ICC Evaluation Service expands evaluation opportunities for manufacturers
Elyse G. Levy, S.E., senior staff engineer with ICC Evaluation Service, reported that “ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) has recently expanded evaluation opportunities for manufacturers of structural fasteners in several ways.
“Extensive revisions to the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Dowel-type Threaded Fasteners Used in Wood (AC233) were approved by the Evaluation Committee in October 2020. In part, these revisions allow for harmonization with European testing requirements for screws used in wood, including mass timber. New provisions also address design values for screws installed into the end grain of wood members and into edges of cross-laminated timber.
“The ICC-ES Building Product Listing program continues to expand. Under this program, products are evaluated for compliance with a particular standard. The resulting Listing Reports (ESLs) are a fast and cost-effective way to demonstrate compliance with standards referenced in building codes and other construction codes. For fasteners in particular, ESLs can address compliance with ASTM C954 and ASTM C1002, for screws used to fasten gypsum board products to supporting framing. As with other ICC-ES products, ESLs are available to everyone, free of charge, through the ICC-ES website.
“For all products, ICC-ES is expanding opportunities to address requirements of specific jurisdictions, in addition to addressing requirements of the International Building Code and the International Residential Code. For example, ICC-ES now offers report supplements that address statewide code requirements, such as the California, Florida and Oregon Building Codes, as well as city-specific requirements in the Los Angeles Building Code and the Chicago Building Code.
“Now that the 2021 International Building Code and other model codes published by the International Code Council have been released, ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria are in the process of being updated to further support manufacturers.”
This article originally appeared in the December 2020/January 2021 digital edition of Fastener Technology International and is reprinted with permission.