The Steel Stud Manufacturers Association, Glen Ellyn, III, has made plans to develop a third-party inspection program, which will be implemented Jan. 1, 2009. The program will provide the marketplace with certification of steel framing code compliance supported by third-party inspection of SSMA members’ steel framing manufacturing plants. The program will help ensure SSMA’s customers and contractors receive what has been specified on a project.

The third-party certification program will begin with heavier structural framing to be followed with a program certifying members’ drywall framing products. Concurrent with the development of testing and inspection standards, SSMA will launch a communication plan to promote and strengthen the SSMA membership brand and educate contractors, architects and code officials about key properties and product markings that confirm product code compliance.

Source: Metal Construction News, May 2008