Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byArline Hill Modified over 7 years ago
1
Craig H. Wagner, P.E. Chief Engineer – Certification Services
Codes And Plastic Lumber - Deck And Railing Craig H. Wagner, P.E. Chief Engineer – Certification Services It is my pleasure to deliver a session on: Code Compliance: Certification and the Certification Mark
2
Joined ATI (Intertek) in 1999 Member ICC, ASTM, AISC
Biography 35+ years experience 20 years – Engineering firm in Baltimore involving design, inspection, testing, forensics, expert testimony and standards development Joined ATI (Intertek) in 1999 Member ICC, ASTM, AISC Active in code and technical committees with various industry associations Craig H. Wagner, P.E. Chief Engineer Just for the record, I did not go to Medical school…..
3
Intertek Introduction Building Codes – Fundamental Understanding
Overview Intertek Introduction Building Codes – Fundamental Understanding Code Requirements Product Testing Special Considerations Quality Control and Inspections Certification Mark
4
Intertek Global Footprint
Over 100 countries, 1,000 locations & 41,000 employees
5
US - B & C Footprint 100+ Labs / Offices
6
Building Products – North America
2014 Architectural Testing > Intertek A complete testing and certification organization independently accredited by IAS for all fundamental areas of service to the building products industry ISO/IEC accredited Testing and Calibration Laboratories ISO/IEC accredited Certification Body ISO/IEC accredited Inspection Body All major disciplines of building product testing and evaluation: Structural, Fire, Thermal, Acoustical, Blast, Materials, etc. Traditional product certification (listing & labeling) to individual standards Research Reports for building code compliance Florida state Evaluation Agency Leadership in certification and code compliance evaluation: Mike Beaton, P.E. – V.P. of Certification Services, L.A. Craig Wagner, P.E. – Chief Engineer of Certification Services, York, PA Kal Kooner, P.Eng – Director of Certification Services N.A., Intertek Vancouver, B.C.
7
BUILDING CODES
8
Building Codes Building Codes are government's laws and ordinances enacted through legislation to facilitate the regulation of building construction for the purpose of protecting life, safety and welfare of the public Building Codes are established and enacted at the state level Powers reserved for the states / U.S. Constitution 10th amendment Codes establish “minimum” requirements States may, and commonly will, allow adoption and modification of State Code by lower jurisdictions (counties, cities or other municipalities)
9
Model Building Codes Model Codes are developed by nongovernmental organizations through interaction with construction industry experts representing government, labor, manufacturers, design professionals, developers, etc. The International Code Council (ICC) develops model codes. Building Codes (Ordinances) are established by adoption of “Model Codes” through legislation. Model Codes are adopted in whole or in part and adopted by reference or by republishing in entirety. The Model Codes adopted throughout the United States are: The International Building Code (IBC) and, The International Residential Code (IRC) Unless otherwise specified, the code requirements and references made throughout this presentation are with respect to the model codes.
10
CODE REQUIREMENTS
11
2015 IBC - International Building Code
Building Codes Model Codes 2015 IBC - International Building Code 2015 IRC - International Residential Code for One and Two-Family Dwellings State Codes of Significance 2014 Florida Building Code Additional requirements for approved plastics North Carolina State Building Code Proposed changes pending code development process My goal is to discuss the following objectives from a very practical and relevant business perspective with he intention of getting to the heart of why any of us go to a lab like the one we are in today and spend hard earned money testing our products, often to the breaking point. What is Certification? And why put ourselves through the process Testing, listing, and research reports What’s the difference and when would we consider one vs the other? When is certification needed? Exactly who is this AHJ guy, anyway?? Importance of accreditation Is that a real Rolex you’re wearing? Certification marks and what they represent Trust is the bottom line here. Your trust and want your clients to trust you. “What do they call the guy that graduates last in Med School?”.
12
Handrails Grasping for guidance or support
Terminology Guardrails (Guards) - Open walking surfaces elevated more than 30" above grade or lower floor Decks, porches, balconies Open sided stairs and landings Handrails Grasping for guidance or support Stairs and Ramps Separate or top rail of guard Grab Bars Accessibility requirements Support body weight - toilets, tubs & showers Fence – Pools and Spas (Barrier)
13
Terminology Guard Handrail Grab Bar
14
Dimensional Requirements
Handrails Dimensional Requirements Height: 34 to 38 in. measured vertically from leading edge of the stair nosing or the landing Handrail Graspability Diameter 1.25” – 2” or, perimeter dimension of 4” – 6.25” with a max. dimension of 2.25 in. ADA Slightly Different From Building Code 1.25” – 1.5” or equal gripping surface. My goal is to discuss the following objectives from a very practical and relevant business perspective with he intention of getting to the heart of why any of us go to a lab like the one we are in today and spend hard earned money testing our products, often to the breaking point. What is Certification? And why put ourselves through the process Testing, listing, and research reports What’s the difference and when would we consider one vs the other? When is certification needed? Exactly who is this AHJ guy, anyway?? Importance of accreditation Is that a real Rolex you’re wearing? Certification marks and what they represent Trust is the bottom line here. Your trust and want your clients to trust you. “What do they call the guy that graduates last in Med School?”.
15
200 lbs. Concentrated load at any location and in any direction.
Handrails Design Loads 200 lbs. Concentrated load at any location and in any direction. 50 plf. Uniformly distributed load in any direction. Not required for one- and two-family dwellings (IRC) Test plan must consider worse case loading conditions for lineal handrail elements and brackets Normally requires multiple tests for multiple load cases My goal is to discuss the following objectives from a very practical and relevant business perspective with he intention of getting to the heart of why any of us go to a lab like the one we are in today and spend hard earned money testing our products, often to the breaking point. What is Certification? And why put ourselves through the process Testing, listing, and research reports What’s the difference and when would we consider one vs the other? When is certification needed? Exactly who is this AHJ guy, anyway?? Importance of accreditation Is that a real Rolex you’re wearing? Certification marks and what they represent Trust is the bottom line here. Your trust and want your clients to trust you. “What do they call the guy that graduates last in Med School?”.
16
Dimensional Requirements Minimum overall height of guards = 42 in.
Guardrails (Guards) Dimensional Requirements Minimum overall height of guards = 42 in. Exception: one- and two-family dwellings (36" / IRC) Openings < 4” up to 34” height and, < 8” above 34” Exception: Stairs clearance beneath rail < 6“ diameter Handrail graspability when the top rail serves as handrail in locations where a handrail is required Secondary rail required for handrail when top rail of guard does not meet graspability requirements My goal is to discuss the following objectives from a very practical and relevant business perspective with he intention of getting to the heart of why any of us go to a lab like the one we are in today and spend hard earned money testing our products, often to the breaking point. What is Certification? And why put ourselves through the process Testing, listing, and research reports What’s the difference and when would we consider one vs the other? When is certification needed? Exactly who is this AHJ guy, anyway?? Importance of accreditation Is that a real Rolex you’re wearing? Certification marks and what they represent Trust is the bottom line here. Your trust and want your clients to trust you. “What do they call the guy that graduates last in Med School?”.
17
50 lbs. concentrated load at any location (12” x 12”)
Guardrails (Guards) Design Loads 50 lbs. concentrated load at any location (12” x 12”) 200 lbs. concentrated load at any location and in any direction along top rail 50 plf. Uniformly distributed load in any direction. Not required for one- and two-family dwellings (IRC) Requires multiple tests for multiple load cases My goal is to discuss the following objectives from a very practical and relevant business perspective with he intention of getting to the heart of why any of us go to a lab like the one we are in today and spend hard earned money testing our products, often to the breaking point. What is Certification? And why put ourselves through the process Testing, listing, and research reports What’s the difference and when would we consider one vs the other? When is certification needed? Exactly who is this AHJ guy, anyway?? Importance of accreditation Is that a real Rolex you’re wearing? Certification marks and what they represent Trust is the bottom line here. Your trust and want your clients to trust you. “What do they call the guy that graduates last in Med School?”.
18
Design Loads For Decks and Balconies
Deck Boards Design Loads For Decks and Balconies Live Load Same As Occupancy Served 40 psf Residential 100 psf covers all typical uses 300 lbs. concentrated Load on Stair Treads – applied to 2” x 2” area at any location Worse case is normally mid-span at the leading edge of the stair tread Difficult to meet with typical 1” nominal deck boards at typical stair construction spans (36” stair width with 3 stringers = 18” tread span). Excessive deflection is very common in testing. Often requires special tread installation that provides additional support. My goal is to discuss the following objectives from a very practical and relevant business perspective with he intention of getting to the heart of why any of us go to a lab like the one we are in today and spend hard earned money testing our products, often to the breaking point. What is Certification? And why put ourselves through the process Testing, listing, and research reports What’s the difference and when would we consider one vs the other? When is certification needed? Exactly who is this AHJ guy, anyway?? Importance of accreditation Is that a real Rolex you’re wearing? Certification marks and what they represent Trust is the bottom line here. Your trust and want your clients to trust you. “What do they call the guy that graduates last in Med School?”.
19
Section 2612 Plastic Composites:
IBC Chapter 26 - Plastic Section 2612 Plastic Composites: Applies to wood/plastic composites and plastic lumber Deck boards, stair treads, handrails and guards > ASTM D 7032, Standard Specification for Establishing Performance Ratings for Wood-Plastic Composite Deck Boards and Guardrail Systems (Guards or Handrails) Requires a Label as evidence of conformance with the code that incudes identification of an approved agency. i.e. Certification My goal is to discuss the following objectives from a very practical and relevant business perspective with he intention of getting to the heart of why any of us go to a lab like the one we are in today and spend hard earned money testing our products, often to the breaking point. What is Certification? And why put ourselves through the process Testing, listing, and research reports What’s the difference and when would we consider one vs the other? When is certification needed? Exactly who is this AHJ guy, anyway?? Importance of accreditation Is that a real Rolex you’re wearing? Certification marks and what they represent Trust is the bottom line here. Your trust and want your clients to trust you. “What do they call the guy that graduates last in Med School?”.
20
Additional Requirements Not Directly Specified By Code
ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria For Deck Board Span Ratings And Guardrail Systems, AC174 Historically needed for evaluation as an alternative material. Still required by many building officials throughout the U.S. Mostly covered by ASTM D 7032
21
Proposed Changes to North Carolina Building Code for Guardrails
Code Developments Proposed Changes to North Carolina Building Code for Guardrails Openings must resist passage of a 4 inch sphere with a minimum force of 50 lbs. Maximum clearance from deck shall not exceed 2 inches.
22
Plastic Composites Code Permitted Uses
Building Code Construction Types And Permitted Uses For Plastic Composites
23
Construction Types General: Type I and II – Building elements are noncombustible Type III – Exterior walls are noncombustible Type IV – Heavy Timber Type V – Any material permitted by the code …except as allowed elsewhere in the code
24
Permitted Uses / Construction Types
Alt. to Wood AC174 Type VB Other Types per IBC 2015 IBC Code Recognized Material IBC 2612 ASTM D 7032 Code Permitted Type VB and, Type III, IV & V (sprinkler protected) Type I & II per IBC History Current
25
Combustible Materials in Noncombustible Construction
SECTION 603 COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL IN TYPES I AND II CONSTRUCTION Allowable materials. Combustible materials shall be permitted in buildings of Type I or II construction in the following applications and… 13. Combustible exterior wall coverings, balconies and similar projections and bay or oriel windows in accordance with Chapter 14. SECTION 1406 COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ON THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF EXTERIOR WALLS General. Section 1406 shall apply to exterior wall coverings; balconies and similar projections; and bay and oriel windows constructed of combustible materials.
26
IBC Section Balconies and similar projections. Balconies and similar projections of combustible construction other than fire-retardant-treated wood shall be fire- resistance rated where required by Table 601 for floor construction or shall be of Type IV construction in accordance with Section The aggregate length of the projections shall not exceed 50 percent of the building’s perimeter on each floor. Exceptions: 1. Allows FRT wood on buildings of Type I and II construction (with limitations) 2. Untreated wood is permitted for pickets and rails or similar guardrail devices that are limited to 42 inches (1067 mm) in height. 3. Balconies and similar projections on buildings of Type III, IV and V construction shall be permitted to be of Type V construction, and shall not be required to have a fire-resistance rating where sprinkler protection is extended to these areas. 4. Sprinkler protection exempts length limitation.
27
2015 IBC - NEW SECTION 1410 PLASTIC COMPOSITE DECKING Plastic composite decking. Exterior deck boards, stair treads, handrails and guardrail systems constructed of plastic composites, including plastic lumber, shall comply with Section SECTION 2612 PLASTIC COMPOSITES Construction requirements. Plastic composites shall be permitted to be used as exterior deck boards, stair treads, handrails and guards in buildings of Type VB construction.
28
2015 IBC explicitly permits use for Type VB construction.
Summary 2015 IBC explicitly permits use for Type VB construction. IBC permits use in Type III, IV and V construction w.o./fire-resistance rating where sprinkler protection is provided. Section Exception 3. Use in buildings of construction Type I & II must be recognized as approved alternatives to wood. Section Exception 2. Guardrails only. Does not apply to floor const. (i.e. decking)
29
PRODUCT TESTING
30
Testing – End Use Factors
Tests for strength and stiffness of structural elements conditioned for end use evaluation. Properties compared with values from same tests at standard laboratory conditions Temperature and Moisture Effect – Physical tests at - 20°F, +125°F and, after moisture cycling Weathering / UV Resistance – Physical tests after hours of accelerated weathering exposure Freeze-Thaw Resistance – Three cycles of 24 hrs. water submersion → 24 hrs. freezing → 24 hrs. room temperature
31
Adjustment Factors For End Use Evaluation
Adjustment factors applied to structural performance ratings or test loads to account for end use conditions effect on material properties. Temperature and Moisture Effect - Most restrictive effect taken from temp and moisture (not both) For deck boards performance rating reduced for most restrictive effect. For Guardrails, test loads increased for most restrictive effect in excess of 25% UV and Freeze-Thaw Resistance For deck boards, performance rating reduced for amount of loss exceeding 10% For Guardrails, test loads increased for amount of loss exceeding 10%
32
Additional Material Tests
Fire Performance / ASTM E 84 Flame Spread ≤ 200 Termite and Decay Resistance – required for products containing wood, cellulosic, or other biodegradable materials. Resistance to Formosan termites tested in accordance with ASTM D3345 or AWPA E1 Fungal decay tests in accordance with ASTM D2017, D1413, or APWA E10 Tested concurrently with wood control specimens - shall be at least equivalent to pressure treated or naturally durable wood. My goal is to discuss the following objectives from a very practical and relevant business perspective with he intention of getting to the heart of why any of us go to a lab like the one we are in today and spend hard earned money testing our products, often to the breaking point. What is Certification? And why put ourselves through the process Testing, listing, and research reports What’s the difference and when would we consider one vs the other? When is certification needed? Exactly who is this AHJ guy, anyway?? Importance of accreditation Is that a real Rolex you’re wearing? Certification marks and what they represent Trust is the bottom line here. Your trust and want your clients to trust you. “What do they call the guy that graduates last in Med School?”.
33
Testing For Guardrails Per AC174
Structural Performance of Guardrails – Minimum unadjusted ultimate test loads are 2.5 x design loads 125 lb. on balusters, in-fill panels and intermediate rails 500 lb. concentrated load at mid-span of the top rail. 125 plf distributed along the entire top rail 1000 lb. / 8-ft. Rail 1250 lb. / 10-ft. Rail 500 lb. minimum concentrated load at brackets and top of support posts. (Higher if rail length exceeds 8-ft and use not limited to 1 & 2 family dwellings) All test loads shown above must be increased by applicable End Use Adjustment Factors
34
Testing for Guardrails Per AC174
Infill Load Test Concentrated Top Rail Load Test – Mid-span Uniform Top Rail Load Test - Horizontal Uniform Top Rail Load Test - Vertical Concentrated Top Rail Load Test - Brackets
35
Additional Requirements Not Directly Specified By Code
ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria For Handrails and Guards, AC273 Used to evaluate metal and wood components Not necessarily enforced but could be required by building officials
36
Testing For Guardrails Per AC273
Structural Performance of Guardrails – Test loads are 2.5 x design loads 125 lb. applied over a 1 sq. ft. area on balusters, in-fill panels or intermediate rails 125 plf maximum uniform load along the entire top rail Tested vertically and horizontally (New June 2017) 500 lb. concentrated load at mid-span of the top rail and at end rail adjacent to bracket. 500 lb. minimum concentrated load on post (Higher load if rail length exceeds 8-ft and use not limited to 1 & 2 family dwellings)
37
Testing For Guardrails Per AC273
New Requirements Effective June 2017 Deflection limit applies to uniform load case as well as concentrated load Top rail net deflection (between posts) Total Defl ≤ H/24 + L/96 or H/12 Net Defl ≤ L/96 3.0 Safety factor for wood components
38
Testing for Guardrail Per AC273
Infill Load Test Uniform Load Top Rail Load Test Concentrated Top Rail Load Test at Mid-span Concentrated Top Rail Load Test - Brackets Concentrated Load Test on Support Post
39
Special Considerations
Weathering / UV Resistance AC174 requires testing each different color. Reasoning – UV inhibitor content in material compounds commonly varies with color FBC HVHZ (Dade and Broward County) – Approved Plastics ASTM D 1929 Self-Ignition Temperature ASTM D 635 Flammability ASTM D 638 Rate of Burn 4500 hours of accelerated weathering followed by tensile and impact tests No change in tensile properties exceeding 10% No loss in impact resistance exceeding 25%
40
QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTIONS CERTIFICATION
41
Quality Control and Follow Up Inspections
Products manufactured under an approved quality control system On-going QC tests required to verify threshold values are maintained consistent with originally tested product Unannounced inspections quarterly by Intertek Periodic verification testing by Intertek Samples selected during quarterly inspections Flexural tests by Intertek in accordance with ASTM D 6109 and compared with values obtained in original product qualification tests
42
Product Label – Certification Marks
Certified products are identified by a mark of conformity (aka certification mark) included with the product labeling. Certification body authorizes and controls use of the mark. Certified products are listed on the agencies web based directory
43
Code Compliance Research Report (CCRR)
44
Code Compliance Research Report Requirements
Testing establishes performance in compliance with code requirements. Quality Control assures the product being produced is the product that was tested and qualified for code compliance. Independent Inspections (Quality Assurance) verify that the product produced and labeled is the same as the product tested and evaluated. Mark Of Conformity – Intertek certification mark identifies the product as code compliant
45
Craig Wagner craig.wagner@intertek.com (717) 764-7700
Thank You! Craig Wagner (717)
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com Inc.
All rights reserved.