Standards of Practice

Below are the Standards of Practice that the EDI Certified Members will adhere to; if they are not followed then in their written report the Certified Member will state the reason that they have not been followed.

1. Introduction

1.1 Exterior Design Institute (EDI)

EDI is a professional organization established in 1996, whose membership consists of private, fee paid exterior cladding inspectors. EDI’s ideals include the promotion of a higher standard within the profession and continual improvement of its members services to the public.

1.2 These Standards of Practice:

  1. Make public the services provided by EDI fee paid inspectors.
  2. Provide inspection guidelies and limitations.
  3. Define the terms on which the inspection is performed.

2. Scope and Purpose

2.1 EDI inspections performed in accordance with these guidelines are intended to provide the building owner or client with a better understanding of the exterior cladding system and component conditions as observed at the time of inspection.

2.2 EDI Inspector shall:

  1. Observe all installed EIFS and stucco wall components listed elsewhere in these standards.
  2. Submit a written, signed report to the person or persons outlined in their contract. The report shall:1. Describe those components specified, as listed elsewhere in these standards
    2. State which components were inspected as listed elsewhere in these standards.
    3. State which components as listed elsewhere in these standards that were not inspected and why.
    4. State any components that are listed elsewhere in these standards that are in need of correction, modification, or immediate repair in order to bring the system to industry and/or manufacturer standards.

2.3 EDI inspection standards are not intended to limit the inspector from:

  1. A. Reporting conditions or observations that directly relates to the performance or life of the inspected wall system and its components.
  2. B. Including other systems and components into the inspection if requested by the person or persons for whom the inspection is performed.

2.4 EDI inspection standards are not intended to override local laws.

  1. When these Standards of Practice are found to be in conflict with laws or statues of local jurisdiction, the local jurisdiction shall supersede.

3. General Exclusions and Limitations

3.1 General Exclusions

A. EDI Inspectors are NOT required to report on:

  1. The life expectancy of the wall system or any component of the system.
  2. The suitability of the wall system or product within the wall system for any specialized use.
  3. The compliance or non-compliance of the wall system and components with applicable code requirements.
  4. The method and materials required for the repair of the wall system or its components.
  5. The cost for the corrections to the wall system or its components.
  6. The condition of a wall system or a component of a wall system that could not be readily observed due to personal items, furniture, equipment, plant life, soil, snow, ice, debris or storage.
  7. The identification of wood destroying organisms including but not limited to insects, fungi, and rodents.
  8. The identification of any hazardous substances, environmental issues or biohazards, or to determine the condition of an installed system used to control the above conditions.

B. EDI Inspectors are not required to:

  1. Offer any warranties or guarantees of any kind.
  2. Offer any service or perform any act that is contrary to law.
  3. Perform any architectural or engineering service or perform any function that requires a license or permit within the state or township of the inspection, with the exception that a license is required to perform the standards as outlined within the scope of these Standards of Practice, and the responsible party has obtained the proper license or permit.
  4. Determine the strength, adequacy, life of, or efficiency of any wall system or component.
  5. Perform any procedure or destructive testing which may damage the wall system, components or property without prior written permission from the property or building owner.
  6. Move any personal items, furniture, equipment, plant life, or items that may obstruct access or visibility of the component or wall system being inspected, without first obtaining written permission from the property or building owner.
  7. Predict the future of any installed wall system or its components installed within the wall system.
  8. Predict the performance of wall system or components within the wall system in regards to sound proofing, insulation, or fire suppression.

4. System Components and Details

4.1 The EDI Inspector shall observe and report on:

A. Systems such as:

  1. PB – Polymer Based EIFS
  2. PM – Polymer Modified EIFS
  3. DEFS – Direct Applied EIFS
  4. OCS – One Coat Stucco Systems
  5. Quick R
  6. Drainage EIFS
  7. Traditional Hard Coat or Three Coat Stucco Systems

B. General Information such as:

  1. Age of system and components
  2. Approximate amount of applied material being inspected
  3. Direction on which the building and applied surfaces face. (North, South, East, West)
  4. Number of stories
  5. Temperature at time of inspection
  6. Weather conditions prior to and at the time of inspection
  7. Last rainfall
  8. Building or property owner
  9. EDI Member Number and Name

C. Accessible components such as:

  1. Framing type
  2. Roof covering type
  3. Substrate type if known
  4. Building wrap or moisture barrier if known
  5. Drainage mat if known
  6. Window type and manufacturer if known
  7. Door type and manufacturer if known
  8. Rigid foam type and manufacturer if known
  9. Fasteners type and manufacturer if known
  10. Starter track
  11. Flashings
  12. Trim accessories
  13. Reinforcing mesh type and manufacturer
  14. Base coat type and manufacturer
  15. Finish coating type and manufacturer
  16. Sealant or adhesive type and manufacturer

D. Accessible details such as:

  1. Sealant around window perimeters
  2. Sealant around door perimeters
  3. Miter joints around windows and doors
  4. Fixed window mullions and joints
  5. Head flashings at window tops
  6. Head flashings at door tops
  7. Pan flashing at window sills
  8. Penetrations at door threshold/track
  9. Backwrapping
  10. Expansion joints
  11. Control joints
  12. Aesthetic grooves
  13. Butterfly mesh
  14. Type of fastening system used on foam
  15. Substrate nailing pattern
  16. Foam fastening installation pattern
  17. Openings in foam
  18. Evidence of foam rasping prior to base coat installation
  19. Base coat thickness
  20. Top coat thickness
  21. Transitions at accessories such as vinyl, brick, wood, and other dissimilar materials
  22. Termination at grade
  23. Termination at concrete slabs
  24. Deck flashings
  25. Flashing at columns
  26. Kick out flashings
  27. Roof wall flashings
  28. Wall soffit termination
  29. Roof wall termination
  30. Wall fascia termination
  31. Chimney crickets
  32. Chimney flashings
  33. Gutters
  34. Wall penetrations
  35. Accessories, flashings and sealant used

E. General Appearance

  1. Cracking observed and loaction
  2. Exposed mesh observed and location
  3. Chalking surface (efflorescence) observed and location
  4. Uneven surface texture observed and location
  5. Poor or missing sealant observed and location
  6. Stains observed and location
  7. Impact damage and location
  8. Flat areas and location
  9. Breaching of surface by other trades and location
  10. Vegetation, grading, drainage, driveways, patios, walkways, and retaining walls with respect to their effect on the condition of the exterior wall system or its components
  11. Accessories and attachment methods

5. Moisture Testing and Analysis

5.1 The EDI Inspector shall observe and report on:

A. Methods of Testing

  1. Reasons for testing
  2. Locations of testing areas
  3. Amount of testing areas
  4. Type of test performed
  5. Result of tests performed

B.1 Examine areas of potential water intrusion

  1. Glazing
  2. Gaskets
  3. Weeps
  4. Sealants
  5. Perimeter sealants
  6. Unauthorized alterations
  7. Penetrations
  8. Designed penetrations
  9. Post-construction penetrations
  10. Sealants
  11. Unauthorized alterations
  12. Wall Area
  13. False joints(cracking)
  14. Designed joints
  15. Post-construction joints
  16. Cracks
  17. Impact damage
  18. Bird nest, or insect damage/holes
  19. Unauthorized alterations

4. Roof/Wall Interfaces

  1. Copings
  2. Parapets
  3. Penetrations
  4. Flashings
  5. Roof areas

B.2 Inspect and report on all accessible elevations or water entry points.

C. Inspect and report on accessible interior areas. Probe interior finished areas and structural components where deterioration is suspected.

  1. Report the signs of water penetration into the building or signs of abnormal condensation on building components.

D. Test equipment used:

  1. Type of test equipment used
  2. Method of calibration of test equipment used