CRSC · California Referenced Standards Code

How are testing laboratories approved for insulation testing?

Q: Who decides whether a lab meets the 1978 Criteria?

The Executive Director reviews the lab against the “Criteria for the Approval of Testing Laboratories (Oct. 27, 1978)” and approves labs that meet it; a denial may be appealed to the full Commission. § 12-13-1554(a) .

Q: Can a manufacturer use its own in‑house lab for certification?

Yes. The code’s definition of “approved laboratory” explicitly includes manufacturer‑owned or operated facilities, provided they are approved under § 12-13-1554 . § 12-13-1552(a) .

Q: Are NVLAP-accredited labs automatically approved after 1982?

After September 30, 1982 , laboratories are approved only upon accreditation by NVLAP per § 12-13-1554(b) . Confirm current accreditation status with NVLAP records and the Commission’s recognition.

Q: Can older test reports be used to certify new products?

Possibly — the certification rules in § 12-13-1555(f) permit prior test results only if specific conditions are met (same test within two years of adoption, lab approved for the tests at certification date, lab attests test/product identity).

For a homeowner: California requires insulation test reports to come from a lab the state has approved — either one that met the Commission’s 1978 approval Criteria or (after Sept. 30, 1982) one accredited by NVLAP. The Executive Director grants Criteria‑based approvals and denied labs can appeal to the full Commission.

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Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

What the code requires — plain English

Testing laboratories used to produce insulation certification must be approved under the California Referenced Standards Code. The controlling rule, § 12-13-1554, says the Commission will approve labs that meet the “Criteria for the Approval of Testing Laboratories (dated October 27, 1978),” with a temporary alternative route using NVLAP accreditation through September 30, 1982; after that date approval is by NVLAP accreditation only.

An approved laboratory is either (a) one that meets the 1978 Criteria and is approved by the Executive Director, or (b) a lab accredited by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) where allowed by the date cut‑off in the rule.

Requirements in detail

Core approval routes

Criteria-based approval: Laboratories shall be approved using the procedures described in the Criteria for the Approval of Testing Laboratories (October 27, 1978). The Executive Director shall approve any laboratory that meets those standards. § 12-13-1554(a).
NVLAP accreditation route (date-limited option / eventual requirement): Up to and including September 30, 1982, a lab could be approved either by NVLAP accreditation or by meeting the 1978 Criteria (manufacturer’s option). After September 30, 1982, laboratories shall only be approved upon accreditation by the U.S. Department of Commerce NVLAP. § 12-13-1554(b).

Who approves and appeals

Approval authority: Executive Director (approves labs meeting the 1978 Criteria). § 12-13-1554(a).
Appeal right: A testing laboratory denied approval by the Executive Director has the right to appeal to the full Commission. § 12-13-1554(a).

What “approved laboratory” means

“Approved laboratory” is defined as any testing facility (including a manufacturer-owned lab) that has been approved pursuant to Section 1554. § 12-13-1552(a).

How approval affects certification and prior tests

Manufacturers must submit test results from an approved laboratory as part of the certification statement for insulating material (see § 12-13-1555(b)(3)). Tests conducted before adoption may be accepted if the lab was approved for those tests as of the certification date (conditions in § 12-13-1555(f)).

Quick decision table

Decision dimension	Allowed value(s) / threshold	Who determines / does it	Code Reference
Primary approval procedure	Meet the “Criteria for the Approval of Testing Laboratories” (Oct. 27, 1978)	Executive Director approves labs meeting the Criteria	§ 12-13-1554(a)
Alternate route (historical / date-limited)	NVLAP accreditation allowed until and including September 30, 1982; after that NVLAP accreditation required	NVLAP (accreditation) or Executive Director (Criteria approval)	§ 12-13-1554(b)
Appeal of denial	Right to appeal to the full Commission	Lab (appellant) → full Commission	§ 12-13-1554(a)
Definition of “approved laboratory”	A testing facility (including manufacturer-owned) approved pursuant to § 1554	Commission definitions	§ 12-13-1552(a)
Use of test results in certification	Test results must come from an approved laboratory; prior tests may qualify under conditions	Manufacturer submits; Executive Director acknowledges	§ 12-13-1555(b)(3), (f)

Exceptions & special cases

Manufacturer option up through September 30, 1982: Manufacturers could choose either NVLAP accreditation or Criteria-based approval for their labs. After that date NVLAP accreditation became the exclusive route. § 12-13-1554(b).
Manufacturer-owned labs: The definition of “approved laboratory” explicitly includes manufacturer‑owned or operated facilities, so those labs are eligible for approval if they meet the Criteria or (where allowed by date) hold NVLAP accreditation. § 12-13-1552(a) and § 12-13-1554.
Use of prior tests in certification: Certification may rely on older test data only if the same test was done within two years of adoption, the lab was approved for those tests on the certification date, and the lab certifies the test/product identity — see § 12-13-1555(f) for the exact conditions.

Common mistakes

Assuming any NVLAP-accredited lab is always acceptable: after September 30, 1982 NVLAP accreditation was required; before that date the manufacturer had a choice — check which route applied when the testing occurred. § 12-13-1554(b).
Forgetting the Executive Director’s role: labs that meet the 1978 Criteria are approved by the Executive Director, not automatically by the Commission. § 12-13-1554(a).
Overlooking manufacturer-owned labs: some assume manufacturer labs are excluded; the code explicitly includes manufacturer-operated facilities in the definition of approved laboratory. § 12-13-1552(a).
Using test results from a lab that was not approved for the specific test on the certification date — § 12-13-1555(f) requires the lab to have been approved for those tests when relying on prior results.

Worked example — concrete scenario

Scenario: A manufacturer wants to certify an insulation product in 1983 using tests performed in 1980 at Lab X.

Step 1 — Was Lab X approved?

If Lab X was NVLAP‑accredited in 1983 (after Sept 30, 1982) it qualifies for approval per § 12-13-1554(b). If it was only approved under the 1978 Criteria but not NVLAP-accredited, it would not meet the post‑1982 requirement.

Step 2 — Can 1980 test reports be used in the certification?

Yes, but only if the conditions of § 12-13-1555(f) are met: (1) the same test was conducted within two years of the adoption date (check which adoption date applies to the standard the manufacturer relies on), (2) the laboratory was approved for those tests as of the certification date, and (3) the lab certifies that the earlier test/product are the same as those being submitted.

Numbers applied: If the product is being certified in 1983 and Lab X gained NVLAP accreditation in January 1983, Lab X is acceptable for approval under the post‑1982 rule; the 1980 reports can be used only if the three conditions in § 12-13-1555(f) are satisfied.

Related provisions (CRSC)

§ 12-13-1554 — Approval of testing laboratories (controlling section).
§ 12-13-1552(a) — Definition of “approved laboratory”.
§ 12-13-1555 — Certification requirements; requires test results from an approved laboratory and rules for prior tests.
§ 12-13-1557 — Identification and labeling that a product was tested by an approved laboratory.
§ 12-13-1558 — Commission inspections and access to records related to tests by approved testing labs.
§ 12-13-1559 — Commission may conduct independent performance tests of insulation sold in the state.

Code references

Grounded in the retrieved California Referenced Standards Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:

CRSC § 8-10 High relevance — show source text
(b) Up to and including September 30, 1982, laboratories shall be approved either upon accreditation by the United States Department of Commerce National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program or as stated in the preceding paragraph, at the manufacturer’s option. After September 30, 1982, laboratories shall only be approved upon accreditation by the United States Department of Commerce National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program.

Authority: Section 25218(e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Sections 25915(a) and 25921, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment filed 8-10-81, designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
CERTIFICATION

Sec. 12-13-1555.

(a) No insulating material shall be sold or installed in California on or after September 22, 1981, unless the manufacturer has certified that the material complies with the provisions of this article.

(b) The manufacturer shall submit a certification statement to the Executive Director for each type of insulating material. Such statement shall contain the following information:
1. Name of the manufacturer.
2. A description of the type of insulating material being certified in sufficient detail to permit its identification. The description may include information sheets, brochures, a sample label for the product or similar information.
3. Test results from an approved laboratory.
4. A description of the basis for ensuring that all the insulating material of the type being certified complies with the requirements of this article. Such description shall include, but not be limited to a description of the frequency of testing of the material, the quality assurance program, and any third-party inspections or testing used by the manufacturer.
5. A declaration that the insulating material complies with the requirements of this article.
6. The wording of the certification seal, if such seal consists of a statement pursuant to Section 1557 (b) (2) of this article.
(c) Every certification statement shall be dated and signed by the manufacturer attesting to its truth and accuracy. Where the manufacturer is either a corporation or a business association, the certification statement shall be dated, signed and attested to by a responsible official thereof.

(d) Within 45 days after receipt of a certification statement, the Executive Director shall forward, to the manufacturer, an acknowledgment that the statement has been received and that it is complete and accurate on its face.

(e) Certification of the insulation material shall be deemed to occur upon forwarding of the acknowledgement by the Executive Director. If acknowledgment is not forwarded in a timely manner, certification shall be deemed to occur on the 45th day after receipt of the certification statement.

(f) The statement of test results required in the certification may be based upon tests conducted prior to the adoptive date of this article if: (1) the same test was conducted within two years of the date of adoption, (2) the laboratory at which the tests were

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conducted has been approved for those tests as of the date of the certification statement, and (3) the laboratory certifies that the test and product are the same as the test and product referred to in the statement of test results.

Authority: Section 25218(e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Sections 25921 and 25921.1, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
CRSC § 25920-25922 High relevance — show source text
Authority: Sections 25402(a) and 25920, Public Resources Code.

Reference: Sections 25920-25922, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment of subsection (a) (9) filed 4-2-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 14).
2. Editorial correction of subsection designations with subsection (l) (4) (Register 79, No. 17).
3. Amendment filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
4. New subsection (m) (2) (J) filed 9-11-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 37).
5. Editorial correction of subsection (k) (3) (B) filed 1-13-82 (Register 82, No. 3).
6. Amendment of subsections (a) (5) and (a) (8) filed 5-5-82; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 82, No. 19).
7. Editorial correction of subsection (m) printing error (Register 82, No. 44).
APPROVAL OF TESTING LABORATORIES

Sec. 12-13-1554.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), laboratories shall be approved using the procedures described in the Criteria for the Approval of Testing Laboratories, dated October 27, 1978. The Executive Director shall approve any laboratory that meets the standards described in the Criteria for the Approval of Testing Laboratories, dated October 27, 1978. A testing laboratory shall have the right to appeal to the full Commission any denial of approval by the Executive Director.

(b) Up to and including September 30, 1982, laboratories shall be approved either upon accreditation by the United States Department of Commerce National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program or as stated in the preceding paragraph, at the manufacturer’s option. After September 30, 1982, laboratories shall only be approved upon accreditation by the United States Department of Commerce National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program.

Authority: Section 25218(e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Sections 25915(a) and 25921, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment filed 8-10-81, designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
CERTIFICATION

Sec. 12-13-1555.

(a) No insulating material shall be sold or installed in California on or after September 22, 1981, unless the manufacturer has certified that the material complies with the provisions of this article.

(b) The manufacturer shall submit a certification statement to the Executive Director for each type of insulating material. Such statement shall contain the following information:
1. Name of the manufacturer.
2. A description of the type of insulating material being certified in sufficient detail to permit its identification. The description may include information sheets, brochures, a sample label for the product or similar information.
3. Test results from an approved laboratory.
4. A description of the basis for ensuring that all the insulating material of the type being certified complies with the requirements of this article. Such description shall include, but not be limited to a description of the frequency of testing of the material, the quality assurance program, and any third-party inspections or testing used by the manufacturer.
5. A declaration that the insulating material complies with the requirements of this article.
CRSC § 410-66. High relevance — show source text
**
1. Composition. Vermiculite loose fill insulation shall be produced by the expanding or exfoliating of natural vermiculate or by grading and heating.
2. Thermal performance. Determination of the thermal performance shall be in accordance with ANSI/ASTM C177-76, ANSI/ASTM C236-66 or ANSI/ASTM C615-76 at the manufacturer’s option.
3. Density. Density shall be determined according to installed design density. All tests except the ANSI/ ASTM E84-79 test shall be conducted at the installed design density.
4. Resistance to combustion. Resistance to combustion shall be determined by the use of the Attic Floor Radiant Panel Test, as described in the United States General Services Administration insulation standard HH-I-515D as amended October 11, 1979.
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1. Identification. Containers of vermiculite shall be marked with the type (pouring or pneumatic), the net weight and the manufacturer’s recommendations for installation including minimum thickness, maximum coverage and installed design density to provide the levels of thermal performance shown. Manufacturer’s installation recommendations shall include precautions according to the California Electric Code Section 410-66.
Products which may be used for pressure fill retrofit wall application shall be marked with the recommended wall density to prevent settling and separately marked with the tested thermal performance for such applications.

Authority: Sections 25402(a) and 25920, Public Resources Code.

Reference: Sections 25920-25922, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment of subsection (a) (9) filed 4-2-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 14).
2. Editorial correction of subsection designations with subsection (l) (4) (Register 79, No. 17).
3. Amendment filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
4. New subsection (m) (2) (J) filed 9-11-81; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 81, No. 37).
5. Editorial correction of subsection (k) (3) (B) filed 1-13-82 (Register 82, No. 3).
6. Amendment of subsections (a) (5) and (a) (8) filed 5-5-82; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 82, No. 19).
7. Editorial correction of subsection (m) printing error (Register 82, No. 44).
APPROVAL OF TESTING LABORATORIES

Sec. 12-13-1554.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), laboratories shall be approved using the procedures described in the Criteria for the Approval of Testing Laboratories, dated October 27, 1978. The Executive Director shall approve any laboratory that meets the standards described in the Criteria for the Approval of Testing Laboratories, dated October 27, 1978. A testing laboratory shall have the right to appeal to the full Commission any denial of approval by the Executive Director.
CRSC § 25921.1 High relevance — show source text
1. A declaration that the insulating material complies with the requirements of this article.
2. The wording of the certification seal, if such seal consists of a statement pursuant to Section 1557 (b) (2) of this article.
(c) Every certification statement shall be dated and signed by the manufacturer attesting to its truth and accuracy. Where the manufacturer is either a corporation or a business association, the certification statement shall be dated, signed and attested to by a responsible official thereof.

(d) Within 45 days after receipt of a certification statement, the Executive Director shall forward, to the manufacturer, an acknowledgment that the statement has been received and that it is complete and accurate on its face.

(e) Certification of the insulation material shall be deemed to occur upon forwarding of the acknowledgement by the Executive Director. If acknowledgment is not forwarded in a timely manner, certification shall be deemed to occur on the 45th day after receipt of the certification statement.

(f) The statement of test results required in the certification may be based upon tests conducted prior to the adoptive date of this article if: (1) the same test was conducted within two years of the date of adoption, (2) the laboratory at which the tests were

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conducted has been approved for those tests as of the date of the certification statement, and (3) the laboratory certifies that the test and product are the same as the test and product referred to in the statement of test results.

Authority: Section 25218(e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Sections 25921 and 25921.1, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment of subsections (a), (b) (4), (b) (6) and (f) filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
QUALITY ASSURANCE (RESERVED)

Sec. 12-13-1556.

Authority: Section 25218 (e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Section 25921.1, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Repealer filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
IDENTIFICATION

Sec. 12-13-1557.

(a) Except as specified in subsection (b), Item 3, of this section, no insulation shall be sold in California on or after September 22, 1981, unless the insulating material, container, bundle or similar packaging material bears a visible Commission approved statement certifying that a representative sample of the insulation material has been tested and approved by an approved laboratory and complies with the requirements of this article.

(b) The Commission-approved statement shall consist of either:
1. A design or statement approved by the Executive Director, or
2. An identification of the manufacturer and any statement that the material meets the quality standards of the State of California.
3. A statement that the material meets the quality standards of the State of California included in the bill of lading shall meet the requirements of this section only if the product is being shipped in bulk, or the container or product is not otherwise labeled by the manufacturer and the product is being sold to its ultimate user.
CRSC § 8-10 High relevance — show source text
(o) “Urea formaldehyde foam” means a cellular plastic insulation material generated in a continuous stream by mixing the components which are a urea formaldehyde resin, air and a foaming agent.

Authority: Sections 25920 and 25922, Public Resources Code.

Reference: Sections 25915 (a), 25920, 25921 and 25922, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
QUALITY STANDARDS

Sec. 12-13-1553. The manufacturer shall cause the testing of samples of insulating material for conformity with the quality standards described in this section.

(a) General testing provisions. In testing any material pursuant to this section, the following general procedures shall be used.
1. All tests with the exception of the ANSI/ASTM E84-79 test shall be conducted using representative samples at the representative thickness of the insulation, except that when the final use of an insulating material entails a thickness less than the representative thickness, then the insulating material will be tested at the lesser thickness.
2. Where uniformity of product ensures consistency of test results across a product grouping, test results for one may be used for certification of other products within that product group. The manufacturer shall provide sufficient documentation to establish a valid basis for applying a particular test result to other products within the group. The Executive Director shall determine whether a valid basis exists for grouping products for testing pursuant to this subsection. If it is determined that a valid basis does not exist, individual tests shall be required. A manufacturer may appeal the Executive Director’s determination to the full Commission.
3. Thermal performance of building insulations shall be stated in R value. Other insulations shall use thermal conductivity, conductance or R value as appropriate.
4. All thermal performance tests shall be conducted on materials which have been conditioned at 73.4° ± 3.6°F and a relative humidity of 50 ± 5 percent for 24 hours immediately preceding the tests. The average testing temperature shall be 75° ± 2°F with at least a 40°F (4°C) temperature difference.
5. Aluminum foil insulation shall be tested according to ANSI/ASTM C236-66 to determine the thermal performance in horizontal, upward and downward directions. The tested thermal performance in the heat-flow direction or directions of the intended application shall be labeled on the material. The manufacturer shall test once in each direction of intended application, except that for products labeled with only one heat-flow direction, the manufacturer shall test two samples in that direction.
6. Insulation (other than aluminum foil insulation materials) for which additional value is claimed for facings and air spaces shall be tested for thermal performance as a material without the air space pursuant to this article. The manufacturer may elect to report additional thermal performance values of a given construction tested according to ANSI/ASTM C236-66 for that construction as long as full details of that construction are also disclosed in the certification statement and pursuant to Section 1557 (c) of this article. If a manufacturer elects to report a thermal performance value for a material plus an air space (as supplemental information to the required material thermal performance), but not necessarily for a full construction, the manufacturer must also disclose the conditions of the test and the limitations to the attainment of that result.
CRSC § 73.4 High relevance — show source text
1. Thermal performance. Determination of the thermal performance shall be in accordance with ANSI/ASTM C177-76, ANSI/ASTM C236-66 or ANSI/ASTM C518-76 at the manufacturer’s option. All foam insulation materials using materials other than air or pentane as an expanding agent shall either separately condition samples at 73.4° ± 3.6°F and a relative humidity of 50 ± 5 percent, and at 140°F dry heat and test at 30-, 60- and 90-day intervals or shall test samples certified by an approved testing laboratory to have been aged while exposed to free air in a well ventilated room for at least two years at 70° ± 10°F, provided, however, that until 2 [1] / 2 years after the adoption of these quality standards by the Commission, test samples may be aged for six months for certification of the material. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, this thermal performance standard shall not take effect until 250 days after adoption. If the certification statement submitted pursuant to Section 1555 of this article does not include test results for thermal performance, the manufacturer shall submit a new certification statement which includes such test results prior to 250 days after adoption. If the latest certification statement is based on the six-month aging test, a new statement, based upon the two-year aging test or the accelerated aging test shall be submitted by 2 [1] / 2 years after the adoption date.
2. A. Resistance to combustion. The material shall be tested to meet the requirements of Sections 2603.2 and 2603.3 of the California Building Code, with the additional provision that the surface-burning characteristics shall be determined according to ANSI/ASTM E84-79 and shall not exceed the following values:
Flame spread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Smoke developed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .450 Exception: Polystyrene foam insulation boards with a maximum thickness of 2 inches (51 mm) when installed below a minimum 3.5-inch-thick (89 mm) concrete slab on grade.

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B. This subsection shall not apply to any product recognized by the International Conference of Building Officials, as of the date of adoption of these regulations, as complying with Sections 2602.1-2602.6 of the 1994 Uniform Building Code based solely upon diversified testing. The manufacturer of any product which is recognized by the International Conference of Building Officials, subsequent to the date of approval of these regulations, as complying with Sections 2602.1-2602.6 of the 1994 Uniform Building Code based solely upon diversified testing, may petition the Commission for an exemption of that product from the provisions of this subsection. 4. Dimensional stability. All foamed polystyrene insulation materials which are factory formed shall be tested for dimensional stability in accordance with Procedures E and G of ASTM D2126-75 with the following exceptions: (a) sample size shall be 12 inches by 12 inches (305 mm by 305 mm) ± 1 inch (25 mm), and (b) samples shall be tested as manufactured with or without facers.
CRSC § 25921.1 High relevance — show source text
Reference: Sections 25921 and 25921.1, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment of subsections (a), (b) (4), (b) (6) and (f) filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
QUALITY ASSURANCE (RESERVED)

Sec. 12-13-1556.

Authority: Section 25218 (e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Section 25921.1, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Repealer filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
IDENTIFICATION

Sec. 12-13-1557.

(a) Except as specified in subsection (b), Item 3, of this section, no insulation shall be sold in California on or after September 22, 1981, unless the insulating material, container, bundle or similar packaging material bears a visible Commission approved statement certifying that a representative sample of the insulation material has been tested and approved by an approved laboratory and complies with the requirements of this article.

(b) The Commission-approved statement shall consist of either:
1. A design or statement approved by the Executive Director, or
2. An identification of the manufacturer and any statement that the material meets the quality standards of the State of California.
3. A statement that the material meets the quality standards of the State of California included in the bill of lading shall meet the requirements of this section only if the product is being shipped in bulk, or the container or product is not otherwise labeled by the manufacturer and the product is being sold to its ultimate user.
(c) Any representation of thermal performance which appear on any label, literature, advertising or any other writing intended for the public shall be consistent with the certification testing results and derating required by this article.

(d) Any insulation with facings and membranes for which the flame spread exceeds 25 when tested with facings and membranes exposed to the flame during the ANSI/ASTM E84-79 test must be clearly labeled with a statement that the product may be highly combustible if used in an exposed application. This subsection shall not apply to any product meeting the requirements of Sections 2602.1-2602.6 of the 1994 Uniform Building Code.

Authority: Section 25218(e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Section 25921, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment of subsections (a) and (c) filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
INSPECTIONS

Sec. 12-13-1558.

After September 22, 1981, the Commission may, upon the consent of the owner or lessee, or upon securing a search warrant, have access, during normal working hours, to the premises of manufacturers, distributors and retailers of insulating material sold for installation within the state for the purpose of determining compliance with the standards promulgated pursuant to Chapter 10.5 of the California Public Resources Code . Such access shall be for the purposes of obtaining representative samples of subject insulation and inspecting records and documents pertaining to tests by approved testing labs.

Authority: Section 25218 (e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Section 25926, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
CRSC § 1551-1561 High relevance — show source text
HISTORY:
1. Repealer of Article 3 (Sections 1551-1561) filed 8-11-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 32). For prior history, see Registers 76, No. 16; 78, Nos. 2 and 26.
2. New Article 3 (Sections 1551-1565) filed 1-16-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 3).
3. Amendment filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
DEFINITIONS

Sec. 12-13-1552. For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Approved laboratory” means any testing facility including a facility owned or operated by a manufacturer which has been approved pursuant to Section 1554 of this article.

(b) “ANSI” means the American National Standards Institute.

(c) “ASTM” means ASTM International.

(d) “Building materials” means materials used in walls, ceilings, roofs and floors of buildings.

(e) “Exposed application” means any interior application of the product in which it is not used in a construction assembly imposing a material which meets the requirements of Chapter 8 of the California Building Code in substantial contact with the facing or membrane surface.

(f) “Installed design density” means the proven density for loose fill insulation other than cellulose which has been determined by the manufacturer to constitute the density whereby settlement of no more than 2 percent shall occur over the first three years, or no more than 4 percent over the first 15 years of installation.

(g) “Insulating material” or “insulation” means any material listed in Section 1551 (b) of this article and placed within or contiguous to a wall, ceiling, roof or floor of a room or building, or contiguous to the surface of any appliance or its intake or outtake mechanism, for the purpose of reducing heat transfer or reducing adverse temperature fluctuations of the building room or appliance.

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(h) “Manufacturer” means any person who either:
1. Produces insulating material in the final composition either for use in the form sold or to be further dimensionally modified; or
2. In the case of polyurethane, polyisocyanurate and urea formaldehyde foam formed at the installation site, produces the primary components of the material.
“Manufacturer” shall not include any building contractor or any other person whose sole activity is to install insulation at the installation site.

(i) “Quality assurance program.” (Reserved)

(j) “Recommended wall density” means the density used for pressure fill retrofit wall applications to prevent settling.

(k) “Representative sample” means a sample of insulating material with the same characteristics (other than thickness) and using the same facing imposed on the insulating material manufactured for final use.

(l) “Representative thickness” means a thickness of insulating material at which the change in thermal performance per inch will vary no more than plus or minus 2 percent with increases in thickness.

(m) “TAPPI” means Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry.
CRSC § 73.4 Medium relevance — show source text
A manufacturer may appeal the Executive Director’s determination to the full Commission.
1. Thermal performance of building insulations shall be stated in R value. Other insulations shall use thermal conductivity, conductance or R value as appropriate.
2. All thermal performance tests shall be conducted on materials which have been conditioned at 73.4° ± 3.6°F and a relative humidity of 50 ± 5 percent for 24 hours immediately preceding the tests. The average testing temperature shall be 75° ± 2°F with at least a 40°F (4°C) temperature difference.
3. Aluminum foil insulation shall be tested according to ANSI/ASTM C236-66 to determine the thermal performance in horizontal, upward and downward directions. The tested thermal performance in the heat-flow direction or directions of the intended application shall be labeled on the material. The manufacturer shall test once in each direction of intended application, except that for products labeled with only one heat-flow direction, the manufacturer shall test two samples in that direction.
4. Insulation (other than aluminum foil insulation materials) for which additional value is claimed for facings and air spaces shall be tested for thermal performance as a material without the air space pursuant to this article. The manufacturer may elect to report additional thermal performance values of a given construction tested according to ANSI/ASTM C236-66 for that construction as long as full details of that construction are also disclosed in the certification statement and pursuant to Section 1557 (c) of this article. If a manufacturer elects to report a thermal performance value for a material plus an air space (as supplemental information to the required material thermal performance), but not necessarily for a full construction, the manufacturer must also disclose the conditions of the test and the limitations to the attainment of that result.
5. Except as provided in Items 5 and 6, the thermal performance test results certified under Section 1555 of this article shall be the average of the values obtained from at least three tests.
6. The average measured thermal performance of the tests required by Items 5, 6 and 7 shall not be more than 5 percent below the value specified on the product. In addition, all insulation material sold within the state after September 22, 1981, shall have a measured thermal performance not more than 10 percent below the value specified on the product.
7. All numbered test descriptions shall be contained in the document “Test Descriptions for Insulating Material” dated February 27, 1981.
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1. Facings on representative samples may be removed or modified by slitting for the ANSI/ASTM C177-76 and ANSI/ASTM C518-76 tests.
2. All thermal performance testing equipment used for testing insulating materials shall be calibrated with samples referenced to the United States National Bureau of Standards.
3. Manufacturers of loose fill insulations for which no settled density test is required by this section shall be required to include the installed design density in the identifying information described in Section 1557. The manufacturer shall provide sufficient documentation to establish a valid basis for the determination of installed design density. The Executive Director shall determine whether a valid basis exists for the installed design density claimed by the manufacturer. If it is determined that a valid basis does not exist, the director may assign an appropriate installed design density or may require an appropriate test to determine the installed design density. The manufacturer may appeal the Executive Director’s determination to the full Commission.
CRSC § 2602.1 Medium relevance — show source text
(c) Any representation of thermal performance which appear on any label, literature, advertising or any other writing intended for the public shall be consistent with the certification testing results and derating required by this article.

(d) Any insulation with facings and membranes for which the flame spread exceeds 25 when tested with facings and membranes exposed to the flame during the ANSI/ASTM E84-79 test must be clearly labeled with a statement that the product may be highly combustible if used in an exposed application. This subsection shall not apply to any product meeting the requirements of Sections 2602.1-2602.6 of the 1994 Uniform Building Code.

Authority: Section 25218(e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Section 25921, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment of subsections (a) and (c) filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
INSPECTIONS

Sec. 12-13-1558.

After September 22, 1981, the Commission may, upon the consent of the owner or lessee, or upon securing a search warrant, have access, during normal working hours, to the premises of manufacturers, distributors and retailers of insulating material sold for installation within the state for the purpose of determining compliance with the standards promulgated pursuant to Chapter 10.5 of the California Public Resources Code . Such access shall be for the purposes of obtaining representative samples of subject insulation and inspecting records and documents pertaining to tests by approved testing labs.

Authority: Section 25218 (e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Section 25926, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
PERFORMANCE TESTS

Sec. 12-13-1559.

The Commission may conduct, or may contract with others to conduct, independent performance tests of representative samples of insulation sold in the state to determine compliance with standards adopted pursuant to Chapter 10.5 of the California Public Resources Code . Such tests shall form the basis for instituting enforcement proceedings.

Authority: Section 25218 (e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Section 25926, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Amendment filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
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COSTS OF INSPECTION AND TESTING (RESERVED)

Sec. 12-13-1560.

Authority: Section 25218 (e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Section 25926, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Repealer filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
ENFORCEMENT (RESERVED)

Sec. 12-13-1561.

Authority: Section 25218 (e), Public Resources Code.

Reference: Section 25931, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Repealer filed 6-26-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 26).
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
CRSC § 3.5 Medium relevance — show source text
Flame spread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Smoke developed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .450 Exception: Polystyrene foam insulation boards with a maximum thickness of 2 inches (51 mm) when installed below a minimum 3.5-inch-thick (89 mm) concrete slab on grade.

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B. This subsection shall not apply to any product recognized by the International Conference of Building Officials, as of the date of adoption of these regulations, as complying with Sections 2602.1-2602.6 of the 1994 Uniform Building Code based solely upon diversified testing. The manufacturer of any product which is recognized by the International Conference of Building Officials, subsequent to the date of approval of these regulations, as complying with Sections 2602.1-2602.6 of the 1994 Uniform Building Code based solely upon diversified testing, may petition the Commission for an exemption of that product from the provisions of this subsection. 4. Dimensional stability. All foamed polystyrene insulation materials which are factory formed shall be tested for dimensional stability in accordance with Procedures E and G of ASTM D2126-75 with the following exceptions: (a) sample size shall be 12 inches by 12 inches (305 mm by 305 mm) ± 1 inch (25 mm), and (b) samples shall be tested as manufactured with or without facers.

The average percent change in length or width shall not exceed ± 2 percent in 24 hours or ± 4 percent in 7 days. The average percent change in thickness shall not exceed ± 10 percent in 7 days. Samples shall be regarded as failing if: (1) delamination area of “faced” samples exceeds 25 percent or (2) warping or cupping exceeds [1] / 4 inch (6 mm) when checked by a straight edge across raised diagonal corners.

(l) Polyurethane and polyisocyanurate in board form and field applied.
1. Composition. The manufacture of the insulation shall be based mainly on the reaction of an organic polyisocyanate with a polyol resin.
Board shall be of uniform texture, reasonably free from accumulation of unexpanded material and foreign inclusions, and reasonably free of broken edges and corners. It shall be reasonably free from holes, voids, depressions and objectionable odor. Laminated composite boards shall be included in this quality standard. The faces of laminated boards shall adhere firmly throughout to the foam, and shall show no excessive amounts of slits, voids or depressions. 2. Thermal performance. Determination of the thermal performance shall be in accordance with ANSI/ASTM C177-76, ANSI/ASTM C236-66 or ANSI/ASTM C518-76 at the manufacturer’s option.
CRSC § 12-13 Medium relevance — show source text
ARTICLE 3. STANDARDS FOR INSULATING MATERIAL

APPLICATION AND SCOPE

Sec. 12-13-1551.

(a) This article establishes standards governing the quality of insulation sold within the state after September 22, 1981, including those properties which affect the safety and thermal performance of insulation during application and in the use intended.

(b) The provisions of this article shall apply only to the following types of insulating material:
1. Aluminum foil (reflective foil);
2. Cellular glass (board form);
3. Cellulose fiber (loose fill and spray applied);
4. Mineral aggregate (board form);
5. Mineral fiber (blankets, board form, loose fill);
6. Perlite (loose fill);
7. Polystyrene (board form, molded and extruded);
8. Polyurethane (board form and field applied);
9. Polyisocyanurate (board form and field applied);
10. Urea formaldehyde foam (field applied);
11. Vermiculite (loose fill).
(c) The provisions of this article shall apply to the sale of insulating material within the state. The provisions of this article shall not apply to insulating material manufactured in California, but sold outside the state, nor to insulating material manufactured outside California and sold wholesale in California for final retail sale outside the state. For the purpose of this article, the sale of a building or an appliance which contains installed insulating material is not considered the sale of the insulating material.

(d) Any type of insulating material not listed in subsection (b) may be sold within California notwithstanding any other provision of this article.

Authority: Sections 25920 and 25922, Public Resources Code.

Reference: Sections 25910, 25920, 25921 and 25922, Public Resources Code.

HISTORY:
1. Repealer of Article 3 (Sections 1551-1561) filed 8-11-78; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 78, No. 32). For prior history, see Registers 76, No. 16; 78, Nos. 2 and 26.
2. New Article 3 (Sections 1551-1565) filed 1-16-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 3).
3. Amendment filed 8-10-81; designated effective 9-22-81 (Register 81, No. 33).
DEFINITIONS

Sec. 12-13-1552. For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Approved laboratory” means any testing facility including a facility owned or operated by a manufacturer which has been approved pursuant to Section 1554 of this article.

(b) “ANSI” means the American National Standards Institute.

(c) “ASTM” means ASTM International.

(d) “Building materials” means materials used in walls, ceilings, roofs and floors of buildings.

(e) “Exposed application” means any interior application of the product in which it is not used in a construction assembly imposing a material which meets the requirements of Chapter 8 of the California Building Code in substantial contact with the facing or membrane surface.

(f) “Installed design density” means the proven density for loose fill insulation other than cellulose which has been determined by the manufacturer to constitute the density whereby settlement of no more than 2 percent shall occur over the first three years, or no more than 4 percent over the first 15 years of installation.

Frequently asked questions

Who decides whether a lab meets the 1978 Criteria?

The Executive Director reviews the lab against the “Criteria for the Approval of Testing Laboratories (Oct. 27, 1978)” and approves labs that meet it; a denial may be appealed to the full Commission. § 12-13-1554(a).

Can a manufacturer use its own in‑house lab for certification?

Yes. The code’s definition of “approved laboratory” explicitly includes manufacturer‑owned or operated facilities, provided they are approved under § 12-13-1554. § 12-13-1552(a).

Are NVLAP-accredited labs automatically approved after 1982?

After September 30, 1982, laboratories are approved only upon accreditation by NVLAP per § 12-13-1554(b). Confirm current accreditation status with NVLAP records and the Commission’s recognition.

If a lab was denied approval, what recourse does it have?

A testing laboratory denied approval by the Executive Director may appeal to the full Commission under § 12-13-1554(a).

Can older test reports be used to certify new products?

Possibly — the certification rules in § 12-13-1555(f) permit prior test results only if specific conditions are met (same test within two years of adoption, lab approved for the tests at certification date, lab attests test/product identity).

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Related in the CRSC

What inspection and sample-collection powers does the Commission have?

Where are costs of inspection and enforcement addressed (reserved)?

Can the Commission order independent performance tests and use results for enforcement?

Testing, laboratory approval, inspections and performance testing

California Referenced Standards Code