EIFSFACTS.ORG

The Real Facts About EIFS

- How EIFS Got Past Building Code -

Model building codes have been established to provide minimum standards of construction in the interest of protecting the public. Generally, homes and light commercial buildings using wood or metal studs fall under Type V construction. There are three U.S. model code agencies:

• Building Officials and Code Administrators, Inc. (BOCA)

• Southern Building Code Congress, Inc. (SBCCI)

• International Conference of Building Officials, Inc. (ICBO)

Cladding systems are cited by name (or "product type") under model building codes. This means that the code contains details for the cladding systems and their installation to which builders must comply in order to pass inspection. All traditional cladding systems appear under the model building codes as "codified items". EIFS, however, are provided by the manufacturers as "Alternative Cladding Systems". This means that the manufacturer(s) submit test data and specifications for evaluation by a model code evaluation service. The evaluation service reviews the maufacturer's application and test data and, if the product meets the minimum applicable standards, issues an evaluation report. It is important to understand that the model building code agencies do not perform tests of these products. From Sto Corporations BOCA Evaluation Report of Sto-Full Thermal System and Sto-Full Thermal System-M: "This report is limited to the specific product and data and test reports submitted by the applicant requesting this report. No independent tests were performed by BOCA International..."

Currently, it appears from the available evaluation reports that:

• EIFS manufacturers did not perform moisture intrusion tests that dealt with water intrusion from windows

• EIFS manufacturers did not perform moisture intrusion tests that dealt with water intrusion from caulk joints

• EIFS manufacturers did not perform moisture intrusion tests that dealt with water intrusion from junctures of EIFS and dissimilar materials

• EIFS manufacturers did not perform moisture intrusion tests that dealt with water intrusion from flashings

• EIFS manufacturers did not perform moisture intrusion tests that dealt with water intrusion from penetrations, such as water spigots, vents and hoses

In a nutshell, EIFS were tested only as continuous wall systems, not in combination with any other components of construction that are used to construct a building in the real world. This is the essence of EIMA's continuing claims that "the EIFS doesn't fail".

More information is provided in the EIFS - Ground Zero article by Hank Sullivan.