NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 77

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION such as Intertek, UL LLC, or Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to test their products against these recognized tests and standards. The tests help to assess how a product meets requirements for flame spread, fire propagation and other characteristics. Test reports give code officials, architects, engineers, specifiers and other professionals information indicating how a product should perform in the field. By testing products to these standards, manufacturers can ensure that they meet the safety and performance requirements of building codes. Fire testing is no doubt an essential part of helping to ensure the safety of exterior facades, but is fire testing alone enough? Product Certification While significantly important, testing is only one part of the process of product approval. Product certification is the essential part of the process to provide a minimum level of assurance that the product being installed is the same product that was tested. The certification is a third-party quality assurance program that begins with test sample tractability and includes ongoing inspecA standard fire test being conducted. tions at the manufacturing facility. A label is used on the product as a mark to identify independent, third party product certification. Essentially, it identifies that the product complies with appropriate standards. Some codes, such as, NFPA 5000, mandate the labeling of products like metal composite material (MCM) and foam plastic insulation panels. Similarly, the International Building Code (IBC) requires the labeling of MCM and High-Pressure Decorative ExteriorGrade Compact Laminates (HPL). A listing is maintained by the third-party testing and certification agencies, such as Intertek, and provides information on the product, tested assembly, and obtained test results. A label represents a joint effort between manufacturers and certification agencies to provide quality and consistency in a product and ultimately give Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) the information and confidence they need when inspecting the products used on a larger project. Even slight changes to the manufacturing process can affect the performance characteristics-and, therefore, the potential code-compliance-of a product and could potentially jeopardize the overall safety of the building. Labeled products have minimized the risk of a product becoming non-compliant through the certification and continual inspection process. Third-party testing and certification agencies, such as Intertek, UL LLC, and other accredited organizations issue manufacturers labels once a product has proven the required compliance. These agencies also play an active role in the ongoing monitoring of quality assurance. The Importance of Product Certification Building product certification and labeling is often For information on NFPA Journal sponsored content visit Æ nfpaadvertising@nfpa.org required by a building code or local jurisdiction. Even when not required by code, the certification and labeling process is an important element of building safety. They help to provide the vital link between the products described in the fire test report and the actual products being delivered to the field. The third leg of the process is the site inspection by the AHJ, who ensures the materials are being installed are the correct materials and installed in the correct manner. This check and balance system is intended to verify that materials being installed and inspected will continue to perform the same as the materials used to pass the fire tests that were conducted in a lab. Above all, certification enables architects, specifiers, building officials, fire marshals, and contractors to quickly verify that building products meet relevant standards. These professionals can conveniently search the online directory of listings provided by the certification agency. Conclusion Exterior building façade systems are asked to do a lot, over a long period of time, sometimes under extreme conditions. These products may be tested to industry standards like NFPA 285, but one must go beyond the cover page of a test report to see the whole story. Even slight modifications of a system can impact how it performs during a fire test. This is where certification comes into play. From there, proper specification and field inspection ensure that a system continues to meet codes and standards that promote building safety. Product certification, listings, and labeling help to tie the building performance process together from manufacturing to field installation, helping to yield systems of terrific value and safety. Testing and certification of building systems help building and construction professionals to reduce the likelihood of the dramatic building fires that continue to make headlines around the world. ≠ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 NFPA JOURNAL 77

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - September/October 2016