The Florida Product Approval System was revamped and implemented on October 1, 2003. The main reason for the system is to establish an increased creditability in the testing methods and a higher standard for product consistencies as they are used statewide. The roofing materials and products tested through this program must be evaluated by a nationally accredited engineering firm or a state approved engineering lab facility.
These qualified entities must meet the criteria for a national standard as an independent testing firm with no affiliation to the manufacturers whose products they evaluate. Additionally, the roofing product manufacturers must observe as a third party monitoring for quality assurance to verify compliance with their product claims.
Rule 9B-72 of the Florida Building Commission mandated a higher standard for the performance of product testing evaluations. It also establishes a uniformity and consistency criteria for statewide code enforcement. The roofing products covered for example are: Built-up roofing systems, single-ply roofing systems, noncorrosive roofing fasteners, asphalt shingles, wood shingles and shakes, slate roofing, roofing tiles, roof tile adhesives, cement adhesives and coatings, liquid applied roofing systems, underlayments, metal roofing systems and other waterproofing systems.
All of these roofing products and systems must meet a minimum set of approved standards for use in the State of Florida.
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