Welcome to NFRC’s Tucson Meeting!

NFRC will kick off the Spring Membership Meeting for 2009 on Monday, March 2, 2009, in Tucson, Arizona at the Marriott University Park – right on the doorstep of the bustling campus of the University of Arizona.

Attendees and those unable to make the trip to the meeting alike can get a jump on the week’s activities by reviewing/downloading meeting materials online at the NFRC Meeting Page – including member’s comments on the 19 documents that will be discussed at the meeting, proxy forms and other information. The meeting’s detailed program booklet will be available on site but is also available for download as well. The book includes meetings agendas, draft meeting minutes from the fall meeting, committee rosters, pre-registration listing and more.

Please note: Registration and prepayment is required for all planning to attend the conference – those who wish to attend last minute can check-in at the registration table – opening at 6:30am, on Monday morning.

All NFRC stakeholders are encouraged to continue to check this LIVE meeting update during the week for the informational updates on the meeting’s progress.

Safe travels to all who are headed to Tucson. The weather is shaping up to be warm and sunny for most of the week with highs in the 80’s!

If you have any questions on the meeting please feel free to contact the NFRC staff: at your service!

NFRC Honors Outgoing Board Members

During the NFRC Board of Directors Meeting, Executive Director Jim Benney honored outgoing Board members Marcia Falke of Keystone Certifications Inc. and Gary Curtis of the West Wall Group with the NFRC Service Award.

Both have given many years of service to the organization and their contributions as NFRC Board Members are much appreciated.

NFRC Homework

During the Opening Session of the NFRC Membership Meeting on Monday, Chair Joe Hayden assigned a “homework” task.

He extended a question to the membership, “What is NFRC’s barrier to success?”

Throughout the week, attendees have written their thoughts on easels placed throughout the meeting space.

Among the items listed were:

• The public’s lack of interest in the effort
• Teamwork
• Politics
• Too much detail
• Too narrow perspective or vision on NFRC purpose
• Traditional mentality
• Unity
• Code enforcement
• Difficulty for new members to figure out what is going on
• History (let the past stay in the past)
• Overly bureaucratic process
• Short term, narrow, defensive thinking
• Barrier= challenge = opportunity!
• Complexity
• Entrenched thinking - do it the old way
• "Expert debaters for hire"

NFRC's Very Own "Joe the Plumber"

During the NFRC Board Meeting, Executive Director Jim Benney bestowed NFRC Chair Joe Hayden with a "special gavel."

While he shares no relation with the now-famous (or infamous) Joe the Plumber, he is deeply appreciated and respected by all.

Thanks to Joe for all of his hard work and dedication this past year as NFRC Chair!

NFRC Board Meeting Begins with Committee Reports

The Board of Directors meeting began this morning.

The Accreditation Policy Committee report was first on the agenda. Chair Marcia Falke of Keystone Certifications, Inc. called a motion to approve the NFRC 701 and all its supplemental documents and asked that it be implemented upon publication. The primary change in the document is that it was reduced from about 120 pages to roughly 50. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Technical Interpretations Committee Chair Tom Culp, of Birch Point Consulting, LLC, discussed the group’s new function as a technical arbitrator and the method TIPC will use to increase communication with the membership.

NFRC Member of the Year Roland Temple, chair of the Certification Policy Committee, said the group will review the NFRC 706-2009 based on discussion at the PCP Review Task Group. Temple asked that certain editorial changes to the document be approved, and the motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Research and Technology Committee Chair Werner Lichtenberger of TruSeal Technologies recommended that the Complex Product VT Research project be suspended until a new proposal could be presented to the group. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Lichtenberger also pointed out that the Exterior Awnings Research Project Summary page was approved and will be a balloted RFP for the March meeting.

Next, WESTLab’s Jeff Baker provided the Technical Committee report. Baker motioned to bring forward additional language for the NFRC 200 Frame Grouping Rules for approval with implementation and completion of the CMA program. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Baker also brought forth a motion for the Software Subcommittee. This involved enabling the CMAST Implementation Task Group to report findings directly to the Board after completion.

NFRC Volunteers Gather in Jacksonville

NFRC staff and committee, subcommittee, and task group leaders gathered for dinner on Wednesday evening.

NFRC appreciates the hard work and dedication that its volunteer members put into their work and is very grateful for all that you do.

Thanks to all for a great night!

Applause All Around at Ratings Committee Meeting

During the Ratings Committee meeting this afternoon, the CMA PCP ballot was approved and will move forward to the NFRC Board of Directors. CMA Ratings Subcommittee Chair Gary Curtis extended thanks to NFRC staffers Jessica Ferris and Scott Hanlon for "keeping our heads above water," and to the membership for their patience over the last four years.

Additionally, the Ratings Committee approved the following:

• the successful PCP ballot – permanent label forward for approval for implementation upon publication.
  
  
• the PCP IG Certification ballot forward for implementation upon publication. NFRC Chair Joe Hayden also noted that while it may be published and implemented, it won’t be required until July 2010.
  
  
• the mandatory date for labeling of dynamic products from March 1, 2009 to 6 months after two or more simulation labs are accredited to use WINDOW6/THERM6 for dynamic products, or March 1, 2010, whichever comes earlier, to the Board for approval.