Industry partnership “major milestone” says RIA, IICRC

Newly inked partnership to elevate industry, says RIA and IICRC.

The newly announced partnership between the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) and the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) will elevate industry professionalism and advance the trade of cleaning and restoration technicians, according to the industry organisations.

Speaking at the second annual Australasian Restoration Conference and Tradeshow in Queensland, IICRC chairman Pete Duncanson said the partnership is “a major milestone” which will advance the trade for professional cleaning and restoration as well as provide greater career pathways.

“[The partnership] is the start of a collective effort to elevate the professionalism in our industry, with the two strongest entities in our industry,” Duncanson said.

Under the agreement, which was officially announced at the RIA’s 73rd annual Convention and Exposition in May, RIA will transition its industry certification to IICRC to administer. In addition IICRC will offer and market RIA programs to both RIA members and IICRC certified firms and registrants. The partnership will also include the development of a joint industry fire standard.

RIA president Lee King said the RIA and IICRC will “mutually support each other” and work for the betterment for the restoration industry.

“The leadership of the IICRC and the RIA believed it was in the best interest in restorers for both associations to work in co-operation with each other. This [partnership] doesn’t just tactically unify the industry, but strategically unifies the industry,” King said at the Australasian Restoration Conference and Tradeshow.

The agreement between the association and education body will also extend to advocacy following the formation of the advocacy and government affairs (AGA) committee, announced following the partnership agreement.

The committee, understood to be the first of its kind in the industry, will provide advocacy for restoration professionals and seek to influence legislation and reform. The task force, headed by restoration contractor advocate and counsellor Ed Cross , will also elect three IICRC members and three RIA members.

RIA Australasian council chairman Owen Boak said the partnership will benefit Australian and New Zealand members, with a global industry consensus standard on fire damage remediation and restoration, BSR/IICRC S700: Standard for Professional Smoke and Fire Restoration, to be introduced to the market.

“Industry certification will now become a unified process with industries able to access clear industry pathways to becoming internationally recognised as experts in their field through both the IICRC pathways leading on to the IICRC/RIA industry certifications.”

Boak added there will be greater industry education focused on broad-based acceptance of industry standards leading towards better outcomes for all stakeholders in the damage repair process, as well as improved access to industry training and events.

The 2019 Australasian Restoration Conference and Tradeshow was held at the Twin Waters Novotel on the Sunshine Coast on 12 June until 14 June.

The three-day conference provided highly technical workshops, seminar sessions, industry panels as well as networking events including RIA’s annual gala dinner, where the second annual Australasian Lifetime Achievement Award was presented.

More than 20 vendors were also in attendance including Encircle, Carpet Cleaners’ Warehouse, Tramex, MouldLab, AELM, Coach8, XPower, Benefect, Decon Systems, Restore Solutions, Alorair, IICRC, Legend Brands, Violand Management Associates and TESA Directive.

The IICRC is a global, ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization (SDO) that credentials individuals in more than 20 categories within the inspection, cleaning and restoration industries.

The IICRC represents more than 54,000 certified technicians and 6000 certified firms in 22 countries, in partnership with regional and international trade associations, represents the entire industry.

Globally, RIA represents more than 20,000 cleaning and restoration professionals from 1100 member firms specialising in textiles, environmental issues and restoration.

The association’s local arm was first established as a steering committee in 2015. In 2017 the RIA approved the formation of an Australasian council, giving its Australian and NZ counterparts a seat on the board of directors.

INCLEAN attended the Australasian Restoration Conference and Tradeshow as a guest of RIA

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