Code Evaluation AHJ Resources

An Evaluation Report is a technical report prepared by an approved agency summarizing a manufacturer's data for the purpose of demonstrating code compliance of their product or system. The addresses compliance with the code and not just a single code-referenced standard.

Evaluation Reports (e.g., Intertek CCRRs) are helpful for code officials to decide on approving products and systems when the product or system is an alternative under the code (typically, Section 104.2 of the 2024 IBC and IRC, though other codes have similar language). CCRRs also help where the product or system is governed by multiple requirements as it pulls the relevant code information into one document.

What are the requirements for an Evaluation Report?

• Issuing agency must be accredited under ISO Standard 17065 (formerly ISO Guide 65)
• Identify that it is based on code requirements or, in the case of an alternative product or system, is equivalent to the code-prescribed product or system.
• Document that the product is listed for the standards specifically required by the code
• Document that the product is under a regular surveillance inspection program, providing assurance that the product at the job site is the same as that used in the qualifying tests
• Identify the enforceable conditions and limitations needed to install the product in the field
• Identify the labeling required for field identification

IBC Section 104.2.3.6.1 requires Evaluation Reports to be issued by an approved agency. An approved agency is defined in IBC Section 1703 as an agency that is objective, competent, and independent from the contactor responsible for the work being inspected and must be approved by the Building Official. 

Intertek’s CCRR program is fully accredited under ISO/IEC Standard 17065, Conformity Assessment – Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes and Services, by International Accreditation Service (IAS), an International Code Council (ICC) Subsidiary. Our programs are compliant with Section 1703 of the International Building Code.

• Testing from laboratories accredited to standard ISO 17025
• Inspections (qualifying and surveillance) from an inspection body accredited to ISO 17020
• Review of data by experienced engineers who are separate from the testing staff
• Requirements that are based on code or an established normative standard such as an acceptance criteria approved by the ICC-ES Evaluation Committee
• An industry-standard report format

For specific product areas, Intertek can provide their certification customers with a single-source solution to product certification and code evaluation. Intertek’s Code Evaluation Program is a much more streamlined process and was designed so the Code Compliance Research Report (CCRR) by Intertek is issued at the conclusion of testing and certification. The typical back-end review is eliminated.

The pricing of a Research Report will be determined by a number of factors, but Intertek’s pricing was designed to reflect our efficient and streamlined process.

For more detailed information on pricing, you can contact your Intertek Account Manager for pricing for various scenarios including clients that are new to Intertek and whether the client has a research report with another agency. Additionally, you can email icenter@intertek.com, call 800.967.5352, or visit us on the web at: https://www.intertek.com/building/code-evaluationis-ccrr/.

Intertek will not issue acceptance criteria; however we will use ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria whenever available. The Code Compliance Research Reports by Intertek are based on code, standards, and acceptance criteria, in that order of importance.

Yes. Clients that have an existing Evaluation Report issued by an accredited agency can transfer the report to Intertek for a CCRR in only a few steps and if the product is already certified by Intertek, the process is even simpler.

New Clients

An Account Manager will work with the Client to identify the information needed for the CCRR. Typically, a complete set of data, as was submitted for the Evaluation Report, must be provided for our files, unless Intertek was the testing agency in which case we already have the data. The data will be reviewed by Intertek Evaluation Services staff for compliance with the relevant code, standards and acceptance criteria. A draft report will be prepared for the Client’s review. When the test data is complete, the inspection program in place, the Certification Group has completed its review of the files and the Client has agreed to the report content, the CCRR will be posted to the Intertek Directory of Building Products.

Typically, the CCRR will be ready for posting when the Intertek Listing Report is completed. This is accomplished because the requirements for code compliance are established at the beginning of the project and the Client will have reviewed the draft CCRR before the completion of testing. The evaluation process happens in concert with the testing and listing work, and the review of test results will coincide with preparation of the Intertek Listing Report.

Revisions to a CCRR will result from four cases:

1. Requests from the Client due to product changes
2. Inspection variances
3. Changes in codes, standards or Acceptance Criteria resulting in mandatory revisions
4. Regular updating of CCRRs to reflect newer versions of code, standards or Acceptance Criteria when there have been no technical changes in the requirements.

Cases (1), (2) and (3) require a project to be initiated, with testing, inspection, and code evaluation, as necessary, for the applicable revision. Case (4) is done automatically by Intertek during the annual renewal of the CCRR.

Products that are currently listed with Intertek have a good start to attaining a CCRR. The requirements for the CCRR will be identified at the beginning of the project. Any required data that is not already in Intertek’s files must be submitted for review. All testing must be from laboratories that are accredited under ISO Standard 17025.

CCRRs will be located within the Client’s Listing Report, which can be found on our Directory of Building Products at https://bpdirectory.intertek.com/.