Quality Review | Tuesday, August 10, 2021

The Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) and the Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association (SMA) recently released ANSI / AWI SMA 0643-2021—Wood Stair, Handrail, and Guard Systems Standard which was approved on March 1, 2021 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).  Available online for free access at www.awinet.org and www.stairways.org as well as for purchase in the AWI Store, Standard 0643 will take effect Aug. 15, 2021.

Standard 0643 is the result of a collaborative effort drawing from the expertise of the AWI Technical Committee and SMA’s Quality Standards Committee in conformance with the ANSI process. Work commenced in 2016, and is the first stair, handrail and guard systems Standard that followed the ANSI-required development open consensus process which began in 2020 and culminated with ANSI approval this year.  AWI is an ANSI-accredited Standards Developer Organization.

In AWI’s case, ANSI / AWI SMA 0643 supersedes, replaces, and supplants Section 7 of Architectural Woodwork Standards, Edition 2 (2014) as the most current version of the AWI Standard for wood stair, handrail and guard systems.  It is the first Standard of its kind for SMA.

AWI SMA 0643 provides standards and tolerances for the quality fabrication and field installation of wood stair, handrail, and guard systems, that are comprised of: stairs, which encompass stringers, risers, treads and landings; handrails; and guard systems, which are part of the assembly of stairway components. Further, it addresses common guard infill systems of glass and metal, and establishes minimum aesthetic tolerances and performance requirements intended to provide a well-defined degree of control over a project’s quality of materials, workmanship, and/or fabrication.

The 0643 Standard includes sections on shop and field fabrication and additional materials that were not previously covered in the AWS, Edition 2. The Wood Stair, Handrail, and Guard Systems Standard includes Aesthetic Grades (Premium, Custom, Economy). It contains NO Duty Levels but DOES include a structural section referencing the International Code Council’s International Building Code and International Residential Code. 

As part of the ANSI accreditation process, the Standard was subject to public review and a balloting process. Input from manufacturers of stairs was integral to the development process. This practical resource establishes a Standard by setting clear expectations of quality and quantifies the materials specifications for everyone from the consumer to the designer, to the manufacturer, to the stairbuilder.

The Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) has produced and collaborated on the development of standards in accordance with its mission since its founding in 1953 to the present day. AWI is an ANSI-accredited Standards Developer Organization. www.awinet.org

The Stairway Manufacturers’ Association (SMA) was formed in 1988 to insure the growth and prosperity of the stair industry and craft. In 2014 the name of the association was changed to the Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association to more clearly reflect its constituency of more than 70% professional stairbuilding companies. www.stairways.org

Founded in 1918, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system and is committed to strengthening its impact, both domestically and internationally.  The Institute represents the diverse interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations, and 30 million professionals worldwide.  www.ansi.org