Flooring Magazine Oct/Nov 2022

October/November 2022

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

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Contents

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vol 40 no 5

Editor’s Note

News 4

Welcome to the October / November 2022 issue of Flooring Magazine.

Inside this issue you will find our Feature on Buying Local where we look to some of our Australian manufacturers and ask them about the unmatched quality of locally made products, Australia’s strict ethical manufacturing processes and why buying locally has never been more important.

GMK Celebrates 60 years

Company Profile 16

Beaumont Tiles

Feature 20

Buy Local

Carpet Matters 28

The top five carpet worries busted

Waterproofing 32

A collaborative approach to moisture

Resin Flooring 36

Jack Josephsen introduces us to the Resin Flooring International (RFI). After a soft launch in March the RFI is now fully functional and operating with the purpose of building a global community of resin flooring professionals that want to collaborate, communicate and collectively improve their industry.

Please feel free to contact me directly regarding any industry news and or product information by email at – michelle@elitepublishing.com. au

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Don’t forget to join our growing online community, check out our new website, and visit us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Until next time, enjoy your read.

Welcome to Resin Flooring International

The two secrets to improving sales

Michelle Cammiade

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LRV and luminance contrast testing

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GMK Logistics – Celebrating 60 years

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his month, GMK Logistics proudly celebrates sixty years of service to the Australian flooring industry. Their story started on the 31st of October 1962 when John Kane registered G.M. Kane & Sons Pty Ltd, naming it after his parents George and Muriel. He started out with just one truck, providing general freight services between Sydney and Camden.

John soon decided to focus on transporting flooring products and invested in specialised equipment to handle carpet and vinyl rolls. John firmly believed that the way to differentiate yourself in transport was to provide exceptional customer service. This commitment remains a key part of the GMK philosophy to this day.

In 2005, John appointed his daughter Sharon as Managing Director. Sharon had worked in the family business since leaving school and understood the operation extremely well. As John gradually stepped back from day-to-day operations, Sharon began formulating a plan to take the business national. On the 25th of March 2008, Sharon Kane rebranded the business

Above: John Kane in 1962 as GMK Logistics and opened depots in all major capital cities, offering full 3PL services and a national transport network for the flooring industry.

In the background, but playing a key role in running the operation, was David Knagge who had joined the business in 2004. Like John Kane, David set up his own business, Knagge Transport, and soon began to specialise in moving flooring products.

When GMK went national, many of David’s long-term flooring customers moved across to GMK Logistics. His extensive knowledge of both flooring and transport continued to be influential in defining the operation and culture of GMK. As David frequently tells the new generation of GMK managers: “In transport, there are many factors outside your control such as traffic and weather.

However, if we keep our customers informed and give them a solution, they are almost always understanding. It’s not about what you get wrong but how you recover.”

In 2015, Perth based and ASX listed company CTI Logistics Limited was looking to expand to the Eastern States. They soon identified GMK Logistics as a well-run and specialised business that would be a great starting point for their national ambitions. Acquiring GMK in June 2015, CTI recognised the strength of the GMK brand and have since supported its development as a specialised logistics business, dedicated to the flooring industry.

Above: GMK Gregory Hills group shot

CTI have also continued to invest in the GMK business, a prime example being the 6 purchase of a custom made state of

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the art carpet-cutting table, which was commissioned in Melbourne in April 2019.

Built by Perpetual Machine Company in U.S.A., the Carpet Boss III represents a very substantial investment by GMK in its customers and the Australian flooring industry. This fully automatic machine is capable of an impressive 45 cuts per hour or 342 cuts in a standard day shift, which includes check measure balances and finished product wrapping. It’s the most advanced cutting machine in Australia.

Also in 2019, GMK implemented the Jaix Logistics Software suite, an ERP product developed in Adelaide specifically for the Australian logistics sector. GMK had been using Jaix in its Melbourne warehouse for many years and having examined a number of other options, proceeded to implement the Jaix Transport, Warehouse and Accounts modules in all locations. Incorporating endto-end scanning, the new system provides customers with full visibility of their product throughout the supply chain. The GMK warehouse effectively becomes the customer’s virtual warehouse providing full visibility of their product from receipt, processing of orders and delivery to the customer. Signon-glass technology enables real time track and trace and immediate POD visibility.

Above: The new GMK general management team The new cutting machine, along with the Jaix IT solution, puts GMK at the leading edge of the Australian flooring logistics market. Customers utilising the GMK outsourced warehouse solution now have a number of distinct advantages over their competition, including:

• the ability to focus on their core business without the distraction of a warehouse operation • no warehouse WHS or HR compliance issues; and • reduced capital investment and improved cashflow.

• speed to market, with immediate access to GMK’s extensive national transport network • world class equipment and IT solutions, with full product visibility

In 2022, in conjunction with their parent company, they achieved International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certification for Quality, Environmental and Health and Safety Management Systems, a significant accomplishment. They now have over 85,000 square metres of warehousing space and a fleet of over 100 specialised trucks and trailers. They employ 221 experienced staff and permanent subcontractors throughout Australia.

Whilst the GMK story features many strong and focused individuals over its sixtyyear history, it is those 221 committed Australians, working together as a team, who set out every day to deliver the best possible service to every GMK customer. web www.gmklogistics.com.au

Above: Automated carpet machine Flooring October/November 2022

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SEC and GECA - Mutually promoting ecolabelling schemes

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ecently the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) and Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the areas of environmental protection and promotion of ecolabel certification.

The agreement, signed by SEC Executive Director Jen Teo and GECA CEO Michelle Thomas, was facilitated by the Governments of Australia and Singapore under the auspices of the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement (GEA). The GEA supports green growth and jobs and decarbonisation and aims to strengthen international governance on trade and environmental sustainability. Both countries recognise that trusted ecolabelling schemes instil confidence and help drive demand for low-carbon, sustainable, and resource efficient goods and services.

Lifecycle ecolabels follow ISO 14024 principles, are third-party verified and globally recognised as the most robust and credible form of environmental labelling by the United Nations.

Above: GECA's CEO, Michelle Thomas, with signed MOU

Flooring October/November 2022

Above: SEC online MOU signing event GECA and SEC are members of the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), the leading network of the world's most credible and robust lifecycle ecolabels. By mutually recognising each country's ecolabelling schemes, the MOU will contribute to expanding the market for greener products and services to meet the growing demand for genuinely eco-friendly products. The collaboration builds on the many synergies between Singapore and Australia to accelerate both countries' transition towards sustainable economic growth and decarbonisation.

the impacts of products and services on people and planet.

The MOU will provide a framework for both organisations to forge deeper collaboration in addressing environmental issues at regional and global levels, including advocating for ecolabel certification and sustainable consumption. GECA and SEC, with their respective governments' support, will combine resources to educate and build the capacity of businesses to address critical impacts across the entire length of their supply chains.

Together, this will catalyse the adoption of internationally recognised best practice models in Singapore and Australia to reduce

Ms Thomas added: "There has never been a better time to work collaboratively in driving sustainable manufacturing and trade that will significantly benefit the Australian and Singaporean economies, people and environment."

“By encouraging the inclusion of our MOU into the GEA, Australia and Singapore are taking a crucial step toward embracing a holistic view of green trade to include social and health issues. This step could catalyse action across various impact areas, including climate change, modern slavery, chemicals of concern, biodiversity conservation, and reduction of waste to landfill,” said Michelle Thomas, GECA CEO.

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Product Update

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Polysafe Quicklay – rewriting the rules on subfloor preparation

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s the market for looselay, easier installation flooring materials continues to gradually develop, the timing is now right for the launch of Polysafe Quicklay, Polyflor’s first looselay safety flooring collection. Specifically designed to be a practical choice for contractors and specifiers alike, the Quicklay installation method saves considerable time and eliminates the need for adhesive.

The specially formulated studded emboss on the underside of Polysafe Quicklay works as a barrier, allowing moisture to escape from the subfloor and facilitates installation over new concrete floors of up to 97% RH. The studded back technology also allows the flooring to lie smooth and flat whilst the unique double sided Quicklay tape secures the flooring in place.

The collection is suitable for heavy commercial and residential environments in need of a quick turnaround and where sustainable slip resistance is a priority. Key sectors include healthcare, residential care, retail, education, and social housing.

In line with Polyflors Polysafe Verona Pure Colours collection, Polysafe Quicklay features a contemporary tonal colour bank of 12

Above: Before installation (inset) and after Flooring October/November 2022

shades with a matt surface finish which provides a decoration suitable for dementia friendly environments, supported with the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre accreditation for the full collection.

As ever with a Polysafe product sustainable slip performance is key and Polysafe Quicklay achieves 45+ on the Pendulum Test (Slider 96) and a Ramp test of R11, Quicklay also conforms to the EN 13845 European safety flooring standard.

Polysafe Quicklay is a sustainable flooring choice which is 100% recyclable. Also due to the looselay installation method, Quicklay offers end of life flexibility and can be uplifted and re-installed. Polysafe Quicklay is a temporary or permanent floor covering which achieves the same performance and durability as other Polysafe Flooring Collections but with the added benefits of adhesive-free installation Features: • Same day lay, install and walk • Install over a variety of existing subfloors of up to 97% humidity • Embossed backing facilitates moisture dissipation • Contemporary decoration optimised for specification in dementia friendly areas • Dementia friendly • Polyurethane Reinforcement (PUR) for polish-free maintenance • Easy to remove, reuse and recycle • Adhesive-free ensures excellent air quality and VOC emissions • Gauge - 2.2mm; Roll Size - 2x20m; 12 shades; 45+ Pendulum Wet Test (Slider 96); R11 (DIN 51130)

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Product Update

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Quick-Step launches Amato - watertight timber floor

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uick-Step floor designers have confirmed their role as pioneers in the flooring industry with the launch of Amato, a collection of watertight timber flooring. The innovation means that engineered timber floors can be used throughout the home - even in the kitchen and bathroom.

Timber floors also offer almost endless design possibilities, and suit most home architectural styles from Hamptons to Scandi and Country Classic to Contemporary, effortlessly elevating the interior design style while bringing a sense of nature and wellbeing into a home. From natural blonde through to grey tones, to the deep rustic features of Australian hardwoods, the Amato collection is available in eight beautiful designs, including European Oaks, Spotted Gum and Blackbutt.

Building on Quick-Step’s patented Uniclic joining system the R&D team went on to develop Wood for Life, giving timber flooring better protection against dirt and moisture.

Today, Amato’s optimised click design creates precision finishing on all sides of the board.

As a result, water can no longer seep between the boards and cause damage to the core of the floor. This innovation means that Amato is the first collection to achieve a fully watertight timber floor, providing complete peace of mind when it comes to water splashes or seeping moisture.

Quick-Step timber flooring is renowned for its superior resistance to wear, marks and scratches. Now, with the addition of their latest technology these timber floors are in a league of their own.

“The Quick-Step Amato collection is the next-generation of timber flooring, allowing design professionals to create stylish designer floors that not only bring natural materials and organic beauty into a home, but perform just as well in a kitchen or bathroom setting as they do in a living room.

The durable surface coating combined with the state-of-the-art Uniclic system ensures floors look brand new for years to come,” says Kendall Waller, Product Development Manager, Premium Floors.

Timber flooring in the home is a classic choice for a reason. The materials surrounding us on a daily basis that offer a deeper connection to earth and nature, such as the natural beauty and uniqueness of wood are being embraced by designers and homeowners alike. Timber flooring is a linking feature throughout a home, connecting each space and adding a depth and richness, with a focus on liveability, and creating a home that is a pleasure to live in.

Flooring October/November 2022

Quick-Step Amato will hold its authentic, natural look for years, even decades, even when installed in high-traffic areas that require frequent cleaning. Moreover, a major benefit is that the technology makes stubborn dirt quickly and easily removable with nothing more than a damp cloth. It also allows users to apply more water when necessary – all without causing damage.

Floating or glued down, installing Amato is quick and easy and can be done by a professional or an experienced renovator.

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Product Update

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Increasing longevity on the worksite with DeWalt

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hether it is the result of a major flooding disaster, or the more usual instances of dirt and debris onsite, a wet and dry vacuum is a versatile piece of equipment for tackling clean ups. With the capacity to clean all types of solid and liquid waste, including gullies, drains and spills as well as dust, scraps and large debris, wet and dry vacuums are an essential piece of cleaning equipment for most trade environments including factories, building sites and garages.

However, not all wet and dry vacuums are created the same, and different models will have a variety of functions tailored to suit particular environments. From the carpenter, electrician, plasterer, painter, builder or those on construction and demolition sites, onsite knocks and collisions are an every-day occurrence and a key factor to consider when investing in a wet and dry vacuum is durability.

“Hardwearing equipment is essential for the tool conscious tradesperson,” says Chiara Vozzo, DeWalt Wet and Dry Vacuum Product Manager from Mayo Hardware. “To ensure longevity in keeping their cleaning tools in tip top shape, it’s important to invest in quality items.”

Polyurethane wet and dry vacuums are lighter and easier to maneuver, making them more health and safety friendly than their stainless-steel contemporaries. “On average, a DeWalt polyurethane wet and dry vac is 10% lighter than a stainless-steel version. This makes a big difference onsite, particularly when the drum is full of water,” Vozzo says.

DeWalt’s range of polyurethane wet and dry vacuums offer increased durability as a result of the hardwearing and impact resistant polyurethane. “The products will not dent, no matter what they’ve collided with on the worksite,” says Vozzo. “As is the peril of many a tool on the worksite, once an item gets dented, the damage is irreversible.”

Boasting key, stand out features, the versatile range includes a number of models, each equipped with the same robust attributes and heavy-duty performance capabilities in a lightweight design. Offering maximum performance, even in the toughest conditions, the range is designed to meet the demands of every trade environment and is available in a variety of sizes. From the more compact and portable 15L model to the 61L design which features a powerful 1400-watt motor.

Furthermore, with DeWalt’s range of polyurethane vacuums, there is no chance of rust or corrosion. “As the equipment is often used outside, the elements will almost certainly affect the stainless-steel drum over time which may lead to rust, corrosion and a dramatically reduced lifespan.”

“While stainless steel may instinctively feel more heavy duty, polyurethane is in fact the sturdier material in this instance, as the material is able to absorb an impact without getting damaged. For this reason, the DeWalt’s range of polyurethane wet and dry vacuums come with an industry leading 10-year warranty,” says Vozzo.

Flooring October/November 2022

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Company Profile

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Bringing Dreams to Life Article by Philip Ashley Over six decades, Beaumont Tiles has grown to a network of over 110 showrooms, studios, clearance and trade centres across Australia. Focused on honesty and transparency, Beaumont Tiles is committed to their quality suppliers here in Australia and around the world, their highly motivated team members, and their customers.

Beaumont Tiles import tiles from around the world. From leading European suppliers in Italy, Portugal and Spain to carefully selected sites in Asia, Beaumont designers and buyers work with the world’s best to find the latest global trends and bring them to Australian consumers.

Dean Booker is Beaumont’s head buyer. He said, “We want to delight Australia with new and innovative colours, textures and designs.”

Committed to Australian manufacturing,

Beaumont Tiles are also the largest local purchaser of Australian tiles and their ‘Australian Made’ range makes up a substantial part of their offer and Beaumont is dedicated to further developing Aussie Made product ranges.

From Stationery to Tiles Ray Beaumont opened his first tile showroom in Adelaide in 1960. He’d been running a stationary shop in the city and found that some of his customers were tilers who were having trouble finding the tiles they needed.

An entrepreneur, Ray saw a sound business opportunity and became a tile merchant.

Over the following three years the business expanded, and Ray opened up a small shopfront to become a tile retailer. Beaumont Tiles continued to provide the service and product tilers needed, and in 1973 Ray opened what was at the time the largest tile showroom in Australia at 200 Grote Street, Adelaide, now Beaumont’s flagship store.

Ray had a genuine connection with South Australia and continued to open new stores, initially focused on the South Australian market. By 1970 his son Bob had joined the business and Beaumont Tiles was poised for further expansion in other States.

From the 1990’s, Ray and Bob opened tile businesses, first in Victoria, then Queensland and by the mid 2000’s, New South Wales.

Beaumont Tiles continue to operate as a fully stand-alone business with a national network of stores operated by Beaumont, or as a franchise. All Beaumont Tiles outlets operate under the same philosophy of personal engagement leading to customer satisfaction.

In November 2021 the Wesfarmers-owned hardware chain Bunnings acquired Beaumont Tiles, ending 61 years of the group’s family ownership and allowing Bob Beaumont to retire. The sale to Bunnings is an exciting opportunity to build on the success of the business and invest in the future growth of Australia’s largest tile retailer. Bunnings managing director Mike Schneider said the group would run Beaumont Tiles as a standalone business, separate to its chain of Bunnings stores nationwide. 18

Flooring October/November 2022

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Company Profile

18 A Fashion Product Flooring and wall tiles; splashbacks; outdoor alfresco dining; pool surrounds or any other application imaginable, Beaumont Tiles can supply a product that is not only fit for purpose, but fashionable and often, ahead of the trend. Australia is a unique nation of diverse peoples and Beaumont Tiles seek out products that complement Australia's unique geographies, conditions, people and lifestyles.

Beaumont’s in-house design experts travel the world to source the latest and best from around the globe, to satisfy even the most demanding clients such as high-end designers, commercial operators, and the trades.

The Beaumont Team Danny Casey has been with Beaumont Tiles for ten years and has seen significant growth leading to sixty new stores over that period as CEO. Danny said, “We’re committed; we devote our energies to help our customers create their dream space. Whether it’s a new home or a renovation, tiling is a significant investment, and we invest heavily to support them through what can be a difficult process to find the right tile for their home or business.”

Beaumont tiles works with all sections of the building industry. Whether it’s a specific tile selection for a builder or tiler to present to their customer; working with architects and interior designers, or dealing directly with the home or business owner, the team at Beaumont Tiles see themselves not as salespeople, but as consultants. From the team members working in Beaumont’s retail outlets to those in logistics and warehousing, everyone is committed to Beaumont Tiles’ ambition of becoming Australia’s most trusted tile supplier.

Beaumont Tiles have now moved into other hard flooring and have launched their new

Flooring October/November 2022

Hybrid Flooring range. A fusing of flooring technologies to create multi-layered rigid floating floors that are super-fast and easy to install, Hybrid Flooring offers authentic timber and stone designs with scratch resistance and waterproof properties are suited to a variety of applications and are perfect for open-plan living. Beaumont Tiles exclusive Hybrid Collection has a floorboard option suited to most budgets with an array of choices, colours and styles. Beaumont’s success with innovative flooring will continue with more in hard flooring to come in 2023.

Danny continues, “We are committed to honesty and transparency. All businesses face challenges but if you are open and transparent, and acknowledge the challenges you face, this provides you with an approach to overcome them. The last few years have been difficult for everyone and while home renovations have boomed, lockdowns have caused many issues in the supply, transport and delivery of product.

The resilience of our team and our suppliers have worked to overcome these difficulties. We don’t see ourselves as a process business, but as a relationship business.”

Beaumont Tiles have featured in Australian television renovation shows like The Block, Open Homes Australia, Selling Houses Australia, Space Invaders, and The Living Room. It’s here that product quality partners with design solutions to create the perfect space. Andrew Winter, host of Selling Houses Australia, and TV host Shelley Craft both chose Beaumont Tiles for their recent, personal home renovations. Beaumont’s customers can take advantage of the online ‘What’s my Style’ quiz or the ‘BeVisual’ tile visualiser to start them on their journey to their perfect, personalised dream solution. These tools, available on the Beaumont Tiles website, are some of the most interesting and practical online tools we have seen for a long time.

Beaumont Tiles work with the best global tile innovators to ensure Australian customers and clients have access to the best, most innovative

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Company Profile tile technologies the world has to offer. One example of this innovation is Beaumont’s Microtec ‘slip resistant technology’ range that is creating a huge amount of interest in the industry. Exclusive to Beaumont Tiles, Microtec is an advanced new glazing technology where a fine, uniform coating of microscopic granules applied during manufacturing creates a surprisingly smooth, slip resistant surface. This makes it simple to cater to both internal and external areas by using the identical tile across multiple applications.

Beaumont Tiles in the Community Bob Beaumont once said, “Our Dad was an intensely private and humble man. He had a philosophy of giving generously but not telling anyone about it if he could help it. When we opened his records we were astonished at what he gave, we had no idea.

This anonymity is very much taken from scripture and something Dad took very seriously indeed.” A more recent project

19 completed in 2020 with the Irene Gleeson Foundation saw Beaumont Tiles building houses for orphans and children at risk in Kitgum, Uganda.

Tile Inspiration For over 60 years Beaumont have been a tile supplier to the commercial and residential market. In recent years Beaumont have provided bathroom wares and hybrid flooring as the market demands more complete solutions. Danny says, “We spend a lot of time to ensure our range is large enough to accommodate a wide variety of consumer needs. Our development in this area is ongoing.” Beaumont Tiles maintain major warehouses in key national locations to ensure the supply of their extensive range of value product on customer demand. In addition, Studios located in Malvern VIC, Fortitude Valley QLD, and Norwood SA provide inspiration for the best builders, tilers, and renovators in the country.

Quality is embedded in every aspect of Beaumont’s business and service to their customers. Danny sums it up, “It’s about our capabilities, our training, our extensive knowledge we’ve gained over six decades of service. It’s about our supplier base that we scrutinise extensively, some of whom we have worked with for over 40 years. It’s about everyone we impact, but most importantly our team members and our customers.” From tiny spaces to expansive settings, Beaumont Tiles have the market covered.

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Feature

Buy Local

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uying local and supporting Australian manufacturers has never been more important. After almost three years of uncertainty surrounding international supply and trade, the re-emergence of our national manufacturing industry serves as a reminder, to the flooring sector in particular, the unmatched quality of locally made products.

Beyond quality, the benefits of buying local are being recognised increasingly by Australian consumers due to the lasting effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The necessity for an accessible workforce has led to significant growth in local employment opportunities. Not only has this contributed to the economic recovery of, and investment in local community, but consumers are also afforded the assurance of genuine and ethical labour. The Australian guidelines and regulations ensure locally made products adhere to strict standards and an ethical manufacturing process.

Interface celebrates 50 years of local manufacturing As a global leader in providing commercial flooring solutions, Interface recently celebrated 50 years of local manufacturing here in Australia. Interface’s factory located in Minto, Southwestern Sydney, manufactures carpet tile products that are supplied across the Australia and New Zealand to a wide array of projects in a range of segments.

Encouraging their customers to buy local, for Interface, means not only supporting their own people, but in turn, the wider community and economy. The company’s investment in its local community began

Flooring October/November 2022

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Feature

back in the 1970s, when Heuga, which eventually became the Interface that we know today, opened its first manufacturing plant in Picton, NSW. After growing and prospering there for 40 years, the business experienced a significantly damaging factory fire in 2012 and was forced to shut down local operations.

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By sourcing over 50% of its raw materials locally, Interface reduces emissions through lower fuel use by transporting these materials and products over shorter distances.

Faced with a critical decision for the future of their company, Interface chose to reinvest in Australia. Relocating to Minto in 2014, they were able to continue their local manufacturing capabilities thanks to the confidence and support of their community.

The Environmental benefits of buying local For Interface, there are many added and long-term benefits from local manufacturing in the role it plays in its commitment to improving our environment.

Creating and distributing products within a domestic market makes for a significant decrease in the carbon emissions generated, as opposed to those generated by importing goods from abroad.

Flooring October/November 2022

Manufacturing in Australia has given Interface ‘skin in the game,’ the opportunity to influence and lead the Australian economy towards a renewable, low emissions future. The Sydney factory operates on 100% green electricity but still relies on natural gas as a fuel for process heating. Taking the lead, Interface has worked with key industry stakeholders to replace natural gas with biomethane, a renewable equivalent, and is on track to achieve this in 2023. A first for manufacturing in Australia.

Aidan Mullan, Sustainability Manager for Interface Australian and New Zealand adds, “As another first for the flooring industry, we have just announced we are a Carbon Neutral Enterprise – both globally and locally. Everything we do from sourcing raw materials, through our entire manufacturing process and up to the installation, usage, and maintenance of finished product, is now carbon neutral.”

Being local allows the company to work closely with its clients, creating and customising products on a made-to-order basis. This significantly reduces waste with very low minimum order requirements.

Productive local communities and reconciliation As part of Interface’s enduring commitment to sustainability, they have established

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a strong appreciation of their role in contributing to not only a healthy natural environment, but also productive communities. A key component of this is their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Interface’s vision for reconciliation is for all Australians to value and learn from the traditional custodians of the lands on which

we live - embracing the history and cultural significance of First Nations peoples while contributing to a sustainable future.

will explore opportunities as an organisation to gain insights and establish sustainable opportunities for all Australians.”

Rob Coombs, Managing Director of Interface Australia explains, “By seeking to understand and develop meaningful relationships with First Nations peoples, we

Rob says, “Through the understanding and respect of different cultures, backgrounds and points of view, Interface will be a more innovative and resilient organisation. We are excited to responsibly continue this path with our employees, our customers and community.”

Interface’s commitment to the environment, local and wider communities, and the people they work with day in day out, is undoubtedly supported by real actions. The benefits of buying local are evident and growing. By choosing to support our community and economy, consumers are creating positive and sustainable change for all Australians, ensuring local industry continues to thrive. web www.interface.com

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RLA - continuing to invest in its local manufacturing footprint

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LA Polymers the iconic Australian manufacturer of adhesives, sealants and cementitious mortars local production capabilities spans some 56 years and throughout its 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 and Holdfast

the environment and the impact on human health.

RLA’s new Sydney manufacturing facility was commissioned in August 2022.

RLA’s parent company Nan Pao encourages growth and diversification for the broader base of the RLA business. In recent times, RLA’s technical centre of excellence was opened.

The opening of the technical centre created a conducive environment for RLA’s technical team to expand its transformational scientific innovation program.

Today RLA has over 180 staff nationwide supporting Sales, Technical, Production, Distribution and Marketing.

The strength of their operations ensures they continue to manufacture a range of adhesives and SLC’s as well as many other building and construction products throughout their four Australian manufacturing facilities, meeting customer demands both locally and internationally.

RLA’s new facility is one of the most high-performance cementitious plants in Australia— in terms of technology, capacity and capability. The new site is approximately 7,500 sqm, includes 18 bulk silos for automated raw material dosing, fully automated bag filling and palletising line, fully integrated ISO accredited quality system and QC laboratories and allows RLA to double its current production output.

RLA is busy pioneering innovative solutions for the ever changing built environment. RLA’s innovation program engineers new technological breakthroughs via a hierarchy of variables that takes into account material science,

Flooring October/November 2022

RLA Polymers continues to invest in its local manufacturing footprint.

RLA will also be upgrading its plant in Kilsyth as well as beginning a Greenfield development, replacing its current Brisbane facility. RLA’s recent acquisitions in WA and SA will also see further investment in these markets as well.

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Feature

Troy Hogan (RLA Polymers dynamic Managing Director) commended the board for its support in investment and went onto to say; “these strategic investments shore up the future for RLA as a dominant local producer of cementitious and polymeric compounds delivering value to all Australian flooring industry stakeholders”.

Throughout the year RLA also continues to invest in human capacity, the team has been bolstered with new editions in Sales, Production and Technical that are experts in their fields.

25

The new staff includes technical staff for epoxies and moisture cured technologies supporting moisture suppression and adhesive systems, sales and production supporting staff floor coatings, membranes, SLC, adhesives and sealants. In addition, RLA’s marketing team has extensive expertise in design, print, merchandise and digital to ensure core activities are broadcasted to its growing customer base.

RLA’s growing marketing team are an integral part of the business and play an important role in the growth and success of the company.

Hogan also commended the success and sustainability of RLA “is a direct result of our employees’ efforts, hard work, innovative processes and positivity that continues to help drive the business forward.”

Emerging technologies are core to RLA’s continual innovation program and in more recent times, they have enabled a broad and extensive product and system offering. RLA’s technical team, design and engineer solutions (to support local conditions) with the latest advances in material science. This is recognised as RLA’s core competency and drives its competitive advantage, delivering value to all key markets.

The support and investment in infrastructure lead by RLA Polymers dynamic Managing Director – Troy Hogan has enabled RLA to move from legacy Australian technology to the latest European technology - locally made. web www.rlapolymers.com.au

Flooring October/November 2022

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Feature

26 The Godfrey Hirst Story

D

rawing on over 150 years of local manufacturing experience in Australia and New Zealand, Godfrey Hirst is committed to designing, creating and supplying high quality floorcoverings that contribute to a more beautiful, comfortable and sustainable world.

Backed by a strong local heritage, Godfrey Hirst have three Australian manufacturing facilities and two large Australian based distribution centres, all located in Victoria, plus four world-class production facilities in New Zealand. These facilities are a part of the strong commitment Godfrey Hirst has contributed to local manufacturing.

As of 2022, Godfrey Hirst employs around 680 people, of which 500 are employed in Australia and 180 employed in New Zealand.

Godfrey Hirst’s passion for manufacturing Australian Made products and supporting the local community remains stronger than ever. In supporting the local manufacturing industry Godfrey Hirst aims to further encourage a strong local manufacturing industry in Australia.

Godfrey Hirst’s partnership with the official Australian Made campaign aligns their products with Australia’s most trusted, recognised and widely used country of origin symbol, underpinned by a third-party accreditation system which authenticates genuinely Australia Made products, a true mark of Aussie authenticity - giving customers confidence that they too can support locally made.

Locally made products The expansive portfolio of products manufactured by Godfrey Hirst locally in Australia and New Zealand includes residential wool and synthetic broadloom carpets broadloom wool as well as a vast selection of commercial flooring solutions under the GH Commercial brand.

Godfrey Hirst’s comprehensive suite of residential carpet ranges includes luxurious Hycraft wool carpets, innovative eco+ triexta, family friendly solutions dyed nylon and budget friendly polyester and polypropylene carpets, all locally manufactured across our Australian and New Zealand production facilities.

The collection of GH Commercial products includes an extensive range of Australian Made carpet tiles and planks, all available to buy now. Offering a large range of solution

Flooring October/November 2022

dyed nylon, Designer Jet and Pattern Perfect carpet tiles; designed for all budgets and all areas of installation. Designer Jet tiles produced with the latest precision dye injection technology, offering a large array of patterns, style, and colours. Pattern Perfect carpet tile and plank products are made from the latest innovation of tufting technology right here in Australia. Made to order locally, the pattern perfect technology delivers highly patterned, design driven ranges to suit any project.

All of Godfrey Hirst’s carpet tiles and planks and triexta, wool and solution dyed nylon broadloom carpets are officially certified as Declare Red List Free. This nutrition label for building materials transparently assesses products down to 100 parts per million to ensure they are free of the nasty chemicals from the Red List that have been known to cause poor health. And importantly, provides customers with complete peace of mind that they are choosing a healthier carpet for their home or commercial space.

With a wide range of locally designed and manufactured flooring products, Godfrey Hirst’s is committed to providing safe, comfortable and beautiful interior foundation for a wide range of projects and homes. web www.godfreyhirst.com

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DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Native

COLLECTION

www.ghcommercial.com

www.Feltex.com

AU:1300 444 778 NZ: 0800 500 210

AU: 1300 130 239 NZ: 0800 100 008

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Carpet Matters

28

The top five wool carpet worries busted Brought to you by Bremworth

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ool carpet is an investment in your home, and with any investment it pays to do your research. Here, the experts at Bremworth address common concerns when it comes to selecting wool carpet, the natural choice.

Is wool carpet difficult to clean and maintain?

Ever thought about how a sheep’s fleece stays white on a muddy farm? It is thanks to wool fibres’ thin waxy protective layer that resists stains – naturally. Although, wool carpet will stain if spills are left untreated. What is important is that spills are tended to as soon as they happen. Refer to Bremworth’s handy stain guide to check how best to deal to specific stains.

Having a well-maintained carpet can make it easier to deal with spills and stains.

This can be achieved through regular and thorough vacuuming to increase the lifespan of wool carpet. Vacuum at least once

a week and more often in high-traffic areas such as hallways, entrance ways and living rooms as build-up of soil and dirt particles can potentially damage fibres. Use a plain suction head vacuum with slow movements and avoid excessive downward pressure. Try to avoid use of vacuums with a revolving head that can cause excessive frizzing.

done with pets by AgResearch, wool carpet outperformed nylon and Triexta carpet in a three month experiment [1] as wool was significantly less smelly. If your pet tends to scratch, simply opt for a cut pile over a loop pile carpet or rug so claws do not get caught in the loops.

Rest assured Bremworth offers a Lifetime Food and Beverage Stain Resistance Limited Warranty* and a Lifetime Soil Resistance Limited Warranty*. *Exclusions, prorating and terms and conditions apply. For full terms and conditions, download the Bremworth Wool Carpet Warranty and Maintenance Guide.

Is wool carpet suitable for pets?

The softness of wool carpet can be enjoyed both underfoot and under-paw. Along with natural stain resistant properties, wool also naturally repels odours. In a study Is wool carpet allergy/asthma friendly?

Wool carpet is naturally hypoallergenic which means it is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. As a natural humidity regulator, carpets also absorb moisture when the atmosphere is damp – dampness is one of the key causes of respiratory illness.

The German asthma and allergy federation (DAAB) looked at the content of fine dust particles in the air over smooth floors and carpeted floors – findings showed that indoor air in a carpeted room contained less than half the amount of fine particulate dust than the smooth floors [2]. So, you can have 30 your carpet, and still breathe easy.

Flooring October/November 2022

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TAKE A STAND AGAINST PLASTIC

Carpet Matters

Is damage from carpet beetle/moth inevitable?

Carpet beetle/moth feed on any ready source of keratin protein such as wool, hair and feathers.

The larvae avoid light and are often found behind furniture, in the corners of rooms and behind drapes. But they can be delt with.

30

Bremworth applies an insect resist agent to deter insects, however it will not stop an infestation completely. The resist agent slows down the attack of the larvae, giving consumers the opportunity to rectify the problem before any major damage is done.

Is fading inevitable?

As with all textiles, fading will happen with carpet over a period of time. Bremworth uses the finest dyestuffs commercially available, but even these may change after prolonged exposure to sunlight.

For small areas of infestation, vacuum that area thoroughly and apply a residual 30-day contact fly spray directly onto the carpet, and into the gully between the carpet and the skirting.

Glass with effective UV protection, curtains, blinds and louvres offer the best protection.

Another top tip is to slightly shift furniture every so often or opt for a lighter colour to avoid harsh lines of discolouration. If you have a wool rug, rotate it every 3 months to ensure even fading.

For a stronger preparation, Ripcord can be purchased from a hardware store and be made up to a concentration to be applied using a garden sprayer. If you wish, you can have a professional apply a spray to the infestation areas.

[1] AgResearch, 2016. Wool carpets help prevent pet odours.

[2] German Asthma and Allergy Society (DAAB). 2005 study on Indoor Fine Particulate Load, published in Allergie Konkret.

web www.bremworth.co.nz Bremworth backs its wool carpets with a 15year insect resistance limited warranty so if there is a genuine issue, they will put it right.

Flooring October/November 2022

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Oxtek Solutions Trusted Moisture Barrier •

Oxtek Solutions proprietary range of products make concrete impermeable providing long term protection of concrete and it’s embedded steel reinforcement.

•

Penetrates concrete up to 200mm providing an internal moisture barrier system for Floor coverings and Topical Coatings

•

Cures, Densifies, Hardens and Dust-proofs concrete.

•

Independent testing has shown improvements in Compressive Strength, Drying Shrinkage and Abrasion Resistance.

•

Significant retardation of efflorescence

•

Applied to new and existing concrete substrates.

•

Improved efficiencies and work scheduling achieved in relation to surface preparation and application of topically applied flooring and coating systems.

•

On a new concrete substrates this can be as early as 14 days, whilst on existing substrates you only require to wait 24hrs prior to commencement of the topically applied systems.

•

Environmentally Friendly & HACCP Certified - Low Odour – Low VOC

•

Warranties of up to 15 years, supported by project specification and robust QC & QA procedures

OXTEK SOLUTIONS PTY LTD 3/174 ATLANTIC DRIVE KEYSBOROUGH VIC 3173 TEL: 03 9798 7534 WWW.OXTEK.COM.AU

Waterproofing

32

A collaborative approach to moisture - We’re in this together Article by Oxtek Solutions

W

hether it’s a recently placed concrete slab or an existing concrete subfloor, it’s more than likely that moisture will pose a significant threat to the proposed resilient flooring installation at some stage during the floor’s intended service life.

Therefore, it is deemed best practice to address this within the planning phase, or at very least prior to the commencement of the installation of the resilient flooring system, so that all project stakeholders are clearly made aware of the potential problems that are associated with moisture and take appropriate action to address the concerns raised.

Some of the reasons why high moisture content readings are recorded: • Residual moisture has had insufficient time to leave the slab prior to commencement of the flooring system installation.

• Moisture penetrating through the concrete slab from another source (hydrostatic pressure).

• Damage to the plastic vapour membrane underneath the concrete slab.

• An older slab may have no plastic vapour membrane beneath the concrete slab.

• Leaking pipes in or below the concrete slab.

As we know moisture has a habit of finding the pathway of least resistance, with typical areas to look out for on an existing floor, and therefore issues to prevent with new flooring, include but not limited to are:

Flooring October/November 2022

• Efflorescence on the substrate surface • Degradation of the substrate on slab edges, slab edge dampness • The presence of mould on the concrete surface or flooring • Discolouring of the concrete • For existing flooring – evidence of bubbling, staining, rippling, and swelling • Adhesive failure • Degradation of self-levelling and screed • Swollen skirting board and bubbling/ peeling paints on lower wall

to the flooring system installation, including resurfacing compounds and adhesives used for the installation process.

A project specific specification including guidelines for both surface preparation and application should be requested, supported by a project warranty, which may also dictate that the moisture barriers system installation requires to be applied by an approved or certified applicator.

By raising awareness of these issues as early as possible, it allows more time for moisture related problems to be addressed, well before flooring installation commences.

Well-documented quality control records and quality assurance procedures should ensure that works are completed, in alignment with the project specification and provide clear traceability and accountability for future reference.

It is of upmost importance that the moisture barrier product manufacturer is fully aware of the situation and is comfortable that their product is fit for purpose. The manufacturer must clearly demonstrate that it is compatible with the other products related

With the flooring system manufacturer, nominated contractor and client satisfied that the proposed systems being installed will allow for all warranties associated with the flooring installation to be issued on completion of the works, a stakeholder

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Waterproofing

33 4. Material Manufacturer Quality Assurance – Robust internal audit process to review submitted quality control documentation, including scheduled and random site visits during application works to ensure works have been undertaken in alignment with our recommended guidelines and project specification.

mutual agreement can be reached and signed. This document confirms that all parties have a clear understanding as to what action is required prior to commencement of works. This ensures that the necessary mitigation strategies to eliminate the risk of moisture related flooring failure are documented, understood, and agreed.

Oxtek Solutions - 7 steps to prevent moisture related flooring failure With over 24 years of experience in prevention strategies against moisture related flooring failures both here in Australia and New Zealand, Oxtek Solutions promotes early engagement with project stakeholders to discuss and make all parties aware of the risks and resultant issues to installed flooring systems, directly related to moisture within the concrete subfloor.

By taking a proactive approach to a project, working closely with specifiers/designers, flooring product and system manufacturers, contractors, and the client, allows for informed and appropriate decisions to be reached well in advance of works commencing.

1. Project Specification - Individually numbered and prepared specification including surface preparation and application requirements supported by the technical documentation tailored toward the requirement of the project.

2. Contractor Training and Certification Program – Approved applicators and certification training program to ensure compliance in the application of the Oxtek Solutions product range.

3. Contractor Quality Control – Well documented quality control procedures to be completed for each stage of application works, providing clear traceability and accountability.

5. Manufacturers’ Compatibility Statement – With our proven in-field performance, Oxtek Solutions has aligned with strategic product manufacturer partners within the flooring and coating industry, as their nominated system of choice for a penetrative moisture barrier system, with the provision of a manufacturers’ compatibility statement.

As per Clause 3.4.3.1 and Clause 3.5.3.1 of AS1884:2021.

6. Mutual Agreement – Project Stakeholders reach a mutual agreement with a clear understanding of product performance characteristics and installation practices aligned with the specification, manufacturer compatibility statement and the subsequent warranty on offer. As per section 2.2 of AS 1884:2021.

7. Warranty - Subject to review, project warranties of up to 15 years are available on new and existing concrete substrates.

Following the steps outlined above, will ensure a successful long-term outcome for installed flooring systems, and eliminate the risks associated with moisture.

To find out more about Oxtek Solution’s 7 step approach to reducing the threat of moisture related flooring failures, or to arrange an appointment with one our field representatives, please contact reception@ oxtek.com.au or call 03 9798 7534. web www.oxtek.com.au

Flooring October/November 2022

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Newfurn developing tomorrow’s industry workforce Newfurn Floorcoverings Ltd (Newfurn), parent company to brands such as Choices Flooring and Style Flooring and Interiors, has just launched their own enterprise Registered Training Organisation (RTO) trading as Chillingworth Training Institute - CTI (Academic & Vocational Training Pty Ltd, RTO 91070), to combat the growing need for skilled labour in the retail flooring covering industry.

The CTI is a direct response by Newfurn to meet the increasing demand for retail floor covering and installation services within Australia. It’s the nations steady demand growth that means consumers currently must wait up to two-months after purchasing their flooring to have it installed and with commencements of trade apprenticeships as a whole declining, it was clear, action had to be taken to turn these trends around.

The CTI will work hand in hand with their corporate branded Newfurn Training Academy (NTA) which delivers an Industry Trade Card accreditation for experienced flooring installers, through its Master Class professional development training seminars for flooring installers. The NTA also delivers in house training for member retailers and partners in roles such as sales consultants, store owners and support staff.

Upon launch, Newfurn CEO, Mr Andrew Lewis stated, “The aim of this revolutionary new program is to produce job ready professional flooring craftspeople who will become the next generation of leaders in the flooring industry. To achieve this, Newfurn also needed to become a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to ensure innovation in delivery and compliance went hand in hand, without being diluted by third party providers.”

The CTI is Newfurn’s enterprise RTO providing Nationally accredited trade qualifications for the floor covering industry. The RTOs suite of training programs include MSF30818 Certificate III in Flooring Technology and in 2023, MSF31018 - Certificate III in Interior Decoration Retail Services, along with other accredited programs in transport and logistics.

The cornerstone to Newfurn’s training model is their state-of-the-art learning management system (LMS) software, Digido, which delivers contemporary hybrid learning of underpinning skills and knowledge as a personalised experience for individuals. Digido’s interactive software, blends real on the job learning with propositional on-line teaching, through its unique hybrid platform. The outcome provides apprentices and learners with robust individual learning experience through “anytime, anywhere, any device” learning.

Newfurn recognised that no matter how many tools or processes are in place, the success of any good training organisation comes down to the knowledge and expertise of the trainers themselves. As such,

earn

while you

Learn!

BECOME A QUALIFIED FLOOR TECHNOLOGIST & INSTALLER

Newfurn employed several well-respected fulltime industry-based trainers to lead their training and deliver their years of collective knowledge and consulting experience to students entering the flooring industry.

Furthermore, with the assistance of Newfurn’s Alliance Partners, the NTA has access to the best specialist trainers in the flooring industry as well as the latest information on product developments, installation techniques and industry trends to ensure that professional development is always of the highest standard.

Because of collaborative alliances with their partners, many being major Australian and International flooring manufacturers and distributors, Newfurn is in a unique position of providing high level robust Industry credentialling. This unique partnership combines nationally accredited, and industry led training with the best flooring industry experts, drawing on the most current product developments, installation techniques and industry practices to the highest standards.

on-the-job training

earn while you learn

highly rewarding trade

job trade recognition

nationally recognised qualification

Becoming a Choices Flooring installation apprentice offers immediate entry to employment and valuable on-the-job training, all while you earn an income!

This is captured by their innovative Digido hybrid model, assessing apprentices’ engagement in real life Community based residential flooring projects.

Their Industry apprentices and learners practice their learning in real community flooring installations under the supervision of their Alliance Partners and Industry Assessors. The model is blended with this online learning platform with face-to-face online classes, workshops, and tutorials. z

For more information go to www.ctitraining.com.au Academic & Vocational Training PTY LTD Trading as Chillingworth Training Institute (RTO Code 91070)

Resin Flooring

36

Welcome to Resin Flooring International

A

fter a soft launch in March on LinkedIn, Resin Flooring International (RFI) is now fully up and running and would like to invite all members of the resin flooring industry to join.

As explained in the initial launch, the inspiration for Resin Flooring International can be summed up by the question: Where do you go to talk resin flooring? This means really talk, with other knowledgeable professionals who want to engage for the right reasons.

It suggested that while there were bits and pieces scattered over the internet, genuine value seemed much harder to find, with some experts trying not to reveal too much, and others on social media making it look all too easy.

With every business having problems they would like solutions for, the question remained on where could resin flooring people could go for guidance on resin flooring and resin flooring only? RFI is this place.

As it says on the website: “RFI is a learning and collaboration community for those wanting to step up within the resin flooring industry. Our mission is to build a global community of resin flooring professionals that want improve themselves, their staff, and their companies. By doing so we can collectively improve our industry and lay strong foundations for future growth.”

Above: Resin Flooring International Logo Flooring October/November 2022

Above: Jack Josephsen While launching officially in 2022, the RFI community has been years in the making with many passionate resin flooring people dedicating their time and energy.

Heading this group has been Managing Director of Real World Epoxies and RFI founder, Jack Josephsen.

“It’s been a personal goal of mine over the years to improve the resin flooring industry and lay the foundations for strong growth,” Jack said.

“Starting Resin Flooring Network a few years ago, as we called it then, was all about establishing a framework that would allow industry training to be developed and a

proper resin flooring trade possible. That framework was adopted by the Australian Government in 2018 and we now have the first of our installers becoming qualified under the Cert III in Flooring Technology.”

“During this time”, he added, “We also created a couple of resin flooring clubs that aimed to build a more supportive environment for what can be a very lonely industry.”

“The next step down this road is about creating more awareness of these resources through a community of resin flooring professionals that want to improve themselves and bring the industry together at the same time.”

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Resin Flooring

37

According to the RFI philosophy, stepping up in resin flooring sense is more than just being thorough with surface preparation or using the right product. To consistently get good results, every stage of a project must be tackled properly.

This complete approach to resin flooring is called the Five Rs: • • • • •

The Right Specification The Right Flooring System The Right Flooring Preparation The Right Installation The Right Process Management

Using this as their scope, RFI looks to become a true home of resin flooring by supporting all installers, product manufacturers, equipment suppliers, training organisations and specifiers.

▶ ▶ ▶ ▶

Above: Resin Flooring Industry Importantly, Jack says RFI is a community that leaves ego at the door.

starting out or have decades of experience, everybody is welcome to join.”

“Everyone starts with no knowledge, so there is absolutely no judgment on where people are in their journey. Whether you are just

With these values and beliefs at its core, RFI provides members with the opportunity to step up in two ways:

hygienic durable decorative chemical-resistant

Allnex Construction is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in hygienic, durable, decorative, and chemical-resistant floor and wall claddings.

Starting at the farm gate, factory processing and all the way through to the supermarket, Allnex has you protected. The HACCP approved hygienic floor and wall solutions suit even the most stringent requirements of food manufacturing and clean room environments.

www.allnexconstruction.com

Resin Flooring

38 “I invite everyone to take a look at our Mentors page.

Whether you’re trying to manage a 200,000 square metre project, formulate and manufacture resins, tap into better prep methods, or start your own installation business from scratch, the chances are there’s someone available right now to help you with these challenges,” he said.

Above: Website Mentor Snapshot.

1. Personal engagement As a true learning environment and an active community, members are given the chance to ask questions and make sure they understand the wisdom being passed on. This opportunity for engagement can be found under three different tabs on the website: 1. The Discuss section is an ever-growing blog containing videos and written posts from reputable educators showing how they go about all aspects of resin flooring.

together a thorough resin flooring specification in the field, while the Project Vault app captures every detail on resin flooring projects, from client contact through to end of warranty.

• Resin Star is a new initiative aimed at showcasing the exceptional resin flooring projects being completed all over the world. It aims to not only provide peer recognition for the excellent work being done by talented installers but form a growing catalogue that can be used as inspiration for floor owners, builders, and architects.

2. World-class resources In addition to the personal interaction, RFI also offers a selection of world-class resources aimed at training, showcasing, and managing resin flooring projects: • Resin Card aims to provide resin flooring installers with globally recognised certification for the level of knowledge they hold. Bronze and Silver Card courses are available now, and a Gold Card course will be added in the near future.

Above: Resin Flooring Installer

2. The Resin Jack Podcast is hosted by Jack himself and gives listeners an insight into what industry experts from all over the world think on the topics that matter.

For the final word, Jack wanted to emphasise that everyone was welcome at RFI and could contribute to the mission of building a stronger resin flooring industry.

3. Mentors is a collection of installers, manufacturers, chemists, consultants, and various other experts willing to share their knowledge and time to build up the resin flooring industry.

“We want everyone to join our community.

Whether you’re an installer, manufacturer, supplier, trainer, or specifier – it doesn’t matter. If you’re in the resin flooring industry and are genuinely looking to get better at what you do, then RFI is the place to go to make that happen,” he said.

It is this contribution from long-standing, respected members of the resin flooring industry that Jack is most excited about.

Flooring October/November 2022

Above: Resin Card Silver • Floortick offers a proven process and powerful project management tools developed through more than 20 years of work with the Royal Australian Navy.

The Spec Check app enables specifiers, manufacturers, and installers to put

Becoming a member is free and takes less than a minute at www.resinfloor.org.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

YOUR BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR FLOORING BUSINESS

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New Customer Relationship Sales Management App Every sales team needs a way to manage the relationship with past, current, and potential customers.

CRM provides an efficient and mobile tool to focus on retaining existing customers and gaining new customers with lead workflow and customer communication to drive sales growth. ✓ Lead Management & Workflow

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Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012

Software

40

Improve your business – The two secrets to improving sales Article by Chris Ogden

H

aving owned and operated a successful flooring business, I know our inclination as business owners is to want our salespeople to have plenty of leads from which they can generate sales.

A recent trend is to harness the powers of social media, funnelling sales leads onto the desks of our salespeople. Assuming these are viable leads, I can see the appeal. One caveat is that our salespeople often deal with existing sales leads inefficiently. What will be the fate of these new leads? Right now, your salespeople are very likely wasting sales opportunities; before we invest in a source of new leads, it makes sense to make an effort to convert more of their current opportunities.

Salespeople are not quoting quickly enough, too often with opportunities going unquoted, and most salespeople in the industry have a conversion rate of less than 50%. Often far less. It might be different in your business, but you can't know for sure unless you accurately monitor your turn-around time

for quotes and regularly calculate your conversion rates. As business owners, it is relatively easy to measure sales but much harder to measure lost opportunities and conversion rates. As a result, we might conclude we need more leads when actually, we can improve our sales numbers by implementing the two ‘secrets’ in the title of this article. They are not secret, but they are overlooked because they are not sexy and require some effort.

Quote every opportunity. Quickly.

The longer it takes to get our quote into the customer's hands, the less likely we are to make the sale. What sort of turn-around time do you expect from your salespeople? Do you monitor it? If so, how and how often? What is the bottleneck? Very likely, it will be the process of quantifying that is slowing the quoting process. Does your team have the electronic tools to make this process quicker? Measure by RFMS, for example. Maybe outsourcing to a service such as QuantiSafe would make sense if it resulted in more quotes and sales.

Finally, regarding quoting quickly, how transparent is it to you how many jobs are sitting on your sales desks waiting for quoting? Don't let your salespeople believe they own those leads. You should be able to see how many jobs are outstanding and for how long, and if necessary, you should distribute them to salespeople who can process them.

Let's try a thought experiment. What would your sales process look like if 100% of your quotes converted to a sale after five follow-up contacts?

Following Up. Simply put, follow-up is not being done well in our industry, yet it is the best thing your salespeople can do to increase their conversion rate. Let's try a thought experiment. What would your sales process look like if 100% of your quotes converted to a sale after five follow-up contacts? I'm guessing you would require your salespeople to make those five contacts in every case. What if the acceptance rate for five contacts was 60%? It seems less compelling, yet 60% is a far higher conversion rate than most salespeople are achieving.

Follow-up is not an art or a science; it's a simple process that anyone can learn without the need to be a consummate salesperson.

They just need to be able to follow the process.

Flooring October/November 2022

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Software

41

Prompt quoting of every opportunity that passes through the hands of our salespeople, coupled with a rigorous follow-up process, is a better way to drive our sales numbers than incurring the cost of new leads.

Implementing these two strategies will transform a flooring business. As noted, it will take effort, and it will require salespeople to change their habits. As a business owner, you can start this transformation today. If you want to see how RFMS can make the process easier, we would be happy to show you our market-leading quantifying tools and business management system. They incorporate CRM (Customer Relationship Management) functionality to manage your leads better and increase your conversion rate.

BE ACCURATE.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia (rfmsANZ.com), a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring

BE EFFICIENT.

industry. Chris has an extensive background in all aspects of the flooring industry, and he can be contacted at cogden@rfms.com.

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

salesau@rfms.com

Training

42 FCIA Apprentice Charity Workshops 2022

G

iven the lockdowns and COVID restrictions throughout the last two years, it was an exciting start to 2022 to able to conduct the first Apprentice Charity Workshop in Melbourne.

• • • • •

These workshops are aimed at all apprentices but primarily first and second year students to assist them in learning new skills and gaining knowledge which will assist them complete their qualification and become great tradespeople.

Apprentice Charity Workshop – Western Australia The FCIA held its first Apprentice Charity workshop in Wagga Wagga. The workshop was held from 17 October to 21 October at Kooringal Girl Guide Hall.

These workshops bring together FCIA members, RTO trainers and assessors, experienced installers and industry technical experts to provide apprentices with an intensive, practical experience in all aspects of flooring installation. This includes moisture testing, grinding, floor preparation and levelling, plus essential elements of resilient, carpet, timber and floating floors.

• Benefit from personal tuition in areas in which they may be struggling • Learn specific laying techniques from product specialists and industry experts FCIA, with the support of its partnering RTO’s, have conducted six Apprentice Charity Workshops in 2022: February: Melbourne Victoria.

Partnering RTO: TFIA Business Services March: Randwick New South Wales Partnering RTO: FCIA Training Academy May: Hobart Tasmania Partnering RTO: TFIA Business Services June: Randwick New South Wales Partnering RTO: FCIA Training Academy July: Parkerville Western Australia Partnering RTO: NM TAFE October: Wagga Wagga New South Wales Partnering RTO: FCIA Training Academy

These workshops enable the apprentice to: • Capture evidence required for their training such as photos, videos, work diaries etc • Support their training and skills with accessible and current learning • Receive practical assessment on a range of skills on site (as identified by the RTO Assessor)

Flooring October/November 2022

FCIA would like to thank everyone who supported these workshops throughout 2022.

Your support helped make these workshops a successful learning environment: • TFIA Business Services • NM TAFE • All suppliers • All manufacturers

Employers Apprentices Trainers/Assessors Industry Experts Charity organisations

During this workshop, eight apprentices came together to replace the floors in the kitchen, auditorium, bathrooms and storeroom. The work included removal of old coverings, grinding, flood coating, ramping, laying of dual carpet tiles, vinyl planks and commercial vinyl.

The apprentices did an amazing job installing the floors and showcasing the skills and knowledge that they have gained during their apprenticeship.

We are extremely grateful to our members who very kindly donated their product and time to this workshop: • MJS Floorcoverings • Signature Flooring • Polyflor • Mapei None of this would be possible without the support of our members, suppliers and manufacturers employers and apprentices.

Thank you for all your assistance.

For further information on the FCIA Apprentice Charity Workshops and dates please contact Fiona Wischnewski, fwischnewski@fcia.org.au

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Focus On

44 Focus On Oakshield

F

looring Magazine recently interviewed Norman Emanouel, Director of Oakshiled, business brokers who have managed the sale of more than 150 Australian businesses, by improving their value and marketability with judicious advice and a far-sighted perception of each company’s direction and worth. Here is Norman’s fascinating story.

“I was born with a knack for breathing life into businesses and, along the way, have learned a few things about true wealth. I have made hundreds of millions of dollars in my lifetime, lost it, and gained more in the process. I have reinvented myself several times and learned to embrace change. I seek to briefly summarise my story, so clients have an insight into who they are dealing with.

My background was changing businesses from loss making to profitability and below are a few significant achievements.”

• Holeproof: Group Financial Controller: Looking after ten divisions and assisting the group become one of the strongest clothing businesses in Australia.

• Century Battery: Working as an undercover sales representative and within a short period of time this business became significantly profitable and was purchased with the help of a consortium including Yuasa Batteries.

Above: Norman Emanouel, Director of Oakshiled

Flooring October/November 2022

• Exide Batteries UK: On behalf of an Indonesian Group purchased this business and turned it from loss making to highly profitable.

• Peregrine Developments: Within six years we established a development company that grow from zero to over 100 properties in the Gold Coast and Hunter Valley.

1. What is the Oakshield story?

Oakshield was born in 1999 as a vehicle to pass on all that I had learnt in business and as an accountant; my teaching became the reason for my success as a business advisor and broker.

2. What is the Oakshield business philosophy and or mission statement?

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

46

PLANNING TO SELL YOUR BUSINESS ? w w w . o a k s h i e l d . c o m . a u

ESTABLISHED IN 1999 150+ BUSINESSES SOLD We specialise in assisting business owners to run their businesses more successfully.

Interested in selling and want the best exit strategy?

Ready to retire but not sure how and when to exit?

Concerned about the true value of your business? > We recently completed the sale of four Flooring Stores. > We can work with you to prepare your business for SALE. > Our experience will ensure a stress-free business transition. > Oakshield has sold more than $100M worth of businesses. > To achieve the best outcome CALL OAKSHEILD.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY EXIT STRATEGIES MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS BUSINESS ADVISORS CAPITAL RAISING

For more information Contact

Norman Emanouel 0403 047 031 07 3417 9399

norman@oakshield.com.au

Oakshield Wisdom Creating Wealth & Protection

Focus On

My slogan “wisdom creating wealth and protection” is exactly what Oakshield has been doing. I enjoy teaching clients about how to gain wealth and protecting such wealth in the real world of business.

3. What services does Oakshield offer their clients?

Firstly, we like to get to know our clients well by asking them to become our guest for a short meeting which sometimes can extend to an over-night stay if they are coming from faraway places. Then we establish a plan for their lives and the business to make the balance of their journey more enjoyable.

We consider ourselves to be a little different to the usual business broker. We look at businesses from all perspectives. We compare a business against the industry as a whole and immediately start providing our clients with some practical steps to

Flooring October/November 2022

46

increase the performance of their business, and to improve the sale value.

The prescription provided does not need to be extensive or expensive but should be simple and practical. Our business philosophy encompasses the total package.

The core aim of our business is for us to add value and enhance the worth of a business by providing an exit strategy that would see the best possible outcome for the vendor.

4. Explain both the Business Advisory and Business Coaching services.

Business Advisory – We help analyse problems and the potential risks our clients are facing.

Business Coaching – We help take a client’s business from where it is now to where they want it to be.

Services include: • Business health check reviews • Management reporting and financial goal setting • Cash flow forecasting and budgeting • Strategic planning and ongoing monitoring / reporting • Succession planning and exit strategies • Taxation and structuring advice • Digital transformation services After more than two decades of meeting businesspeople I believe over 90 percent need to learn more about accounting and money management. A complete analysis of five years’ worth of financials will tell a story that no one can deny.

A complete summary of findings is prepared and a plan for improvement is drawn up.

Once established both Oakshield and the client co-sign an agreement to jointly work towards improving the value of the business before it is sold. 48

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

FRANCHISE

OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE NATIONALLY OVER 60 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH COUNTRY TOWN VALUES Andersens is proudly a privately held company with over 60 years in the

home improvement sector. We have 54 sites from far North QLD and

down to Adelaide and expanding nationally.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU JOIN OUR FAMILY Significant incentives available to existing flooring stores

National training and business support Industry leading green programs

Full range of suppliers available from day one with only one account Retain your local brand

We understand that it is your business.

Field support

Marketing support programs and dedicated digital marketing professionals

Country Town Values are what drives us

Ideal for independent operators or installers wanting to be part of a national brand

Call Dean Lightfoot on 0408 067 439 or Email dlightfoot@andersens.com.au

Focus On

48

5. Discuss some of the company’s milestone moments.

From 2004 to 2005 Oakshield sold four large electrical businesses to one buyer, his name is Wayne Land, and this is the story.

• Wayne purchased four separate electrical businesses to create a unique company that went on to employ nearly 200 staff servicing large businesses across Australia.

• In 2007 he successfully sold his business and joined Oakshield as a partner. Since then, we have successfully completed a development of 450 properties as well as sold an additional 400 properties in Central Queensland.

6. Looking ahead, what plans do you have for the future of Oakshield?

Our future will be all about service to sellers that are prepared to accept the advice and work hard to achieve plans established jointly with the Oakshield team. We will

begin to employ brokers that are selfmotivated and are driven by success. We aim to be the best for limited businesses rather than trying to have hundreds of businesses listed and selling very little. web www.oakshield.com.au

European Technology | Locally Made

LEVELLERS & PRIMERS

R48

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UNIVERSAL PRIMER

Rapid drying acrylic primer Porous and non porous substrates Internal / External

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www.rlapolymers.com.au

Another innovative solution from the team at

Design deck and wall tile in real wood Hexidek gives you complete design freedom to create unique decks and large murals. It is a modular wooden tile that is akin to pattern parquetry. It is visually distinctive and based on trendy hexagons. It allows you quickly to create a beautiful and unique work of art on your balcony or wall. Hexidek is an award-winning Australian innovation from Ecquality Timber Products.

Wood specie Australian Cypress

Australian Jarrah

Contact Terry Newman tjn@tjn.com.au

www.hexidek.com Developed & produced

by Ecquality Timber

Airstep Feature

50

Gippsland is Carpet Country Article by Philip Ashley Carpet Country Traralgon is part of the Carpet Court network of over 200 stores located throughout every state and territory. They’ve serviced the Gippsland region for more than 40 years, supplying and installing floors into residential and commercial premises, building a reputation based on quality and good, old fashioned service.

Traralgon is located in the east of the Latrobe Valley in the Gippsland region of Victoria. It is the largest and fastest growing city in the greater Latrobe Valley area. The township was established in the early 1860’s, but it was not until the 1930s that Traralgon began to move away from a farming based economy, first with a paper mill at Maryvale, followed by the expansion of the power generation industry following World War II with the Yallourn and Hazelwood Power Stations, and later with the construction of the massive Loy Yang Power Station.

Gavin, Gareth and Trent are joint directors of the Carpet Country store in Traralgon that was originally established by a previous owner in 1981. Gavin Truscott was employed at the store and bought a portion of the business thirty years ago. Trent and Gareth Jones both started with the business around twenty years ago basically ‘on the ground floor’ and worked their way up through the ranks, buying in as partners twelve years ago now, and as joint directors just over a year ago. You could say all three have a wealth of experience between them, not only of the trade but of the Gippsland region and its people.

Gavin, Gareth and Trent are ably supported by eight dedicated sales staff, an interior design team, dedicated warehousing people and a team of over 25 qualified installers.

Walking into the store in Traralgon, you are immediately impressed by the size and scope of the flooring displayed. You are also impressed with the presentation of the people there. Everyone; from the directors

to the people working in the warehouse are wearing the same corporate clothing; everyone is of equal importance to the business. Gareth said, “High standards and a professional presentation are very important to us. Whatever we do now or in our future is dependent on keeping the good name and high standards our customers expect.”

Above: Carpet Country's directors Trent adds, “You can’t just decide to sell and instal carpets, we’ve been able to recruit and keep really good people who have been with us for decades. Our business is about getting good people and creating an environment for them to stay with us. Having the right people means we can confidently sell and install to customers the right way. Some of our people have left us and are now our competition and good luck to them. What that means to us is that we are doing things the right way, developing people here of high standards who can stand on their own. Sure, we are in business, but we also maintain a strong commitment to our regional community.”

Flooring October/November 2022

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Airstep Feature

51 their homes. Trent feels the boom will soften as consumers slow their spending due to interest rate concerns and the rising cost of living.

However, he says, “The run up to Christmas will be a good indicator as it’s generally flat-out.”

Carpet Country Carpet Court Traralgon is the biggest floor coverings store east of Melbourne and has a dedicated commercial division ran

by Gareth which has been actively involved in many major projects within the Gippsland region. Some of these projects include fitouts and refurbishments to commercial enterprises such as the major stages of the Latrobe Regional Hospital, the Bridges on Argyle Motel, Dalkeith Heights Independent Living Community, RACV Resort Inverloch, the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre and Morwell Central Primary School. Gavin, Gareth and Trent also display a full range of floating floor solutions and have recently opened a new independent tiling initiative ‘The Country Tiler.’

Over the last twenty years the business has seen steady growth, with a move to their custom built new premises twelve-odd years ago. More recently as a regional business they’ve been insulated to a degree from the Victorian Covid lockdowns and have benefitted from the boom most home renovation businesses have seen from consumers spending travel money on

One major factor in Carpet Country Traralgon’s favour is people moving into the area seeking a ‘tree-change.’ The price of homes in regional areas is also attracting people as travel times between the region and Melbourne improve. You can be in Melbourne in just over an hour or if you prefer, either at the beach or in the bush in twenty minutes; it’s a great place to live. Another consideration is that the gradual closure of the power generation industry has not affected the population. The closure of Hazelwood Power Station led to the creation of an aggressive and innovative state government program to boost local businesses. The Latrobe Valley Authority was originally given a quarter of a billion dollars to fund new projects and help workers transition to jobs in them.

To service this vibrant community, Trent says, “We do everything to a high standard, starting with our first contact when someone walks into our showroom, right up to the completion of the job to our customers satisfaction. We keep our staff well trained, and we employ as many trainees and apprentices as we can get. We believe that if every flooring business took on just one apprentice, the trade would be much

better serviced.” Trent is grateful for the Government incentives but concedes more should be done to promote the trades as a viable career path, starting with promotion in the school system. “Most people leaving school don’t know what a floor laying trade is, our people are mostly attracted by word of mouth,” Gareth added.

Outside of the business, all three directors love 4WD and offroad adventuring and caravan holidays, and of course, time with family. Gavin, Gareth and Trent are all immensely proud to have been in business, serving the community for so long, having come up through the ranks. Trent said, “The notion that one day you could buy in as a partner is something all our employees can work towards. Early on it was something I strived for; one day being an owner. If I can have that idea for someone else coming through, that would make me happy and satisfied. In the flooring industry, there is a way for people’s career to evolve.” It’s these sentiments that epitomize Carpet Country Traralgon and that is, service to others.

Your carpet's best friend Residential • Commercial • Hard Flooring Underlays

www.airstep.com.au 1800 803 545

Safety

52

LRV and luminance contrast testing - essential for compliance The importance of luminance contrast testing for public safety and compliance.

Whether you are planning an exciting new development or refurbishment, stair and floor safety should be factored in the early stages. Good planning and design lead to maximised functionality and can prevent costly mishaps in the long run. Aside from public access, prioritising safety also empowers the visually impaired to safely navigate built environments.

Depending on the location and environment, stair nosings and tactile indicators are often installed to guide users, as well as provide a slip-resistant surface to prevent slips, trips and falls. Warning tactiles indicate the presence of potential hazards; directional tactiles provide orientational cues for safe travel. On the other hand, stair nosings are fitted to the edge of steps to provide an antislip surface.

Both of these safety features are required to undergo LRV and luminance contrast testing to ensure compliance with Australian standards.

Luminance contrast is preferred to colour contrast as it highlights the difference in the light/dark qualities of two adjoining surfaces rather than just their colours.

What is luminance contrast?

Defined in Standard 1428.1 as “the light reflected from one surface or component, compared to the light reflected from another surface or component,” luminance contrast assesses the difference in the light reflective properties of each colour.

How does Luminance Contrast Testing work?

Comparing the luminance reflectance of two different surfaces, luminance contrast testing ensures that the vision impaired have sufficient visual cues to distinguish between various elements of a building. The determination of the luminance contrast between two surfaces, such as a tactile and its surrounding floor finish is calculated using the following Bowman-Sapolinski equation: C=125 (Y2 – Y1)/(Y1+Y2+25)

Above: Each stair nosing insert colour will have a unique LRV

Y1 and Y2 are the Light Reflectance Values (LRV) of the two surfaces.

What is Light Reflectance Value (LRV)?

Light Reflective Value (LRV) is a measure of visible and usable light that is reflected from a coloured surface when illuminated by a light source.

How does LRV get measured?

Measured on a scale of 0 to 100, a 0 score represents a perfect absorbing black while 100 represents a perfect reflecting white.

To measure LRV, the team at Classic Architectural Group uses a Konica Minolta Chroma meter CR-400/410 with a diffuse illumination/normal viewing (d/o) geometry and CIE D65 illuminant.

Above: Classic Architectural Group conducting onsite luminance contrast testing to ensure compliance

Flooring October/November 2022

Are LRV and Luminance Contrast Testing mandatory safety requirements?

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Safety

53

Yes, both LRV and Luminance Contrast Testing are mandatory as per Australian Standards (AS 1428.1:2009 and AS1428.4.1:2009), The National Construction Code/Building Code of Australia and The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Stair nosings must meet the following AS1428.1 Luminance Contrast requirements:

Safety standards for stair nosings According to AS1428.1, stair nosings are a general requirement for all new building work and must be installed across the entire width of the accessible path of travel.

Clause 11 of the Standard specifically addresses requirements for stairways and stair nosings, with an entire focus on promoting luminance contrast at the leading edge of step treads together with the avoidance of overhang at the front of stair treads.

Above: Classic Tredfx Safety Stair Nosings

Classic Arch_ Magazine ad_210mm w x 142mm h_3mm bleed.pdf

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3/11/2022

10:32 am

• Each tread is to have a minimum strip of 50mm and not more than 75mm deep across the width of the path of travel.

• The nosing strip is to have a minimum contrast of 30% to the floor finish.

• The nosing strip may be set back a maximum of 15mm from the front of the nosing.

• When located at the front of a stair nosing, the luminance contrast strip cannot extend down the riser more than 10mm.

• Stair nosing profiles may have a sharp intersection or a radius up to 5mm, or up to a 5mm x 5mm chamfer at the tread/riser intersection.

Safety

54 • The surface must be slip-resistant.

• Integrated (tile) type tactiles must meet a minimum luminance contrast standard of 30%. Whereas an individual tactile of one colour needs to achieve 45%, and for two colours 60% is required.

• The top of the tactile indicators must sit no more than 4 -5mm above the base surface.

You can use an online calculator to find out if your Luminance Contrast is compliant?

Classic Architectural Group provides a free online calculator for assessing the luminance contrast value of a floor substrate with a product. This is a quick and easy way to check if you meet Australian Standards compliance requirements.

What is the difference between dry and wet readings?

If you are installing products outdoors or in an area where they can get wet, you need to take measurements on wet samples. This then helps to determine the mean dry LRV and the mean wet LRV so you can choose the most compliant solution for your application.

Above: Classic Tredfx Tactile Indicators Safety standards for tactile indicators The Australian Standards emphasise the need for good design and planning for public spaces, with tactile indicators playing an important secondary role in providing vital warnings and directional information to the vision impaired. This is also supported by the Building Code of Australia (BCA) Section D Clause 3.8, as well as the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Flooring October/November 2022

This is a safety and preventative measure for all potentially hazardous situations such as rail platforms, stairs, ramps, kerb ramps, pedestrian walkways, and vehicle carriageways.

Tactile indicators must meet the following AS/NZS 1428.4 requirements: • They are required to be installed across the full width of the path of travel, enabling them to be felt underfoot or with the tip of a cane.

Ensure your project’s full compliance with onsite testing The team at Classic Architectural Group offers both LRV and luminance contrast testing to maximise the efficacy of your stair nosings and tactile indicators. Working closely with your team, they can produce reports from information collected on-site to document your level of compliance with building standards. This ensures your project is 100% compliant with the Australian Safety Standards.

Visit the resource hub at www.classicarch.com to use their free luminance contrast calculator.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Design & Trends

55

Dulux Colour Forecast 2023

A

fter a chaotic couple of years filled with challenge and change, we now seek a sense of calm and order in our everyday lives.

Having spent the last year post-Covid adapting to new work practices and daily routines, much of it conducted online, we are looking to take back the reins of our day-to-day lives and prioritise our mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. We have seen that life is fragile and, as a result, now choose to be more considered with how and where we spend our time, energy and funds.

Connect Our homes continue to be our refuge in 2023 – the place we seek security, calm and comfort as we build up the mental and physical resilience to face an altered reality in the outside world.

The idea of living simply and authentically has taken on a new appeal. The effects of climate change, waste and overconsumption are realities we can no longer ignore; and given our 24/7 newsfeed – this has caused many of us great concern. As a result, we strive to walk more gently on the earth, whether that’s with the understanding of the clothes we wear, food we eat or homewares we buy.

Luxury, once a by-word for ostentation, is now expressed as ‘sustainable luxury’ and refers to quality, craftsmanship and responsible production. We are excited to be out there exploring the world again and connecting with the community. Commercial spaces, such as a cafes, bars and restaurants, offer the chance to try new things and create those joyful, memorable experiences we’ve been missing.

With ‘work from anywhere’ arrangements increasingly the norm, meetings and Zoom calls are just as likely to happen in a café or coworking space as they are in an office. As such, we want commercial spaces to be flexible in their design and to include the digital imperatives we need to run our lives, such as charging stations and a reliable Wi-Fi connection.

Ideally, these spaces should also reflect our values; wellness, responsible and considered design, with a connection to nature. This could be in the form of interior plantscapes, recycled and upcycled furniture, earth-drawn colour schemes, or the use of natural and eco-friendly building materials and cooking ingredients.

We have all reacted differently to the upheavals of the last couple of years – some crave freedom and irreverence, whilst others prefer order and reassurance. The Dulux Colour Forecast 2023 features three moving colour palettes that reflect these desires, with warm, earth-based colours that reinforce a connection with nature, oceanic blues that foster stillness and calm, and eclectic brighter hues to encourage those moments of pure escapism.

Flooring October/November 2022

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Design & Trends

56 brass border around a fireplace. These can help to create living spaces that feel both ordered and classic in their intent.

Lavish, touch-me textures, such as velvet and silk in upholstery and bedlinen add a sense of luxury to living spaces and bedrooms, while accents of charcoal in lighting and architectural features add a contemporary edge. Patterns in art and décor pieces are intricate and understated and are inspired by the complex and structured patterns found in nature, such as a fern or seashell, to create something of an otherworldly feel.

The Dulux Connect palette reflects our desire for a simpler lifestyle, grounded in nature. Natural and quietly stable hues, such as moss, wasabi, sandstone, muddied yellow-green and rich, purple brown bring warmth and intimacy to interiors and commercial spaces, and set a relaxed and welcoming tone that draws people in.

Furniture is crafted from raw timber, leather and rattan, with gently curved lines that add to the cosy, sanctuary-like vibe, whilst fabrics are natural and highly textural, woven linen, cotton, hemp and fine woollen knits. Vintage and thrifted furniture sit comfortably alongside bespoke, contemporary lighting made from recycled materials, whilst handcrafted ceramics in organic shapes speak to our continued appreciation for the handmade and unique.

They also bring to mind many of the pastimes we experienced during lockdown, such as quilting, cooking, gardening and hiking.

Balance Not everyone is yearning for adventure in a post-Covid world – many of us seek comfort through structure and routine. Dulux Balance palette is a refined and reassuring palette of serene marine blues, gentle greens, weathered pastels and accents of deep garnet that evokes the beauty and fluidity of our oceans and shoreline. Interiors are pared-back and considered, with the focus on immersive colour that runs from walls to ceilings, and exquisite detailing, such as the sweeping curve of a bedhead or the sliver

The key colours from this palette include the blues in Dulux Kimberley Sea, Starfish and Sea Kelp with a balance of warmth in Deep Garnet which respond to the importance of this oceanscape theme.

Highlights from this palette include the greens, such as Dulux Stilted Stalks and Wasabi and the neutral Dulux Apparition, which will play a dominant role in the year ahead.

Flooring October/November 2022

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Design & Trends

Revive Chubby furniture exaggerated floral and striped patterns, and colours galore – for many, the freedoms we are enjoying are a chance to cut loose from convention and have some fun.

Whilst the colours in the Dulux Revive palette are a little deeper than last year’s brighter colours, it draws from the same philosophy; it’s out with the so-called ‘design rules’ and in with personal expression. Mustardy yellows, breezy blues, rose pink, lavender and striking emerald are splashed across everything from walls to furniture to create spaces that instantly make you smile.

57

“Whilst the colours in the Dulux Revive palette are a little deeper than last year’s brighter colours, it draws from the same philosophy; it’s out with the so-called ‘design rules’ and in with personal expression.”

Standouts from this palette include emerald green, a popular hue in 2022, which will play a bigger role in the year ahead and we’ll see used in new and unexpected ways, such as fluted panelling on a kitchen island, and paper-bag orange, which helps ground Revive’s kaleidoscope of saturated hues, whilst speaking to the natural aesthetic that dominates this year.

Flooring October/November 2022

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Advertiser Index Airstep Australia

50, 51

Allnex Construction Panels

37

Andersens Floor Covering

47

Australian Flooring Supplies

15

Australian Select Timbers

5

BBS Flooring Products

22

Bremworth

29

Beaumont Tiles

17

Classic Architectural Group

53

Ecquality Timber

49

Floorcovering Institute of Australia (FCIA)

43

GMK Logistics

13

Godfrey Hirst Interface Kenbrock Flooring Laser Measure Newfurn Floor Coverings

7, 27 Front Cover 9 Inside Back Cover 34, 35

Oakshield

45

Oxtek Solutions

31

Polyflor Australia

Inside Front Cover

Preference Floors

55

RFMS Australasia

19, 39, 41

RLA Polymers

23, 48

Signature Floors

11

Victoria Carpets

Back Cover

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD ABN: 27 006 876 419 PO BOX 800, Templestowe Victoria, Australia 3106 Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au Website: www.elitepublishing.com.au PUBLISHERS Georgia Gilmour georgia@elitepublishing.com.au Michelle Cammiade michelle@elitepublishing.com.au EDITOR Michelle Cammiade michelle@elitepublishing.com.au CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Philip Ashley philipneilashley6@bigpond.com ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Sandie Velkovska sandie@elitepublishing.com.au CIRCULATION For circulation enquiries please email: info@elitepublishing.com.au PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: production@elitepublishing.com.au PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Group Pty Ltd ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD (established 1985) All rights reserved – No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication.

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Woodworking Magazine, Tile Today Magazine, Discovering Stone Magazine, FB Magazine, Flooring Magazine, Finishes & Surfaces Magazine

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

FIRENZE The latest addition to the carpet tiles’ portfolio from Victoria Carpets is guaranteed to suit a wide range of environments, including education, healthcare, retail, hospitality, corporate offices, and even home offices.

Made with Aircell Premium Solution Dyed Nylon (SDN), Firenze has more resilience and bounce than traditional SDN tiles, increasing its durability and performance and making it suitable for heavy traffic areas.

Firenze also prevents soil accumulation more effectively, due to its smoother fibre surface, making cleaning and maintenance much easier for carpet users.

With a neutral palette of six commercial-friendly colours, Firenze is the perfect choice for your next project.

Featured: 01/Cloud, 02/Fossil & 16/Navy

Contact your local Victoria Carpets representative in Australia & New Zealand or connect with us via our website:

w w w. v i c t o r i a c a r p e t s . c o m . a u