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NFRC Helps Participants Navigate the IRV, CPD

Dear Sherri:

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has introduced the Identical Rating Value (IRV) expansion in the Certified Products Directory (CPD), which has scheduled the implementation of the Full CPD Number requirement to become mandatory on April 1, 2013.

What does this mean for NFRC participants?

All NFRC temporary labels on units manufactured on and after April 1 will be required to list the NFRC CPD Number that identifies the exact product as listed on the Certification Authorization Report (CAR).

What is the Identical Rating Value expansion process?

Identical Rating Value (IRV) expansion process is completely voluntary and may be applied to one or all of a manufacturer’s product lines. The IRV process converts current product line options in a grouped series and organizes those grouped option based on identical rating values resulting in one full CPD number to represent multiple options.

Why is IRV tied to the Full CPD Number requirement?

Due to the fact that the current CPD number represents only one specific individual option, ordering, buying, and keeping track of all the different labels may become burdensome. If a manufacturer wishes to reduce the number of individual temporary labels, they may use the IRV expansion process to possibly reduce the amount of options required to have separate individual temporary labels.

The Full CPD number requirement was delayed to give those manufacturers wishing to reduce the amount of labels required, enough time to use and implement the new IRV process. We suggest that interested manufacturers use the new “Preview Conversion” tool within each product line in the CPD, along with discussing their options with their Inspection Agency, to determine if IRV is right for their product lines.

For full details and additional information, see the PCP Bulletin 2012-06. If you have questions you can submit them to pcp@nfrc.org.

DOE Invests $9 Million in Building Envelope Technology

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plans to invest $9 million in building envelope technology, and one area of focus is high-performance windows.

According to Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, the average American family spends about $2,000 per year on their home energy bills, yet much of that money is wasted on air leaks. DOE says bringing more energy efficient products into the market can improve energy savings and strengthen U.S. manufacturers.

The National Fenestration Rating Council’s (NFRC) energy performance rating label helps consumers and industry professionals determine how windows, doors, and skylights will perform. Learn more about the NFRC label here.

Details

CEO Benney to Speak at Symposium

The National Fenestration Rating Council’s (NFRC) CEO, Jim Benney, is part of a panel of experts who will speak during the upcoming Building Enclosure Technology and Environment Council (BETEC) Symposium in Washington, D.C.

According to symposium’s website, the event will provide attendees with the most recent developments in fenestration performance and technology and will be particularly valuable for architects, engineers, developers, and others who make decisions about improving building performance.

The symposium will be held January 7-11, 2013 at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center in Washington, D.C.

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NFRC’s New Websites Look Better, Work Better

Visit the National Fenestration Rating Council’s (NFRC) two new websites on Monday, December 17, and you’ll find a new look, new features, and better functionality so you can get all the information you need faster and easier than ever before. 

In addition to redesigning www.nfrc.org to keep pace with your needs, we’ve also created a second website, www.nfrccommunity.org, to expand your networking opportunities.

These two websites work together to provide NFRC members with some important benefits, including the following:

• Easier access to news and information.
• Ability to manage your account in a few simple steps.
• Expanded networking section for public or private discussions.
• More intuitive navigation so you can find documents and bulletins quickly and easily.
• Option to store and readily access files to facilitate task group, subcommittee, and committee development.

“These new websites are designed to guide our members from one page to another effortlessly so they can find the information they need to make the decisions that build on their success,” said NFRC’s CEO, Jim Benney. “This accomplishment highlights NFRC’s commitment to its members and illustrates the organization’s ability to anticipate their needs.”

How Can NFRC Serve You Better?

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is always interested in serving you better.

What kinds of benefits could NFRC offer to make membership more attractive for you? 

You can answer here or email your suggestions.

How Can NFRC Help Your Business Thrive in 2013?

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is always looking for insight from industry experts to improve its programs.

What are some of the business challenges you're facing during 2013, and how can NFRC's programs help you overcome them?

Let us know here, or contact Tom Herron, NFRC's Senior Manager, Communications & Marketing.

Let NFRC Help Educate Your Customers

The National Fenestration Rating Council's (NFRC) consumer-oriented website is helping consumers make more educated choices when purchasing fenestration products. It provides non-technical explanations to technical questions and offers a number of links for those seeking more detailed information.

Give your business a boost by sending your customers here.

What do you think of NFRC's consumer-oriented website? Post your comments here. 

NFRC Seats New BOD Members, Establishes New Executive Committee

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has officially seated its newest Board members for the 2013 term and also approved the members of its new Executive Committee.

Each of the following Board members has been seated to serve a three-year term.

• Sneh Kumar, Kawneer, an Alcoa Company  - Fenestration Industry Category (Specified) A manufacturer who sells the majority of its fenestration products or systems for use in commercial construction.
• Jeff Baker, WESTLab Canada - Laboratory Category.
• Mahabir Bhandari, Oak Ridge National Laboratory - General Interest (non- specified).
• Gary Curtis, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance - General Interest (specified). A not-for-profit consumer, environmental, energy efficiency, or other public interest organization.

NFRC’s new Executive Committee will consist of the following members:

• Chair -- Steve Strawn, JELD-WEN
• Vice-Chair – Jeff Baker, WestLab Canada
• Secretary – Steve Farrar, Guardian Industries 
• Treasurer – Sneh Kumar, Kawneer, an Alcoa Company
• Previous Chair – Joe Hayden, Pella
• Ombudsman – Jim Krahn, Cardinal Glass

“NFRC is fortunate to have assembled such a talented group of professionals whose skills and contributions will make our organization even stronger,” said NFRC’s CEO, Jim Benney. “The individual commitment each one of them brings to our shared cause forms a distinguished group that positions NFRC to assist its stakeholders in reaching their goals during 2013 and beyond.” 

Update on NFRC's IVP Program

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has been working for almost 3 years to create the NFRC 713 program document that will administer the IVP to verify ENERGY STAR® qualified products’ energy performance. NFRC used the results from the IVP pilot program and comments from the NFRC participants to modify the NFRC 713 and believes this draft provides a fair process for all NFRC entities.

NFRC participants are encouraged to download the NFRC 713 document for review from the IVP web page.

To assist with the review, the following are some of the modifications from the draft of the NFRC 713 distributed in March:

• The IVP is now completely separate from the NFRC 700.

• The IVP fee is separate from the NFRC participation fee per NFRC 704-2013.

• The IVP is for ENERGY STAR Partners only and use to verify ENERGY STAR qualified products.

• The only verification test is a thermal test performed in accordance with NFRC 102 and is the only value verification used for EPA evaluation.

• The destructive test has been removed as a verification test; however, it is still performed by the lab for comparison and evaluation purposes.

• ENERGY STAR Partners are required to inform NFRC which ENERGY STAR qualified product lines are sold as ENERGY STAR products. NFRC is developing an online tool for participants to use which will be available shortly.

• There is no grading against NFRC energy performance criteria and labeling. The grading and tolerances in the NFRC 713 are for EPA requirements only.

• The multi-tiered corrective actions and fines are no longer applicable to the program.

• Language was introduced for scenarios when results from the verification testing are questionable and may not be under the purview of the participant’s performance, but the Inspection Agency, laboratory, or other entity.

NFRC is requesting participants to forward any comments on the program document by November 26th to NFRC staff at ivp@nfrc.org.

NFRC continues to review the processes within the pilot program, and once these processes and the comments from NFRC participants are analyzed, the intent is for NFRC staff to present a final version (and implementation plan) to the NFRC Board of Directors for approval. It is our goal to begin implementing this phase of the IVP by January 1, 2013.

NFRC's Board of Directors Election Results

The National Fenestration Rating Council's (NFRC) Board of Directors election for the 2013 term is complete, and here are the results:

Each of the following members has been elected to a three-year term:

• Sneh Kumar, Traco - Fenestration Industry Category (Specified) A manufacturer who sells the majority of its fenestration products or systems for use in commercial construction.
• Jeff Baker, WESTLab Canada - Laboratory Category.
• Mahabir Bhandari, Oak Ridge National Laboratory - General Interest (non- specified).
• Gary Curtis, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance - General Interest (specified). A not-for-profit consumer, environmental, energy efficiency, or other public interest organization.

“I am pleased to welcome this accomplished, experienced group whose talent and enthusiasm will carry our organization forward," said NFRC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jim Benney. “We've always had an effective and dynamic Board that brings people and ideas together to further the cause we are all passionate about, and I'm looking forward to working more closely with all of them.”

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