Released: 3/15/2010 12:00:00 AM
Contact: Courtney Nogas, AHRI Manager, Public Affairs
Direct: 703.600.0377
AHRI Signs Standards Agreement with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
Arlington, Va. (March 15, 2010) -- On a recent trip to the middle east, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) President and CEO Stephen Yurek signed cooperative agreements with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Association (SASO) and the UAE's Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority, ESMA, aimed at further harmonizing HVACR and water heating testing and rating standards globally. The agreement calls for SASO and ESMA to adopt AHRI's standards as Saudi, and UAE national standards, respectively, in some cases with regional adaptations.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have begun to place a new emphasis on energy efficiency and environmental protection. With personal visits in November 2009 and February 2010, AHRI has signaled in a very serious way its intent to work closely with the governments of those nations to use AHRI standards and performance certification programs to help them meet with efficiency and environmental goals and to further global harmonization of standards and certification programs.
"This agreement is an important first step in what we hope and expect will be on ongoing, very productive relationship," Yurek said. Our active involvement in this region not only helps us expand our global reach, but also helps our member companies that do business in the region compete on a level playing field with other manufacturers," he said.
Discussions are underway between AHRI, SASO and ESMA about holding a series of workshops is that could lead to an agreement on adoption of certification in the near future. The Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority (ESMA) has invited AHRI and other private parties, including AHRI member companies to apply to participate in ESMA standards development and conformity assessment committees that ultimately will develop Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for the UAE.
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About AHRI
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is the trade association representing manufacturers of air conditioning, heating and commercial refrigeration equipment. An internationally recognized advocate for the industry, AHRI develops standards for and certifies the performance of many of these products. AHRI's 300 member companies account for more than 90 percent of the residential and commercial air conditioning, space heating, water heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment manufactured and sold in North America.
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