What are kcma certified cabinets?

Homeowners nowadays are looking to buy the best of the best. When it comes to cabinets, they need to be long-lasting, quality, and durable. KCMA certified cabinets are trusted because they are tested. One study conducted by Hanley-Wood shows that 3rd party testing is identified as one of the top reasons people choose specific Cabinet Manufacturers Denver.

What is KCMA?

KCMA certified cabinets are essentially a certification. The KCMA A161.1 Quality Certification is an independent, 3rd-party testing program. This gives you, as a homeowner, peace of mind knowing that your cabinets are of the utmost quality.

About KCMA Quality Certification

Cabinets bearing the KCMA A161.1 Quality Certification Seal have been extensively tested. This is over more than a dozen processes. This is according to rigorous standards developed, and periodically revised, by a committee operating. These are done under rules set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and developed by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA).

Requirements of KCMA Quality Certification

To begin the process for certification under the ANSI/KCMA A161.1 Standard, American cabinet manufacturers need to ensure that the line meets the following requirements. After ensuring that these are met, 8 categories of tests are conducted.

1. “All cabinets must be fully enclosed with backs, bottoms, sides, and tops on wall cabinets; and backs, bottoms, and sides on base cabinets, with certain specified exceptions on kitchen sink fronts, sink bases, oven cabinets, and refrigerator cabinets.
2. All cabinets designed to rest on the floor must be provided with a toe space at least two inches deep and three inches high.
3. All utility cabinets must meet the same construction requirements as base and wall cabinets.
4. Doors and drawers must be properly aligned, have means of closure, and close without excessive binding or looseness.
5. All materials must ensure rigidity in compliance with performance standards.
6. Face frames, when used, must provide rigid construction.
7. For frameless cabinets, the ends, tops/bottoms, and back shall be of thickness necessary to provide rigid construction.
8. Corner or lineal bracing must be provided at points where necessary to ensure rigidity and proper joining of various components.
9. All wood parts must be dried to a moisture content of 10 percent or less at the time of fabrication.
10. All materials used in cabinets must be suitable for use in the kitchen and bath environment where they may be exposed to grease, solvents, water, detergent, steam and other substances usually found in these rooms.
11. All exterior exposed surfaces and edges except the edges of end panels and the edges of back panels, shall be free of saw marks and other imperfections and shall be filled and sanded, edge-banded or otherwise finished to ensure compliance with the performance standards.
12. All exterior exposed parts of cabinets must have nails and staples set and holes filled.
13. All exposed construction joints must be fitted in a workman-like manner consistent with specifications.
14. Exposed cabinet hardware must comply with Builders Hardware Manufacturing Association finishing standards.”