http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/carpet_witness en chrisg@carpetwitness.com Copyright 2007 23-02-2007T13:49:00+00:00 http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/unique_web/carpet_witness Chris Glanville has a lifetime of experience in all aspects of carpets and floorcoverings. Chris Glanville has a lifetime of experience in all aspects of carpets and floorcoverings. CREDENTIALS Chris is 64 years of age and has worked in the carpet/floor covering trade for 48 years. Has been a Qualified Master Fitter for the past 37 years and for the past 25 years has been the National Assessor for the National Institute of Carpet and Floor layers (NICF) and is currently the Vice President.. His experience as a director of FITA the Flooring Industry Training Association, National Vocational Qualification flooring assessor. Specialist services include floor covering consultancy / arbitration services to major retailers, carpet manufacturers, cleaning companies, solicitors, Trading Standards and Citizens Advice Bureau. Provided training, lecturing and arbitration services in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, France, the USA, Australia, Zimbabwe and the Lebanon. Also a Law Society Checked Single/Joint Expert Witness averaging over 50 instructions per year. Chris has some distinctive qualifications and accredited experience of his own:  Law Society Single/Joint Expert Witness. Master carpet Fitter since 1971. Judge of Carpet Fitter of the Year (N.I.C.F. National Competition since 1976). N.I.C.F. Arbitrator. National assessor and Vice President since 1976. C.I.T.B./F|TA NVQ Assessor (1999) Sadly, not every carpet and floorcovering installation goes according to plan. Sometimes you need expert advice and guidance to get back on the right track. Today, Chris Glanville puts his extensive skills and experience to work by specialising in resolving floorcovering and carpet problems, particularly with regards to fitting and installation problems. He is able to inspect flooring problems and render an opinion as to what party is responsible for the flooring failure. Chris is trained to give independent opinions, based on observations and tests. Welcome 21-10-2006T12:30:00+00:00 http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/unique_web/arbitration_services Carpet Witness Arbitration Services Chris Glanville puts his extensive skills and experience to work by specialising in resolving floorcovering and carpet problems. The professional services that he provides include:- Site inspections Surveys Technical reports Arbitration support Legal representation Advice Guidance Technical support Clients can include solicitors, barristers, Courts of Law, litigation lawyers, insurance companies, legal departments within major PLC companies, the media and whoever else is seeking his expertise. He also works with major retailers, carpet manufacturers, cleaning companies, insurers, facilities managers, designers, architects, trading standards bodies and solicitors. Chris strongly believes in the role of arbitration to resolve issues wherever possible - whether it is carpet, woven, resilient, laminates, hardwood, ceramic, tile or rubber flooring - in commercial and residential premises. However, he also undertakes legal representation in cases that proceed to court. He is registered as a Law Society Expert Witness. An Expert Witness is someone who is recognised by others in the profession as an qualified expert, often by virtue of being a full member of a recognised Professional Association or Academic body, capable of appearing before a Court of Law or Tribunal in order to present an objective, unbiased opinion in relation to matters regarding the profession. Being willing and able to justify their professional opinion under cross examination is another requirement as is having the resources to complete the assignment within the required timescale. After being invited to a courtesy pre-case interview, Chris Glanville, in this capacity, will perform an independent flooring inspection, including any specialist testing (on-site or in a laboratory), to produce an unbiased, comprehensive technical report and highly articulate testimonial functions. Chris Glanville has produced over 300 written reports in the last three years and appeared in court on more than fifteen occasions. He may also assist a solicitor with preparations for court, mediation, depositions and court expert testimony in order to assist the court's or tribunal's understanding in matters within his expertise.This work content is associated with an Expert Consultant - a position normally held prior to attaining Expert Witness status as experience and expertise is developed. When giving evidence in court, the role of an Expert Witness is to assist the court, and remain independent of the parties. They should give evidence in an objective and impartial way, and confine the evidence to matters within their competence relevant to the issues in dispute. If necessary, Chris Glanville can act as a Law Society Joint Expert Witness - he may receive joint instructions or separate instructions from each party or each solicitor. The Civil Procedure Rules intend that, where possible, matters requiring expert evidence in court should be dealt with by a single Expert Witness, rather than two Expert Witnesses separately instructed by the parties. Chris Glanville has the additional qualifications and expertise to act in this joint capacity Using an Expert Witness to seek the truth and write a report that states the facts, observations, indicative field tests and history of the complaint provides the client with the ability to resolve the flooring problem. In addition, Chris Glanville undertakes training and has lectured throughout the United Kingdom as well as in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, France, Australia, Zimbabwe and the United States. He also provides consultation on contracts prior to purchasing and is able to write a carpet fitting programme if a recommended installation method is required.  Arbitration Services 23-02-2007T13:49:00+00:00 http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/unique_web/links Carpet And Flooring Related Links N.I.C.F (National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers     Witness Directory     Expert Witness     Society of Expert Witnesses     UKExperwitnesses.co.uk     Carpetinfo.co.uk     Law Society Flooring Related Links 23-02-2007T13:32:00+00:00 http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/unique_web/process Process After being commissioned, the Expert Witness (or Joint Expert Witness) will normally perform an investigative evaluation based on the following, but tailored to suit to individual circumstances, and dependent on any applicable guidelines (Law Society, Insurance Company, etc) :   Define the problem. Obtain a chronological history of the flooring installation and material. List detailed observations of the problem area(s). Perform field tests (if applicable) and record the results. … and write a comprehensive report containing:   The source of the instructions and the purpose of the report. Basis on which the report was written. Statement and description of problem(s). Names and dates. Site description. Product description. History of the matter. The documents referred to in the preparation of the report. Field test results (if applicable). Applicable industry and manufacturer standards. The facts ascertained. Expert opinion based on collected data, including responsible party. Possible solutions to resolve, rectify or repair the problem. Conclusions, cross referenced to the main text. Summary of the expert's qualifications and experience. The report will be kept confidential and distributed, after invoicing or payment, only to the contracted party / parties. The Process 23-02-2007T13:28:00+00:00 http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/unique_web/faults Typical Faults Uncovered Typical Faults 23-02-2007T13:15:00+00:00 http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/unique_web/download Carpet Witness Downloads Download our latest leaflet Download our latest sample report 17-01-2007T08:37:00+00:00 http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/unique_web/flooring_failures Flooring Failures Who could be responsible for the flooring failure The areas of responsibility may be one of five: The Retailer. The Manufacturer. The Installer. The Consumer. The Specifier. Acts of God. The manufacture is responsible for visible defects in the floor from the manufacturing or weaving process. The installer is responsible for any installation that is not to industry standards or manufacturer specifications. The consumer is responsible for any problems that relate to poor maintenance or damage (inappropriate cleaning, animal damage, etc). The specifier is responsible for any product which is installed or placed in a use for which it is not designed. Acts of God are defined as situations and/or conditions beyond the control of man.  Flooring Failures 21-10-2006T16:41:00+00:00 http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/unique_web/sample_report Sample Report Here is a typical report showing the amount of detail that is provided: Report by C J Glanville. National Assessor, National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers This report is provided on behalf of the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers (N.I.C.F.). The N.I.C.F. is the premier body representing those who are engaged in the carpet fitting and floorlaying profession. The N.I.C.F seeks to establish and maintain the highest standards of trade practice and it has been a contributing party to the drafting of BS 5325 - 1996, the British Standards Code of Practice for the Installation of Textile Floorcoverings. The N.I.C.F. has produced the only nationally accepted training manual for carpet fitting and it is also negotiating with the accreditation bodies on the drafting of National Vocational Qualifications (N.V.Q.s) for carpet and floorlaying. This report has been compiled by Christopher John Glanville of April Ridge, Woods Road, Caversham, Reading RG4 0NA. I am 52 years of age and I have worked in the carpet and floorcoverings fitting trade for 34 years. I have been a Master Carpet Fitter for 25 years and for the last 20 years, I have been the National Assessor for the N.I.C.F.). I have provided floorcoverings consultancy and arbitration services to major retailers, manufacturers, cleaning companies, insurance companies, solicitors, trading standards and Citizen s Advice bureau. I have also provided training and lecture services in both the United Kingdom as well as Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, France, United States, Australia and Zimbabwe. I have studied the information supplied by the client (Nottingham), concerning carpets supplied and fitted by his company at T.G.F. public house, Stamford. Since the fitting, approximately five years ago, the clients have been approached by their customer who has made complaint about the carpets. The Client has requested an independent survey to be undertaken by the N.I.C.F. I carried out a site inspection of the carpets in question on 2nd January 1997. Present were the contractor and the landlord of the public house. My observations are as follows: The floorcoverings in question are Stoddards 36 Axminster carpet of various quality levels, laid on felt underlay and gripper. The carpet was fitted to two bars, a restaurant and communal areas. Most seams were machine sewn although there were some heat-seamed areas. Shortly after the carpet had been laid, some five years ago, the landlord had complained about the quality of the seams, especially in the main bar area. The Contractor carried out corrective work on these seams but, as far as the landlord is concerned, the problem remains. The landlord and the contractor have been unable to agree on a satisfactory resolution to the dispute. Upon carrying out my inspection, I was advised by the landlord that the carpets have only been cleaned by means of granulated powder, i.e. host or similar system of cleaning, and that they have not been wet cleaned. Upon examination, I could find no evidence to support this information. During the course of my inspection, I noted that the underlay and gripper were fitted to a reasonable standard. The fitting of the carpet appeared to have been well planned, apart from a cross-join situated in front of the main bar (right hand side from the bar). No problems were observed in the second bar area. However, several seams in the main traffic areas were very obvious. Although the selvedge of the carpet was mostly together, the carpet pile had worn away. In conclusion, I would observe that the fitting of the carpets has largely been carried out to an acceptable standard. The wear and tear that I observed, particularly with regard to the rather obvious seams, appears to be consistent with the high traffic levels that must be expected in an installation of this kind. Furthermore, the condition of the carpet and the seams appears to be consistent with shrinkage, which has been caused by over-wetting, either by carpet cleaning or spillage. This conclusion contradicts the advice which I was given by the landlord regarding cleaning methods. The above conclusion notwithstanding, I must also take into account that the landlord originally made complaint to the contractor about the seams soon after the installation of the carpets, and the contractor have attended on several occasions to carry out corrective works to the seams. Furthermore, I must record that the planning of the carpet fitting was not well-executed in the main bar area and the presence of a cross-seam at this point is unacceptable. For this reason, I would conclude that the quality of the carpet has been compromised and I would therefore suggest that fair and reasonable compensation is offered on the following basis: Payment of 25% of the cost of the original installation or Supply and fitting of replacement carpets at net cost price I would further conclude that the cost saving achieved by using 0.91 metre width carpet seamed together, rather than 3.66 or 4.0 metre width carpet, is somewhat questionable. The presence of so many seams leads to a fundamental weakness in the installation and the potential repair costs are likely to outweigh the 15% saving in material costs. The contents of this report are true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. C.J. Glanville N.I.C.F. National Assessor Dated the 28th day of February 1997 A sample report is available for download here  (registration required) Sample Report 21-10-2006T16:29:00+00:00 http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/unique_web/nicf National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers (N.I.C.F) Chris Glanville has also been closely associated with the National Institute of Carpet & Floorlayers (N.I.C.F). This is the principle trade body responsible for determining professional standards within the carpet and floorcoverings industry. Established in 1979 by a group of West Country fitters who were keen to raise standards and establish a professional image, the Institute has grown to a membership of over 400, stretching from Cornwall to Scotland. Training is a vital element of Institute activity, with members progressing from Student through to Master Fitter status, achieved after written and practical examinations. Members also display their skills at the Carpet Fitter of the Year competitions, in which Chris Glanville has played a pivotal role as judge. Chris Glanville is also the First National Assessor for the N.I.C.F and is deemed to be one of the leading experts in power stretching techniques. Both Chris Glanville and the N.I.C.F. are advocates of best practice as set out in BS 5325 - British Standards Code of Practice for the Installation of Textile Floorcoverings. N.I.C.F. members were closely involved in the preparation and drafting of the most recent issue of BS 5325, published in 1996. N.I.C.F., 4d St. Mary's Place, The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1PH. Tel: 0115 958 3077. Fax: 0115 941 2238 Website: http://www.nicfltd.org.uk  N.I.C.F. 21-10-2006T16:02:00+00:00 http://www.carpetwitness.com/index.php/unique_web/dev dev Chris Glanville has a lifetime of experience in all aspects of carpets and floorcoverings. CREDENTIALS Chris is 64 years of age and has worked in the carpet/floor covering trade for 48 years. Has been a Qualified Master Fitter for the past 37 years and for the past 25 years has been the National Assessor for the National Institute of Carpet and Floor layers (NICF) and is currently the Vice President.. His experience as a director of FITA the Flooring Industry Training Association, National Vocational Qualification flooring assessor. Specialist services include floor covering consultancy / arbitration services to major retailers, carpet manufacturers, cleaning companies, solicitors, Trading Standards and Citizens Advice Bureau. Provided training, lecturing and arbitration services in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, France, the USA, Australia, Zimbabwe and the Lebanon. Also a Law Society Checked Single/Joint Expert Witness averaging over 50 instructions per year. Chris has some distinctive qualifications and accredited experience of his own: Law Society Single/Joint Expert Witness. Master carpet Fitter since 1971. Judge of Carpet Fitter of the Year (N.I.C.F. National Competition since 1976). N.I.C.F. Arbitrator. National assessor and Vice President since 1976. C.I.T.B./F|TA NVQ Assessor (1999) Sadly, not every carpet and floor covering purchase or installation goes according to plan, and a few suffer from the phenomenon of PILE REVERSAL, permanent shading that is often refereed to as water marking Sometimes you need expert advice and guidance to get back on the right track. Today, Chris Glanville puts his extensive skills and experience to work by specialising in resolving floorcovering and carpet problems, particularly with regards to fitting and installation problems. He is able to inspect flooring problems and render an opinion as to what party is responsible for the flooring failure. He is trained to give independent opinions, based on observations and tests. 01-04-2004T09:52:22+00:00