Characteristics of a High-Quality, Tested MCM Sheet Manufacturer

Throughout the manufacturing process, a quality manufacturer must regularly and consistently test the product to ensure that it meets certification requirements, as well as perform quality checks on features pertaining to both performance and appearance. Quality sheet manufacturers provide products and materials that meet a variety of standards, including those released by ASTM, American Architectural Manufacturer’s Association (AAMA), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the International Code Council (ICC).

Look for a manufacturer that meets the performance requirements of the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) Acceptance Criteria (AC) 25 and provides a valid product evaluation report including a third-party inspection agency. It is important to ensure that product performance provides a minimum bond integrity when tested in accordance with ASTM D1781. Other criteria such as continuous core density, panel thickness, and flatness are also important and identified in the manufacturer’s production standards or AC25. When anodized coil is used, the anodizing must meet the requirements of C-22, A-41, Class 1 (per the Aluminum Association), and the aluminum coil quality must meet ASTM B-209.

Due to MCM’s longevity and prevalence in the market, the IBC has dedicated a specific code section (1407) to the requirements for MCM in construction. IBC Section 1407.14 defines labeling requirements that show manufacturing and performance compliance for an installed panel and also serves to ensure future material traceability. IBC 1407.14 refers to Section 1703.5, which requires all materials and/or assemblies to be labeled in accordance with procedures in Section 1703.5.1 through 1703.5.4.

After deciding on a quality manufacturer, next you will need to work with a quality MCM fabricator.

MARRIOTT RESIDENCE INN

Photo courtesy of CEI Materials

Shown is the MCM exterior and faux wood finish of the Marriott Residence Inn located in Waterton, Massachusetts.

Project: Marriott Residence Inn
Location: Watertown, Massachusetts
Building Owner: Boylston Properties
Contractor: PROCON
Architect: Stantec
Manufacturer and Fabricator: CEI Materials
Materials: Arconic Architectural Products/Reynobond
Completion Date: September 2018

The Marriott Residence Inn located in Watertown, Massachusetts, is the first hotel built in the area in 50 years. The hotel is the joint venture between developers Boylston Properties in Boston and Stonebridge Companies in Denver.

The Marriott Residence Inn is located in Watertown’s East End. William McQuillan, principal of Boylston Properties, says, “We built a contemporary building on purpose that has a 24/7 life to it. It is about the future of Watertown, and it is one of a number of projects going on in the East End that are all about the future of Watertown.”

The LEED Silver hotel was designed by Stantec and sits in the location of the former Charles River Saab, the oldest Saab dealership in the United States. The 108,000-square-foot hotel features an abundance of sustainable amenities that contributed to its LEED certification, including energy-saving HVAC, lighting, and groundwater systems. Additionally, a range of sustainable construction processes was also adopted.

According to the general contractors at PROCON, “The building’s exterior was a combination of color-reflective masonry and panels with lighter-toned upper floors highlighted by recessed faux wood accents.”

CEI Materials, using the R4000 Drained Rear-Ventilated Rainscreen System, fabricated the metal composite and aluminum plate components of the facade. This system offers rainscreen technology with varying joint widths as well as color versatility. According to CEI Materials’ Project Manager Nick Sodt, “With 10 different colors on the project, joint colors and color layout of the panels required special attention in the final design and also fabrication and installation.”

He adds, “CEI fabricated 45,000 square feet of metal components for the project and saw a few challenges along the way, such as the site access on Arsenal Street due to existing power line layouts. Additionally, we fabricated large 14- to 16-foot-long panels for the exterior, which created some challenges in terms of shipping and installation that were overcome.” The 6-story hotel was a welcomed addition to the area, offering 150 spacious accommodations ranging from studios to two-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens. Guests can enjoy an array of modern conveniences, including an indoor saltwater pool. Watertown, located in Greater Boston, is becoming highly popular, with new sustainable developments breathing new life into the area.

Securing a Quality MCM Fabricator

MCM fabricators design, engineer, and fabricate panel systems meeting the defined project performance requirements in the areas of water penetration and structural performance.

Fabricators are responsible for creating project and shop drawings while also providing engineering calculations showing the adequacy of the panel system design to meet the load requirements, including wind, gravity, and (in certain cases) impact loads. After the material specification phase is complete, the fabricator helps in the determination of material choice, including structural components such as extruded aluminum profiles, fasteners, and engineered clips required to fabricate MCM sheets into cladding panels.

Fabricators are responsible for tests of the cladding systems that include wind-load resistance and water penetration. The fabricator is also heavily involved in fire-performance testing to meet the specification and local code requirements. Warranties for system performance are also provided by the MCM fabricator who is often responsible for the installation.

Characteristics of a Quality MCM Fabricator

Quality fabricators will not only fabricate the MCM, but they will also test and thoroughly engineer all of the systems. When selecting a quality fabricator, confirm that it will provide project shop drawings and engineering calculations stamped by a registered design professional to show the adequacy of the panel system design for the project. Ensure that your fabricator is using materials from quality sheet manufacturers and provides the specified warranties on products as well as installation.

The MCA also has a Certified MCM Fabricator Program through which fabricators maintain their qualifications, ensuring that they are current on the latest codes and technological advances.