GDS Innovation Lab approached RADCO and IAPMO-UES in June of 2017 to begin the process of certifying LifeArk's proprietary material to meet the stringent standards of any new building material introduced to the construction industry. This involved developing specific criteria covering all required tests and procedures to certify that the material has met all structural and life safety standards. This criteria called for a series of over 30 arduous lab tests against stringent ASTM standards, developing and implementing manufacturing and assembly factory Quality Control Standards and Manuals, factory inspections by Housing and Community Development, public and peer reviews, and Technical Committee approvals from a group of expert engineers in this field.

More than two and a half years later on February 27 of 2020, GDS Innovation Lab received certification and publication of LifeArk Modulars. With publication of our Evaluation Report 560, LifeArk Modulars is now a certified material that complies with all code provisions in the 2018 and 2015 International Building Code® (IBC) and International Residential Code® (IRC) and the 2019 and 2016 California Building Code® (CBC) and California Residential Code® (CRC).

The team extends their sincerest gratitude to several key players in this process: 3rd party HCD agency RADCO, structural engineering and architectural firm RST and Associates, the team of engineers at IAPMO, and all internal LifeArk team members and consultants.

To view the Evaluation Report publication on IAPMO's website, click here.