First International Accredited Independent Testing Laboratory Approved by CRRC

The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) is pleased to announce the approval of the first CRRC Accredited Independent Testing Laboratory (AITL) that is located outside of the United States of America. On April 7, 2025, the Centre for Advanced Research in Building Science and Energy (CARBSE) at the CEPT University Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) received approval to perform third-party testing for the CRRC Roof Product Rating Program, Roof Rapid Ratings Program, and Wall Product Rating Program. CRDF is located in Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, India.

CRRC Senior Technical Manager Stacey Weister traveled to Ahmedabad, India to conduct in-person CRRC Laboratory Training with CRDF staff in July 2024. In addition to training, CRDF has met the other requirements for becoming an AITL, including adding CRRC-approved test methods to its ISO/IEC 17025 scope of accreditation, demonstrating competency by testing specimens provided by the CRRC, and submitting documentation that it is independent of any manufacturer or supplier of roofing or exterior wall materials. They will demonstrate continued compliance with CRRC standards by participating in the biennial CRRC Interlaboratory Comparison Study with the other CRRC AITLs.

The approval of the first CRRC AITL in India comes at a key time due to the country’s pace of new building construction, adoption of cool roof policies at the state level, and engagement from the national government. Outreach conducted by the CRRC in early 2024 revealed over 500 manufacturers/sellers of cool roofing products in India and a growing demand for developing Indian test standards, building test lab capacity, and adopting accelerated aging. Dr. Yash Shukla, Technical Director of CRDF, stated, “we are thrilled to become the first internationally approved AITL for the CRRC… This objective, scientific information on cool surfaces is crucial for tackling heat islands, extreme heat, and energy use challenges in India's urban environment.”

There are now seven AITLs that provide testing for the CRRC Roof Product Rating Program and four that provide testing for the Wall Product Rating Program. According to Weister, “The CRRC AITLs play a crucial role in objectively evaluating the radiative performance of roofing and exterior wall products, providing valuable information for consumers and industry professionals to make informed decisions related to heat resilience and energy use.” More information about CRRC AITLs can be found at https://coolroofs.org/programs/product-testing-and-weathering/accredited-labs-and-test-farms.

The CRRC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 1998 to develop accurate and credible methods for evaluating and labeling the radiative properties of roofing products and to disseminate the information to all interested parties. The CRRC expanded to include the rating of exterior wall products in 2019. Please contact the CRRC at [email protected] or (866) 465-2523 for more information on its programs.

Contact: Audrey McGarrell at [email protected], (503) 606-8448 ext. 506

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