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Y;:n Sash Door and Mill Workers Now Cornes Certified Millwork
By 4. T. Didesch Managing Director, Millwork fnstitute of Califomia.
On July 18, 19 and. fr, the members of the Millwork Institute of California, meeting in Tri-Annual Conference at the Hotel Alexandria, Los Angeles, adopted a Certification Program, u-nder which_such member-plints as can qualify and subscribe to certain stated requirements, including i set of Accredited Standards of Construction, will UJticensed as "Manufacturers of Architectural Woodwork,, and their products certified by the organization.
The Institute, which is state-wide in scope, comprises 122 sash, door and millwork establishments. It has bien in existenc'e since 1925 and at its incep- tion adopted the following statlment as its ofticial .and public declaration of prrrposes: "An educational organization of independent and competing operators, devoted to elevating the status of the industry, and pledged to d,eliver to the consum-er the highest quality of product at the most economical cost."
The certification program is but an amplification of thosi principles, plus a definite guarantv that ihev shall be carried out. It has its coun- use the Certification-M.aqk on off grades, even though they be so sold with the full knowledgE of the buyer. save oniy that the tire indusiry productsand..bandifl i?f, .";;t"T:t"'#; fa-ct.. however, makes.the certification oi rnillwork ;.;J;;i; a_ll the more beneficial to the consum., U.""u"., ";;;;;;: tively, he has been taking far greater risks and i" a-nif,a which involves a product-usualiy purchased for a life-iime servrce.
As regards architects' specifi-cations, apllicants must agree to conform in letter and spirit to all reaionable speci- fications, and to confer with ttri architect or buyer,- "r' it " :3s: may.r€quire, concerning ?ny unreasonable'o, imprac- trcal specttrcattons prior to making alterations.
In the event of controversies involving completed jobs. applicants must agree to submit them -to an'arbitrition board of three disinterested persons. of which one shall be an architect, one a general Contractor and one a millwork manufacturer, approved by the Institute, and to abide without reservation by the decisions of the board.
- -Apnljc-a1ts will be_licensed only in conformity with the kind of jobs which they are competent to handle. Those able to-qualify in the field of smill house jobs, will be so licensed; those competent to take care of apartment house jobs, will be licensed under that classification; such opera- tors who qualify in complicated residences, churches, hbtels and thelike, will be licensed in that division I and, of course, those- com-petent to take care of any kind of job regardless of classification, will be awarded in all embracing Iicense.
H. T.
Briefly outlined. the salient features of the certification program are these:Members applying for Certification must be vouched for by two other-mimb-ers and by th; i;_ stitute director in theii territory. They must agree to main- tain a uniformly good product worthy in all Gpeci;;iih. official certificatidn Mirk; to adhere [o ail accrehited standards of construction prescribed by the Institute; .nJ to "ot
.A,s evidence of the qualit_v- and craftsmanship of products delivered by him, each applicant must submit-for reference ten jobs which he furnishid one year or more prior to date of application. The name and address of the architect, general contractor and owner will be required in each case.-The Institute will then rvrite each of the thirty references. ff all m_ake satisfactory replies, the applicant is automatically cgrtified, but if one or more reply iJ unsatisfactorn the eri- tire matter is laid before the Boird of Directors 6f the Institute for further investigation and final decision.
The license of any certified member is subject to revocation at any time for failure to carry out any of the orovisions which govern. Complaints witt Ue reviewed arid decided upon by the Board of Directors.
For the purpose of identification, all certified products will bear labels or brands of the Certification Mark which will carry the words "Architectural Woodwork,' and ..Certified by Millwork Institute of California,', together with
