Home Insulation

Insulated Siding as Home Insulation: Guide for Users and Energy Raters January 2011
Chapter 1: Vinyl Siding Institute
The Vinyl Siding Institute, Inc. (VSI) is located in Washington, DC, and represents
manufacturers of vinyl siding, insulated siding and other polymeric
siding and suppliers to the industry. Among the objectives of VSI are to further
the development and growth of the vinyl and polymeric siding industry by:
helping to develop material, product and performance standards in cooperation
with standards-setting organizations and code bodies; engaging in product
stewardship and outreach activities to enhance the image of the industry and its products; and serving as an
information resource to planners, builders, remodelers, elected officials, architects, designers, building code
officials, distributors, homeowners and other exterior cladding decision-makers.
VSI Certification Programs
VSI sponsors two certification programs—the VSI Product Certification Program
and the VSI Certified Installer Program. Each is administrated by a third-party,
accredited quality control agency. The VSI Product Certification Program allows
manufacturers to certify, with independent third-party verification, that their
siding meets or exceeds ASTM D3679 Standard Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl
Chloride) (PVC) Siding, as well as two ASTM standards for color retention and
an ASTM standard for polypropylene siding. The VSI Certified Installer Program
is based on ASTM D4756 Standard Practice for Installation of Rigid Poly(Vinyl
Chloride) (PVC) Siding and Soffit and offers three different levels of certification: Certified Installers, Certified
Trainers and Certified Installer Companies.
Vinyl siding is the only exterior cladding with both third-party product certification and certified installer
programs, both of which are administered by an independent agency to ensure that products and colors meet
or exceed ASTM standards and that installers demonstrate knowledge of ASTM-accepted application techniques.
At this time, insulated siding is not specifically certified to an ASTM standard through VSI’s Program, but
the vinyl siding component of insulated siding can be certified. Customers can look for the VSI certification
Program Label or Program Logo when specifying vinyl siding or visit www.vinylsiding.org to verify whether
a particular vinyl siding product is certified. Likewise, the VSI Certified Installer Program does not certify
installers with regard to their knowledge on insulated siding installation techniques, but because many of the
important installation concepts apply to vinyl siding in general, it is a good idea to ask if the applying installer
or company has been certified through VSI’s Program.
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