AMCA Members-Only Newsletter

March 13, 2024

AMCA Engages, Educates, Entertains at 2024 AHR Expo

AMCA’s backyard of Chicago was the place to be for original equipment manufacturers, engineers, contractors, facility operators, architects, educators, and others looking to experience the latest in HVACR, grow their business, and further their career when the 2024 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) blew into the Windy City Jan. 22-24.

Held concurrently with ASHRAE’s 2024 Winter Conference, the 2024 AHR Expo drew 48,034 attendees. AMCA was among 1,875 exhibitors spread over 527,520 sq ft of exhibit space at McCormick Place. The theme of AMCA’s booth was: “Spec wisely. Spec AMCA.”

“The booth was a tremendous success,” Robb Clawson, senior director, association engagement, said. “We spoke to prospective and current members from around the world. CRP (Certified Ratings Program) and lab staff helped us field questions and provide the ‘engagement edge’ for which the association is known.”

Staffing the AMCA booth were Clawson; Senior Manager, Certification Services Charlie Meyers; Certification Coordinator Pamela Guevara; Certification Coordinator Shannon Prince; Senior Laboratory Manager Tim Reilly; and Senior Manager, Member Engagement and Marketing Dolores Suarez Svachula.

With workforce development—specifically, the need for education on new technologies and best practices to enhance HVACR professionals’ skills and effectiveness on the job—a recurring theme of the AHR Expo’s 2024 Trend Report, AMCA presented a full slate of 14 free industry seminars organized by Senior Manager, Industry Engagement and Content Scott Arnold:

    AMCA’s booth at the 2024 AHR Expo.

    Ron Wroblewski, PE, co-presents “Fan and System Curves with Fan Energy Index (FEI), Part 1 of 2.”

    “It’s encouraging to see the growth in our education programming, not only with topic variety but also with the expertise signing on to provide insight,” Kimberly Pires, special-projects manager for International Exposition Company Inc., producer and manager of the AHR Expo, said. “There is a deepened connection between what’s being discussed in sessions and what’s being applied on the show floor, and this continues to benefit attendees with a true understanding of current information in the industry.”

    Each of AMCA’s 14 free industry seminars was worth one professional-development hour (PDH). The sessions drew a total of 690 attendees.

    Michael Bulzomi presents “Introduction to Life-Safety Dampers.”

    Arnold is accepting proposals for sessions for the 2025 AHR Expo, which will be held Feb. 10-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. For more information, contact him at [email protected].

    On the night of Jan. 23, AMCA hosted a dessert reception at Hubbard Inn. Planned by AMCA Event and Meeting Manager Christine Rogers, the reception featured delectable treats, drinks, and live music, giving guests an opportunity to unwind after a long day on the show floor.

    “Our second AMCA dessert event hosted a hundred-plus members and guests throughout the evening,” Clawson said. “This networking event is becoming one of the AMCA highlights for AHR Expo week.”

    The AMCA dessert reception at Hubbard Inn.

    2023 Annual Reports of Sales Due May 15

    AMCA members have until May 15 to report their sales of AMCA-scope products for calendar year 2023 or incur the maximum assessment for their region.

    According to Article X, Section 2, of the AMCA International bylaws: “Each member shall file such reports as are determined by the Board as necessary for the administration of the approved schedule of dues and assessments. Each member who has a subsidiary company(ies) or division(s) that manufacturers [sic] and/or sells industry products within the scope of AMCA International shall report the sales of any such products for assessment calculation regardless of whether the subsidiary company or division is a Full Member or Provisional Member.”

    AMCA members that do not comply are automatically charged the maximum assessment for their region.

    The 2023 Annual Report of Sales form is available and can be submitted online here. Additionally, it can be downloaded in PDF format and submitted by e-mail.

    The 2023 Annual Report of Sales form consists of four sections:

    • In Section 1, “Products Under AMCA’s Scope,” check all of the products your company manufactures, whether or not they are certified by AMCA.
    • In Section 2, “Revenue from Sales,” indicate the sales value of all products under AMCA’s scope—whether or not they are certified by AMCA—shipped from your company during the calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2023.
    • In Section 3, “Company Information,” indicate the name and location of your company.
    • In Section 4, “Respondent Information,” provide the signature of the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of your company.

    All information provided through the 2023 Annual Report of Sales form will be kept confidential.

    For more information, contact AMCA Senior Director of Association Engagement Robb Clawson at [email protected] or +1 (847) 704-6325.

    Nominations Sought for AMCA Distinguished Service Award

    The AMCA engagement team is accepting nominations for the association’s highest individual honor, the AMCA Distinguished Service Award.

    Since 2004, the AMCA Distinguished Service Award has been given to individuals who, through their character and career achievements, are exemplars of the mission of AMCA International: “To advance the knowledge, growth, and integrity of the air-movement-and-control industry.”

    AMCA Distinguished Service Award recipients are recognized at the AMCA Annual Meeting, which in 2024 will be held Oct. 24-26 in Honolulu.

    Nominations can be submitted by staff, members at large, and regional steering committees. Those submitting nominations are asked to explain:

    • How the nominee demonstrated dedication, high achievement, leadership, collaboration, participation, and/or support concerning the air-systems industry and AMCA’s mission and strategic goals.
    • What meaningful and measurable outcomes or impact the nominee achieved within his or her organization, community, business sector, or field.
    • How the nominee has contributed to the success of the industry or AMCA.
    • Why the nominee deserves to be recognized.
    • The nominee’s AMCA participation and leadership.

    Nominations will be reviewed and voted on by the AMCA executive committee during the summer meeting of the AMCA board of directors.

    To download a nomination form, click here and return to [email protected].

    The deadline for nominations is June 30.

    At the 2023 AMCA Annual Meeting in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 3, the AMCA Distinguished Service Award was presented to Mats Sándor, retired senior technical director, Systemair AB, and David Johnson, director of engineering, Berner International LLC.

    Sándor began his career with Systemair AB in 1989. As laboratory manager and, later, quality manager, he oversaw the construction of one of the first AMCA-accredited laboratories in Europe, as well as the first ventilation-industry laboratory in Sweden certified to ISO 9001, Quality Management Systems—Requirements. Following a stint as technical manager at Systemair’s main technical center in Sweden, Sándor was promoted to technical director, a role in which he was responsible for 250 technicians in 24 groups in 18 countries and nine technical centers. As senior technical director, he supported and represented Systemair internationally, including by serving on the advisory board for ICIEE (International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy) and the board of the Eurovent Certification Programmes and Policy Commission. He served as president of AMCA in 2020-2021.

    As director of Berner International’s engineering group, Johnson is responsible for the research, design, development, and certification of all of the company’s products and engages in regulatory affairs concerning national, international, and government codes and standards. He has more than 30 years’ experience working in the HVAC industry, with a focus primarily on air-curtain systems. He has served on numerous International Organization for Standardization, ASHRAE, NSF, and AMCA committees. He served as president of AMCA in 2018-2019.

    For more information about the AMCA Distinguished Service Award, contact AMCA Senior Director of Association Engagement Robb Clawson at [email protected] or +1 (847) 704-6325.

    Mats Sándor (right) accepts the AMCA Distinguished Service Award from 2022-2023 AMCA President Mark Bublitz during the 2023 AMCA Annual Meeting.

    David Johnson (right) accepts the AMCA Distinguished Service Award from 2022-2023 AMCA President Mark Bublitz during the 2023 AMCA Annual Meeting.

    Deadline to Register for 2024 AMCA North America Region Meeting Approaching

    Registration is open for the 2024 AMCA North America Region Meeting, which will be held May 5 and 6 at Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Ill.

    The event will feature topical presentations from AMCA staff (emerging issues in air movement, Certified Ratings Program [CRP] update, Publications & Standards review), as well as gatherings of key AMCA committees, including the Air Control Code Action and Review Committee (ACCARC), the Air Movement Code Action and Review Committee (AMCARC), and the Damper, Fan, Air Curtain, and Louver engineering committees. Also, there will be a meeting to initiate a new program for identifying and fostering new leaders within AMCA member companies.

    On the afternoon of May 6, following adjournment of the meeting, attendees will have an opportunity to tour the AMCA headquarters and laboratory facility in nearby Arlington Heights, Ill. Transportation will be provided. There is no additional cost for the tour. Attendees must RSVP for the tour when registering for the meeting.

    The cost is $550 through April 12, when meeting registration will close. To register for the meeting, click here. To reserve a room at Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel, click here.

    For more information about the 2024 AMCA North America Region Meeting, visit the AMCA website or download the event brochure.

    AMCA Updates Listing-Label-Program Publication 512

    AMCA announces the release of AMCA Publication 512-23, AMCA Listing Label Program.

    AMCA Publication 512-23 supersedes AMCA Publication 512-09.

    The purpose of the AMCA Listing Label Program is to provide follow-up service for louvers tested in accordance with ANSI/AMCA Standard 540, Test Methods for Louvers Impacted by Wind Borne Debris, and/or ANSI/AMCA Standard 550, Test Method for High Velocity Wind Driven Rain Resistant Louvers.

    Notable changes to AMCA Publication 512 include:

    • New labeling requirements.
    • New definitions.
    • A new requirement concerning Miami-Dade County-approved/certified test reports.
    • Revised qualifying statements.
    • A new catalog requirement.
    • New requirements for electronic print catalogs and electronic product-selection programs.
    • A rewritten verification-test procedure.
    • An expansion of the permitted uses of the listing label.
    • A rewritten procedure for AMCA International-recognized laboratories.
    • The provision of design allowances.

    AMCA Publication 512-23 is available in PDF format free of charge. Printed copies are available for $5 for AMCA members and $10 for non-members. To obtain a copy, click here.

    For more information about AMCA Publication 512-23, contact Director of Publications and Standards Joe Brooks, PE, at [email protected] or Senior Manager, Publications and Standards Shruti Kohli-Bhargava at [email protected].

    AMCA Announces Laboratory-Staff Promotions

    AMCA announces the promotions of Laboratory Engineer David Nowak to engineer and Laboratory Technician Mario Salgado to lead laboratory technician effective March 16.

    In his new role, Nowak, as AMCA’s technical lead, will be responsible for managing the laboratory engineering team, liaising for AMCA’s engineering committees, handling research-and-development requests, and continuing to work closely with laboratory management on improvements and technical inquiries. He will report to Associate Executive Director Kim Delort.

    In his new role, Salgado will be responsible for training and cross-training laboratory technicians, ensuring business continuity in the test rooms, and implementing 5S (sort, set in order, shine, standardize, sustain) techniques to help the laboratory be more efficient. He will report to Laboratory and Facilities Director Eric Anderson.

    AMCA will be backfilling Nowak’s and Salgado’s current positions.

    AMCA also announces Senior Laboratory Manager Tim Reilly will be leaving AMCA on March 15 to begin a new position outside of the association. Starting as a temporary laboratory technician in May 2013, Reilly has held various positions in the AMCA laboratory and also spent time working as a member of the engagement team.

    David Nowak

    Mario Salgado

    Questions related to the laboratory can be directed to Anderson at [email protected].

    Recordings of AMCA Webinars on Draft Fan Energy Standards Available

    On Jan. 19, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) pertaining to energy-conservation standards for two categories of fans and blowers—air-circulating fans (ACF) and fans and blowers that are not ACF, referred to as general fans and blowers (GFB)—initiating a 60-day public review and comment period that will conclude March 19. While many elements of the standards are favorable to industry, some pose substantial challenges. To help member companies better understand the impacts, AMCA presented two webinars—one for engineers, “Review of Proposed U.S. Energy-Conservation Standards for Fans and Blowers,” and one for senior executives, “DOE-Regulation Overview and Advocacy Strategy”—in February.

    If you missed, wish to revisit, or would like to share within your company either webinar, video recordings are available in the members area of the AMCA website. Once logged in, click “Proceedings from Member Only activities.” There, you also can download the presentation slides.

    Held Feb. 12, the 37-minute “DOE-Regulation Overview and Advocacy Strategy” provides an executive summary of the energy standards, identifies major concerns, and describes a tiered advocacy approach AMCA is taking to address concerns. The speakers are Executive Director Kevin Faltin and Chairman of the Board Mark Bublitz. Moderating is Senior Director, Global Affairs Michael Ivanovich.

    Held Feb. 5, the 90-minute “Review of Proposed U.S. Energy-Conservation Standards for Fans and Blowers” provides a preliminary assessment of the NOPR. Christian Taber, BEMP, HBDP, CEM, chair of the AMCA North America Air Movement Code Action and Review Committee (NA AMCARC); Rad Ganesh, PhD, PE, and Ken Kuntz, members of NA AMCARC; Bublitz; and Ivanovich describe the structure of the rulemaking, provide advice on synergizing one’s review of the document with AMCA’s review, and discuss issues of foremost concern to AMCA and its member companies.

    The webinar recordings and materials are confidential to AMCA members, consultants, and associates and should not be shared or discussed with anyone outside of AMCA.

    AMCA European Fan Symposium 2024 Set

    Registration is open for AMCA European Fan Symposium 2024, which will be held July 10 and 11 in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany.

    Speakers from Europe and beyond will address topics such as certification, regulations, market surveillance, sustainability, retrofits, aerodynamics, sound, and motor technology. Additionally, there will be opportunities to network with industry influencers and decision-makers.

    The cost is €169 through May 15, after which the cost will increase to €199. The deadline to register is June 30.

    For more information, click here.

    For more information, contact AMCA Event and Meeting Manager Christine Rogers at [email protected] or +1 (847) 704-6254.

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