ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced that it has been awarded accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a standards developing organization.

“ANSI accreditation adds value to our standards development process by confirming that our procedures meet ANSI’s essential requirements for openness, balance, consensus, and due process,” said AHRI President Stephen Yurek. “In order to maintain accreditation, AHRI is required to consistently adhere to a rigorous set of requirements and procedures.”

Many of AHRI’s standards outline technical procedures for uniformly measuring the performance of HVACR equipment. Through the use of these standards and voluntary participation in the industry’s performance certification programs, consumers can be assured manufacturers’ performance claims are verified and rated uniformly to enable fair comparisons.

“The rigor of ANSI accreditation makes it widely recognized as a valid measurement of a standards program’s credibility and competency by federal and state governments and governments outside the United States,” said Yurek. “It also enhances the integrity of AHRI’s industry certification programs, and improves consumer confidence in the performance of heating, cooling, and commercial refrigeration equipment and components both domestically and abroad.”

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute is a trade association representing manufacturers of air conditioning, heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment. AHRI develops standards for and certifies the performance of many of these products. AHRI’s more than 350 member companies account for more than 90 percent of the residential and commercial air conditioning, space heating, water heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment manufactured and sold in North America.

Publication date: 04/14/2008