NFRC Approves Certification Cycle Extension

On October 30, 2015, the National Fenestration Rating Council Board of Directors approved extending the NFRC fenestration product certification cycle from four years to five years. This change will take effect on March 1, 2016, allowing NFRC time to update and test its Certified Products Directory and Attachments Product Directory to accommodate the change, according to an NFRC release.

After careful consideration by the Board, the five-year certification cycle will not be retroactive and will apply only to products certified or recertified on or after March 1, 2016. The rationale for this action is as follows:

It will avoid creating unforeseen loopholes that may inadvertently undermine the integrity of our rating and certification program.

It will prevent possible confusion among consumers, code officials, and design-build professionals, which in turn could result in significant time and associated costs for NFRC to manage.

It is the most fair and equitable solution for all stakeholders.

NFRC’s Director of Programs, Scott Hanlon, indicated the Board’s decision represents the most effective way to implement this change in part because it avoids creating additional, unnecessary burdens for the organization’s licensees and NFRC staff. “Manufacturers won’t need to spend time updating affiliated program databases because of the changed expiration date, which in turn avoids putting undue pressure on inspection agencies to create certification authorization reports to meet the needs of the manufacturers,” Hanlon said in the release.

By approving the certification extension from four years to five years, the Board reports it has created a significant improvement in the program for NFRC members and participants without undermining the fairness and credibility of its rating and certification program. “This is an important step forward for our members and for those they serve,” said NFRC Board Chair, Jeff Baker. “The extension speaks to the strength of the organization’s product certification program and how much the program has improved over the years.”