AHRI GENERAL OPERATIONS MANUAL

1 Life AHRI GENERAL OPERATIONS MANUAL Sponsored and administered by: 2111 Wilson Blvd, Suite 500 Arlington, Virginia 22201 (703) 524-8800 GENERAL OM JANUARY 2018 Printed in Copyright 2017, by Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute Registered United States Patent and Trademark Office PREFACE The following MANUAL outlines the GENERAL procedures and policies of the Performance Certification Program operated by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). This MANUAL is to be used in conjunction with the product-specific certification program OPERATIONS MANUAL .

2 Where this MANUAL and the Product-Specific OPERATIONS MANUAL differ, the Product-Specific OPERATIONS MANUAL shall prevail. The revision of this MANUAL supersedes all previous revisions. The current edition of this MANUAL , as well as the Product-Specific OPERATIONS Manuals, can be accessed through the AHRI website, The AHRI Performance Certification Program provides for independent verification of the manufacturers stated equipment performance. Safety criteria are not within the scope of this program. Participation in the program is voluntary. Any manufacturer, regardless of AHRI membership, may obtain approval of Program Ratings and use of the AHRI Certification Mark hereinafter referred to as the Mark.

3 The Mark is the Participant s public representation that the ratings of randomly selected samples have been verified by an independent laboratory in accordance with test procedures prescribed by this OPERATIONS MANUAL . A Certification Agreement is executed between the manufacturer and AHRI specifying the conditions under which such Ratings and the Mark may be used. No manufacturer has the right to use Program Ratings or to state that their products have been tested in conformance with the procedures outlined in this Rating Procedure unless and until they have received written authority from AHRI to use the Mark as applied to the specific approved Program Ratings.

4 This OPERATIONS MANUAL has been prepared to assure that administration of the program is carried out in a uniform manner. It is an amplification of the Certification Agreement signed by licensees and AHRI. GENERAL information, procedural details, and copies of forms are included in this OPERATIONS MANUAL . Provisions of the OPERATIONS MANUAL may be amended as provided in the Certification Agreement. The AHRI Certification Programs comply with requirements in the latest edition of ISO/IEC Guide 17065, GENERAL requirements for bodies operating product certification systems. Note: This OPERATIONS MANUAL supersedes the AHRI GENERAL OM January 2017, and is effective as of January 1, 2018.

5 GENERAL OPERATIONS MANUAL AHRI CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE Introduction .. 1 Definition of AHRI Product Performance Certification Program .. 1 Purpose of the AHRI Product Performance Certification Program .. 1 Credibility of the AHRI Product Performance Certification Program .. 1 Benefits of AHRI Product Performance Certification .. 1 Differences between AHRI Membership and AHRI Certification Program Participation .. 2 Product-Specific Certification Programs Offered .. 2 1. Overview of AHRI Certification Program Operation, Obligations, and 3 2. Program Eligibility .. 4 Determining Program Eligibility.

6 4 Definition of Corporate Entity .. 4 Definition of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).. 4 Definition of Private Brand Marketer (PBM) .. 5 Definition of Production Model .. 5 Definition of Brand/Trade Name .. 5 Eligibility of PBMs that Purchase Non-Certified Equipment .. 5 Participation in Multiple Certification Programs .. 5 Acquisition of, or Merger with, an AHRI Certification Program Participant .. 5 3. GENERAL Notes about the Qualification Process .. 6 Program Applicant .. 6 Length of Qualification Process .. 6 Establishing Product Ratings Prior to Seeking Certification .. 6 Claiming Certification during Qualification Process.

7 6 Compliance with Sample Selection and Presentation Procedures .. 6 Applicant Invoice Payment .. 6 Applicant Manufacturer s Decision Forms .. 6 Changes to Program Scope or Governing Documents during the Qualification Process .. 6 Termination of the Qualification Process .. 6 Voluntary Termination of Application .. 6 AHRI Termination of Application .. 7 AHRI Termination of Application Due to Program Cancellation .. 7 4. Qualification Process for OEM Applicant .. 7 STEP Certification Application Package .. 7 STEP Processing Application Package .. 8 STEP Certification Performance Licensee Agreement for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM Agreement).

8 8 STEP Participation and Licensing Fee Invoice .. 8 STEP Selection and Qualification Testing .. 8 STEP Qualification Letter .. 8 STEP Laboratory Selection Process for Programs with Multiple Laboratories .. 8 STEP Number of Qualification Tests .. 8 STEP Introduction of New Basic Models or BMGs .. 8 STEP Additional Testing .. 8 STEP Preparing Qualification Test Samples .. 9 STEP Shipment Damage .. 9 STEP Qualification Testing .. 9 STEP Successful Completion of All Qualification 9 STEP First Sample Qualification Test Failure .. 9 STEP Second Sample Qualification Test Failure .. 10 STEP Welcome to the Program.

9 10 5. Qualification Process for a PBM Applicant .. 12 STEP Certification Application Package .. 12 STEP Processing Application Package .. 12 STEP Performance Certification Agreement for Private Brand Marketer (PBM Agreement) .. 12 STEP OEM Agreement on Behalf of the PBM Applicant .. 12 STEP Licensing Fee Invoice .. 13 STEP Welcome to the Program .. 13 6. Governing Documents of the AHRI Certification Program .. 15 Governing Documents .. 15 Amendment to Governing Documents .. 15 7. Certify-All Policy .. 16 Certify-All Policy .. 16 Program Scope .. 16 Products that Fall Outside of the Program Scope .. 16 Products Capable of Operating Outside of Program Scope.

10 16 Intended Market .. 16 US and Canadian Intended Market .. 16 Elective Certification of Products Marketed/Sold Outside US and Canadian Intended Market .. 16 Global Intended 16 Products Designated For Export Only .. 16 Exceptions to Certify-All Policy .. 17 8. Proper Use of the AHRI Certification Mark and Claims to Certification .. 19 Use of the AHRI Certification Mark and Claims to Certification .. 19 Improper Use and Claims .. 19 Issuing Corrections to Marketing Materials .. 19 New Product Introductions and Claims to Certification .. 19 9. Equipment Testing .. 20 Summary of Annual Testing Process.