IAS eNews

IAS Accreditation Committee Considers Criteria Revisions during October Meeting


From left, Chairman William Dumbaugh, Thomas Phillips, Larry Rude and Jonathan Bahr during the October 2009 IAS Accreditation Committee meeting in Norwalk, California.

The IAS Accreditation Committee convened on October 9, 2009, in Norwalk, California, to hold a public hearing on several items related to IAS Accreditation Criteria (AC) and to consider the development of proposed criteria for a registration program for building departments as an interim step toward full accreditation. Items on the October agenda for public discussion included revisions to existing IAS accreditation criteria for Training Agencies AC371; Curriculum Development AC372; Inspection Agencies AC98; Product Certification Agencies AC370; and IBC Special Inspection Agencies AC291.

The IAS Committee provides oversight for all IAS accreditation criteria and accreditation programs. The purpose of the public hearings is to establish new criteria or revise existing criteria. Unique to accreditation bodies in the U.S., the IAS open hearing process provides stakeholders and all interested parties with the opportunity to participate in the development of accreditation criteria or to provide input on IAS accreditation programs. Decisions are rendered by a majority vote of the committee members on any action.

Parties interested in the deliberations of the committee are not permitted to communicate either in writing or verbally with committee members prior to the public discussion on any agenda item. All written communications and submissions regarding agenda items must be delivered to IAS at least 10 days before the scheduled Accreditation Committee meeting if they are to be forwarded to the Committee. Written communications are considered to be nonconfidential and are available for discussion in open session of the Committee. Correspondence received by IAS will not be released to any party, except to the Accreditation Committee, prior to the meeting without permission of the author. IAS also makes all communications and submissions in conjunction with the hearings available to interested parties after the hearings upon written request and payment of costs associated with duplication.

The IAS Accreditation Committee process promotes transparency and fairness and provides a valuable source of information to interested parties and stakeholders having an interest in IAS accreditation.