MEETINGS AND EVENTS
AMCA insite Webinar: VAV Design Tips
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2021 NFPA Technical Meeting: Remote Damper Inspection Preserved
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In a vote conducted June 28 through July 2 as part of the 2021 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Meeting—held virtually for a second consecutive year because of restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic—NFPA members chose overwhelmingly to preserve the provision in NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, allowing remote inspection of dampers.
Through Certified Amending Motion (CAM) 80-15 (to view the motion, see Page 74 of this report), Western States Council SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation), an organization of Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association local unions in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii, moved to have the provision, which was approved for the 2019 edition of the standard, struck. AMCA opposed the move on the grounds that, by avoiding the need to inspect difficult-to-access dampers manually, remote testing reduces ownership costs and improves the likelihood dampers will be inspected at the code-required frequency. In anticipation of a maneuver such as Western States Council SMART’s, the AMCA Air Control Code Action and Review Committee (now the North America Region Air Control Advocacy Committee) in late 2020 urged employees of AMCA member companies to join NFPA for the purpose of voting to maintain the allowance for remote inspection.
During an online debate that took place from June 14 to June 25, employees of AMCA member companies and members of AMCA’s staff, among others involved in the life-safety industry, submitted statements explaining why CAM 80-15 should or should not pass.
CAM 80-15 failed by a vote of 197-47.
“There appeared to be a considerable consensus from other life-safety-related industries that there was insufficient technical justification for this CAM,” AMCA Senior Manager, Advocacy, Aaron Gunzner said.
“AMCA strongly appreciates the support of its cognizant committees and members whose efforts opposing this CAM contributed to this favorable result,” Gunzner continued. “This result ultimately will lead to more life-safety dampers being tested and, therefore, safer buildings.”
A motion to remove the allowance for remote inspection of dampers from NFPA 105, Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, similarly was made. It, however, was not certified by the NFPA Standards Council and, thus, was not put forth for a vote.
For more information, contact Gunzner at +1 847-704-6337 or [email protected].
Member Support Sought for 2021 Edition of AMCA inmotion Magazine
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With development of the 2021 edition of AMCA inmotion magazine under way, AMCA is encouraging members to strongly consider supporting the award-winning publication.
“As the leading voice of the air-movement-and-control industry, AMCA International has a responsibility ‘to advance the knowledge of air systems … on behalf of AMCA members worldwide,’” AMCA Executive Director Mark Stevens said in an alert to members this week. “Integral to the association’s efforts to fulfill this part of its mission is AMCA inmotion magazine. Now in its 16th year, AMCA inmotion has become a world-class publication, receiving seven awards and honors in the last two-plus years, sharing the stage with campaigns from the likes of ESPN, Delta Air Lines, WWE, Mastercard, LinkedIn, Anheuser-Busch, and Aflac.”
Content for the 2021 edition of AMCA inmotion is being prepared by AMCA committee and staff members and will be edited by AMCA Manager of Industry Content Scott Arnold, who, prior to joining AMCA in 2017, was an editor for HPAC Engineering magazine for 18 years. For descriptions of the articles the team has in store, see the newly published 2021 AMCA inmotion media kit.
AMCA once again is partnering with ASHRAE for publication and distribution of AMCA inmotion, ensuring the 2021 edition reaches a large and diverse audience of buildings professionals around the world. To learn more, see the 2021 AMCA inmotion media kit.
“An ASHRAE Media representative will be in contact to offer exclusive advertising opportunities, which are available only to AMCA member companies, AMCA associates, and companies represented on AMCA committees,” Stevens noted, adding: “AMCA inmotion is a vital educational and communications tool for AMCA International. We hope you will consider supporting it.”
SAVE THE DATE: 2021 AMCA Sound Seminar
Credit: Alexa Ma/Bigstock
AMCA will hold its ninth Sound Seminar Oct. 5-7 at its headquarters in Arlington Heights, Ill.
Launched in 2003 and held approximately every two years, the Sound Seminar provides an introduction to fan-system acoustics and acoustical ratings and includes a tour of the AMCA laboratory. It again will be taught by Ralph T. Muehleisen, chief building scientist, Building & Energy Section leader, and Urban Science and Engineering Program lead for Argonne National Laboratory.
Attendance is limited to 25 people. Registration will open Aug. 16.
Meet the New Guy: Certified Ratings Program Manager Charlie Meyers
 Credit: World Ijeab/Bigstock |
On June 28, Charlie Meyers joined the staff of AMCA International in the role of Certified Ratings Program (CRP) manager.
Charlie brings a wealth of relevant experience to the role of CRP manager, having spent the previous nine-plus years with testing-and-certification-services provider Intertek, most recently as director of product certification. With Intertek, he was responsible for establishing standard operating procedures, managing metrics and key performance indicators, developing plans, coordinating with interdepartmental stakeholders and clients, implementing cost-control measures, and managing a client-facing team.
Prior to Intertek, Charlie worked for Aon Hewitt, Insight Global/CCH, and AAA of Missouri. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Missouri and a certificate in project management from Loyola University Chicago.
A native of St. Louis, Charlie and his wife of nine months, Megan, live in Arlington Heights, Ill., with their two dogs, Jax and Ginger. Away from work, Charlie enjoys spending time with his and Megan’s large extended family, woodworking, cooking, and traveling.
Charlie can be reached at +1 847-704-6268 and [email protected].
AMCA Updates Air-Curtain-Unit Standard 220
 Credit: Sergio Hayashi/Bigstock |
AMCA this month announced the publication of an updated ANSI/AMCA Standard 220, Laboratory Methods of Testing Air Curtain Units for Aerodynamic Performance Rating.
Key changes include:
- The updating of the reference to ANSI/AMCA Standard 210/ASHRAE Standard 51, Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for Certified Aerodynamic Performance Rating, to the 2016 version of the standard.
- The revision and addition of definitions for harmonization with ANSI/AMCA Standard 99, Standards Handbook.
- Clarification concerning nozzle-discharge angle.
- Clarification concerning termination of a velocity-projection test when a minimum average core velocity is specified.
- Deletion of the section on calculating air-curtain-unit efficiency, which was not an accurate representation of product effectiveness.
The price of ANSI/AMCA Standard 220-21 in printed or PDF form is $45 for members and $90 for non-members. In both printed and PDF form, the standard costs $61 for members and $122 for non-members. To purchase a copy, click here.
AMCA Updates Advocacy Brief on FEI
 Credit: milkos/Bigstock |
With Oregon recently becoming the second state to adopt fan energy index (FEI) as the metric for efficiency provisions for commercial and industrial fans and blowers, AMCA has updated Advocacy Brief: New Fan Energy Index (FEI) Metric and Scope for Energy Codes, a document for code officials and others considering proposals to transition from fan efficiency grade (FEG) to FEI.
Formalized in ANSI/AMCA Standard 208-18, Calculation of the Fan Energy Index, FEI was developed after the U.S. Department of Energy in an as-yet-unfinished rulemaking concluded FEG is not an appropriate metric for a federal appliance/equipment regulation. FEI was approved to replace FEG in the latest versions of the four model energy codes:
- 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
- 2021 International Green Construction Code (IgCC)
- ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES 189.1-2020, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
- ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2019, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
Florida on Dec. 31 became the first state to adopt FEI when the seventh (2020) edition of Florida Building Code: Energy Conservation, which incorporates the latest changes to the IECC, took effect. Oregon followed on April 1, when the 2021 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code, which is based on ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2019, took effect. With these developments, Florida and Oregon are paving the way for other states and jurisdictions to implement FEI requirements through adoption of the 2021 IECC, the 2021 IgCC, ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES 189.1-2020, or ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2019, AMCA Senior Manager, Advocacy, Aaron Gunzner said.
“Alternatively, when states and jurisdictions are updating their energy codes to the 2015 or 2018 IECC or the 2013 or 2016 ASHRAE 90.1, AMCA supports ‘leapfrogging’ adoption of the outdated FEG metric in favor of the FEI metric and has developed templates with exact strike-out/underline language to help code departments with that,” Gunzner added.
To download the templates and to view Advocacy Brief: New Fan Energy Index (FEI) Metric and Scope for Energy Codes, go to AMCA’s FEI microsite at www.amca.org/fei. The microsite additionally includes links to related codes and standards, technical articles and white papers, webinar recordings, and presentations.
AMCA Eases Access to Catalog of Online Educational Offerings
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Accessing AMCA’s catalog of online educational offerings just got easier.
Interested learners now can access the catalog without having to create a user account or sign in.
Currently, the catalog includes:
- Recordings of 27 AMCA insiteTM webinars.
- Three premium educational modules, with three more to be added this year.
- Two mini-modules designed to aid navigation of the AMCA membership experience, with more to come.
- 12 fan-focused modules by AMCA consultant Ron Wroblewski, PE.
Most of the offerings are eligible for professional-development-hour credit. To explore the catalog, click here.
Aaron Gunzner Promoted to Senior Manager, Advocacy
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Two years after joining the staff of AMCA International in the new role of advocacy manager, Aaron Gunzner this month was promoted to senior manager, advocacy.
“In the past year, Aaron has established himself as the chief point of contact for all air-control advocacy and as the AMCA representative for NFPA 80 (Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives) and 105 (Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives), Fire Safe North America, and the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials’ technical committee for the Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC),” AMCA Senior Director, Global Affairs, Michael Ivanovich said.
“As liaison to the North America Region Air Movement Advocacy Committee (formerly Air Movement Code Action and Review Committee [AMCARC]) and the North America Region Air Control Advocacy Committee (formerly Air Control Code Action and Review Committee [ACCARC]), Aaron led the association’s advocacy for the UMC and the International Code Council’s Group A code cycle, including public comments and public testimony,” Ivanovich continued. “What’s more, he led AMCA responses to the California Title 24 energy code, representing the interests of AMCA members for commercial fans and air curtains, and led AMCA’s delegation to positively impact the New York State building-code provisions for weather louvers.
“In the past year, Aaron has supported AMCA COVID-19 research projects; industry relations; DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) rulemakings; NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards 90A, 101, and 5000; and three UL standards while also developing an AMCA advocacy infrastructure,” Ivanovich added. “Plus, he distinguished himself as an excellent webinar presenter and moderator and led the authoring team for a peer-reviewed technical paper on FEI-based rebate programs for the prestigious ACEEE (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy) Summer Study.”
Aaron is the alternate AMCA representative to the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, mechanical subcommittee and a corresponding member of three ASHRAE technical committees.
“All the while, he is on a self-study path to taking his professional-engineer license exam later this year,” Ivanovich concluded.
To congratulate Aaron, contact him at +1 847-704-6337 or [email protected]Visit the AMCA Newsletter library for past issues.
Whom Do I Contact?Air Movement and Control Association International, Inc.