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Testing Policies
20.9 Tested and Approved Methodology Policy
Per compliance with the ANSI / AWI Standards a performance duty level requires laboratory proof of how the combination of a given construction method, material, and/or hardware combination perform against a given test criteria. This test criteria only validates the performance of an individual product. AWI acknowledges 3 paths to achieve this requirement: AWI Membership Distributed, Proprietary, Nonmember Purchase. Regardless of path, the applicable product must be constructed identical to engineering found in testing report for consideration of compliance.
20.9.1 AWI Membership Distributed
20.9.1.1 Use Requirement
A testing report previously approved by AWI will be available to AWI Manufacturing/Industry Company Members in good standing with AWI, pursuant to the provisions of this section 20.9.1. The name on the project contract documents must be an AWI Manufacturing/Industry Company Member in good standing with AWI. Testing report documents are non transferable.
20.9.1.2 Cost
An AWI Membership Distributed testing report requires the applicable member to be current on its Annual Membership Dues, and the payment of additional Testing Report fees. Fees described in this section 20.9 shall be set by the AWI Board of Directors and shall be reasonably related to costs incurred, taking into consideration a reasonable offset from members’ payment of dues where applicable. ($30 per TR initially, $15 annually)
20.9.1.3 Initial Verification
AWI Membership Distributed testing report documentation will not be considered valid until the applicable member has successfully passed an audit inspection. If a failed inspection is received, the Member Company will pay ($750) for the subsequent inspection and ($375) for following inspections until a positive inspection is achieved.
20.9.1.4 Annual Verification
Members are subject to randomized video/in-person manufacturing inspections to ensure construction methodologies are being met. If a failed inspection is received, Member Company will pay ($750) for the subsequent inspection and ($375) for following inspections until a positive inspection is achieved. Use of reports will be suspended until a positive inspection is achieved.
20.9.2 Proprietary
20.9.2.1 Use Requirement
A company may obtain a Proprietary Testing Report from a source other than AWI. To be acceptable in this program, such a Proprietary Testing Report must include the company name on the Testing Report and that company name must be the same as the company name on project contract documents. Company holding the original rights to a valid report in good standing may grant use rights to one or more other parties on terms determined by them. In the event that a company grants use rights to another party (the “Licensee”) and the Licensee wishes to use the licensed Proprietary Testing Report in this program, the Licensee shall pay a validation fee to AWI. ($40 per TR initially, $30 annually)
20.9.2.2 Cost
The fee for obtaining a Proprietary Testing Report varies based on laboratories. AWI conducts laboratory testing, but testing also may take place at any independent laboratory that meets AWI laboratory qualifications. In the event of laboratory testing being conducted by a non-AWI laboratory, AWI shall charge a reasonable fee to review and confirm the report results. ($250) A tested methodology is only required to be laboratory tested once with ongoing annual verification. Should the method not be maintained continuously, new laboratory testing results will be required.
20.9.2.3 Initial Verification
Testing Company initial verification is achieved during the testing process. AWI shall not consider documentation to be valid until the Licensee has successfully passed an audit inspection. If a failed inspection is received, Licensee will pay ($750 member/$1125 nonmember) for the subsequent inspection and ($375 member/$600 nonmember) for following inspections until a positive inspection is achieved.
20.9.2.4 Annual Verification
All Testing Reports on file are subject to randomized video/in-person manufacturing inspections to ensure construction methodologies are being met. If a failed inspection is received, Inspected Company will pay ($750 member/$1125 nonmember) for the subsequent inspection and ($375 member/$600 nonmember) for following inspections until a positive inspection is achieved. Use of reports will be suspended until a positive inspection is achieved.
20.9.3 Non member Purchase
20.9.3.1 Use Requirement
A company that is not a member of AWI may purchase from AWI the rights to use the AWI Membership Distributed Testing Report. Such a Testing Report will be issued to the non-member company under the purchasing name provided by the company. These testing reports documents are non transferable.
20.9.3.2 Cost
AWI shall charge applicable non-member companies on a per-report basis, with the permission to use the Testing Report lasting for a 12-month term. ($630)
20.9.3.3 Verification
Documentation will not be valid until the purchaser has successfully passed an audit inspection. If a failed inspection is received, purchaser will pay ($1125) for the subsequent inspection and ($600) for following inspections until a positive inspection is achieved.
Testing reports only confirm the joinery/structural performance of the product in a laboratory environment. AWI endorses the Quality Certification Program to ensure the project’s compliance with all structural and aesthetic requirements per the AWI Standard and project specification.
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