Everyone, this was posted on AISC's website. Basically it appears they don't have the paperwork and documents to back up the material they said they used to fabricate the parts.
Check it our for yourself, incase you are interested or affected.
Chris.
NAAMM Issues Warning on Chinese Metal Bar Grating
June 15, 2010 from American Institute of Steel Construction
Glen Ellyn, IL— The National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM) is advising manufacturers, fabricators, specifiers, and end-users of metal bar grating that there is reason to believe some Chinese steel used in grating does not meet the ANSI/NAAMM standards for such products. This advisory is based on the United States Department of Commerce International Trade Administration’s “Certain Steel Grating from the People’s Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less than Fair Value” and the accompanying “Certain Steel Grating from the People’s Republic of China: Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final Determination,” both dated May 28, 2010.
The U.S. Commerce Department’s “Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final Determination” states: based on the mandatory respondent’s “own admission and the statement of its suppliers,” its “supporting documents defining its consumption of steel inputs (i.e. , hot –rolled steel strip and wire rod) for the merchandise under consideration, clearly contain false information.” Further the memorandum states, “When comparing the suppliers’ mill test certificates from our (U.S. Commerce Department) verification exhibits to mill test certificates we obtained from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, we found material mismatches.” Further, in the U.S. Commerce Department’s “Certain Steel Grating from the People’s Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less than Fair Value," it states the mandatory respondent “creates its own mill test certificates that it admits are unreliable, and that it has no ability to determine with its own analysis the chemical properties of any steel that it purchases.” We encourage all interested parties to read the Commerce Department documents to which links are provided below.
To read the United States Department of Commerce “Certain Steel Grating from the People’s Republic of China: Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final Determination,” use the following link: www.naamm.org/Attach/steel_grating_AD_final_decision_memo.pdf
To read the United States Department of Commerce Final Determination, “Certain Steel Grating from the People’s Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less than Fair Value,” use the following link: www.naamm.org/Attach/steel_grating_final_AD_determination.pdf
NAAMM is issuing this notice to interested parties wishing to purchase or specify grating manufactured to NAAMM standards, to make them aware that when selecting grating, they should take appropriate measures to verify the grating is manufactured to NAAMM standards.
The National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM) represents a wide variety of architectural metal products for building construction. NAAMM has six operating divisions, which promote the use of their specific products through the development and distribution of technical standards. The divisions are: Architectural Metal Products, Detention Equipment Manufacturers Association, Expanded Metal Lath Association, Expanded Metal Manufacturers Association, Hollow Metal Manufacturers Association, and Metal Bar Grating. For more information on NAAMM, contact the NAAMM office at (630) 942-6591; fax (630) 790-3095; or visit the association website at www.naamm.org.
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For more information contact:
Tasha O'Berski
Communications Department
(312) 670-5439
oberski@aisc.org