Codes&Regulations,USGlass,March2012

Volume 47, Issue 3 - March 2012

Codes&Regulations

ASHRAE 90.1 Is Approved with 40 Percent Window-to-Wall Ratio
ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee 90.1 voted to approve final publication of Addendum bb to ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007, at a meeting in January in Chicago. The addendum provides for a 40 percent window-to-wall ratio (WWR).

Though the addendum was approved, it was done so “with knowledge of unresolved objectors” and with a fair amount of debate about the cost effectiveness of some of the new wall insulation requirements, according to Thomas Culp, president of Birch Point Consulting LLC in La Crosse, Wis.

“From the fenestration perspective, this final version of bb restored the window-to-wall ratio (WWR) and included the U-factors supported by the group that successfully appealed the previous version [including the] Glass Association of North America (GANA), Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA), AGC Flat Glass North America, Guardian Industries and Pilkington,” he says. “This now goes forward to the board for final approval, but it is almost certain there will be at least one appeal related to the wall insulation requirements, so we won’t know the final fate of bb until toward the end of the year. Besides addendum bb, there was significant discussion of how to expand daylighting requirements in the code, but no action yet.”

While the addendum keeps the WWR at 40 percent, Urmilla Jokhu-Sowell, technical director for GANA, says several options are on the table for future discussion. “In addition, a Daylighting Task Group, which is a joint task group between the 90.1 Envelope and Lighting Subcommittees, is looking at new proposals for ASHRAE 90.1 2013 and 2016 editions,” she says. “And right now, it’s in the preliminary stages, but nothing seems off the table. They are discussing WWR with continuous lighting controls, clerestory and splitting vision glass and daylighting glass. It’s very important that the glass and glazing industry stay involved at ASHRAE.”

Final approval had not yet occurred at press time.

“Overall, we are now resolved and support ‘bb,’ but there remains controversial items on wall insulation that could still hang up the final approval,” Culp says.

NFPA Releases New Standards
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released the following updated standards:
• ANSI/NFPA 170-2011, Standard for Fire Safety and Emergency Symbols;
• ANSI/NFPA 252-2011, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Door Assemblies;
• ANSI/NFPA 257-2011, Standard on Fire Test for Window and Glass Block Assemblies; and
• ANSI/NFPA 268-2011, Standard Test Method for Determining Ignitibility of Exterior Wall Assemblies Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source.
www.nfpa.org

NFRC to Pursue Recognition through ANSI
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), an American National Standard Institute (ANSI) accredited standards developer, is seeking to facilitate ANSI recognition of NFRC rating procedures under ANSI’s Essential Requirements.

The NFRC rating procedures to be reviewed are NFRC 100: Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product U-factors, NFRC 200: Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and Visible Transmittance at Normal Incidence and NFRC 400: Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product Air Leakage.

NFRC is establishing a standing committee designated as the “ANSI Standards Committee” to oversee the review process. The committee will be responsible for implementing the consensus process required for adoption or modification of an ANSI Standard and performing such other duties as NFRC’s board of directors may request from time to time. In accordance with the NFRC 710, “Operating Policies Manual,” members of the committee are required to actively participate in the committee’s activities, including attendance at meetings and casting ballots on matters presented to the committee for action.

As an ANSI-accredited standards developer, NFRC is required to submit for public review and comment in accordance with the ANSI required procedures any NFRC document that NFRC wishes to become an ANSI Standard as well as any amendments or modifications it proposes to make to an NFRC document that is an ANSI Standard.
www.nfrc.org