Standards and certification serve many useful purposes in the marketplace. They lend credibility to manufacturers and retailers of windows in a competitive environment where not all windows are created equally. They establish benchmarks of performance to which all legitimate manufacturers and retailers must adhere, and they provide valuable objective verification to consumers that performance claims are true.
There is an important difference between standards and certification. Standards have been established as minimum requirements for the components, materials and performance of windows. Manufacturers’ compliance to standards is not monitored unless the manufacturer is part of a certification program.
Certification is the only way to be sure that standards have been met and they help provide consumers with peace of mind. Certification creates an atmosphere in which customers can shop with confidence and be sure they are getting full value for their money.