Trade Associations: Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute

Primary Contact
Organizational Overview
Scope of Membership Activity
Scope of Services
Standards-related Information
Conformity Assessment-Related Information
Quick Links
International Activities by Region

Primary Contact

James Walters
Senior Director, International Affairs
4100 N. Fairfax Dr., Ste 200
Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: 703.524.8800
Fax: 703.524.9011
Website: http://www.ahrinet.org/

Organizational Overview

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is the trade association representing manufacturers of air conditioning, heating and commercial refrigeration equipment. An internationally recognized advocate for the industry, AHRI develops standards for and certifies the performance of many of these products. AHRI’s 350+ member companies account for more than 90 percent of the residential and commercial air conditioning, space heating, water heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment manufactured and sold in North America.

Scope of Membership Activity

As a trade association, AHRI is required by law to hold a membership meeting at least once per year. AHRI's Annual Meeting is held in November of each year, alternating between East and West Coast venues. The Annual Meeting includes meetings of most of AHRI's 42 product sections, which also meet as part of the association's spring meeting.

Standing committees meet at various times throughout the year, at various locations.

AHRI's premier public policy event, the AHRI Public Policy Symposium, is held in Washington, DC, in March. Association members gather to hear from policy makers about the key issues facing AHRI, and members take the opportunity to visit with their elected representatives, as well.

AHRI has certification programs for the majority of its product sections. The programs are a vital part of the industry's energy efficiency efforts, in that they provide independent verification of the energy efficiency performance claims of participating manufacturers' products.

AHRI also publishes more than 80 standards and guidelines, the majority of which are accredited as American National Standards by the American National Standards Institute.

The industry's premier trade show, the AHR Expo, is sponsored jointly by AHRI, ASHRAE, and the International Exposition Company. The show is held each January.

AHRI partners with counterpart organizations around the world in the European Union and in countries such as China, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Turkey, Korea, and India. AHRI participates in international trade shows such as China Refrigeration, CMX-Canada, AHR Mexico, Chillventa (Germany), and ACREX (India).

Scope of Services

AHRI is an active force on important issues that affect the Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) industry around the globe, in Washington, D.C., and in U.S. state governments. All AHRI members benefit from the association's advocacy efforts. The association’s professional staff represents the industry before Congress, before federal agencies, and in the courts, working to create a positive legislative and regulatory environment for our member companies, while promoting the industry's legacy of technological innovation, energy efficiency, environmental stewardship, and economic progress.

AHRI’s comprehensive global outreach program is designed to remove trade barriers and level the playing field so HVACR manufacturers can compete in domestic and overseas markets. Through our global partnerships with associated organizations overseas, AHRI has built a global network of allies, a powerful voice before the legislative and regulatory bodies of other nations, and a foundation for sharing industry knowledge across borders. AHRI tackles critical international issues such as the value of global standardization and certification, protecting intellectual property rights, improving trade promotion and influencing environmental regulation.

Specific industry Information

AHRI is one of the largest trade associations in the United States. Our more than 350 member companies produce some $27 billion worth of products each year, represent more than 130,000 American workers, and directly and indirectly support some 800,000 dealers and contractors.

Our industry is one of the few that has a positive balance of global trade, as our members' products are sought the world over for their innovation and quality.

Standards-related Information

The main standards typically used by AHRI members include those of:

AHRI
ASHRAE
ISO
IEC

Conformity Assessment-Related Information

The ARI Equipment Certification Program -- verifies manufacturers' claims of energy efficiency.

Technical Regulations-related Information

The main relevant regulatory agency with jurisdiction over AHRI’s industry sector is the U.S. Department of Energy.