Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM OCTOBER 2026 22 I N D U S T R Y [ N E W S ] RO • Competitions and Awards: Returning favorites will bring product discovery and friendly competition to the show floor, including the Best of KBIS Awards, recognizing standout new products, and Innovation Hour, where exhibiting brands take the stage to spotlight their latest launches. • The BASH: KBIS's signature nightlife event will take over XS Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas on Wednesday, February 3, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The all-night celebration is a chance to let loose and continue building connections off the show floor. • NKBA Global Connect: KBIS continues to grow as a global gathering, and attendees can visit the expanded NKBA booth to learn more about NKBA Global Connect, the association's international business membership, with opportunities to meet members from some of the world's most dynamic design centers. • Voices From the Industry (VFTI): NKBA's industry-leading educational conference returns for 2027, featuring the latest technology, trends and business strategies shaping design and the industry. VFTI will include a new roundtable format and the return of the popular "Wine & Design" event. THE KBIS 2027 EXHIBITOR LINEUP More than 600 exhibitors will fill over 500,000 net square feet at KBIS 2027, with returning brands including Cosentino, Empava, Kichler, KOHLER, SKS, and Whirlpool, alongside first-time exhibitors Plus Object, Santa Luzia, and Masisa North America. From cabinetry, countertops, and vanities to appliances, accessories, technology, hardware, lighting, plumbing fixtures, flooring, and more, the 2027 exhibitor lineup will offer a comprehensive look at the products, technologies, and solutions shaping the future of residential design. Visit https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowKBI271 to register. Owned by NKBA, KBIS will once again co-locate with the NAHB International Builders' Show ® (IBS) for Design & Construction Week ® (DCW), giving registered attendees access to both exhibit floors and a broader view of the products, resources, and expertise driving residential design and construction. Please visit www.kbis.com for more information. AHAM VERIFIDE ® EXPANDS MARKET PRESENCE WITH ADDITION OF BATHROOM EXHAUST FANS TO VENTILATION PRODUCT CATEGORY New certification category gives manufacturers and consumers independent verification of ventilation product performance. Builders in California, 11 other states, and the District of Columbia now have an easy way to determine if bathroom fans meet the state's listing requirements with the expansion of the AHAM Verifide® program to include bathroom exhaust fans. The expansion broadens the program's coverage of residential ventilation products and strengthens AHAM's growing commitment to indoor air quality. The expansion is a response to market demand for independent testing and certification of bathroom exhaust fans and creates a more comprehensive certification pathway for manufacturers of residential ventilation products. Companies that produce multiple types of ventilation fans can now certify a broader range of their products through the AHAM Verifide program. Bathroom exhaust fans play a key role in residential ventilation by removing moisture and helping manage indoor air conditions. Adding the category extends AHAM Verifide's presence in the indoor air quality space and supports the program's broader focus on products that contribute to healthier homes. "Consumers cannot always see or independently evaluate how well a ventilation product performs," said Randy Cooper, AHAM vice president of standards and technical operations. "Independent certification helps make that performance visible. The AHAM Verifide mark gives consumers and builders a clear way to identify products whose performance has been tested rather than relying solely on marketplace claims." Products participating in the program will be tested through Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) Indoor Environments Lab, with Intertek serving as the AHAM Verifide program administrator. Qualified models will be listed in the AHAM Verifide directory. California has approved the AHAM bathroom exhaust fan directory for compliance with the state's building energy code. Through the AHAM Verifide directory and its integration with the State Appliance Standards Database (SASD), AHAM Verifide also provides manufacturers with a pathway to satisfy the certification and listing requirements of 11 other states and the District of Columbia that require third-party certification for residential bathroom exhaust fans. AHAM oversees numerous certification and verification programs focused on the performance and energy use of home comfort, cooking, and cleaning appliances used in homes and schools. AHAM Verifide ® is a leading independent home appliance certification and verification program that tests home appliances and replacement air filters against rigorous standards to certify performance and energy use, driving purchase confidence and peace of mind. AHAM Verifide makes selection simple by verifying product performance through independent, third-party testing, giving customers confidence that they are bringing home the product that best meets their needs. Visit www.ahamverifide.org for more information.

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