News Story: Concrete masonry professionals in New York state are participating in a quality assurance program designed to establish higher standards for building construction materials and, according to the New York State Concrete Masonry Association, pose “a major hurdle for other products that don’t meet the same high standard.”

Standards under the program, which is known as "F'm2000 -- The NYSCMA Assurance of Quality Program," are designed to exceed those mandated by New York building codes – in the process adding to building security, energy conservation and long-term savings.

Concrete masonry units are pre-qualified for the program through laboratory testing at the National Concrete Masonry Association headquarters in Herndon, Virginia, and submit to regular testing every two years, as well as quarterly tests for randomly selected members.

The NYSCMA hopes to bring benefits to its members by persuading the industry that concrete masonry units made available through the F’m2000 program offer superior quality as a result of testing and pre-certification. The group’s executive director, Nicholas F. Carparelli, said the units also offer advantages for design professionals.

“They will find concrete masonry in this program will provide more efficient design, improved economy of construction, and a level of strength they can count on regardless of the location of their project,” Carparelli said.

“These objectives are easily achievable by specifying F'm2000 certified block. Builders and specifiers can ensure they are building with F'm2000 certified concrete masonry, by looking for the F'm2000 service mark or contacting NYSCMA for a list of producers who are manufacturing block according to these tough standards.”