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North America’s Choice

Polymeric exteriors meet the stringent requirements of building codes across the United States and Canada. These codes require vinyl siding, insulated vinyl siding and polypropylene siding to be manufactured and certified to their respective ASTM standards. When manufactured to the appropriate material standard and installed correctly, they meet the demands of these regulations, such as providing protection from the elements.

Polymeric Cladding Categories

Polymeric cladding offers versatile beauty and unbeatable strength.

angled view of a single piece of vinyl siding

Vinyl Siding

Cladding made primarily of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

angled view of a single piece of insulated vinyl siding

Insulated Vinyl Siding

Insulated vinyl siding is vinyl siding with rigid foam insulation permanently attached to the panel. It helps increase the exterior wall’s R-Value and contributes to a home’s energy efficiency as a form of continuous insulation, making it a great option for energy efficiency compliance.

Backed Vinyl Siding

Similar to insulated vinyl siding, as it is vinyl siding combined with foam plastic insulation (no R-value).

angled view of a single piece of polypropylene siding

Polypropylene Siding

Cladding made of polypropylene siding through an injection molding process that can closely replicate wood shake and shingles, as well as stone and brick.

Certified Products

As the first and only cladding product backed by an industry sponsored cladding program, with results verified by Intertek—one of the industry’s largest independent testing and certification bodies—all certified vinyl siding products are held to the highest testing and performance standards in the industry. From wind load to weatherability and fire performance, the VSI Mark represents quality and compliance you can depend on.

Energy Code Compliance with Polymeric Cladding

Polymeric claddings, such as vinyl siding, insulated vinyl siding, and polypropylene siding, are well suited for building envelopes incorporating continuous insulation. This compatibility is particularly relevant in meeting newer, more stringent wall insulation requirements set forth by the International Energy Conservation Code.

North American
Building Codes

These building codes impact polymeric cladding product performance and installation requirements for work in Canada and the United States, including Florida. These systems provide safety for single and multifamily structures and ensure cladding can withstand high winds and resist heat, cold, rain and moisture. Please note, the International Codes, or I-Codes, published by the International Code Council, provide a regulatory framework for the construction of homes and buildings and are adopted by every state in the United States.

What are I-Codes?

The International Codes, or I-Codes, published by the International Code Council, include considerations for resilient construction and safe use of cladding, as well as its role in protecting against water, wind and fire.

FIRE

Cladding may be required to be a part of an assembly that provides necessary fire protection and performance (i.e., flame spread, hourly rated assemblies and radiant heat performance).

WATER

Protection from both rain and vapor

WIND

Tested and verified to meet the wind requirement for the majority of the country, and certain polymeric exteriors have been designed for use in coastal high wind areas.

ENERGY EFFICIENT

Builders, remodelers and home energy raters can use insulated vinyl siding to meet the International Energy Conservation Code's (IECC) continuous insulation requirements. In many northern climates, the energy code now mandates continuous insulation for homes. Insulated siding is one of the few cladding options that satisfies both building and energy codes.

AIA Education Accreditation

Earn CEUs for credit with the American Institute of Architects in our free courses. Become well-versed about vinyl siding's cladding properties in one of three ways: in-person, live online, or on demand. In addition, we present courses throughout the year at industry gatherings, including the Congress of the New Urbanism, Building Officials of Georgia and Ohio, and National Town Builders Association, among many others.

Man holding tablet with VSI Building Code Reference Guide displayed

Code Reference Guide

Our at-a-glance, printable PDF guide provides a quick code resource for International, Florida and Canada building requirements, with installation and performance requirements, a helpful inspection checklist, and more to help you ensure code compliance.
Man installing a piece of vinyl siding

Inspections to ensure code compliant installation

Use these quick tips for your inspections to ensure code compliant installations of polymeric cladding and soffit, especially in high-wind regions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find the information you need fast about the Polymeric Exterior Products Association's work—in advocacy, workforce training and certification, building code resources, sustainability and more—in our Frequently Asked Questions.