IAS eNews

Free Evaluator Training
Offered at Conference

Interested in becoming a lead evaluator of building departments? IAS is offering another two-day training opportunity to qualify experienced building officials as lead evaluators for its popular Building Department Accreditation program. Free to registered conference attendees, learn about lead evaluator responsibilities, as well as the purpose, process and benefits of attaining building department accreditation at this years International Code Council Annual Conference September 30–October 3 in Reno, Nevada.

The Perfect Opportunity
to Find out More about IAS

If you want to find out more about IAS accreditation programs for building departments, fabricators, special inspection, or testing and calibration laboratories, IAS is hosting an exhibit at the Annual Conference in Reno. Stop by booth 315 and see what we can do for you.

Learn the Value of Accreditation

Code Council Chapters and building organizations in California, Colorado, Louisiana, Oregon and Texas have already discovered the industry-proven benefits behind attaining IAS building department accreditation.

Now it’s your turn. Contact IAS Marketing Manager Greg West to schedule a uniquely designed presentation for your next chapter meeting and learn more about the IAS Building Department Accreditation program.

Brewer Featured in
Quality Digest Magazine

A recent article in Quality Digest magazine article titled, “Certified Safe?” takes a behind-the-scenes look at product safety testing. Featured IAS Accreditation Officer Hershal Brewer offers sound advice on how to choose a safe testing laboratory.

Attendees Overcome
Accreditation Roadblocks

IAS Accreditation Officer Hershal Brewer hosted a half-day tutorial entitled, “Accreditation: Challenges and Solutions” at the National Conference of Standards Laboratories (NCSL) International Workshop & Symposium on August 3 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Brewer highlighted common roadblocks to laboratories seeking accreditation, covering the nuts and bolts of accreditation from computer systems and software, general criteria for selecting an accreditation body, and how to market an accredited laboratory, among other related topics.

Brewer is the NCSL accrediting body liaison for 2007. For details on this topic, contact Hershal Brewer.

Palm Beach Groups Host
BDA Lead Evaluator Class

The ICC Palm Beach Chapter and the Palm Beach School District hosted the second Building Department Accreditation Lead Evaluator class in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-five individuals from building departments and private building department service providers participated in the two-day class.

Board Meetings

Sept. 29	ICC Board Meeting Reno, NV

Oct. 4	IAS Board Meeting Reno, NV

UL Engineer Remembered


Lee Dosedlo

Lee Dosedlo, former Chief Engineer of Testing and Certification for Underwriters Laboratories (UL), passed away June 9 after a courageous battle with cancer. Among his many accomplishments, Dosedlo developed the UL Standard for Safety for Residential Fire Sprinklers and certified the first UL-Listed residential sprinkler. Dosedlo was instrumental in developing UL’s policies for participating in model code development and in the organization’s achievement of IAS laboratory accreditation.

IAS eNews
August 2007
Vol. 3, Issue 3

Plano Earns Building Department Accreditation

IAS Board member Ravi Shah, C.B.O., and Chair of the IAS Board Committee on Accreditation (left), presents the certificate of IAS accreditation to Plano Mayor Pat Evans and Chief Building Official Selso Mata during the August 13 Plano City Council meeting.

For its attention to ethical, legal and technical standards that emphasize life-safety and property protection, the City of Plano, Texas, Building Inspections Department earned IAS Building Department Accreditation. Home to over 240,000 people in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Plano is the first jurisdiction in Texas—and the third in the nation—to receive this prestigious recognition.

Laboratory Assessor Certification Now Available

An international consortium of accrediting organizations, including IAS and organizations from Australia, Canada, Malaysia and Mexico, developed a comprehensive certification program for ISO/IEC Standard 17025 Accreditation Assessors. The certification will be offered through RABQSA, a personnel and training certification company.

“This personnel certification is designed specifically for laboratory assessors,” explains IAS Accreditation Officer Hershal Brewer. “Through this certification, these assessors can demonstrate their expertise and knowledge through an internationally approved process. We expect several of our laboratory assessment staff to achieve this certification in the next year.”

Egyptian Testing Labs Gain IAS Accreditation

One of the premier research and testing laboratories in Egypt, the Housing and Building National Research Center (HBRC) develops technical and industrial methods and standards for construction materials and testing. Above, HBRC laboratory representatives receive their accreditation certificate during a special ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Dedicated to enhancing infrastructure, improving building and construction practices, and raising the quality of construction materials and testing in Egypt, the Housing and Building National Research Center completed the IAS laboratory accreditation program under the requirements of ISO/IEC Standard 17025:2005 for two laboratories. These laboratories evaluate soil, rock, aggregate and cement for commercial and residential construction. The IAS accreditation process was completed over the last year and included assessment of the facility’s equipment, procedures and personnel.

Have Questions on AC251?


	Kellee Lostaunau

Building Department Accreditation Program FAQs, Part II

IAS Project Coordinator Kellee Lostaunau continues her clarification of the IAS Accreditation Criteria for Building Departments/Code Enforcement Agencies AC251 in response to frequently asked questions posted by building departments across the country.

Internal Auditing Best Practices

An internal audit is an effective tool to monitor an organization’s Quality Management System. Typically, these audits include the evaluation of technical and quality systems. IAS Accreditation Officer Prasanth Ramakrishnan answers some of the common questions that arise before, during and after an internal audit, and offers some thoughts on industry best practices for success.

Fabricator Forum

Accreditation helps contractor drive efficiency and quality.

Two years ago, Nevada-based Richardson Construction looked to expand its construction services to include steel fabrication in support of public construction projects in and around Las Vegas. The firm needed to demonstrate its quality, skilled personnel and advanced technology.

The company looked to IAS’s nationally recognized fabrication accreditation program and not only earned accreditation, but reshaped its quality control processes while creating an exceptional, service-oriented, steel fabrication business that caught the attention of the City of Las Vegas.

Saving the Lives of Children, One Child at a Time

In July 2006, IAS received an application from Child Related Research, Inc. (CRR) seeking testing laboratory accreditation under ISO/IEC Standard 17025, General Criteria for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. CRR wanted to demonstrate the capabilities of its staff testers and test managers in testing to child-resistant packaging standards. Over the next few months, IAS conducted a series of on-site assessments to evaluate CRR’s quality management system and to observe actual testing of both child and adult subjects.


IAS President C.P. Ramani holds a plaque from ICC for contributing chapters on accreditation.

IAS Contributes to
New Manual

The most effective building department management tool available—the new Building Department Administration, 3rd edition—is the go-to source for advice and information specific to building department operations. The book, jointly published by the International Code Council and IAS, contains chapters on building department accreditation and is referenced in IAS Accreditation Criteria for Building Departments/Code Enforcement Agencies AC251, the criteria for accreditation of building departments.