No matter what the home ventilation task, you can depend on products bearing the HVI-Certified label to perform as rated.
For more than 60 years, the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) has been actively responding to the ever-changing needs of the residential ventilation industry. Its mission is simple: to Advance the Value of Residential Ventilation for Healthier Living. HVI achieves this in large part through its Certified Performance Rating Program.
Products bearing the HVI-Certified label have been tested and certified to ensure they meet the stated ratings for airflow, sound and energy. Certification provides peace of mind to homebuilders, mechanical contractors and consumers alike. All testing is conducted by independent, HVI-designated laboratories to standardized procedures. Continued performance is further ensured through the HVI Verification program.
Ratings can be found in the Certified Home Ventilating Products Directory, which is updated at least twice monthly. It is divided into three main sections:
Section 1: Certified Ventilating Fan Products – Lists HVI-Certified airflow and sound ratings for bathroom exhaust fans, downdraft kitchen exhausters, inline fans, integrated supply and exhaust fans, powered attic ventilators, remote exterior-mounted ventilators, and whole-house comfort ventilators.
Section 2: Certified Static Ventilating Devices (Non-Electronically Powered Ventilating Devices) – Lists HVI-Certified duct termination fittings, foundation vents, fresh-air inlets, gable end ventilators, roof ventilators, room-to-room transfer registers, sidewall ventilators and under-eave ventilators.
Section 3: Heat and Energy Recovery Ventilators (HRVs and ERVs) – Lists HVI-Certified ventilation and energy performance data for heat recovery ventilators and energy recovery ventilators.
Home ventilating fans carry dual ratings for quietness and ventilating performance. Simple, validated numbers provide the air movement in cubic feet per minute (CFM) and the sound output in sones.
CFM is the number of cubic feet of air that a fan will move in one minute. The sone is an internationally recognized unit of loudness, which simplifies reporting of sound output. One sone is approximately equivalent to the sound of a quiet refrigerator in a quiet kitchen, so the lower the sone rating, the quieter the fan.
Everyone in the residential building industry benefits from HVI-Certified ventilation performance.
Residential ventilation manufacturers – The HVI Certification program provides a level playing field in a competitive market for HVI member companies, ensuring that products can be compared fairly.
Homebuilders – By specifying HVI-Certified products, homebuilders can ensure they are meeting the ventilation rates specified by building codes and limit any liabilities that may arise from improper ventilation. More state and energy conservation programs are specifying the energy consumption of ventilation products, making HVI Certification, which is a pre-requisite to ENERGY STAR certification, a necessity.
Mechanical contractors – Armed with HVI Certification data, contractors can select products that meet building code requirements with confidence, knowing they will provide the necessary airflow. Installers can also select products for sound, and make recommendations to their builder and residential customers regarding the various options. In locales where the energy consumption of ventilation fans is mandated, HVI Certification gives contractors the information they need to make sure the requirements are met.
Consumers – Ventilation products are designed to make homes more comfortable and healthy. HVI Certification ensures consumers that those products will perform as expected.
For more information, contact HVI or any of its member companies listed in the Manufacturers and Distributors section. We're always glad to help!
