Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association

What Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association does

The Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association (SMA) is a US-based, nonprofit trade association founded in 1988 (originally as the Stairway Manufacturers' Association) and headquartered in Dalton, Ohio. It serves stairbuilding and manufacturing professionals across 36 states through 229+ member companies, providing standards development, code advocacy, training, certifications, and community programs.

SMA's core assets are its co-authorship of the ANSI/AWI SMA 0643 Wood Stair, Handrail, and Guard Systems standard with the Architectural Woodwork Institute, active participation in International Code Council code-development proceedings, and a USDA Forest Service-funded structural testing program run jointly with Mississippi State University and Simpson Gumpertz & Heger that feeds a structural validation software tool in development. It runs an SMA Stair Academy training program, certifications, annual StairCraft Awards, shop tours, forums, mentorship, and a member directory, and distributes publications and merchandise through the SMA Store.

The organization is funded primarily by recurring membership dues, supplemented by training and certification fees, e-commerce sales through the SMA Store, and event registration (including virtual events such as Vision 2026 at $39.99 per seat). It is governed by a Board of Directors and led by a President (Renda Barr) with specialized staff in code development (Ashley Goodin) and national sales (Brad Rippel), operating with a lean team of 1-10 employees.

Name

Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association

Legal name

Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association

Website

https://stairways.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association is a US nonprofit trade association founded in 1988 that serves 229+ stairbuilders, manufacturers, and code officials across 36 states through ANSI/AWI co-authored standards, ICC code advocacy, training, certifications, and a member community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Engineered Wood Member Manufacturing (321215)

SIC

Wholesale-Lumber, Plywood, Millwork & Wood Panels (5031)

akta.pro primary industry

Stair Parts, Railings & Architectural Woodwork (HSAPAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stair, Railing & Banister Repair (HSAGABAE)

Keywords

• Stair industry standards
• Trade association membership
• Building code advocacy
• Stair builder training
• Wood stair certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Dalton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The SMA generates revenue primarily through membership fees from stairbuilders, manufacturers, and industry professionals who join the association for access to training, certifications, technical resources, member directory, and industry advocacy.
2. Training & Certification Programs: Revenue from educational programs including SMA Stair Academy, balustrade classes, and certification courses for industry professionals.
3. SMA Store Products: Sales of publications, tools, and resources through the SMA Store.
4. Event Registration: Revenue from annual conferences, shop tours, and events such as the Vision 2026 virtual event at $39.99 per seat.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association is a nonprofit trade association that delivers membership-based services to stairbuilders, manufacturers, architects, and building code officials. It generates revenue from annual membership dues, paid training and certification programs (SMA Stair Academy), publications and tools sold through the SMA Store, and event registration fees for conferences, shop tours, and virtual events such as Vision 2026. The association also develops and advocates for industry standards, notably co-authoring the ANSI/AWI SMA 0643 Wood Stair, Handrail, and Guard Systems standard and actively participating in ICC building code development.

Product overview

The Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association (SMA) is a trade association serving the stair-building industry. It does not offer a commercial software product or platform. Instead, the SMA provides industry membership services including training programs (such as the SMA Stair Academy and Stair Balustrade Class), industry certifications, technical resources, publications and tools, a products store for merchandise, member directory, events and calendar, forums and mentorship, committees for industry collaboration, StairCraft Awards recognizing excellence in stair design, and a blog and podcast for industry news. The association also develops and advocates for building codes and standards such as the ANSI/AWI SMA 0643 for wood stair systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• StairCraft Awards: Annual awards program recognizing excellence in the stair building and manufacturing industry.
• SMA Stair Academy

Products and services

• SMA Membership Recurring annual membership for stair industry professionals and companies, providing access to technical standards documentation, member directory, committees, forums, mentorship, advocacy representation, conference discounts, and the SMA Store member portal.
• SMA Stair Academy (Training & Certification Programs) Paid educational courses and certification programs covering stair building techniques, balustrade installation, and related craft skills for stair industry professionals and companies.
• SMA Store Products (Publications and Tools) E-commerce merchandise including industry publications, technical tools, and resources sold through the SMA Store at stairways.org for stairbuilders and industry professionals.
• SMA Event Registration (Annual Conferences, Shop Tours, Vision 2026 Virtual Event) Per-seat or per-ticket paid registration for SMA-hosted in-person and virtual events, including the annual conference, member shop tours, and virtual events like Vision 2026, providing networking, education, and recognition.
• StairCraft Awards Program Annual paid submission and recognition program honoring excellence in stair design and manufacturing, with industry-judged categories such as Best In Show and People's Choice Award.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 60% of stairbuilders report paying engineers from $300 to over $3,000 to review or modify a single stair or guard design
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mississippi State University (MSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative testing partnership where MSU Wood Science laboratory conducts sub-element testing for the SMA Wood Innovation Grant project. Data from tests is shared with SGH engineering teams for predictive modeling. The partnership supports structural validation of hardwood stair components.
• Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger (SGH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-scale stair testing conducted at SGH laboratory in Boston, Massachusetts. SGH engineering teams develop predictive modeling programs using data from MSU testing. Goal is to validate performance of stair joinery and fastening methods.
• Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative standards development partnership for ANSI/AWI SMA 0643 - Wood Stair, Handrail, and Guard Systems standard. AWI and SMA jointly filed PINS notice with ANSI for formal revision process.
• University of Alabama in HuntsvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of 2026 Slips, Trips, and Falls International Conference. SMA donated contrast study stair for research. Dr. Sara Harper's lab conducts fall prevention research using SMA stairs and equipment.
• Carolina Stair SupplyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship of Heirloom Companies Shop Tour transportation for SMA members attending Biltmore Estate visit during industry tour event.
• House of ForgingsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship of group dinner at Sierra Nevada Brewery concluding the Heirloom Companies Shop Tour. Texas-based stair and railing manufacturer with distribution centers across the US.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Decorative Hardwoods Association: Trade association for the hardwood lumber and veneer industry; comparable technical standards, grading, and member-funded research model relevant to SMA's hardwood stair standards work.
• Wood Products Manufacturers Association: Trade association representing U.S. wood product manufacturers; comparable nonprofit advocacy structure with overlapping membership among architectural millwork and stair component producers.
• National Wood Flooring Association: Trade association serving wood flooring manufacturers, distributors, and installers; comparable nonprofit structure, membership dues model, training/certification programs, and technical standards focus within the wood products vertical.
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry: Trade association for remodeling professionals; comparable nonprofit model, membership programs, certifications, and codes/standards advocacy relevant to residential stair renovation and replacement work.
• Architectural Woodwork Institute: Trade association for architectural woodwork manufacturers; SMA's direct standards partner for the ANSI/AWI SMA 0643 wood stair standard and a closely overlapping member base in wood/millwork manufacturing.
• National Kitchen & Bath Association: Trade association for kitchen and bath industry professionals; operates a similar member dues, certification, and design-awards model relevant to interior residential construction where stair systems are also specified.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Home Builders: Largest U.S. trade association representing the residential construction industry; much broader scope than SMA but overlapping in code advocacy, training, and member benefits for residential builders who specify stair systems.

Others

• International Code Council: Standards body that develops model building codes adopted across the U.S.; SMA actively engages with ICC on stair and guard code revisions, making it an essential enabling/standards counterpart rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smaupdates
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_0Vv6o3Ir9h1ztfeQO4mQA?
• Facebookfacebook.com/SMAStairs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stairbuildersandmanufacturersassociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/smastairs
• Pinterestpinterest.com/smastairs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association