Page 6 - 2017-06-CFR Volume 105 - Update - What to Include in a Flooring Specification - June 2017

PRODUCT WARRANTY:

Product should be warranted and guaranteed against any and all manufacturing defects, visible or latent,
structural or otherwise. Product must be merchantable for service and fit for intended purpose and use.
Any and all defects that become visible or are latent which manifest themselves within (x) years of instal-
lation (this could be one to five) shall be corrected or replaced at the manufacturer’s expense. Manufac-
turer, installation systems, and consultant shall have installation field technical personnel on site at the
commencement of the installation to insure product is being installed according to manufacturer’s guide-
lines, installation system guidelines and industry standards and recommendations and a summary writ-
ten as to observations, conversations, instructions, conditions, concerns, corrections and other pertinent
information and, because of some recent events where there was a tech rep on site and a problem still
occurred. They tried to hang the flooring guys out to dry – get them to sign off on the job and document
everything and that means everything. Any noticed defect with the product or installation system will
require the response of manufacturer’s technical field service personnel on site to determine cause, cor-
rection or facilitate replacement.

You’ll notice a theme in this spec. It is very detailed, specific and addresses any conceivable and poten-
tially project threatening circumstance. The information also protects all parties to the project, not just
the end user or client. This is a team approach where the manufacturer, flooring contractor/installation
firm, installers and client’s, as well as GC and architects best interests are recognized and addressed.
By wording the spec as has been done here there should be no problems and the project should pro-
ceed on schedule, on budget and when completed be done. Here we say “get it in the door and keep it
on the floor.” If everyone agrees to work as a team the goal is the same and insurrection is prevented.

PRODUCT SUBMITTAL:

Finished product from actual run must be submitted for independent testing prior to shipping to installa-
tion site to determine compliance with the manufacturer’s specification and the specifications of this doc-
ument. Noncompliance with any aspect of the product specifications will result in rejection of the materi-
al. Samples of the product shall be submitted with enough material supplied for a site installation mock
up for a 12x12 space.

To comply with the theme of the flooring spec the above paragraph provides a built in safety factor for
both the client and the manufacturer. Before the product is to be installed but after it is manufactured, it
is to be tested to insure it is what it’s supposed to be and what the spec calls for and that it actually per-
forms up to expectations. This will avoid any claims for product failure to perform or defects, visible or
latent.

Another way to avoid problems is to slow down. I understand that time is of the essence and the new
space will generate business but if the project gets messed up what good will rushing do if it creates hav-
oc and unwarranted expensive corrections afterwards. The world won’t end because of a longer, more
realistic project schedule. Fast Track construction has actually been a bane to projects.

Again – I can’t stress this more emphatically – there is nothing that is 100% proof anything, no matter
what it is and especially when it comes to flooring and the associated products. Etch this into your brain,
“words do not change the laws of physics” Only God can do that and He’s not in the flooring busi-
ness.
6 Commercial Flooring Report June 2017