The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and
Refrigeration Institute will soon start using a new logo to identify
performance-certified products.
The new mark will replace the old logos that
said products were certified by the Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
Institute and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, as well as the
“I=B=R” logo.
AHRI’s executive committee recently approved the
new logo and trademarked a phrase, “AHRI Certified,” as part of the upcoming
transition.
"Unifying the industry's product
certification programs with one mark representing third-party verification of
HVACR equipment and component performance ratings, will allow us to leverage
our marketing dollars to enhance marketplace recognition of the new mark and
its value," said AHRI President Stephen Yurek.
The complete transition is expected to take
until Jan. 1, 2012, for the new standards to be approved by international
accrediting organizations, although ARI Performance Certified program
participants may start using the new logos now, AHRI officials said.
"An 18-month transition period was
allocated to prevent burdening manufacturers with additional costs related to
replacing the old mark on products, packaging and marketing collateral,"
Yurek said. "Manufacturers generally update their marketing collateral and
name plates about every six to 12 months and so this schedule takes into
account that normal revision process."
