The Gold Standard for Metal Buildings:
Why You Should Choose an IAS-Accredited Manufacturer
Introduction:
How do you know if a metal building systems manufacturer is worth its salt? The IAS Metal Building Systems Inspection Accreditation (AC472) is the field’s gold standard. This seal of excellence ensures that a company meets rigorous quality-assurance requirements and delivers the highest quality products.
What Is IAS Accreditation?
The International Accreditation Service, or IAS, is a global, independent organization that evaluates and certifies the quality of companies’ processes and products all over the world. It offers accreditation in a wide range of fields, from medical science to building inspection to various types of manufacturing.
IAS provides accreditation in a range of industries and scientific fields, include metal building manufacturing
IAS offers the leading accreditation program for metal building systems manufacturing.
It attests to the quality of a specific manufacturer’s production processes through scrutiny and evaluation of its inspection program. Approval certifies that a company’s design, detailing and manufacturing processes meet a rigorous set of requirements.
This set of requirements is known as “IAS Accreditation Criteria AC472,” or “AC472” for short. It is drawn from the International Building Code® and related standards that have been agreed upon by governing bodies worldwide.
IAS provides accreditation in a range of industries and scientific fields, include metal building manufacturing
The AC472 designation helps architects and consumers identify which metal building systems manufacturers meet the highest standards of operation and produce the highest quality products.
AC472 accreditation is specific to metal building systems and does not apply to other types of production such as metal building assembly (which has its own IAS accreditation program), making it highly specialized and precise.
AC742 accreditation applies exclusively to metal building systems manufacturing
What Does AC472 Accreditation Mean?
In order to become IAS accredited, a metal building systems manufacturer must meet stringent requirements in all 3 of its main functions: sales, engineering and manufacturing. This is distinctly different from other metal building accreditation and certification programs such as ISO’s and AISC’s, which only evaluate the manufacturing process and do not address the critical design and detailing processes.
Metal building systems are unique in that they are typically designed, detailed and manufactured by a single company, so it’s important that all three processes are separately and carefully assessed by an impartial third party
The accreditation process requires comprehensive inspections by an approved inspector twice a year
The AC472 accreditation is therefore designed to demonstrate that a company’s overall operation (not just its manufacturing floor), from staffing and management to industry expertise to production methods, meets the highest standards.
This helps ensure safe, affordable, high-quality products as well as a high level of workplace safety.
AC472 requirements include:
- Periodic review of quality assurance documents such as a quality manual, quality system procedures, and an organizational chart of qualified staff
- Audits of order documents provided to customers
- Audits of the design and detailing process
- Audits of material sourcing, usage and workmanship, including proper ordering practices and product traceability
- Audits of manufacturing practices including machinery calibrations, measuring tools, and weld certification
- Twice-a-year inspections of the manufacturer’s design and manufacturing facilities
Regular audits help manufacturers pinpoint weaknesses and improve processes
Why is AC472 Accreditation Important?
AC472 Accreditation is optional, so not all metal building manufacturers pursue it. Those that do show a commitment to going above and beyond basic requirements, giving architects, builders, and consumers a high level of confidence in the integrity of their products and processes.
The pursuit of IAS Accreditation often helps metal building systems manufacturers identify gaps or weaknesses in their operations, pushing them to further improve and streamline processes, resulting in better production methods and a higher quality product.
IAS accreditation introduces a greater level of accountability that can help streamline production and boost quality
According to the Building Safety Journal, Arizona-based company Central States Manufacturing significantly improved a number of its practices during the IAS accreditation process, including the use of internal monitoring devices such as tape measures.
“‘We check each tape measure against an outside calibration lab verified standard at the beginning of every shift,’” explained the company’s managing director. “‘Any tape measure that does not check out is removed and replaced. We were amazed at how many tape measures we were removing from the shop floor. Now we remove those tape measures from the floor more frequently, and that equates to a more precise finished product.’” (https://www.iccsafe.org/building-safety-journal)
Key industry players such as the MBMA view IAS accreditation as an important marker of quality and commitment
This greater accountability is one of the reasons AC472 accreditation is recognized as an important quality indicator by key industry players such as The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA). The MBMA is a non-profit trade organization that supports manufacturers and promotes metal building systems in the low-rise non-residential market. MBMA requires member companies to commit to IAS accreditation, ensuring a high level of quality and credibility among its constituent manufacturers.
Package Steel has been an IAS-accredited manufacturer from the very start
Package Steel Systems in Sutton, Massachusetts has been a proud AC472-accredited manufacturer since its inception in 2009.
The IAS program has helped cement the company’s status as the leading producer of high-quality metal building systems in the Northeast for the Northeast.
Package Steel president Bob Fisette explains how AC472 accreditation helps the company uphold its standard of excellence:
“The IAS certification program has provided Package with a higher standard for all phases of our manufacturing process from design, detailing, manufacturing through project installation by our builders. This ongoing program provides our builders and their customers a higher level of confidence that the finished product we produce is on par with all the top manufacturers in our industry.”
If you’re in the market for a metal building manufacturer, IAS’s AC472 accreditation is your best source of assurance that a company’s processes have been thoroughly vetted and meet the industry’s international benchmark for excellence.
To start your metal building project, contact us at 1-800-225-7242 or [email protected]
15 Harback Rd.
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