About Metal Building Construction
Technology for manufacturing metal building systems has evolved to the point where the structural elements and components of almost all metal building structures are fabricated at facilities remote from the erection site. While the erection of the building can be monitored on site for some building code requirements, most elements of a metal building (built-up structural steel members, secondary members such as cold-formed steel or steel joists, and welding and bolting processes) must be inspected during fabrication and verified as being compliance with the code. In October 2007, the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) approached IAS with a request that IAS develop an accreditation program for inspection of its member metal building manufacturers. The program should be designed to serve the needs of both MBMA members and code officials and other regulators. Over the next several months, IAS staff worked with the MBMA to develop a comprehensive accreditation program for the inspection of the metal-building fabrication process, based on the requirements of Chapter 17 of the International Building Code® (IBC).