Several New York City-based special inspection agencies have applied to become accredited by the International Accreditation Service (IAS) to meet requirements of the New York City Department of Buildings. Along with its adoption of the International Building Code (IBC), the New York City Construction Codes now include a requirement that special inspection agencies must be accredited. Eight special inspection agencies have already achieved IAS accreditation to provide special inspections in New York City.

IAS provides building departments with a comprehensive program for evaluating and approving the technical competence of special inspection agencies. Under this program, IAS assesses and monitors the special inspection agencies to ensure they meet the requirements in Chapter 17 of the International Building Code. The assessments are part of IAS's program that assesses each agency based on its specific field of expertise. Once an agency has proven it meets the criteria, it is issued a certificate of accreditation with a defined scope of accredited inspection fields and added to the list of IAS-accredited agencies on the IAS website, available 24/7.

The IAS Special Inspection Agency Accreditation Program can be tailored to meet the needs of a single department, an ICC Chapter, or even an entire region or state. Cities may revise an existing ordinance or draft a new ordinance requiring IAS accreditation of special inspection agencies. IAS works with jurisdictions to make the accreditation process seamless and attractive to the inspection industry and to building departments and city managers. There is no cost for building departments that participate in the IAS Special Inspection Agency Accreditation Program.

For more information about the process to implement the program, including establishing a timeline, and educating your staff, special inspection agencies, and design professions working in your community, click here.