Best FabricatorsFabrication certifications and standards
A certificate only matters if it fits the job. This table maps common standards to the industries where buyers ask for them. Confirm a shop’s current status with the certifying body.
| Standard | Industry | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| AS9100 | Aerospace and defense | the aerospace quality management standard built on ISO 9001 |
| Nadcap | Aerospace and defense | industry accreditation for special processes such as welding, heat treating, and nondestructive testing |
| ITAR registration | Aerospace and defense | required with the U.S. State Department for companies that manufacture defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List |
| 3-A Sanitary Standards | Food-grade and sanitary stainless | voluntary hygienic design standards widely used for dairy and food processing equipment |
| NSF/ANSI food equipment standards | Food-grade and sanitary stainless | used to certify commercial food equipment |
| Surface finish (Ra) | Food-grade and sanitary stainless | a measured roughness value buyers often specify for product-contact surfaces |
| Building code guards and handrails | Architectural and ornamental metal | the International Building Code sets guard and handrail requirements that local codes adopt |
| 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design | Architectural and ornamental metal | set handrail requirements for accessible routes |
| AWS D1.1 and D1.6 | Architectural and ornamental metal | structural welding codes for steel and stainless steel |
| AISC certification | Structural steel | the American Institute of Steel Construction’s quality certification for fabricators and erectors |
| AISC 360 and AISC 303 | Structural steel | the specification for structural steel buildings and the Code of Standard Practice |
| AWS D1.1 | Structural steel | the American Welding Society structural welding code for steel |
| IBC Section 1704.2.5 | Structural steel | requires special inspection of fabricated items during fabrication unless the fabricator is approved |
| AWS D1.2 | Marine and aluminum | the structural welding code for aluminum |
| ABS class rules | Marine and aluminum | the American Bureau of Shipping publishes rules for classed vessels and offshore structures |
| U.S. Coast Guard requirements | Marine and aluminum | apply to many commercial vessels and their equipment |
| ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII | Oil, gas, and energy | governs pressure vessel design and fabrication; certified shops can apply the ASME certification mark |
| ASME B31.3 | Oil, gas, and energy | the process piping code |
| API standards | Oil, gas, and energy | such as API 650 for welded storage tanks |
| NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 | Oil, gas, and energy | materials requirements for sour (H2S) service |
| Sanctioning body rulebooks | Automotive and racing | racing series publish roll cage and chassis rules, such as tube size and wall thickness |
| SFI Foundation specifications | Automotive and racing | cover many safety parts used in motorsport |
| IATF 16949 | Automotive and racing | the quality management standard for automotive production suppliers |
| ASTM A123 | Agricultural | the hot-dip galvanizing standard for fabricated steel |
| OSHA 29 CFR 1910.272 | Agricultural | the grain handling facilities standard, relevant to bins, conveyors, and access |
| AWS D1.1 | Agricultural | structural welding code, used when equipment carries structural loads |
| ISO 13485 | Medical devices and lab equipment | the quality management standard for medical device manufacturing |
| FDA Quality Management System Regulation (21 CFR Part 820) | Medical devices and lab equipment | the U.S. device quality rule, aligned with ISO 13485 as of February 2026 |
| ASTM F138 and F136 | Medical devices and lab equipment | common specifications for implant-grade stainless steel and titanium |
| UL 48 | Signage and displays | the UL standard for electric signs |
| Local sign permits | Signage and displays | most cities require a sign permit, and large structures need engineering for wind loads |
| Approved fabricator programs | Signage and displays | some building departments list approved fabricators for sign structures |
| SMACNA duct construction standards | HVAC and sheet metal | the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association’s widely used duct standards |
| NFPA 96 | HVAC and sheet metal | the standard for ventilation control and fire protection of commercial cooking operations, which covers grease ducts and hoods |
| Local mechanical code | HVAC and sheet metal | most jurisdictions adopt the International Mechanical Code with amendments |
For structural steel, AISC offers a public certification search.1 Some building departments, such as Los Angeles and Clark County, Nevada, keep their own approved fabricator lists.
- AISC, “AISC Certification Programs,” https://www.aisc.org/certification/, read November 11, 2026. ↩