Some SPF and Polyurea contractors wince at the thought of getting training or certifications because they think it’s too expensive or time-consuming. Other apprehensions include: “Our state doesn’t require it”, “Those without certifications are under-bidding us”, or “We don’t see the value in having certifications.” On the contrary, having documented professional training and/or certifications are a company’s best marketing tool. Just as importantly, documented training and/or certifications are a company’s best defense should they end up in a court of law. If the industry does not govern itself effectively, it could leave the door open for government intervention and governmental control in determining who is, and who is not, qualified.
Build Your Company’s Reputation on Value
Most companies measure their success by annual revenue. It’s important to realize that your company has marketable worth in its qualifications. Every customer’s nightmare is a job that fails or poses a safety risk. SPF and Polyurea companies can bring customers the things that matter most to them--the feeling of trust, security and peace of mind in knowing that the job will be done safely and correctly. Customers want their concerns eliminated, their problems solved and have a feeling of confidence that they are making the right decision by awarding you the contract. Your company’s value can be demonstrated by showing customers that you and your employees are well qualified, experienced and safety-conscious. Your company’s portfolio should always contain documented training, certifications, experience and safety record. Once customers realize the value your company brings, they are often willing to pay for it.
Marketing to Reduce or Eliminate Your Competition
Companies Who Can Show Documented Training and/or Certifications Gain More Business and Reduce or Eliminate Their Competition
A company’s advertising and marketing strategy should be to emphasize its professional qualifications up front. This sends a message to customers that your company knows what it’s doing, and it serves to eliminate less experienced companies from your market. Whether you’re bidding residential, commercial or industrial projects, your company’s qualifications, experience and safety record are going to be a key deciding factor in obtaining most any contract. This is especially true for city, county and state contracting. Training and certifications are worth the investment because it makes your company stand above the crowd as a trusted authority. When meetings with customers, presenting your company’s qualifications first. This will ease customers’ apprehensions and make the rest of your presentation more comfortable for everyone. The return on this investment can put your company in the forefront as a recognized industry leader.
Your Company’s Best Insurance Policy: Documented Training and Certifications
SPF companies are popping up across the country, especially in larger cities. Some of these companies are not reputable or experienced. Less experienced companies tend to hire less experienced applicators. If those applicators make mistakes, those mistakes can land a business in a court of law. Once in court, the first thing lawyers will attack is the company’s and employee’s qualifications. Law suits can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars or more. Some common law suits arise from incorrectly-applied chemical products, employee’s sensitivity to chemical products and unsafe conditions that lead to accidents, injuries or death. Insurance companies that pay for a company’s mistakes will either stop providing insurance or they will offer to continue the insurance at an exorbitant cost. Once a lawsuit is recorded, it become public knowledge. This can make it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain company insurance in the future, and it can tarnish a company’s reputation forever. A company’s best insurance policy is documented training and/or certifications by qualified instructors or recognized industry certifiers along with your company’s documented safety record.
Major Accreditation, Certification and Training Entities
The following are some of the most recognized organizations that provide documented training, accreditation and/or certifications:
- SPFA Accreditation and Certifications: SPFA (Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance) is a recognized leader of SPF accreditation and certifications. Their Professional Certification Program (PCP) is the first in the US which is ISO 17024 compliant, standards driven and internationally recognized. SPFA offers accreditation for a companies and certifications for individuals who work in SPF industry. There are four levels of certification for contractors: SPF Assistant, Installer, Master Installer and Project Manager. Suppliers can also become certified and accredited within this program. See website for details sprayfoam.org/certification
- Air Barriers: ABAA (Air Barrier Association of America) Contractor Courses, Spray Polyurethane Installer Course, Self-Adhered & Fluid Applied Membrane Installer Course, Field Auditor Training Course and Quality Assurance Program Administrator Training Course. According to an ABAA spokesperson, “All attendees to our SAFL or SPF course receive an attendance certificate, an example of the verbiage used to document training states: The above individual attended the ABAA Self Adhered and Fluid Applied Air Barrier Training Program held on March 6-8, 2018 in Benicia, CA thereby demonstrating a commitment to education and professionalism in the industry and life-long learning. If requested, the ABAA can also include the hours trained, as they are registered AIA credits. Once participants are fully certified with ABAA they also receive their physical ABAA card in the mail." airbarrier.org/education
- Polyurea Training: PDA (Polyurea Development Association) Training participants receive a certificate of completion. A PDA spokesperson explains, “If a contractor has an employee who isn’t properly trained, it can be difficult to transition him/her into a large on-site crew. If an employee doesn’t know how to properly handle and clean equipment, that could mean $40,000 down the drain; furthermore, if they don’t know the proper temperature or optimal weather conditions for applications, the end result can be disastrous for everyone concerned.” pda-online.org/spraycourse
CCS Chemical and Product Hazard and Risk Awareness
George Thompson, PhD and CEO of CCS
Chemical Compliance Systems, Inc. (CCS) has compiled the largest hazardous chemical and product relational databases in the world, including ecological, health, and safety data for over 200 chemicals used in SPF A and B Side formulations. The CCS Installers & Assistants and Expert Installers certification courses in “SPF Chemical Hazard Awareness” are designed to translate the complexities of SPF chemistry into easily understood laymen’s language. Company certifications are achieved when at least one individual in each of 3-levels of management have been trained: (1) Project Manager, (2) Sales, and (3) Executive Management. These courses are a direct complement to courses in the SPFA Professional Certification Program, incorporate “best practices from the CPI guidance, and conform to the OSHA requirement that employers train their employees in the hazards of the chemicals to which they may be exposed. These courses also include perspectives on how to avoid a lawsuit through using safe SPF chemistry principles and practices at each level in a company. Individual certification in any course is contingent upon demonstrated awareness of worker and customer SPF chemical hazards and protection strategies. For more information, visit CCS’s website at: chemply.com