Portsmouth flooring specialist launches new safety framework following national award recognition
A Portsmouth-based flooring specialist is inviting local organisations to participate in the pilot launch of a new independent floor safety assurance framework designed to help businesses, schools, healthcare providers, housing organisations and facilities managers better manage flooring-related risks.
Sonny Webb, founder of AFSSA (Annual Flooring Safety & Standards Assurance), has spent more than 17 years working within the commercial flooring industry and developed the framework after witnessing recurring issues surrounding floor safety, maintenance planning, asset management and the lack of structured records relating to flooring condition.
The launch follows recent industry recognition, with Sonny being named a Finalist at the National Flooring Awards in the "Making a Difference" category and also receiving a nomination for the South England Prestige Awards 2026/27.
AFSSA has been developed to provide organisations with an independent, condition-led and evidence-based approach to flooring safety and management.
The framework consists of four key deliverables:
• AFSSA Certificate
• Detailed Assessment Report
• Floor Safety Assurance Pack
• Flooring Concern & Action Log
Together, these provide organisations with a structured system for identifying, recording, monitoring and managing flooring-related concerns throughout the year.
The Flooring Concern & Action Log has been specifically developed to help organisations maintain a documented record of flooring concerns, actions taken, repairs completed and ongoing monitoring, creating a clear audit trail that supports due diligence and proactive maintenance planning.
"Flooring is one of the most heavily used assets within any building, yet it is often overlooked until a problem develops," said Sonny Webb, Founder of AFSSA.
"Throughout my career I have seen organisations spend significant amounts of money reacting to issues that could often have been identified much earlier. AFSSA has been created to help organisations take a more proactive approach by identifying concerns early, improving safety, strengthening due diligence and making informed repair versus replacement decisions."
Unlike traditional inspection-based approaches, AFSSA is not designed to scrutinise organisations or create unnecessary compliance burdens. Instead, it has been developed as a practical support framework that helps duty holders better understand the condition of their flooring assets while maintaining evidence of ongoing monitoring and management.
Assessments focus on four key areas:
• Slip Risk
• Trip Hazards & Edge Integrity
• Hygiene & Contamination Risk
• Floor Integrity & Condition
Following assessment, participating organisations receive an evidence-based report detailing observations, supporting photographs, risk categories and prioritised recommendations, together with certification and practical guidance designed to support ongoing floor safety management.
As part of the pilot programme, AFSSA is now seeking a limited number of organisations across Portsmouth and Hampshire to help test and shape the framework before wider rollout.
The pilot programme is open to schools, academies, healthcare providers, care homes, housing organisations, leisure facilities and commercial businesses.
Webb hopes the framework will help raise standards while supporting organisations in protecting their people, property and reputation through a more structured approach to flooring safety and maintenance management.
For more information about AFSSA or to enquire about participating in the pilot programme, visit www.afssa.co.uk or contact [email protected].