APA is an internationally recognized and accredited certification, testing, and inspection agency. Built upon 90 years of standards development and engineered wood product testing, APA is North America’s leading authority in evaluating engineered wood products' compliance with applicable national building codes and industry standards.
APA Product Reports® are an authoritative source trusted by Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), design professionals, and specifiers, looking to determine if a product:
Meets applicable code requirement and intent
Demonstrates equivalent or superior performance
Provides real-world applications in design, engineering and installation for a suite of engineered wood products
Download our APA Product Reports® guide to learn more about what they are, when to use them, and why they are accepted in many jurisdictions across North America.
APA Product Reports are published on APA’s website and are free to download.
Code compliance documentation
AHJ-ready technical report
Design and installation guidance
APA testing and audit support
APA product evaluation services demonstrate manufacturers’ code compliance, support market access, and reduce time and cost to market. Backed by rigorous testing, inspection and industry expertise, APA Product Reports provide the technical information needed for acceptance by building officials and design professionals. Since 2005, APA has been a trusted provider for code-compliance documentation of engineered wood products.
Manufacturers have multiple options in the U.S for product evaluation. With APA, you get:
Vertically integrated testing, evaluation and inspection services
Faster turnaround
Deeper expertise in engineered wood
Direct access to APA’s research center and laboratory
When needed, APA also works with partners like ICC-ES to issue joint reports—providing flexibility to meet jurisdictional preferences and support broader market acceptance.
For costs and process steps, sign in to your APA member account:
165+ product reports published
20+ Years of product evaluation experience
Lower-cost alternative to other evaluation agencies
APA product evaluation services are available to APA members. Request an APA Product Report® to validate performance, demonstrate code compliance, and accelerate market acceptance.
APA has published more than 160 product evaluation reports—free to download—covering all engineered wood products for use in the US and Canada. For innovative engineered wood products, APA product evaluation reports are accepted as an alternative to CCMC reports in Alberta. Each report verifies code compliance and includes design properties, installation guidance, and supporting test data used in real-world evaluation and approval.
An APA Product Report® is a technical document demonstrating a product’s compliance with specific national building codes and industry standards. It includes design values, qualification criteria, installation requirements, and supporting information that enables AHJ and design professionals to properly specify engineered wood products for the built environment.
A product evaluation report is required when the product is not explicitly addressed by prescriptive code provisions or when a new or proprietary product is introduced. The report demonstrates that the product meets intent of applicable codes and standards and may be approved as an alternative material, design or method.
If you're wondering how the APA product evaluation process works, the process follows a structured series of reviews, testing and quality verification steps to document compliance with applicable codes and standards.
The process begins with an initial review of your product and production process to define an evaluation plan and quality program. Next, products are sampled by APA and subsequently evaluated against applicable building codes, recognized standards, or third-party criteria. APA also verifies that your manufacturing processes meet established in-plant quality control requirements.
Following evaluation, APA issues an APA Product Report®, along with a certification document and lab report to document compliance. Certain products may require ongoing inspection and periodic verification. Final product evaluation reports are published online, giving building officials and design professionals free, convenient access to your product documentation.
Timing depends on the product, available test data, and whether evaluation criteria already exist. If criteria and data are in place, reports can be completed more quickly. New products requiring criteria development or additional testing will take longer.
Yes, APA meets all the requirements to evaluate products, including ISO 17025 accreditation. Moreover, APA is the definitive authority on engineered wood products in North America.
APA product evaluation reports are developed in accordance with national building codes and industry standards and meet the requirements of IRC Section R104.2.2.6.1 and IBC Section 104.2.
Yes! APA Product Evaluation Reports are free to download and use, providing accessible documentation for evaluation, specification, and approval.
However, generating a report is a paid service. APA offers product evaluation services to its members at a fraction of the cost charged by many other agencies. Since introducing these services in 2005, APA has become a trusted alternative for code-compliance documentation—helping manufacturers reduce time-to-market and costs.
Submit an inquiry through the Contact Us form and select “Product Evaluation Services” as the Inquiry topic.
Contact APA to discuss your product, available data, and target markets. APA will help determine the appropriate evaluation path, required documentation, and whether testing or additional criteria are needed.
Submit an inquiry through the Contact Us form and select “Product Evaluation Services” as the Inquiry topic.
