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SFIA Releases Tech Bulletin: Vol. 1, No. 5 to Guide Manufacturers in Code Compliance Certification

SFIA’s new Technical Bulletin guides manufacturers — especially new members — on best practices for measuring cold-formed steel (CFS) products to meet SFIA Code Compliance Certification standards and ensure consistent quality.

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Falls Church, VA – April 15, 2025 — The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) has published a new Technical Bulletin: Volume 1, Number 5, titled “Measuring Best Practices for SFIA Code Compliance Certification Program.”

Technical Bulletin: Volume 1, Number 5 assists manufacturers in aligning their cold-formed steel (CFS) products with the SFIA Code Compliance Certification Program, ensuring accurate and consistent measurement practices across the industry and quality assurance for customers using their products. It is part of a series of bulletins available for free download from the SFIA Documents Repository (Technical Bulletins category).

“Accurate and consistent measurement is the foundation of code compliance,” says SFIA Technical Director Pat Ford, who led the task group that developed the bulletin. “This bulletin equips our manufacturer members — especially those new to the program — with practical tools and clear expectations that ensure their products meet the highest standards for quality and performance. It’s about building trust in every stud, track and framing member we certify.”

SFIA Technical Bulletin Volume 1 Number 5 Guide Manufacturers in Code Compliance Certification

SFIA Technical Bulletin: Vol. 1, No. 5 explains the use and calibration requirements for steel framing measuring instruments such as these and more.

Download Technical Bulletin

Enhancing Measurement Consistency

SFIA Technical Bulletin: Volume 1, Number 5 provides detailed guidance on measuring steel framing products during the manufacturing process. It outlines specific tolerances for structural and nonstructural members on length, web depth, flange width and hole placements. As a result, manufacturers can ensure they meet the stringent requirements of the SFIA Code Compliance Certification Program.

Key Recommendations for Manufacturers

To facilitate compliance, the bulletin recommends that manufacturers:

  • Use Calibrated Equipment: Identify each measuring device, calibrate it regularly and ensure traceability to national standards
  • Maintain Calibration Logs: Keep detailed records of calibration dates and upcoming due dates, and affix stickers to each device to show its calibration status
  • Implement Quality Control Manuals: Document your quality control system in a manual that complies with ICC-ES-AC10, and submit it for review before the initial inspection
  • Prepare for Inspections: Designate primary and secondary contacts at your facility to assist inspectors during both scheduled and surprise inspections, conducted twice a year

Supporting Resources

In addition to Technical Bulletin: Vol. 1, No. 5, the SFIA provides supplementary materials to aid manufacturers, including:

  • Volume 4, Number 2 – Steel Coil Procurement: Ordering Sheet Steel for Cold-Formed Framing (BuildSteel.org)
  • SFIA Video: Verification of Product Dimensions and Other Physical Characteristics

Significantly, manufacturers — especially new SFIA members — can take consistent product measurements by using these resources. And inspectors can thereby make uniform evaluations of their program compliance.

Download Technical Bulletin

 

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Steel Framing Industry Association

The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), a unique, ANSI-accredited standards development organization represents steel mills, coil coaters, stud and connector manufacturers, component fabricators, Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) engineers, suppliers/distributors, contractors and others. The SFIA provides its members with exclusive access to technical cold-formed steel (CFS) framing services, including CFS certification, environmental product declarations, market data, technical publications, specification review services, architectural services, the Steel Framing Learning Portal, the SFIA Awards and more.

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Additional Resources

The Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) has made a concerted effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in its publications. However, SFIA does not represent, warrant, or guarantee the information provided. SFIA expressly disclaims all liability or responsibility for any failure resulting from the use or misapplication of computations, detailed drawings, or specifications found in its publications. Qualified engineers or architects must independently evaluate steel framing products to confirm their suitability for specific applications. This publication includes the most current information available at the time of release. SFIA and its member companies reserve the right to modify this document at any time, without prior notice or obligation. For the most up-to-date information on a specific manufacturer’s products, contact the manufacturer directly.