In This Issue |
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Newsletter Tools |
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AHRI at Work |
The Ductless Equipment Engineering Committee Technical Committee met on August 5 at AHRI headquarters in Arlington, Va., to continue revising AHRI Standard 1230. Contact Richie Mohan.
The UVNT Subsection met on August 5 to discuss how to proceed with various regulated primary equipment types within the certification program. Contact Steve O'Leary.
The Compressor Performance Uncertainties Working Group met on August 8 to continue work on the white paper. Contact Justin Prosser.
The SPVU Engineering Committee met on August 10 to continue revising AHRI Standards 390 and 391. Contact Alan Calbi.
The ERV Engineering Committee met on August 11 to revise AHRI Standard 1060. Contact Mikelann Scerbo.
For information about AHRI meetings, please visit our AHRI at Work page. |
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AHRI/Industry News |
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Seventh Circuit Denies AHRI Petition, Commercial Refrigeration Standards Compliance Deadline Looms |
On
August 9, AHRI voiced its disappointment with the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Seventh Circuit’s ruling, which came out in favor of the
Department of Energy (DOE). The lawsuit, filed in 2014 with AHRI member company
Zero Zone, challenged DOE's 2014 efficiency standard and test procedure
rulemakings for commercial refrigeration equipment. In addition, the Court took
nearly a year after oral arguments to issue a decision, leaving manufacturers
with only months before the March 27, 2017, compliance deadline.
This decision provides further incentive for Congress to update the Energy
Policy and Conservation Act, an over 40-year-old law that gives DOE's its
energy efficiency rulemaking authority. Reforms are needed to provide
stakeholders with an equal voice, greater certainty, and better transparency in
the regulatory process. AHRI will continue to work with DOE to advocate for its
members and the HVACR and water heating industry. Contact: Monica
Cardenas. | |
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AHRI Promotes Rees Scholarship at Maryland Community College |

On August 4, AHRI
Workforce Development Coordinator Misha Adams met with Program Director Tanya
Anderson of the TeamBuilders Academy of Prince George’s Community College
(PGCC) in Upper Marlboro, Md., to discuss the Rees Scholarship Program and tour
the facility.
The
TeamBuilders Academy was inspired by former council member Tony Knotts, who
recognized a need for specialized training programs in his community. Since its
inception, the academy has become PGCC’s Workforce Development Program,
offering cohort-based accelerated adult career training in a number of tracks,
including HVACR.
Students
undergo 10-12 weeks of industry-specific training to prepare for entry-level
employment, but many continue on to seek their journeyman’s license through an
apprenticeship program at a local company. Students wishing to continue their
education are eligible for scholarships to assist in funding their education,
including the Rees Scholarship. Adams will return to PGCC once classes are in
session to talk to academy program participants about applying for a Rees
Scholarship as a way to fund their education in HVACR.
To donate
or to obtain additional information, visit the Rees Scholarship Foundation website. Since the Rees Scholarship
Foundation was founded in 2003, it has awarded more than $440,000 in
scholarships to more than 250 deserving students. Contact: Misha
Adams. | |
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Legislative and Regulatory |
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DOE Proposes Revisions to Residential AC/HP Test Procedures |
On
August 1, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a pre-publication Federal Register supplemental
notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR) revising its test procedures for central air conditioners
and heat pumps (AC/HP). While DOE finalized some of the proposed test procedure
amendments in a June 2016 final rule, this SNOPR proposes amendments to both
Appendix M and M1, addressing issues including off-mode test procedures,
clarifications on test set-up and fan delays, limits to gross indoor fin
surface area for valid combinations, external static pressure conditions for
testing, clarifications on represented values for AC/HP that are distributed in
commerce with multiple refrigerants, and the methodology for testing and
calculating heating performance. DOE does not expect the proposed changes to
Appendix M to change measured efficiency, but proposed procedures in the new
Appendix M1 would. At AHRI’s request, DOE will hold a public meeting to discuss
the test procedures on August 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at DOE’s offices in
Washington, D.C. DOE will accept comments from stakeholders until 30 days after
the SNOPR’s official publication in the Federal
Register. Contact: Karim Amrane. | |
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Chairman’s Challenge: Daikin Passes Carrier and Emerson to Second Place |

Daikin
surged past Emerson and Carrier into second place this week on the legislative
side of the competition due to visits to the offices of Texas Reps. Pete Olson
(R), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D), Randy Weber (R), Gene Green (D), Ted Poe (R), and
Kevin Brady (R), and Sen. John Cornyn (R). It now boasts 36 points, less than
halfway behind Ingersoll Rand’s 61-point lead. Emerson remains in third place,
however, pushing Carrier down to fourth, after hosting two staff members for Rep.
Mike Turner (R-Ohio) at its Helix Center in Ohio, bringing its tally up to 34
points (left photo). On the school category side, Parker is 10 points ahead of
Danfoss, with visits to the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in
Knoxville and Morristown, and an apprentice class at UA Plumbers and
Steamfitters Local 22 in Orchard Park, N.Y. (right photo).
The AHRI
Chairman’s Challenge is designed to support the current chairman’s goals for
the association. Contestants are competing for Legislative Visit and School
Visit awards in two categories: multi-state and single-state. The company in
each category with the most points accumulated between November 15, 2015, and
October 31, 2016, will receive awards at the 2016 AHRI Annual Meeting. Visit
the Chairman’s Challenge webpage to submit an entry, review the new
rules for 2016, read helpful FAQs, and access members-only Legislative Visit
and School Visit Toolkits. See photos from the competition here. Contact: Monica
Cardenas. | |
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Standards and Certification |
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ASHRAE Issues Call for Comments |
ASHRAE invites comments on the
following standards and addenda. Access the Public Review
Drafts by visiting ASHRAE’s Standards, Research & Technology/Public Review
Drafts web page
and following the instructions to access the online comment database. To obtain
a paper copy, contact ASHRAE.
Due September 4
Addendum d to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2013, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems. This addendum proposes
to allow A2L refrigerants in high-probability systems for human comfort, but
does not change how the standard deals with A2L refrigerants in industrial
applications or machinery rooms.
ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES Standard
189.1-2014, Standard for the Design of
High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
- Addendum v: Revises two paragraphs in the
“Allowable Sites” section of the “Site Sustainability” chapter to encourage
building in areas where occupants can walk to conduct errands or have ready
access to public transit.
- Addendum w: Updates Performance Option A of
Section 7.5.2 to be consistent with recent changes to the performance rating method
as published in the 2015 Supplement to Standard 90.1-2013.
- Addendum x: Proposes to delete Performance
Path B and sections of Appendix C.
- Addendum y: Adds a requirement for an indoor environmental
quality occupant satisfaction survey to be included in the post occupancy plan
for operation.
- Addendum z: Revises the lighting power density
requirements to include parking structures.
- Addendum aa: Proposes to revise the current
requirements for renewable energy systems and the related exceptions. It would
require that renewable energy certificates be retained and retired by the
building owner for all compliance options.
- Addendum ab: Adds SI values to the
requirements for kitchen hood exhausts.
- Addendum ac: Augments requirements for demand
response, including modifications to changes made by Addenda b and ce (both approved for publication).
- Addendum ad: Changes the requirements for
permanent projections (e.g., balconies, overhangs, or shading devices). It
deletes the requirements for permanent projection factors in Climate Zones 4
and 5 (the colder climate zones that include Chicago and New York). It also
adds some requirements and exceptions that are similar to those in the International
Green Construction Code.
Due September 19
ASHRAE/AHRI Standard 155P, Method of Testing for Rating Commercial
Space Heating Boiler Systems. This standard provides procedures for
determining the steady state thermal efficiency, part load efficiency, and
idling energy input rate of space heating boilers.
ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 211P, Standard for Commercial Building Energy
Audits. This standard establishes consistent practices for conducting and
reporting audits for commercial buildings.
ASHRAE Standard 214P, Standard for Determining and Expressing
Building Energy Performance in a Rating Program. This standard provides
uniformity in the building energy labeling and disclosure process and is
intended to provide a noncommercial consensus ANSI/ASHRAE standard that can be
used in international, national, and regional legislation, policymaking, and
regulation activities.
Contact: Michael Woodford. | |
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Global |
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AHRI Continues Commitment to Increased Cooperation with ASHRAE in the Global Arena |

On August 3-6, AHRI
Senior Manager of International Affairs Michael LaGiglia attended ASHRAE’s Region
XII Regional Conference in Bonita Springs, Fla., hosted by the Southwest
Florida Chapter. AHRI also was pleased to sponsor it at the gold level. Region
XII consists of chapters from many Latin American countries and Florida. AHRI
sought to build stronger ties with leading ASHRAE chapter professionals, as
well as to identify creative ways to promote AHRI/ASHRAE common interests and
to better understand the valuable role played by ASHRAE professionals in Region
XII.
Throughout
2016, AHRI and ASHRAE have increasingly engaged in cooperative efforts to continue
serving their members, governments, and consumers worldwide. Taken together, AHRI
and ASHRAE standards compose the largest global technical body of knowledge on
test methods, testing and rating standards, and minimum energy performance
standards for HVACR equipment. These standards, coupled with AHRI’s certification
program, provide a valuable path to compliance for global regulators, allowing
governments to cost-effectively verify the energy efficiency claims of
equipment before importation into the market. They also provide the world’s
most technically advanced and robust test methods and testing and rating
procedures for HVACR and water heater equipment. Those standards are the basis
of a global industry voluntary effort in more than 20 countries to assure a
level playing field for manufacturers through the AHRI certification program. Pictured: LaGiglia (fourth from the right) with ASHRAE Region XII chapter members from
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Puerto Rico at the Chapter
Technology Transfer Committee Workshop. Contact: Michael
LaGiglia. | |
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