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FILE NAME: Flooring (FLR) DATE: 1980 Feb 14 DOC#: FLR003 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Meeting Minutes - Resilient Floor Covering Institute A JftgSILIENT FLOOR COVERING INSTITUTE ^ Minubjes--e--'th'A'' Regulase-- arrd'"ssociate Member Meetings February 14, 1980 Washington, D.C. The following were in attendance: Regular Members American Biltrite, Inc. Azrock Floor Products Congoleum Corporation GAF Corporation Kentile Floors, Inc. Mannington Mills, Inc. National Floor Products Company Associate Members BASF Wyandotte Borden Chemical Diamond Shamrock Firestone Plastics Co. BFGoodrich W.R. Grace & Co. Hughson Chemicals Johns-Manville Monsanto Company PPG Industries, Inc. Stauffer Chemical Co. Roger Marcus ~ Merrill Smith John Hanson William K. Clark Frank McKinney Jack Scheckowitz Philip Gillcrist Jack R. Lee Jack Clegg Andrew Kennedy H. Arthur Williams Robert Zimmerman Harvey F. Robbins George Pillow, Jr. Franklin Bishop John Herrmann Elliott Linsky Alan Bailey Charles Finkbiner James J. Taylor Gary Norman Thomas Grabenstetter Robert Edmonston Lewis Sullivan Dennis Fraula Dale DeBlander Joel Bodder Gene Connor Wayne Jackson Dennis Kelleher James Reis James Williams Larry Lawrence Frank Caplan Robert Pecha Pete Roggi John Schumacher PRODUC8E3D 1% - Associate Members, continued Tenneco Chemical Co, Uniroyal Guy Disch Barry Cogan Ray Gregor Robert Walker Roger Lacallade Guests Asbestos Information Association Consumer Product Safety Commission Environmental Protection Agency Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Hercules Research Center Johns-Manville Monsanto Company National Association of Home Builders Robert Pigg Richard Gross Richard Guimond W. Patrick Fiedler David A. Smith John Autry John Lonnquist K. Warren Easley Dr. Michael Sumichrast Staff Breed, Abbott & Morgan Government Research Corporation Resilient Floor Covering Institute John J. Campbell Virginia Burdick Faye White Robert D. Maurer President Clark presided at the meeting. Mr. Maurer was appointed secretary. Minutes of the Previous Committee Meetings Upon motion, duly seconded, it was voted to approve the minutes of the Institute Committee Meetings held on October 30-31, 1979 in the form in which they were mailed to the members. Introductory Comments President Clark introduced members who were attending for the first time and special guests. Discussions and Committee Reports, as noted below, followed. Asbestos Legislation Messrs. John Lonnquist and John Autry of the Johns-Manville Corporation reviewed past and current legislative developments relevant to compensation for asbestos-related disease. PRODUCE JH - -2 - Government Affairs Report Chairman jack Scheckowitz introduced Virginia Burdick and Faye White of the Government Research Corporation. Such matters as Superfund Legislation for Hazardous Waste, Regulation of Carcinogens (EPA & CPSC), Federal Trade Commission (Voluntary Standards), and Product Liability were discussed. Of particular importance to members was the development relevant to formaldehyde which is now being pursued by CPSC & EPA as having carcinogenic effects in rats. Formaldehyde is used in underlayment products, such as plywood, used by the resilient floor covering industry. Environmental Protection Mr. Richard Guimond, Branch Chief of the Special Regulation Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, addressed the membership on EPA's options for controlling carcinogens under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Mr. Guimond pursued EPA's "cradle to grave" approach on asbestos and possible regulation of it by the end of 1980. Consumer Product Safety Commission Mr. Richard A. Gross, Executive Director of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, reviewed the Commission's policy on carcinogens. The use of asbestos in resilient floor coverings was also discussed and, based on current information, Mr. Gross saw no immediate action on the matter by the Commission. The Commission, however, is expected to issue a General Order for Submission of Information on Consumer Products Containing Asbestos shortly. Resilient Floor Coverings are not expected to be noted in the general order. Regulation of Chemicals Mr. Warren Easley, Director of Regulatory Affairs for the Monsanto Company, updated members on the moves by the regulatory agencies to control carcinogenic chemical substances. EPA, in particular, has broad authority under TOSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act to control the environment. Technical Affairs Committee Report Chairman John Hanson summarized the results of the Institute's study on asbestos in resilient floor coverings done by SRI International. Purpose of the study was to monitor for airborne asbestos fibers during conditions of use, maintenance, installation and removal of vinyl asbestos floor tile; and for sheet vinyl, monitor for conditions of installation and removal in asbestos-backed sheet. SRI Conclusions for Vinyl Asbestos Tile. For in-use and maintenance, there is no exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. For installation and removal, the results of the tests show that when recommended procedures are used the exposure to airborne asbestos fibers is substantially below the allowed OSHA limit. PRODUCE i l - fri -3 - SRI Conclusions for Sheet Vinyl,, Results of the tests for installation and removal of adhered and unadhered asbestos-backed sheet vinyl when recommended procedures are followed show that the exposure to airborne asbestos fibers is substantially below the allowed OSHA limit:. Housing Market Outlook Dr. Michael Sumichrast, Chief Economist and Staff Vice President for the National Association of Horae Builders, provided an analysis for the housing industry. In the short term, housing starts will drop considerable, but are expected to pick up in 1981 through 1985. Recent study done by Dr. Sumichrast will be distributed to members through RFCI when available. RFCI President Clark also updated the membership on the specific outlook for resilient floor coverings for the remainder of the year. Despite a slight general turn down in new construction, the. overall vast remodel market will keep the demand for resilient floorings strong. New Officers RFCI new officers for 1980 are: President, Jack Clegg (Kentile) Vice President, James C. Murphy (Flintko'te) Secretary-Treasurer, Roger Marcus (Amtico) Next Regular-Associate Meeting August 14-15, 1980 - Hilton Inn Resort, Monterey, California. Upon motion, duly seconded, the meeting was adjourned. Robert D. Maurer Secretary ?ROOUC|0 k u - 04