The Metal Construction Association offers two certification programs that help identify products and companies that have met specific standards. In June, the MCA qualified new members for both its Roofing Certification Program and its Premium MCM Fabricator Certification Program.

GLENVIEW, Ill. - The Metal Construction Association offers two certification programs that help identify products and companies that have met specific standards. In June, the MCA qualified new members for both its Roofing Certification Program and its Premium MCM Fabricator Certification Program.

Firestone Metal Products, Anoka, Minn., joined the ranks of fabricators certified by the MCA Premium MCM Fabricator Certification Program. McElroy Metal, headquartered in Bossier, La., achieved qualification for nine more of its products in the roofing certification program, including: Multi-Rib, R-Panel, 5V, Mega-Rib, Medallion-Lok, U-Panel, Maxima, Medallion, Medallion, Ill. The company now has 12 products certified in the MCA program. Both the roofing and fabricators programs help distinguish products and suppliers from the competition For Ken Gieseke, Vice President of Marketing for McElroy Metal, certification makes a big difference in the marketplace. “In many segments of the market the end user is simply buying painted metal without understanding the different levels of quality among substrates and paint systems,” Gieseke said. “This program is a way to identify the difference in products, so they know they’re getting certified high quality products when they purchase our certified panels.”

The Roofing Certification Program offers consumers access to credible, third-party information about products. Products in the Roofing Certification program have met identified standards for base metals and finish coatings applied to steep-slope roofing products; these products meet or exceed standards published in MCA'sGuide Specifications for Residential Metal Roofing. The only products eligible for certification are those that meet specific requirements for base metal quality and have paint coatings that meet “real-time” weathering exposure requirements as outlined in this guide.

Firestone Metal Products sought certification in the MCA Premium MCM Fabricator Certification Program because of its value in the marketplace.

“We wanted to demonstrate that we are premium fabricators of MCM,” said Bob Griffiths, product development manager for Firestone Metal Products. “There’s no other program in the industry which qualifies experience, performance and the financial strength of the fabricator.”

To qualify for the program, fabricators must meet specific, demanding standards that help to assure premium performance for metal panels, primarily on high-end projects. The program is open to all MCM fabricators who meet the qualifications. For building owners and designers, it reduces the need to compare experience, quality, services, and financial stability of multiple bidders. Plus, quality control procedures used by certified fabricators can identify problems early, before installation, thus avoiding time-consuming delays and modifications.

Ted Miller, principal of Miller Clapperton, Austell, Ga., and head of the MCA MCM Fabricator’s Council, identifies the primary benefit.

“When we’re bidding on a new project, it gives us a tangible representation of our competence with a new customer or someone who doesn’t know us,” Miller said. “This certification is a very strong representation of our capabilities and dedication to quality.”

In addition to Firestone Metal Products and Miller Clapperton, fabricators currently in this program are NOW Specialties, Inc., Carrollton, Texas, and Sobotec, Ltd., Ontario, Canada.

Application materials for both programs are available through MCA’s Web site or by calling 847-375-4713. For more information, visitwww.metalconstruction.org/roofing. For Fabricators, visitwww.metalconstruction.org.

MCA’s flagship event is the METALCON International exhibition and conference. The 19th annual METALCON runs Oct. 6-8, 2009 at the Tampa Bay Convention Center, and features an exhibition of the last products from more than 300 companies, a comprehensive education program with AIA credit courses and live-action demonstration of the latest field techniques. For more information about METALCON or to register, visitwww.metalcon.com.