Product Approval POC

Minutes
March 26, 2006
8:00 am – 12:00 pm


Casa Monica Hotel
95 Cordova St
St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Product Approval POC Attendees: Ed Carson, Herminio Gonzales, Nan Dean, Paul Kidwell, Do Kim. Staff present were Mo Madani, Joe Bigelow

There was a quorum present.

1.  The minutes for the February 5th POC meeting minutes were approved as presented. The agenda was approved as submitted.

2.  Update on Applied Research Associates, Inc. prototype program contract status, by Michael Ashworth of DCA.   He stated that he is not sure why the program experienced the problems that it did. 

Committee action: It was agreed that DCA staff re-advertise for the Prototype Building Program to see if there is potential interest.  Staff will place the advertisement on the web by April 2nd and it will remain there until April 20th.  Staff will modify the proposal to reflect current contract language, which includes changes of fees.  The committee asked staff to allow for ample time for interested parties to respond to the request for proposal.  Also the POC expressed that they would like to review the proposals, if more than one, at the May POC meeting. 

3.  Product Approval Program Staff Report
(A). Discuss A&A contract status.  Michael Ashworth , DCA Staff, indicated that the current contract with A&A has been in place for three years and was it was renewed twice, and for that the contract must be reopen for bidding.

Committee action: It was agreed that DCA staff re-advertise for the Product Approval Program Administrator contract.  Staff will place the advertisement on the web by April 2nd and it will remain there until April 20th.  As part of the request for proposal, the Committee also decided to include a provision for administrative fee to cover the cost of maintaining the BCIS.  Also the POC expressed that they would like to review the proposals, if more than one, at the May POC meeting. 

 (B). Update on BCIS Improvements
      Staff reported the current system problems with page three of the manufacturers application and the crosspollenation issues will be taken care of by the end of April due to the release of the manufactured building program module.

(C).  Product Approval and Entities Statistics Report.
     Staff provided the committee a statistical report, including products and entities approved to date.

 (D). The Committee reviewed the staff report from the February POC and validation meeting and other requests to modify the subcategories of the products listed in Rule 9B-72.  For more information see attached report from the POC (Proposed Comments to Rule 9B-72 as recommended by the POC). 

4. Discussion of Declaratory Statement: The committee discussed and provided recommendation on the following request for the following Declaratory Statement:

DCA07-DEC-034 by Don Blalock, President, Quickbrick USA, LLC

5. Other Business:

(A). Tasks that require funding – future projects.  The committee took up discussion on this and deferred further discussion to future meeting.
(B). Jesus Gonzales Letter - The Committee discussed Jesus Gonzales’ letter regarding Quality Assurance problems with Associations.  Jesus Gonzales was present and he addressed the problems.  Jon Hill, Vice President of Keystone offered a solution to the problem.  Jimmy Buckner, Joe Belcher, Bill Feely, etc spoke on the subject.

Committee Action: The POC directed staff to draft a letter for review at the May POC meeting for the purpose of clarifying the issue in question and to make available a verifiable list of the manufacturers utilizing the approval.  The list of manufactures utilizing the association’s approval would be made available to the users either through listing those manufacturers in the application or as a link from the application to the association website.  It has been indicated that the list is subject to change frequently, which would make listing them in the application not feasible.

 6. A&A Report

(A) Review product approval and entity applications.
            The committee reviewed and provided recommendation on product applications provided by A&A.  See attached report.

(B).  A&A provided a report with recommendations on nine entities for consideration as follows:

1.     TST 4205, Progressive Engineering, Inc.  - (Product Testing Laboratory) - Approved

2.     TST 2609, Architectural Testing, Inc. - (Product Testing Laboratory)- Approved

3.     TST 1555, American Test Lab, North - (Product Testing Laboratory), Approved

4.     QUA 4375, Gabert-Abuzalaf AIA and Associates - (Product Quality Assurance Entity).  Approved

5.     CER1508, Window and Door Manufacturers Association - (Product Certification Agency) – Approved

6.     TST 1657, Fenestration Testing Lab - (Product Testing Laboratory) – Approved

7.     TST 6127, Ramtech Laboratories, Inc. - (Product Testing Laboratory) – Approved

8.     QUA 6128, Ramtech Laboratories, Inc. - (Product Quality Assurance Entity) – Approved

9.     TST 6485, ENCON Technology, Inc. – (Product Testing Laboratory) – Approved

7. Adjourned at 12:40 P.M.

______________________________________________________________________________

Action needed by the Commission:

1.  Action: It was agreed that DCA staff re-advertise for the Prototype Building Program to see if there is potential interest.  Staff will place the advertisement on the web by April 2nd and it will remain there until April 20th.  Staff will modify the proposal to reflect current contract language, which includes changes of fees.  The committee asked staff to allow for ample time for interested parties to respond to the request for proposal.  Also the POC expressed that they would like to review the proposals, if more than one, at the May POC meeting. 

2.  Action:  It was agreed that DCA staff re-advertise for the Product Approval Program Administrator contract.  Staff will place the advertisement on the web by April 2nd and it will remain there until April 20th.  As part of the request for proposal, the Committee also decided to include a provision for administrative fee to cover the cost of maintaining the BCIS.  Also the POC expressed that they would like to review the proposals, if more than one, at the May POC meeting. 

3. Committee Action: The POC directed staff to draft a letter for review at the May POC meeting for the purpose of clarifying the issue in question and to make available a verifiable list of the manufacturers utilizing the approval.  The list of manufactures utilizing the association’s approval would be made available to the users either through listing those manufacturers in the application or as a link from the application to the association website.  It has been indicated that the list is subject to change frequently, which would make listing them in the application not feasible.

4.  Action:  recommendations on nine entities for consideration:

1.  TST 4205, Progressive Engineering, Inc.  - (Product Testing Laboratory) – Approved
2. TST 2609, Architectural Testing, Inc. - (Product Testing Laboratory)- Approved
3. TST 1555, American Test Lab, North - (Product Testing Laboratory), Approved
4. QUA 4375, Gabert-Abuzalaf AIA and Associates - (Product Quality Assurance Entity).     Approved
5. CER1508, Window and Door Manufacturers Association - (Product Certification Agency) – Approved
6. TST 1657, Fenestration Testing Lab - (Product Testing Laboratory) – Approved
7. TST 6127, Ramtech Laboratories, Inc. - (Product Testing Laboratory) – Approved
8. QUA 6128, Ramtech Laboratories, Inc. - (Product Quality Assurance Entity) – Approved
9.  TST 6485, ENCON Technology, Inc. – (Product Testing Laboratory) - Approved

5.  Action on products reviewed for approval, conditional approval, deferral, and denial be approved.