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Construction Marketplace Tuesday, January 10, 2017 4 2 ICC-ES AND INNOVATION RESEARCH LABS CREATE ONE-STOP TESTING, LISTING, PRODUCT EVALUATION SERVICE ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), the experts in built environment product evaluation and certification, and Innovation Research Labs, a state-of-the- art testing laboratory with a market- research facility, have entered into a cooperation agreement in order to better serve the manufacturers of such products and materials. This relationship enables ICC-ES to bring testing, evaluation and listing under "one roof," essentially creating a "one- stop" conformity assessment agency. A key benefit will be the availability of a front-end test plan, agreed upon by all parties, which will speed up the listing and evaluation report process. It will also minimize delays in obtaining testing data. This cooperative agreement covers the full range of products in the built environment. "For years, ICC-ES has offered high quality product evaluations that code officials trust," said International Code Council's (ICC) Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. "Now with product testing available through this coopera- tion, ICC-ES clients will experience a further reduction in time to market which will directly and positively affect their bottom line." "We are thrilled to be part of this unique cooperation with ICC-ES," said Michael Luzier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innovation Research Labs. "It will facilitate building product manufacturers moving innovative prod- ucts into the marketplace more quickly and effi- ciently, allowing them to be more responsive to the needs of builders and developers, as well as increasingly discerning consumers." Applicants remain free to continue to use any accredited testing lab in con- nection with evaluation reports and prod- uct listings. However, ICC-ES encour- ages applicants to take advantage of its new relationship with Innovations Research Labs. It is confident that having Innovation Research Labs serve as your guide and advocate through the evalua- tion process will further its goal of pro- viding the best client experience in the industry. About ICC-ES A nonprofit, limited liability company, ICC-ES is the United States' leading evaluation service for innovative building materials, components and systems. ICC-ES Evaluation Reports (ESRs), Building Product Listings and PMG Listings pro- vide evidence that products and systems meet requirements of codes and technical standards. The ICC-ES Environmental Programs issue VAR environmental reports that verify a product meets specific sustainability targets defined by today's codes, stan- dards, green rating systems and ICC- ES environmental criteria. The Environmental Programs now offer Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), to meet global market demand for science-based, transparent, quality- assured information about a product's environmental performance. ICC-ES is a member of the ICC Family of Companies. Visit ICC-ES at IBS booth #W6283 and KBIS booth #W681. For more informa- tion, go to www.icc-es.org. EZ-ACCESS ACQUIRES PHILLIPS LIFT SYSTEMS, ADDS LINE OF POWER TOILET SEAT LIFTS EZ-ACCESS ® , one of the nation's leaders in providing access to life beyond barriers, has acquired a new product that will expand its growing catalog of accessibility and mobility solutions. With the acquisition of South Carolina-based Phillips Lift Systems, family-owned EZ-ACCESS will add a line of power toilet seat lifts to its diverse offerings. Phillips Lift Systems, which was headquartered in Pickens, South Carolina, has been a manufacturer of the American-made toilet seat lifts for more than 20 years. The acquisition is another step in the expansion of EZ-ACCESS' product lines as part of the company's mission to meet the needs of the entire accessibility market. "Over the past 30 years, EZ- ACCESS has made every effort to offer our customers the highest quality and most complete line of residential, portable, threshold and modular ramps," said Don Everard, EZ-ACCESS Chief Executive Officer. "With the acquisition of Phillips Lift Systems, Inc., EZ-ACCESS now offers the No. 1 selling, U.S.-made toilet lift product," Everard said. "Designed to assist an individual in sitting, standing and stability while toileting, the product offers the ability to return to independ- ence in the bathroom. This lift is a perfect fit to support our growing accessibility product development." EZ-ACCESS will move manufacturing of the lifts to its facilities in Algona, Washington and Morganfield, Kentucky. The product will be rebranded and sold under the EZ- ACCESS name of TILT. Release dates to the home healthcare market will be announced soon. EZ-ACCESS, a division of Homecare Products Inc., also offers a complete line of American-made products, which pro- vide all-around solutions for mobility and accessibility. Its residential prod- ucts include the PATHWAY ® Modular Access System, the PASSPORT ® Vertical Platform Lift, SUITCASE ® Portable Folding Ramps, TRANSI- TIONS ® Threshold Ramps, Mats and Plates, GATEWAY™ Portable Wheelchair Ramps, and HAULWAY™ Scooter & Power Chair Lifts. EZ-ACCESS was found- ed in 1984 by Glenda Everard and her daughter, Deanne Sandvold. Two years later, EZ-ACCESS introduced alu- minum portable ramps to its product line. In 1988, son Don Everard joined the fami- ly business, bringing market- ing expertise with him. The trio was the driving force behind the expansion of the ramp market, having pio- neered the industry through the market- ing and manufacturing of EZ-ACCESS portable wheelchair ramps. Today, EZ- ACCESS is one of the world's leading producers of durable, high-quality mobility, accessibility and personal care accessories. Visit EZ-ACCESS at booth #S1447. For more information, go to www .ezaccess.com, call 800.451.1903 or email customerservice@ezaccess.com. GENERAL SHALE: A LEADING PROVIDER OF BUILDING MATERIAL SOLUTIONS An interview with Dawn Henning, Director of Marketing and Retail Sales, General Shale. CM: Give our readers some background on your company. DH: Throughout its nearly 90-year history, General Shale has upheld its reputation as a leading provider of building materials solu- tions for North America. While the compa- ny has long been recognized as a key play- er in the production of brick, stone and con- crete block, over the past few years, it has navigated a rebrand, greatly expanded its portfolio of masonry products and estab- lished a robust digital community. CM: As a female executive, what's it like to work in an industry that tends to skew male? DH: When you market a product, regard- less of what that product is, you're creat- ing dialogue with a broad spectrum of consumers. This is a business that deals with bricks and mortar, obviously, but one that's also heavily focused on colors, textures and patterns. The most success- ful builders realize that a career in this industry is as much about design as tech- nical know-how. They know it's about creating beauty and resonating with clients as they expand city centers and college campuses, or build offices, retail complexes, high-rise apartments, first homes or dream homes. I see my position here as an opportunity to share a distinc- tive new voice. CM: As a professional communica- tor, how do you connect with con- tractors and/or homeowners taking on a new build? DH: General Shale is an industry leader, and we've become a company that offers more than materials that just build or cover walls. Our products can be incorporated into the entirety of a home or office, from outdoor living to interior design. When you take on a new build proj- ect, the mental acrobatics required to compare, price and order materials can be a real challenge. In particular, there's a broad misconception that brick is more expensive than other building materials. For many years, brick was priced and sold by the thousand, rather than by the square foot – the way other building materials are priced and sold. Over the past few years, we've created tools to provide builders and homeowners the ability to easily research and compare all their building material options. When you're able to compare apples to apples, you realize that the more attractive building mate- rials can also be the most affordable. We've taken a very proactive approach in our outreach to customers by translating highly technical, detailed building information into a range of resources and tools that are both attrac- tive and easy to understand, from our custom apps and calculators to our hands-on website and available tech experts. We've challenged the brick industry to think differently about quanti- ties of materials required for building projects, which has better equipped the industry's ability to demonstrate mason- ry's superior capabilities over other forms of cladding. For more information, go to www .generalshale.com.