Learn the Value
of Accreditation

Code Council Chapters and building code enforcement organizations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon South Carolina and Texas have already discovered the industry-proven benefits behind attaining IAS building department accreditation. Now you can too. Contact IAS to schedule a presentation for your next chapter meeting.

IAS Board Meeting Highlights

The IAS Board of Directors met last month in Reno, Nevada, to discuss a range of topics, including the rules, fees and applications for new IAS accreditation programs. Get all the details here.

Board Meetings

February 15-16

May 5-11

ICC Board Meeting
Palm Springs, CA
IAS Board Meeting
Washington, D.C.

TAC Offers Insight, Expertise

The IAS Technical Advisory Council (TAC)—Laboratories met in Reno, Nevada, to discuss proficiency and witness testing, use of non-accredited laboratories by product certification agencies, and IAS Accreditation Criteria. Continue reading here.

BDA Improvements Outlined

The Building Department Accreditation—Technical Advisory Council (BDA-TAC) sought ways to improve the accreditation process at a recent session in Reno, Nevada. Attendees proposed solutions to a range of building department accreditation-related issues. Click here to see the suggestions.

Oregon Association Hosts
BDA Lead Evaluator Class

The Oregon Building Officials Association hosted a Building Department Accreditation Lead Evaluator class this month in Wilsonville, Oregon. Many local building department professionals participated in the two-day class led by IAS President Chuck Ramani.

IAS to Join
APLAC Anniversary

The Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Inc (APLAC) celebrates its 15th Anniversary this year at its General Assembly and associated meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Get the details on the IAS-APLAC relationship and resulting benefits.

IAS Sponsors ICA Event

The International Conference of Auditors and Lead Auditors (ICA) will host its third annual event, December 4-5 at the Sheraton Hotel-Dubai Creek in the United Arab Emirates. IAS is a sponsor of this event, which will highlight certification and accreditation in the global market. Click here for details.

IAS Commences Work
Force Qualification Training

IAS President Chuck Ramani and instructors Dave Nelson and Jag Manian recently trained IAS Lead Assessors involved in the evaluation and assessment of applicants under the new IAS Work Force Qualification Accreditation Program. The training was based on IAS Accreditation Criteria AC371 and AC372, and covered techniques for assessing curriculum developers and agencies that provide work force training programs. Accreditation under the new programs will be available in January and, for the first time, provides an opportunity for adult education, workforce training institutions to be accredited for best practices under U.S. and international standards of quality. Click here for more information.

The IAS Lead Assessor class for the new IAS Work Force Qualification Accreditation program.

IAS Attends ILAC Conference

IAS Vice President Pat McCullen joined the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and International Accreditation Forum 2007 Conference held October 19-31 in Sydney, Australia. The conference included a number of workshops and technical presentations. Get conference details here.

IAS eNews
December 2007
Vol. 3, Issue 4

CCTV Tower Mirrors Rising Technology
Largest Structural Steel Tower Built on an IAS Foundation


IAS was instrumental in the inspection and steel fabrication used to build the CCTV tower in Beijing, China.

The $600 million China Central Television (CCTV) Tower located in Beijing lays claim to the world’s largest structural steel building when completed next year. The structure will stretch 102 stories and incorporates more than 120 tons of structural steel—of which every component has been fabricated and inspected in a facility that meets the highest international standards as an IAS-accredited company. Continue reading here.

Intertek, NTA Gain IAS Accreditation

Intertek Vice President Jeff Turcotte (center) displays an IAS Certificate of Accreditation with IAS Vice President Pat McCullen (left) and IAS President Chuck Ramani.

Product manufacturers are under constant pressure to verify their products have been independently certified to industry safety standards. To ensure product acceptance and market access, verification must be made by certification agencies that are independent, trusted and widely recognized. Intertek and NTA Inc. have earned IAS Product Certification Agency Accreditation to demonstrate their operations management to the highest standards. Learn how these organizations are raising the bar.

First School District Earns Accreditation


Tom Hogarth (right), Building Department Director for the Palm Beach County School District, accepts a recognition plaque from IAS President Chuck Ramani.

The Building Department of the Palm Beach County School District in Florida is the first school district in the nation to earn national Building Department Accreditation by the International Accreditation Service (IAS). The accreditation verifies that the district’s building department is professionally qualified to provide a high standard of public safety. Continue reading here.

BDA Hot Topic: Service Goals
Discover How Timeliness,
Quality and Professionalism Can Work for You

One of the crucial subjects evaluated by International Accreditation Service (IAS) evaluators as part of the Building Department Accreditation (BDA) process—and one of the most commonly misunderstood by applicants—is the topic of service goals. During the process of accreditation, IAS examines the applicant building department’s handling of three distinct components of service for permitting, plan review and inspections: timeliness, quality and professionalism. Continue reading here.

2007 Annual Conference Update
Building Department Accreditation Takes Center Stage

IAS experts hosted a number of activities during the Code Council’s Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada, to highlight building department accreditation around the country. Building code professionals participated in Building Department Accreditation (BDA) Lead Evaluator training and the educational Cracker Barrel luncheon. IAS staff discussed the BDA program with the Major Jurisdiction Committee, and two new BDA honors were awarded. Get all the details here.

IAS President Chuck Ramani (standing) stops by a breakout session during the Lead Evaluator training program for building department accreditation.

IAS Marketing Manager Greg West (right) speaks on Building Department Accreditation at the Cracker Barrel.

Educating to a Higher Standard
IAS Goes to School

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly one million new jobs will be created for employees in the skilled construction trades by 2014. Attracting and retaining a skilled work force has never been more important, and IAS has introduced the first-ever Training Program Accreditation (AC371). The program evaluates a training agency’s corporate organization, facilities, staffing, curriculum, product development and administration to ensure that individuals hired from accredited training programs are able to provide high-quality construction that meets the requirements of building codes. Click here to read more on AC371.

An Effective Course of Study
IAS Accredits Curriculum Developers

Along with growing industry demand for skilled workers is the need to train the next-generation workforce properly. IAS introduced the Curriculum Developer Accreditation program (AC372), a first-of-its-kind program focusing on specific curriculum content. This criteria requires curriculum developers to demonstrate that their curricula complies with nationally recognized standards of quality for “best practices” as well as code compliance. Read more on AC372.