IAPMO’s Uniform Evaluation Service (UES) has entered into a cooperative agreement with Benchmark Consulting & Inspection (BCI) for the development and maintenance of evaluation reports, with BCI performing the corresponding audits/inspections. As a result of the agreement, BCI clients may choose to have their products recognized in the form of a Uniform Evaluation Report.
”This agreement provides BCI clients the opportunity to have their products recognized in a Uniform Evaluation Report while still maintaining existing and qualified inspection and testing relationships,” said Randy Webb, president of BCI and chief technical officer of Benchmark Holdings (BMH).
BCI is ISO 17020 accredited through International Accreditation Service (IAS) report AA-660 under BMH — of which BCI is a managing member — to perform in-plant inspections on Precast, Pre-stressed and or Post Tensioned Structural Concrete, Concrete Retaining Walls, Rood Underlayment, Concrete/Steel Foundation Piers, Wood Based Building Products, Metal Plate Connected Wood Trusses, Wood to Wood/Metal to Metal Fasteners and Connectors, Wood Hangers, Masonry Anchors, Framing Connectors, Shear Panels, Anchor Bolts/Straps, Steel Couplers and Splices, Prefabricated Construction and Assemblies, Metal Building Manufacturing, and related manufacturing fields. Benchmark is headquartered in Eugene, Ore.
“This agreement makes sense, yielding a win for manufacturers and code officials,” said Richard Beck, director of Uniform Evaluation Service. “It effectively allows both organizations to do what they do best for the advancement of the building industry.”
Products recognized under UES have successfully undergone evaluation based on applicable requirements within the International Family of Codes, as well as codes published by other entities. UES staff thoroughly examines a product’s information, test reports, calculations, quality assurance, quality control methods, Production Processes/procedures and other factors to ensure the product is code compliant.
The UES program is built upon IAPMO’s more than 70 years of experience in evaluating products for code compliance. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the program operates under ISO/IEC Guide 65, “General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems.”
IAPMO’s UES offers a full range of recognition opportunities, including recognition for the applicable national model codes, as well as Florida, California and various other state codes. The UES program increases the value to code officials of these reports by combining all of these recognitions in one concise report prepared by an internationally recognized product certification body.
For more information on IAPMO’s Uniform ES, direct your Web browser to www.Uniform-ES.org or contact Karen Snowden at (909) 472-4105 or karen.snowden@iapmoes.org.
IAPMO Uniform ES evaluates building products, materials and designs according to all applicable codes and standards, ensuring continuous compliance to such documents. IAPMO Uniform ES is part of The IAPMO Group.
Last modified: October 28, 2013