NFRC Seeks Industry Cooperation on Non-Res Activities; GANA Accepts Offer

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has invited the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA) and the Glass Association of North America (GANA) to participate in board activities relevant to its nonresidential program. NFRC says it hopes this offer will help bridge the gaps among industry stakeholders, bring the industry together and improve communications and relations between it, as an organization, and the commercial glass industry. NFRC has also asked that IGMA and GANA reciprocate by inviting NFRC to attend their board meetings when discussing relevant issues.

"While NFRC firmly believes in the Component Modeling Program and its benefits, we recognize that the fenestration industry must work together not only in this effort, but also in many others for the good of the entire fenestration industry," said Jim Benney, NFRC's executive director. "The partisan politics and self-interests have so fragmented this industry that its capacity to promote its own interests at local, state and federal levels has been significantly reduced. One example was its inability to increase essential funding in the Windows and Daylighting budget of at the U.S. Department of Energy."

GANA has announced that it has accepted the invitation to expand its participation in the proposed nonresidential program activities. Effective immediately, GANA will also be participating in NFRC board and committee activities that specifically regard the nonresidential initiative and the Component Modeling Program.

"We are pleased to be able to increase our participation in the NFRC debate about these issues," says Stanley Smith, executive vice president of GANA. "As an organization, GANA represents the top manufacturers, fabricators and glaziers in the country, and we are dedicated to promoting energy efficient fenestration products in North America. On behalf of our members and their customers, we are sincerely interested in developing an efficient, reliable and affordable energy rating system, and we look forward to working with the NFRC toward this goal."

IGMA acknowledged it had received a letter the morning of March 2, 2006 from NFRC, but did not yet have a comment on the matter.

NFRC says it also intends to invite other interested organizations to work together on this effort, including public interest groups such as architects, utilities and code officials.

NFRC recently committed to the state of California to complete its Component Modeling Program. California needs the program as a code compliance tool for its Title 24 standards. To achieve the necessary timetables, it will require considerable cooperation and effort and NFRC is looking to both IGMA and GANA for help with this program development.