The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has been involved in quite a number of technical and code-related projects recently that will affect Metal Construction News readers. Following is a report on our activities.
Life Cycle Assessment Project
In collaboration with PE International and UL Environment, MCA has begun developing an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for Insulated Metal Panels (IMP). This work is part of the Life Cycle Assessment Project and overall sustainability work, which is designed to report the environmental impacts of the processes and products represented by the IMP members of MCA. Following this work, MCA will create EPDs for metal composite material (MCM) cladding assemblies and metal cladding (roof/walls).
Wind Loads on Metal Roof Testing
A Request for Proposal on research related to the development of a new test method for discontinuous metal roofing was sent to a variety of independent laboratories. The work calls for wind load modeling, studying the mechanism for disengagement of these types of metal roofing products and developing a new wind uplift test method for these types of metal roof systems.
Testing IMPs
A task group in the IMP Council is completing a protocol for testing and modeling of IMPs. This is part of the effort to position IMP products in ASHRAE 90.1 and other standards. The protocol may be introduced to ASHRAE as a guide for the parameters to use for the prescribed testing methods and modeling options.
LEED Version 4 Comments
MCA submitted comments to the USGBC on the sixth draft of LEED version 4. The balloting of LEED v4 will begin in June and if launched, it would occur in fall 2013.
Upcoming Projects
Other technical activity has taken place in preparation for several larger projects later this year. One project involves the development of an industry guideline for testing edge metal used with metal roofing. Preliminary testing of edge metal profiles will be done before the development of a revision to the ANSI/SPRI/S-1 edge metal standard. Following the introduction of the guideline, the plan is to move this through the ANSI standard process for adoption into the model codes.
Another project relates to streamlining the testing and “listing” of metal roof products for fire rating classification. With the elimination of grandfathered Class A rating for metal roofing in the International Code Council (ICC), the industry must now test or list each roofing product to identify its fire classification. Work has started with independent laboratories to test products in various categories and interpolate the performance of other products.
Finally, MCA and the Metal Roofing Alliance are working with the PV Manufacturers Coalition (PVMC). This alliance was formed under the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot program aimed at reducing the cost of rooftop thin-film PV systems. PVMC is the bridge between research and development and industry implementation in developing and promoting technology and techniques to lower soft costs of building integrated photovoltaics. MCA representatives attended a recent workshop on this topic at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. MCA has also initiated creation of support documents in the following areas:
• White paper on the visual appearance parameters for MCM panel systems
• Use of MCM panels where non-combustible cladding is typically required
• Creation of a panel-manufacture-to-installedpanel- system specification. (Current specifications cover the performance of the panel and the structural performance of the installed systems. Little direction is provided to address fabrication and actual installation techniques.)
• Review of the existing white papers available on oil canning of wall panels
MCA submitted several code proposals for the upcoming ICC Code Development Process and was also fully involved in the hearings taking place in Dallas, representing Roofing, MCM Panel, IMP and Wall Panel Councils.
Scott Kriner is the president of Green Metal Consulting Inc., Macungie, Pa., and a principal in RSK Avanti Partners LLC, Richardson, Texas. He is a LEED Accredited Professional (Operations and Maintenance) and wrote a book titled “Wait and See.” He also serves the Metal Construction Association as technical director.
Andy Williams is the director of codes and standards for the Metal Construction Association. He is a professional engineer who began his career in the wall cladding industry in 1982.
For more information about MCA, go to www.metalconstruction.org and www.themetalinitiative.com.
