is important to note that over 575,000 Australians are blind or vision impaired, with more than 70% of those over the age of 65 classed as blind. While many of the population may walk across tactile ground surface indicators (TGSI’s) in high-traffic areas without a second thought, TGSI’s play a crucial navigator and environmental cue for those with vision impairments.

To ensure your project meets all compliance requirements, Classic offers Luminance Contrast Testing across their comprehensive range of tactile ground surface indicators.

Above: Classic Tredfx Warning Tactile SH10 – Sydney Cricket Ground Directional tactile indicators Also known as leading tactile indicators, these are textured surface features with directional bars to provide directional orientation and designate the continuous accessible route to be taken.

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Tactile studs fall in two primary categories. Warning tactile indicators Commonly referred to as hazard tactile indicators, these textured surface features function much like a stop sign when applied to walking surfaces. Alerting vision impaired

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Refer to the following standards to ensure your project’s compliance • Australian Standards (AS 1428.1-2009| Design for Access and Mobility) • The National Construction Code/ Building Code of Australia • The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) However, it’s essential to remember that tactiles alone will not make an unsafe environment safe. Playing an important secondary role in providing vital warning and directional information, the emphasis still falls on the good design and planning of public spaces.

Above: Classic Tredfx Directional Tactile

Above: Active Metal Pty Ltd

For TGSI’s, this is the difference in the amount of light reflected from the tactiles compared to the amount of light that’s reflected from the base surface. Tactile tiles should have 30% luminance contrast while tactile individuals should have 45% to 60%.

Working in synergy, tactile ground surface indicators empower visually impaired pedestrians to enjoy confident, independent mobility within urban environments. TGSI Luminance Contrast Testing Another important aspect of tactile indicators is their ability to provide luminance contrast. Calculated in accordance with AS1428.4.12009, luminance contrast is a measure that compares the luminance reflectance of two different surfaces.

Public applications of tactile studs Stairways, ramps, escalators and moving travelators are designed to improve efficiency and traffic flows, however, they often pose a challenge for the vision impaired. When tactile indicators are installed in accordance with AS guidelines, they provide adequate warning of impending hazards and orientation prompts. 7 public access areas that are nonnegotiables for the installation of tactile indicators Public spaces that must have tactiles installed include:

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Safety 1. Railway platforms – warning TGSI’s are used on the platform edges for safety, and directional TGSI’s provide a valuable means of providing wayfinding information 2. Stairways – to reduce the risk of falls and hazards, particularly stairs with irregular steps or lack of handrails 3. Escalators – to determine where the escalator begins and ends 4. Passenger conveyors/ moving travelators – alerting to the approach of a moving travelator 5. Ramps - areas with a sudden change in incline

47 6. Areas which lack suitable barriers – hazards that are not protected by railings or other purposebuilt barriers 7. Pedestrian crossings – to indicate where a safety crossing begins and ends Versatile TGSI solutions to meet your aesthetic and functional goals While safety is always of paramount importance, Classic Architectural Group’s practical access solutions are also architecturally designed to complement your project’s aesthetic vision. From stainless steel and brass, to poly and ceramic, they offer a diversity of styles and colours to meet your tactile floor safety requirements.

Above: Classic Tredfx Solid Brass Tactiles – 130 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne With expert consultation and advice, the Classic team can tailor a solution to align with your project needs, from design to supply and installation. To learn more about any of the Classic range or to request a sample for your project go to the website for more details. www.classicarch.com

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Safety

Victorian Silicosis Report: Almost 30% of Stonemasons have Silicosis The final report of the Victorian Phase 1: Silica associated lung disease health screening research project, which includes the Stonemasons’ screening project and the Silica-associated disease registry, has been released with staggering findings. The report was prepared by Monash University in collaboration with WorkSafe Victoria. Overall, as of July 2020, 456 workers agreed to take part in the screening project or/ and the disease registry. Among these 456 workers, there are 133 (29%) cases of silicosis identified. Of the 133 workers with a diagnosis, 102 had simple silicosis, and 31 had more severe complicated silicosis. The median age of workers at the time of assessment was 36 years of age. The study found that the reported use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) has increased slightly. However, many workers reported ceasing RPE use after wet-cutting processes were implemented. Opening a window/door and ventilation in the ceiling were the most common types of ventilation methods reported, which is unlikely to be effective in removing dust from the worker’s breathing zone. In summary, this research has found a large burden of silica-associated disease in stonemasons working with artificial stone and demonstrated the need for ongoing screening of these workers and further research into the most effective screening methods to be adapted. These findings are also likely to have implications for silicaexposed workers in other industry sectors.

Flooring April/May 2021

Key findings: • Of the 324 workers in the stonemasons’ screening project, 254 (78%) were referred for further follow-up. • There were 211 (65%) workers who had clinical abnormalities (abnormal chest x-ray, and/or abnormal lung function, and/or significantly respiratory, other symptoms or signs). • Of the workers who were referred for further follow-up, 59 (26%) have a current silicosis diagnosis, and 26 (11%) have possible silicosis. Silica dust is harmful when inhaled into your lungs. It is 100 times smaller than a grain of sand, so small it can be inhaled without knowing. Respirable crystalline silica exposure can cause silicosis, a debilitating and irreversible lung condition that can cut short careers, reduce the quality of life and can lead to death. Respirable crystalline silica is also linked to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. Occupational exposure is high for workers in industries including mining & quarry, constructions, agriculture and stonemasonry. When looking to protect yourself or your staff from any airborne contaminants, Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) offer high and reliable protection, far exceeding disposable masks. CleanSpace Respirators are positive pressure PAPRs and are a revolution in the area of respiratory protection. While they provide all the protection of a PAPR, they a free from belts, battery packs and hoses, making them more comfortable and easier to deploy.

Compared to disposable N95 respirators, CleanSpace Respirators offer more protection and are more economical as the cost of replacing disposables stacks up. With the current COVID-19 crisis, securing a reliable supply has also been an issue. Disposable masks are well-known for causing fogging of eyewear and discomfort, leading to low compliance. Even when used in hot or humid conditions, CleanSpace respirators provide cool, clean air to the user and eliminate fogging and moisture. CleanSpace respirators are light, easy to put on, reliably safe and comfortable. These smart powered devices are easily operated using a one-button smart system, recharge in just two hours and have an 8-hours run-time. These unique features mean more workers wear these respirators for the full shift every time. CleanSpace meets and exceeds Silica Dust Exposure Standard. To guard against silica exposure, State regulators have moved to recommend staff wear respiratory protection using a minimum P2 filter. CleanSpace respirators meet and exceed these requirements with a P3 filter. CleanSpace Respirators are AS/ NZS 1716 and CE Mark certified.

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Safety

CleanSpace Technology, established in 2009 by world-class biomedical engineers, has designed and developed several respirators for various industries. CleanSpace ULTRA is IP Rated 66, water tolerant, making it perfect for anyone wet-cutting stone or concrete. CleanSpace EX is intrinsically safe, certified for use in potentially explosive environments, and CleanSpace2 is for use where water tolerance or intrinsic safety is not required. CleanSpace ULTRA CleanSpace ULTRA is suitable for workers in environments requiring face/eye protection and water tolerance. It is compatible with either half-face or the full-face masks. Features: • IP Rated 66, water tolerant • High protection P3/TM3 99.95% • Comfortable and lightweight

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• No hoses, belts or waist-mounted battery packs • Easy one-button operation • Up to 8 hours run-time • Smart AirSensit Technology • AS/NZS 1716 certified The team at CleanSpace Technology believe that employees are an essential part of a business. The workplace environment must be safe for employees. CleanSpace Technology hosts online presentations to share information on effective risk control, industry best practice and experiences to case studies from people in the industry.

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There are upcoming opportunities to join their live sessions to learn more about CleanSpace Respirators and how they can protect you and your workers. Scan the QR code with your camera to reserve your spot. CleanSpace Technology support on-going learning, product training, fit testing to provide instructions on maintenance and care with attentive customer support. The report is available on WorkSafe Victoria’s website at: https://www.worksafe. vic.gov.au/resources/silica-associated-lungdisease-health-screening-research-phaseone-final-report

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Safety

Total safety with custom made ladder rung covers Apart from the pain suffered and the loss of time due to the seriousness of the injury, worn out, shiny, oily and greasy metal ladder rungs are the main reason why slipping and falling down ladders has become a major concern to all. Paints and tapes have been tried and use in the past but offer little long-term protection and can become a regular and costly maintenance job. Floorsafe Australia is sensitive to cost considerations and is always looking for a better way to easily fix and solve a problem. The company now custom make round and square Safety Tread metal ladder rung covers that will fit snuggly over the old and unsafe metal rung. Constructed from a 1.6mm metal that has been especially shaped to fit over any size rung, the metal is then prepared using a special primer

process. Three coats of a high quality 2-part Polyurethane are mixed and applied at different stages along with a fine carborundum oxide grit. The final finished product meets the Australian slip standards and the hardness obtained is the reason why the product comes with a five-year wear warranty. Installation is quite simple once the existing rung has been cleaned. Just apply an adhesive bead inside the new ladder rung cover and place over the existing rung. Floorsafe will also provide the 11FC fast curing construction adhesive which comes in cartridge form and can be applied with a normal chalking gun.

Floorsafe also supplies cost effective round fibreglass rung covers in standard 20mm, 25mm and 30mm diameters and lengths up to 1000mm.

Floorsafe are a national supplier of aluminium and fibreglass stair nosings, tactile indicators, skateboard deterrents and safety tapes. A five-star company that offers a complete range of quality products that get delivered on time.

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Software

Revive your entrepreneurial spirit Story by Chris Ogden If we have been in business for some years, we might no longer have the same entrepreneurial spirit we had when we first launched or purchased our business. If our role as a business owner feels like it has become more like a job, then our entrepreneurial skills might have become blunted with time. If this is the case, we are not alone, but why does it matter? Firstly, it is that initial entrepreneurial spirit that got our business up and running, and it is needed to keep our business flourishing and viable. If our business remains unchanged from year to year, we are likely not exploring new ways of doing things or new opportunities. My observation of flooring businesses is those that are thriving are owned by people who work on their business as much as they work in it.

Some franchise businesses require that franchisees look at their business premises from across the road daily. Our premises don't change much from day to day, so of what value could this be? On one level, it ensures our premises are tidy and inviting, but on another level, it creates a small space of time in which we think about our business beyond the mundane. Having the opportunity to think about how we might do things differently and better or develop new opportunities stoke our entrepreneurial fire. Suppose our role as a business owner has become to feel like a job. In that case, we might have become complacent. We could be creating opportunities for our competitors and new entrants to the market who might see opportunities we should be taking advantage of. Also, we are no longer influencing our business's direction; it is being driven by the market, our competitors, or our staff.

It is that initial entrepreneurial spirit that got our business up and running, and it is needed to keep our business flourishing and viable. There are many moving parts in a flooring business, many more than a conventional retail business. Each of these gives us opportunities to examine what we are doing and how we are doing it, to try new methods and processes to continually improve our business. As entrepreneurs, we don't have to do this by ourselves. Entrepreneurs are leaders who have a vision and share that vision with their team, challenging them to improve themselves as they become better in their roles. Entrepreneurs regularly communicate the direction they are taking the business. Finally, aside from all the other benefits, sharpening our entrepreneurial skills makes work more exciting and fun; we become more engaged, capturing some of the excitement from our earlier days. We might take some risks, but there is no need to bet the farm. We can explore opportunities that are in line with our appetite for risk. Small but consistent improvements to how we do business have a powerful cumulative effect, and these small successes encourage us to keep up a program of improvement.

Flooring April/May 2021

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Software

So, how to start? Look around your business today, looking for a small aspect of it that has not changed, maybe for years. Think about how it should be improved and change it. Act like an entrepreneurial owner rather than as an employee.

53 You might be wondering why I am addressing this as a subject when I usually write about IT. For many, when they launched their business, maybe IT was a calculator and perhaps some PCs in the office. We have likely moved on somewhat from those early times, but the opportunities available now in the area of IT have grown exponentially. We face the risk that new and existing competitors will be taking advantage of all the IT developments in the market to create their opportunity.

of tablet and smartphone-based apps for measuring and quantifying tools in the home, quoting and CRM tools, and apps giving our business management system mobility. Tools that enable flooring operators to work in a way fundamentally different from how they operated in the past. More efficiently and more effectively.

The RFMS offer to the market is indicative of the change. We started out offering a server-based business management system and a PC-based quantifying solution. That offering has grown to include a range

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia (rfmsANZ.com), a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Chris has an extensive background in all aspects of the flooring industry, and he can be contacted at cogden@rfms.com.

If you see software tools and IT as an area that could use your entrepreneurial attention, we would love to hear from you.

BE ACCURATE, BE EFFICIENT, BE PROFITABLE MEASURE MOBILE • Draw Scale Plans • Add, Delete and Move Seams • Include Doorways and Stairs • Calculate Material Quantities • Create and Email Quotes • Take Signed Acceptance on Tablet • Take Payments

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Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 www.rfms.com

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Software

Introducing JobTraka by MeasureSquare Developing tools for the flooring industry is MeasureSquare’s focus, it is imperative a tool makes the job easier, increases efficiency, reduces mistakes and adds to the overall profitability of a job. JobTraka: is a new tool designed to leverage MeasureSquare estimation data and floor take-off capabilities. Perfect for tracking field installation completion and moisture readings and reporting. Product Features • Get Paid Faster with Automated Jobsite Reports • Perfect for superintendents, foremen, estimators, project managers • Systems Required - iPhone or iPad or internet access for webpage • Compatible Wagner Moisture Meters: • Compatible with Tramex Moisture Meters • Job report supported with diagrams and photos • Facilitate administrative and payroll audit • Issue report and task assignments with site photo • Shared jobsite plan, product take-off data, and completion status views • Professional tracking and report that saves hours of time • Integrated with Bluetooth reading transfer to avoid human errors • Streamline your workflow through data integration API. Stay tuned for more.

advanced techniques. With over five hundred videos it is a comprehensive resource for those looking to reach MeasureSquare Guru status. https://www.youtube.com/user/ MeasureSquare/videos Facebook: Facebook is a great platform for users to collaborate and communicate, share experiences and build knowledge. https:// www.facebook.com/ MeasureSquareCorp

Across the globe MeasureSquare is a trusted estimation tool, used in thousands of flooring businesses conducting commercial flooring contracts and residential flooring installations. MeasureSquare’s DNA can trace its origins back to the birth of digital estimation solutions specifically designed for the flooring industry. Evolution is inevitable and today MeasureSquare is recognised as one of the number one estimation solutions for commercial contractors and residential flooring sales professionals.

Linkedin: Linkedin is the perfect platform to inform the flooring industry of the latest innovations and news. It is also a great place to find out behind the scenes information on how to use open source API’s enabling users to seamlessly integrate any third-party application. https://www.linkedin.com/ company/measure-square Udemy: Udemy is the perfect formal training platform where you can begin your journey to MeasureSquare Guru status. Great for beginners through to Jedi Masters. https://www.udemy.com/course/ measuresquare-8-measure-estimating

Social Media platforms provide MeasureSquare users with invaluable knowledge on how to achieve what we call MeasureSquare Guru Status. YouTube: YouTube is an important resource for MeasureSquare users and those looking for product demonstrations, how to instructional videos and

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JOBTRAKA Product

Focus Developing tools for the ooring industry is our focus, it is imperative a tool makes the job easier, increases eﬃciency, reduces mistakes and adds to the overall prootability of a job.

Across the globe MeasureSquare is the trusted estimation tool, used in thousands of flooring businesses conducting commercial flooring contracts and residential flooring installations. MeasureSquares DNA can trace its origins back to the birth of digital estimation solutions specifically designed for the flooring industry. Evolution is inevitable and today MeasureSquare is recognised as the number one estimation solution for commercial contractors and residential flooring sales professionals.

YouTube is an important resource for MeasureSquare users and those looking for product demonstrations, how to instructional videos and advanced techniques. W ith over five hundred videos it is a comprehensive resource for those looking to reach MeasureSquare Guru status. h ttp s://www.faceb ook.com/Measu reSq u areCorp

JobTraka:

is a new tool designed to leverage MeasureSquare estimation data and oor tak -oﬀ capabilities. take Per fect for tracking eld installation completion and moisture readings and reporting

Get Paid Faster with Automated Jobsite Reports

FaceBook is a great platform for our users to collaborate and communicate, share expereinces and build knowledge

Trades: Commercial Flooring, Builders/Highrise Contractors Per fect for: Superintendents, Foremen, Estimators, Project M anagers Sys Req: iPhone or iPad or internet access for webpage Compatible Wagner Moisture Meters: Rapid RH® L6 Total Reader/L6 Smar t Sensors (buy from WagnerMeters.com)

Linkedin is the perfect platform to inform the flooring industry of the latest innovations and news. It is also a great place to find out behind the scenes information on how we use open source API’s enabling users to seemlessly integrate any third party application.

Compatible Tramex Moisture Meters: A mbient Feedback Datalogger – DL-RHTX.

Product Features > > > >

Job repor t suppor ted with diagrams and photos. Facilitate administrative and payroll audit. Issue repor t and task assignments with site photo. Shared jobsite plan, product takeoﬀ data, and completion status views. > Professional track ing and repor t that saves hours of time. > Integrated with Bluetooth reading transfer to avoid human errors. > Streamline your workkow through data integration API. > Compatible with Measure Square database.

Stay tuned for more

Have your heard the latest today?

Udemy is the perfect formal training platform w ere you can begin your journey to MeasureSquare GURU status. Great for beginners through to Jedi Masters.

Software

BookIT The world is forever changing, and we are constantly looking for more time in our day. Customers and builders are demanding more from us and delays quickly compound. So why do we put up with obstacles in our business? Perhaps they have been there for so long that you no longer see them as problems, they have just managed to camouflage their way into your routine. BookIT is shining a spotlight on these obstacles and providing a simple and effective solution to help streamline and manage your processes, customers and staff. BookIT is a flooring industry specific project management tool that ensures effective communication between internal staff members, installers and customers all in live time. Using BookIT, you don’t have to tackle every problem at once. BookIT is now modularised so that you can subscribe to one or more of the 5 modules that suit your business needs. Some of BookIT’s most popular modules include: Sample Register Often taken for granted, samples are key to your business and are commonly lost,

Flooring April/May 2021

damaged or simply forgotten. For those who do ensure they have shelves full of product, it often involves time consuming phone calls having to remind customers to bring the samples back to the store in a timely fashion. If sampling is a pain point for your business, let BookIT take care of it. BookIT can automatically send personalised text messages to your customer if the samples have been borrowed for too long and prompt them to take the next step in the sales process of booking a measure appointment with you. BookIT can also generate reports, listing all the customers who have taken and or returned those samples but not yet booked in a measure appointment. This list is gold

for many retail store owners and quickly identifies potential customers for your staff to follow up. How valuable is this to your business? Measure Calendar How great are those doctor appointments and car service reminders? Have you ever wanted to incorporate them into your business? BookIT will send personalised measure appointment reminders, via text message, directly to your clients, prior to the appointment to remind them you are coming. Not only that, but once the measurer is onsite, a customised scope of work for every type of flooring, blinds or product your business supplies can be completed, as well as photos or other documents uploaded instantly to the project. BookIT creates one simple database for storing everything about the project which is easy to recall and share to staff and installers when needed. As most of the customer information has already been gathered when borrowing a sample, the Measure Calendar is exceptionally easy to create and move appointments whilst always keeping the customer and staff updated of any changes.

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Software

57 to see how she was enjoying BookIT after joining in 2019. “Bookit has been a very important tool we use daily for measures and installation. We are able to scan plans and find it valuable to source information on customers at any given time. The mobile app is also handy when out of the office and a great tool for installers. We save many hours daily not having to call installers and confirm jobs. I would high recommend this to anyone in the flooring industry.”

Installation Calendar How many hours a week do you spend on the phone with installers to check their availability or to reschedule them? Now with BookIT, you no longer need to phone the installer as their availability is live on your calendar.

Think of BookIT’s Installation Calendar like hotel bookings online. You only see the days available, and the bookings you have made. For the installer, once a job has been booked in, they can now see exactly what work they have booked, ensuring they are prepared for the week/s ahead. They are notified instantly of any changes via the BookIT Installer app and can make suggestions to better plan the job or time.

For some, making the change to go digital and parting ways with the diary or whiteboard is a big step. We have been reliant on our current processes for so long, it is easy to ignore alternative solutions. BookIT is a simple to use, affordable, and effective solution to streamline current processes in your business, ensuring your customers, installers and staff are kept up to date, as information is readily available and allows you to focus on your business.

But don’t just take our word for it… BookIT will help save you time and money. We caught up with Helen Lazenkas the owner of Carpets Galore Floorworld in Thomastown, Victoria earlier this month

It's about time!

Start working with efficiency!

Access BookIT anywhere, anytime web-based. Keep track of your samples. Find installers’ availabilities in real-time.

Last-minute job postings. Generate automatic customer text reminders for measure appointments, overdue samples, installation dates, rescheduling and more.

Get your free app at bookitim.com.au to find out more! Proudly Marketed by

Visit www.bookitim.com.au to start your 60day free trial.

Floorcoverings

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