Various organizations publish codes, standards, and methods for materials and testing. Much of this is adopted by manufacturers to ensure standardization. Some local enforcement agencies adopt or adhere to such standards as evidence of quality in installation. Some of the major recognized agencies and organizations are:

Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS)
1200 G St. NW, Ste. 500
Washington, DC 20005 USA
202-434-8837; fax: 202-393-5453
e-mail: atispr@atis.org
Web site: www.atis.org

American Institute of Architects (AIA)
1735 New York Ave.
NW Washington, DC 20006 USA
202-676-7300
Web site: www.aiaonline.com

American Insurance Association (AIA)
1130 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 1000
Washington, DC 20036 USA
202-828-7100; fax: 202-293-1219
e-mail: webmaster@aiadc.org
Web site: www.aiadc.org

American Insurance Service Group (AISG) (National Building Code)
Customer Service Division
7 World Trade Ctr.
New York, NY 10048-1199 USA
800-888-4476; fax: 212-898-5913
e-mail: info@iso.com
Web site: www.iso.com/aisg/index.html

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
11 W 42nd St., 13th Flr.
New York, NY 10036 USA
212-642-4900; fax: 212-398-0023
e-mail: info@ansi.org
Web site: www.ansi.org

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

100 Barr Harbor Dr. W Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 USA
610-832-9585; fax: 610-832-9555
e-mail: service@astm.org infoctr@local.astm.org
Web site: www.astm.org

Bellcore (See Telcordia Technologies)
Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA)
4051 W Flossmoor Rd. Country Club Hills, IL 60478-5795 USA
708-799-2300; fax: 708-799-4981
e-mails: info@bocai.org boca@aecnet.com
Web site: www.bocai.org

Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association (CISCA)
1500 Lincoln Hwy., Ste. 202
St. Charles, IL 60174 USA
630-584-1919; fax: 630-584-2003
e-mail: 75031.2577@compuserve.com
Web site:...