2019 is certain to continue 2018’s trends of increasing building code complexity, skilled labor and educational challenges, and emphasizing sustainability when designing and building tomorrow’s commercial and residential structures.
2019 State of the Industry Report
2018 was the year for International Building Codes’ (IBC) non-structural code review deliberations, and 2019 begins the IBC structural code review process. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) continues to deliberate increasing fire safety standards for construction assemblies involving combustible materials rather than just the materials, and that promises to require our industry to address more complex construction processes. A busy year is ahead for all of us.
The Metal Construction Association (MCA) is actively engaged in the global attention to fire safety, a significant issue for almost everyone involved in construction, even if one’s products may not be considered combustible. The growing emphasis on construction assemblies means greater scrutiny to each product’s potential contribution to fire protection than current standards require.
The entire design community is engaging to develop a standard of the creation of engineering judgments for combustible wall assemblies, and the development of a directory of assemblies compliant to “NFPA 285: Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components.” Additionally, there is an international initiative being considered to develop an alternative comprehensive fire test for worldwide use in lieu of existing fire tests like the NFPA 285. Fire safety remains front and center with MCA, and its members are committed to participating with fire safety organizations and experts, testing firms and other organizations internationally to create comprehensive fire safety protocols for all markets.
Workforce training and labor recruitment is increasing in importance to continuing to expand the use of metal in construction. MCA continues to provide and update its Roofing Installation Certification Program, and to develop best practices white papers and installation guidelines to industry participants. Participating with other associations to promote quality training and certification continues to be an important focus of the association.
IBC’s next review cycle addresses structural issues and will affect many industry participants. MCA will participate with other associations to responsibly address the seismic, windstorm and hail concerns sure to be addressed in 2019.
Sustainability is a maturing topic for the design and construction industries that is important to MCA members. Metal is uniquely qualified to meet designers’ goals to create well-designed projects emphasizing the use of sustainable materials. MCA’s councils representing accessory, roofing and wall material providers including single-skin, insulated metal panels and metal composite materials are aware of the great opportunity to expand market share through effectively promoting the sustainable aspects of metal in construction.
2019 promises to be another busy year to advance metal in construction as we address many opportunities to improve our world through better construction principles and processes. MCA looks forward to being an active advocate for these goals.
Karl Hielscher is executive director of the Metal Construction Association. Hielscher has more than 25 years experience in the metal construction industry, and was president and CEO of a Metl-Span, Lewisville, Texas, for more than 20 years. For more information, go to www.metalconstruction.org
