National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) is the national trade association representing the producers and suppliers of concrete masonry products, including concrete block, manufactured stone veneer, segmental retaining walls and articulating concrete block. The Association’s mission, through nearly a century of advocacy, remains to advance, protect and promote the common interests of its members. Through leadership, promotion, education, research, government relations and partnering, NCMA ensures that members’ products and installation techniques are top quality.
Why are these standards important?
NCMA helped influence a consolidation of material standards, design provisions, and construction requirements for dry stack masonry into a design guide to be published through The Masonry Society. These standards working together and mirroring one another make it simpler for the minimum requirements to be followed to assure safety and quality performance. These requirements result in standards that produce better products and more reliable and longer lasting installation techniques.
NCMA promotes the education of industry professionals, architects, designers, and installers. A wide variety of online education is available through NCMA’s EDU Online system, providing education to industry professionals on everything from the basics of concrete masonry construction to higher-level technical topics such as energy code compliance.
Additionally, NCMA has several certification programs available for companies and individuals to differentiate their products and services.
● SRW (segmental retaining wall) installers - this program certifies individuals who install segmental retaining walls (SRW). Through education, testing, and work experience, certified individuals demonstrate the knowledge necessary to successfully construct SRWs. Want a retaining wall that lasts? Of course you do, that is why it is important to choose a contractor that adheres to NCMA standards.
● MSV Product Certification - a new program in 2019, this certification ensures that manufactured stone veneer products meet the relevant ASTM specification, as well as enhanced requirements on producers for education of personnel and quality control. We include this point due to the rising popularity of manufactured stone veneer.
Through continued research, education, and promotion, NCMA is helping make the built community stronger, safer, and more resilient.
