FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (December 22, 2021) – 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 www.nonmetallic.org.
About NEx
NEx: An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials, was established in 2021 by the American Concrete Institute with Aramco as its founding member. The Center, based at ACI World Headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, accelerates the use of nonmetallic materials and products in construction, leveraging ACI’s role as a world-leading authority and resource for the development, dissemination, and adoption of consensus-based standards for concrete design, construction and materials. The Center’s membership is open to government agencies, industries, technical societies, standard bodies, manufacturers, contractors, and professionals. To learn more, visit www.nonmetallic.org
Always advancing – The American Concrete Institute is a leading global authority for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, and educational, training, & certification programs. Founded in 1904, ACI is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, with a regional office in Dubai, UAE, and a resource center in Southern California. Visit concrete.org for additional information.
About ACMA
The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) is the world’s largest composites industry trade group. We are manufacturers, material and equipment suppliers, distributors, academia and end users, dedicated to growing the composites market. We serve our members and the industry by promoting the competitive advantage and versatility of composite materials. ACMA offers composites industry educational resources through our Education Hub, CAMX, conferences, webinars, and Certified Composites Technician (CCT®) program. We develop standards and specifications that drive preference for the use of composites in place of traditional materials. We lead advocacy efforts via legislative and regulatory channels to achieve a more viable composites industry. Together, we are shaping the future of composites.