TTBS ANNOUNCES MORATORIUM PERIOD FOR COLD-FORMED STEEL FRAMING MEMBERS
Date: August 30th, 2021.
Stakeholders from the construction sector were advised of a moratorium period of sixty (60) days for the enforcement of, TTS 598:2019, Cold-formed steel framing members for structural applications – Specification (1st Revision). The moratorium commenced on the 26th August, 2021 and will conclude on the 25th October, 2021. Enforcement will begin on the 26th October, 2021.
The announcement for the moratorium period was made by Mr. Rodney Ramnath, Manager, Certification Division of TTBS, during a virtual National Stakeholder Meeting held on Wednesday 25th August, 2021. The stakeholders included manufacturers, distributors, hardware owners and other interested parties. The objective of the meeting was to discuss the requirements of the standard, as well as provide details on TTBS’ enforcement regime for the standard.
Following the moratorium, all materials used within Trinidad and Tobago must comply with the requirements set out in the National Compulsory Standard, TTS 598: 2019. Compliance of these products shall be demonstrated via Product Certification & Licensing from TTBS’ Certification Division.
The standard specifies requirements for cold-formed steel framing members for use in structural applications such as in the framing of roofs and walls. Included are requirements for the steel sheet, sectional parameters, member characteristics, sampling, testing, labelling and compliance.
The standard applies to cold-formed steel framing members manufactured from steel sheets, zinc or aluminium-zinc alloy coated by the hot-dip method and of base metal thicknesses from one (1) mm to three (3) mm. This standard does not apply to decking sheets. Structural elements for which cold-formed steel framing members are used include wall elements such as girts, studs and runners, and roof elements such as purlins and truss chords.
Enforcement of the Standard is intended to protect the consumer against danger to health or safety, and ensure acceptable quality of the products. The Product Certification and Licensing programme will include audits of the manufactures’ production and quality systems, as well as surveillance, label inspections and testing of the products, which are to be done on a continual periodic basis.
During the consultation Mr. Derek Luk Pat, Executive Director TTBS, thanked stakeholders for their participation and further added that the enforcement of compulsory standards is part of TTBS’ mandate under the Standards Act No. 18 of 1997 as the National Standards Body and the National Quality Certifying Body.
The application of this compulsory standard is aligned to TTBS’ National Standardization Strategy 2019-2022, which was developed to ensure that there is a consistent, proactive approach for establishing national standards based on a clear understanding of national priorities related to the economy, trade, our society, the environment and emerging sectors that are expected to gain importance in the future.
TTBS remains committed to fulfil its mandate to ensure compliance of products covered by national Compulsory Standards within Trinidad and Tobago. Against this backdrop, TTBS is committed to safeguard the well-being of citizens and the protection of the environment.
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact:
- Ms. Ann Marie Jennings Ms. Michelle Beharry
- Certification Division, TTBS Certification Division, TTBS
- Email: certification@ttbs.org.tt Email: michelle.beharry@ttbs.org.tt
Phone: 773-9178
- To download a copy of the compulsory standard please use the link below:
- Website: https://gottbs.com/product/tts-5982019-cold-formed-steel-framing-members-for-structural-applications-specification-1st-revision/