ICC-ES, APA agree to offer combined reports for engineered wood products

WHITTIER, Calif. – ICC Evaluation Service and APA-The Engineered Wood Association have signed an agreement to offer joint ICC-ES and APA reports for engineered wood products. The goal is to provide manufacturers with an efficient way to apply for technical evaluations with each organization and receive a joint ICC-ES evaluation report (ESR) and APA product report.

“This partnership addresses the needs of our mutual clients and provides a more direct path to market for engineered wood products,” said ICC-ES Senior Staff Engineer, Daniel Cheney. “The program represents a significant move forward in ICC-ES and APA relations and is a good example of how these organizations are working together to provide clear, concise information to building officials and the design community.”

ICC-ES and APA will designate a single point of contact for the report applicant to serve as the project manager and to simplify and expedite the process on behalf of the applicant. The project manager will coordinate all arrangements and data transfers between ICC-ES, APA and the applicant.

“We are very pleased to reach agreement with ICC-ES in eliminating duplication of efforts between the ICC-ES ESR and APA Product Report,” said APA Director of Technical Services Division, BJ Yeh. “This joint report enhances the value of both organizations to building officials, designers and manufacturers by providing consolidated product evaluation information in accordance with the building codes.”

The joint reports will serve as an alternative to the current product evaluation system being used by many engineered wood product manufacturers. Currently, products are evaluated separately by ICC-ES and APA resulting in individual ESR and Product Reports.