CMA Frame Values Ballot Review Brings Heavy Discussion and Debate

The National Fenestration Rating Council's (NFRC) spring meeting, taking place this week in Nashville, was relatively quiet until yesterday afternoon's Component Modeling Approach (CMA) - Technical Subcommittee meeting. During the session several participants with strong ties to the commercial glazing industry spoke adamantly that, having expressed various concerns over the CMA's development numerous times, the NFRC board continues to "not listen" to the industry's concerns or its attempts to create a program more suitable to the commercial industry's unique needs.

Having reached "a point at which frustration has set in," said Greg Carney, technical director for the Glass Association of North America (GANA), neither he nor Margaret Webb, executive director for the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA), responded to any ballots this round. Carney said on numerous occasions the commercial representatives have expressed concerns over various aspects of the CMA development process. Using the example of the "spacer system" terminology, Carney said membership has voted many times in agreement to remove the word "system," however it has yet to be removed.

"This is just one small example. You do not listen; it doesn't matter what happens at the committee level," said Carney. "I'm not responding to anymore ballots as it's a waste of time."

Mike Manteghi from TRACO, subcommittee chairperson, said they would arrange for a separate conference call to discuss the spacer terminology and finalize the issue.

Frame values ballot negatives were also discussed during the meeting. One debate centered on whether default values should be allowed. A ballot negative from ATI said it was not appropriate to include generic values in the documents and that it would be more feasible to assign a value to the overall product and not just the frame. Many in attendance spoke out for and against the ballot; a motion to find the ballot non-persuasive passed.

The CMA meeting continued this morning with discussions over other ballots. The CMA frame grouping rules - NFRC 100 ballot and the generic CMA frame values - NFRC 200 were both sent back to task group for further work. The spacer grouping rules - NFRC 100 ballot was approved.

CMA discussions continue this afternoon during the ratings committee meeting.

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