What is the International Code Council?
The International Code Council is a nonprofit standards organization that creates the International Building Code, as well as the International Residential Code, and other model codes.
The International Code Council (ICC) has divisions responsible for product approvals for compliance. Code-compliant products receive an ICC-ESR (Evaluation Service Report) that confirms the product is safe to use as prescribed. If a product does not have this code listing and label, it means the product has not been evaluated for its intended end use and upon inspection from a building code official could be required to be removed from the job site, even after installation.
What is Intertek?
Intertek is a multinational assurance, inspection, product testing, and certification company. They can review products for their building code compliance and issue what is called a Code Compliance Research Report (CCRR).
Do deck boards need to be Code Compliant?
Deck boards are considered structural elements whose function is directly related to life safety concerns. As such, their properties and performance need to be evaluated so that decks can be safely designed and built. Modified woods need to be evaluated because their mechanical properties are changed (modified) as a result of the modification process.
Who determines if a deck board is Code Compliant?
There are just a few organizations that issue industry-accepted reports asserting that a deck board is code-compliant. The main results state the permissible joist spans and load ratings. The two main organizations are the International Code Council (ICC) with its ICC-ESR and Intertek with its CCRR.
Are there any ICC or CCRR requirements for modified wood decking?
Not all woods are “treated” the same when it comes to code compliance (did you catch the pun?). Natural woods, for example, are tested for their strength properties by specie and grade, and then uniformly accepted through third party inspections as to the grading being accurate. Examples of natural woods are tropical hardwoods, Western Red Cedar, and pressure treated lumber. Modified wood decking has a similar set of testing requirements and must have an ICC-ESR or CCRR to be code-compliant across the US.
Which modified wood decking is code-compliant?
Accoya Decking (chemically modified)
Dasso XTR Decking (resin-infused bamboo)
Kebony Clear Decking (Dually modified™)
Are there any thermally modified woods with code-compliant decking?
Short answer: no.
We haven’t been able to find an ICC-ESR listing or a CCRR for any thermally modified brands to date.
What happens if I use a non-code-compliant decking?
Non-compliant woods are being sold everyday, so is it really that big of a deal? Think of it like driving without a license. You could probably drive without a license for a long time without getting caught or causing anyone harm. But, what if you do cause an accident? The consequences you face and your liability are compounded because you weren’t properly certified.
Using non-compliant decking doesn’t mean your deck will immediately collapse, but if something does happen then there’s significantly more liability. And, that liability extends to the contractor, architect, retailer, and distributor, not just the manufacturer.
Some of the risks you are taking on are:
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- Lawsuits
- Fines and Penalties
- Negative Publicity
- Loss of Trust
- Project Disqualification
- Required Product Replacement
- Project doesn’t Pass Inspection
- Removal of material, even after it’s installed
- Doesn’t pass home\\ inspection of a resale of a property
Is it worth the risk?
Why aren’t all modified woods code-compliant?
Gaining an ICC-ESR listing is a significant initial and ongoing investment and can take a long time to complete. Thermal modification is an inexpensive process when compared to other types of modification or composite manufacturing. Many small businesses may not be in a position to take on that cost when first entering the market. There’s also the risk of spending all of that money and not passing the rigorous testing.
Like all certifications in the building industry, having the right code requirements gives peace of mind to the people who are using the product. If you don’t have those certifications, there is no guarantee your product will perform as advertised or protection from the risks in the event of a failure.
Take a look at all products listed on the ICC-ESR Reports Directory or an Intertek CCRR and have confidence in your products.