AHAM administers a voluntary Room Air Cleaner Certification Program for portable household electric room air cleaners. Information on this program is located below.
Certified Ratings
What is CADR?
Certification Seal & Recommended Room Size
Certified Room Air Cleaner Directory and Dedicated Web Site
Joining the AHAM Certification Program
Joining the AHAM Trade Association
To speak directly to an AHAM representative about the certification program, please contact AHAM's Director of Technical Services.
Certified Ratings
On a voluntary basis, manufacturers certify the Cleaner Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of their air cleaner models for tobacco smoke, dust, and pollen. AHAM verifies these CADR ratings through testing at a third party independent laboratory using the American National Standard, ANSI/AHAM AC-1 test method. The certification program is limited to room air cleaners that fall within the limits of measurability specified in the test method.
If a unit does not meet the stated performance rating, the manufacturer must re-rate the product or withdraw the product from the market.
All manufacturers who distribute goods in the U.S. may participate in the Programs, whether or not they are AHAM members. The programs are financially supported by participant fees and are separate from AHAM dues funded programs.
This program increases Consumer, Retailer and Manufacturer confidence by ensuring that products perform in accordance with published claims.
What is CADR?
CADR is a unique performance rating value. Technically, it is the rate of particulate reduction in the test chamber when the unit is on, minus the rate of natural decay when the unit is not running, times the volume of the test chamber. In other words, it is a measure of a room air cleaner's ability to reduce particles in a certain size room during its operation. The three particulates (tobacco smoke, dust and pollen) specified in the test method are representative of different size particles. The higher the CADR value, the more quickly that unit is able to reduce particles of those sizes in the room.
Click on Understanding the Scope of the Air Cleaner Standard and the Related AHAM Industry Certification Program for more information.
Certification Seal & Recommended Room Size
The AHAM Certification Seal (shown above), is located on each certified room air cleaner's box. It lists the three manufacturer certified CADR ratings (one for tobacco smoke, one for pollen and one for dust) and a recommended room size. The Seal is designed to provide consumers with an easy way to compare performance of room air cleaners and find one the best meets specific needs.
Certified Room Air Cleaner Directory and Dedicated Web Site
AHAM's dedicated Room Air Cleaner Certification Web Site and the online searchable Directory of Certified Room Air Cleaners can be used to search for models that meet specific needs. Manufacturers that have their products verified and that bear the AHAM Certification Seal are listed here.
Joining the AHAM Certification Program
There are a number of administrative steps that must be followed in order to join the certification program.
It is necessary to:
(1) Download and review the Air Cleaner Procedural Guide and Program Forms. The rules and procedures for obtaining and maintaining certification and for publishing product performance ratings are detailed in this document.
(2) Purchase and review the Test Procedure, ANSI/AHAM AC-1. The technical requirements and test method for obtaining the CADR ratings are detailed in this document.
(3) Download, sign and submit to AHAM two copies of the License Agreement (PDF Format) that include original signatures. This document describes the terms of the contract between AHAM and the manufacturer participating in the program.
(4) Submit to AHAM the required fees. Please contact AHAM for current fees.
(5) Obtain CADR ratings for all models. Submit all room air cleaner models to AHAM's third party contracted laboratory Intertek ETL/SEMKO in Cortland, NY for testing in order to obtain initial CADR ratings for the models to be included in the program (separate testing fees for the initial CADR testing must be paid directly to the third party laboratory).
General Information
Manufacturers are required to include in the AHAM Certification Program, at a minimum, all room air cleaner models that are to be sold in the United States. As an option, manufacturers may also submit models they would like certified for sale in other countries.
Once AHAM has received the signed license agreements and payment, and the models have been tested for their initial CADR ratings, AHAM provides participants with the artwork (seal) that must be included on the product packaging.
Joining the AHAM Trade Association
Membership in the AHAM trade association is separate and distinct from participation in the AHAM certification programs. It is not necessary to be an AHAM trade association member to participate in AHAM's certification program. However, certification fees for participants who are not members of the AHAM trade association are different.
In order to become a member of the AHAM trade association, manufacturers must meet specific
Certified Ratings
What is CADR?
Certification Seal & Recommended Room Size
Certified Room Air Cleaner Directory and Dedicated Web Site
Joining the AHAM Certification Program
Joining the AHAM Trade Association
To speak directly to an AHAM representative about the certification program, please contact AHAM's Director of Technical Services.
Certified Ratings
On a voluntary basis, manufacturers certify the Cleaner Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of their air cleaner models for tobacco smoke, dust, and pollen. AHAM verifies these CADR ratings through testing at a third party independent laboratory using the American National Standard, ANSI/AHAM AC-1 test method. The certification program is limited to room air cleaners that fall within the limits of measurability specified in the test method.
If a unit does not meet the stated performance rating, the manufacturer must re-rate the product or withdraw the product from the market.
All manufacturers who distribute goods in the U.S. may participate in the Programs, whether or not they are AHAM members. The programs are financially supported by participant fees and are separate from AHAM dues funded programs.
This program increases Consumer, Retailer and Manufacturer confidence by ensuring that products perform in accordance with published claims.
What is CADR?
CADR is a unique performance rating value. Technically, it is the rate of particulate reduction in the test chamber when the unit is on, minus the rate of natural decay when the unit is not running, times the volume of the test chamber. In other words, it is a measure of a room air cleaner's ability to reduce particles in a certain size room during its operation. The three particulates (tobacco smoke, dust and pollen) specified in the test method are representative of different size particles. The higher the CADR value, the more quickly that unit is able to reduce particles of those sizes in the room.
Click on Understanding the Scope of the Air Cleaner Standard and the Related AHAM Industry Certification Program for more information.
Certification Seal & Recommended Room Size
The AHAM Certification Seal (shown above), is located on each certified room air cleaner's box. It lists the three manufacturer certified CADR ratings (one for tobacco smoke, one for pollen and one for dust) and a recommended room size. The Seal is designed to provide consumers with an easy way to compare performance of room air cleaners and find one the best meets specific needs.
Certified Room Air Cleaner Directory and Dedicated Web Site
AHAM's dedicated Room Air Cleaner Certification Web Site and the online searchable Directory of Certified Room Air Cleaners can be used to search for models that meet specific needs. Manufacturers that have their products verified and that bear the AHAM Certification Seal are listed here.
Joining the AHAM Certification Program
There are a number of administrative steps that must be followed in order to join the certification program.
It is necessary to:
(1) Download and review the Air Cleaner Procedural Guide and Program Forms. The rules and procedures for obtaining and maintaining certification and for publishing product performance ratings are detailed in this document.
(2) Purchase and review the Test Procedure, ANSI/AHAM AC-1. The technical requirements and test method for obtaining the CADR ratings are detailed in this document.
(3) Download, sign and submit to AHAM two copies of the License Agreement (PDF Format) that include original signatures. This document describes the terms of the contract between AHAM and the manufacturer participating in the program.
(4) Submit to AHAM the required fees. Please contact AHAM for current fees.
(5) Obtain CADR ratings for all models. Submit all room air cleaner models to AHAM's third party contracted laboratory Intertek ETL/SEMKO in Cortland, NY for testing in order to obtain initial CADR ratings for the models to be included in the program (separate testing fees for the initial CADR testing must be paid directly to the third party laboratory).
General Information
Manufacturers are required to include in the AHAM Certification Program, at a minimum, all room air cleaner models that are to be sold in the United States. As an option, manufacturers may also submit models they would like certified for sale in other countries.
Once AHAM has received the signed license agreements and payment, and the models have been tested for their initial CADR ratings, AHAM provides participants with the artwork (seal) that must be included on the product packaging.
Joining the AHAM Trade Association
Membership in the AHAM trade association is separate and distinct from participation in the AHAM certification programs. It is not necessary to be an AHAM trade association member to participate in AHAM's certification program. However, certification fees for participants who are not members of the AHAM trade association are different.
In order to become a member of the AHAM trade association, manufacturers must meet specific
