Frequently Asked Questions
General
and Certification FAQs
Commercial Program FAQs
If you have a question not answered by
the FAQs above, please click
here to fill out a form which will submit your question
to NFRC.
General and Certification FAQs
Why does NFRC exist?
Back in the early 1980s, window, door and skylight manufacturers
introduced new technologies designed to improve the energy performance
of their products. Unfortunately, consumers had no good way to
judge the effectiveness of these technologies, or to compare the
performance of different products accurately and reliably. With
the federal government beginning to think about establishing an
independent agency to rate fenestration energy performance, the
industry decided to take the initiative and formed NFRC in 1989.
Is NFRC affiliated with the
government?
No. NFRC is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, formed
to service the public good through education and research . The
National Energy Policy Act of 1992 directs the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE) to monitor and support NFRC's activities, and
DOE provides a small amount of funding each year that is used
mainly to support NFRC's research efforts. A DOE representative
also sits on the NFRC Board of Directors as a non-voting member.
How many manufacturers certify
their products?
The Directory includes energy performance ratings for over 1.67
million product options from more than 500 manufacturers (program
participants), and the list of participants grows every month.
Why do manufacturers certify
their products?
Mostly because they recognize that energy performance is very
important to their customers, and they want to provide them with
accurate and reliable information. In addition, NFRC Certified
Products carry the NFRC Temporary Label that provides building
inspectors the ability to confirm that the product meets or exceeds
local energy code requirements. NFRC certification is strictly
voluntary, although to meet the criteria for becoming an ENERGY
STAR® product according to the federal government, a product
must be NFRC-certified.
How does
the NFRC Product Certification process work?
- First, a program participant submits product drawings and
specifications to a simulation laboratory accredited by NFRC.
The "sim labs" use approved computer software to determine
energy performance ratings.
- Second, the participant randomly selects a product from its
production line and sends it to an NFRC accredited testing laboratory
for actual physical testing. If the ratings derived from the
physical test are within the required tolerance of those derived
from the computer simulation, the ratings are considered valid.
- Third, the sim labs and testing labs send their results to
an NFRC accredited "IA" or Independent Certification
and Inspection Agency for review.
- The IA confirms that the simulation and physical testing was
done according to NFRC procedures. The IA inspects manufacturing
facilities to make sure that the products submitted for testing
are the same as those being produced.
- The IA will issue a certification authorization report (CAR)
to the manufacturer after testing confirmation is completed
and the participant has signed a license agreement with NFRC.
- Once the participant receives the CAR, the participant may
place an NFRC label on the product. CARs are valid for four
years from the physical test date; to maintain certification
a participant shall recertify the product within the four-year
cycle and not later than six months after certification expiration.
How does
NFRC develop its rating system and programs?
The NFRC Board of Directors
and Membership have established seven standing committees to coordinate
the development and implementation of the rating system:
- The Accreditation Policy Committee and the Certification Policy
Committee coordinate policy for laboratory accreditation and
product certification, respectively.
- The Regulatory Affairs and Marketing Committee monitors codes
and international activities, works with NFRC's partners and
voluntary programs, and coordinates all communications and educational
activities.
- The Ratings Committee develops procedures for product certification
and labeling and coordinates with code bodies, utilities, and
state agencies on rating activities.
- The Research and Technology Committee oversees NFRC's research
activities and works on optical thermo-physical properties.
- The Technical Committee is responsible for the research and
development of each energy performance rating procedure.
- The Technical Interpretations Policy Committee interprets
technical documents.
Is NFRC
working on any additional energy performance ratings?
Yes. Right now, fenestration manufacturers can rate the U-Factor,
solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), visible transmittance (VT),
air leakage (AL), and condensation resistance (CR) of their products
through the NFRC system. The Council has also developed rating
and labeling procedures for window film attachments, internal
or between the glass blinds and shading devices, and dynamic glazing
products that change tint in response to temperature, sunlight,
or electric charge. The Certified Products Directory
is expanding to include these ratings as they become available.
NFRC is currently considering such energy ratings as ultraviolet
light/fade protection, and overall comfort.
Commercial/Site Built Program FAQs
Does NFRC
have certified site-built assemblies included on its web page?
Yes. There are
curtain wall systems entitled "Glazed Wall Systems"
listed in the online Certified Products Directory, whose currency
is maintained in real time.
What is
the amount of time involved in obtaining product certification
for a site-built project?
Depending on the complexity
of the building project (i.e., the number of various fenestration
systems and product lines on a building envelope) it will take
on average approximately 100 days to obtain a Label Certificate.
(see Appendix 1- Guidelines for Site-Built Fenestration Systems)
How does
the responsible party (i.e., architect, contractor) obtain a label
certificate for products that are already certified by NFRC?
If the curtain wall
manufacturer is the responsible party, he/she will already have
the Label Certificate for a specific product that will be used
on a project.
However, for the glazing
contractor or architect there are three paths:
- They can provide the test and simulation for specific products
on a project;
- They can review the Certified Products Directory and request
a specific certified product from the supplier or contractor.
They then contact an IA and inform the IA that they will be
using certified system #xxx. The IA then obtains all pertinent
data and issued a label certificate to the contractor or architect.
Typically test reports for the specified certified product are
re-issued under the contractor's or architect's name due to
changes in glazing type.
- They can request that a supplier provide a test and simulation
report for a product to an accredited lab in accordance with
NFRC 100. Those test reports are good for four years and
will have to be reissued in the contractor's or architect's
name if there are glazing substitutions. The contractor/architect
is still the responsible party and the IA must review ALL information
prior to issuing a Label Certificate. The product is not
considered certified until a license agreement is signed with
NFRC, certification authorization is obtained, and a label certificate
is generated.
How can
one tell that the certified products that are being installed
on a building are the same as the products for which a responsible
party has a Label Certificate?
All the information
about the products on the building envelope is contained in the
Label Certificate for a building inspector's or code official's
use, if needed or desired. The label certificate is posted
on site. If desired or required a code official could request
a Label Certificate prior to issuing a building permit.
NFRC-licensed IAs inspect the offices of the responsible party
to assure that the fenestration schedule and drawings submitted
for the simulation and test reports match the original specifications
and drawings for the site-built project. If they do not,
certification is withdrawn.
How
does ENERGY STAR fit in?
The
Energy Star Program is for residential applications, three stories
or fewer. ENERGY
STAR for Windows, Doors, and Skylights is a program only for residential
applications, meaning non-commercial buildings or residential
structures under three stories. Commercial windows, doors, and
skylights require a separate program because of the different
structural, durability, and wind load performance requirements. Look
for information on NFRC's Component Modeling Approach (CMA) for
Commercial applications coming soon.
If you have a question not answered by
the FAQs above, please click
here
to fill out a form which will submit your question
to NFRC.
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