Product Approval (Test Lab)

LADBS approves alternate building materials or products that are at least equivalent to the materials prescribed in the code in terms of quality, effective time period of fire resistance, strength, effectiveness, durability and safety.

LA Research Reports (LARR)
Building Research Section (BRS)
Mechanical Test Lab (MTL)
Electrical Test Lab (ETL)

About Test Lab

Approved materials are published as Los Angeles Research Reports (LARR).

For licensing of product approval test labs, refer to the Materials Control section in the Inspection Bureau.

Additional Resources

  • FAQ

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If the AC units that are added or replaced add up to 5 or more, then plans must be prepared and submitted for approval to Mechanical Plan Check.

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The overall system needs to be evaluated and approved, not just individual components.

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Mistakes can be corrected on the page before clicking the "Continue" button, by highlighting the area to be corrected and retyping the information. Once "Continue" has been pressed, no changes can be made. 

For assistance, contact the Customer Call Center at 3-1-1.

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Select the inspection that most closely matches the type of inspection you want to request. 

When in doubt, select the "rough..." inspection and place a message in the ‘Comments’ section. Alternatively, you may contact the Customer Call Center by dialing 3-1-1 or (866) 4LA-CITY/(866) 452-2489 within L.A. County or (213) 473-3231 outside L.A. County.

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There are three reasons why you might get this error:


  1. You may not have a valid permit number
  2. Your permit number is correct but the permit has not been issued
  3. A ‘hold’ has been placed on the permit.
  • You may not have a valid permit number
  • Your permit number is correct but the permit has not been issued
  • A ‘hold’ has been placed on the permit.
    • Customer Call Center

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    No. You must contact the inspector directly to request these types of inspections. You may obtain the inspector’s telephone number by contacting the Customer Call Center at 3-1-1 during business hours (8:00 am to 4:45 pm) or referring to our "Employee Directory" page.

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    Your products are approved for the Code version only listed on both the Evaluation Report and the LARR approval letter.  If either product approval document does not list the current version of the Building Code, you will need to have these updated.  Any revision to the report must be submitted to this Department for review with appropriate fee to continue the approval of the report.

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    Your products are approved for the Code version only listed on both the Evaluation Report and the LARR Approval Letter. If either product approval document does not list the current version of the Building Code, you will need to have these updated. Any revision to the report must be submitted to this Department for review with an appropriate fee to continue the approval of the report.

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    The LARR may be used only for projects permitted under the Code version specified on the LARR.  To update the LARR to the Current LABC, when there are no changes to the existing products nor to any code requirements regarding your product, you may file an "Application for Renewal/Clerical Modification" (PC-STR.App19).  For Product Approvals that expire within 12 months, submit the fee for a Renewal and the approval will be updated during as it is renewed.  For Products that do not expire within 12 months of the time of application, pay the clerical modification fee and check the respective box.

    For LARR’s based on a Model Code Agency Evaluation Report: the LARR cannot be updated unless the Evaluation Report specifies the corresponding Code Edition; ensure the Evaluation Report is Updated before filing to update your LARR.  If additional products are added to the approval, or changes to the existing products have been made, or if additional testing or analysis is required due to code changes, you must file an "Application for Technical Modification" (PC-STR.App18). A Separate Renewal Application will need to be submitted if the LARR is scheduled to expire soon.

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    The LARR may be used only for projects permitted under the Code version specified on the LARR. To update the LARR to the Current LABC, when there are no changes to the existing products nor to any code requirements regarding your product, you may file an Application for Renewal/Clerical Modification. For Product Approvals that expire within 12 months, submit the fee for a Renewal and the approval will be updated during as it is renewed. For Products that do not expire within 12 months of the time of application, pay the clerical modification fee and check the respective box.

    For LARRs based on a Model Code Agency Evaluation Report: 

    The LARR cannot be updated unless the Evaluation Report specifies the corresponding Code Edition; ensure the Evaluation Report is Updated before filing to update your LARR. If additional products are added to the approval, or changes to the existing products have been made, or if additional testing or analysis is required due to code changes, you must file an Application for Technical Modification. A separate Renewal Application will need to be submitted if the LARR is scheduled to expire soon.

     

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