The California Council of Testing and Inspection Agencies' (CCTIA's) roots go back to approximately 1970 when several San Francisco Bay Area testing and inspection firms (materials engineering laboratories) formed the Association of Northern California Testing and Inspection Agencies (ANCTIA). The purpose was to unite their efforts in an attempt to achieve more uniform guidelines for, and enforcement of, what was then Section 305 of the Uniform Building Code (UBC) dealing with "Special Inspection". At that time, the public agencies' use and enforcement of code-mandated special inspection varied from zero to total "by-the-book" requirements. Thus materials engineering laboratories often faced major uncertainties as to how strictly they must adhere to UBC "requirements". This, in turn, created substantial inequities in levels of effort, especially confusing to clients that built in more than one jurisdiction.
Early efforts were encouraging enough that ANCTIA survived many years and achieved substantial progress, as exhibited by the following achievements:
- Creation of a "Tests and Inspection" (T & I) checklist prototype for use on commercial/private construction projects
- Establishment of Inspection Guidelines
- Establishing criteria for issuance of inspector identification cards, signed by Professional Engineers and listing the individual’s areas of expertise
After some time activities slowed down, only to be revived again about 1987, for most of the same reasons that resulted in the original formation, i.e. lack of uniform use and enforcement of special inspection code requirements. This time ANCTIA became even more proactive, with such projects as:
- T & I checklist update
- Establishing minimum standards for member firms
- Revising minimum standards for inspectors
- Promoting the active use of inspector identification cards
- Interaction with ICBO and local building officials
The organization has evolved into a statewide organization with a new name: California Council of Testing and Inspection Agencies (CCTIA).
As with its predecessor, CCTIA is a non-profit public benefit corporation dedicated to fostering, promoting, and encouraging through education, the practice and profession of materials testing and inspection services. The Council influences code development, training programs, and minimum inspector and agency qualification standards through its member firms’ representation in many other organizations, including:
- International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) (including various Chapters throughout the State of California)
- ICBO’s Special Inspector Certification Committee
- Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC)
- American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL)
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- American Construction Inspectors Association (ACIA)
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
- ASTM E36 Committee on Laboratory Accreditation
There are many more organizations, too numerous to include herein, in which the Council participates and supports in its efforts of promoting public safety.
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