BOMA Outlines Concern About NFRC at 2006 Summer Meeting

Reprinted from The BOMA Magazine, September 2006 with the permission of BOMA International Inc.

Building Owners and Manufacturers Association (BOMA) Vice President of Advocacy and Research Ron Burton addressed members of the National Fenestration Ratings Council (NFRC) during their 2006 Summer Meeting held in Minneapolis, July 24-27. Burton outlined BOMA's concerns with the draft guidelines for commercial/non-residential products currently under consideration by NFRC's technical committees.

NFRC was formed in 1989 to administer the only uniform, independent rating and labeling system for the energy performance of windows, doors, skylights and attachment products to provide value to both the consuming public and the residential construction industry. NFRC's rating and labeling system was subsequently referenced in the 1992 Energy Policy Act, and the number of window and door manufacturers having their products rated and labeled as compliant with NFRC standards has greatly increased since that time.

Recently, NFRC has begun the process of developing a rating system for commercial fenestration products. However, because significant differences exist in the needs of end users, product manufacturers and suppliers, and design and construction professionals in the residential and commercial markets, developing guidelines for the testing, rating and labeling of commercial glass products raises much more complex questions. Among those questions is whether there is a need for fenestration product ratings in the non-residential market.

BOMA's comments addressed many of the complex issues surrounding the testing, rating and labeling of commercial fenestration products. Burton cautioned NFRC members to concentrate on providing real, tangible and cost-effective value to the non-residential end user and construction professionals. He further implored NFRC to get more involvement and input from architects and engineers involved in the design of commercial buildings, building officials charged with inspecting and approving commercial projects, and most importantly, building owners and managers who are the end users of these products. He pledged that BOMA will continue to provide the comments and expertise of the commercial real estate industry as NFRC considers the next steps in this process.