Code requires special inspections for all EIFS applications (1704.12 in 2006 IBC and 1704.14 in 2009 IBC) except water drainage or over concrete and masonry, but it is silent on what specific inspections are required.
What special inspections would one typically require for EIFS?
There is no “standard” to what is required, but if the proposed EIFS has an ICC-ES Evaluation Service Report, it should state in the report what is required.
For example, Dryvit’s report for its Outsulation Plus MD System indicates that the special inspector’s duties include “verifying field preparation of materials, expiration dates, installation of components, curing of components, installation of joints and sealant, applied dry-film thickness and interface of coating material with flashing.”
Refer to ICC-ES’s Acceptance Criteria for EIFS.
http://www.icc-es.org/criteria/index.cfm?csi_num=07240&view_details=yes
Thanks Ron. After I asked the question, I remembered we had a copy of CASE form 100, which suggests:
I noted too that the 2009 code requires installation according to manufacturer’s instructions, along with several other additional requirements that were not present in 2006. These were in the Exterior Walls chapter of the code (14?). So I would infer that these new requirements might provide clues to what the code is looking for in the inspections.
Although the ICC-ES, in their ESRs and Acceptance Criterion for EIFS, establish some guidance as to what should be included in an EIFS special inspection, neither of these documents are referenced by the IBC, and thus are not required by the IBC. However, they do provide some guidance.
Therefore, it is up to the jurisdiction to determine what is required for an EIFS special inspection, and contact should be made with the building department to determine those requirements.
I don’t mean to be snoopy, George – but does your insurer allow the installation of EIFS materials? No firm I’ve worked for, for the past twenty years will allow installation of the material on their jobs.
Let’s just say this is a “unique” project, and that my experience on this issue is limited.
It is used quite a bit in Canada (or specifically SW Ontario) but after many problems in the past and some strong-arming by insurance companies and the OAA (Ontario Association of Architects) or RAIC (Royal Architectural Institute of Canada) the manufactures (most of whom are I would assume the same as you have - Dryvit, Durabond, Durock) have made changes to their systems to eliminate the past problems. Although my firm doesn’t deal with it extensively I do know that manufacturers have created a “drainage layer” between the substrate and the insulation layer…in effect turning EIFS into a rainscreen principal wall…either by grooved slots or “pucks” on the backside of the insulation as well as a moisture barrier on the substrate.
The one job that we have done recently that I spec’d, the acceptable systems were Dryvit Outsulation Plus, Durex Qauntum Select and Durock PUCCS. All 3 met the current requirements for EIFS in ON.
Not sure if any of these systems are available or acceptable south of the 49th parallel.