1. Some of the Evaluation Reports and Listings appearing in this Registry show "Re-evaluation due" dates that are past. CCMC is currently in the process of re-evaluating these products. In the interim, the evaluations remain valid for the conditions under which they were originally published.

2. This Registry is provided without representation, warranty, or guarantee of any kind, expressed or implied, and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) provides no endorsement for any evaluated material, product, system or service described herein.

   NRC has evaluated the material, product, system or service described herein only for those characteristics stated herein.

   The information and opinions in this Registry are directed to those who have the appropriate degree of experience to use and apply its contents.

   NRC accepts no responsibility whatsoever arising in any way from any and all use or reliance on the information contained in this Registry. NRC is not undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity nor to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to another person or entity.

3. Fire Performance of Innovative Structural Products in Houses

   This Registry contains opinions on the suitability-for-use of products intended as structural elements in houses. Although historically there has been no need to regulate the structural fire performance of houses, an inherent intent of the National Building Code of Canada (NBC) is that occupants have sufficient time to escape from a building in the event of a fire.

   There are many factors that may determine whether that intent is achieved. The fire endurance of structural elements may be one. However, its importance may be minimized by other factors such as combustible content load, early warning devices, smoke movement and toxicity, and fire department response time; all contributing to the overall system performance. Research is now underway at the Institute for Research in Construction to determine the critical factors that affect occupant escape from houses.

   Some innovative structural products have been used in the marketplace for several years and have gained the confidence of design professionals, code authorities and users with respect to their performance under typical fire scenarios in today's house system. Some newer products have not been in service long enough to have gained that confidence and may present a more obvious concern.

   Unless otherwise stated, innovative structural products for houses have not been evaluated in the context of the NBC intent noted above. As is the case for all innovative products, designers and authorities need to exercise judgment in considering the use of innovative structural products for houses.

To obtain more information on the contents of these Notes or on how to have a product evaluated by CCMC, contact:

Canadian Construction Materials Centre
Institute for Research in Construction
National Research Council Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
CANADA
K1A 0R6

Tel.: (613) 993-6189
Fax: (613) 952-0268
E-mail: ccmc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/services/irc/ccmc.html