Release Date: October 1, 2024
KCMA Releases Significant Overhaul of the Severe Use Standard
RESTON, VIRGINIA: Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) Standards & Certification Committee and staff are pleased to announce the publication of the 2024 KCMA Severe Use Standard.
Originally released in 1993 by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Severe Use Specification was created to address concerns about the cabinetry installed in residential kitchens that would probably see more than the typical abuse such as high turnover apartment buildings and military housing. HUD wanted the cabinets installed in such places to need little repair between occupants.
HUD decided to drop the Severe Use Specification but by that time KCMA had a viable severe use certification program. KCMA approached HUD requesting ownership of the Specification. HUD agreed provided they become the KCMA Severe Use Specification. The first KCMA Specification was released in 2011.
In 2024, in the interest of ensuring the best possible outcomes in severe use settings, the Standards and Certification Committee undertook a significant revision to the specification, including upgrading it to a performance standard.
Previously, the specification required specific materials and construction techniques be used in manufacturing the cabinets. The 2024 Standard is performance-based and contains rigorous test methods designed to predict how a cabinet will perform in a severe use environment.
“This updated standard is a notable improvement to the former Severe Use Specification,” said Edwin Underwood, Marsh Cabinets, Chairman of the Standards & Certification Committee. “Transitioning to a performance-based standard provides an additional level of assurance to those who specify certified cabinets of the durability of the products they install.”
Betsy Natz, CEO of KCMA added “I’m so impressed by the hard work that the Committee put into this revision. It truly reflects the level of excellence that people have come to expect from KCMA certified cabinets.”
In addition to the 2024 Severe Use Standard, KCMA offers an ANSI A161.1 Quality Certification and an Environmental Stewardship Program Certification. More information on all of KCMA’s certifications can be found at https://kcma.org/certifications.
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ABOUT KCMA. The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1955 to represent companies who manufacture cabinets, bath cabinets, or other residential cabinets and key kitchen and bath industry suppliers. With a membership now more than 300 strong throughout North America, KCMA works to advance the cabinet industry through advocacy, setting cabinet quality standards, sponsoring kitchen and bath cabinet-related research, and providing the cabinet industry with management tools and educational programs.
KCMA establishes and promotes standards for the kitchen cabinet industry; defends and advocates in support of the cabinet industry; and arms our members with valuable tools necessary to promote and grow their cabinet businesses.
