Becoming a member of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) is not granted with a secret handshake or a hidden agenda. Instead, membership is based upon maintaining the high quality standard that the association has been known for since 1956.
Key to this quality standard is the requirement that every metal building manufacturer member must be AC472 accredited by the International Accreditation Service (IAS).
The advancements in metal buildings have made them indistinguishable from other building systems, like traditional brick and mortar. Requiring AC472 accreditation ensures that high-quality manufacturing standards are being met as the popularity of metal buildings continues to grow.
The truth is a metal building manufacturer can say they are operating the right way, but only AC472 proves it.
Defining AC472
AC472 is a third-party quality assurance system that verifies that design, engineering, and manufacturing and fabrication standards are met in compliance with the International Building Code (IBC) Chapter 17. Having a third party involved means that statements made about the quality compliance of a metal building system go beyond what a manufacturer says and falls to the accreditation requirements set by IAS, which is a subsidiary of the International Code Council (ICC).
Annually, manufacturers undergo two onsite, independent audits as part of the AC472 requirements at a company’s design and manufacturing facility. Representative projects also are reviewed to ensure the appropriate standards are in place and being applied.
During this process, several quality management system documents, procedures, and records are reviewed. For instance, audits include an examination of:
- The order documents to ensure customers understand what was ordered.
- The design/detailing process to confirm adherence to requested codes and that the project requirements are met in a rational engineering manner. This audit verifies the proper use of design standards set forth by AISC, AISI and others.
- The raw material usages, including proper ASTM standards, ordering practices, tracking of mill certifications, product traceability and additional points.
- The traceability of materials and workmanship.
- The manufacturing practices, such as machinery calibrations, measuring tools and weld certifications.
- A manufacturer’s quality assurance system and staff. During this portion of the audit, IAS verifies the credentials of the licensed professional engineers who design and detail the metal building system and the certified weld inspectors.
The accreditation covers all the major metal building components from the primary frames to the cold-formed secondary framing and the wall and roof panels. Once a metal building manufacturer is accredited to AC472 requirements, the accreditation covers all of a company’s manufacturing plants that have been audited. All of their plants must be audited and accredited individually.
Cost and time savings are among the added benefits of this MBMA membership requirement. Building officials can deem AC472-accredited manufacturers as approved fabricators as defined in Chapter 17 of the IBC, eliminating the need for additional audits and delivering cost savings to verifying code compliance of the metal building fabrication.
MBCEA and AC478
Within the industry, a commitment to excellence also comes from the efforts of the Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association (MBCEA), which encourages the AC478 accreditation program for its members. Also administered by IAS, AC478 is considered a critical tool for the professional advancement and development of metal building contractors and erectors.
As part of the process, accredited assemblers must demonstrate that they have the personnel, organization, experience, and management procedures and competence to assemble and erect metal building systems in accordance with specified requirements and the IBC. IAS-accredited assemblers are required to operate under a documented management system that includes a safety and training program and annual jobsite inspections to verify continued compliance with the criteria.
Recommending AC478 accreditation ensures that high-quality assembly standards are being met and is a way that metal building assemblers can prove their capabilities.
You can discover more about AC478 and the importance of it at www.mbcea.org, or reach out to MBCEA executive director Sasha Demyan at sdemyan@mbcea.org.
Demyan says “We strongly believe that AC478 accreditation establishes a platform to drive improvements in accountability, safety, training and ultimately the ‘in-place’ product.”
Setting a benchmark
Accreditation levels the playing field and sets a standard of expectations when it comes to quality. While there may be other quality certification programs, IAS AC472 addresses all aspects of a metal building system manufacturer’s operation, starting with design engineering.
Metal building systems are being used to build schools and churches, recreation centers, museums, retail and office spaces, and beyond. The popularity of metal building systems stems in part from the manufacturing process that ensures components are created efficiently under consistent quality and sustainably.
MBMA is passionate about representing members that create high-quality solutions in every market while adhering to the highest manufacturing standards. The accreditation process is backed by years of experience—MBMA is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, and IAS marked 50 years of service last year. Together, we have a long history of establishing the benchmark in metal building manufacturing, construction and performance.
Visit mbma.com and head to the “Technical” tab to discover more details about how IAS AC472 accreditation ensures excellence for metal building systems. More can be found at iasonline.org.
Christen Brooker Funk is the president of Butler Manufacturing, a founding MBMA member company. She is the first female president of Butler Manufacturing and the first woman to chair MBMA’s board of directors.
