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December 2011 | Subscribe to this enewsletter  


 

L.A. Basin ICC Chapter Recommends IAS Fabricator Accreditation Program

The Los Angeles Basin Chapter of the International Code Council recommended that its 90-plus building department members accept the International Accreditation Service (IAS) accreditation program to approve fabricators that work in their jurisdictions. The accreditation program is based on the International Building Code Chapter 17 requirements for fabricators of structural steel, reinforced and precast/prestressed concrete, wood wall panels and metal building systems. Click to continue.


BOABC, IAS Agreement Introduces Building Department Accreditation Program in Canada

The Building Officials Association of British Columbia (BOABC) and IAS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together to develop a formal plan to introduce the IAS Building Department Accreditation Program to building departments in Canada. The accreditation demonstrates building departments operate at the highest ethical, legal and technical standards. Signing the MOU during the November ICC Annual Conference in Phoenix are (seated from left) IAS Board Chair John Barrios, ICC Board President William Dupler and BOABC President R.E. Dickinson, (standing) IAS President Chuck Ramani and ICC CEO Richard P. Weiland.


Florida Division of the State Fire Marshal Bureau of Fire Prevention Earns IAS Fire Prevention Department Accreditation

The Florida Division of the State Fire Marshal Bureau of Fire Prevention is the first department in the nation to achieve Fire Prevention and Life Safety Department Accreditation from IAS. The IAS accreditation verifies the department operates at the highest legal, ethical and technical standards. It also provides formal recognition of the department's competence to administer an effective system of code enforcement, and fire prevention and life safety programs for the benefit of the communities the division serves. Click to continue.


BSD SpecLink Adds Specification Language
for IAS-Accredited Fabricators

Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD) has added specification language for IAS-accredited structural steel fabricators (AC172) to the BSD SpecLink-E–Fall 2011 release. BSD's SpecLink-E is a sophisticated master guide specification system subscribed to by architects, engineers and specification writers nationwide. The new language includes IAS accreditation in the SpecLink-E fabricator qualifications in Section 06100 (Structural Steel) and to Section 01425 (Reference Standards). Click to continue.


IAS Expands Work Force Accreditation Services
for Construction Sector

The International Accreditation Service (IAS) is expanding its Work Force Accreditation Services to include accreditation of personnel certifying bodies. This expansion of services is in response to requests from current IAS constituents who provide personnel certification services for the construction sector—from the skilled trades through the design and inspection professions. Currently, the IAS Workforce Qualification Accreditation Program includes accreditation for training agencies (AC371) and curriculum developers (AC372). Click to continue.


IAS Accreditation Committee Revises Criteria

Representatives of IAS-accredited testing and inspection agencies, building departments and other regulatory officials and industry members attended the IAS Accreditation Committee October meeting in Norwalk, California. IAS is the only accreditation body in the United States that allows public participation in open hearings in the development of its accreditation criteria. The committee deliberations included several revisions to existing IAS accreditation criteria.


IAS Assessor Forum

The entire IAS technical staff and lead and technical assessors discussed the various challenges and insights resulting from IAS assessment activities during an annual assessor forum in October in Norwalk, California. IAS staff updated attendees on current conformity assessment practices, IAS policies and programs, and best-practice scenarios within the standards used in IAS accreditation programs. The forum primarily covered the technical and administrative aspects of key IAS accreditation programs, including ISO/IEC Guide 65 for Product Certification Agencies, ISO/IEC Standard 17025 for Testing and Calibration Laboratories and ISO/IEC Standard 17020 for Inspection Agencies. Several IAS Accreditation Committee members also attended prior to the committee's public hearing on October 7.


IAS Offers Appreciation to Its Customers at Reception

To show appreciation for customers and users of the IAS accreditation programs, IAS held a reception in Norwalk, California. Attendees included representatives from governmental regulatory agencies, industry, representatives from many IAS-accredited organizations and friends of IAS. View reception pictures. IAS currently has 14 accreditation programs and customers in 26 countries worldwide.

"IAS recognizes and thanks all of our valued customers for their support and trust. On behalf of the IAS staff‚ Board of Directors‚ Accreditation Committee and Technical Advisory Councils, we are grateful for the pleasure of serving you and meeting your accreditation needs," said IAS President Chuck Ramani (left).


FCIA Presents Butler Engineering ME with IAS AC291
Certificate of Accreditation

The first Special Inspection Agency accreditation granted in the United Arab Emirates was awarded to Butler Engineering ME Sajid Raza (left). The certificate was presented by Bill McHugh, Executive Director of the Fire Stop Contractors International Association. The accreditation program assesses and monitors the special inspection agencies to ensure they meet the requirements in Chapter 17 of the International Building Code.


IAS Participates in ICC Annual Conference

IAS played an active role in several events at the International Code Council's Annual Conference, October 31-November 6 in Phoenix. IAS delivered several educational sessions, including the lead evaluator training for building department and fire prevention department accreditation, special Inspection agency training, and cracker barrel presentations on building department, fabricator inspection and special inspection agency accreditation. IAS also was sponsor of the ICC Global Forum and an exhibitor in the ICC Expo.


IAS Educates at Cracker Barrel

IAS staff had the opportunity to make three presentations at the International Code Council's popular Cracker Barrel roundtable event during the Annual Conference in Phoenix. IAS topics included Building Department Accreditation presented by IAS Program Manager Preet Bassi, Special Inspections presented by IAS Program Manager Sandi McCracken, and Fabricator Inspection Accreditation presented by IAS Vice President Patrick McCullen and IAS Marketing Manager Greg West. Click to continue.


Building Department, Fire Prevention Department Accreditation Lead Evaluator Training Offered at ICC Annual Conference

A training program was held at the ICC Annual Conference for those interested in seeking accreditation or qualifying as lead evaluators for the IAS Building Department and Fire Prevention Department Accreditation programs. Presenters included IAS Technical Advisory Council Chairman and former Fire Marshal for the State of California Ronny Coleman, IAS Board Chairman John Barrios, IAS Program Manager Preet Bassi and IAS President Chuck Ramani. Coleman (left) lectures during the Fire Prevention and Life Safety Department Accreditation training program.


Special Inspection Training at ICC Annual Conference

IAS offered a training program "Special Inspections—Implementing and Managing IBC Chapter 17 Requirements for Building Departments" at the ICC Annual Conference in Phoenix. Attendees learned how to set up and manage a special inspection program and how IAS can assist building departments in these efforts. The three-hour program provided CEUs from ICC. Greg Johnson, a past member of the ICC and IAS Boards of Directors and a past chairman of the ICC Education Committee, presented the program. If you are interested in hosting this training event, contact IAS Senior Policy Advisor David Nelson. Johnson (left) instructs during the IAS accreditation program for Special Inspection Agencies and how a building department can manage special inspections.


Greensboro First in North Carolina to Achieve
IAS Building Department Accreditation

The IAS Accreditation Review Committee has found that Greensboro Development Services Division meets the rigorous standards of the IAS Accreditation Criteria for Building Departments AC251 in all areas examined, including general code administration, staffing, training, permitting, resource management, code adoption and enforcement, plan reviews, professional credentials/licenses, inspections, complaints and appeals, and certificates of occupancy. "This is a notable, professional achievement that demonstrates the city of Greensboro's commitment to public safety," said IAS President Chuck Ramani. Click to continue.


Training Held for NYC Special Inspection Agencies

IAS conducted a two-day training program in New York City that provided an overview of the IAS Accreditation Criteria for Special Inspection Agencies AC291, ISO/IEC Standard 17020 and NYC Department of Building (DOB) requirements and rules that govern the accreditation of Special Inspection Agencies. Larry O'Conner, IAS representative in New York, and Dr. Craig Josh, IAS technical assessor, presented the training on effectively implementing a quality management system to meet the IAS special inspection requirements and guidance on how to comply with the requirements of the New York City DOB. The course reviewed the steps necessary to prepare documents to satisfy AC291. This training is approved by the Practicing Institute of Engineering for both Professional Engineers and Registered Architects.


IAS Manager Appointed to PAC Executive Committee

The Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) appointed Ron Coiner, IAS Program Manager for Product Certification Agency Accreditation, as a member of the PAC Executive Committee. The role of the Executive Committee is to implement the policies and to manage the operations of PAC between the meetings of the organization. PAC is an association of accreditation bodies and other interested parties. Its goal is to facilitate trade and commerce among economies in the Asia Pacific region. Its ultimate objective is the creation of a global system that grants international recognition of certification or registration of management systems, products, services, personnel and other programs of conformity assessment. The PAC promotes the international acceptance of accreditations granted by its accreditation body members, based on the equivalence of their accreditation programs.


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 Signatory of ILAC, APLAC, PAC, IAF

IAS is a Mutual Recognition Arrangement signatory of the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). IAS is also a Multilateral Recognition Arrangement signatory of the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).


Changes to IAS Technical Advisory Councils

The IAS Board of Directors selected four individuals to serve in new positions of the IAS Technical Advisory Councils (TAC). IAS TACs are selected from senior management positions within testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, product certification agencies, governmental or regulatory organizations, or recognized technical experts. Click to continue.


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