The Steel Framing Industry Association has launched a certification program to ensure that cold-formed steel connectors meet quality guidelines, building codes, and ASTM standards.
Association officials say they want to boost the consistency of quality for steel building components. The program includes laboratory tests, on-site inspections and unannounced audits to ensure certified steel products meet standard tolerances for shape, material thickness, and corrosion protection.
The group hopes that certification will increase the use of steel in construction as building codes have changed to allow more wood to be used to construct tall buildings. About a quarter of non-residential construction uses cold-formed steel, and another quarter relies on wood framing.
Improved confidence in the quality of steel should help preserve and even take market share in commercial construction, such as of dormitories and motels, the association says.
Related Stories
| Jan 8, 2015
Gundersen Health System says it is nation’s first net-zero healthcare network
Gundersen Health System, a network of hospitals, medical clinics, and nursing homes in Wisconsin, announced that it is producing more energy than it consumes, making it the first net-zero energy health system in the U.S.
| Jan 8, 2015
Construction industry could be hurt by non-renewal of terrorism insurance bill
Insurance industry experts say without federal terrorism reinsurance in place for 2015, resulting canceled property/casualty insurance coverage and market chaos could be disruptive to the economy.
| Jan 2, 2015
Ohio’s Licking County to hire construction stormwater runoff specialist
Formed to focus on agriculture, the Licking County (Ohio) Water and Soil Conservation District has branched out to oversee construction sites.
| Jan 2, 2015
Standards groups join forces to spur more sustainable parking facility design
The International Parking Institute, Green Parking Council, and Green Building Certification Institute have joined forces to promote the design of more sustainable parking facilities.
| Dec 23, 2014
EPA okays coal ash recycling in construction materials
The Environmental Protection Agency ruled that the use of coal ash produced in power plants can continue to be incorporated into construction materials.
| Dec 23, 2014
Dunkin’ Donuts launches green building certification for its restaurants
Dunkin Donuts has launched a green building certification program to help franchisees build sustainable, energy-efficient restaurants.
| Dec 23, 2014
EPA releases WaterSense draft specification for flushometer-valve toilets
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program has released a draft specification for water-efficient flushometer-valve toilets.
| Dec 23, 2014
American Iron and Steel Institute publishes design guide for new profiled steel diaphragm panels standard
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) published AISI D310-14, “Design Examples for the Design of Profiled Steel Diaphragm Panels Based on AISI S310-13.”
| Dec 18, 2014
New federal regulations impact construction firms doing business with Uncle Sam
Federal contractors may be subject to several new rules in 2015 that impact how they are selected for contracts and how they do business with the federal government.
| Dec 18, 2014
ASHRAE/IES energy standard could become more applicable for global use
A proposed addendum to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings would make the standard more applicable for use around the world.
