The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) announces the publication of a new ANSI-approved Standard - ANSI/IICRC S800 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Inspection of Textile Floorcoverings (1st edition, 2014).

ANSI/IICRC S800 defines basic operational procedures and techniques for inspecting/evaluating: carpet types, characteristics and conditions; specification; installation procedures; and post-installation maintenance and cleaning. This enables professional inspectors to determine appropriate procedures for inspecting textile floor coverings. S800 is not written to teach detailed inspection procedures; numerous manuals, videotapes, workshops and seminars are available to teach comprehensive textile floor covering inspection procedures. This standard was created for use primarily by professional inspectors, and secondarily for carpet manufacturers, product suppliers, building contractors, architects, specifiers, designers, distributors, flooring retailers, end-users, facility managers, institutions and others involved in the textile flooring inspection industry.

Every textile floor covering has unique characteristics, and each inspection project should be carefully evaluated to determine proper application of this standard. In some circumstances, deviation from portions of this standard may be appropriate; however, carelessness is never acceptable, and common sense and professional judgment are to be exercised in all cases. 

According to S800 Chair Bill Doan and Vice Chair Lew Migliore, “It was a privilege to work with such a committed and dedicated volunteer team representing virtually every facet of the carpet industry. S800 was a much-needed update encompassing a three-year journey with hundreds of hours of work. We believe it will be a significant benefit to the entire carpet industry for many years to come.”  

On Friday, Feb. 7, IICRC Standards Director Mili Washington will appear on IAQ Radio with both Doan and Migliore to discuss the S800 and what it means for the industry. The hour-long program can be streamed live at noon EST on the IAQ website, http://tinyurl.com/IICRCs800, or downloaded shortly thereafter. 

To purchase a copy of the ANSI/IICRC S800 Standard and Reference Guide and other IICRC standards, please visit www.iicrc.org/store or call the IICRC headquarters at (360) 693-5675. 

For more information on certification programs and other standards offered by IICRC, visit www.iicrc.org.