Who shall conduct the verification testing?

Verification testing must be conducted by a party other than the installing contractor to ensure objectivity and impartiality in the process. This practice is essential because having a separate entity perform the verification helps guarantee that there are no conflicts of interest. The installing contractor, who has a vested interest in the system they installed, may unintentionally overlook issues or bias results in favor of their work. By using an independent third party, the integrity of the testing process is upheld, ensuring that all safety and compliance standards are met, as specified by regulations such as the ASSE standards.

While individuals meeting ASSE standard 6010 requirements have the necessary qualifications to conduct such testing, their independence from the installation process is crucial. Therefore, while the general contractor plays a role in overseeing the project, it is the separation of the setterling contractor from the testing activities that is most vital for credible verification results.