Draft:ICC Evaluation Service

ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) is a nonprofit, limited liability company, that provides evaluation reports and testing services for building products, components, methods, and materials. ICC-ES is a subsidiary of the International Code Council (ICC).

History
ICC-ES was established in 2003 following the consolidation of four organizations: the National Evaluation Service Inc. (NES), the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) Evaluation Service Inc., the Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCAI) Evaluation Services, and the Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) Public Service Testing and Evaluation Services Inc. The unification aimed to provide a single source of technical evaluations for building products and ensure consistency and reliability in the evaluation process.

In 2023, ICC-ES celebrated its 90th anniversary marking nearly a century of service to the building and construction industry. This milestone highlights the organization’s long-standing commitment to fostering innovation in building products and collaborating with both building officials and manufacturers.

Services
ICC-ES primarily issues evaluation reports and listings on building products to verify their compliance with building codes. These reports and listings are used by architects, engineers, contractors, and building officials to ensure that products meet code requirements.

The company evaluates a wide range of building products, including:


 * Structural materials
 * Plumbing fixtures
 * Roofing materials
 * Fire protection systems
 * Sustainable cabinetry
 * 3D printing in construction

In addition to evaluation reports, ICC-ES provides other services such as:


 * Food Safety Certification
 * Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
 * Building and Plumbing Product Testing
 * Fire Resistance Testing

For new innovative technologies that are not recognized by an existing code or standard, an Acceptance Criteria (AC) is developed by ICC-ES technical staff in consultation with the report applicant and with input from interested third-parties. The Acceptance Criteria are approved by an Evaluation Committee comprised entirely of code officials, during public hearings or in some instances through public comment online.

Accreditation
ICC-ES is accredited as a certification body by ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), and the Entidad Mexicana de Acreditacion A.C. (ema). ICC-ES is also an approved WaterMark Conformity Assessment Body (WMCAB) that is accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JASANZ). ICC-ES is also recognized as a certification body by Watersense, a partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) , and SQF Institute.

Impact and Industry Role
ICC-ES plays a significant role within the construction and building industry. Its evaluations are utilized by code officials, architects, engineers, and contractors to help ensure that building projects meet safety and performance standards. By providing product evaluations, ICC-ES supports the adoption of innovative building solutions and contributes to the overall growth of the construction industry.