Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/143144
Newsline 6 UL Certifications & UL Evaluation Reports By John Taecker, UL, Senior Regulatory Engineer Architects, designers, contractors, installers and building officials can now rely on UL Evaluation Reports in addition to the UL Safety Certification Mark to determine code compliance of building products to model codes, particularly in instances where code requirements exceed the scope of individual UL certifications. UL Evaluation Reports are an evaluation of products to ICC-ES (International Code Council's Evaluation Service) Acceptance Criteria and the intent of code requirements. UL awarded its first Evaluation Report to a customer that produces EPS thermal insulation products. UL's Evaluation Report service was launched as a commitment to its customers to help meet their ever increasing need for fast, efficient, cost effective and market accepted code compliance reports. Most building products used in construction are required by the model codes - building, fire, mechanical, and energy conservation codes - to be tested and certified by an approved third party certifier in accordance with specific standards. Code compliance can be determined using UL safety certified products. Several free, easy to use online tools help locate these certifications, including: • UL Code Correlation Database – correlates specific model code section numbers with applicable UL certification information • Ultimate Fire Wizard – locate a fire resistance rated assembly that meets design specifications and code requirements • UL Online Certifications Directory – locate a UL Listing or Classification However, in some specific situations, code approval for new building materials or construction methods may go a bit beyond the trusted UL Safety Certification Mark. Some products are not addressed in the model codes; in some instances the model codes do not identify specific and clear requirements for products, or sometimes the model codes have multiple requirements for the product not covered by a single standard. In these situations, additional technical evidence may be needed to determine if a new or alternative material, product, design or method of construction complies with the intent of the model codes. UL Evaluation Reports are intended to provide that technical evidence. UL's new Evaluation Service was designed to provide building materials manufacturers with expedited turnaround time and an easy way of doing business by working with one point of contact for both a UL Safety Certification and a UL Evaluation Report. Additionally, no annual report renewals should save manufacturers additional time and money in the process of getting their products to market. Inclusion of UL Safety Certifications and UL Evaluation Reports on UL's Online Certifications Directory provides easy access for code authorities, architects and other decision makers to find code-complying products. Also, UL Evaluation Reports are included in UL's Code Correlation Database, the only database of its kind that directly connects UL Safety Certifications with specific code sections, providing even more ease for decision makers to find code-complying products. UL Evaluation Reports are based on the requirements in the model installation codes, such as the International Building Code (IBC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fire Code (IFC), and International Residential Code (IRC) and other standardized requirements. Where the product is not addressed in the model codes and/or the model installation codes do not identify specific and clear requirements for the product, the applicable ICC Acceptance Criteria (AC) is used as identified in the UL Evaluation Report. Where the model codes have clear requirements but there are multiple requirements for the product (i.e. not covered by a single standard) or the requirements are contained in various sections of the code, the appropriate codes and standards referenced in the model installation codes are used as identified in the UL Evaluation Report.