Certification Program

AERC’s mission is to ensure that the performance information provided to consumers via the AERC Energy Improvement label and website (currently available for residential products) is accurate, reliable and consistent. Each AERC certified product has been measured according to stringent standards and has been reviewed and accepted by AERC.

Participants

Window Attachment Manufacturers
Window attachment manufacturers can rate, certify, and label the energy performance of residential window attachment products through the AERC Certification Program.

Material Manufacturers
Material manufacturers participate in the AERC Certification Program by having an approved test lab measure the performance properties of their materials and submitting the performance data for listing in the Complex Glazing Database (CGDB) Materials Library. Materials used in window attachment products must have material properties data listed in the CGDB or International Glazing Database (IGDB) prior to simulation and certification of the window attachment product.

ACEs/ Simulators
An AERC Accepted Simulator works for an Accepted Calculation Entity (ACE). The simulator performs modeling and simulation services on behalf of window attachment manufacturers to generate window attachment ratings for AERC certification. ACEs review the work of their simulators and attest to the accuracy of the work product.

Test Laboratories
Test labs can participate in the AERC Certification Program in two ways – either through testing material properties or by testing performance properties of window attachments. In order to test and submit thermal and optical properties for the CGDB Material Properties Library, test labs must participate in the most recent inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) managed by LBNL. Test laboratories can also participate in the AERC rating and certification program by physically testing the performance properties of window attachments. Test labs must submit documentation supporting their ISO 17025 accreditation to conduct this testing.

Inspection Agencies
AERC Accepted Inspection Agencies perform annual inspections of AERC program participants, which may include Window Attachment Manufacturer Participants and Accepted Calculation Entities.

Products

Rating and certification procedures for eligible window attachment categories are being developed in phases.

Certification open now:
Residential products include: Cellular Shades, Roman Shades Blinds, Roller Shades, Storm Windows, Solar Screens, and Pleated Shades

Commercial products include: Secondary Windows

In development:
Residential products include: Awnings, Roller Shutters

Longer-term consideration:
Residential products include: Window Quilts, Drapes, Louvered Shutters, Applied Window Films and Sheer Shades

Learn more about window attachment product types

Certification Process

Detailed window attachment certification instructions are listed on the Window Attachment Manufacturers page. Material manufacturers have a different process – see Material Manufacturer page for more information.

Certification Fees

For manufacturers, simulators, ACEs, and Inspection Agencies there are annual participation fees to help cover the costs of administering the certification program. Manufacturers also have scaled fees for listing products in the Certified Products Database. One of the benefits of being an AERC member is discounted fees for AERC certification.

Window Attachment Product Certification Participation Fees

*Subsidiary companies with separate manufacturing locations are considered individual Manufacturer Participants and must pay separate fees based on their Participation Category.

** A Business Unit/ Sub-Brand is a manufacturing facility where products are assembled, that is owned by the Primary Manufacturer. These products have their own branding, and the Business Unit obtains a Secondary Listing from the Primary Manufacturer. The Primary Manufacturer assumes responsibility for verification testing for the manufacturing facilities at which their products are assembled.

*** A Fabricator is a privately owned (i.e. not owned by the Primary Manufacturer) manufacturing facility where products are assembled. The products assembled by the Fabricator have the same branding as those of the Primary Manufacturer. The Primary Manufacturer assumes responsibility for verification testing for the Fabricators at which their products are assembled.

†Fee includes cost of annual inspection.

‡Type 3 participants will only be subject to verification testing if issues arise during their annual in-plant inspection.

Window Attachment Certified Products Database (CPD) Listing Fees

^The Group Leader Listing Fee is assessed based on manufacturer-chosen product groupings per AERC technical procedures. AERC will assess a group leader listing fee for every group leader submitted in a Certified Products Listing Report (i.e. the Accepted Simulator has simulated the performance of the exact product configuration and submitted those performance ratings for listing in the CPD). No listing fees apply to group members (products that are grouped and “inherit” performance ratings from their group leader). The Group Leader Listing fee is assessed upon submission of a CPLR.

°The Fee Per Unit Sold is assessed on a semi-annual (twice per year) basis. Manufacturers with certified products listed in the CPD are required to self-report unit sales of all certified products. This includes all product configurations that were submitted as group leaders and group members. Manufacturers must report certified product sales in the United States and Canada as of the first of the month in which they are certified (e.g. a product certified on April 16^th must report sales as of April 1^st). Manufacturers must submit sales data within 60 days of the end of each six-month period (January-June and July-December) and may be subject to late fees. At minimum, submitted data must include the following: brand, product line, product type, month of sale, and units sold. Submitted data must be reported in the AERC-provided template.

§Each CPLR submitted will undergo a technical review by the independent validator. A $125 administrative fee will be charged for each submission in addition to the hourly rate.

Complex Glazing Database (CGDB) Listing Program Fees

#May be prorated if enrolled in second half of calendar year.

ǁListing fee excludes cost of material testing. Covers first year listing costs.

∆Covers annual per product listing fee after the first year and until a listing has to be updated with new performance information at which point a new submission fee would need to be paid.

CGDB Early Adopter Discount

Effective August 1, 2018, AERC is offering its members a significant discount in CGDB submission fees to encourage participation in the program. Discounted fees will remain in effect for listings submitted by June 30, 2019. To access the discounted fees listed in the table below, AERC members must meet the following requirements:

1. Be an AERC member in good standing.
2. By December 31, 2018, submit a signed letter using the AERC template committing to a number of listings that the manufacturer will submit under the early adopter discount.
   1. Manufacturer will only be eligible to receive the early adopter discount for the amount of listings committed to in this letter.
3. Pay a non-refundable deposit in the amount of half the cost of the total number of listings committed.
   1. As listings are submitted, AERC will track the number of listings for which it has already received a deposit and will invoice for the balance due on the listings submitted in excess of the deposit until either:
      1. The manufacturer reaches the number of listings to which they committed; OR
      2. The early adopter discount period ends. At which point AERC will begin to charge at the normal submission and listing fee rates.

AERC Service Providers

Visit the Approved Program Contacts page for contact information.