ANAB Accredited Certification Body

Simplifying the “ICC-Approval” Process

ICC’s “Product Approval Checklist for Code Officials” is found on the ICC website, entitled “myICC Product Approval Checklist.” ICC states that their members should never use the words “ICC Approved.” Instead ICC members should always use “ANAB ISO/IEC 17065 Certified.” Generic synonyms include: ICC Accepted, ICC Report, ICC Evaluation, HUD Approved, OSHA Approved, NY Approved, Title 24 Approved, CA Approved, FL Approved, Los Angeles Approved, NYC Approved, DCA Approved, Chicago Approved, San Francisco Approved, Miami Dade Approved, as well as other terms specific to given markets. 

These market-specific terms all refer to building official approval via 17065 accreditation, through the use of “ANAB 17065 certified” duly authenticated reports from approved agencies and/or approved sources.*

These market-specific terms all refer to the acceptance of accredited agencies. 

DrJ simplifies the code compliance process for innovators and is the only ANAB Accredited Third Party Certification Body to stand behind certifications with a PE seal.

Verification Process

An approved agency is “approved” when it is ANAB ISO/IEC 17065 accredited by a recognized accreditation body of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). ANAB lists accredited firms in their directory, which include CBI, DrJ, ICC-ES, IAPMO, Intertek, and UL. Each accredited certification body, as a code-defined approved agency, is qualified to practice within their specified areas of expertise, also known as accredited scopes.

The IAF website states: “Once an accreditation body is a signatory of the IAF MLA, it is required to recognise certificates and validation and verification statements issued by conformity assessment bodies accredited by all other signatories of the IAF MLA, with the appropriate scope.” 

An approved source is “approved” when a professional engineer (i.e., Registered Design Professional) is properly licensed to transact engineering commerce. The regulatory authority governing approved sources is the state legislature via its professional engineering regulations.**

Research Reports, Duly Authenticated Reports and ANAB ISO/IEC 17065 Accredited Reports are defined as supporting data, where necessary to assist in the approval of products, materials, or assemblies not specifically provided for in this code and prepared by approved sources. 

An approved source is defined as an independent person, firm, or corporation, who is competent and experienced in the application of engineering principles to materials, methods, or systems analyses, and is registered or licensed to practice their respective design profession as defined by the statutory requirements of the professional registration laws of the state or jurisdiction in which the project is to be constructed.

An approved source is “approved” when a professional engineer (i.e., Registered Design Professional [RDP]) is properly licensed to transact engineering commerce. 

To find licensed professional engineers and pertinent professional engineering laws, please visit https://www.nspe.org/resources/licensure/licensing-boards. The regulatory authority governing approved sources is the state legislature via its professional engineering and professional architect regulations. Commercial and professional engineering laws affirm that the RDP has the ability to undertake commerce applying engineering principles in their area of expertise without restraint or discrimination. Ohio has set legal precedent with respect to approved source approval. 

Code Acceptance for New Products

Building codes require that the building official shall accept duly authenticated reports or research reports from approved agencies and/or approved sources, including licensed Registered Design Professionals (RDPs), with respect to the quality and manner of use of new products, materials, designs, services, assemblies, or methods of construction. 

Please see DrJ’s Accredited Scope of Expertise.

Title 18 US Code Section 242, affirms and regulates the right of individuals and businesses to, freely and fairly, have new products, materials, designs, services, assemblies, and/or methods of construction approved for use in commerce. Disapproval of alternatives shall be based upon non-conformance with respect to specific provisions of adopted legislation. Any non-conformance shall be provided in writing stating the reasons why the alternative was not approved, with reference to the specific legislation violated. Denial without written reason deprives a protected right of competition in the marketplace and may be viewed as discrimination.

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