ICC Evaluation Service and QAI Laboratories Align Resources To Expedite Building Product Testing and Evaluations

Words: Michael Beaton, Chris BownessICC Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES), announced that it has formalized a working partnership with QAI Laboratories, Inc., headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, California, to streamline the process for building product manufacturers to have their products tested and evaluated. The result is an expedited ICC-ES Evaluation Report or an ICC-ES Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG) Listing.

Under the new partnering program, manufacturers can now work with ICC-ES and QAI to bring products to market faster and at less cost. Products covered include, but are not limited to, wall systems and coverings, roofing systems and underlayments, water-resistant and air barriers, insulation, plumbing fixtures and fittings, PVC pipe and fittings and innovative building products in all of these areas.

Michael Beaton, P.E., ICC-ES Senior Vice President, commented on the announcement: “Time to market is really what brought this partnership about. It’s already proved successful in trial projects with QAI and resulted in much quicker completions. Under our Partner Program, ICC-ES Evaluation Reports (ESRs) are getting approved in a fraction of the usual time.”

Traditionally, manufacturers submit test data from independent testing labs directly to ICC-ES to obtain an Evaluation Report that covers comprehensive building code requirements. However, often due to miscommunication, needed information for the various code evaluations is incomplete or omitted, which results in delays. With the new partnering program, the manufacturer, ICC-ES and QAI will establish close communications and work together from the beginning of the process to decide on the scope of the project, and agree on a testing plan and the data requirements necessary to achieve the ESR or the PMG Listing. Now, if issues arise during inspections and testing, they are resolved among the parties as testing proceeds so that agreed-upon testing criteria and specifications are met. “This process is going to save a lot of time, settle problems much sooner and avoid delays,” said Beaton.

Chris Bowness, General Manager of QAI, pointed out the communication advantages: “With our California offices just a few miles apart, and many years of working together, QAI and ICC-ES are able to react and resolve issues very quickly, bringing significant acceleration to the end-resulting evaluation report or certification.”

“Our mutual goal is to help customers bring new products and technology advancements to market as fast as possible, Bowness added. “The partnering process fills communication gaps, providing for the most thorough, accurate, and rapid path to product acceptance.

In addition to cost and time savings, there are several other benefits to the manufacturer. QAI will act as the single point of contact and supervises the entire evaluation process through plan development, sampling, testing, quality documentation, inspection, data package and draft report. Also, manufacturers of plumbing products have the added advantage of receiving dual certification for product recognition in the U.S. and Canada.
About: Featured
Echelon Masonry Introduces Ashton Brick, Its Latest Line of Artisan Masonry Veneers
April 2025

Echelon Masonry, North America’s leader in architectural masonry products and materials, announces the availability of its newest product line of artisan masonry veneers, Ashton Brick, in select states. Combining a classic brick aesthetic with durable con

MCAA Showcases Innovation at North Florida Masonry Showcase
April 2025

On Friday, April 11th, we had the pleasure of representing the Mason Contractors Association of America and our Outreach and Education Division at the North Florida Masonry Showcase. This event welcomed 15 high school students who demonstrated their growi

Thank You For Bidding In The 2025 Online Auction
April 2025

The MCAA extends a huge thank you to everyone who bid in this year’s online auction. With hundreds of bids on over 150 items, this year’s auction was another huge success. We also want to thank all of our amazing donors who put items up for auction. Wit

Preparing Masonry Jobsites for Summer Weather
April 2025

Spring is in the air, and summer is right around the corner. With that in mind, it’s time for all of us in the masonry industry to start preparing for warmer weather. It is very important that we consider the risks associated with working in the summer he