More than 50 people met today at a Chicago O'Hare airport hotel for the National Fenestration Rating Council's (NFRC) non-residential products task group meeting. The main issue at stake is the forthcoming implementation of a non-residential program to police the commercial industry and the products that are supplied on jobs. One of the key items of contention was the assignment of the "responsible party" status to the glazing contractor. Despite long arguments from glazing contractors, fabricators and Glass Association of North America members in attendance, that designation has not been changed as of yet. Members of the glass and glazing industry suggested changing the responsibility to the "Registered Design Professional," as it is listed in the International Energy Conservation Codes, thus putting more of the onus on the architectural community.

Discussions also centered on the program and the possibility of third-party certification, on site inspections of products and new code requirements.

The group was also reminded that as of August 1, 2005, the state of California will begin enforcing their energy codes on buildings that are 10,000 square feet or larger. Previously the codes affected jobs that were more than 100,000 square feet.