Why American-Made Materials Matter: To Our Economy & Within Our Businesses
A uniquely designed raised floor solution that adapts as your business evolves.
In a perfect world, cable management should be simple. The reality is, though, that not all access floor systems are created equal.
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Call Now How Material Costs Are Impacting the Built Environment
Building material supply chain issues persist as a significant challenge for the construction and facility management industries. At any moment, global factors well beyond their control can impact material prices and availability without notice. As recent global market issues have taught us, this can be especially problematic for companies that rely on imported materials and products for facility management, as well as for new construction and remodeling services.
To help alleviate these potential pricing and availability concerns, many companies are replacing their imported products and materials with Domestically Made products. But what exactly does that mean?
Defining “Made in USA”
To be labeled “Made in USA”, a product must generally have its final assembly or processing occur in the United States, with all, or virtually all, of its components and ingredients also made and sourced in the U.S. This means the product should contain no, or negligible, foreign content. The Federal Trade Commission1 (FTC) enforces these standards, considering factors such as the extent of U.S. processing, manufacturing costs, and the origin of components.
Final Assembly/Processing: The last step in creating the product must take place within the United States.
“All or Virtually All”: This means the product’s components and ingredients should be predominantly of U.S. origin, with minimal or no foreign content.
Significant Processing: All significant processing steps involved in making the product should also occur in the U.S.
Qualified Claims: If a product contains some foreign-made parts, it can still be labeled “Made in USA” with a qualifying statement (e.g., “Made in USA of U.S. and imported parts”).
California Law: Is similar to the FTC guidelines, but with a 5% (or 10% if the manufacturer can’t source domestically) threshold for foreign content by final wholesale value.
The Made in USA certification is also a requirement for federal and state infrastructure projects covered by the Build Back Better Act and the CHIPS Act, signed into law under the Biden administration.
While imported materials might be cheaper initially, those savings will quickly disappear if they can’t be delivered or installed to meet project milestones or the completion date. According to Fluoramics2, buying American-made products can help alleviate these potential concerns while providing several benefits.
- Improving product quality and safety
- Contributing to the national and local economy
- Meeting changing environmental and building code requirements
Here’s a more detailed look at the advantages of Made in the USA for property owners, facility teams, and contractors.
Product Quality and Safety
Products made in the US must adhere to the oversight and governance provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which includes:
Mandatory and Voluntary Standards that provide collaboration between manufacturers to develop industry-wide standards, enforce mandatory regulations, or product recalls or bans when needed.
Ongoing Research on potential hazards for the installer and end-user, and education channels that freely distribute this information to potential vendors and consumers.
Quality Assurance Programs that typically exceed minimum regulatory requirements and mandate third-party compliance where applicable.
As a result, American-made products are well-known for their superior durability and longevity compared to imported materials and products. With higher-quality products and US-based customer service, there’s a significantly higher likelihood of positive customer experiences and brand loyalty.
Economic Benefits
Purchasing Made in USA products directly supports domestic jobs and strengthens the economy through a ripple effect across various business sectors. While the current demand already supports millions of US manufacturing jobs, millions more could be added within the next ten years. Likewise, associated suppliers and service providers involved in the design, procurement, and maintenance industries, could effectively double the economic benefit of using American-made materials and products.
In addition to the direct and indirect employment increases, local businesses also benefit from buying American, which keeps money circulating within the local economy. This helps local communities thrive by providing jobs and generating tax revenue, which in turn enhances the quality of life for both the local community and its residents.
Over time, these increased demands can lead to new investments in factories to expand supply chain networks, which results in more jobs and sustainable economic growth for the nation. Additionally, a preference for US-made materials and products can help reduce the national trade deficit, thereby decreasing the need for our government to borrow from other outside funding sources.
Environmental Benefits
Choosing to use American-made products also supports the principles of a circular economy, which conserves limited natural resources. Unlike the linear economy business model (Take-Make-Use-Dispose), the circular economy business model (Take-Make-Use-Reuse/Recycle) is designed to minimize waste and pollution as much as possible.
Lower Carbon Footprint: Domestic manufacturing can dramatically reduce the transportation distances compared to imported products. As a result, companies can easily lower their carbon footprint while reducing shipping costs and energy consumption.
Sustainable Practices: American manufacturers are increasingly adopting sustainable practices to reduce their environmental impact. Materials like aluminum, steel, and copper can be endlessly reconfigured to extend their lifecycle or easily recycled into new products.
Green Building Codes and LEED scores: Using sustainable materials and products is no longer an option for architects and contractors, as over 500 US cities have adopted “Green Building Codes” based on the standards of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC).
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) offers a framework for designing and constructing healthy, efficient, and cost-effective green buildings. A LEED certification verifies the sustainability level of a new construction or remodeling project.
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The Scalable Technology Solution for Facility Teams
Current supply chain issues are driving up construction and maintenance costs for Facility Managers and contractors alike. This can be problematic as the built environment attempts to keep pace with emerging business technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Virtual Reality (VR). Commercial properties that utilize a raised access flooring system to provide quick and easy access to the data cabling system will save time and money on future technology upgrades or when reconfiguring a space for a new tenant.
Most raised flooring systems utilize modular components to create a false floor above the existing concrete slab. Once installed, the data cables are moved from the hidden cable trays above the ceiling to the more easily accessible space underfoot. Unlike other access flooring systems that use plastic components, the Gridd® Adaptive Cabling Distribution® System utilizes modular (Made in the USA) steel components for superior strength and durability. As cabling changes become necessary, facility teams can remove the modular floor finish (typically carpet tiles) to quickly access the affected cabling. Changes, upgrades, or a complete office reconfiguration can be done in a few days or weeks without the need for traditional construction services, cost, or inconvenience.
Gridd installs quickly without any special tools or fasteners, allowing for a fast initial installation and easy expansion or reconfiguration as the company grows. The entire system can be disassembled and relocated to another physical location if necessary. With three options to meet the most demanding load capacities, Gridd works for a variety of different commercial projects, including.
- Commercial Offices
- Education
- Emergency Operations
- Medical/Hospitals
- Courtrooms
- Entertainment/Retail
- Conference/Training Rooms
To ensure the maximum ROI possible for property owners and facility teams, Gridd is 100% backward compatible. Today’s Gridd products are completely interchangeable with Gridd products installed 25 years ago or 25 years from now.
Gridd’s modular steel construction aligns with circular economy goals, new green building codes, and can be used to improve a project’s overall LEED score. The Gridd product line features several ADA-compliant ramps designed to meet the accessibility requirements of individuals with mobility challenges.
The Gridd system complies with the intent of the provisions of the following codes and regulations certified by an IAPMO UES Evaluation:
- 2021, 2018, 2015, 2012, and 2009 International Building Code® (IBC)
- 2013 Abu Dhabi International Building Code (ADIBC)
- 2023 City of Los Angeles Building Code (LABC)
- 2022 California Building Code (CBC)
- Health Product Declaration (HPD v2.2)
- Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) System for objective third-party data verification
- Greenly Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Gridd is also GreenSpec-listed and BuildingGreen-approved
In addition to handling your data cabling needs, Gridd Power® provides quick and easy access to power management systems through an integrated 50-amp modular bus system. Gridd Power is available in three different configurations to meet the needs and budgets of numerous companies across various industries and business models.
Field Wired: This option utilizes existing home run circuits connected to the primary or central panel. However, the MC cabling is now installed within the raised flooring system, rather than in the walls or the attic (plenum) space above the finished ceiling.
Modular Branch Circuit: The option uses power tracks installed at a maximum of 48’ on center and relies on the (up to) 24′ whip to easily reach the desired service location anywhere in the space.
50 Amp Modular Power Distribution—This option provides 50-amp, 3-phase power connectivity throughout the area at 20- to 25-foot intervals. It is ideal for large open offices and shared and multi-use spaces, offering the most design flexibility for architects, builders, and property owners.
Gridd® Mobile is an AR technology app that allows you to locate, test, upgrade, or modify your data and power networks to meet the ever-changing needs of property owners and tenants. The intuitive interface allows workers, contractors, designers, and engineers to quickly access all the project details using a smartphone or tablet. Gridd Mobile also provides a centralized data location for all your cable and power management files.
Made in the USA products are not only required for publicly funded projects, but can minimize future supply chain and price disruptions while keeping your projects on time and on budget. Domestically made products typically have lower transportation costs, and there’s no worry about shipments being delayed due to changing customs inspections or regulations. USA-made products consistently outperform imported products and materials due to their adherence to stricter safety and quality standards. Lastly, unlike imported materials, those made in the USA directly benefit local economies by providing jobs and revenue for the community.
To learn more about how 100% Made in the USA Gridd can support your next project, contact a Gridd Advisor.
