Building and Construction Industry Leaders Announce Plant Certification for Composite Producers

The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), American Concrete Institute (ACI), and NEx: An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and deploy a new plant certification program. The agreement sets the framework of an important partnership to establish a plant certification program for producers of fiber-reinforced polymer composite bars and tendons for use in concrete.

ACMA, ACI, and NEx each agree the program should comply with applicable ANSI, ISO, or AASHTO / NTPEP requirements for a plant certification program and should be developed under the auspices of a Standards Developing Organization. This new certification program aims to accelerate the adoption and use of fiber-reinforced polymer composite bars and tendons.

“This endeavor challenges our industry to certify manufacturers to standards which future nonmetallic building materials can abide by,” said Jerzy Zemajtis, Executive Director, NEx: An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials. “NEx, ACMA, and ACI are committed to improving the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the public at large and to facilitate the needs of the market, and this agreement is a major step in that direction.”

“The plant certification program will expand opportunities for composites and establish clear standards for producers across the composites manufacturing industry,” added Cindy L. Squires, Esq., President and CEO, American Composites Manufacturers Association.

Learn more about ACMA’s efforts in improving nonmetallic solutions at acmanet.org.

Visit concrete.org to learn more about ACI’s resources on nonmetallics in concrete.

To learn more about how NEx is advancing nonmetallics and to get involved, visit nonmetallic.org.