NFRC Meeting Continues with CMA PCP Development and IG Certification Implementation

by Ellen Giard

The NFRC summer meeting continued yesterday with meetings of the Component Modeling Approach (CMA) Product Certification Program (PCP) task group and the Insulating Glass (IG) Certification task group.

Gary Curtis of West Wall Group led the PCP meeting where members discussed some of the negatives from the last ballot. Requirements for the two types of approved calculation entities (ACE)-manufacturers and independents-was one of the topics covered. The current draft proposes language that outlines the specific conditions for when a manufacturer/other ACE moves from 100-percent independent agent (IA) review to a statistical auditing program. Tom Culp of Birch Point Consulting submitted a proposal to the board of directors in late May that would bring those requirements to a lesser level of scrutiny in order to "balance the needs of all parties involved." At this time, though, no action has been taken.

Culp's proposal would require an independent ACE to submit five calculation reports with an A or B rating. After that they would move to a statistical auditing program where certificates would be randomly selected for IA review. A manufacturer/other ACE would be required to submit 15 certificates for review and would also have to earn A or B ratings.

"It's a way to quantify and measure all ACE calculations," said Culp.

Matters covered during the PCP task group will be further discussed tomorrow during the CMA ratings subcommittee meeting.

During the IG Certification task group meeting that followed, a proposal for the implementation of mandatory IG certification for NFRC certification and labeling was discussed. Task group chairs stressed that NFRC is not developing a certification program, but will reference existing industry IG certification programs. A number of revisions were made to the proposed document, which now will go to the Certification Subcommittee.

Some members were concerned that the proposal's requirements would not be stringent enough.

"If we make our bar so low that everyone can play then our bar is too low," said Chris Mathis of MC Squared. "This is our first foray into durability, so let's make sure our eyes are wide open."

Important issues covered included minimum acceptance criteria for recognized certification programs and the change to include all IG configurations, including those with clear, low-E and reflective glass.

The membership meeting also took place last night. NFRC executive director Jim Benney addressed the proposed CMA fee structure.

"Why did we provide this information now when the program is not done?" he said to members. "Because the industry requested it." Benney explained that the fee structure is based on preliminary information that's currently available and is not set in stone.

"If we get the funds to offset capital costs those fees could change," said Benney.

He also said that 2008 fees and dues increased by about 10 percent across the board due to the fact that revenue had leveled off.

"We've also provided more services and our costs are increasing," Benney said. "CMA did not affect this increase."

NFRC summer meetings are continuing today and tomorrow and will conclude with the board meeting on Thursday.