Las Vegas Becomes First IAS-Accredited
Building Department
The City of Las Vegas, Nevada, has received the first IAS Building Department certificate of accreditation. The accreditation, granted in April 2006, signifies that the City of Las Vegas demonstrates compliance with the IAS Accreditation Criteria for Building Departments/Code Enforcement Agencies (AC251), including the applicable sections of ISO/IEC Standard 17020 General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection.

Click here to read more.

(L-R) Las Vegas City Council members Steven D. Ross, Steve Wolfsman and Gary Reese; Mayor Oscar B. Goodman; IAS President Chuck Ramani; Melva Wilkins (mother of Paul Wilkins); Building and Safety Director Paul Wilkins; and Council members Larry Brown, Lois Tarkanian and Lawrence Weekly.

IAS Board Meets in Los Angeles

	ICC COO Rick Weiland (far right) addresses IAS Board and staff members during the meeting. They are: (clockwise) IAS VP Pat McCullen, IAS Board Directors Robert G. Blanton, Curtis Mann and James Brothers, and IAS CFO Jim Houle.

The April 2006 IAS Board of Directors meeting held in Los Angeles covered a wide array of business issues—ranging from financial reporting to an update on the 2006 business plan. The meeting commenced with a two-hour orientation for new IAS board members followed by two days of board meetings. The last meeting commenced with presentations by key IAS staff on their areas of responsibility. To read more about the recent IAS Board meeting, click here.

IAS Participates in Restoration 2006

	Greg West gave a presentation on IAS services to attendees of the Restoration 2006 conference in New Orleans.

IAS' Greg West spoke about the IAS Building Department Accreditation/Code Enforcement Agency Program, and how the program can help building departments operate more efficiently and effectively during last week’s Restoration 2006: Community and Economic Recovery conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The inaugural conference was organized by the International City/County Management Association, the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties in collaboration with numerous partners, supporters and cosponsors, including ICC. Other speakers and panelists included Mayor Ray Nagin from the City of New Orleans, ICC CEO James Lee Witt and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary for Preparedness George Foresman.

McCracken

Is Your Building Department Implementing the Special Inspection Requirements of the Code?
In a one-on-one interview, IAS Accreditation Officer Sandi McCracken provides answers for building departments considering using IAS special inspection agency accreditation to help building officials implement the code requirements in IBC Chapter 17.

Click here for more information.

Arizona Chapter Hosts Fabricator
Inspection Accreditation Presentation
IAS Accreditation Officer Sandi McCracken recently gave a presentation on how the IAS Fabricator Inspection Accreditation Program can help building departments meet the IBC requirements for approving fabricators to members of the Central Arizona Chapter of ICC
in Phoenix. McCracken discussed the value of the program, accreditation procedures as well as associated costs. Many building departments don't realize that the IAS Fabricator Accreditation Program can be implemented at little to no cost to the building department.

For more information on having this presentation made at your chapter event, contact Kellee Lostaunau at 1-888-422-7233 (ICC-SAFE) ext. 3448.

Fabricator Approval—Enforcing IBC Chapter 17 Requirements
Did you know the International Building Code (IBC) requires continuous special inspection of certain critical assemblies at the job site?

If you didn't, you're not alone. Many building departments don't know or simply don't have the time, manpower or infrastructure to manage fabrication inspections as comprehensively as they'd like.

That's why IAS introduced the IAS Fabricator Inspection Accreditation Program, a robust, ongoing program that meets the requirements of Section 1701.7 of the Uniform Building Code and Section 1704.2.2 of the IBC. Better yet, the cost to building departments is little or nothing.

Click here for more information.

FM Global Expands Presence with IAS Edge
Not long ago, FM Approvals, the product certification and testing services arm of commercial and industrial property insurance firm FM Global, looked to expand its testing services to Europe. However, expanding to this market required that FM Approval's testing laboratories gain accreditation from recognized European accreditors—a process expected to take up to a year, timing well beyond the anticipated business opportunity window.

Instead, George Smith, FM Approvals assistant vice president and materials group manager, called IAS. Through the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA), IAS is internationally recognized and an MRA partner of European accreditation bodies. The ILAC arrangement made it possible for IAS to expand the scope of accreditation of FM Approval's testing laboratory so that it could gain recognition from European regulators.

To read more on IAS assisting FM Approval’s testing laboratories, click here.

Chicago Hosts MU Training IAS hosted an Uncertainty in Measurement training program in Chicago, Illinois, in March, providing attendees with a complete overview of the IS0/IEC Standard 17025 requirements concerning Measurement Uncertainty (MU). The program covered the steps needed to consider in measurements, the measurement processes, estimating, controlling and calculating MU and much more. These training programs are ideal for those who wish to gain understanding of calculating MU, including laboratory managers, metrology managers, quality managers, as well as process, product, design and test engineers. IAS Staff Metrologist B. N. Taranath and Rick Curkeet of Intertek Testing Services presented the course.

APLAC MRA Council Meets in Singapore
IAS Re-Evaluation Report on MRA Agenda
The IAS re-evaluation report is on the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) Council agenda for consideration at its meeting this week in Singapore. IAS President Chuck Ramani will represent IAS at the Singapore meeting. The MRA Council manages the APLAC multilateral MRA, including peer evaluation of applicant bodies and re-evaluation of existing signatories. Click here to read more.

Become a BDA Lead Evaluator
With an increasing number of applications coming in for Building Department Accreditation (BDA) services, IAS has an immediate need for more trained lead evaluators. While IAS has enough evaluators to meet the demands in 2006, the number of applications for accreditation is expected to more than double in the next year. The time is ideal to convene more workshops and train more evaluators.

If any of the ICC Chapters or other code enforcement organizations have an interest in scheduling and providing a venue for the two-day training session, please contact IAS Project Coordinator Kellee Lostaunau at 1-866-427-4422 ext. 3448.

Customized Presentations Offer Insight
to IAS Accreditation Programs
Is your ICC Chapter interested in learning more about an IAS accreditation program? IAS is available to give an informational presentation about accreditation for building departments, testing and calibration laboratories, special inspection agencies, fabricators, and inspection agencies. These presentations will answer your questions about everything from the accreditation requirements and process for gaining accreditation, to the cost and benefits of the programs.

For more information, or to schedule a presentation, call Kellee Lostaunau at 1-888- 422-7233 (ICC-SAFE), ext. 3448.

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.

For specific questions about IAS accreditation programs, contact: