NFSI/Emory Symposium – Opening Presentation: Presented by Russell J. Kendzior

Opening Presentation

Presented by Russell J. Kendzior

Flooring Products, Testing, Slip Resistance and Specifications!   How can designers and owners select the appropriate flooring materials when the flooring industry is inconsistent in the presentation of criteria?

Presented by Steve Spencer and Marc Adelman

With any floor covering, identifying criteria for that surface and the environment in which it is located represents a first step in an exploration of appropriate products that can meet and /or exceed those criteria.

Criteria fall into many categories:  aesthetics, color, pattern, ambiance, performance, durability, longevity, hardness, slip resistance, maintenance, fire resistance, substrate, expansion/contraction, joints, substrate, setting method/materials, lippage, warpage, code, availability and on and on.  As designers, we are called upon to weigh through the multiplicity of choices and to achieve a balance of these consideration in concert and in agreement with our client.

Having relevant information provided by manufacturers is paramount in the exploration, selection and specification process of appropriate products.  Not all manufacturers provide relevant information in connection with a material’s slip resistance testing, characteristics and recommended maintenance.

Learn how to address challenges faced by the design community as it relates to exploring, selecting and specifying floor covering products!

Russell Kendzior

With over 20 years of experience preventing slips, trips, and falls, Russ Kendzior is the Traction Expert! Russ Kendzior is one of the nation’s leading slip, trip, and fall experts and has been retained in more than 450 lawsuits representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants.  He is the Founder and President of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) and serves as Secretary of the ANSI B101 Committee which is responsible for developing standards for the prevention of slips, trips, and falls. Russ is often referred to as “the slip-and-fall guy” has appeared on numerous television and radio shows such as “Inside Edition”, “ABC News Good Morning America”, “ABC News What Would You Do”, and has been the subject of a mini-documentary on floor safety which was broadcast on PBS stations nationwide.

Marc K. Adelman

 AIA CFM CCS, Principal with TVS Design – Marc brings to tvsdesign over 30 years of experience in design, project management and strategic direction for a variety of clients. Marc’s industry involvement in leadership roles, both locally and nationally, with IFMA, The IFMA Foundation, The National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) has made him a leader in the industry. Additionally, he has contributed his skills to a variety of not-for-profit community and national organizations.

Steve Spencer

Steve joined State Farm in 1994 as a specialist in cleaning and interior maintenance. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and a member of IFMA, ISSA and serves on the End-User Advisory Council for Invista, National Floor Safety Institute Board and is chairman of the ANSI B101.1 committee. With more than thirty years of experience, he is a source for all cleaning questions and interior finish specifications in State Farm’s facilities. Steve teaches the General Maintenance School and provides training and consulting for State Farm’s underwriting and claims departments. Steve is responsible for all facility cleaning contract specifications and implementation.

He developed and implemented Daytime and Daytime/Cooperative cleaning programs at State Farm, the first beginning in 2000. Currently 28 buildings representing more than 10,000,000 square feet are experiencing substantial savings on cleaning and energy costs. Steve has also facilitated the implementation of daytime cleaning in a number of other facilities outside of State Farm. Steve has written articles for Contracting Profits, Cleaning & Maintenance Management, Housekeeping Solutions, Maintenance Solutions, Buildings, Building Operations Management and ISSA Today magazines. He has been a speaker for ASSE, National Safety Council Congress, Antron, BSCAI, IFMA, NeoCon, ISSA, TFM, NFM&T, APPA, VPPPA, Facilities Midwest and several Universities.