About Category 5 Steel
We Started On
The Job Site.
Category 5 Steel is a husband and wife owned structural steel fabrication and erection company founded in Spokane Valley, Washington in 2013. Safety, speed, and accuracy are non-negotiable.
Multi-State licensing
Integrity. Safety. Quality.
AWS Certified Welding Inspector
About Category 5 Steel
Built For Commercial Steel Work.
Category 5 Steel, Inc. is a full-service structural steel fabrication and erection company based in Spokane Valley, Washington, founded in 2013 by Darryl Matlen and Claire Cerling-Matlen.
The company provides structural steel detailing, fabrication, and installation for commercial projects across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, with licensing in 16+ states and completed projects in 29 states.
Darryl Matlen is a lifelong ironworker and structural steel superintendent. Claire Cerling-Matlen is an AWS Certified Welding Inspector who oversees quality control at the fabrication shop.
The frustrating quandary of finger-pointing between erectors and fabricators is eliminated when you choose Category 5.
Our Story
How Category 5
Steel Started
Darryl Matlen picked up a welding rod for the first time as a teenager. It wasn't a class project or a summer job. It was the beginning of a career.
He graduated from the James F. Lincoln welding school, trained as an ironworker, worked as a pipeliner, and eventually moved into structural steel superintendent work: running crews, managing schedules, and solving the field problems that show up on every commercial steel project.
After years of working for other people's companies, he saw a gap in the market. Most structural steel contractors were either strong on fabrication or strong on erection. Very few were genuinely capable at both.
The Team
The People Behind
The Work
Co-Founder, AWS CWI & Quality Control
Claire Cerling-Matlen
Claire started by welding, then earned her AWS Certified Welding Inspector certification and now runs quality control at the fabrication shop.
Founder & Field Operations
Darryl Matlen
Darryl brings a field-first problem-solving mentality from decades as a welder, ironworker, pipeliner, and structural steel superintendent.
Project Manager
Steven Rediker
Steven coordinates project operations, sequencing, scheduling, and field logistics so fabrication and erection scopes move in sync.
The Name
Why We Named It Category 5
A Category 5 storm is the highest classification on the scale: maximum intensity and maximum movement. That's our standard.
Our Values
Integrity
We say what we can do, document what matters, and follow through.
Safety
Crews, schedules, and site conditions are handled with safety first.
Quality
We do our best to out-perform industry standards in fabrication, welding, and erection.
Our Track Record
What We've Built
Since 2013, Category 5 Steel has completed projects across 29 states, from straightforward bar joist and deck commercial buildings to complex D1.8 seismic moment frame systems for healthcare and educational facilities.
2013Founded
29States Completed
16+Licensed States
Our Credentials
Standards That Show Up In The Work.
Our credentials represent real standards that our work is held to on every project.
AWS CWI Oversight
Quality control leadership is handled by an AWS Certified Welding Inspector.
Multi-State Licensing
Built for commercial work across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Fabrication + Erection
One accountable team connecting detailing, shop work, and field execution.
How a Project Runs
How We Work
The short version: we communicate early, document thoroughly, and put iron in the air on the schedule we committed to.
01Preliminary bids identify the scope, allowing us to focus on our client's needs.
02In-house detailing helps resolve issues before fabrication.
03Fabrication and erection crews are part of one team.
04Field crews execute with safety, speed, and accuracy.