July/August 2023

AMCA Members-Only Newsletter

Aug. 3, 2023

Limited Seats Available for 2023 AMCA insite Technical Conference

A limited number of seats remain for the 2023 AMCA insite Technical Conference, set to take place Sept. 20 and 21 at The Fontaine hotel in Kansas City, Mo.

Focused on improving the comfort, health, safety, and productivity of indoor environments, the event promises to be a practical and useful peer-to-peer learning experience for buildings professionals—engineers, architects, contractors, and commissioning providers in particular. The speakers were chosen based on not only their expertise in their fields but their experience with technical training. Their presentations will be free of commercial bias.

The event’s 18 sessions are divided into two tracks: Air Movement and Air Control. Attendees will be free to attend sessions across tracks, with the opportunity to earn up to nine professional-development hours (PDH).

The sessions are:

“Introduction to Fan-Systems Application Engineering” (two parts), presented by William (Bill) Howarth, president, Ventilation & Fan Consulting Service International LLC, and Ron Wroblewski, PE, president, Productive Energy Solutions.
“Decoding the Carbon-Capture Value Chain,” presented by Aaron Saldanha; global product manager, carbon capture, utilization, and storage; Howden, a Chart Industries company.
“Understanding and Reducing Air-System Noise,” presented by John Sofra, director of sales, North America, Kinetics Noise Control Inc.
“Troubleshooting and Minimizing Fan-System Effect,” presented by David Maletich, vice president of engineering, The New York Blower Co.
“Application, Installation, and Maintenance of Life-Safety Dampers,” presented by Dane Carey, director of engineering, TAMCO.
“Regulation of Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers Is Here. What That Means for You,” presented by Michael Ivanovich, senior director, global affairs, and Aaron Gunzner, PE, senior manager, advocacy, AMCA International.
“Louvers 101: Selection and Application,” presented by Charles DiGisco, business-development manager, architectural louvers, Construction Specialties.
“Motor Selection and Variable-Frequency-Drive (VFD) Application for Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers,” presented by Jim Meats, PE, vice president, sales and marketing, Loren Cook Co.
“Tornadoes, Hurricanes, and Wind: A Look at Changes to the International Building Code and ASCE/SEI 7,” presented by Amanda Hickman, president/consultant, The Hickman Group.
“Application of High-Volume, Low-Speed (HVLS) Fans: Selection, Placement, and Performance Considerations,” presented by Christian Taber, BEMP, HBDP, CEM; principal engineer, codes and standards; Big Ass Fans.
“Wind/Seismic Restraint and Vibration Isolation for Mechanical Equipment,” presented by Lee Chiddention, director of sales, HVAC market, United States and Canada, Kinetics Noise Control Inc.
“Measuring Fan-System Performance” (two parts), presented by Ron Wroblewski, PE, president, Productive Energy Solutions, and William (Bill) Howarth, president, Ventilation & Fan Consulting Service International LLC.
“Introduction to Life-Safety Dampers,” presented by Michael Bulzomi, product manager, commercial dampers, Greenheck.
“Remote Testing of UL-Rated Life-Safety Dampers,” presented by Mike Coyazo, product manager, air-control solutions, Ruskin.
“Air-Curtain Technology: The Impact on Building Energy Consumption,” presented by David Johnson, director, engineering group, Berner International LLC, and Frank Cuaderno, vice president of sales, Mars Air Systems LLC.
“A Close-Up Look at Ceiling Radiation Dampers,” presented by Michael Bulzomi, product manager, commercial dampers, Greenheck.

For session descriptions and speaker biographies, see the conference brochure.

Registration includes course material, two buffet breakfasts, a lunch, and coffee/refreshments. The cost is $700. A $50-per-attendee discount is available to organizations sending more than one person. To receive the discount code, contact AMCA Meetings and Events Manager Christine Rogers at crogers@amca.org.

Registration will close Aug. 26 or when the conference sells out, whichever comes first. To register, click here.

For attendees in need of lodging, AMCA has secured a special group rate of $179, plus applicable taxes and fees, per night at The Fontaine. To receive this rate, reserve by Aug. 26.

For information related to the sessions and speakers, contact Scott Arnold, senior manager, industry engagement and content, at sarnold@amca.org. For all other inquiries related to the event, contact Christine Rogers at crogers@amca.org.

AMCA and ISHRAE Sign Memorandum of Understanding

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AMCA International and Asia AMCA have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE).

Per the agreement, AMCA International, Asia AMCA, and ISHRAE agree to exchange information and work together to conduct studies related to safety and health in the built environment, with particular emphasis on heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigerating. Future collaborative activities include:

Organization of joint projects and programs.
Publicizing each other’s relevant publications.
Jointly undertaking technical projects.
Fostering closer relationships between ISHRAE chapters in India and the nearest AMCA regional office, with the objective of organizing local events and programs.
Exploring opportunities to provide speakers at each other’s meetings to provide updates and perspectives on technologies and trends of mutual interest.

A committee comprised of representatives from the organizations will meet periodically to implement the MoU and explore further areas of cooperation.

AMCA International and Asia AMCA sign a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) June 16 during a meeting of ISHRAE’s national board of governors. From left: Vishal Kapur, chair, national advocacy committee, ISHRAE; Anoop Ballaney, national president-elect, ISHRAE; Yogesh H. Thakkar, national president, ISHRAE; Kevin Faltin, executive director, AMCA International; and Asokdas Damodaran, secretary, AMCA International board of directors.

AMCA Announces Staff Promotions

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Six members of the AMCA staff recently were promoted to senior-level roles:

Robb Clawson, previously director of marketing, education, membership, and events, was promoted to senior director of association engagement.

Paul Fajnor, previously director of finance, human resources, and information technology, was promoted to senior director, finance and administration.

Charlie Meyers, previously Certified Ratings Program manager, was promoted to senior manager, certification services.

Jeanne Kolle, previously staff accountant, was promoted to senior accountant.

Tim Reilly, previously laboratory process and technology manager, was promoted to senior laboratory manager.

Scott Arnold, previously manager of industry content, was promoted to senior manager, industry engagement and content.

Dolores Suarez Svachula Named Senior Manager, Member Engagement and Marketing

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On June 1, Dolores Suarez Svachula joined the staff of AMCA as senior manager, member engagement and marketing.

Reporting to Senior Director of Association Engagement Robb Clawson, Suarez Svachula manages AMCA’s membership activities, member-service programs, and association-management system. Among her responsibilities is management of the global membership-application-approval process, development and management of member-recruitment and retention efforts, qualification and processing of prospective members, management of the development and production of onboarding materials for new members, recommendation and development of new-member programs and services, development and management of processes for identifying member needs and alerting staff, and development and management of a process for member feedback on programs and services.

Suarez Svachula has more than two decades of marketing-related experience, including communications strategy, brand messaging and positioning, lead nurturing, website optimization, content creation, and event planning and budgeting. This includes work with the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the American Society of Safety Professionals.

Suarez Svachula has a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Louver-Impact-Testing Standard and Fan-Air-Performance, Air-Control-Devices Publications Updated

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AMCA recently announced the publication of ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-23, Test Method for Louvers Impacted by Wind Borne Debris; AMCA Publication 211-22 (Rev. 01-23), Certified Ratings Program Product Rating Manual for Fan Air Performance; and AMCA Publication 511-21 (Rev. 12-22), Certified Ratings Program Product Rating Manual for Air Control Devices.

ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-23

Superseding ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-13, ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-23 establishes uniform methods of laboratory testing the ability of a louver to remain unbreached by flying debris during a windstorm.

One of the most significant changes to the standard is the addition of instructions for mounting a louver test specimen to a test frame using angle iron. While the mounting angle now required would comply with the previous version of the standard, minimum thickness was established to ensure the mounting angle provides a rigid attachment and does not absorb appreciable amounts of impact energy from deformation.

Other changes include:

The addition of a preface defining broad objectives and uses that do not fit within the purpose and scope sections.
The establishment of minimum performance requirements for louvers undergoing testing.
Corrected definitions of enhanced protection and basic protection and added definitions of essential facilities, mullion/section joint, mullion, blade span, unsupported blade span, frameless section joint, and dual-blade louver.
Definition of the sections of Testing Application Standard (TAS) 203, Criteria for Testing Products Subject to Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading, that are to be followed during post-impact cyclic pressure tests.
The establishment of separate failed-test procedures for impact tests and cyclic pressure tests.
The requirement that a test report be signed and sealed by a registered professional engineer and include cyclic-pressure-test data and results.
The updating of all figures.

The cost of ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-23 is $45 for AMCA members and $90 for non-members in printed or PDF format and $61 for AMCA members and $122 for non-members in both printed and PDF formats. To purchase a copy, click here.

AMCA Publication 211-22 (Rev. 01-23)

Superseding AMCA Publication 211-22, AMCA Publication 211-22 (Rev. 01-23) prescribes technical procedures for rating fans and axial impellers for air performance to be used in connection with the AMCA Certified Ratings Program (CRP).

AMCA Publication 211-22 (Rev. 01-23) coordinates the AMCA CRP with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requirements for large-diameter ceiling fans (LDCF). Changes were made to sections 9.11, “Rating method N: Large-diameter ceiling fans,” and 22, “Product Ratings Requirements for Large-Diameter Ceiling Fans.” Additionally, the title of Section 20 was changed.

Other changes in AMCA Publication 211-22 (Rev. 01-23) include:

The addition of the DOE definition of large-diameter ceiling fan.
The addition to the list of rating requirements the number of available fan speeds, the capability of reverse flow, and, if applicable, whether fan-speed controls are separate from lighting controls.
The allowance of conservative standby-power-consumption ratings.
The addition of testing voltage requirements for LDCF regulated by the DOE and having polyphase electricity.

AMCA Publication 211-22 (Rev. 01-23) is available in PDF format free of charge. To download a copy, click here.

AMCA Publication 511-21 (Rev. 12-22)

Superseding AMCA Publication 511-21, AMCA Publication 511-21 (Rev. 12-22) outlines technical procedures and the proper presentation of data for the certification of air-control devices through the CRP. It is to be used in conjunction with AMCA Publication 11-22, Certified Ratings Program Operating Manual.

Used in general ventilation and air-conditioning systems, air-control devices include louvers, dampers, gravity ventilators, round spiral duct, and transverse duct connections. The focus of the 2022 release was the addition of air-leakage-rating requirements (Section 26, new) and air-performance-rating requirements (Section 15) for “linkage-connected economizer dampers,” previously known as “economizer dampers.”

AMCA Publication 511-21 (Rev. 12-22) includes:

Updated definitions of “economizer dampers” and “air economizers.”
The addition of figures for the three general types of linkage-connected economizer dampers (Annex B, new).
The addition of a table of all of the symbols used in the publication (Section 4.2).
The addition to most louver sections language clarifying if testing with a drain pan was required.
For volume-control dampers, the allowance of extrapolation of air-leakage rating outside the tested height (extrapolation beyond the tested width still is prohibited) (Section 16.2.1.2).

AMCA Publication 511-21 (Rev. 12-22) is available free of charge in PDF format. In printed format, the cost is $6 for AMCA members and $12 for non-members. To obtain a copy, click here.

For more information about AMCA Publication 511-21 (Rev. 12-22), AMCA Publication 211-22 (Rev. 01-23), and ANSI/AMCA Standard 540-23, contact Director of Publications and Standards Joe Brooks, PE, at jbrooks@amca.org or Senior Manager, Publications and Standards Shruti Kohli-Bhargava at shrutik@amca.org.

AMCA Advocacy Roundup

Summaries of activities of AMCA’s advocacy team:

Louver-Porosity Conference Paper

At the 2023 ASHRAE Annual Conference, held June 24-28 in Tampa, Fla., “Effect and Estimation of Louver Porosity on Wind Load,” a paper prepared by a group of AMCA members and advocacy staff last winter and spring, was presented via one-on-one poster session.

The paper was the product of a collaboration involving Digambar Killedar, technical lead, air-systems mechanical, Johnson Controls, who performed computational-fluid-dynamics (CFD) analysis and served as lead author; Nikhil Desai, technical lead, air-systems mechanical, and Parmeshwar Patil, engineering manager, air-systems mechanical, Johnson Controls, who assisted Killedar; Mike Astourian, new-product-introduction and design-production manager, louvers, Ruskin, who led the review team and coordinated delivery of the paper and presentation; Jeffrey Smith, PE, research-and-development engineer, louvers, Ruskin, who presented the paper at the conference; Aaron Gunzner, PE, senior manager, advocacy, AMCA, who liaised with ASHRAE staff; and Scott Arnold, manager of industry content, AMCA, who edited the paper. The team was supported by a working group of the AMCA Louver Engineering Committee.

The paper explains how the coupling of numerical-simulation techniques CFD and finite-element analysis (FEA) improves wind-load calculations, resulting in simpler and less costly louver installation.

Two hours in duration, ASHRAE one-on-one poster sessions are intended to provide an enhanced opportunity to present technical information to a targeted audience and enter into a two-way exchange of ideas.

Jeffrey Smith, PE, Ruskin, presents “Effect and Estimation of Louver Porosity on Wind Load” during the 2023 ASHRAE Annual Conference. Photo by Aaron Gunzner, PE

Webinar on California Fan Regulations

On June 22, AMCA and Energy Code Ace, a program funded by California utility customers in support of the California Energy Commission (CEC), presented “Understanding and Complying with California Title 20 Fan Regulations, Part 2,” a webinar following up and building on “AMCA 214-21 and California Title 20: A Member-Only Panel Discussion Offering Insights and Responding to Questions,” presented April 25, and “Understanding and Complying with California Title 20 Fan Regulations, Part 1,” presented March 16.

Presented by Kate DoVale, Project Manager II, Energy Solutions, who leads the Energy Code Ace Title 20 team, and Sean Steffensen, PE, senior staff engineer, Energy Solutions, previously with the CEC, and moderated by Michael Ivanovich, senior director, global affairs, AMCA, “Understanding and Complying with California Title 20 Fan Regulations, Part 2” covers commercial impacts, scope, testing, and marking and certification requirements of Title 20, Public Utilities and Energy, of the California Code of Regulations. The webinar concluded with a panel discussion including Alejandro (Alex) Galdemez, PE, of the CEC, who led the development of Title 20 regulations for fans.

Manufacturers of commercial and industrial fans and blowers sold or offered for sale in California have until Nov. 16 to comply with the new efficiency regulations.

The presentation slides as well as an audio recording of “Understanding and Complying with California Title 20 Fan Regulations, Part 2” are posted in the members area of the AMCA website. Once signed in, click “Proceedings from Member Only activities.” The event is listed under “Members-Only Webinars.”

2023 National Energy Codes Conference

From May 2-4, AMCA Senior Manager, Advocacy Aaron Gunzner, PE, and AMCA Codes and Standards Engineer Zac Johnson attended the 2023 National Energy Codes Conference, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel in Chicago.

Session topics included leveraging new federal funding to advance building energy codes; the effectiveness of efforts to decarbonize energy codes; what to expect in the next editions of the International Energy Conservation Code and ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings; trends impacting the construction of multifamily buildings; strategies to bring new workers into the building industry; the role of energy codes in supporting state and local climate and resilience goals; the current landscape for all-electric codes; benefits and challenges of adopting full suites of codes; and leveraging relationships to encourage program buy-in and improve code compliance.

“A highlight of the event was a session on building-performance standards, outcome-based policies focused on the energy performance of existing buildings,” Johnson said. “While ASHRAE 90.1 and the International Building Code are focused on new construction, there is an obvious need for codes and standards for existing buildings, which represent the majority of the building stock.”

With regard to the discussion of federal funding, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is said to be the most significant action on climate change and clean energy the U.S. Congress has taken, Johnson said.

“This funding is intended to make the United States a leader in domestic clean-energy manufacturing with a net-zero economy by 2050,” Johnson explained. “The act provides $11.7 billion in funding to the DOE’s Loan Programs Office to support innovative clean-energy technology, energy-infrastructure reinvestment, advanced-technology-vehicles manufacturing, and tribal energy.”

Lastly, workforce development was a topic that received a lot of attention, Johnson said.

“Kentucky, for example, is tackling energy codes and decarbonization through education, including the introduction of curriculum as early as kindergarten and the development of partnerships with universities and community colleges,” Johnson said. “What is clear is the approach to decarbonization is not ‘one size fits all’—what works for one state may not work for another.”

AMCA Laboratory Visit

Zac Johnson, who joined the staff of AMCA in the role of codes and standards engineer in December, visited AMCA’s headquarters in Arlington Heights, Ill., to get a taste of day-to-day laboratory operations April 12 and 13.

“I’m grateful I had the opportunity to get my hands on products and work with the lab staff,” Johnson, who works from his home in Winston-Salem, N.C., said.

While in Arlington Heights, Johnson, who graduated from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2020, assisted with several product tests.

To start, Johnson learned how to properly set up and perform a water-penetration test per ANSI/AMCA Standard 500-L, Laboratory Methods of Testing Louvers for Rating. Laboratory staff explained louver-blade spacing, total free area, and the importance of those parameters to performance.

Next, Johnson assisted Laboratory Process and Technology Manager Tim Reilly on the setup for an ANSI/AMCA Standard 250, Laboratory Methods of Testing Jet Fans for Performance, test.

“I learned this test rig requires very careful calibration of its load cell,” Johnson said. “Calibration of the load cell requires incremental position adjustments to ensure proper readings of moment force on several locations of its pivot point.”

Lastly, Johnson assisted Laboratory Engineer David Nowak with setup for motor-calibration testing.

“The process of motor-calibration testing often requires separating the test motor from the fan assembly and then coupling it to a torque transducer and brake motor controlled by a VFD (variable-frequency drive) with regenerative drive,” Johnson explained.

Johnson said the laboratory experience was time well spent.

“This type of learning is crucial to my development in the advocacy space,” Johnson said.

ANSI/AMCA Standard 500-L water-penetration test. Photo by Zac Johnson

Test rig for an ANSI/AMCA Standard 250 test. Photo by Zac Johnson

Motor-calibration test rig. Photo by Zac Johnson

AMCA in the Media

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Highlighting AMCA’s efforts to engage the HVACR and buildings industry:

On July 20, AMCA Senior Director, Global Affairs Michael Ivanovich and AMCA Senior Manager, Advocacy Aaron Gunzner, PE, presented “Regulation of Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers Is Here. What That Means for You,” a 60-minute webinar produced by HPAC Engineering. To view a video recording of the webinar, click here (registration required).
AMCA 2022-2023 President Mark Bublitz talks the association, regulation of the performance of commercial and industrial fans and blowers, and more in the May edition of HPAC Engineering’s HPAC 'On the Air' podcast. To listen, click here (registration required).
The Spring edition of Life Safety Digest magazine features “Your Questions About Life-Safety Dampers Answered” by Dane Carey, James Carlin, the late Larry Felker, and Kent Maune, republished from the award-winning 2022 edition of AMCA inmotion magazine.
The March issue of Mechanical Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) Middle East magazine features a condensed version of the article “AMCA COVID-19 Guidance for Large-Diameter Ceiling Fans” by AMCA Senior Director, Global Affairs Michael Ivanovich; AMCA Senior Manager, Advocacy Aaron Gunzner, PE; and AMCA Manager of Industry Content Scott Arnold from the award-winning 2021 edition of AMCA inmotion magazine.
AMCA Senior Director, Global Affairs Michael Ivanovich and AMCA Manager of Industry Content Scott Arnold are among the bylined contributors to “Comparing Airborne Infectious Aerosol Exposures in Sparsely Occupied Large Spaces Utilizing Large-Diameter Ceiling Fans,” featured in the March edition (Volume 231) of journal Building and Environment.
AMCA 2022-2023 President Mark Bublitz is among 10 industry leaders expressing viewpoints in “HVACR 2023: What's New? What's Next?” in the January/February edition of HPAC Engineering.