IICRC Opens Global Resource Center, Publishes ANSI/IICRC S800 Standard

At the ribbon cutting (from left): IICRC’s President Patrick Winters, Chairman Tony Wheelwright, Board of Directors Member and Past Chairman Darrell Paulson, Director Dennis Blake, and Board of Directors Member Norm Maia. All photos courtesy of IICRC.

Claudia Lezell, IICRC standards hard surface division vice chair, (front right) chats with guests at the Global Resource Center grand opening.

Clay Overlien, president of the Ambassadors at the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, talks with IICRC Board of Directors Member Rodney Paulson.

IICRC’s new Global Resource Center in Las Vegas.

Mili Washington, IICRC’s standards director.

IICRC Board of Directors (left to right): Joe Hughes, Tony Wheelwright, Patrick Winters, Hank Unck, Kevin Pearson, Pete Duncanson (back), Norm Maia, Craig Jasper, Paul Pearce, Joe Dobbins, Patrick Moffett, Rodney Paulson, Dennis Blake, and Darrell Paulson.

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Global Resource Center at 4043 S. Eastern Ave. in Las Vegas. Several IICRC executives were in attendance, including Chairman Tony Wheelwright and Standards Director Mili Washington. FCI sat down with Wheelwright to talk about the new, 20,000 sq. ft. Las Vegas office and warehouse space, and chatted with Washington about the publication of the ANSI/IICRC S800 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Inspection of Textile Floorcoverings.

I had a chance to take a tour through the new Global Resource Center, and I noticed there was a lot of meeting room space. Is the main purpose of this building for meetings?

Wheelwright: The main purpose of this building is as a gathering place. This property is not just for ourselves, but to collaborate with as many related industries as we can. Together we can do a lot more things than we can do separately. I know we don’t have all the answers, and that’s why we need to look to our counterparts and our colleagues.

So collaboration is an important part of IICRC’s outlook?

Wheelwright: We just feel it makes sense. Our belief is this is a public trust. We’re here for the industry – that’s the only way it can work. Deciding not to work together in any area does not make sense.

Is there anything you’d like to see accomplished by your group and the industry?

Wheelwright: We always believe in the importance of more science and research in the support of standards, and collaboratively building on each other’s trust and experience to foster better education. No matter what association or group you are part of, it all comes down to safe, clean and healthy homes, offices and schools. For too long all of our voices have been separated and fragmented. We need to all come together; we need to all speak with one, big voice.

Speaking of standards and education, Mili, the S800 standard was recently published. Can you tell me the process behind that?

Washington: This standard has been in development for close to seven years, with help from a dedicated group of volunteers. The initial content was adopted from a 1996 reference guide for the inspection of textile floor covering. The document development process has followed the ANSI tenets of consensus, balance, openness and due process.

What is different about S800 versus the ’96 Reference Guide?

Washington: ANSI/IICRC S800 contains a lot of updated information. The ’96 document was simply a reference guide, whereas S800 is setting the standard of care. There are different levels of requirements, and the process is very different. It is meant to be a standard, not a teaching guide.

Does ANSI/IICRC S800 relate in any way to BSR-IICRC S600?

Washington: The two are designed to complement each other. S800 is for carpet inspection, while S600 is for carpet installation. Once approved, S600 will cover the installation of both residential and commercial carpet.

To purchase a copy of the ANSI/IICRC S800 Standard and Reference Guide and other IICRC standards, visit www.iicrc.org/store or call (360) 693-5675. For more information on certification programs and other standards offered by IICRC, visit www.iicrc.org.

NOTE: For more photos from the grand opening celebration, visit our Digital Edition. Find out more at www.fcimag.com/digitaleditions.

Michael Chmielecki wrote about the floor covering industry for BNP Media for more than ten years. As editor of Floor Covering Installer and senior editor of Floor Trends, he always sought ways to better connect and inform the installation and contracting community. Mike has a degree in journalism from the University of New Hampshire.