When the CCMC receives a request to evaluate a product, an evaluation officer examines a sample of the product, notes its basic characteristics, and then determines whether the product is eligible as an innovative product or as a standardized product. The process for products that can be evaluated using an existing technical guide is quicker. Before issuing it, however, the CCMC must verify that the guide is current and valid. If an old technical guide exists, it may need to be updated. In that case, extra time will be required.

Evaluation Process

Steps in the evaluation process for innovative products:

1. Application by Proponent
2. Eligibility Reviewed
3. Scope and Evaluation Plan
4. Preparation of a Technical Guide
5. Laboratory Testing by a Third Party
6. Evaluation of Results and Opinions
7. Preparation of an Evaluation Report.

Steps 2 and 3 are skipped for standardized products.

Innovative product

Where a product is so novel that no Canadian standard or CCMC Technical Guide (technical requirements) is directly applicable to the evaluation of the product, the CCMC will first prepare a Scope and Evaluation Plan (SEP) and then, if the client decides to proceed, develop a Technical Guide.

Scope and Evaluation Plan (SEP)

In order to help the applicant assess his/her product's performance and compliance to codes, it is necessary that CCMC staff prepare a summary report on the scope and plan for the evaluation of the product. This document will provide the proponent with a valuable tool in knowing the performance issues to be addressed in the official evaluation.

The work to be performed by CCMC staff for the preparation of the SEP is as follows:

Scope

• Identify the applicable requirements of the National Building Code (NBC) 2010 through a Code Analysis
• Identify the technical performance issues to be addressed
• Consult with the provinces and territories to identify code variances in their jurisdiction that might affect the approval of the product, and
• Consult with other regulatory agencies as required.

Evaluation Plan

• Consult with technical experts from NRC or other organizations on the strategy to carry out this proposed evaluation
• Liaise with the Standing Committee on Technical Evaluations (SCTE) to seek its advice on the evaluation strategy, and
• Identify the cost and time frame for the development of the Technical Guide and the preparation of the CCMC Evaluation Report.

Technical Guide

CCMC staff will develop test methods and technical criteria that will be incorporated in the Technical Guide and that will serve for the evaluation of the product. CCMC staff are supported in this task by a network of experts in the relevant field. The Technical Guide also includes CCMC evaluation requirements for sampling, laboratory reports and the in-plant manufacturing quality control program. Technical criteria could comprise of laboratory testing, computer modeling and/or field investigations.In addition, the guide may also contain existing test methods, such as those established by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or other similar organizations.

This document can then serve as a basis for evaluating other similar products. It will gradually be revised to include changes in Code requirements, updated and new standards, new knowledge and new research information as well as variations encountered with each new product. In some cases, the evaluating officer will establish a consortium of manufacturers and users to support and fund development of the Technical Guide.

The guide is sent to the applicant, who is responsible for having the tests conducted in a laboratory recognized by the CCMC. The laboratory must comply with the Technical Guide requirements and must send the test results directly to the CCMC.

Evaluation Report

Data review>

CCMC staff review the laboratory test results, engineering analysis report or any data that were required to determine if the product conforms to the Technical Guide requirements. When test results are technically acceptable to the CCMC, the officer in charge of the evaluation prepares a report including the following items:

• Opinion
• Description
• Conditions and Limitations
• Technical Evidence.

All Evaluation Reports bear a unique evaluation number, such as CCMC XXXXX-R, and are published in the CCMC Registry of Product Evaluations.

Standardized product

If the product is subject to recognized standards, the CCMC evaluates it against and the requirements of the applicable standards and, if referenced, against National Building Code requirements. These requirements are presented in a CCMC Evaluation Directive, which also includes requirements related to sampling, laboratory reports and the in-plant manufacturing quality control program.

The Directive is sent to the applicant, who is responsible for having the tests conducted in a laboratory recognized by the CCMC. The laboratory must comply with the requirements in the Directive and must send the test results directly to the CCMC. CCMC staff will then review the laboratory test results or any data that were required to determine if the product conforms to the Evaluation Directive requirements.

Evaluation Listings

If the product complies with the requirements, the officer in charge of the evaluation will prepare an Evaluation Listing including the following items:

• Short description
• Compliance to standard
• Manufacturing location.

All Evaluation Listings bear an evaluation number, such as CCMC XXXXX-L, and are published in the CCMC Registry of Product Evaluations.

Follow-up on the evaluations

Each year, the CCMC requires the applicant to affirm that the product has not been modified in any way. Every three years, the product is re-evaluated, and full or partial tests are performed as necessary. The manufacturer must also submit to the CCMC a copy of the in-plant manufacturing quality control manual for the current production line, for assessment purposes. Information on production quality control (problems encountered and solutions applied) is also required at re-evaluation.

Evidence of poor performance of a product or failure to conform to evaluation criteria may result in cancellation of the Evaluation Report or Evaluation Listing.

The CCMC welcomes feedback on product performance.