By Lisa Dunn
The Polymeric Exterior Products Association (PEPA) is adding a new product to its Product Certification Program for the first time since its transformation from the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI). It’s called Backed Vinyl Siding, and it has its roots in the original VSI members’ product development tradition, which combines the strong resources of the organization’s Product Certification Program with its Code Development Work Group (CDWG).
“It’s a new product category that’s been considered by the industry over the last 10 years,” said Matt Dobson, PEPA Vice President. “Our members have developed products in this category based on a demand for what is essentially a board siding product similar to insulated vinyl siding.”
According to Sara Krompholz, Senior Director of Technical and Certification at PEPA, including the backed siding category in the building and residential code will enable the product to be normalized at the regulatory level.
“We have worked with several stakeholders to get consensus approval,” Sara stated. “Our member involvement in this process has included new faces and more engagement in the CDWG, as well as thoughtful collaboration with other groups.”
Sara noted that the association hadn’t added a new product category to its Product Certification Program since 2012 when insulated vinyl siding was introduced.
“Backed vinyl siding (ASTM D7445) is very comparable to insulated vinyl siding, less any R-value requirement or testing,” she explained. “It meets the flame spread (i.e., fire safety) standard, and we followed the CDWG steps with the full committee document review to earn the seal of approval.”
Backed vinyl siding made by PEPA member manufacturers is a board product with a solid board feel like fiber cement or wood. It consists of vinyl over foam (expanded polystyrene). It’s not as thick as insulated vinyl siding, but solid like fiber cement. It is quite durable, providing strong weather resistance, even against hail.
“Backed vinyl siding passes what consumers and architects are looking for in their ‘knock test’,” Matt said. While backed vinyl siding is like insulated vinyl siding, the trim products for insulated vinyl siding must be thicker, whereas backed vinyl siding can be used with the same trims as regular vinyl siding.
Backed vinyl siding is the fourth product category added by a product certification group that celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. “Adding backed vinyl siding demonstrates the strength of our association’s voice in the ASTM work and building codes, as well as our member manufacturers’ strong commitment to continuously improving their product lines,” Sara explained. “And now that we are operating under the new PEPA flag, this could mean even more category expansion as other segments of the broader polymeric exterior products industry recognize the value of our long-standing, well-established Product Certification Program.”
