BDA
Program Attracts Members
The IAS Building
Department Accreditation (BDA) program, the first nationally recognized
accreditation program for building departments, is attracting
attention from ICC member building jurisdictions. In the last
12 months alone, IAS received applications for accreditation from
22 jurisdictions in 17 states nationwide. |
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received as of October 2006. |
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Workshops
Draw Crowd at Symposium
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The theme of this
year’s Measurement Science Conference Symposium and Workshop in Long
Beach, California, was “Apply Metrology … Rule the World” — and IAS
Accreditation Officer Hershal Brewer certainly agrees with this premise.
He hosted an all-day tutorial called “Accreditation: Challenges and
Solutions,” and helped attendees understand the common roadblocks
to laboratories seeking accreditation, covering the nuts and bolts
of accreditation from computer systems and software, to general criteria
for selecting an accreditation body.
Brewer also chaired a Public Safety Forum on Electrical Safety where
a number of industry experts, calibration laboratory representatives
and industry leaders learned about the challenges of a testing laboratory
as related to electrical installations, appliances, machines and electrical/electronic
devices. Several representatives from IAS-accredited testing laboratories
gave presentations during the forum, including “Fire Testing and Measurement,”
by Intertek Testing Services Quality Manager Vijay Ruikar, “Measurement
Challenges in Structural Testing,” by FM Approvals Technical Team
Manager Phillip Smith, and “Measurement Challenges in Electrical Testing,”
by CSA International Metrology Service Delivery Manager Daniel Barbini.
For more information on these topics, Hershal
Brewer is available at 562-699-0541, ext. 3309. |
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Learn
the Value of BDA
ICC Chapters
interested in learning more about the IAS Building Department Accreditation
(BDA) Program should schedule a presentation for a monthly chapter
meeting. This presentation answers questions about the value of
building department accreditation, highlights the benefits of operational
efficiency and effectiveness, and is available to all ICC Chapters
and building departments. For details, contact Greg
West at 888-422-7233, ext. 3267.
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Code
professionals from the ICC Orange County Chapter in California learn
from Greg West the purpose, process, costs and benefits of attaining
accreditation.
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Catch
a Customized Accreditation Course
 Florida
building officials and other building code professionals will have
the opportunity to take a customized accreditation course while
attending the Building Officials Association of Florida 55th
Annual Conference and Trade Expo in Orlando, Florida, June 4-7.
Presented by IAS’s Sandi McCracken, this two-hour course will highlight
the International Building Code (IBC) and the Florida
Building Code (FBC) Chapter 17 process for fabricator accreditation.
In particular, McCracken will highlight the differences between
the IBC and the FBC requirements, step through the accreditation
process and benefits to the building department and to the fabricator,
and outline best practices for fabricator accreditation program
implementation. Attendees will receive two CE credits for participating.
For more information, contact Sandi
McCracken at 562-699-0541, ext. 3442.
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IAS
President Chuck Ramani will serve as Honorary Event Chair for the
Silent
Defender Awards Dinner. Sponsored by the ICC Foundation, this Building Safety Week event recognizes the individuals and organizations who have made extraordinary achievements in building stronger, safer communities throughout the world.
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ICC
Board of Directors Meetings
May 19
• ICC Board Meeting Rochester, NY
IAS
Meetings
April 29-30 (tentative)
• IAS Board Meeting
May 1-2 (tentative)
• IAS Accreditation Committee Meeting |
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International Accreditation Service, Inc.
IAS eNews
February 2007
Vol. III, Issue 1
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Product
Certification Program Ready to Roll
The new International Accreditation Service (IAS) Product Certification
Agency program, which accredits certification programs under ISO/IEC Guide
65, General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification
Systems, is well under way. IAS has received two applications for
accreditation and several inquiries from organizations currently involved
in product certification. Look for the Guide 65 rules, accreditation criteria,
application, fees and other related documents on the IAS
website soon.
TAC
Drives Industry Advancement
Hosted by the City of Henderson, Nevada, the IAS Technical Advisory Council
(TAC) for Inspection meeting covered a range
of topics, including changes to the IAS Accreditation Criteria for
Inspection Agencies (AC98) and IBC Special Inspection Agencies (AC291),
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) training, and
the ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) Acceptance Criteria for Inspection
Agencies (AC304). Of particular note, IAS presented findings from a recent
satisfaction survey of IBC Special Inspection Agencies in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Council
Readies Vocational Program Criteria
After a second meeting in January, the IAS Technical Advisory Council
(TAC) on Qualification Programs is one step closer to drafting accreditation
criteria for adult vocational qualification programs, curriculums and
instructor training. When complete, this new criteria, based on ISO/IEC
17024, will raise the bar for the educational and training programs related
to construction practices.
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The
TAC on Qualification Programs is a unique combination of labor advocates,
training and certification experts, and construction practitioners,
including representatives of the construction industry and trade
unions. Clockwise: John LeConche, Executive Director of Laborers-AGC
Education & Training Fund; guest observer Dean Frank, Director of
Quality Programs for the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute;
ICC Vice President of Certification and Testing David Nelson; IAS
President Chuck Ramani; IAS Interim Quality Manager Jagdheesh Manian;
Albert DeVita, Manager of Laborers-AGC Education & Training Fund;
Bernadette Oliveira-Rivera, Project Manager of Laborers-AGC Education
& Training Fund; and IAS Project Coordinator Kellee Lostaunau.
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Realize
the Benefits of a DAR
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An
IAS representative checks material traceability.
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Did
you know that fabricators that have a qualified
Designated Accreditation Representative (DAR) can cut quarterly unannounced
inspections by an IAS-accredited inspection agency in half? Or that a DAR
could drive streamlined fabricator processes and quality? For instance,
Structural Steel Fabricator Programs with an approved IAS DAR on their staff
may benefit from a reduced number of quarterly unannounced inspections over
a period of time.
European
Agencies Earn Accreditation
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IAS
VP Patrick McCullen presents a certificate of accreditation to Jörg
Asmus of the German inspection agency IEA.
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The Ingenieurburo Eligehausen
und Asmus (IEA), a German-based inspection body, was recently accredited
by IAS under ISO/IEC Standard 17020. IEA is accredited to perform inspections
of mechanical and chemical anchors in concrete that are regulated under
the International Building Code, ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria and Guidelines
for European Technical Approvals. IEA is owned by Professor Dr.—engineer
Rolf Eligehausen and Dr.—engineer Jörg Asmus, both of whom are recognized
experts in this field.
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is the other newly accredited European
inspection agency under ISO/IEC 17020. VTT specializes in the inspection
(and testing) of wood products such as glued-laminated lumber, plywood,
lumber grading and wood laminates. IAS warmly welcomes these outstanding
organizations.
Dubai
Lab Earns High Praise
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Craig
Joss conducts a technical review of ACES’s operations.
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A premier engineering
and geotechnical organization in the Gulf region, the Arab Center for Engineering
Studies (ACES) in Dubai has become the first IAS-accredited laboratory in
the Gulf-Emirates region. ACES is primarily involved in site and geotechnical
testing. The accreditation team, consisting of Raj Nathan and Dr. Craig
Joss, concluded, “The in-house software support system managing the quality
process is outstanding and the availability of a variety of proficiency
testing schemes in the Gulf region was exceptional.”
New
IAS Experts Bring Fresh Ideas
IAS is pleased to welcome several new expert
staff members:
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| Bruce
DeMaine |
Gaddis
Farmer |
Jagdeesh
Manian |
• Bruce DeMaine,
Program Manager for Product Certification Agencies, will work to ensure
the new IAS ISO/IEC Guide 65 accreditation program not only exceeds our
customers’ expectations, but also brings fresh ideas to this traditional
arena.
• Gaddis Farmer, Senior Accreditation Officer for the IAS Building
Department Accreditation (BDA) program, will work with IAS BDA Project Coordinator
Kellee Lostaunau to nurture and grow the BDA program.
• Jagdeesh Manian, Interim Quality Manager, will provide technical
assistance in the delivery of IAS training programs and managing a pool
of technical subject matter experts.
How to Reach Us
If you have questions or comments about IAS eNews, please call the
International Accreditation Service (IAS) at 1-866-427-4422, send letters
to 5360 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA 90601, send an e-mail to info@iasonline.org,
or go to www.iasonline.org.
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For specific
questions about IAS accreditation programs, contact:
Testing Laboratories, Inspection Agencies and Special Inspection Agencies
Raj Nathan
Director, Accreditation Service
Ph: 1-866-427-4422, ext: 3309
Fax: 562-699-8031
Calibration Laboratories
Hershal Brewer
Accreditation Officer
Ph: 1-866-427-4422, ext: 3309
Fax: 562-699-8031
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Fabricator
Inspection Programs
Sandra McCracken
Accreditation Officer
Ph: 1-866-427-4422, ext: 3309
Fax: 562-699-8031
Building Department Accreditation
Gaddis Farmer
Senior Accreditation Officer
Ph: 562-699-0541, ext: 3448
Fax: 562-699-8031
Building Department Accreditation
Kellee Lostanau
Project Coordinator
Ph: 562-699-0541, ext: 3448
Fax: 562-699-8031 |
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