The Architectural Woodwork Institute and the Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association have announced that the AWI SMA 0643 – Wood Stair, Handrail, and Guard Systems Standard has been completed by the SMA Quality Standards Committee.

The AWI and SMA teams are now preparing to begin the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) process, during which the standard will open to public comment. At the completion of this process, the AWI and SMA teams will address any comments or suggestions submitted.

AWI SMA 0643 - Wood Stair, Handrail, and Guard Systems provides standards and tolerances for the quality fabrication and field installation of wood stair, handrail, and guard systems. Further, it establishes minimum aesthetic and performance requirements intended to provide a well-defined degree of control over a project's quality of materials, workmanship, and/or fabrication.

The standard draft is available for public comment at www.gotoawi.com/standards and www.stairways.org.