Building Supply Firm Completes New Certification Program
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and ICC Evaluation Service Inc. (ICC-ES) have announced that United States Gypsum Co. (USG), a building product manufacturer, is the first company to have products assessed through the new Dual Evaluation and Certification Program. USG received both the UL Mark for safety and ICC-ES Mark for code compliance.
Chicago-based USG specializes in producing gypsum wallboard, joint compound, ceiling suspension systems, and other related products for the construction and remodeling industries.
"Our company is privileged to be the first to have a product successfully pass under the new UL and ICC-ES Dual Evaluation and Certification Program," said Robert Grupe, director, Architectural and Technical Solutions at USG. "As a global company, speed-to-market is important to us. The dual listing process helped us move through the certification process faster. Having one point of contact for both certification and evaluation helped maintain efficient communications and eliminate back end administrative time."
The Dual Evaluation and Certification Program with UL and ICC-ES launched in December 2009 to help building manufacturers show compliance with both standards and codes, through one point of contact. USG's Fortacrete Structural Panels were tested and certified to UL safety standards and evaluated to meet ICC-ES acceptance criteria. The complying products will be posted in UL's Online Certifications Directory and Code Correlation Database along with ICC-ES's online directory of evaluation reports and will be embedded in ICC's e-Codes Premium.
"In just a short time, we have seen a great response to the dual evaluation and certification partnership," said Chris Hasbrook, vice president and general manager, UL Global Building Materials and Life Safety & Security Industries. "Manufacturers are concerned with two things: speed to market and providing safe, quality products. The Dual Evaluation and Certification Program is the solution to industry needs."
In addition to the Dual Evaluation and Certification Program for the building products industry, UL and ICC-ES established a Dual PMG Listing Program to verify that plumbing, mechanical, and fuel gas products comply with applicable codes and standards.
"The partnership with Underwriters Laboratories has been tremendous," said Mark Johnson, president, ICC-ES. "Together we are able to better serve manufacturers, regulators, building officials, architects, contractors, and insurers to make sure products are safe and code compliant as they are introduced to the marketplace."