ICC-ES PMG Listing Program FAQs

 

1. Q: What does PMG stand for?
   A: PMG stands for plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas. It is the term used to describe the ICC-ES PMG listing program’s scope of listings.
    
2. Q: What is a listee?
   A: A “listee” is a person or organization having a product or products listed by ICC-ES, and who is identified in the Application for Listing.
    
3. Q: What is an ICC-ES PMG listing?
   A: An ICC-ES PMG listing is issued to a product that has demonstrated compliance with the specified standard and has also demonstrated compliance with one or more of the following codes: International Plumbing Code®, International Mechanical Code®, International Fuel Gas Code®, Uniform Plumbing Code, Uniform Mechanical Code or International Residential Code®. ICC-ES requires an ongoing inspection of the manufacturing facility to ensure that the product continuously meets the listing requirements.
    
4. Q: What is a standard?
   A: A standard contains minimum technical requirements that a product has to meet. For example, the standard for hubless cast iron soil pipe and fittings is ASTM A888-07a; the standard for vitreous china plumbing fixtures is ASME A112.19.2M-2003; the standard for prefabricated plastic spa shells is ANSI Z124.7-97; and the standard for atmospheric type vacuum breakers is ASSE 1001-02.
    
5. Q: What is an ICC-ES PMG listing criteria?
   A: Criteria clarify conditions of acceptance. An ICC-ES PMG listing criteria is developed by the applicant with the help of ICC-ES technical staff when one of the following situations applies:
   
   • There are no code-referenced standards available.
   • There is a nationally recognized standard for the product, but the codes do not cover in enough detail permitted uses of the product.
    
6. Q: How many times per year will the manufacturing plant be inspected?
   A: In general, depending on the type of product, ICC-ES inspects each manufacturing location at least once a year. However, manufacturing locations of pressure plastic pipes and tubing are inspected three times annually (Exception: Flexible water connectors, covered under ASME A112.18.6, are not included in this category); manufacturing locations of drain, waste, and vent (DWV) pipes are inspected twice a year.
    
7. Q: Why do I want to list my products with the ICC-ES PMG Listing Program?
   A: An ICC-ES PMG listing increases consumer confidence since the product is evaluated against the requirements of the code and its referenced standards. An ICC-ES PMG listing also shows code officials that your products have been verified as meeting performance standards and code requirements.
    
8. Q: Is a listing mandatory?
   A: Obtaining a listing is voluntary. However, an ICC-ES PMG listing provides the manufacturer with a level playing field, credibility, and trust. Manufacturers who receive this level of certification prove their high level of commitment to public safety.
    
9. Q: What is the advantage of an ICC-ES PMG listing mark on my products?
   A: An ICC-ES PMG listing mark provides exceptional credibility when placed on a listed product. It means that the product bearing the mark has undergone rigorous testing and review. It also means that the product is compliant with the International Plumbing Code®, International Mechanical Code®, International Fuel Gas Code®, Uniform Plumbing Code, Uniform Mechanical Code and/or the International Residential Code®. Following up on the proven integrity and expertise of ICC-ES, the PMG listing program evaluates product compliance with the model codes and monitors the manufacturing process.
    
10. Q: What is the guideline by which the ICC-ES PMG program operates?
    A: ICC-ES operates in accordance with ISO Guide 65, General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems.
     
11. Q: Who does the testing of ICC-ES PMG listed products?
    A: The ICC-ES PMG listing program uses laboratories that are in compliance with ISO/IEC Guide 17025, General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
     
12. Q: What kinds of products does the ICC-ES PMG Program list?
    A: The ICC-ES PMG listing program lists products and components related to the plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas industries.
     
13. Q: What is the advantage of the ICC-ES PMG listing program?
    A: Ultimately, code officials, the marketplace and customers determine the benefit of a listing with ICC-ES. ICC-ES is the United States’ leader in evaluating building products, components, methods, and materials for compliance with code. Research shows that ICC-ES is the resource preferred by code enforcement professionals when they are approving new and innovative building products. This same research also shows that there is a need for a listing program for plumbing, mechanical, and gas products that code officials, the marketplace and consumers can rely on. The ICC-ES PMG listing program fills a void and assists code enforcement professionals architects and specifiers in determining whether a plumbing, mechanical, or fuel gas product complies not only with applicable standards but also with applicable codes.
     
14. Q: Who recognizes an ICC-ES PMG listing?
    A: The ICC-ES PMG listing program is designed to assist those who enforce codes in determining whether a plumbing, mechanical or fuel gas product complies not only with applicable standards but also with applicable codes. The I-Codes, the most widely adopted codes in history, have now been adopted in all fifty states at the statewide or local level.
     
15. Q: How do I apply for an ICC-ES PMG listing?
    A: The first step is to submit an application. Click here to download the application form.
     
16. Q: How much will it cost to get my company’s product listed with ICC-ES?
    A: The current fee schedule can be found here.
     
17. Q: How do I know when a product is listed with ICC-ES?
    A: When a product is listed with ICC-ES, it should bear one of the listing marks found here. We also have the listed products on our website.
     
18. Q: What does a qualifying (initial) inspection involve?
    A: A qualifying inspection is scheduled by appointment with the listee. The qualifying inspection verifies that the manufacturer meets the minimum quality system requirements of ICC-ES and that the quality system is effectively implemented.
     
19. Q: What is a surveillance inspection?
    A: A surveillance inspection, conducted after a listing has been issued, verifies that the listed products are the same as originally recognized. Surveillance inspections are unannounced and involve, as applicable:
    
    • Verifying the effectiveness of corrective actions taken to resolve non-conformances found during previous inspections
    • Review of the use of the ICC-ES PMG listing mark
    • Review of product labeling as required with the applicable standard
    • Review of complaint records
    • Review of calibration records
    • Review of any changes to the quality manual and procedures that may affect listed products
    • Random selection of listed products at random for testing
     
20. Q: What is the difference between an ICC-ES evaluation report (ESR) and an ICC-ES PMG listing?
    A: An ICC-ES evaluation report and an ICC-ES PMG listing accomplish basically the same objective. While the two programs vary a great deal in detail, they are both intended to document a product’s code compliance to the code official. Inspections under the evaluation report program are quarterly for all products requiring third- party verification. The ICC-ES PMG listing program, in general, requires one annual inspection of the manufacturing plant to provide assurance that the listed products are still meeting ICC-ES PMG requirements. The listing process is faster than the evaluation-report process because there are no public hearings to develop listing criteria. Furthermore, listing does not require permanently marking the listing number on the product.
     
21. Q: What is the conversion process from an ESR to an ICC-ES PMG Listing?
    A: The first requirement is to confirm that the product is not covered by the International Building Code® but falls under one or more of the following codes: International Plumbing Code®, International Mechanical Code®, International Fuel Gas Code®, Uniform Plumbing Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, and/or the International Residential Code®.
    The second step is to submit an application and all necessary documentation required to begin the process for an ICC-ES PMG listing.
    The third step is to convert the acceptance criteria of your product to a listing criteria using the format shown on page two of the application for listing criteria.
     
22. Q: When I applied for my evaluation report, I hired an inspection agency to perform my inspection. Will that process change?
    A: ICC-ES will perform the inspections. However, if you prefer to keep the same inspection agency, you can ask that agency to contact ICC-ES for information and ICC-ES PMG listing program requirements for inspection agencies.
     
23. Q: Whom do I contact for more information?
    A: For more information, please contact our ICC-ES PMG staff:
    

    Business/Regional Office: ICC-ES, 5360 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California 90601
    Phone: (800) 423-6587, ext. LIST (5478)
    (562) 699-0543 ext. LIST (5478)
    Fax: (562) 695-4694
    E-mail: espmg@icc-es.org

    
     

 
Download and install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.