Network Standards and Editorial Criteria for Authority Member Sites
The 67 member sites organized under National Commercial Authority operate according to a shared set of editorial and structural standards that govern how construction knowledge is classified, verified, and published. This page defines those standards, explains the criteria used to admit and maintain member sites, and describes how each member's scope is bounded so that coverage remains authoritative without overlap. Understanding these criteria matters for anyone evaluating the reliability of information published across the network's construction vertical.
Definition and scope
Network standards, as applied here, are the documented rules that determine what a member site may publish, how it must structure that content, and under what conditions its membership classification is maintained. These are not style preferences — they are enforceable criteria that define the boundary between an authority resource and a general-information site.
The network currently encompasses 67 member sites spanning state-level commercial construction references and specialty trade topics. Each member is assigned to exactly one primary vertical (construction being the dominant vertical in this network) and one scope classification: either a geographic-scope member or a trade-scope member. Geographic members, such as Alabama Commercial Authority, Arizona Commercial Authority, California Commercial Authority, Colorado Commercial Authority, Florida Commercial Authority, Georgia Commercial Authority, and Illinois Commercial Authority, publish content bounded by the construction regulatory environment, permitting frameworks, and code adoptions specific to their named state. Trade-scope members publish content bounded by a defined construction discipline or material system regardless of geography.
The distinction matters for regulatory framing. A geographic member must align its permitting and inspection content with the state building code adopted in that jurisdiction — for example, whether the state has adopted the International Building Code (IBC) published by the International Code Council (ICC) or maintains a state-specific code. A trade-scope member must align its content with the applicable ASTM International standards, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) specifications, or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations governing that trade.
The network's primary index links to all 67 members and serves as the canonical entry point for navigating scope boundaries across the full construction coverage map.
How it works
Member classification follows a four-phase intake and maintenance process:
-
Scope assignment. Each prospective member site is evaluated for its primary subject matter. The editorial process identifies whether the site addresses a geographic market, a specialty trade, or a material system. No site may straddle two primary scopes; dual-scope content is split into separate members.
-
Regulatory alignment check. Content on each member site is cross-referenced against the named regulatory frameworks applicable to its scope. For construction sites, this includes the IBC (ICC), OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 (construction safety standards), and — for sites touching environmental hazards — EPA regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Lead Paint Authority exemplifies this requirement: its content must align with EPA's Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule (40 CFR Part 745), which sets certification requirements for work disturbing lead-based paint in pre-1978 structures.
-
Editorial depth verification. Each member site must demonstrate coverage of definition, process framework, common scenarios, and decision boundaries within its scope. Thin or purely promotional content fails this criterion. The conceptual overview of how construction works provides the baseline framework against which member content depth is measured.
-
Ongoing maintenance review. Member sites are reviewed on a rolling basis. Sites that fail to update content following substantive code changes — such as ICC code cycle updates (published on 3-year cycles) or OSHA standard revisions — are flagged for remediation.
Trade-scope members cover the full range of construction disciplines. National Concrete Authority addresses mix specifications, structural applications, and ACI 318 code compliance. National Drywall Authority covers fire-resistance rating assemblies classified under ASTM E119 testing. National Insulation Authority addresses R-value requirements across climate zones as defined by ASHRAE 90.1. Foundation Authority and Foundation Repair Authority together cover both new construction geotechnical standards and repair methodologies under ACI 332. National Chimney Authority frames its content against NFPA 211, the standard for chimneys, fireplaces, vents, and solid fuel-burning appliances.
Common scenarios
The following scenarios represent the most frequently encountered classification and editorial decisions across the 67-member network.
Scenario 1: Geographic vs. trade overlap. A site covering concrete repair in California raises the question of whether it belongs to the geographic member or the trade member. The rule: regulatory and permitting framing goes to the geographic member; material and process standards go to the trade member. California Commercial Authority covers California-specific Title 24 code requirements and DSA (Division of the State Architect) permitting processes. Concrete Repair Authority covers ICRI (International Concrete Repair Institute) surface preparation standards and ASTM C928 repair material specifications.
Scenario 2: Inspection content. Inspection topics appear across the network but are governed by scope boundaries. Building Inspection Authority addresses commercial building inspection processes tied to IBC Chapter 1 administrative requirements. National Home Inspection Authority addresses residential inspection standards under ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) and InterNACHI frameworks. National Inspection Authority serves as the broader directory for inspection-related resources across both commercial and residential scopes. The regulatory context page for construction documents the agency and code relationships that govern all three.
Scenario 3: Fencing network coverage. The fencing vertical illustrates how a single trade can generate multiple non-overlapping members. National Fence Authority covers fence types, materials, and load specifications. National Fencing Authority addresses contractor qualification and commercial fencing project frameworks. Fence Installation Authority covers installation sequences and footing requirements. Fence Repair Authority addresses structural failure modes and repair standards. Fence Replacement Authority addresses full-system replacement decision criteria. The fencing vertical network coverage page maps all five members against one another.
Scenario 4: Flooring vertical. Similar multi-member structure applies to flooring. National Flooring Authority covers material classifications under ASTM standards. National Flooring Repair Authority addresses failure diagnosis and remediation. Floor Repair Authority provides trade-level process guidance. National Carpet Repair Authority limits scope to textile floor coverings specifically. The flooring vertical network coverage page defines the non-overlapping scope boundaries across these four members.
Scenario 5: Cleanup and demolition. Demolition Authority covers selective and full demolition under OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart T and EPA NESHAP (National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants) requirements for asbestos. Construction Cleanup Authority covers post-construction debris management, waste classification under EPA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) categories, and LEED v4 construction waste management credit requirements.
Decision boundaries
Decision boundaries define when a topic belongs to one member rather than another, and when a topic falls outside the network's editorial scope entirely.
Type A: Geographic member vs. national trade member. Content that requires citing a specific state statute, state agency rule, or state-adopted code variant belongs to the geographic member. Content that cites only national standards (IBC, OSHA, ASTM, ANSI, NFPA, ACI) belongs to the trade member. Alabama Commercial Authority covers Alabama Building Commission rules. National Building Authority covers IBC provisions applicable nationally.
Type B: Installation vs. repair vs. replacement. These three categories are editorially distinct. Installation assumes no prior system exists. Repair assumes a system exists with localized failure. Replacement assumes full system removal and reinstallation. Installation Authority and National Installation Authority address installation frameworks. Door Repair Authority, Glass Repair Authority, Garage Repair Authority, and Floor Repair Authority each address repair within their respective systems. Window Installation Authority and Window Replacement Authority address the installation-versus-replacement boundary specifically for fenestration systems.
Type C: Facility management vs. construction. Facility Authority covers ongoing operations and maintenance of commercial structures, which falls under OSHA 29