With the start of the new year the International Code Council (ICC) and ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) are optimistic about the progress and developments within ICC-ES that are aimed at improving the process for each manufacturer.

"Every manufacturer that ICC-ES provides services to is important," said ICC-ES President Shahin Moinian. "And as we hope you have noticed, ICC-ES staff is making great strides in efforts to improve the speed of issuing reports, reducing costs and improving overall customer service."

Having an ICC-ES report is an investment in the safety of people and a company's brand. For ICC, the revenue received from ES services not only offsets ES operating expenses, it also helps contribute to the overall mission of the Code Council.

"Thanks to ICC-ES report holders, the Code Council is able to continuously maintain the codes that have become the model in all 50 states in the U.S. and a growing number of countries around the world," said ICC CEO Dominic Sims.

Working with other Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) whose standards are referenced in the International Codes, the ICC process has become the most effective way to address the changing needs of the construction industry on a large scale. "Manufacturers' support for the building safety environment, in turn, ensures their ability to do business effectively in thousands of jurisdictions by turning a patchwork of regulations into a single market," Sims added.

As designers, contractors and code officials face the need for product research reports for traditional, new and innovative products, or those not defined in the I-Codes, they look first to ICC-ES reports and listings. They know an ICC ES Evaluation Report, Building Product Listing or PMG Listing is issued only after a rigorous technical evaluation. They also recognize that ICC engineering resources stand behind the ICC-ES evaluation process.

"In 2014 we plan to increase our investment in improving our service and strengthening our brand to maximize the value of ES reports and listings for all our customers," Moinian said. "We are bringing on new staff while maintaining our commitment to exceptional technical capabilities. Your feedback on how we're doing is essential and we want to encourage you to contact us any time directly about issues or ideas you have that would improve ES services or further increase their value to you. Again, thank you for your business and continued support of ICC and ICC-ES. We wish you and your organization great continued success in 2014."