Getting Certified |
Steps to Certification
In order to obtain certification from the WTCCC a plant must follow the following steps.
Do an internal evaluation to determine if you are ready for certification
Prior to being audited a plant must ensure that they are ready including:
You also may want to contract an approved RAO auditor to determine if your company is ready for certification.
- Be familiar with the CSA S349-20 Standard and the current TPIC tolerance requirements (Appendix G) and truss design requirements (Appendix H).
- Ensuring that you have a Q.C. manual that is compliant with the CSA S349:20 standard
- You have at least 6 months of documentation of internal truss inspections meeting the criteria of a minimum of 3 truss inspections per set-up per shift per week. You must also have a method of summarizing the internal inspections for review.
- Ensure that your truss designs meet the current TPIC and Building code requirements.
- Ensure that your raw material and truss storage is adequate.
- Confidence that your finished trusses are as specified including: dimension tolerances, lumber requirements, plating requirements, gap tolerances, etc.
You also may want to contract an approved RAO auditor to determine if your company is ready for certification.
Apply to the WTCCC for Certification
A plant must agree to the terms and conditions of certification as determined by the WTCCC.
The plant must agree to a licensing agreement with the WTCCC.
Before certification the plant must pay the annual listing and certification fees determined by the WTCCC.
The plant must agree to a licensing agreement with the WTCCC.
Before certification the plant must pay the annual listing and certification fees determined by the WTCCC.
Contact your Regional Auditing Organization
At the same time as applying to the WTCCC the plant must contact their RAO
The plant must comply with the conditions of the RAO in order to be audited, including required fees.
The RAO will supply the plant with a list of approved auditors.
The plant must comply with the conditions of the RAO in order to be audited, including required fees.
The RAO will supply the plant with a list of approved auditors.
Arrange an Initial Certification Audit
Once the plant had determined that they are ready to be audited they must arrange an audit with an RAO approved auditor.
The auditor will outline the process of being audited including pre-audit requirements, dates, and fees.
The auditor will outline the process of being audited including pre-audit requirements, dates, and fees.
The Audit
The RAO approved auditor will visit your plant location and conduct an audit using an approved WTCCC audit instrument.
The time on site will be determined by the size and complexity of the plant.
The audit must achieve a passing score of 80% for certification.
The time on site will be determined by the size and complexity of the plant.
The audit must achieve a passing score of 80% for certification.
Audit Quality Assurance Process
Once the auditor has collected the required information they will complete the approved WTCCC audit instrument and submit it for quality assurance to the appropriate RAO.
The RAO will review the audit to ensure that it meets the applicable standards including justifying the scoring and how the audit was scored.
The audit may either pass quality assurance or required to be corrected, if the audit requires correction it is returned to the auditor for revisions before it can be approved.
The audit can not be provided to the plant until it has undergone the review process.
The plant should not be charged for corrections required by the auditor, unless agreed to.
The RAO will review the audit to ensure that it meets the applicable standards including justifying the scoring and how the audit was scored.
The audit may either pass quality assurance or required to be corrected, if the audit requires correction it is returned to the auditor for revisions before it can be approved.
The audit can not be provided to the plant until it has undergone the review process.
The plant should not be charged for corrections required by the auditor, unless agreed to.
The Audit Information is Submitted for Certification
Once the audit has passed the quality assurance review from the RAO the audit information is submitted from the RAO to the WTCCC for certification.
The plant is issued a plant number.
The company information including their plant number and certification number will be uploaded to the WTCCC website available to Authorities having Jurisdiction.
The plant will be able to use approved marks of conformity indication that they have achieved certification.
The plant is issued a plant number.
The company information including their plant number and certification number will be uploaded to the WTCCC website available to Authorities having Jurisdiction.
The plant will be able to use approved marks of conformity indication that they have achieved certification.
Maintenance of Certification
It is a requirement in order to maintain certification that an audit be done 2 times per year.
It is the responsibility of the plant to ensure that they are current with maintaining their certification.
The WTCCC may suspend certification and licensing for a limited period or permanently in the following circumstances:
The license may also be suspended under mutual agreement between the certification body and the licensee for a period of non-production or for other reasons described in the WTCCC standard.
It is the responsibility of the plant to ensure that they are current with maintaining their certification.
The WTCCC may suspend certification and licensing for a limited period or permanently in the following circumstances:
- The client does not successfully complete required maintenance audits in the indicated time frames required by the CSA S349:20 standard and WTCCC standards,
- The manufacturer has not made arrangements with the RCAA to address deficiencies in their audit through an acceptable action plan,
- The client improperly uses certification or marks of conformity or misleads authorities or the public regarding their certification,
- Surveillance of the client by the WTCCC shows nonconformity with the requirement of the CSA S349:20 standard or WTCCC standards,
- An investigation resulting from a formal complaint of an Authority Having Jurisdiction or member of the public that substantiates nonconformity,
- If there has been any other contravention of the product certification or the procedures of the WTCCC.
The license may also be suspended under mutual agreement between the certification body and the licensee for a period of non-production or for other reasons described in the WTCCC standard.
Product Liability
In this scheme, all questions related to product liability remain the legal responsibility of the client as outlined in the application and license agreement.
The WTCCC can only be held legally responsible for its certification activities.
The WTCCC can only be held legally responsible for its certification activities.