The American Manufacturers Association (ACMA) recently-updated manual promotes increased use of composites in grating and stair treads with new manual available through the ACMA Education Hub
July 10, 2019 (Arlington, Va.) – Today, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved S. 384, the Composites Standards Act, clearing it for consideration in the full Senate. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Gary Peters (D-MI), authorizes new efforts by the National Institute for Standards and Technology to aggregate and validate existing design information for composite materials in infrastructure, develop needed approaches to measuring and modeling durability of composites, and educate asset owners and the design community about composite materials.
“On behalf of America’s 3000 composites manufacturers, I thank Senators Capito and Peters for sponsoring the Composites Standards Act and seeing the bill through today’s markup. This legislation is vitally important to the industry as this sector has needed the National Institutes for Science and Technology to develop methods and resources necessary to conduct the testing and evaluation of safe and appropriate uses of composite materials for infrastructure. Composites offer industry and governments a cost-effective set of materials that can improve the performance of essential infrastructure, reduce maintenance costs for those projects, and can even speed the construction of vital projects. At a time when citizens know the nation’s roads, bridges, waterfronts, and other types of infrastructure all demand serious attention this legislation will assist city, county, state and federal leaders in tackling those problems with the best available information on materials that can save lives, time and money,” stated Tom Dobbins, president of ACMA.
“The ACMA is the world’s largest composites industry trade group that represents manufacturers, material and equipment suppliers, distributors, academics and end users from every market segment in the sector and has members located in all 50 states. We are proud of our American heritage and leadership and appreciate these Members and their colleagues for recognizing the need for this basic information to be available. At a time when so many critics say Congress isn’t getting things done for the American people, this bipartisan bill stands as a positive reminder that Congress is working and helping move American businesses forward,” Dobbins added.
Counterpart legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year by Representatives Daniel Webster (R-FL), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Bill Posey (R-FL), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME). ACMA is working aggressively on Capitol Hill to see the legislation advanced and signed into law this year. Learn more about ACMA’s legislative efforts here.