First Ever Building Energy Codes Coming to Alabama

For the first time in its history, the state of Alabama will have mandatory building energy codes.

The Alabama Residential and Energy Code (AERC) Board recently approved a preliminary measure to create Alabama’s first mandatory statewide energy code.

The final draft of the AERC will be republished in the state administrative journal for 35 days before a final vote for approval in April and would go into effect during the Spring of 2012.

The commercial code will likely be based on the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), while the residential code will likely be based on Chapter 11 of the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) with a certain modifications.

Details

Members Tour Austin City Hall, Find Plenty of Windows

Members Look Inside Austin City Hall

According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), one of the unique features of Austin's LEED Gold Certified municipal building is that all hallways lead to a window.

The building provides occupants with additional daylight through a strategically-placed skylight in the lobby.

Following the day's proceedings on Tuesday, March 27, NFRC members enjoyed a guided tour of the building and learned more about the value of LEED's integrated design system in improving overall energy efficiency.

Green building proponents say filling non-residential buildings with generous amounts of daylight improves occupant comfort and increases productivity.

During the hour-long tour, NFRC members learned how environmental and aesthetic qualities can work in harmony to contribute to the future of green building design.

Learn more about Austin City Hall

Strawn Highlights Strategic Objectives During Committee Week Meeting

NFRC Chair, Steve Strawn, discussed the importance of the organization’s strategic objectives during this morning’s open board meeting.

One of those objectives is to improve and simplify NFRC's certification and labeling process to better serve the public interest.

Strawn said accomplishing this helps NFRC realize its mission and reinforces its reputation as the authoritative source for fenestration energy ratings and performance information.

Strawn discussed a total of 10 objectives, pointing out to the audience that some of them are new.

View Steve Strawn's Presentation Here.

Committee Week Meeting Wrap-Up: Ratings

Chair, Steve Johnson, reported to the board and had six motions approved.

NFRC 700 Subcommittee:

Motion: Move forward the NFRC 700 FMC Requestor Ballot for approval and implementation upon publication.

Committee Motion: Move forward to the Board the NFRC 700 FMC Requestor Ballot for approval and implementation upon publication. Passed by UVV.

Board approved unanimously.

Motion: Move forward the NFRC 700 Modification from 712 Ballot as edited for approval and implementation upon publication.

Committee Motion: Move forward to the Board the NFRC 700 Modifications from 712 Ballot with editorial changes for approval and implementation upon publication. Passed by UVV.

Board approved unanimously.

Motion: Move forward the NFRC 700 Challenge Procedure Ballot as edited for approval and implementation upon publication pending legal review.

Committee Motion: Move forward to the Board the NFRC 700 Challenge Procedure Ballot with editorial changes for approval with implementation upon publication pending legal review. Passed by UVV.

Board approved unanimously.

Motion: Move forward the NFRC 700 Temporary Label Description Ballot for approval and implementation upon publication.

Committee Motion: Move forward to the Board the NFRC 700 Temporary Label Description Ballot for approval and implementation upon publication. Passed by UVV.

Board approved unanimously.

Motion: Move forward the NFRC 700 Translucent Panel Samples Ballot for approval and implementation upon publication and then hold until the technical procedure documents are approved for publication.

Committee Motion: Move forward to the Board the NFRC 700 Translucent Panel Samples Ballot for approval and implementation upon publication. Passed by UVV.

Board approved unanimously.

Motion: Move forward the NFRC 700 TDD/HTDD: Test Only and VT Rating Ballot as edited for approval and implementation upon publication.

Committee Motion: Move forward to the Board the NFRC 700 TDD/HTDD: Test Only and VT Rating Ballot for approval and implementation upon publication. Passed by UVV.

Board approved unanimously.

Information: M. Nau of PGT Industries offered to assume the role as vice-chair of the NFRC 700 Certification Subcommittee.

NFRC 712 Subcommittee:

Information: NFRC 712 Certification Subcommittee did not meet and does not intend to meet until such time that there is action and volunteers to lead the subcommittee.

Committee Week Meeting Wrap-Up: Technical

Technical Committee

Chair, Jeff Baker, reported to the board and had three motions approved.

Attachment Subcommittee: 

Information: Committee is continuing to look for a Subcommittee chair. D. De Block has agreed to continue as the vice-chair.

Software Subcommittee:

Information: C. Best has volunteered to chair the subcommittee and J. Krahn has agreed to continue as the vice-chair.

Solar Heat Gain Subcommittee:

Motion: Move forward the NFRC 202 ballot for approval and implementation upon publication.

Committee Motion: Move forward the NFRC 202 ballot with approved editorial changes to the Board for implementation upon publication. Passed by UVV.

Board approved unanimously.

Motion: Move forward the NFRC 203 ballot for approval and implementation upon publication.

Committee Motion: Move forward the NFRC 203 ballot with approved editorial changes to the Board for implementation upon publication. Passed by UVV.

Board approved unanimously.

Motion: Move forward the combined editorial changes from the NFRC 200 Translucent Panel ballot and NFRC 200 TDD ballot for approval and implementation upon publication.

Committee Motion: Move to forward the combined editorial changes from the NFRC 200 Translucent Panel ballot and NFRC 200 TDD ballot to the Board for implementation upon publication. Passed by UVV.

Board approved unanimously.

Technical Committee:

Information: J. Lewis of Simonton agreed to assume role as vice-chair for the Technical Committee.

Committee Week Meeting Wrap-Up: Research and Technology

Research and Technology Committee

Chair, Dave De Block, reported to the board and had two motions approved during this morning's open Board of Directors meeting.

Research Subcommittee: 

Action: Request a motion to make the Window 6-Therm 6 Validation Research Project final report due by the NFRC Fall 2012 Membership meeting.  

Board approved unanimously.

Discussion: The Complex VT Rating Research Project received one bid form University of California-Davis (UCD).  UCD is negotiating with the NFRC on the intellectual property (IP) rights for the development of the project. The Research and Technology Committee requests the Board provide guidance on ownership of the IP developed for the project and the requirement that NFRC take ownership of any device created under the research.  

Information: The CMA Improved Algorithm Research Project is progressing well with expected completion by the Fall 2012 Membership meeting.

Thermophysical Properties of Materials Subcommittee

Action: Request a motion for the approval of the NFRC 101 ballot and implementation upon publication.  NFRC 103 will be terminated (the new NFRC 101 document now includes NFRC 103 procedures)

Board approved unanimously.

Optical Properties Subcommittee:

Information: LBNL reported progress on the Glazing Interlaboratory Comparison and expects to complete the full report by the Fall 2012 Membership meeting. LBNL also reported good progress on the Complex Glazing Interlaboratory Comparison with more testing data due prior to completion.

Information:  The NFRC 302 TG expects to develop an NFRC 302 ballot for the Fall 2012 Membership meeting.  Information from the Glazing ILC will be considered during ballot development.

Hanlon Sees Harmonization Between IVP, CPD

Scott Hanlon, NFRC Program Director, just informed members that the Independent Verification Program (IVP) will be a permanent addition to the organization’s rating process, advancing its ability to provide reliable energy performance ratings.

Hanlon praised the IVP, saying it ultimately protects and preserves the integrity of NFRC’s programs and ratings while fulfilling the organization’s commitment to the serve the public.

One way the IVP serves the public is by making it easy to determine which products have undergone testing.

“Consumers will see some harmonization between the IVP and our certified products directory,” Hanlon said. “Products will be flagged, clearly indicating they were selected.”

NFRC will administer the entire IVP program, which will be fully implemented in January 2013.