- Download the PFI Standards and the PFI QA/QC Program documents. It is highly recommended that you review these documents very carefully before starting the registration process.
- After reading the standards and QA/QC Program documents, the next step is to prepare a written Quality Control Program for you facility. PFI has created a Quality Control Program template based on MIL-I-45208 which meets the requirements of PFI's QA/QC Program. We strongly recommend using this for your written Quality Control Program. If you already have a written Quality Control Program you may use your current program provided it contains at a minimum all of the components outlined in the template. You Can download PFI's MIL-I-45208 Quality Control Program template document through the following link:
Pellet Fuels Institute Quality Program Standard
The full download is an inspection kit consisting of several documents. When the download is complete, find the document labeled “QA-QC-Program.” This document provides the template for your written in-house Quality Control Program. There are several additional documents that come with the inspection kit. These documents may be useful to assist with the completion of the QA-QC program.
- Utilizing the QA-QC Program document you can draft your written in-house Quality Control Program. This process should be fairly self explanatory by following the template. However, it is at this point that questions often arise. Please review our Question/Answer Resources section below. We strongly recommend that you review the FAQs prior to drafting your Quality Control Program.
- The next step is to select a PFI registered testing laboratory. Click here to see a list of participating labs.
- Implement your Quality Control Program and initiate third party QA testing (one sample per 1,000 tons of product produced, tested for all parameters listed in the PFI Standards.
- Complete your PFI QA/QC Program - Pellet Fuel Manufacturer Registration Form
- Sign your Certification of Compliance.
- Send your Registration Form, a copy of your Quality Control Program, Certification of Compliance, and applicable registration fee (click here for information on fees) to Pellet Fuels Institute, 1901 North Moore Street, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209.
Program Registration:
When all of the steps above have been completed, PFI will review your application. When accepted, PFI will add your production facility’s name and all product brand names that are covered under the program to PFI’s registration web page. This registration page will be highly publicized and available to all retailers, distributors, stove manufacturers and consumers for use in determining which facilities have produced product within the confines of PFI’s Quality Management Program.
Question/Answer Resources:
While PFI has attempted to make this process as easy as possible, we anticipate that there will be questions. PFI staff is prepared to answer administrative questions regarding this program. This would include questions regarding the registration process, program costs, form submittals, website listings, etc.
PFI staff can be reached at 703-522-6778 or questions emailed to hedrick@pelletheat.org. To handle technical questions, PFI has contracted with Twin Ports Testing, Inc. (TPT). TPT will answer technical questions regarding PFI’s QA/QC program, notify production facilities of deficiencies found in their quality control programs during the registration review process and work with them to make the necessary corrections. TPT staff can be reached at 715-392-7114 or questions emailed to chris.wiberg@twinportstesting.com.
Since we anticipate that numerous organizations will likely have the same questions, we are using the forum located on TPT’s website to post FAQs and program resources. Questions can be asked and answered through the forum as well. TPT’s forum can be found at the following link:
http://twinportstesting.com/forum/
PFI would like to thank you for your willingness to participate in this standardization program. With a unified approach to quality we can greatly enhance the credibility of the pellet industry as a reliable renewable energy solution for future generations.