It’s been a slow start to the year with one exception: The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has officially launched the pilot phase of the FenStar Certification Program that replaces the Independent Verification Program (IVP). If you have Energy Star-certified products, here’s what you need to know:

1. With the launch of FenStar, NFRC will be a fully accredited certification body for the Energy Star window, door and skylight program.
2. IVP was a stepping stone for NFRC to become fully accredited. According to the FenStar FAQs, “IVP will no longer be an operating program but will become the verification procedure within the FenStar Certification Program. The change should be seamless to the IVP participant.”
3. The NFRC has committed to no IVP/FenStar fee increases until at least 2019.
4. According to the site, “Energy Star partners will need to update their product line information in PESI, update the Schedule II, and sign a new NFRC license agreement. In addition, manufacturers will need to provide copies of the installation instructions provided with ENERGY STAR products, air leakage certification information, and a sample of a products line’s Energy Star and NFRC labels for verification.”

The View from Here is that the program will cause some concern among window manufacturers about the cost and value of having more regulatory pressure. But, at the end of the day, it will be good for NFRC to expand its product offerings to include accredited certification for Energy Star. Both manufacturers and consumers could benefit from a more consumer-friendly format.

For more information on how the FenStar Certification will impact your business, visit NFRC’s FAQs.

What’s your View? Email me directly at eric.jackson@quanex.com.