U-Factor SC Passes Motions, Forms Task Group

The third day of the NFRC Fall Membership Meeting got underway with the U-Factor Subcommittee passing a handful of motions.

After the subcommittee’s chair, Michael Thoman of Architectural Testing, Inc., opened the subcommittee meeting, attendees heard reports from task groups, including updates from the Garage Rolling/Door Task Group and the Door Task Group.

Joe Hetzel of DASMA reported on the Garage/Rolling Door Task Group, noting progress is being made on the research project and that it’s in its final phase. He said the task group may look into presenting a ballot in the future about developing a standardized spreadsheet for simulation of rolling doors and garage doors.

Dave DeBlock of ODL Incorporated updated the subcommittee on the Door Task Group’s activities. He reported that the task group efforts to try to coordinate simulation for doors, including looking to create a universal spreadsheet for simulators.

The subcommittee then turned it attention to ballots. It passed several motions, including:

· To forward the NFRC 100 Garage/Rolling Door ballot to the Technical Committee for approval into the NFRC 100-2010 document with implementation upon publication.

· To forward the NFRC 100 Dynamic Attachments for Swinging Doors (DASD) ballot to the Technical Committee for approval into the NFRC 100-2004 document and NFRC 100-2010 document with implementation upon publication.

· To find the negative comment from Architectural Testing, Inc., on the NFRC 100 Window 6/THERM 6 Software ballot (i.e., can’t approve without having the results of the Window 6/THERM 6 project) to be persuasive.

· To find the negative comment on section 4.3.1.C.ii in the NFRC 100 Window 6/THERM 6 Software ballot to be persuasive and return the ballot to task group.

· To move forward the NFRC 100 Validation Matrix ballot to the Technical Committee for approval into the NFRC 100-2010 document with implementation upon publication.

· To approve the NFRC 102-2010 ballot and move forward for publication.

· To find the one “approved with comment” on the NFRC 100-2010 ballot to be non-persuasive and change the ¼ lite size designation to include everything up to but less than 410 sq. in.

· To move the NFRC 100-2010 ballot to the Technical Committee for approval with implementation upon publication.

The subcommittee then reviewed negative comments to the NFRC 100 Applied Films ballot, and after finding them to be non-persuasive, passed a motion to move forward the NFRC 100 Applied Films ballot to the Technical Committee for approval into the NFRC 100-2010 document with implementation upon publication.

New Task Group Will Look at Test Sizes
The subcommittee concluded its business by forming a new task group, to be chaired by Mike Manteghi of TRACO, to focus primarily on testing sizes for casement windows and awnings. Some members expressed concern that the way these products are currently tested provides misleading ratings to consumers who compare different product types such as double-hung and casement.