Apr 8 2008
After a decade of successfully raising the bar for exterior cladding, quality products that perform to the high expectations of today's builders, remodelers, architects, designers and homeowners continue to be the goal for the Vinyl Siding Institute's (VSI) VSI Vinyl Siding Product Certification Program. VSI will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its program this spring.
"Builders and remodelers know they can count on consistent quality when they purchase certified vinyl siding," said VSI President Jery Y. Huntley. "Ten years of continuous improvement is a foundation we will build on -- and meeting the stringent requirements of the program will continue to differentiate vinyl siding from the competition."
Established in 1998, the VSI Vinyl Siding Product Certification Program allows vinyl siding manufacturers to certify, through validation by an accredited independent quality control agency -- Architectural Testing, Inc. (ATI) -- that their vinyl siding meets or exceeds the requirements of the ASTM D3679 standard for vinyl siding. The testing process requires that vinyl siding be subjected to a dozen different performance measurements and tests simulating harsh winds, various weather conditions and impact stresses. To assure continued compliance, ATI conducts two unannounced inspections at each participating plant every year.
In 2006, VSI expanded its successful product certification program to include certification based on the performance standard for color retention, ASTM D6864. To qualify, vinyl siding must first receive certification for overall quality and performance through the VSI Vinyl Siding Product Certification Program.
Currently, more than 1,000 products are certified for quality through the VSI Vinyl Siding Product Certification Program, and more than 350 colors of those products have been certified for color retention.
An up-to-date list of certified products and colors is available online at http://www.vinylsiding.org.