Fiber Cement Siding Test Criteria

**Dave72** · 05-05-2011, 10:29 AM

In reading the forums for several years, there have been many complaints about fiber cement siding. Many regarding the butt joints and the swelling that occurs. I was recently notified that there is a test criteria change up for public comment by the International Code Council Evaluation Service or ICC-ES. This test criteria is one of the tests used by the fiber cement siding manufacturers to test their product and gain code recognition. Since this is open to public comment, I encourage many of you that deal with these products, to submit a public comment via letter/e-mail. By addressing the issues from installation and long term in service exposure, your comments could change the way this stuff is tested and ultimately manufactured.

Attached is a link to the documents. If you wish to comment, all the instructions are contained within the link. You have until May 20th to send in your comments.

One specific deficiency to note is in the accelerated weather test. One small sample panel is tested without any mention or regard to a butt joint.

http://www.icc-es.org/Criteria_Devel...re/18_AC90.pdf

**TSJHD1** · 05-05-2011, 02:27 PM

I don't think the code council should have a damn thing to do with how siding is manufactured, unless it relates to safety. Butt joints that swell do not.

Let the siding manufacturers figure out how to improve their products via market forces, and keep the government out!! They're too f-in bloated as it is, and I'm sick of it!!

Tom

**Dick Seibert** · 05-05-2011, 06:11 PM

Tom:

As a California Industry Expert there is no product that has received so many complaints recently, it has now passed retrofit PVC Windows in customer complaints. The way our system is set up any product incorporated into a building must have an ES Report unless it is specifically called out in the prescriptive code, a CBO may approve it as an alternative product only if it has an ES Report, it's long past the time that the manufacturers of this product either prove that it is a viable product or be forced to stop selling it.

**Dancing Dan** · 05-05-2011, 06:42 PM

Does that make you a looter or a moocher?

**dgbldr** · 05-05-2011, 08:55 PM

Ummmm... I can't say I've ever had an issue with this product, nor have I ever seen any failures in my area. Am I missing something? What are the failures and what are the causes?

**TSJHD1** · 05-05-2011, 08:57 PM

That may be Dick, the amount of complaints, but I submit that that is simply a function of the lack of regulation when it comes to carpentry contracting.

You need to be licensed to be a plumber, electrician, or HVAC contractor, but anyone can be a carpentry contractor. So the trade is full of hacks. Hacks that don't even read the instructions. Yes, fiber cement siding is not very forgiving. But I'll wager half or more of the failures are simply due to bad installations, many of which are simply the result of installers not even bothering to read instructions.

Hardie use to spec 1" above roof lines intersecting side walls; Now it is 2". You don't have to look far to find siding that is placed right down against the roof shingles.

Maybe we do need some additional government oversight. But it should be in the form of raising the bar with regard to the competency of the people in this trade.

Tom

**ThingOfBeauty** · 05-08-2011, 08:02 PM

I've heard the ES Report scheme makes lots of $$$$ for the ICC.
I guess if the tests are meaningful and useful I'm all for them...wonder how they will work out in this category.
Wouldn't the costs of a product failure be way higher than the consequences of any test? And would the test help anything? Are there players who are putting out second-rate product?

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