IPC-4101 Now Includes Validation Services Qualified Products List Requirements for Materials Specification Sheets

The IPC Technical Activities Executive Committee (TAEC) and the IPC Board of Directors approved by vote, the introduction of a Qualified Products List (QPL) requirement within IPC-4101, Specification for Base Materials for Rigid and Multilayer Printed Boards. The intent of the new requirement is to enhance supply chain verification of materials specification sheets, minimize nonverified submissions of specification sheets and give support to the committee evaluations of the new materials specification sheets.

Prior to submitting new material specification sheets, companies will be required to receive the IPC Validation Services Qualified Products List (QPL) certification. The QPL will ensure that the company is meeting the stringent requirements of IPC-4101 and delivering materials based on those requirements.

Companies who have submitted materials specification sheets for the proposed Amendment 1 to the current IPC-4101E, will be required to obtain the required QPL listing. The material specification sheets will not be accepted for review until the QPL listing is met.

IPC's Validations Services QPL/QML Program was developed to promote supply chain verification. It also provides auditing and certification of electronics companies' products and identifies processes which conform to IPC standards.

"IPC realizes that many companies use the inclusion of their products specification sheets in the IPC-4101 standard to provide some validity of their products in the marketplace," said Dave Bergman, IPC vice president standards and technology. "At the same time, a significant amount of IPC resources and volunteer time are used in the standards development process in adding these materials specification sheets to the standard. The Validation Services QPL program for IPC-4101 has proven to be of great value to the marketplace and adding material specification sheets will further enhance the program."

For more information about IPC's Validation Services QPL/QML Program, visit www.ipcvalidation.org or contact Randy Cherry at RandyCherry@ipc.org or +1-847-597-2806.