Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC): Ratings and Roof Coating Relevance
The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) is the principal third-party body in the United States responsible for measuring and certifying the solar reflectance and thermal emittance of roofing products, including roof coatings. CRRC ratings carry direct regulatory weight under energy codes, federal procurement standards, and utility incentive programs, making the rating system a functional compliance tool rather than a voluntary quality mark. This page maps the CRRC rating structure, explains how ratings are generated and maintained, and identifies where those ratings intersect with roof coating selection and code compliance.
Definition and scope
The CRRC is an independent, nonprofit organization that administers a standardized program for rating the radiative properties of roofing products. Its rated products directory — accessible at coolroofs.org/directory — lists solar reflectance (SR) and thermal emittance (TE) values for tested products, including elastomeric, acrylic, silicone, polyurethane, and aluminum-pigmented coatings. A third derived metric, the Solar Reflectance Index (SRI), combines both values into a single number scaled against a reference black surface (SRI = 0) and a reference white surface (SRI = 100).
CRRC's scope covers low-slope and steep-slope roofing products. Roof coatings fall primarily within the low-slope category, which is the segment where solar reflectance requirements under energy codes are most stringent. The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) recognizes CRRC-rated status as a baseline qualification for coatings intended for energy-performance applications.
CRRC ratings are required — not optional — under ASHRAE 90.1-2019, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and the ENERGY STAR Roof Products Program (U.S. EPA). For ENERGY STAR qualification, low-slope products must meet an initial solar reflectance of ≥ 0.65 and a 3-year aged reflectance of ≥ 0.50, with both values verified through CRRC testing protocols.
How it works
CRRC ratings are generated through a defined laboratory and field testing sequence governed by standardized test methods. The process follows this structure:
- Initial laboratory testing — Products are tested for initial solar reflectance using ASTM C1549 or ASTM E1918, and for thermal emittance using ASTM C1371. Results are submitted to the CRRC by accredited laboratories.
- Aged value testing — Products undergo 3-year outdoor exposure weathering, after which reflectance and emittance are re-measured. Aged values represent field-realistic performance and are the figures referenced by energy codes and ENERGY STAR criteria.
- CRRC listing — Verified products are assigned a unique CRRC Product ID and listed in the public Rated Products Directory with both initial and aged values.
- Annual renewal — Manufacturers maintain product listings through annual fees and must re-test products if formulations change materially.
The CRRC also administers a Rated Products Label program, allowing manufacturers to display CRRC certification on product packaging. This label functions as the point-of-sale signal that a product's performance values are independently verified rather than self-reported.
Testing laboratories must be accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards to participate in the CRRC program. This accreditation requirement creates a defined quality boundary between CRRC-rated coatings and products marketed with manufacturer-only performance claims.
For professionals navigating the full landscape of coating options, the Roof Coating Listings section organizes products and service categories across the industry.
Common scenarios
CRRC ratings appear as a compliance prerequisite in four primary contexts within the US roof coating sector:
Energy code compliance on commercial re-roofs — ASHRAE 90.1-2019 Table 5.5 specifies minimum aged solar reflectance and SRI values for low-slope roof surfaces in Climate Zones 1 through 3. Specifiers must reference a CRRC-rated product to demonstrate compliance during permit review. Roofing permit applications in jurisdictions that have adopted the 2021 IECC or ASHRAE 90.1-2019 routinely require CRRC Product ID documentation.
ENERGY STAR qualification — Coating manufacturers seeking the ENERGY STAR label must submit CRRC test data meeting the U.S. EPA's minimum threshold values. ENERGY STAR-qualified coatings are eligible for utility rebate programs in states including California, Florida, and New York, where rebate structures are tied directly to CRRC-verified performance values.
California Title 24 compliance — California's Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6) specify minimum aged solar reflectance and SRI values that reference CRRC ratings explicitly. The California Energy Commission (CEC) maintains a list of compliant products cross-referenced against CRRC data.
Federal facility projects — The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) specifies performance requirements for roofing products on federal buildings that align with CRRC-verified aged reflectance values, consistent with Executive Order directives on federal energy efficiency.
The Roof Coating Directory Purpose and Scope page provides additional context on how rated products fit within the broader professional service landscape.
Decision boundaries
CRRC ratings do not address all performance dimensions relevant to roof coating selection. The rating system measures and certifies two specific properties — solar reflectance and thermal emittance — and does not evaluate adhesion, tensile strength, elongation, waterproofing performance, chemical resistance, or fire resistance. Those properties are governed by separate standards: ASTM D6083 covers acrylic coating performance requirements, FM Approvals and UL certification cover fire and wind uplift, and South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1113 governs VOC content in coatings used in regulated air basins.
A coating can hold CRRC-rated status while failing to meet a project's waterproofing specification or fire resistance requirement — and conversely, a coating may meet structural performance criteria without CRRC listing. Code-compliant roof coating specifications for commercial projects require both CRRC documentation for energy compliance and separate certification documents for fire, wind, and material performance.
When a project requires proof of energy code compliance, a CRRC Product ID is the accepted documentary mechanism. When a project requires proof of system durability or fire rating, CRRC documentation is not sufficient. Both documentation streams are typically required on permitted commercial re-roofing projects in jurisdictions that have adopted model energy codes.
For professionals assembling complete project documentation, the How to Use This Roof Coating Resource page describes how the reference structure of this site is organized to support that process.
References
- Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) — Rated Products Directory
- ENERGY STAR Roof Products Key Product Criteria — U.S. EPA
- ASHRAE 90.1-2019: Energy Standard for Buildings — ASHRAE
- California Energy Commission — Title 24, Part 6 Building Energy Efficiency Standards
- Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) — U.S. Department of Energy
- Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA)
- South Coast Air Quality Management District — Rule 1113
- ASTM International — ASTM C1549, ASTM C1371, ASTM E1918, ASTM D6083