ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) has implemented significant updates to its Acceptance Criteria numbering system to protect public safety, enhance transparency, and maintain consistency with the latest building codes.

ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria (AC) are developed for use solely by ICC-ES for purposes of issuing evaluation reports through a transparent process, which includes public hearings of the ICC-ES Evaluation Committee and online public comment opportunities. As living documents, ACs are continually updated and revised to address public safety concerns, code compliance, and industry fairness.

ICC-ES has identified instances where other evaluation agencies are issuing reports based on outdated and expired versions of ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria. This practice poses a significant concern for ICC-ES report holders and the public. Evaluating the same product types and same properties under different versions of criteria may cause misinterpretation among engineers, inspectors, and building officials, and also undermines manufacturers investing in meeting the requirements of updated and current ACs.

To provide clear communication and uphold public safety, ICC-ES has updated its AC numbering system. Moving forward, AC numbers will include the newest referenced code edition in parentheses, followed by alphabetic revision tracking (an “a” denotes the first revision, “b” denotes the second revision, and so on) with a published date. A new edition number will be designated when a criteria undergoes a compliance date update or a major overhaul.

In accordance with the above, the following ACs are being renumbered:

• AC58 (24) 2^nd Edition - Acceptance Criteria for Adhesive Anchors in Cracked and Uncracked Masonry Elements, published April 2025
• AC133 (21) 2^nd Edition – Acceptance Criteria for Mechanical Splice Systems for Steel Reinforcing Bars, published March 2025
• AC156 (24) 2^nd Edition – Acceptance Criteria for Seismic Certification by Shake-table Testing of Nonstructural Components, published April 2025
• AC386 (24) 3^rd Edition – Acceptance Criteria for Fiber-reinforced Magnesium-Oxide-Based Sheets, published April 2025

ICC-ES urges code officials, engineers, designers, specifiers, contractors, and architects to accept only evaluation reports based on the most current ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria editions. The latest published editions, which incorporate the aforementioned numbering updates, can be identified in Section 6.0 (Evidence Submitted) of ICC-ES Evaluation Service Reports (ESRs).