The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced it will begin using a new unified mark to identify heating, ventilation, air conditioning and commercial refrigeration products that have achieved third-party certification of their performance ratings. The new mark will replace the ARI Performance Certified, GAMA Efficiency Rating Certified and I=B=R marks, but these changes will be made according to an implementation schedule that provides enough time to bring all certification programs  into compliance with internationally recognized accreditations.

“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", said AHRI President Stephen Yurek, explaining that ARI Performance Certified program participants can begin applying the new logo from April 20 2009, although they have until January 1, 2011 to transition to the new mark. By January 1, 2012, former I=B=R and GAMA Efficiency Rating Certified program participants must apply the new mark.

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