Manufacturers Look to ICC-ES SAVE Program

Four manufacturers — European Copper, Georgia-Pacific, Demilic USA, and Temple-Inland – have been added to the growing roster of organizations receiving Verification of Attributes Reports™ (VAR™) through the ICC Evaluation Service® (ICC-ES®) Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation™ (SAVE™) Program.
The ICC-ES SAVE Program evaluates the sustainable attributes of products in one or more of nine categories that include: regional materials, bio-based content of materials, certified wood products, recycled content, solar reflectance index and thermal emittance of roofing materials, volatile organic compound content (VOC) and emissions of adhesives and sealants, VOC content and emissions of paints and coatings, urea formaldehyde resin content in composite wood products and VOC content and emissions of floor coverings.
ICC-ES issued VAR-1001 to European Copper for the recycled content for its masonry chimney spark arrestor products. Designed for masonry, B-vent, direct vent, and zero-clearance fireplaces, European Copper chimney pots are constructed of a copper outer shell, stainless steel inner lining, stainless steel clips and stainless steel rivets. VAR-1001 provides verification of the type and amount of recycled content contained in the European Copper chimney pots. The products are also recognized in ESR-2287 for compliance with the requirements of the International Building Code® (IBC®) and International Residential Code® (IRC®).
Similarly, ICC-ES issued VAR-1004 to Georgia-Pacific for the ToughRock® gypsum board and Dens™ Fiberglass Mat gypsum panel products verifying the amount and type of recycled content of the products produced at the Wheatfield, Indiana gypsum plant. The two key components of the ToughRock gypsum board—the board and the paper—are both made with recycled content with a total recycled content (by weight) of approximately 99%. The gypsum board paper uses 100% recycled fiber, and the recycled gypsum content is derived from synthetic gypsum. Specific Dens™ Fiberglass products are also recognized for code compliance in ER-4305 and NER-572.
ICC-ES reviewed Demilic SEALECTION Agribalance® spray foam insulation and issued VAR-1006 that provides verification of the product’s biobased material content. SEALECTION Agribalance is a two-component, open-cell, spray-applied, semi-rigid polyurethane foam system that contains a mean average biobased content of 10%. The product expands to seal cracks, gaps and voids in floors, ceilings and wall cavities. The product is also recognized in ESR-2600 for compliance with the requirements of the IBC and IRC.
In the case of Temple-Inland, ICC-ES reviewed the recycled content of a range of gypsum board panels that are produced from the Fletcher, Oklahoma plant in issuing VAR-1007. Products evaluated include regular and water-resistant gypsum board, Span24® ceiling gypsum board, gypsum sheathing panels, StructGard® TS sheathing and shaftliner panels (refer to VAR-1007 for the complete list of products included in the evaluation).
During the SAVE program evaluation process, ICC-ES reviewed each manufacturer’s production process against one or more of the ICC-ES SAVE guidelines. The subsequent reports can be useful when seeking compliance with the requirements of one or more green building rating systems or standards, including—U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED, Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes, NAHB/ICC’s ICC-700 National Green Building Standard, or the 2008 California Green Building Standards Code.
Mark Johnson, ICC-ES president, says, “As the green movement continues to grow, it’s our goal to provide manufacturers a valuable, credible resource that will help them demonstrate their continued commitment to delivering proven sustainable solutions to the industry.”
For more information about the ICC-ES SAVE Program and to view the VARs for the manufacturers listed above or others that have achieved a VAR,visit www.icc-es.org/save. Manufacturers who would like to have their products evaluated under the SAVE Program can view the Application Details at www.icc-es.org/save/applications. ICC-ES maintains a list of products successfully evaluated under the SAVE Program in a Directory of Reports available at www.icc-es.org/save. Future VARs will provide the report holder with the option to include information that can provide guidance on how the report subject may comply with the requirements of major green rating systems, standards and codes.

About ICC-ES and ICC
A nonprofit, public-benefit corporation, ICC-ES is the United States’ leading evaluation service for innovative building materials, components and systems. The ICC-ES Evaluation Reports® and PMG™ Listing Program provide evidence that products and systems meet requirements in codes and standards. The ICC-ES SAVE Program provides verification that products have been independently verified as having the sustainable attributes claimed by the manufacturer to develop and advance sustainable design and construction. ICC-ES is a subsidiary of the International Code Council®.
The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the building safety codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states choose the safety codes developed by the International Code Council.