"The purpose of this document is to establish a quality plan for the construction process that results in long-term performance of dwellings," according to Bill Egan, developer and Senergy vice president of engineering. "And while this program focuses upon EIFS claddings, the document addresses the entire building envelope so comprehensively that it could be the model for quality plans for other wall systems."

The plan outlines key quality control points for builders and installation contractors using EIFS cladding for residential construction. The recommended construction process involves confirming that the building is suitable for EIFS installation, selecting the right EIF system, verifying that the building substrate, weather barrier, flashing and sealants have been properly installed, and using a check list to ensure the proper installation of the EIF system.

NFPA Building Code develops and Maryland adopts association editions

National Fire Protection Association's Building Code Technical Correlating Committee has released its report on proposals, which includes the second draft of the NFPA 5000 Building Code--billed as the first building code to be developed using an open consensus process, accredited by the American National Standards Institute. NFPA and its partners, including the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials and the Western Fire Chiefs Association, are developing the sets.

The State of Maryland has adopted the 2000 edition of "NFPA 1: Fire Prevention Code," and the 2000 edition of "NFPA 101: Life Safety Code" and all National Fire Protection Association reference documents.