Leaders of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry recognized a need in the industry, so last month they organized a meeting of cold formed steel framing manufacturers, suppliers/distributors and contractors to discuss industry programs to grow the acceptance, marketability and competitiveness of proprietary and non-proprietary cold formed steel framing products.

AWCI requested a third party code compliance program for cold formed steel framing products that would be available to all manufacturers and for proprietary and nonproprietary products. Details of the program include the following:

•  The program will include proprietary and nonproprietary products.


•  The program will develop standard testing protocols and physical properties for non-load bearing products.


•  SSMA will evaluate making the program available to non-SSMA members who have their own products and do not want to join SSMA but do want to be certified as code compliant.


•  The technical committee charged with the program has six months to develop the program.

The SSMA plans to present the program to its board of directors and membership for consideration and approval at its October 2010 meeting. If approved, the new program would launch in January 2011.

SSMA representatives, noting that the program would gain wider recognition and acceptance with AWCI support, requested AWCI’s involvement. Both groups agree that the combined power of AWCI and SSMA will lead to the betterment of the cold formed steel framing industry.

Source: Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry News, February 16, 2010