ICC-ES eNews

Code Officials Prefer ES Reports

According to a nationwide survey conducted by ICC-ES and an outside research firm, code officials indicated that their preferred resource for approving alternate building products was ICC-ES evaluation reports. Sent to approximately 13,000 code enforcement professionals, the survey results were surprising.

Important Notice for
Legacy Report Holders

With I-Code adoptions now in all 50 states, the need for report holders to update their legacy report to show compliance with the International Building Code has become critical. Many ICC-ES evaluation report holders have begun, or already completed, the process to convert their reports to the I-Code requirements. For those who have not started the conversion process, ICC-ES provides helpful procedures.

New ES Evaluation
Reports Now Available

ICC-ES evaluation reports on code compliance—available free to code officials, contractors and anyone else with an interest in the construction industry—provide comprehensive technical evidence that products and systems meet code requirements. New reports for April, May and June on recent innovative products are now available.

Each list includes the report number and name of the product(s) recognized for code compliance. A complete list of ICC-ES Evaluation Reports is also available.

Evaluation Committee
Call for Members
Interested in evaluating proposed acceptance criteria for building products? The ICC-ES Board of Directors is seeking candidates to serve on the Evaluation Committee starting January 1, 2008. New committee appointments are for an 18-month period, and candidates must be representatives of a jurisdiction enforcing building regulations. Applications will be accepted until September 1, 2007.

The Evaluation Committee approves acceptance criteria based on its needs in assuring public safety.

Upcoming ES Committee Meetings

Evaluation Service Advisory Committee, October 2, Reno, Nevada

ES Evaluation Committee, October 10-12, Birmingham, Alabama

Helpful Links

Learn More About the Alternative Criteria Process
Find An Evaluation Report
Apply for an Evaluation Report
New Applicant Information

ES in the News

"Innovative Products" by ICC-ES Principal Structural Engineer Brian Gerber, S.E.

Have questions or comments about ICC-ES eNews? Please contact Melanie Edwards.
General questions about ICC-ES may also be directed to the Los Angeles, Chicago or Birmingham District Offices by dialing 1-800-423-6587, or by e-mail.

Board Meetings

Sept. 29	ICC Board Meeting Reno, NV
Oct. 4	IAS Board Meeting Reno, NV

The deadline is approaching to get involved in these committees:
Board for International Professional Standards
Exam Development Committee

ICC Evaluation
Service, Inc.

Ensuring that building products
meet code requirements.

ICC-ES eNews
August 2007
Vol. 3, Issue 3

Los Angeles Meeting Produces Results

The ICC-ES Evaluation Committee met June 5-7 in Los Angeles to consider new proposed acceptance criteria for alternate products and for products where additional clarification is needed in the code. Other topics included existing criteria that need to be revised to reflect current code, updated standards or changes to products. Read highlights of the actions taken by the Evaluation Committee.

Twenty-two items were considered during the June Evaluation Committee meeting.

How-To Guidelines for Report Holders
When an ICC-ES Evaluation Report is issued, the product manufacturer can use the ICC-ES mark and report number to promote the product. ICC-ES has established guidelines that explain proper use of the mark. Helpful information regarding product labeling can also be found in the ID Section of each report and approval letter.
Complete guidelines for New Reports (Section 13.0).
Complete guidelines for Legacy Reports (Section 15.0).

ICC-ES Industry Activity

From California to Washington D.C., Minnesota and Tennessee, ICC-ES staff is always on-the-go. Here are events that ICC-ES staff attended or will attend.

May 2007 | June 2007 | July 2007

Sit in on Next Evaluation Committee Meeting

New building products and technologies are constantly being developed. When there are no clear requirements in the code for new products and methods, the ICC-ES Evaluation Committee approves acceptance criteria used to evaluate new products.

The next ICC-ES Evaluation Committee meeting October 10-12 at the Hilton Birmingham Perimeter Park in Birmingham, Alabama, is open to those wanting to learn how acceptance criteria are developed and to participate in the open hearing process. No registration is required to attend the meeting. Additional meeting information and important deadlines are now available.

The Importance of ACs and ESRs

ESAC Chairman Mark Crawford (second from left) discusses committee recommendations to assist applicants and ICC-ES in improving the AC and ESR process.

Acceptance Criteria (AC) and Evaluation Service Reports (ESRs)…who cares about these? All you probably want to know is if the product meets its performance claims and if it meets the applicable code requirements. But what if an AC, and consequently an ESR, are not available on the product you’re interested in? Do you care how long it takes to obtain an ESR or to develop an AC? Do you care if the AC and ESR address technical issues thoroughly so that your safety is protected? If you care about these questions and issues then read on!

We Have the Perfect Job for You
Life is too short to be stuck in a job you hate.

If you’re an engineer with a solid background in building codes and related subjects, then the ICC Evaluation Service might have the perfect job for you. Staff engineers and entry-level technical staff are currently being sought for our Los Angeles, California, and Birmingham, Alabama, offices. These positions include a variety of duties of a technical and often complex nature, supporting the development and issuance of ICC-ES evaluation reports on code compliance of building materials and methods.

Webinar Details Documentation, Inspection Tips
Clear, concise documentation presented in an orderly, easy-to-follow fashion enables ICC-ES to accelerate the technical review process.


The recent webinar for inspection agencies helped explain AC10 and AC304.

An ICC-ES webinar covering recent changes in ICC-ES requirements for quality documentation and inspections of manufacturing facilities drew approximately 60 participants. During the two-hour session, ES staff explained current procedures and responded to many excellent questions that helped clarify the intent of the AC10 (quality documentation) and AC304 (inspection agencies) criteria.

The webinar, developed to help inspection agencies better understand the ICC-ES requirements, helps streamline manufacturing facility inspections. The web-based approach allowed many who could not attend the meetings to access the information.

For those who missed the May 10 webinar, all three presentations are now available on the ICC-ES website.

Thorsell Re-Appointed to NCARB


As an NCARB Code Liaison, Thorsell provides support for code-related exam items.

ICC-ES Regional Manager Steven Thorsell, AIA, CSI, has been re-appointed, for an 11th term, to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Architectural Registration Examination (ARE) Committee as Code Liaison. Candidates who want to become licensed architects must successfully pass all nine divisions of the NCARB exam to become eligible to gain their license to practice in the U.S., U.S. territories and Canada. The ARE committee develops the examination questions.