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MAY 3, 2012

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AHRI Staff Visits Crown Boiler Co., Omega Flex
AHRI CFO Stephanie Murphy, Standards Engineer Danny Abbate, and Certification Engineer Aykut Yilmaz visited two Pennsylvania-based member companies in April. Staff from Exton-based Omega Flex, Inc., a member of the Flexible Metallic Gas Piping Systems Product Section, provided a tour of their manufacturing facility. In Philadelphia, AHRI staff visited Crown Boiler Co., a member of the Hydronics Institute Product Section, where they learned the history of the company and toured the facility. Contact: Aykut Yilmaz.

Recognize a Talented HVACR Instructor – Submit Your Nomination
The NEWS is now accepting nominations for its annual Best Instructor and Best Trainer contest. The goal of the contest is to recognize and reward HVACR instructors and trainers who have dedicated their careers to enriching the lives of students. The nomination process is open to anyone who has seen first-hand the work an instructor or trainer has accomplished for the betterment of our industry. Learn more here.

DOE to Issue Final Rule for Commercial Heating, Air Conditioning, and Water Heating Equipment
On April 30, 2012, AHRI received a final rule from the Department of Energy (DOE),  Energy Conservation Program for Certain Industrial Equipment: Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Commercial Heating, Air Conditioning, and Water Heating Equipment. This final rule will be official when published in the Federal Register, which is expected sometime next week.

The final rule adopts the amended energy efficiency standards in ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 for: small, large, and very large water-cooled and evaporatively-cooled commercial package air conditioners; variable refrigerant flow (VRF) water-source heat pumps less than 17,000 Btu/h And 135,000 Btu/h or greater; and computer room air conditioners.

The final rule also revises the federal efficiency test procedures to incorporate by reference the following: AHRI 210/240 – 2008 with Addenda 1 and 2, (small commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment); AHRI 340/360 – 2007 with Addenda 1and 2 (large and very large commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment); UL 727 - 2006 (commercial warm-air oil furnaces); ANSI Z21.47 - 2006 (commercial warm-air gas furnaces); and ANSI Z21.10.3 – 2011 (commercial water heaters). It also adopts the following industry test procedures: AHRI 1230 – 2012 and Addendum 1 (variable refrigerant flow air conditioners and heat pumps); ASHRAE 127 - 2007 (computer room air conditioners); and AHRI 390 - 2003 (single package vertical air conditioners and single package vertical heat pumps).

This table provides the effective dates for the revised or new test procedures, and the revised minimum efficiency standards in the final rule.  With two exceptions, the revisions or new procedures for testing are effective 360 days after the Federal Register publication date, sometime in May 2013.  In the cases of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) water-source heat pumps less than 17,000 Btu/h and computer room air conditioners less than 65,000 Btu/h, the test procedure change is effective on October 29, 2012, which also is the effective date of the respective efficiency requirements for those products. All representations of energy efficiency or energy use for the products covered by those revised or new test procedures made on or after the effective date must be based on testing to the revised or new test procedure. Additional information, along with a complete copy of the final rule, will be provided to the Sections that include products covered by this rule. Contact: Frank Stanonik.

AHRI Meets with Canadian Standards Association
AHRI and its Canadian partner, the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), met on April 25 with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). During the meeting, AHRI and HRAI raised concerns over the divergence in Canadian standards from a harmonized approach in North America. AHRI presented a draft white paper, which explains that these differences can create significant costs for the industry. They also discussed CSA’s proposed performance standard for refrigeration compressors, and expressed interest in finding a way to allow industry to be more involved in the consideration of new standards. CSA invited AHRI and HRAI to address this matter with the CSA Steering Committee in June. Finally, CSA explained its current process for evaluating the development of new standards, and the funding models it uses to determine which standards move forward. All three parties plan to continue meeting on a regular basis. Contact: Jim Walters.

New NLRB Code Shortens Time for Union Elections; Court Issues Injunction for Poster Rule
The United States Senate recently rejected a proposal (S.J. Res. 36) by Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY) to disapprove a decision by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to shorten the median amount of time allowed for a union representation election from 38 days to 20 days. Enzi’s proposal was rejected by a vote of 45-54, allowing the new regulation to take effect on Monday, April 30. Opponents of the NLRB rule argue that reducing the number of days to hold union representation elections affects both employers and employees by limiting the amount of time available to discuss work-related issues prior to a union election. A motion for an injunction to block the rule, backed by the National Association of Manufacturers and the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, is pending in federal court.

In other labor news, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia entered an injunction temporarily prohibiting the NLRB from enforcing its “Poster Rule,” which required manufacturers to hang a notice notifying their employees of their right to unionize and their right to strike. The Court reasoned that an injunction was required to allow the Court time to consider whether the NLRB has the authority to issue the Poster Rule. The injunction is the result of a lawsuit brought last September by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and other business groups challenging the NLRB’s rule. Per the injunction, manufacturers are not required to post information on employee rights to unionize until further notice. However, the Poster Rule could become effective as early as September 2012, depending on further action in the courts. Contact: Jennifer Silvi.

ANSI Hosts Exploratory Meeting on Potential Energy Efficiency Standards Panel
AHRI staff and members, as well as dozens of energy efficiency experts, attended an ANSI-sponsored exploratory meeting in Washington, D.C., last week to discuss the value of creating a panel to oversee energy standards for areas including, but not limited to, building construction and appliances.

The Department of Energy presented on its energy efficiency standards, the Environmental Protection Agency on the ENERGY STAR program, and the Department of Defense on its own operational energy needs. Additional presentations included the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s perspective on America’s long-term energy efficiency outlook; the work of the U.S. Council for Energy Efficient Manufacturing regarding current efforts of the National Association of State Energy Officials; the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s work in support of the clean energy agenda; and the Institute for Market Transformation’s existing building energy rating systems.

After the presentations, ANSI Board Chairman Jim Pauley moderated a discussion on next steps, including defining a mission, determining deliverables, and establishing a scope for the panel.  ANSI staff will work to develop a proposed panel scope. AHRI staff will monitor developments and engage members as needed. Contact: Michael Woodford.