# Presentation: 549576

## Conformity Assessment in the U.S. Regulatory System

- Al Ramirez
- Manager, Regulatory Services
- Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

## Presentation Topics

- U.S. Regulatory System
- Federal Level
- State Level
- Municipality
- Codes/Regulations
- Type
- Development
- Conformity Assessment
- Process
- AHJ/Official Responsibility

## U.S. REGULATORY SYSTEM.

- Federal – Constitution (Amendment X) State retain regulation of building safety
- State  - Set general policies
- Create Codes
- Adoption of codes
- Statewide
- Individual Municipalities
- Regulators (Empowerment, Licensing, etc.)

## U.S. REGULATORY SYSTEM.

- Municipality – Create general policies to fit local needs
-   Set local level of safety for building requirements
-   Identifies enforcement tool – Local or Existing Codes
-   Identifies “Official” – AHJ, Inspector, Building Official, Fire Marshall, etc.
-   Provides safety to citizens through enforcement of code

## U.S. REGULATORY SYSTEM 

- Approx. 40,000 regulatory jurisdictions exist in U.S.
- System Issues
-   Decentralized system
-   Municipality documents can be dated
-   Different levels of safety

## Codes

- Major Code Organizations
-   NFPA
-   ICC
-   IAPMO

## Codes

- Development of codes
-   Code Committees are made up of interested parties
-   Manufacturers, Consultants, Fire Service, Certification Organizations, etc.
-   Public hearings
-   Consensus process

## Codes

- Basic Types
-  General – Electrical, Fire, Mechanical, Plumbing, Accessibility, etc.
-  Product specific - Sprinklers, Generators, Tanks, Air Conditioning Systems, etc.

## Codes

- Code requirements
-   Establish minimum level of safety
-   Installation Limitations
-   Test methods
-   Maintenance
-   What is to be inspected
- New
- Existing

## Codes

- Development of requirements
- Experience from built environment
-   Product usage
-   Common practice
-  Fire data

## Codes

- Requirements Drive
-   Demand Product Testing/Certification
-   Demand of Accreditation
-   Provide minimum outline of Conformity Assessment process

## Conformity Assessment

- ISO/IEC 17000 -
- 	Conformity Assessment - demonstration that specified requirements relating to a product, process, system . . . are fulfilled

## Conformity Assessment

- Federal, State and Municipality set foundation
- Adopted Codes cover remainder of Conformity Assessment Process
- Administration section
- Gives AHJ/Building Official responsibility of enforcing codes

## Conformity Assessment

- AHJ/Building Official is required to
- Review Construction Plans
- Issue permits
- On-site inspections
- Verifies compliance to Code requirements
- To referenced standards
- Testing of product
- Product Certification

## Conformity Assessment

- AHJ/Official is required to (cont.)
- Required to determine type of conformity assessment that is acceptable.
- Appeals
- Issues Certificate of Occupancy
- Annual inspections

## Thank You!Xie Xie!

## Al Ramirez alfredo.m.ramirez@us.ul.comPhone: (847) 664-2905Fax: (847) 313-2905

- Al Ramirez alfredo.m.ramirez@us.ul.comPhone: (847) 664-2905Fax: (847) 313-2905

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