Florida Administrative Code
61 - DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
61G20 - Florida Building Commission
Chapter 61G20-3 - PRODUCT APPROVAL
Section 61G20-3.008 - Approval of Product Evaluation Entities, Product Validation Entities, Testing Laboratories, Certification Agencies, Quality Assurance Agencies and Accreditation Bodies
Universal Citation: FL Admin Code R 61G20-3.008
Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Approved Product Evaluation Entity Criteria. Approval by the Commission is limited to the scope of accredition established by approved accreditation entities.
(a) An entity shall be approved by
the Commission as an evaluation entity if it complies with one of the
following. Approval shall be limited to those procedures listed on the
certificate of accreditation or accreditation listing issued by the
accreditation body:
1. Evaluation entities
accredited by ANSI that meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065: Conformity
Assessment - Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes and
Services, or another standard certified as equivalent by the accrediting entity
pursuant to Rule 61G20-3.015, F.A.C., and
approved by the Commission.
2.
Evaluation entities accredited as meeting the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065:
Conformity Assessment - Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes
and Services, or another standard certified as equivalent by the accrediting
entity pursuant to Rule
61G20-3.015, F.A.C., and
approved by the Commission.
(b) Evaluation entities shall apply to the
Commission for approval by filing an application as provided by subsections
61G20-3.011(1)
and 61G20-3.007(3),
F.A.C., including a Certificate of Independence in accordance with Rule
61G20-3.009, F.A.C., and
submitting fees pursuant to subsection
61G20-3.007(2),
F.A.C.
(c) Approvals shall be valid
until such time as: Commission approval requirements change; the evaluation
entity no longer qualifies under current requirements; the accreditation
expires, or is removed, or is both expired and removed; or the approval is
suspended.
(d) Pursuant to Section
553.842(8)(a),
F.S., the following entities are also approved evaluation entities:
1. The National Evaluation Service (NES),
2. The Miami-Dade County Building
Code Compliance Office Product Control Division (MDCBCCOPCD),
3. The International Code Council,
International Evaluation Services (IES),
4. The International Association of Plumbing
and Mechanical Officials Evaluation Service (IAPMO),
5. Underwriters Laboratories, LLC; and,
6. Intertek Testing Services NA,
Inc.
(e) Architects and
engineers licensed in this state are also approved to conduct product
evaluation.
(2) Approved Validation Entities.
(a) An entity shall be
approved by the Commission as a validation entity if it is a Commission
approved evaluation entity or certification agency, and it certifies to the
Commission compliance with standards established by the Code or intent of the
Code. Architects and engineers licensed in this State are also approved to
conduct validation for the state approval. Testing Laboratories are not allowed
to conduct validations.
(b) An
entity may be approved as a validation entity after applying to the Commission
for approval. Applications must be submitted in accordance with subsections
61G20-3.011(1)
and 61G20-3.007(3),
F.A.C., including a Certificate of Independence in accordance with Rule
61G20-3.009, F.A.C., and fees
submitted pursuant to subsection
61G20-3.007(2),
F.A.C. Application shall be made through the Building Codes Information System
on the Internet, www.floridabuilding.org, and payment
shall be by credit card or electronic check.
(c) Approvals shall be valid until such time
as Commission approval requirements change, the entity no longer qualifies
under current requirements or the approval is suspended or
revoked.
(3) Approved Testing Laboratory Criteria. Approval by the Commission is limited to the scope of accreditation established by approve accreditation entities.
(a) An entity shall be approved by the
Commission as an approved testing laboratory if it complies with one of the
following. Approval shall be limited to those procedures listed on the
certificate of accreditation or accreditation listing issued by the
accreditation body.
1. Testing laboratories
accredited by American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) that
meet the requirements of the International Organization for
Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Guide
17025: General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing
Laboratories or other standard certified as equivalent by the accrediting
entity pursuant to Rule
61G20-3.015, F.A.C., and
approved by the Commission.
2.
Testing laboratories accredited by National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation
Program (NVLAP) that meet the requirements of ISO/IEC Guide 17025: General
Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories or
other standard certified as equivalent by the accrediting entity pursuant to
Rule 61G20-3.015, F.A.C., and
approved by the Commission.
3.
Testing laboratories accredited by approved product evaluation entities that
meet the requirements of ISO/IEC Guide 17025: General Requirements for the
Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories or other standard certified
as equivalent by the accrediting entity pursuant to Rule
61G20-3.015, F.A.C, and approved
by the Commission.
4. Testing
laboratories accredited by other approved accreditation bodies that meet the
requirements of ISO/IEC Guide 17025: General Requirements for the Competence of
Calibration and Testing Laboratories or other standard certified as equivalent
by the accrediting entity pursuant to Rule
61G20-3.015, F.A.C., and
approved by the Commission.
(b) Testing laboratories shall apply to the
Commission for approval by filing and application in accordance with
subsections 61G20-3.011(1)
and 61G20-3.007(3),
F.A.C., including a Certificate of Independence in accordance with Rule
61G20-3.009, F.A.C., and
submitting fees pursuant to subsection
61G20-3.007(2),
F.A.C.
(c) Approvals shall be valid
until such time as Commission approval requirements change, the testing
laboratory no longer qualifies under current requirements; the accreditation
expires, or is removed, or is both expired and removed; or the approval is
suspended or revoked.
(4) Approved Certification Agency Criteria. Approval by the Commission is limited to the scope of accreditation established by approved accreditation entities.
(a) An entity shall be approved by the
Commission as a certification agency if it complies with one of the following.
Approval shall be limited to those procedures listed on the certificate of
accreditation or accreditation listing issued by the accreditation body:
1. Certification Agencies accredited by ANSI
that meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065: Conformity Assessment -
Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes and Services or other
standard certified as equivalent by the accrediting entity pursuant to Rule
61G20-3.015, F.A.C., and
approved by the Commission.
2.
Certification Agencies accredited as meeting the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065:
Conformity Assessment - Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes
and Services or other standard certified as equivalent by the accrediting
entity pursuant to Rule
61G20-3.015, F.A.C., and
approved by the Commission.
(b) Certification Agencies shall apply to the
Commission for approval by filing an application as provided by subsections
61G20-3.011(1)
and 61G20-3.007(3),
F.A.C., including a Certificate of Independence in accordance with Rule
61G20-3.009, F.A.C., and
submitting fees pursuant to subsection
61G20-3.007(2),
F.A.C.
(c) Approvals shall be valid
until such time as Commission approval requirements change, the certification
agency no longer qualifies under current requirements; the accreditation
expires, or is removed, or is both expired and removed; or the approval is
suspended or revoked.
(5) Approved Quality Assurance Agency Criteria. Approval by the Commission is limited to the scope of accreditation established by approved accreditation entities.
(a) An entity shall be approved by
the Commission as a quality assurance agency if it complies with one of the
following. Approval shall be limited to those procedures listed on the
certificate of accreditation issued by the accreditation body. Architects and
engineers licensed in this state are exempt from the requirements for
independent audits of financial accounts and records required by ISO/IEC Guide
TR 17020.
1. Quality assurance agencies
accredited as meeting the requirements of ISO/IEC Guide TR 17020: 1998, General
Criteria for the Operation of Various Types of Bodies Performing Inspection or
other standard certified as equivalent by an approved product evaluation entity
pursuant to Rule 61G20-3.015, F.A.C., and
approved by the Commission.
2.
Quality assurance agencies accredited as meeting the requirements of ISO/IEC
Guide TR 17020: 1998, General Criteria for the Operation of Various Types of
Bodies Performing Inspection or other standard certified as equivalent by an
approved certification agency pursuant to Rule
61G20-3.015, F.A.C., and
approved by the Commission.
3.
Quality assurance agencies accredited as meeting the requirements of ISO/IEC
Guide TR 17020: 1998, General Criteria for the Operation of Various Types of
Bodies Performing Inspection or other standard certified as equivalent by an
approved accreditation body pursuant to Rule
61G20-3.015, F.A.C., and
approved by the Commission.
(b) Quality assurance agencies shall apply to
the Commission for approval by filing an application in accordance with
subsections 61G20-3.011(1)
and 61G20-3.007(3),
F.A.C., including a Certificate of Independence in accordance with Rule
61G20-3.009, F.A.C., and
submitting fees pursuant to subsection
61G20-3.007(2),
F.A.C. Application shall be made through the Building Codes Information System
on the Internet, www.floridabuilding.org, and
payment shall be by credit card or electronic check.
(c) Approvals shall be valid until such time
as Commission approval requirements change, the quality assurance agency no
longer qualifies under current requirements; the accreditation expires, or is
removed, or is both expired and removed; or the approval is suspended or
revoked.
(d) Quality assurance
agencies shall audit the quality assurance program of manufacturers and audit
production quality of products. Auditing of a quality assurance program shall
be by one or more of the following methods: visits to manufacturing facilities,
inspection of products at construction sites, inspection of products at state
distribution facilities or testing of regular production items. Such auditing
shall be performed at intervals not to exceed 12 months.
(e) Commission approved certification
agencies are also approved as quality assurance entities for the products
covered by their certification program.
(6) Approved Accreditation Body Criteria.
(a) The following are recognized by the
Commission as approved accreditation bodies for accrediting testing
laboratories, certification programs and quality assurance program
auditors/inspection bodies:
1. Entities
accrediting testing laboratories, certification agencies and quality assurance
agencies pursuant to subsections
61G20-3.008, F.A.C.
2. Bodies operating acceptance/accreditation
programs for testing bodies pursuant to ISO/IEC Guide 58, Calibration and
Testing Laboratory Accreditation Systems - General Requirements for Operation
and Recognition.
3. Bodies
operating acceptance/accreditation programs for certification programs pursuant
to ISO/IEC Guide 61, General Requirements for Assessment and Accreditation of
Certification/Registration Bodies.
4. Bodies operating acceptance/accreditation
programs for quality assurance/inspection bodies pursuant to ISO/IEC Guide TR
17010: 1998, General Requirements for Bodies Providing Accreditation of
Inspection Bodies.
(b)
Where accrediting bodies utilize standards other than the ISO accreditation
standards referenced in Rule
61G20-3.008, F.A.C., they shall
provide a certification of equivalence pursuant to Rule
61G20-3.015, F.A.C., to the
Commission for approval pursuant to subsection
61G20-3.015(2),
F.A.C.
(c) Approvals shall be valid
until such time as Commission approval requirements change, the accreditation
body no longer qualifies under current requirements or the approval is
suspended or revoked.
(d) A
Commission approved accreditation body shall not perform the functions of a
testing body.
Rulemaking Authority 553.842(8) FS. Law Implemented 553.842(8) FS.
New 5-5-02, Amended 9-4-03, 3-9-04, 11-22-06, 4-10-08, 12-9-09, Formerly 9B-72.100, Amended 7-14-11, Formerly 9N-3.008, Amended 10-26-16, 3-31-21, 10-18-21.
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