61G20-3.008. Approval of Product Evaluation Entities, Product Validation Entities, Testing Laboratories, Certification Agencies, Quality Assurance Agencies and Accreditation Bodies

(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. History–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.