Accreditation program for producers of concrete and concrete products

No. 350. Accreditation program for producers of concrete and concrete products.

The Commission rendered an advisory opinion involving a proposed accreditation program in the construction industry, inc1ud* In conformity with policy of the Commission , advisory opinions are confidential and are not available to the public, only digests of advisory opinions are of public record. Digests of advisory opinions are published in the

Federal Register.
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1094 FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION DECISIONS

ing the award of a certificate of accreditation. The program is designed to upgrade and maintain the quality of a building material.

Under the proposed program, the sole criterion for accreditation and the award of a certificate of accreditation of established firms wil be provable ability to function effectively in the field of concrete construction, and any applicant who has a satisfactory record of accomplishment as certified by the architect or engineer for whom concrete work was done wil be accredited. Certificates wil be renewed annuany solely on the basis of satisfactory performance during the preceding year. The failure to maintain satisfactory performance standards could result in deaccreditation and withdrawal of the right to use the certificate. General supervision of the proposed program of accreditations wil be vested in a Board of Directors, no member of which wil have any financial interest in the product as might affect his impartiality under the program. The Board wil have the responsibility, among other matters , for insuring nondiscriminatory administration of and free access to the program.

There win be no requirement for any applicant as to the length of time in business , his capital, or size of operation. Applicant firms with no previous experience in the industry but having personnel of suffdent background and experience in concrete construction or related fields and which express a desire to engage in quality concrete constructions win be accredited. An present and future applicants win have free, unrestricted and nondiscriminatory access to the program, whether or not they are a member of any sponsoring organization. An nonmember applicants wi1 be accorded an equal opportunity for accreditation at a cost no greater than and under conditions no more onerous than those imposed upon comparably situated organization members for whom comparable services may be rendered. A uniform certificate of accreditation wi1 be awarded to an who qualify. The Commission advised that it would not proceed against the practices so long as they are implemented in the manner described. The requesting party was advised further that in giving its approval to this request the Commission is expressing no opinion with respect to product standards which may be or are now established and that the approval wi1l be of no force and effect should the proposed program of accreditation be implemented in contravention of Commission-administered Jaw. The Commission added that should the proposed program be adopted the Commis- ADVISORY OPINION DIGESTS 1095 sion may, from time to time, wish to assure itself that it is being used for the limited purposes intended. (File No. 693 7120 Released July 2, 1969)