No More Waivers!
The "No More Waivers!" program is an AISC Certification initiative implemented to help specifiers and AISC Certified companies respond to pressure from contractors and owners to waive quality requirements. Since its inception in 2004, the "No More Waivers!" program goal has been to promptly respond to all attempts to waive quality requirements that are reported to the program. The program currently relies largely on specifiers and AISC Certified firms to identify potential waiver cases and to engage AISC as a partner to counter efforts to waive requirements. Together, through timely action focused on key project decision makers and appropriate information about the value of Certification, we can reduce the number of waivers.
Looking ahead, the long-term goal of the program is to eliminate quality requirement waivers by making AISC Certification a pre-qualification to any bid list. As progress toward achieving this goal, Certified fabricators, Certified erectors, and specifiers are increasingly assuming lead roles in protecting Certification requirements: building cases for individual projects and working to educate members of the building industry in their local markets about the value of Certification.
At AISC, we have been advising our clients from day one, "The earlier you can get involved, the better chance you have of maintaining the Certification requirement." But, how early is early enough? The answer to this question is simple. It is never too early when it comes to maintaining Certification requirements. The moment you receive information hinting to a potential waiver situation is the time to initiate contact. The sample letter linked above is just a guideline, but the information included should be helpful in building your case. Find out who the decision makers are on the project you are bidding, and send your individualized version of this letter to them first. Start with the structural engineer who typically includes the Certification requirement in section 5120 of their specification. Make your point in a letter addressed directly to the structural engineer and send a copy to the architect, owner, and contractor. Make sure to follow up the letter with phone calls to ensure your audience has received and understands your message. Assure that all of their questions have been answered.
If your letter alone isn’t enough, include the AISC Certification - A Visual Journey brochure linked above, created specifically with the specifier in mind. This brochure can be used to show your project team exactly what happens on an AISC Certification audit. You are encouraged to email this page's URL link to potential clients as well as your employees so that everyone has ready access to information supporting the value of your AISC Certification and knows where to look when faced with a potential waiver.
If your letter and follow up phone calls fail to gain consideration in your waiver situation, you are invited to call or write AISC Certification for additional support. AISC can most effectively support your efforts when actions are based on the information you have collected. Use the "No More Waivers!" form linked above as a tool to communicate your waiver response history and identified decision makers. Fax the completed form to 312.896.9202, or complete an electronic version of the form at www.aisc.org/NMWform.
I believe you will find this information useful, and encourage you to call or write me with your questions and suggestions at 312.670.7527 or raff@aisc.org.
Brian Raff
Manager - Certification Business Development
Related Files
"No More Waivers!" Form (PDF File)
Waiver Letter for Engineers (Word Document)
AISC NMW! Sample Form Letter (Word Document)
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