The MCA is looking forward to 2024

By Anna Lockhart.  

2023 was a busy year for the Metal Construction Association and they have big plans for industry advocacy and collaboration in 2024. 

After METALCON 2023, the staff and leadership of the Metal Construction Association (MCA) met to discuss the ongoing organizational efforts and works planned for the upcoming year. From this board meeting came many updates and planning for next steps of future projects, which the association is pleased to share.  

New resources 

The MCA board approved of the creation of a new resource material to be distributed through their Metal University for the public to access and utilize. The resource, a paper titled “Single Skin Best Practices – Fabrication” and written by the MCA’s Single Skin Council, is now available on their Metal University website. A second paper, following up on the original material, has also been approved and slated to be released sometime in mid-2024.  

A third paper, titled “Powder Coating of Metal Plate” is also in the final editing and approval process and will be released soon.  

Certification program 

The MCA leadership and staff also moved forward with voting to continue the renewal process of the MCM Certification System Fabricator program, which will include changes implemented by the MCM’s Fabricator Task Group. These changes will entail altering the administrative paperwork and application forms required for applicants to submit. These changes are expected to be completed and implemented in early 2024.  

Interested individuals may still start the application process to become official certified fabricators.  

Discontinued code forum 

The American Iron and Steel Institute has announced the discontinuation of their involvement in the development of building codes. In light of this announcement, the MCA and other former forum participants proceeded to meet in November 2023 to coordinate code activities for the metal and steel industries in place of the AISI Code Forum.  

Fire standards 

The MCA staff attended the ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards in December 2023 in Washington, D.C., to participate in forums and workshops pertaining to the topic of industry fire standards.