Richard Catt introduces the CFA Guide to Competence: supporting contractors in a changing landscape
THE Contract Flooring Association is pleased to announce the launch of a new CFA Guidance Document. The guide to Competence in the Contract Flooring Sector. A comprehensive new reference document created exclusively for CFA members. This guide represents over 12 months of focused development and forms a central part of our ongoing work around competence, building safety, and our industry’s response to the recommendations that followed the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
As with many of the reference documents widely used across the construction sector, such as British Standards for installation, this guide is not necessarily something members will rely on every day. However, also like a British Standard, its value lies in its availability at the precise moment it is needed.
Legislation and expectations are evolving rapidly, and contractors must be ready to demonstrate that they understand, and can meet, the requirements now placed upon them.
Under the Building Safety Act 2022, every specialist contracting business operating in construction must be able to evidence compliance in three key areas: Installer Competence, Technical Competence, and Organisational Competence.
These are not abstract concepts; they are current legal expectations that increasingly define whether a company can continue to operate as a trusted supply chain partner. While the flooring sector has always recognised the importance of skills, training, and professionalism, this legislation formalises those expectations into new clear obligations.
There are certain immediate, practical actions that flooring contractors should be taking, steps that we outline clearly within the guide. But just as importantly, the guide sets out the long-term pathway that companies will need to follow to remain compliant as legislation, client demands, and industry standards continue to evolve.
Competence is no longer a static concept, it’s a developing landscape that requires forward planning, structured evidence, and an understanding of the wider regulatory environment.
To support this, the guide begins with an accessible, plain-language background section designed to help members ‘speak’ competence with confidence. Whether engaging with clients, principal contractors, or other stakeholders, contractors need to be able to reference competence in the right way, and with the right terminology. This opening section provides exactly that foundation.
However, it is Section 5 that will likely become the most frequently used part of the document. This is where members will find clear, practical, and direct advice on what they need to do to meet the legislative requirements. It breaks down competence into manageable components, highlights what must be evidenced, and provides structured recommendations that companies of all sizes can follow. From training pathways to technical proof points, organisational systems to record-keeping, this section is designed to give real-world, actionable guidance.
The broader aim of this article is, of course, to draw attention to the depth and quality of our new guide, and to underline the value it offers to CFA members. At a time when competence has never been more important, this member-only resource provides reassurance, clarity, and a roadmap for staying ahead of the curve.
For contractors who want to demonstrate professionalism, maintain their credibility in the supply chain, and ensure compliance with the Building Safety Act, the CFA Guide to Competence is now an essential companion. Members can access it immediately from the downloads section of our website and the members area, and we encourage every organisation to make it part of their competence strategy for 2026 and beyond.
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