AHRI Update

November 14, 2024

AHRI/Industry News

AHRI Members: Please Complete your Pledge to the Rees Scholarship Foundation

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<p>Description automatically generated AHRI members may contribute to the Rees Scholarship Foundation through their membership dues invoice. All invoices will include an optional line item for a $500 donation, but if you would like it to be for a different amount, please complete your pledge form and email it to LaTosha Peterson by December 6.

This tax-deductible contribution will support the continued promotion of the HVACR industry through scholarships to qualified students enrolled in an institutionally accredited school. To date, Rees has awarded more than $1,200,000 to more than 700 deserving students since it was established in 2003. Contributions are voluntary, and any amount helps to educate aspiring HVACR technicians. Learn more about Rees here. Contact: Katherine Hunt.

Legislative and Regulatory

CalRecycle to Host SB 54 Advisory Board Meeting Tomorrow

Tomorrow, November 15, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. PST, CalRecycle will host an Advisory Board meeting for the implementation of SB 54 (Allen, Chapter 75, Statutes of 2022). During this meeting, the Advisory Board will discuss recommendations regarding barriers and solutions to a circular economy, consistent with SB 54, for the following topics:

Recyclability and Compostability of Covered Materials,
Reuse/Refill and Other Source Reduction Efforts,
Costs Covered by Producers,
Leakage of Plastic into the Environment, and
Compostability.

Notice of Working Group Meeting for SCAQMD Proposed Amended Rule 1111 and Rule 1121 and Delay of Public Hearing

On November 20 at 9:00 a.m. PST, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will hold its seventh Working Group Meeting to discuss the amendments to Rule 1111, Reduction of NOx Emissions from Natural Gas-Fired Furnaces and Rule 1121, Reduction of NOx Emissions from Small Natural Gas-Fired Water Heaters, provide updates on the latest changes, and solicit feedback and comments from the stakeholders.

SCAQMD staff provided a second preliminary draft rule language, for discussion purposes only, that shows proposed changes from the versions released on September 20. The revised rule language and overall rule development will be discussed in the November 20Working Group Meeting.

For more information on the proposed amendments or the presentations provided in the previous Working Group Meetings, click here. To join the Working Group meeting, click here.

To view or download the supporting documents, please click on the links below:

Second Preliminary Proposed Amended Rule 1111
Second Preliminary Proposed Amended Rule 1121
Working Group Meeting Presentation - forthcoming

In addition, the public hearing on the amendments to Rule 1111 and Rule 1121 has been rescheduled from December 6, 2024, to February 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. PST. Contact: Nicole Colantonio.

CARB and SCAQMD to Host Joint Workshop on Industrial and Commercial Zero-Emission Technologies

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) are hosting a joint workshop on industrial and commercial zero-emission technologies on December 11 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST. The workshop will feature panel discussions to explore zero-emission options for industrial and commercial sites.

Those interested can participate in the workshop in-person or virtually. The Zoom link and meeting agenda are forthcoming, and more information is available through Heather Farr, SCAQMD Planning and Rules Manager. Contact: Nicole Colantonio.

AHRI Members Encouraged to Comment on ASME BPVC Section VIII Scope Proposal

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is considering a scope change to its Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) Section VIII, Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels, that would eliminate long-standing exemptions for certain equipment manufactured by AHRI’s member companies. The change, if successfully implemented, removes key exemptions that the HVACR and water heating industry has successfully covered with its own codes and standards for decades, and would alter the way relevant standards and codes interact with, and are interpreted by, jurisdictions. Comments are due Tuesday, December 31.

In addition to the comments that AHRI will submit, AHRI encourages all member companies to submit their own public comments to illustrate how this change will impact their business and operations. AHRI has prepared a document with a list of key talking points and instructions for how to submit a public comment. Read AHRI’s white paper on the topic, HVACR Equipment Represents Performance and Safety, here. Contact: Tom Deary.

Certification

AHRI Welcomes New Certification Program Participants

AHRI is pleased to welcome Havells HVAC LLC, USA to the Unitary Heat Pump Equipment (USHP) - AHRI 210/240 Certification Program.

AHRI is also pleased to welcome Hannuri Co., Ltd. to the Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV - Components) - AHRI 1060/1061 Certification Program. Contact: Bill Tritsis.

Standards

AHRI Publishes Standard Erratum

AHRI published Erratum 1 for AHRI Standard 140-2023 (I-P), Evaluation of Air Conditioning and Heating Equipment Test Stands, which addresses several minor editorial errors. Contact: Adam Kelly.

AHRI Announces Standards Revision Project

The Lab Qualification Standards Technical Committee (STC) has begun a project to revise the 2023 edition of AHRI Standard 140 (I-P), Evaluation of Air Conditioning and Heating Equipment Test Stands. Anyone is welcome to join this project by becoming a member of the Lab Qualification STC in accordance with the current AHRI Policy & Procedures for the Development of Standards. Contact: Adam Kelly.

Weekly Update from ASHRAE, ANSI, and SCC

This week’s summary of ASHRAE, ANSI, and SCC standards activities that are relevant to AHRI’s work is available here. Current and previous standards activities for ASHRAE can be found here. Current and previous standards activities for ANSI can be found here.

Research

AHRTI Issues New Research RFP

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology Institute (AHRTI) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for AHRTI Project No. 9021: Assessment of a Refrigerant Destruction Technology Using Conversion Technology by Chemical Reaction with Hydrogen (H2) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). The project will assess refrigerant destruction technology that processes end-of-life refrigerants by chemically converting them to raw material components that can be reused commercially. AHRTI invites qualified proposals to design and build a pilot plant to demonstrate and evaluate the technology.

The RFP, and additional information on AHRTI’s research, can be found here. Proposals are due by 12:00 p.m. EST on December 2. Contact: Zoey Scancarello.

International

AHRI Staff Attends “Standards Day” Celebration by Bureau of Indian Standards

On October 14, AHRI Senior Technical Analyst Dalip Singh attended a celebration of World Standards Day, also known as Manak Mahotsav, hosted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). He was joined by industry experts, government officials, and BIS stakeholders.

AHRI Participates in Alfa Laval’s Factory Expansion Ceremony

On October 23, AHRI Senior Technical Analyst Dalip Singh and AHRI India Representative Srinivasan Shamsunder attended a ceremony commemorating the expansion of AHRI member company Alfa Laval’s manufacturing facility expansion in Satara, India. The facility will manufacture plate heat exchangers for the local market, as well as supplying Alfa Laval’s assembly plants globally. Contact: Vikram Murthy.

International Updates

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