NAICS 331529

Overview

Federal statistical agencies use the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) to categorize business establishments for consistent collection, analysis, and publication of economic data across the U.S. economy. NAICS was developed by the Office of Management and Budget’s Economic Classification Policy Committee with Statistics Canada and Mexico’s INEGI, adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, and is currently published in the 2022 vintage. ¹

NAICS 331529 — Other Nonferrous Metal Foundries (except Die-Casting) — refers to establishments primarily engaged in pouring molten nonferrous metals, other than aluminum and copper, into molds to produce castings; die-casting is excluded. In the 2022 NAICS structure, this scope appears under U.S. industry 331528 with examples including nickel-, lead-, and zinc-based castings; further manufacturing into finished products is classified elsewhere. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Casting of nonferrous metals other than aluminum and copper into molds to create rough castings (e.g., nickel-, lead-, or zinc‑based alloys). ²
• Foundry operations purchasing nonferrous metals from other establishments for melting and pouring. ²
• Production of nonferrous castings supplied as cast or rough‑finished, prior to separate machining/fabrication. ²
• Foundry cleaning and finishing activities integral to producing castings under this industry. ²
• Exclusion of high‑pressure die‑casting processes, which are classified elsewhere. ²
• Exclusion of aluminum casting (non‑die‑cast) and copper casting, which belong to distinct NAICS industries. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Scope boundaries and classification notes

• Die‑casting of nonferrous metals is classified in 331521 (aluminum) or 331522 (non‑aluminum); it is not part of 331529. ²
• Aluminum casting by pouring (not die‑casting) is classified in 331524; copper casting by pouring is in 331525. ²
• Establishments that make castings and then further manufacture finished products are classified based on the finished product, not in 331529. ²

Federal acquisition context (selected)

• DoD specialty metals restrictions apply to the acquisition of certain items and to specialty metals as end items (including castings), requiring melting or production in the United States unless an exception applies. ³
• Buy American statute and implementing FAR/DFARS clauses establish domestic preference frameworks that can affect procurement of metal castings and components in construction and supply contracts. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What products fall under NAICS 331529?

  Rough cast nonferrous metal components (excluding aluminum and copper) produced by pouring molten metal into molds. Examples cited in the official description include nickel-, lead-, and zinc‑based castings; die‑casting is excluded. See also on G2X: 331528. ²

• Is die‑casting included in NAICS 331529?

  No. High‑pressure die‑casting is classified separately in 331521 (aluminum) and 331522 (non‑aluminum). ²

• Does 331529 include machining or fabrication of finished parts?

  No. If an establishment manufactures castings and further processes them into finished products, classification shifts to the NAICS for the finished product, not the foundry code. ²

• How does NAICS 2017 vs. 2022 affect this industry’s code?

  The 2022 NAICS vintage presents this scope at 331528. Census notes that code updates can include one‑to‑one recodes (code changes with no content change) as programs implement 2022 NAICS across datasets. ⁵

• What federal rules commonly impact nonferrous foundry procurements?

  DoD’s specialty metals restrictions (DFARS 225.7003‑2) and Buy American preference frameworks can apply to metal castings, depending on contract type and end items. Specific applicability depends on clauses in the solicitation/contract. ³

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 331529: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/331529
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2017 NAICS Manual (overview of NAICS and governance). ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS: Other Nonferrous Metal Foundries (except Die‑Casting) (industry definition and cross‑references). ²
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS implementation and change guidance. ⁵
• Acquisition.gov — DFARS 225.7003‑2 Specialty metals restrictions (DoD). ³
• Acquisition.gov — FAR 25.201 Buy American policy (construction materials). ⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. 2017 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Manual. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2017/econ/2017-naics-manual.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 NAICS — 331528 Other Nonferrous Metal Foundries (except Die‑Casting). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=331528&year=2022&details=331528
3. Acquisition.gov. DFARS 225.7003‑2 Restrictions (Specialty Metals). https://www.acquisition.gov/dfars/225.7003-2
4. Acquisition.gov. FAR 25.201 Policy (Buy American—Construction Materials). https://www.acquisition.gov/far/25.201
5. U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS. https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html