Dri-Eaz calls for third-party certification of equipment performance
DefendAir® HEPA 500 delivers true HEPA filtration—plus AHAM's clean air rating
BURLINGTON, Washington - Dec. 20, 2004 - Dri-Eaz President Bill Bruders sent a letter to industry professionals this week, calling on other restoration manufacturers to secure independent testing of equipment performance by nationally recognized certification agencies. Additionally, Bruders calls on the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) to set an official requirement that verified performance specifications be presented in certified education classes.
“Exaggerated performance specifications, including airflow and water removal, can lead to serious consequences,” Bruders said in his letter. “The practice of overstating performance claims is a dark spot on the industry that needs to be addressed.”
Bruders announced that, beginning in 2005, Dri-Eaz will publish third-party certification for all of its products. Dri-Eaz already secures independent verification from AHAM and Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and will begin publishing nationally recognized test results for equipment, including:
- Water removal performance of dehumidifiers at 80° F and 60% RH by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM);
- Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of its new air scrubber by AHAM;
- Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA) certification of airflow and acoustic output on all airmovers; and
- UL and C-UL listings for safety on all equipment (for the entire piece of equipment rather than components only).
When restorers make calculations to determine equipment requirements on a water damage job, they need to know with certainty that they’re making the right decisions, Bruders said in his letter. When a set-up is based on inaccurate information, drying may not occur and materials can be damaged. Overstating specs increases the risk of lawsuits and can create severe health risks, he said.
“Inaccurate specifications don’t just make it harder for restorers to do their work,” Bruders said. “They put the businesses and financial well being of restorers, distributors, insurance adjusters, and manufacturers at risk.”
Dri-Eaz proposes that the IICRC require all manufacturers to secure certification of equipment performance specifications by an independent, nationally or internationally recognized organization that tests according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). “By setting a standard for truth in performance specifications, we hope to minimize risk within the industry, and to support a new level of professionalism in water damage restoration,” Bruders said.
About Dri-Eaz
Dri-Eaz provides solutions for the drying and restoration of water-damaged buildings. The company manufactures dehumidifiers, airmovers, structural drying systems, and air scrubbers used by water damage restoration professionals and in industrial drying, cleaning, and maintenance work. Dri-Eaz works with partners to offer the industry's best moisture-detection instruments and antimicrobials. Dri-Eaz University, the company's education division, is dedicated to advanced research and professional education in the water damage restoration field.
Editorial Contact:
Marcia Neu
Dri-Eaz Products, Inc.
Phone: 1.800.932.3030
Fax: 1.360.757.7950
Email: market@dri-eaz.com
Copy of letter attached
Download Dri-Eaz Letter (PDF - 77k)
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