Deck and Handrail Certification Program

Deck and Handrail Certification Fast Facts
  • Architectural Testing provides independent quality assurance of deck and handrail systems and components.
  • Testing ensures that materials and systems meet ICC-ES AC174 requirements.
  • Architectural Testing-approved logo ensures distributors, builders, engineers, and other end users that products are faithful reproductions of samples tested and rated to be in compliance.

Value

Structural performance of vinyl and composite deck and handrail systems or components is an important consideration for engineers, architects, specifiers, and building owners. The International Code Conference (ICC) requires comprehensive testing of components as part of ICC-ES AC174.  ICC-ES AC174 also requires third-party quality assurance agency verification of ongoing product compliance.

As the demand for deck and handrail products increases and ICC evaluation reports are required, the need for independent testing and certification will become more and more apparent.

Architectural Testing meets that need by providing independent quality assurance and ongoing validation of compliance to manufacturers who value certification of their deck and handrail systems and components.

This Certification provides several important benefits:

  • Provides assurance to the user that products bearing the certification label are faithful reproductions of the samples that were independently tested and rated.
  • It assures that the test parameters were consistent for all products bearing the certification label, thus providing a direct apples-to-apples comparison of performance.
  • It ensures the user that participating manufacturers maintain a quality control program which is monitored by Architectural Testing for compliance with the program guidelines and that Architectural Testing conducts unannounced plant inspections and performance tests on randomly selected products on an ongoing basis.
     
    Architectural Testing validates the participating manufacturer's certification through:
  • Initial review of the manufacturer's Quality Control Program.
  • Evaluation of precertification test reports and data for compliance with minimum requirements.
  • Ongoing manufacturing facility audits to determine continued compliance with program guidelines.
  • Periodic random product selection and independent testing.

 

Participating Manufacturers:

CompanyName
2CertainTeed Corporation (Report PDF-20KB)  20818Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf
11Color Guard A Division of Poly Vinyl Company, Inc. (Report PDF-20KB)  20687Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf
94Enduris Extrusions, Inc. (Report PDF-20KB)  20626Products Updated 1-30-07.pdf
12Fairway Vinyl Systems (Report PDF-20KB)  20793Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf
92Fox Home Center    
1Genova Products, Inc. (Report PDF-20KB)  20639Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf
13Homeland Vinyl (Report PDF-20KB)  20688Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf
14Kroy Building Products, Inc. (Report PDF-21KB)  21116Products Updated 9-12-07.pdf
15L.B. Plastics, Inc. (Report PDF-20KB)  20677Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf
97LMT Products, Inc.    
16Mid Atlantic Vinyl Products (Report PDF-20KB)  20728Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf
98Missouri Vinyl Products (Report PDF-21KB)  21067Products Updated 09-12-07.pdf
99Nebraska Plastics, Inc. (Report PDF-20KB)  20683Products Updated 01-30-07.pdf
17Pro-Cell L.L.C. (Report PDF-20KB)  20701Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf
19TimberTech Limited (Report PDF-20KB)  20880Products Updated 9-12-07.pdf
20US Fence (Report PDF-20KB)  20769Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf
21Veka, Inc. (Report PDF-20KB)  20581Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf
22Westech Building Products, Inc. (Report PDF-20KB)  20746Products Updated 10-17-06.pdf

Certification Seal: The Stamp of Approval

Manufacturers who satisfy the requirements of the certification program are licensed to apply the certification program labels to qualifying products. In addition, a web-based certified products list is maintained for reference by specifiers and potential buyers. Participating manufacturers are also permitted to use a facsimile of the program label in sales and marketing literature as approved by Architectural Testing.

By applying the certification program label, the manufacturer is certifying that the product bearing the label meets the requirements of the certification program and the rating listed is accurate for that product. Architectural Testing permits continued licensing of the participating manufacturer based upon demonstration by the manufacturer that certification is true as indicated by unannounced quality assurance inspections and product testing.


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