Building officials in the U.S. and Canada accept TECO gradestamped panels. U.S. building codes require wood structural panels such as plywood and OSB, when used for structural purposes, to conform to U.S. Department of Commerce Voluntary Product Standards, PS 1, Structural Plywood, or PS 2, Performance Standard for Wood-Based Structural-Use Panels, and to be identified by the trademark of an approved certification agency.  Canadian building codes require OSB, when used for structural purposes, to conform to CSA O325, Construction Sheathing, and to be identified by the trademark of an approved certification agency.

TECO maintains accreditations in the U.S. through the International Accreditation Service, Inc., having demonstrated compliance with the ISO/IEC Standard 17020 (General Criteria for the Operation of Various Bodies Performing Inspection) and ISO/IEC Standard 17025 (General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories) and in Canada through the Standards Council of Canada, having demonstrated compliance with ISO/IES Guide 65 (General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems).  Copies of our accreditation certificates as a recognized Inspection Agency (AA-654) and Test Laboratory (TL-207 & TL-306) can be downloaded from the IAS website at www.iasonline.org, or contact TECO. A copy of our accreditation certificate as a recognized Certification Agency can be downloaded from the SCC website at www.scc.ca, or contact TECO.

TECO gradestamped panels are interchangeable with panels gradestamped by other certification agencies. Plywood and OSB are tested and certified to PS 1 and PS 2. Panels certified by an accredited agency are equivalent and interchangeable with panels of the same grade and thickness and certified to the same standard by other accredited agencies. For example, a TECO-certified 7/16-inch thick PS 2 panel with a 24/16-span rating could be used in place of another 7/16-inch thick, 24/16-span rated PS 2 panel certified by another agency.

When specifying panels for use in floor, wall and roof applications, it is suggested that architects, engineers and designers are advised to specify panels by grade or span rating in accordance with PS 1 or PS 2. Specifying panels certified by a particular certification agency only serves to limit the products available to the building contractor and may cause unnecessary project delays.

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