Solar Rating Certification CorporationEdit

The Solar Rating Certification Corporation is a United States nonprofit organization that develops performance and safety standards for solar thermal collectors and systems and administers a third-party certification program used by manufacturers, installers, and various regulatory and incentive programs. Through its certification marks and published standards, SRCC aims to ensure that solar thermal products meet consistent expectations for safety, durability, and performance. The organization operates within a broader ecosystem of codes, standards, and market incentives that shape how solar heating technologies are adopted across the country.

SRCC’s work sits at the intersection of industry self-regulation and public policy. By establishing objective criteria for product testing and system performance, SRCC provides a common language that helps homeowners, builders, and code officials compare and specify solar technologies. The certification process is designed to bolster consumer confidence and facilitate participation in state and utility incentive programs that reward solar installations. The SRCC framework also interacts with related areas such as building codes, renewable energy targets, and standards efforts at the national and international levels.

History

SRCC was established to address a need for uniform, independent assessment of solar thermal products in the United States. Over the years, it has evolved as the solar heating market expanded, updating its standards to reflect advances in materials, engineering, and system design. The organization has periodically revised its two central standards to cover both components and complete systems, and it has worked to keep its certification program aligned with code requirements and incentive programs adopted by states and municipalities. Throughout its history, SRCC has engaged manufacturers, installers, policymakers, and testing laboratories as part of its governance and technical processes.

Standards and Programs

The backbone of SRCC’s activities is its set of performance and safety standards for solar thermal systems. The two primary standards are:

OG-100, which applies to solar thermal collectors and related components. This standard sets criteria for performance, safety, and labeling, and it is used to determine eligibility for the SRCC certification mark on collectors and associated equipment. See for example OG-100.
OG-300, which provides a rating framework for solar heating systems, including overall system performance and performance metrics under specified test conditions. See for example OG-300.

Together, OG-100 and OG-300 enable manufacturers to obtain third-party certification for individual components and complete installations. The SRCC program covers a range of products tied to solar water heating, space heating, and other thermal energy applications. In some contexts, SRCC standards are used by state and local jurisdictions to determine code compliance or eligibility for incentives, subsidies, or tax credits. See solar water heater and solar collector for related concepts.

In addition to OG-100 and OG-300, SRCC’s portfolio includes guidelines and forms used in testing, data reporting, and certification management. The standards are designed to be technology-neutral to accommodate a variety of solar thermal designs, from flat-plate collectors to evacuated-tube solutions, and to reflect real-world operating conditions as closely as possible.

Certification Process

The SRCC certification process is intended to be independent and verifiable. Manufacturers or distributors submit products and system designs for testing and evaluation to SRCC or to laboratories accredited to SRCC requirements. Independent labs perform performance testing and safety assessments according to OG-100 and OG-300 criteria. The collected data, along with specifications and labeling, is reviewed by SRCC staff and, if compliant, results in a certification decision and the right to display the SRCC certification mark on eligible products and documentation.

Certified products and systems help code officials justify approvals and enable participation in incentive programs administered by state agencies, utilities, and other program sponsors. Certification typically requires periodic re-testing or data updates to maintain currency as products change or as standards are revised. See certification and building code for related topics.

SRCC certification marks are used by manufacturers and installers in product literature, packaging, and labeling. The marks serve as a signal to consumers and professionals that the product meets established performance and safety criteria, and they provide a basis for comparing competing solar thermal solutions.

Governance and Membership

SRCC operates as a nonprofit organization governed by a board that includes representatives from solar equipment manufacturers, installers, and other stakeholders in the solar heating ecosystem, as well as independent experts. The nonprofit status and governance structure are designed to promote transparency, consistency, and broad participation in standards development and certification oversight. Funding for SRCC comes primarily from certification fees, testing services, and related program activities, not from labor or political advocacy. The organization maintains openness to input from industry participants and public sector partners to keep its standards relevant to evolving market needs.

Controversies and Debates

As with many industry standards bodies that operate at the intersection of technology, markets, and public policy, SRCC has faced debates about scope, cost, and influence. Supporters argue that a rigorous, third-party certification program reduces risk for buyers, helps ensure product reliability under real operating conditions, and provides a predictable pathway for incentives and code compliance. Proponents also claim that SRCC standards help prevent substandard or unsafe products from entering the market and that a common certification framework lowers transaction costs for manufacturers and installers who serve nationwide markets.

Critics have raised concerns about the cost and administrative burden of certification, especially for smaller manufacturers or startups seeking to enter the market. Some industry participants argue that certification requirements can slow the introduction of innovative technologies or new design approaches if updates to OG-100 or OG-300 are slower than product development cycles. Jurisdictional authorities and incentive programs sometimes rely on SRCC marks; debates have emerged over how closely those programs should tie to a single certification framework versus allowing alternative or supplemental standards. In practice, the balance between rigorous testing and market agility shapes ongoing discussions about how SRCC should evolve in response to rapid changes in solar technology, climate considerations, and energy policy priorities. See building codes and incentive program for related policy contexts.

Within the broader energy policy arena, SRCC sits among a spectrum of standards and certification efforts that interact with national and international developments. Some observers compare SRCC’s approach to other third-party verification schemes, including those linked to international standards bodies such as ISO 9001 for quality management or ISO 14001 for environmental management, noting trade-offs between domestic specificity and harmonization with global practices. See also certification for related concepts.