Page 70 - CFJ_Feb26

ADVICE & INFORMATION

Adam Jones

Competence, compliance and better information in contract flooring

As expectations tighten, contract flooring focuses on competence, compliance and better
information across real projects, says Adam

025 has been another year in documenting competence and be accessed quickly when required.
2of tightening expectations sharing information will find that these This is not confined to higher-risk
around competence, compliance expectations become part of their residential buildings. As good practice
and accountability in construction. normal way of working, not an extra spreads, similar expectations are
Looking ahead to 2026, most of the layer of hassle. emerging across education, healthcare,
conversation in contract flooring is likely The Building Safety Regulator and commercial and public sector projects.
to be less about brand-new legislation rising expectations What you should expect from
and more about how recent changes are The Building Safety Regulator, created manufacturers
playing out on real projects. under the Building Safety Act 2022 in Most leading flooring manufacturers
Two developments sit in the response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, already provide a wealth of product
background of many conversations is driving a sustained pace of regulatory information, but the direction of travel
– the Contract Flooring Association’s change across the built environment. is towards material that is even more
new Competence in the Contract comprehensive, consistent and easy to
Flooring Sector guidance, and the obtain.
ongoing implementation of the Building In practical terms, that means clear
Safety Act with its new Building Safety technical data on performance and
Regulator (BSR). Together, they are installation, transparent information
reshaping how every party involved on issues such as volatile organic
in a flooring project is expected to compound emissions, fire classifications
demonstrate competence and provide backed by appropriate testing, and
evidence of what they have done. installation guidance that aligns with
Competence moving from buzzword to British Standards while recognising
everyday habit the realities of specific products and
The CFA competence guidance gives systems. For many in the industry, the
the industry practical, clear advice on first port of call is the manufacturer’s
what competence should look like in website, where technical data sheets,
the flooring sector. It is not intended as method statements and guidance
a document that appears once a year documents are now standard.
in a file during an audit. It is designed Increasingly, this is complemented by
to be applied on every project, from the information on platforms such as NBS
smallest refurbishment to complex, and digital building information models,
multi-phase schemes. along with emerging formats such as
As we move into 2026, contractors Although the primary legal duties sit product passports.
and specifiers should expect more with those who design, construct and Behind these public documents sits
explicit questions about training, manage buildings, the ripple effects are a broader commitment to quality.
qualifications and supervision, and felt throughout the supply chain, and Manufacturers are running ongoing
a stronger emphasis on who is flooring is no exception. programmes of testing and internal
responsible for which decisions on a Manufacturers play a critical technical development. The aim is not
job. Record-keeping will matter more. supporting role in ensuring the safety, only to produce reliable products, but to
What was installed, how it was installed performance and traceability of flooring ensure that the information attached to
and by whom will increasingly need products. In 2026, it is reasonable to those products is current, accurate and
to be evidenced rather than assumed. anticipate more questions from clients, genuinely useful.
This is the moment to be compliance principal contractors and consultants For contractors and specifiers,
ready, rather than feeling compliance about what information is available, the benefit in 2026 should be faster
burdened. Those who are proactive how reliable it is, and where it can access to the right documents, clearer

‘This is the moment to
be compliance ready’

70 CFJ February 2026 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk
@CFJMagazine