How to Get Your Products Certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)

The precondition for fenestration products to be recognized as energy efficient is that they are rated according to the standards of the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The NFRC label is recognized nationwide as the reliable indicator of fenestration energy properties. While not all windows with the NFRC label are necessarily energy efficient, energy efficient windows will not be recognized as such without the trustworthy values displayed on the label.

The NFRC label is also the precondition for a window, door, or skylight to qualify for the ENERGY STAR label - if the product's NFRC-certified values meet the ENERGY STAR qualification criteria.

What is the NFRC?
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is a nonprofit, public/private organization created by the window, door, and skylight industry. It is composed of manufacturers, suppliers, builders, architects and designers, specifiers, code officials, utilities, and government agencies. The NFRC has developed a fenestration energy rating system based on whole product performance.

The NFRC Label
The NFRC label provides the only reliable way to determine energy properties and thus compare the energy-efficiency of fenestration products. The NFRC label appears on all products rated to the NFRC standards and on all window, door, and skylight products which are part of the ENERGY STAR® program. NFRC labels on fenestration units give ratings for U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), and Visible Light Transmittance (VT), as well as optional ratings for Air Leakage (AL) and Condensation Resistance (CR). Somewhat different information is provided on labels for window films.

Starting the Certification Process
In order to get the NFRC certification process started, window, door, and skylight manufacturers should first contact NFRC and order a Product Certification Program (PCP) Package. This package will contain information on how to follow these further steps:

• Select an NFRC licensed Independent Agency to verify the testing process
• Have your product tested by an accredited simulation lab
• Have your product tested by an accredited thermal testing lab
• Sign the NFRC License Agreement
• Label the product with the NFRC label

What is the time and financial commitment?
Certification of a small number of product types may be completed in less than half a year, whereas a larger number of product types can mean a somewhat longer certification process. Once a product type has been certified, this certification will be valid for a four-year period.

The costs for participation in the NFRC certification program vary depending on the number of product lines to be certified, label usage, and membership status. Including the costs for thermal testing, simulation labs, and an independent certification and inspection agent, total annual costs of a few thousand dollars for multiple product lines should be expected.

Please note that manufacturers with sales of less than $2 million qualify for a small business discount that substantially decreases program costs.

NFRC membership
Those manufacturers of windows, doors, and skylights who want to get involved in the further development and refinement of NFRC rating and certification procedures can become members of the NFRC. However, NFRC membership is not necessary for participation in the NFRC certification program and is thus strictly optional. Learn more about NFRC membership.

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