October/November 2022

AMCA Members-Only Newsletter

Nov. 9, 2022

AMCA Members ‘Reboot, Rekindle, Reunite’ at 2022 Annual Meeting

Tim Reilly, AMCA association engagement manager, greets Shelly Bibby, general manager, Construction Specialties Middle East LLC, at the 2022 AMCA Annual Meeting.

With the theme “reboot, rekindle, reunite,” AMCA held its first in-person Annual Meeting in three years Oct. 7-9 at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe in Truckee, Calif.

The event drew 171 attendees representing 55 AMCA member companies. With the Annual Meeting—like all other AMCA events—in 2021 and 2020 having been held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the joy of being together again was palpable, AMCA Event and Meeting Manager Christine Rogers said.

“The excitement and engagement among the membership was overwhelming, and the smiling faces were a welcome sight,” Rogers, who joined the staff of AMCA in February and was managing her first Annual Meeting, said.

Following opening remarks from AMCA 2021-2022 President Jim Meats, vice president, sales and marketing, Loren Cook Co., Day 1 began with AMCA 2021-2022 Treasurer Mike Wolf, director of regulatory business development, Greenheck Fan Corp., presenting the treasurer’s report; AMCA Executive Director Kevin Faltin sharing a video encapsulating the past year for AMCA; and AMCA Director of Marketing, Membership, and Education Robb Clawson providing an update on AMCA’s new association-management system, which is expected to go live in early 2023.

Also during the opening session, Shelly Bibby, general manager, Construction Specialties, and Noman Qamar, director, technical and business development, Central Ventilation Systems, were elected and Armin Hauer, manager, regulatory and government affairs, ebm-papst, was re-elected to the AMCA board of directors (for more on Bibby, Qamar, and Hauer, click here).

Next up was economist Patrick Luce of ITR Economics and “Presentation for Change.”

Rounding out Day 1 were meetings of the Air Control and Air Movement divisions, presentations on the AMCA Certified Ratings and Laboratory Accreditation programs as sales tools by AMCA Certified Ratings Program (CRP) Manager Charlie Meyers and AMCA Association Engagement Manager Tim Reilly, and a discussion of AMCA’s global advocacy plan led by Michael Ivanovich, AMCA senior director, global affairs.

Day 2 consisted of presentations on the CRP and engagement tenets of AMCA’s new strategic plan by Meyers and Clawson, respectively.

Business humorist Christine Cashen kicked off Day 3 with “How to Stay Inspired When You Are So Darn Tired!” Her presentation was followed with the panel discussion “Complying With the New Commercial and Industrial Fan Regulations,” featuring Kate DoVale, project manager, and Benny Zank, engineer, of Energy Solutions; Mark Bublitz, vice president, industry affairs, The New York Blower Co.; Christian Taber, principal engineer, codes and standards, Big Ass Fans; and Ivanovich.

During the President’s Dinner, retiring Chairman of the Board Mats Sándor, technical director, Systemair AB, was recognized for outstanding dedication and service to AMCA, and Pat Cockrum, president, Pottorff, was presented the AMCA Distinguished Service Award.

The 2022 AMCA Annual Meeting was not all business; attendees had a number of fun activities to choose from, including Taste of Tahoe, rock climbing, a brewery tour, biking along Truckee River, a kayak tour, Beach Day at Lake Tahoe, hiking, and a shopping excursion.

The 2023 AMCA Annual Meeting will be held Nov. 1-3 at Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain. Those who RSVP by Dec. 30, 2022, will receive $100 off their registration fee when registration opens in early 2023. To RSVP, click here.

The 2022-2023 AMCA board of directors (from left): Jye Teoh, general manager, Kruger Ventilation Industries Pte Ltd. Singapore; Mark Saunders, vice president, sales and marketing, Pottorff; Charlie Black, director, air-control solutions, Ruskin; President Mark Bublitz, vice president, industry affairs, The New York Blower Co.; Armin Hauer, manager, regulatory and government affairs, ebm-papst; Shelly Bibby, general manager, Construction Specialties Middle East LLC; Vice President Mike Wolf, director of regulatory business development, Greenheck Fan Corp.; Chairman of the Board Jim Meats, vice president, sales and marketing, Loren Cook Co.; Executive Director Kevin Faltin, AMCA International; Brett Vake, vice president of customer experience, Twin City Fan Cos.; Jürgen Albig, director, product management, ventilation technology, Ziehl-Abegg SE; and Secretary Asokdas Damodaran, managing director, Systemair India. Not pictured: Treasurer Ed Rizk, executive director, OSA Products, and Noman Qamar, technical director, Central Ventilation Systems.

2022 AMCA Annual Meeting attendees take in the view of Lake Tahoe.

AMCA 2021-2022 Treasurer Mike Wolf presents the treasurer’s report.

AMCA 2022-2023 President Mark Bublitz announces the location of the 2023 AMCA Annual Meeting.

2022 AMCA Annual Meeting attendees go biking along Truckee River.

AMCA 2021-2022 President Jim Meats (right) presents the AMCA Distinguished Service Award to Pat Cockrum.

AMCA 2021-2022 President Jim Meats (right) honors retiring Chairman of the Board Mats Sándor for outstanding dedication and service to AMCA.

The all-member welcome reception at the 2022 AMCA Annual Meeting.

AMCA Europe and Middle East Director Hassan Abou Jawhar greets an attendee at the 2022 AMCA Annual Meeting.

2022 AMCA Annual Meeting attendees tour Alibi Ale Works.

2022 AMCA Annual Meeting attendees embark on a kayak tour.

Eric Anderson Joins AMCA Staff as Laboratory Director

Tim Mathson returns to principal-engineer role

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On Nov. 1, Eric Anderson joined AMCA’s operations team in the role of laboratory director.

Eric came to AMCA from UL Solutions, which he served as senior laboratory manager for North America operations in the Built Environment Division. He has more than 27 years of laboratory experience, including maintenance, automation, and procurement; capital and expense budgeting; ISO/IEC 17025, General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, compliance; expansion; and development and achievement of operating plans, goals, and budgets. A Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, he has applied the 5S (sort, shine, set in order, standardize, sustain) process for improving workplace efficiency, performed laboratory efficiency studies, and practiced continuous-improvement concepts and techniques.

“All of this will help us as we continue to focus our team on efficiencies and productivity,” AMCA Associate Executive Director Kim Delort said.

Eric and his wife, Megan, are parents of two boys, Cameron, 13, and Caden, 11, who play for the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals, member of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. Away from the rink, the family enjoys traveling. In his spare time, Eric enjoys fishing, his backyard fire pit, and watching sports.

Laboratory Manager Christian Peshek and Laboratory Engineer David Nowak report to Eric, and Eric reports to Kim.

Tim Mathson, who served as interim laboratory director, returns to his original role of principal engineer.

“In this very important role, Tim serves as our technical resource, collaborating closely with staff, members, and industry and leads AMCA’s research-and-development efforts, positioning AMCA as an industry thought leader,” Kim said. “He also supports and provides his technical knowledge to our advocacy and standards teams and to our committees as needed.”

Tim continues to report to Kim.

Eric can be contacted at [email protected].

Hot Off the Press: 2022 Edition of AMCA inmotion Published

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The 2022 edition of AMCA’s award-winning magazine, AMCA inmotion, is here.

The digital version is now available on the AMCA website, with the print version polybagged and mailed with the November issue of ASHRAE Journal beginning on Nov. 2.

Edited by AMCA Manager of Industry Content Scott Arnold and art-directed by Chicago-based freelance designer, illustrator, and photographer Bonnie James, the 2022 edition of AMCA inmotion consists of the following articles:

“Q&A With New AMCA Executive Director Kevin Faltin and 2022-2023 AMCA President Mark Bublitz” by Scott Arnold—AMCA leaders talk impending fan regulations and the association’s new strategic plan.
“Your Questions About Life-Safety Dampers Answered” by Dane Carey, James Carlin, Larry Felker, and Kent Maune—Members of the AMCA Fire and Smoke Damper Subcommittee share their responses to the application, installation, and maintenance questions most commonly put to them by customers.
“Reducing Climate-Change-Induced Heat Strain and HVAC Performance Loss With Circulating Fans” by David Rose and Will Conner—With the rate of climate change accelerating and predicted outcomes growing more dire, the authors examine the potential of air-circulating fans to mitigate increased occupant heat strain in heated-and-ventilated-only warehouses and improve the resilience of mechanical systems and maintain occupant thermal comfort in conditioned commercial buildings.
“Remote Monitoring for Improved Industrial-Fan Maintenance and Performance” by Michael Schlemmer—Optimizing the efficiency and extending the life of axial and centrifugal fans while reducing the risk of unplanned downtime and lost productivity with industrial-internet-of-things and edge-computing technologies.
“Application of AMCA 550-Rated Wind-Driven-Rain-Resistant Louvers” by Michael J. Bulzomi—Protecting buildings and property from water damage with louvers certified to ANSI/AMCA Standard 550, Test Method for High Velocity Wind Driven Rain Resistant Louvers.
“AMCA Europe Update: Invasion of Ukraine Plunges EU Into Energy Crisis” by Hassan Abou Jawhar—Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union finds itself in the midst of an unprecedented energy crisis impacting all layers of society. On both the union and member-state levels, steps to transform Europe’s energy infrastructure and system are being considered.

AMCA wishes to thank the following advertisers for their support of the 2022 edition of AMCA inmotion: Greenheck, Loren Cook Co., AAON, Aire Technologies, ebm-papst, MicroMetl, The New York Blower Co., Pottorff, Berner International, Canarm, Computair, Ruskin, and AHR Expo.

For an index of articles, links to the digital editions of all back issues, and a list of awards and honors the magazine has received in recent years, see the AMCA inmotion page on the AMCA website.

Scott Arnold is accepting article proposals for the 2023 edition of AMCA inmotion. Contact him at [email protected] or +1 847-704-6335.

2021 Edition of AMCA inmotion Receives PRNEWS Platinum Honor

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The 2021 edition of AMCA inmotion magazine, named a finalist in the External Publication category of PRNEWS’ 2022 Platinum Awards in August, received an honorable mention during the 2022 Platinum Awards gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City Oct. 12.

The Platinum Awards recognize “the best of the best—those that have reached the pinnacle of both innovation and industry knowledge” in the communications space.

Edited by AMCA Manager of Industry Content Scott Arnold and art-directed by Chicago-based freelance designer, illustrator, and photographer Bonnie James, the 2021 edition of AMCA inmotion consists of the following articles:

“AMCA COVID-19 Guidance for Large-Diameter Ceiling Fans” by Michael Ivanovich, Aaron Gunzner, and Scott Arnold.
“Introducing Ceiling Fan Energy Index (CFEI)” by the AMCA International North America Region Air Movement Advocacy Committee.
“Control Dampers in Ventilation Strategies for Data Centers” by Michael J. Bulzomi.
“Design of Parking-Garage Ventilation for Pollutant and Smoke Control” by Geoff Sheard, DSc.
“Your Questions About Severe-Duty Louvers Answered” by Doug Petty; Michael J. Bulzomi; Anthony E. Jackson Sr., CSI, CDT, LEED GA; and Eric Sposito, CDT.
“Inside the AMCA Laboratory and Certified Ratings Program” by Scott Arnold.

In business for more than 75 years, PRNEWS is a “daily intellectual hub” focused on honing and growing public-relations (PR) and marketing professionals’ skills in social media, crisis management, media relations, digital PR, measurement, internal and external communications, corporate social responsibility, and diversity, equity, and inclusion through its flagship newsletter, online content, events, awards programs, and webinars.

The honor is the fourth the 2021 edition of AMCA inmotion has received this year. In August, the magazine was announced as the recipient of an honorable mention in the Front Cover, Photograph category of Trade, Association, Business Publications International’s (TABPI’s) 2022 Tabbie Awards, and in March, it won the award for External Publication or Report and received an honorable mention in the category of Annual Publication or Brochure in PRNEWS’ 2022 Nonprofit Awards.

Since 2019, AMCA inmotion has received a total of 13 awards and honors. For a complete list, as well as an index of articles and links to the digital editions of all back issues, click here.

AMCA Publishes Updated Positive-Pressure-Ventilators Standard 240

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AMCA in October announced the publication of ANSI/AMCA Standard 240-22, Laboratory Methods of Testing Positive Pressure Ventilators for Aerodynamic Performance Rating, which supersedes ANSI/AMCA Standard 240-15.

ANSI/AMCA Standard 240 establishes a uniform method of testing the aerodynamic performance of positive-pressure ventilators (PPV) (freestanding, without a ductwork connection to the test chamber) in terms of airflow rate, pressure, air density, and rotational speed.

ANSI/AMCA Standard 240-22 includes:

Updated standard doorway dimensions allowing laboratories in Europe to meet the testing requirements.
An additional test procedure for battery-operated PPV.

The cost of ANSI/AMCA Standard 240-22 is $90 in printed or PDF form and $122 in printed and PDF forms. To purchase, click here.

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

AMCA Provides FEI Training to ComEd Employees

On Oct. 11, AMCA hosted at its headquarters in Arlington Heights, Ill., 17 engineers and other technical-staff members from electric-service provider Commonwealth Edison Co. (ComEd) for a training session on fan energy index (FEI).

Ron Wroblewski, president of training and consulting company Productive Energy Solutions, developer of two educational modules on FEI available through the AMCA online learning platform, “gave an impactful instructional session, and the group was very interested, attentive, and interactive, asking questions throughout the program,” AMCA Education Manager Lisa Cherney said. “Several resource materials were provided to the group, including a workbook for in-session follow-along and exercises and a binder with AMCA publications 200 (Air Systems) and 201 (Fans and Systems) and standards 207 (Fan System Efficiency and Fan System Input Power Calculation), 208 (Calculation of the Fan Energy Index), 210 (Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for Certified Aerodynamic Performance Rating), and 214 (Test Procedure for Calculating Fan Energy Index [FEI] for Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers), a goldmine of information for the attendees to take with them.”

Following the four-hour training, the guests were treated to lunch and a tour of the AMCA laboratory led by Laboratory Manager Christian Peshek.

“The group witnessed an AMCA 210 test and a motor-calibration test,” Lisa said. “They briefly also saw a (Standard) 500-L (Laboratory Methods of Testing Louvers for Rating) test, and Christian and the team ultimately described all of the testing that AMCA conducts.”

Each attendee earned four professional-development-hour credits for the program.

The event was born from an August 2021 meeting between AMCA and ComEd partner Slipstream, a Madison, Wis.-based nonprofit that works with utilities, local and state governments, regulatory agencies, and other organizations to accelerate climate solutions

AMCA Laboratory Engineer David Nowak (right) explains how AMCA performs motor-calibration tests.

Class in Session for Harper College at AMCA Headquarters

During the evening of Oct. 19, the 12 students enrolled in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) program at Harper College held their weekly class session at AMCA’s headquarters in Arlington Heights, Ill.

Kevin Faltin, AMCA executive director; Tim Mathson, AMCA principal engineer; Robb Clawson, AMCA director of marketing, membership, and education; and Lisa Cherney, AMCA education manager, were on hand to welcome the group. Jason Meinke, director of sales, commercial, for Twin City Fan & Blower, gave a presentation titled “How to Select the Right Fan,” which built on concepts the students have been learning this semester.

“Jason’s materials were packed with great information, and the attendees were very attentive and inquisitive and participated actively throughout the two-hour session,” Lisa said.

Following the presentation, the group was given a tour of the AMCA laboratory led by Laboratory Manager Christian Peshek and Association Engagement Manager Tim Reilly.

“Engaging and educating the next generation of professionals is key to the successful future of the industry,” Lisa said. “This event is just the beginning of AMCA’s efforts to increase our outreach to a variety of industry-related audiences.”

Lisa shared she and Harper College HVAC/R Program Coordinator Jose Vital have talked about AMCA hosting more classes.

Suspect a Violation of the CRP? Report It on the AMCA Website

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As part of efforts to strengthen market surveillance, AMCA has made reporting suspected violations of its Certified Ratings Program (CRP) easier.

To the “CRP Violations” section of the AMCA website, AMCA added the “CRP Market Surveillance Report Form.” Those who suspect a violation are to provide the URL of the website and the name of the company/product in question. Optionally, they can upload a photo, screen capture, or PDF; type a description of the suspected violation; and/or provide additional information to aid AMCA’s investigation.

Throughout AMCA’s investigation, complainants will remain anonymous. So that AMCA may inform them of its findings and any resulting actions, however, complainants must provide their name, e-mail address, and company; phone number and title/role are optional.

“As we work toward achieving our three-year strategic plan, implementing tools such as the CRP Market Surveillance Report Form will marry easy-to-use applications with increased visibility into the marketplace,” AMCA Certified Ratings Program Manager Charlie Meyers said. “We hope all end users will see the form as a useful tool for AMCA to maintain the integrity of its Certified Ratings Program.”

ITR Economics Provides Snapshot of Labor Market

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U.S. total nonfarm employment is rising, averaging 150.8 million people for the 12 months through September 2022, just 0.3 percent below the March 2020 record high, economic research and consulting firm ITR Economics reports in its latest “Snapshot of the Labor Market,” available as part of ITR Economics’ partnership with AMCA.

Through the AMCA-ITR Economics partnership, AMCA members have access to monthly articles providing ITR Economics’ data-driven, non-affiliated perspective on current events.

Established in 1948, ITR Economics employs a unique forecasting methodology that has allowed it to achieve an unmatched accuracy rating of 94.7 percent four quarters into the future. It has been providing expert economic forecasting at AMCA meetings for years.

To sign up to receive free economic updates, stay current with ITR Economics’ outlook, and learn of special opportunities through the AMCA-ITR Economics partnership, click here.