TCA announces first companies to earn certification in new program

MT. VERNON, Iowa – The Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) – a non-profit international organization that serves to expand and improve the use of Tilt-Up as the preferred building system – has announced approval of the first two organizations in its Company Certification program.

The program, in development for more than three years in response to requests from the industry for more detailed assurance of company performance, was launched this March in Florida. TCA members Woodland Construction Company of Jupiter, Fla. and Seretta Construction of Apopka, Fla. are the first two companies to earn this new designation from the Association.

Applicants must provide documentation for a broad range of metrics including completed project review, safety programs and record, quality control and assurance, certified personnel, continuing education, and a host of related criteria. An on-site audit of company and project records as well as personnel interviews are conducted to confirm compliance.

Applicants can be certified at two levels: General Tilt-Up Contractor or Architectural Tilt-Up Contractor. To be certified as a General Tilt-Up Contractor, the applicant must have successfully completed 15 projects (or at least 10 projects totaling a minimum of 300 panels) in the past five years. In order to be certified as an Architectural Tilt-Up Contractor, the applicant must provide evidence of completed projects involving at least four different types of specialty finishes, which may include exposed aggregate, thin brick, curved panels, form liners, integral color or extensive reveal patterns.

Safety programs and manuals are evaluated with regard to content, procedures for disciplinary and corrective actions. Training practices and frequency of safety meeting are also reviewed. Safety records and compliance with industry safety guidelines are considered in the approval process.

The qualified or trained personnel section requires ACI Certified superintendents on every project as well as evidence of the qualifications of pump and crane operators, rigging crews, and other key personnel on the project.

The Quality Control/Quality Assurance component is designed to ensure that the company has the procedures and policies in place that can produce consistent quality in Tilt-Up panel construction. Two projects are selected for which the applicant must provide full compliance with all documentation requirements from items such as verification of layout and consideration of crane positioning and movement, to mill certification of reinforcement and adherence to break strengths of concrete cylinders for lifting and in-place loading. Shop drawings, panel books, and engineering seals are just some of the documents reviewed.

The program outlines alternative requirements if certain jurisdictions have standards that differ from those found in the U.S. The certification is valid for a period of one year.

Ed Sauter, executive director of the TCA, indicated that he was pleased to see the detail and thoroughness of the information reviewed and provided for the assessment team. “The detail of information collected and retained by companies down to mill certification of reinforcement was reassuring,” he said.

The TCA hopes to expand the number of TCA Certified Companies this year to include other parts of the U.S. as well as Canada and beyond. Interested companies should contact the Tilt-Up Concrete Association at 319-895-6911 or email Sauter at esauter@tilt-up.org for more information on the program.