The first day of NFRC’s virtual meeting approached its mid-point with the Research and Technology Committee passing four motions.
After Committee Chair Werner Lichtenberger, of Truseal Technologies, opened the meeting, Bipin Shah, of WinBuild, Inc., presented three motions on behalf of the Research Subcommittee.
The committee passed motions to extend the deadlines for the Windows6/THERM6 research project and the complex visible transmittance (VT) research project to the Fall 2010 Membership Meeting, and approved the new scope for the NFRC Ventilation Rating Task Group.
The committee then heard reports from Sneh Kumar, of Traco, on the activities of the Optical Properties Subcommittee, and Charlie Curcjia, of CARLI, Inc., on the Thermophysical Properties Subcommittee meeting from earlier in the day.
The committee concluded its business with the day’s first unanimous vote – to dissolve the NFRC 600 Glossary Task Group.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Thermophysical Property Subcommittee Convenes
The Thermophysical Property of Materials Subcommittee met this afternoon during Virtual Committee Week. Subcommittee Chair Charlie Curcija, of Carli, Inc., welcomed participants.
Ray McGowan, NFRC senior program manager, reported on thermophysical property submissions. He noted that 14 new materials have been submitted since the NFRC Spring Membership Meeting. The updated NFRC 101 is expected to be released next week.
McGowan continued the meeting by providing an update on the Thermophysical Properties Interlaboratory Comparison (ILC). This is the first ILC for thermophysical properties that NFRC has ever conducted.
The testing, involving combinations of composite board, is complete, and the preliminary results are quite good, McGowan reported. The full report will be available at the NFRC Fall 2010 Membership Meeting.
In other subcommittee news, NFRC 101/103 has been disbanded. Also, Curcija reported that the subcommittee had been directed to develop an electronic version of NFRC 101 Appendix A and to provide that as a THERM library file. (The subcommittee will be proceeding with a similar version for NFRC 101 Appendix B as well). The subcommittee then formed a task group to review Appendix A and Appendix B, and it is seeking a volunteer to chair this new task group.
Ray McGowan, NFRC senior program manager, reported on thermophysical property submissions. He noted that 14 new materials have been submitted since the NFRC Spring Membership Meeting. The updated NFRC 101 is expected to be released next week.
McGowan continued the meeting by providing an update on the Thermophysical Properties Interlaboratory Comparison (ILC). This is the first ILC for thermophysical properties that NFRC has ever conducted.
The testing, involving combinations of composite board, is complete, and the preliminary results are quite good, McGowan reported. The full report will be available at the NFRC Fall 2010 Membership Meeting.
In other subcommittee news, NFRC 101/103 has been disbanded. Also, Curcija reported that the subcommittee had been directed to develop an electronic version of NFRC 101 Appendix A and to provide that as a THERM library file. (The subcommittee will be proceeding with a similar version for NFRC 101 Appendix B as well). The subcommittee then formed a task group to review Appendix A and Appendix B, and it is seeking a volunteer to chair this new task group.
R&T Committee Block Turns its Attention to Optical Properties
The Research and Technology Committee Block continued its business this afternoon as the Optical Properties Subcommittee convened. Subcommittee Chair Sneh Kumar, of Traco, brought the meeting to order.
The subcommittee heard reports from a number of its task groups, including Optical Property Priorities and Daylighting Rating. Mike Rubin, of LBNL, presented the “Top Ten Optical Subcommittee Priorities” list, which ranged from research and standards for diffuse glazing and shading materials to completing the “100 Shade” project. He then provided a status update on international standards.
Mudit Saxena, of Heschong Mahone Group, and Roger LeBrun, of VELUX-America, Inc., who co-chair the Daylighting Rating Task Group, reported on recent activities. Mudit noted that the task group has held five virtual meetings since the NFRC Spring 2010 Membership Meeting in New Orleans. The task group decided upon definitions for two phases of daylighting potential ratings:
The subcommittee concluded its meeting by passing a motion to form an optical properties interlaboratories comparison (ILC) task group. Rubin will chair the ILC 2009 Task Group.
The subcommittee heard reports from a number of its task groups, including Optical Property Priorities and Daylighting Rating. Mike Rubin, of LBNL, presented the “Top Ten Optical Subcommittee Priorities” list, which ranged from research and standards for diffuse glazing and shading materials to completing the “100 Shade” project. He then provided a status update on international standards.
Mudit Saxena, of Heschong Mahone Group, and Roger LeBrun, of VELUX-America, Inc., who co-chair the Daylighting Rating Task Group, reported on recent activities. Mudit noted that the task group has held five virtual meetings since the NFRC Spring 2010 Membership Meeting in New Orleans. The task group decided upon definitions for two phases of daylighting potential ratings:
- Phase 1: To create a rating system for daylighting potential utilizing the existing NFRC Visible Transmittance (VT) rating combined with known, bright day incident illuminance values
- Phase 2: To create a rating system to allow designers to utilize a standardized measurement of the appropriate illumination characteristics of fenestration products considering directions effects for incident and emitted illumination, illumination quality, illumination quantity, illumination distribution and other complex variables as needed
The subcommittee concluded its meeting by passing a motion to form an optical properties interlaboratories comparison (ILC) task group. Rubin will chair the ILC 2009 Task Group.
NFRC's Virtual Meeting Begins with Research Subcomittee
NFRC’s inaugural Virtual Committee Week Meeting began this morning with the Research Subcommittee undertaking its work.
DOE Funding for Research
NFRC staff member, Ray McGowan, was the first to speak, providing a report on research project funding status. McGowan informed listeners that approximately $772, 970 in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is available to fund research projects through 2014.
Window 6/Therm 6 Validation Research
Willie duPont of Sunergy Consulting offered an update on Window 6/Therm 6 validation research, stating that simulations involving various tests models are still underway. duPont also said that once the results are compared and evaluated, the project will culminate with a peer reviewed paper.
While this project had been intended to conclude in the summer of 2010, NFRC Chair, Joe Hayden, made a motion that the deadline be expanded to NFRC’s fall 2010 meeting in November, and the motion passed.
TDD U-factor Research
Dave DeBlock of ODL reported that there is just one remaining issue and said research will be completed in the fall with no further need for extensions.
Condensation Resistance Procedure for CMA
Charlie Curcija of Carli, Inc. said that three issues in this area have been resolved by Lawrence Berkeley National Labs (LBNL). A fourth issue, which emerged this past weekend, will be resolved later this week. Curcija added that the project will still meet its deadline, which is NFRC’s fall meeting. Bipin Shah of WinBuild, Inc. recommended that the Project Monitoring Committee meet often enough to ensure meeting the deadline.
Complex VT Rating Research
Ross McCluney and Willie duPont are expecting a report from LBNL, which will be assessed, clearing the way for a final vote at NFRC’s fall meeting. This project was performed to evaluate two different approaches using a range a products and not to develop a new procedure. A motion to extend the vote on this project until the fall passed.
Gas Permeability Research
Werner Lichtenberger said there is a meeting this week on Thursday, and there will be a report issued to NFRC. No other news.
Ventilation Rating
Steve Strawn spoke about the need for some revisions to revise the scope of this project, and a motion specified three revisions:
1. Standardizing the method for calculating fenestration net clear ventilation area dimensions.
2. Standardizing the effect of screen mesh for two or three representative screen cloth categories
3. Developing recommendations for a rating system for NFRC certification purposes based on current standardized sizes.
The motion passed 27 – 2
New Business
In closing the meeting, the Research Subcommittee brought forth one ballot, which dealt with fenestration illumination research. This research is just an idea for the moment, but it could turn into a full-fledged project.
Ross McCluney summarized the scope of this project by stating that nearly every architectural daylighting design project in the U.S. involves buildings with some kind of shading device on them. Shades are used widely for privacy and glare control in both residential and nonresidential spaces. McCluney added that skylights come in many varieties and cannot currently be rated for visible transmittance (VT) by the NFRC.
A motion asking that the task group charged with preparing this proposal include details on cost sharing passed 30 – 3.
DOE Funding for Research
NFRC staff member, Ray McGowan, was the first to speak, providing a report on research project funding status. McGowan informed listeners that approximately $772, 970 in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is available to fund research projects through 2014.
Window 6/Therm 6 Validation Research
Willie duPont of Sunergy Consulting offered an update on Window 6/Therm 6 validation research, stating that simulations involving various tests models are still underway. duPont also said that once the results are compared and evaluated, the project will culminate with a peer reviewed paper.
While this project had been intended to conclude in the summer of 2010, NFRC Chair, Joe Hayden, made a motion that the deadline be expanded to NFRC’s fall 2010 meeting in November, and the motion passed.
TDD U-factor Research
Dave DeBlock of ODL reported that there is just one remaining issue and said research will be completed in the fall with no further need for extensions.
Condensation Resistance Procedure for CMA
Charlie Curcija of Carli, Inc. said that three issues in this area have been resolved by Lawrence Berkeley National Labs (LBNL). A fourth issue, which emerged this past weekend, will be resolved later this week. Curcija added that the project will still meet its deadline, which is NFRC’s fall meeting. Bipin Shah of WinBuild, Inc. recommended that the Project Monitoring Committee meet often enough to ensure meeting the deadline.
Complex VT Rating Research
Ross McCluney and Willie duPont are expecting a report from LBNL, which will be assessed, clearing the way for a final vote at NFRC’s fall meeting. This project was performed to evaluate two different approaches using a range a products and not to develop a new procedure. A motion to extend the vote on this project until the fall passed.
Gas Permeability Research
Werner Lichtenberger said there is a meeting this week on Thursday, and there will be a report issued to NFRC. No other news.
Ventilation Rating
Steve Strawn spoke about the need for some revisions to revise the scope of this project, and a motion specified three revisions:
1. Standardizing the method for calculating fenestration net clear ventilation area dimensions.
2. Standardizing the effect of screen mesh for two or three representative screen cloth categories
3. Developing recommendations for a rating system for NFRC certification purposes based on current standardized sizes.
The motion passed 27 – 2
New Business
In closing the meeting, the Research Subcommittee brought forth one ballot, which dealt with fenestration illumination research. This research is just an idea for the moment, but it could turn into a full-fledged project.
Ross McCluney summarized the scope of this project by stating that nearly every architectural daylighting design project in the U.S. involves buildings with some kind of shading device on them. Shades are used widely for privacy and glare control in both residential and nonresidential spaces. McCluney added that skylights come in many varieties and cannot currently be rated for visible transmittance (VT) by the NFRC.
A motion asking that the task group charged with preparing this proposal include details on cost sharing passed 30 – 3.
Don’t Be a Stranger
While virtual meetings are convenient and reduce costs, we like to see you in person, too. Stop by the NFRC exhibit booth this summer or fall if you’re attending any of the following conferences: - Green Building Focus Conference & Expo, Aug. 25-26, in
- GlassBuild
- Greenbuild 2010, Nov. 16-19, in
And, don’t miss the (in-person) NFRC Fall 2010 Membership Meeting in
Check Out the New Animated Video on NFRC's Web site
NFRC recently posted its newest interactive animation to its Web site. The Flash® animation video – narrated by NFRC's NFRC’s Online Meeting is Underway
At 11 a.m. EDT, the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) kicked off its first online membership meeting. The Summer 2010 Virtual Committee Week runs through July 21, and it takes the place of NFRC’s usual in-person summer membership meeting.
NFRC Chair Joe Hayden, of Pella Corp., greeted attendees virtually. “Welcome to this wonderful experiment,” said Hayden. 
More than 100 people have registered for the online meeting. “It’s terrific not seeing you this summer,” joked Hayden.
Hayden then pointed out one of the main benefits of these types of meetings. “The potential to save costs is tremendous,” he said.
NFRC committees and subcommittees are conducting their normal activities during the virtual meeting, but task groups are not meeting. Comments on 11 ballots – the Research & Technology Committee has one, the Ratings Committee two, and the Technical Committee eight – will be reviewed and discussed.
The meeting is being hosted virtually through the Web software tool GoToWebinar® by Citrix. All callers will be muted during the meeting. Attendees who want to speak will virtually “raise their hands” to enter a queue. They may speak after the committee or subcommittee chairperson recognizes them.
Hayden asked participants to exercise patience with this first-of-a-kind effort for NFRC.
Just like an in-person meeting, members will be voting on NFRC business. Stay tuned to NFRC News Now for updates throughout the meeting.
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