ULC CAN/ULC 716.3:2024 Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) – Design Application

PREFACE

This is the Third Edition of the Standard for Standard for Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) – Design Application, CAN/ULC 716.3.

This Edition of the Standard has been formally approved by the ULC Standards Committee on Thermal Performance and Energy Use in the Built Environment.

This Standard has been developed in compliance with the requirements of SCC for accreditation of a Standards Development Organization.

Only metric SI units of measurement are used in this Standard. If a value for measurement is followed by a value in other units in parentheses, the second value may be approximate. The first stated value is the requirement.

Annexes A – D, identified as Informative, are for information purposes only.

In Canada, there are two official languages, English and French. All safety warnings must be in French and English. Attention is drawn to the possibility that some Canadian authorities may require additional markings and/or installation instructions to be in both official languages.

This Third Edition National Standard of Canada was based on, and now supersedes, the Second Edition.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this Canadian standard may be the subject of patent rights. ULC Standards shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

Requests for interpretation of this Standard should be sent to ULC Standards. The requests should be worded in such a manner as to permit a “yes” or “no” answer based on the literal text of the requirement concerned.

This CAN/ULC 716.3 Standard is under continuous maintenance, whereby each revision is approved in compliance with the requirements of SCC for accreditation of a Standards Development Organization. In the event that no revisions are issued for a period of four years from the date of publication, action to revise, reaffirm, or withdraw the standard shall be initiated.

Comments or proposals for revisions on any part of the Standard may be submitted at any time. Proposals should be submitted via a Proposal Request in the Collaborative Standards Development System (CSDS) at https://csds.ul.com.

This Standard is intended to be used for conformity assessment.

Scope

1.1 This Standard contains requirements for the design, selection and application of exterior cladding utilizing Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) that meet the requirements of ULC 716.1, and for the interfaces between EIFS and other building components.

1.2 This Standard applies to both new installations and to retrofit installations of EIFS on both high-rise and low-rise buildings.

1.3 This Standard addresses the components forming the substrate to which the EIFS is attached only insofar as they impact the proper performance of the EIFS. This Standard does not address the structural design of the substrate.

1.4 Standard ULC 716.2 provides complementary information to this standard on the installation requirements for EIFS.

1.5 Cladding systems where the reinforcement is the supporting element of the rendering, e.g., stucco, are not part of this Standard.

1.6 The Standard does not address the application of direct-applied coatings onto stucco, sheathing boards, masonry, concrete, or insulating concrete forms (ICFs).

1.7  The use of mechanical fasteners is outside the scope of this Standard.

NOTE: Refer to Annex A for further information.

1.8 This Standard does not purport to address all the aspects related to EIFS design, selection and use. The use of this Standard requires a working knowledge of applicable federal, provincial and local building codes and regulations, as there may be other design, selection, or application considerations for specific installations that are not addressed by this standard.

1.9 This Standard is intended to provide detailed information pertaining to the design, selection and application of EIFS for building designers, building code officials, product manufacturers and contractors and to provide information that will promote satisfactory performance and durability of EIFS.

1.10 This Standard does not purport to address all the health and safety aspects associated with its use. Anyone using this Standard has the responsibility to consult the appropriate authorities and to establish health and safety practices, in conjunction with any existing applicable regulatory requirements, prior to its use.