Monday, November 5, 2018

Nominations to Serve on the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC)


US Department of housing and urban development
Are you or someone else interested in directly influencing the improvement of housing standards, helping keep homes affordable and protect consumers when it comes to manufactured housing standards and regulations? The Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC) is inviting nominations of individuals to serve on the committee thru November 16th, 2018.

Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) is seeking highly qualified and motivated individuals who meet the requirements to serve as voting members of MHCC. More information on these requirements they can be found here or a printable version here.

HUD is the principal federal agency responsible for programs concerned with housing needs, fair housing and the improvement of the nation’s communities.

Term – 3 Years
Max Terms – 2
Meets – 1-2 times a year

Nominations must be submitted here

Thursday, October 18, 2018

NTA Thermal Performance Testing - ASTM C518


 

Thermal transmission testing is an important part of the evaluation process for a product to make its way from the manufacturing plant onto retail shelves. 

ASTM C518 is the Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus.  Whether you manufacture polyiso boards, batt insulation, spray foams, or any number of other construction materials, it can be important to understand the thermal performance of your product through an R-value rating.

What is an R-value and Why is it Important?
R-value is the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow. In theory, the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power and contribution to energy efficiency. Energy conservation is a "hot" topic. With LEED standards and state-wide energy codes becoming more popular, your product’s R-value has never been more important. 

How Do You Test for R-Value?
The heat flow meter apparatus is comprised of a hot plate and a cold plate. When your product is placed in between the two plates, our test equipment measures the heat flow from the hot plate through your product and to the cold plate. The measured resistance of heat flow between the two plates is your product’s R-value (thermal resistance value).

Rising Standards of Energy Codes
California has been leading the charge in passing the nation’s strictest green building codes with its Title 24 standards.  The energy saving state-wide code is greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Other states are looking to California as they create their own energy standards. 
From Title-24 2016 update:
Insulation:
    1. External insulation with an installed R-value of at least R-12; or
    2. Internal and external insulation with a combined R-value of at least R-16

Why Choose NTA for Thermal Performance Testing?
NTA is a family-owned and operated company that prides itself on being staffed by customer-oriented technical experts. Manufacturers choose to partner with NTA because our full suite of services increases speed to market. In most cases, we can provide ASTM C518 test results within 2 weeks. NTA cares about the quality and safety of the products it tests, inspects, and certifies, because we understand that these products have an impact on people throughout the world.

For more information or to get a quote please contact Justin Mann at 574-773-7975 or send in request for information here

About NTA, Inc.
NTA, Inc. is an Approved Agency per Section 1703 of the International Building Code, and has been providing the industry with trustworthy testing, inspection and certification services for many years, giving us a history of excellence in product evaluation, code compliance and certification. Our in-depth understanding of building codes places us in a unique position to help you meet or exceed the applicable codes and regulations. From prototype testing to final certification, we are your 'one-stop-shop' for quickly getting your product to market, and with our highly rated customer service, we make the entire certification process simple, seamless and efficient - saving you valuable time and money.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

A Busy October for Industry Events



“Seeing our clients and colleagues at trade shows gives us an opportunity to better understand the challenges our clients are facing in today’s marketplace,” says Mike Luna, NTA Senior Director of Building Products, “while also working to make building products safe for consumers,” As a leader in building product inspection, testing, and certification, NTA continues its commitment to industry events.    

During the month of October, NTA will be exhibiting at three of the largest building products and construction industry trade shows of the year:

Construct Show Oct 3-5 (Long Beach, CA)
Booth #853
#Construct2018

RDJ (Remodeling and Deck Show) Oct 9-11 (Baltimore)
Booth #732
#remodelingdeck18

BSAD ISS Show – Builder Safety portion of the ICC Show Oct 21-22 (Richmond VA)
Booth #702
#BSDexpo

Follow our trade show hashtags as we continue to make waves in the industry toward a more transparent testing, inspection, and certification process.

We look forward to seeing you!

Friday, September 14, 2018

NTA's Test Wall and Impact Cannon: Bigger, Faster, and Smarter


Since 1976, NTA, Inc. has been offering product testing, inspection, and certification to the building products industry. Accredited to ISO 17025 as a testing laboratory, ISO 17020 as an inspection agency, and ISO 17065 as a certification body by the International Accreditation Service (IAS), NTA has long been the go-to third-party provider for companies in the building products arena who need assistance with product testing and/or code evaluation. As part of its building envelope testing services, NTA works with manufacturers of fenestration products (windows, doors), vinyl siding, water-resistive barriers (WRBs), wall systems, and more.

Most recently, NTA has added a new and improved Test Wall and Impact Cannon to its Nappanee, Indiana testing laboratory. The new Test Wall provides air, water, and structural testing on a wide variety of products, and the cannon provides impact testing to simulate windborne debris experienced during a hurricane or tornado event. The Test Wall can be used to establish a product's compliance with standards such as those published by AAMA and ASTM. At 16’ high by 18’ wide, the NTA Test Wall can test one large specimen or multiple smaller specimens at the same time. "For many years, NTA has offered accredited services for air/water/structural and impact testing," says Justin Mann, Operations Manager for NTA's Midwest testing laboratory. "Now with our upgrade

d equipment, we will be more efficient and offer faster turnaround times for our clients, further reducing their time to market and positively impacting their bottom line." To see a short video of a rain demo here, click here.

­The New Impact Cannon Simulates Windborne Debris
An important part of the Test Wall system is the Impact Cannon, which simulates wind borne debris experienced during a hurricane or tornado event. Testing and performance requirements for demonstrating tornado and hurricane resistance are addressed by standards such as ASTM E1886, ASTM E1996, Florida's TAS 201, FEMA 361, and ICC 500. Our powerful new Impact Cannon has the ability to shoot a 9-lb by 8-ft long 2x4 at 128 mph for hurricane testing and a 15-lb by 14-ft long 2x4 at 100 mph for tornado testing. To see a short video of the impact cannon,
click here.

NTA Sets a New Standard for Eco-Conscious Testing
The testing required to demonstrate a product's water penetration resistance uses a lot of water, especially the two-hour wind-driven rain test prescribed by Chapter 14 of the International Building Code (IBC).  Most test labs consume thousands of gallons of water per year.  NTA wanted to do things differently, so we utilize a 300-gallon water tank to recycle the water used for testing.  We are very proud to say that our environmental impact for water waste will be greatly reduced because of our water recycling system.

List of Standards
For those seeking specific standards for testing and/or certification of their products, following is a partial list of standards facilitated by our Test Wall and Impact Cannon:

  • AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 – "North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights" Commonly referred to as: NAFS or AAMA 101
  • AAMA 508 – "Voluntary Test Method and Specification for Pressure Equalized Rain Screen Wall Cladding Systems"
  • AAMA 509 – "Voluntary Test and Classification Method for Drained and Back Ventilated Rain Screen Wall Cladding Systems"
  • AAMA 1701.2 – "Voluntary Standard for Utilization in Manufactured Housing for Primary Windows and Sliding Glass Doors"
  • AAMA 1702.2 – "Voluntary Standard for Utilization in Manufactured Housing for Swinging Exterior Passage Doors"
  • ASTM D5206 – "Standard Test Method for Windload Resistance of Rigid Plastic Siding"
  • ASTM E72 – "Standard Test Methods of Conducting Strength Tests of Panels for Building Construction" (transverse wind load)
  • Air/Water/Structural Testing:
  • ASTM E283 – "Standard Test Method for Determining Rate of Air Leakage Through Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, and Doors Under Specified Pressure Differences Across the Specimen"
  • ASTM E331 – "Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference"
  • ASTM E547 – "Standard Test Method for Water Penetration of Exterior Windows, Skylights, Doors, and Curtain Walls by Cyclic Static Air Pressure Difference"
  • ASTM E330 – "Standard Test Method for Structural Performance of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights and Curtain Walls by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference"
  • ASTM E1886 – "Standard Test Method for Performance of Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, Doors, and Impact Protective Systems Impacted by Missile(s) and Exposed to Cyclic Pressure Differentials"
  • ASTM E1996 – "Standard Specification for Performance of Exterior Windows, Curtain Walls, Doors, and Impact Protective Systems Impacted by Windborne Debris in Hurricanes"
  • FEMA 361 – "Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms"
  • ICC 500 – "Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters"
  • ASTM E2273 – "Standard Test Method for Determining the Drainage Efficiency of Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) Clad Wall Assemblies"
  • HUD negative wind load testing
  • Florida Building Code (FBC) High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) and/or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA):
  • TAS 201 – "Impact Test Procedures"
  • TAS 202 – "Criteria for Testing Impact & Nonimpact Resistant Building Envelope Components Using Uniform Static Air Pressure"
  • TAS 203 – "Criteria for Testing Products Subject to Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading"
  • … and a wide variety of ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria


Testing, Inspection, and Certification: All Under One Roof
NTA is a family-owned and -operated company that prides itself on being staffed by customer-oriented technical experts and on offering testing, inspection, and certification services all under one roof.  Manufacturers choose to partner with NTA because our full suite of services increases speed to market. NTA cares about the quality and safety of the products it tests, inspects, and certifies, because we understand that these products have an impact on people throughout the world.

Looking for Help with your Building Product?

For those looking for assistance with testing, inspection, and/or certification of their building products, NTA can help simplify the process. Building product manufacturers find that NTA treats their clients like family. Our process is effective and efficient, plus NTA will assist every step of the way. How do you get started? Send us an email at testlab@ntainc.com to let us know what your product is and what you'd like to do, and we will respond within two working days. If you need help immediately – we would love to hear from you – call us at 574.773.7975.

"NTA is dedicated to provide services to ensure products used in construction projects are safe for all families.  Each employee in our organization is part of the NTA family and our family’s mission is to treat clients and end-users of the products and services we certify, as an extension of our family." says Mike Luna, Senior Director of the Building Products Division


About NTA, Inc.

NTA, Inc. is an Approved Agency per Section 1703 of the International Building Code, and has been providing the industry with trustworthy testing, inspection and certification services for many years, giving us a history of excellence in product evaluation, code compliance and certification. Our in-depth understanding of building codes places us in a unique position to help you meet or exceed the applicable codes and regulations. From prototype testing to final certification, we are your 'one-stop-shop' for quickly getting your product to market, and with our highly rated customer service, we make the entire certification process simple, seamless and efficient - saving you valuable time and money.


Monday, September 10, 2018

NTA, Inc. Hires Code Compliance Veteran Michael Merrigan, P.E. to Head Up Evaluation Services Division


Testing, inspection and certification firm NTA, Inc, announced today the addition of Michael Merrigan P.E. to its management team.  Mr. Merrigan’s 30+ years of expertise and experience in code compliance and testing make him the perfect fit to lead NTA’s Evaluation Services Division.

As the head of the Evaluation Services division of NTA, Michael brings an intimate knowledge of the code compliance, testing, and certification industry. His service-forward principles seamlessly fit into NTA’s company ethos of quality customer care. As a trusted gatekeeper for public safety, Michael plans to bring a philosophy that ensures the certification process runs smoothly for building product manufacturers while also supplying quality evaluation reports.

“I was drawn to NTA’s well-known philosophy of honesty, integrity, and fairness,” Merrigan said. “I look forward to offering quality evaluation reports, while also creating long-term relationships with industry professionals focused on product safety.”

"NTA is dedicated to provide services to ensure products used in construction projects are safe for all families.  Each employee in our organization is part of the NTA family and our family’s mission is to treat clients and end-users of the products and services we certify, as an extension of our family."  says Mike Luna, Senior Director of the Building Products Division

Since 1976, NTA, Inc has been offering testing, inspection, and certification to the building products industry. NTA is a family owned company built on the mid-western values of hard work and the highest ethics.  Their guarantee of reliability is two-fold:
  • American families- A quality inspection process to make sure that the safety of our neighbors is our number one priority.
  • Building Product Manufacturers- A fair and expeditious evaluation process without surprise fees.

About NTA: NTA, Inc., located in Nappanee, Indiana, provides building product certification, building code compliance review, engineering design services, and, inspection & product testing. The company has over 60 trained professional engineers, plan reviewers, technicians, consultants, and design draftsmen with professional registrations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia