Effective Jan. 1, 2012, all certification programs under the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) umbrella—ARI Performance, GAMA Efficiency Rated, and I=B=R—will be brought under one certification program and logo: AHRI Certified.

Until Jan. 1, 2014, the I=B=R mark can be displayed simultaneously with the AHRI Certified mark.

The logo is all that will change; equipment-performance claims still will be measured and verified using independent third-party laboratories.

AHRI certification is voluntary and open to manufacturers of HVACR and water-heating equipment and components and to private brand marketers that produce or market products within the scope of one or more of AHRI’s 37 certification programs. The programs are intended to provide accurate, unbiased evaluation to ensure manufacturers’ performance claims are true. AHRI certification is recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Canada, and the California Energy Commission.

For more information, click here, or write to certification@ahrinet.org.