Architectural Flashing Supply
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Test evidence, approvals and certifications · Lesson 1 of 4

Test evidence, approvals and certifications: principles and terminology

What counts as evidence that a flashing or edge-metal product performs: the chain from test standard to inspection, who issues which document, why a test proves only one assembly, and what AFS can show today.

You will be able to: Tell a test standard, a test report, a listing, an evaluation report, an approval and a manufacturer claim apart; say who issues each; and state what AFS can and cannot show as evidence today.

10 min · 9 slides · 8 questions

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Slide 1 of 9

The chain of evidence

Evidence runs in a chain: a standard says how to test, a laboratory tests one exact assembly, a report records it, a listing or approval may follow, then submittal, review and a comparison with the installed work.

ES-1 gives basic requirements for resistance testing of roof edge systems under simulated wind load, on low-slope roofs of 2:12 (9.5 degrees) or less.

From test standard to inspection: the chain of evidenceSeven boxes, A to G, joined by downward arrows: A test standard, B test, C test report, D listing or approval, E submittal, F review, G inspection. A navy band below says ES-1 asks that tested components be documented for the owner and installed as tested.ATest standardhow to build and load a specimenBTesta lab loads one exact assemblyCTest reportthe lab's record of that assemblyDListing or approvalagency, code body or jurisdictionESubmittalthe contractor sends the evidenceFReviewdesign team and building officialGInspectioninstalled work against the recordES-1 asks that tested componentsbe documented for the owner (4.0)and be installed as tested (5.0)

Seven boxes, A to G, joined by downward arrows: A test standard, B test, C test report, D listing or approval, E submittal, F review, G inspection. A navy band below says ES-1 asks that tested components be documented for the owner and installed as tested.

A
Test standard: the published method, such as ES-1
B
Test: a laboratory loads one exact assembly
C
Test report: the laboratory's record of that assembly
D
Listing, evaluation report or approval, with a number and often an expiry
E
Submittal: the contractor sends the evidence to the design team
F
Review by the design team and the building official
G
Inspection: installed work compared with the tested assembly
The chain evidence travels along, in this course's working order. ES-1 section 4.0 asks for documentation of the tested components and section 5.0 for installation instructions.

Sources

Glossary

Test standard
A published method that says how a specimen is built and loaded and what counts as failure. It is not a certificate. ANSI/SPRI/FM 4435/ES-1 is the one for roof edge metal.
Test report
A testing laboratory's record that one exact specimen was tested to a named standard and what it sustained. It speaks for that assembly and no other.
Accredited laboratory
A laboratory whose competence for a stated scope of tests has been assessed, for example by NVLAP. Accreditation does not guarantee any given result.
Evaluation report
A code-evaluation body's report, such as an ICC-ES report, that a product meets or is an alternative to the code under stated conditions of use, with the evidence it relied on listed.
Manufacturer claim
Wording on a data sheet or print, such as "ES-1 Certified". It points to evidence; it is not a test report.