The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is the leading expert in the certification and testing for windows, doors, and skylights and is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Certification Body (CB) for the ENERGY STAR^®program. To ensure that ENERGY STAR products continue to perform in the marketplace as originally designed and certified, EPA requires that all products bearing the ENERGY STAR logo be made available for independent verification testing. As a CB, NFRC is implementing an Independent Verification Program (IVP), scheduled for Spring 2013, to verify the performance ratings of ENERGY STAR qualified products.

NFRC is aware that this program will affect its participants. Therefore, NFRC is distributing a draft of the NFRC 713-2013 IVP for final comment. The comment period will last two weeks ending on Friday, February 15, 2013. Participants can download the NFRC 713 draft from the NFRC website. Submit comments here.

To assist participants, NFRC developed a high level flowchart providing the process of an IVP verification test and revised the previously distributed Frequently Asked Questions. The flowchart and FAQare also available for download from the NFRC website.

NFRC has developed a two-step enrollment process in order for ENERGY STAR Partners to participant in the IVP. This two-step process includes the opportunity for ENERGY STAR Partners to fill out an agreement form to participate in the IVP and to identify their ENERGY STAR qualified product lines for 2013.

Step one is to submit an IVP Participation form notifying NFRC of your decision to participate in the IVP for 2013. An online form will be available on the NFRC website along with a PDF and Word version for your convenience when enrollment for the IVP commences. The enrollment PDF and Word forms may be returned here or by fax at 301-220-3129, Attn: IVP Enrollment.

Step two in the enrollment process is for Partners to identify their ENERGY STAR qualified product lines. The ENERGY STAR Product Line Identification Tool is a website that has been created to allow Partners to submit their ENERGY STAR qualified product lines for IVP selection. The online tool to designate your product lines is available now for your use and a manual is also available to download. Per the NFRC 704, the number of product lines designated also determines the number of product lines invoiced for IVP fees in 2013. The deadline to identify your ENERGY STAR qualified product lines is March 31, 2013.

Upon your completion of the enrollment process, NFRC will invoice participants their IVP fees for 2013 in accordance with NFRC 704-2013 E0A1 at a pro-rated fee. All product line fees will be based upon the identified ENERGY STAR qualified product lines during the enrollment process.

NFRC anticipates implementation of the IVP for May 2013.

If you have any further questions or comments, please contact Stacy Germann, IVP Coordinator, at 240-821-9504.