The Importance of Third Party Testing

The Importance of Third Party Testing By Heidi J. Ellsworth – RCS Blogger

How can contractors really know what works and if products meet or exceed building codes?

In talking to Andy Swan, president of Blocksom & Company the manufacturer of Roof Saver, it is incredibly important to be aware of what products meet code and those that do not. One way to validate product testing and code conformance is to use the ICC-ES website (ICC-ES Website) as a reference point to confirm markings and literature statements from manufacturers.

According to the ICC-ES website, “For decades, ICC-ES has been the industry leader in performing technical evaluations for code compliance, providing regulators and construction professionals with clear evidence that products comply with codes and standards. Having completed hundreds of evaluations of building products, components, methods, and materials, ICC-ES has a proven track record of excellence in product evaluations and customer service.”

Contractors, inspectors, architects and consultants have depended on the site for testing and have found that the ICC-ES is someone to trust. The organization is compliant to Section 1703 of the International Building Code and has decades of experience in product evaluations. “The ICC maintains a high quality of evaluation which provides the industry with peace of mind knowing they have approved products that comply with the requirements of the building codes,” stated Andy Swan, president of Blocksom & Company, who has overseen extensive testing of Roof Saver.

The ICC-ES is a nonprofit, limited liability company that does technical evaluations of building products, components, methods, and materials. The evaluation process culminates with the issuance of technical reports that, because they directly address the issue of code compliance, keep contractors, inspectors and the general public educated on the ability of manufacturers to meet code with their products.

ICC-ES evaluation reports are public documents, available free of charge on the world wide web, not only to building regulators and manufacturers, but also to contractors, specifiers, architects, engineers, and anyone else with an interest in the building industry. When selecting roofing products, it is critical to utilize these reports to confirm that products meet the required building codes.

“Often with roof components like ridge vent, contractors are not aware of code requirements that are critical for building inspections and long-term performance,” noted Swan. “We are focused on testing and providing the top performing product at the best value for roofing contractors. We continue to work with the industry to insure that contractors are protected with products that meet building codes on all levels.”

“The importance of meeting building codes with all products in the roof assembly is getting attention,” continued Swan. “We are actually seeing contractors who are getting call backs due to non-conformance of roof ventilation. We have also seen that when the product does not meet code and is installed incorrectly, there can be some major issues, like mold, that can then lead to lawsuits.”

ICC-ES is important for several groups including building code officials who can see if products, systems, materials and methods have passed testing for code-compliance. For manufacturers, the report from ICC-ES is an essential marketing and validation tool for any product. The report provides solid evidence that the product was tested independently and the results compared to code requirements. The report is available for reference by thousands of building inspection departments, as well as other construction-industry professionals, free of charge. Finally, for specifiers, designers, architects and/or contractors it is the evidence required for local building code officials, proving that they are using code-compliant materials.

“If there is ever a question, take the time to visit the website and validate testing against packaging and literature,” concluded Swan. “That kind of validation can save you and your company a lot of trouble and potential financial loss in the future.”