Process for the Evaluation and Acceptance of Building Products in the USA Rick Okawa, P.E. Deputy Vice President of Global Services and Business Development
An Integrated Building System Product Certification Product Evaluation Codes Standards Accreditation Product Testing Code Official Approval September 7, 2010 2
U. S. Model Code Building System Since the early 1900 s, the United States has developed codes and standards to address public safety in the built environment. With the constant introduction of building products, a method for acceptance of these products is provided using: Code and standards compliance Product certification Evaluation services Accredited laboratories, product certification agencies, and inspection agencies September 7, 2010 3
Codes and Standards Distinctions between Codes and Standards: Codes provide the Where and When, standards provide the How To When a conflict takes place between the Code and a referenced standard, the Code governs Once a standard is referenced in the Code, it becomes part of the Code and has the same level of authority September 7, 2010 4
Codes and Standards (cont.) ICC Codes reference more than a thousand standards like: Material Specifications quality properties Design Standards methods, procedures and practices Testing Standards minimum load requirements UL and ASTM most widely referenced standards September 7, 2010 5
U. S. Building System Overall Legal Framework September 7, 2010 6
Options for the Code Official How does a Code Official decide whether a product can be allowed? Products comply with code and referenced standards or Product is demonstrated as a suitable alternate under the alternative materials and methods of construction administrative provisions September 7, 2010 7
Product Certification The process of verifying that a product has passed performance and quality assurance tests or qualifications stipulated in building codes Products that pass specific tests achieve a rating and listing and show: Evidence of compliance with minimum performance requirements Indication of suitability for a specific purpose and in accordance with their listing Examples include: UL, ICC-ES, Intertek, FM September 7, 2010 8
Product Certification (cont.) Active certification listing means 3 things: The certifier will conduct unannounced audits of the manufacturer s facilities to ensure the product being sold is the identical to the one tested The product s packaging, literature and the manufacturer s marketing materials may display the certification mark The listing becomes a matter of public record and will be in the directory of the certification organization September 7, 2010 9
Product Certification Code Official Use Product Certification creates: Evidence that a building product has met the minimum standards rigorous testing Requirements for proper installation and use in the built environment Traceability; i.e. if a the certification mark gets obscured, the code official can require the product be investigated to confirm compliance with a listing September 7, 2010 10
Product Evaluation Alternative materials and products: IBC Section 104.11 provides the code official with a means to accept the use of materials and products not specifically prescribed in the code an alternative material, design, or method of construction shall be approved where the building official finds that the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code. Provisions of the code allow for alternative products provided that there is proven equivalence to the quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety requirements prescribed in the code September 7, 2010 11
Product Evaluation (cont.) New products end up in construction projects, requiring approval by the code official Adopted codes and standards tend to lag behind new technology development and deployment It can be difficult for building departments to determine if new building products, materials and design meet minimum building code requirements Code officials can make use of independent third-party product evaluation services September 7, 2010 12
Product Evaluation (cont.) Acceptance criteria Where the code does not address the product or system, or is not clear about the requirements, specific acceptance criteria are developed as the basis for evaluation September 7, 2010 13
Product Evaluation (cont.) Information on an Evaluation Report Product manufacturer and contact information Codes or Acceptance Criteria on which evaluation was based Products evaluated Description of products Description of product installation Conditions of use Quality control and inspection agency Product identification and labeling information September 7, 2010 14
Importance of Accreditation What is Accreditation? Formal third-party recognition that a body fulfills specified requirements and is competent to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks Third parties oversee the proper operation in compliance with international standards for testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, and inspection bodies In the case of building products, use of accredited testing labs, inspection bodies and product certification agencies are of the utmost importance to ensure compliance with standards September 7, 2010 15
Accreditation Testing Laboratories Accreditation of Testing Laboratories: Verifies laboratories are technically competent Evidence that products are safe, reliable and meet the requirements of codes and standards Based on ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Examples include: International Accreditation Services (IAS), NVLAP (a division of NIST), A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation) September 7, 2010 16
Accreditation Product Certification Agency Accreditation of Product Certification Agencies: Based on ISO/ IEC Guide 65; 1996 Verifies that certification agencies, including testing, inspection, product surveillance, and product labeling have been properly evaluated Requires accredited agencies to continually monitor product manufactures through onsite audits Assists in acceptance of certification marks in the marketplace and by governmental agencies Combines testing, inspection and product certification into one September 7, 2010 17
Overall Product Acceptance in Plan Review Process September 7, 2010 18
Product Acceptance in Plan Review Path: 1 September 7, 2010 19
Product Acceptance in Plan Review Paths: 2 & 3 September 7, 2010 20
Product Acceptance in Plan Review Paths: 4,5,6 & 7 September 7, 2010 21
Overall Product Acceptance in Plan Review Process September 7, 2010 22
Overall Product Acceptance in Inspection Process September 7, 2010 23
Product Acceptance in Inspection Process Path: 1 September 7, 2010 24
Product Acceptance in Inspection Process Path: 2 September 7, 2010 25
Product Acceptance in Inspection Process Path: 3 September 7, 2010 26
Product Acceptance in Inspection Process Path: 4 September 7, 2010 27
Special Inspection Special Inspection: Based on Chapter 17 of the International Building Code (IBC) Independently qualified special inspectors are required on a construction site continuously for certain types of product installation Paid by the owner, but responsible to the code official September 7, 2010 28
Overall Product Acceptance in Inspection Process September 7, 2010 29
Any Questions? Thank you very much, Rick Okawa, P.E. ICC Deputy Vice President of Global Services and Business Development September 7, 2010 30