City Managers Confirm Community-Wide Value of Building Department Accreditation

During the past two years, a number of building departments across the United States have earned accreditation through the International Accreditation Service (IAS) Building Department Accreditation program, and it's not just building officials who realize the benefits. In many cases, the demand for accreditation comes from top community leaders, namely, local government managers. Plano, Texas, City Manager Tom Muehlenbeck says, "We consider ourselves 'first preventers' in building safety." Click to continue. Pictured at the IAS accreditation presentation ceremony during a Plano City Council Meeting are Ravi Shah (left), C.B.O., Chair, IAS Accreditation Review Committee, Plano Mayor Pat Evans and Chief Building Official Selso Mata.

World Accreditation Day Celebrated June 9

More than 60 countries participated in World Accreditation Day on June 9, a worldwide initiative jointly established by the International Accreditation Forum and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). IAS, as a recognized accreditation body and signatory member of ILAC, endorses this project to raise awareness of how accreditation is used to support the work of regulators. IAS generated publicity for the event by placing articles and advertisements in several quality-related venues such as the Quality Digest and Building Safety Journal Online. A Quality Digest press release on IAS and World Accreditation Day highlights the benefits and importance of international accreditation. Click to continue.

IAS Training in Abu Dhabi Addresses Workplace Challenges

A team of IAS experts presented three days of training to the Abu Dhabi Municipal Building Departments' executives and managers. Held at the Abu Dhabi Officers Club, the "Leadership in the 21st Century" training lead the participants through a program of lecture, small-group exercises and class discussion activities. The training was well received and featured in local media outlets. The goal of the training was to help Building Department managers learn creative methods to address 21st century workplace challenges, which requires managers to know how to create high-performing teams; design empowering work environments; and develop and manage partnerships, alliances and networks. The training is part of the Abu Dhabi Municipal Building Departments' structured approach to prepare for IAS accreditation.

Let IAS Know What You Are Thinking

Share your comments about accreditation with IAS using our new electronic feedback form. See the Feedback link on the Contact Us page of the IAS website.

ISO/IEC 17020, 17025 Training Held in May

IAS offered training on ISO/IEC Standard 17020 (Inspection Bodies) May 23-24, and on ISO/IEC Standard 17025 (Laboratory) May 25-27 in La Habra, California. Knowledge of these standards is critical to any inspection agency or testing or calibration laboratory considering IAS accreditation, and attendees have reported that attending these trainings saved them time and money during the accreditation process.

Contact IAS for more information on training schedules, custom curricula, training at your facility or special requests. Call IAS at (866) 427-4422 or e-mail info@iasonline.org.

IAS Presents on Special Inspection in New York City

IAS representative Larry O'Connor participated in a presentation on structural masonry sponsored by the International Masonry Institute and the New York State Society of Professional Engineers. O'Connor focused on the IAS requirements for Special Inspection Agencies performing inspections on structural masonry construction in New York City. More than 60 engineers and architects attended the presentation.

IAS Building Department Registration Program

IAS recognizes that many building departments and city managers are currently facing tough economic decisions. As a practical response, IAS developed the Registration Program as a means for all building departments to undergo a meaningful and affordable assessment of their administration and daily operations by an internationally recognized and respected third party. The Registration Program is an effective pathway towards accreditation when fiscal pressures ease. The program criteria (RC418) closely mirrors the IAS Building Department Accreditation Program criteria (AC251). To learn more or to schedule a presentation, contact Program Manager Rick Archer, 866-427-4422, ext 3225.

Special Inspection Presentation for Missouri Building Officials

The Southwest Missouri Code Officials chapter of ICC invited IAS to give a presentation about special inspections at its recent meeting in Springfield, Missouri. Greg Johnson, former IAS Board member, and Sandi McCracken, IAS Program Manager, jointly presented an overview of the IBC Chapter 17 code requirements for special inspection and outlined how building officials can use the IAS special inspection agency accreditation program in their jurisdictions. The presentation also shared how IAS helps building departments implement the program at little or no cost to their jurisdictions. The IAS Special Inspection Agency Accreditation Program is based on Accreditation Criteria 291 and is garnering interest throughout the U.S.

ICC-ES Test Plan Speeds Up Product Evaluations

ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) performs technical evaluations of building products and provides building departments with reports that verify products are code compliant. As part of the evaluation process, ICC-ES requires manufacturers to have their products tested by accredited testing laboratories. Testing laboratories interested in participating in the ICC-ES program will want to have a test plan in place to ensure the most efficient process for the customer. To read more, click here.

Look for the IAS Accreditation Mark

Competence and quality are the assurance that comes with the IAS Accreditation Mark. When you see the IAS Accreditation Mark on a company or organization, you know IAS has evaluated it.

IAS Spring 2011 Committee Week

The IAS Accreditation Committee recently held a public hearing in Norwalk, California, to consider agenda items pertaining to new and existing IAS Accreditation Criteria. The Accreditation Committee is comprised of regulatory officials from jurisdictions across the United States. IAS is the only U.S.-based accreditation body that develops its accreditation criteria through a public hearing process. IAS posts notices on its website of upcoming Accreditation Committee meetings and the full agenda of criteria to be considered 60 days prior to the hearing. Pictured is President of the Los Angeles Basin Chapter of ICC Neville Pereira expressing a point about a proposed change to the Special Inspection Agency Accreditation Criteria (AC 291).

Committee Approves New AC426 Accreditation Criteria

The Fire Prevention and Life Safety Department Accreditation Criteria (AC426) was approved during the IAS Accreditation Committee in Norwalk, California, which is the final step in formalizing this new accreditation program. An agreement between IAS and the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) regarding accreditation of fire prevention and life-safety departments was signed at the 2010 Code Council Annual Conference. Under this agreement, IAS will conduct the accreditation component and CPSE will be responsible for training potential applicants. An alpha test of the program was completed in December with a state fire marshal's office. This program will now be rolled out for other candidate jurisdictions to apply.

IAS Presents Meritorious Service Award to NYC Commissioner

Fatma Amer (center), Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Building Department, received an IAS Meritorious Service Award from Dottie Harris (left) and Sara Yerkes of the Code Council's Government Relations Department, at her retirement dinner in April.

Accreditation and the Uptick

The current downturn in the economy has had an impact on building departments and code enforcement agencies throughout the country. The key question is, "what are jurisdictions doing now to prepare themselves to meet the demands of an economic uptick?" Furthermore, when the economic situation improves, what can civic leaders do now to capitalize on an improving economy and attract development dollars? Committing to accreditation of the building department can be a timely investment to position your jurisdiction out front in driving economic revitalization. Click to continue

CONTENT DISCLAIMER — IAS eNews features links that may take you outside the IAS website. We are not responsible for the content and privacy practices of outside websites.
EDITOR'S NOTE — We are dedicated to providing informative insight into the world of accreditation. IAS would like to encourage all of our participants in all of our programs to submit relevant articles for future publications. Your unique perspective will prove extremely valuable to our readership. Please forward your articles and photographs to Pat McCullen at pmccullen@iasonline.org.
SUBSCRIPTION INFO — Thank you for subscribing to IAS eNews‚ a free‚ quarterly email publication of the International Accreditation Service (IAS). IAS is a non-profit‚ public-benefit corporation and a leading accreditation body in the United States. Internationally recognized‚ accreditation by IAS makes it easier to market products and services both inside and outside the United States. Receive and experience IAS eNews as intended. If you use spam filters to protect your inbox‚ please take a moment to add the “from” address eNewsLetter@iccsafe.org to your email address book‚ spam software whitelist or mail system whitelist. This will help ensure you receive our enewsletter and that your email software displays the HTML and images properly. You may have received this enewsletter as a one-time-only mailing because you have a business relationship with the International Accreditation Service or the International Code Council. If you no longer wish to receive IAS eNews, click here to unsubscribe. Please note, unsubscribe requests may take up to 10 business days to process. You also may receive email messages such as confirmation of a product you purchased, an event you registered for, and certain essential membership information pertaining to your business relationship with the Code Council or any other relationship or transactional messages. We respect and value your time and privacy.