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ISANTA Counters Claims of "Code
Approved."
March, 2004
Fastener Association Counters Claims of "Code
Approved"
The International Staple, Nail and Tool Association (ISANTA) sent a letter
to trade and professional groups in the building community alerting them to
misleading claims of "Code Approved." The association has seen misuse
of the term, and similar terms, in the fastener industry. The association hopes
that the message will be passed along to fastener users.
Tom Willcutt, Chair of ISANTA’s Board of Directors, explained, "This
practice hurts the entire industry. A building official sees the claim, or hears
it from a contractor, and the fastener industry gets the blame. By ordinance,
only the building department, represented by the building official, can approve
materials. If a fastener size is not in code schedules, the official can approve
its use based on evidence - typically an evaluation report issued by the groups
that write the codes. Even if a fastener size is in code schedules, the official
still needs to know that the fastener meets code requirements on properties such
as dimensional tolerance and stiffness. That goes for both hand-driven and
power-driven."
Alan Phillips, Vice Chair of ISANTA’s Board of Directors, explained the
exposure. "Unfortunately, many people treat nails and staples as
commodities, rather than the engineered fasteners they are. Misunderstanding
building codes and the approval mechanism hurts the building community, and make
the building official’s job tougher. The builder can get an unexpected job
stoppage. Architects’ plans can be compromised. The owner’s house may not
meet code."
ISANTA’s website explains why claims of "approval" cannot be
trusted. The information can be accessed on the www.isanta.org site by selecting
"Building Codes" and then selecting "No, the Fastener Isn’t ‘Code
Approved.’ " Printed copies of the information can be obtained by
contacting ISANTA.
ISANTA has eighteen members: DePoan, DeWalt, Dubai Wire, ITW (Duo-Fast and
Paslode), Falcon/Specialty Fasteners, Fasco/Beck, Gerdau Ameristeel -Atlas Steel
and Wire location, Hitachi, ISM Fastening Systems, Makita, Master Fasteners, Max
USA, Pentair Tools Group (Porter-Cable and DeVilbiss Air Power), Prebena,
PrimeSource, Senco, Stanley Fastening Systems, and Tree Island/Golden State/Halsteel.
The association concentrates in the areas of fastening recommendations,
product and safety standards, and safety programs for fasteners and fastening
tools used in: residential and commercial construction, remodeling, manufactured
housing, furniture, vehicles, pallets and containers, picture frames and other
industrial markets.
INTERNATIONAL STAPLE, NAIL AND TOOL ASSOCIATION
512 West Burlington Avenue, Suite 203, La Grange, IL
60525-2245
Telephone- (708) 482-8138. Facsimile- (708) 482-8186.
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