Coronavirus Update 10.11.2020

DOMESTIC FLOOR LAYING AND ITS SUPPLY CHAIN TO CONTINUE WORKING DURING LOCKDOWN

The National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers (NICF) believes it should be business as usual for the domestic flooring market, as England goes into its second national lockdown.

The Prime Minister has explicitly stated that workers who cannot work from home should “attend their workplace, including where this involves working in other people’s homes.” This is also confirmed in updated details on the .gov website.

This means that carpet fitting in private homes can continue during the lockdown. It is of course important that all tradespeople adhere to safe working practices, including social distancing. In this regard, the guidelines contained on the Trustmark Work Safe, Safe Work website are very useful. These were developed to give practical advice to homeowners about what COVID-safety measures should be discussed and carried out before, during and after work is done in and around their home.

https://www.worksafesafework.info

Manufacturers, distribution, and wholesalers remain active and the NICF has received many enquiries about whether carpet showrooms can remain open. Carpet and flooring shops are not explicitly named on either the list of retailers that must close, or those that are exempt. In this lockdown the Government are relying on common sense and official guidance includes the following statement:

“The Government cannot provide comments on individual cases of whether or not a business is permitted to open. It is for each business to assess whether they are a business required to close having considered the guidance and Regulations.”

The NICF believes that many retail flooring shops and showrooms are integral to the ability of domestic floor layers to continue to perform their role and occupy an important position in serving the supply chain. The lead has been set by a number of the larger multiple retailers who are remaining open, suggesting that there is no issue with independent carpet and flooring retailers remaining open as well.

Safe working practices should of course be adopted at all times and these may include limiting the number of people in a shop and admission by appointment only, to complement other now well-established Covid-19 safety measures.

The full official guidance can be found on the Government website at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

“This clearly continues to be a difficult period for all of us in the domestic carpet and floor laying market, with many unknowns,” says Brian King, President of the NICF. “However, we are clear that carpet and floor laying can continue in private homes and also that the retail channel, including showrooms, can with appropriate safety measures, currently consider remaining open. Keeping people safe is of course a primary concern, but this is also about allowing the sector to remain active, protecting jobs and enabling the domestic flooring sector to play its part in the general economic recovery.”