Chapter Toolkit: How You Can Participate in State & Local Government Activities of Interest to ASHRAE

2 Introduction Circumstances when an ASHRAE chapter may feel the need to get involved in local government activities –Someone proposes adding a reference to an ASHRAE document –Someone proposes changing or deleting a reference to an ASHRAE document –Above changes may or may not be appropriate –Address questions from state/local government Establish contact so that state and local government know who to call if they have ASHRAE-related questions.

3 Objectives ASHRAE members in Chapters will become familiar with the Standards development process, and how it is thorough and comprehensive. Provide the ability to communicate with State/local officials about ASHRAE’s scope, expertise, available documents, and willingness to help Improve ASHRAE’s understanding of state/local situations and their needs ASHRAE can transfer knowledge through approved documents to state/local bodies

4 The Value in Getting Involved in State and Local Government Activities These activities impact the Society as a whole and Chapters in particular ASHRAE Rule of the Board says: –“ASHRAE will establish, develop and nurture collaborative activities and partnerships with developers of standards and codes necessary to ensure ASHRAE technical leadership in the areas of HVAC &R in building codes and regulations is established and maintained.” They can be vehicles for achieving the vision and mission of ASHRAE as well as promoting and implementing ASHRAE standards, guidelines, etc. If you don’t someone else will

5 Do’s and Don’ts Do inform state and local officials of ASHRAE’s existence, reputation, independence, and expertise Do provide ASHRAE information that is freely available, e.g. Position Documents Do inform state and local officials of other ASHRAE publications, e.g. standards Do inform governments that the local Chapter can provide information and seminars to inform the public on ASHRAE and proper HVAC&R technical principles. Do respond to questions from state and local officials Do ask state and local officials for their needs Don’t assume you know what state/local government needs and provide input before you know what they want Don’t speak for ASHRAE, but providing published ASHRAE information is fine Don’t mix your commercial interests with ASHRAE’s technical expertise

6 ASHRAE Documents Position Papers/Position Documents Standards Guidelines User’s Manuals Handbooks Special Publications (e.g., Advanced Energy Design Guides)

7 Position Documents Airborne Infectious Diseases (June 24, 2009) Ammonia as a Refrigerant (January 26, 2006) Climate Change (June 24, 2009) Energy (January 23, 2008) Environmental Tobacco Smoke (June 25, 2008) Indoor Air Quality (February 10, 2005) Legionellosis (June 25, 1998) Minimizing Indoor Mold Problems through Management of Moisture in Building Systems (June 30, 2005) Natural Refrigerants (January 28, 2009) Ozone-Depleting Substances (January 23, 2008) All are available for free download at

8 Standards & Guidelines 117 Active standard/guideline projects –49 standards/guidelines proposed –48 standards/guidelines under revision –3 standards undergoing reaffirmation –17 standards under continuous maintenance

9 Standards and Guidelines of Particular Interest Gdl The Commissioning Process Gdl The HVAC Commissioning Process Gdl Preparation of Operating and Maintenance Documentation for Building Systems Gdl (RA 2001) Commissioning Smoke Management Systems Gdl Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated With Building Water Systems Gdl Measurement of Energy and Demand Savings Std Safety Standard for Refrigeration System Std Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants Std Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy Std Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality Std Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings

10 Standards and Guidelines of Particular Interest Std Energy Efficient Design of New Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings Std Energy Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings Std Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Std Standard Methods of Measuring and Expressing Building Energy Performance Std (RA 2004) Air Leakage Performance for Detached Single-Family Residential Buildings Std Ventilation for Commercial Cooking Operations SPC 155P Method of Testing for Rating Commercial Space Heating Boiler Systems Standard Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of HVAC Systems Standard Methods and Procedures for Performing Cooling and Heating Load Calculations in Nonresidential Buildings Standard 189.1PStandard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings

11 Best-known Standards Indoor Environment Standard 55 – Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy Standard 62.1 – Ventilation for Acceptable IAQ Standard 62.2 – Ventilation and Acceptable IAQ in Low-Rise Residential Buildings

12 Best-known Standards Energy Efficiency Standard 90.1 – Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings Standard 90.2 – Energy-Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings

13 Overview of U.S. Codes Process Development –Many developers of standards, codes, guidelines, etc. More than 150 American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited organizations, including ASHRAE, have written over 11,500 ANSI standards ANSI process allows for participation by all affected parties –Developed in the voluntary sector for adoption by others –Sometimes developed directly by regulatory authorities

14 Overview of U.S. Codes Process International Code Bodies –International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) –International Code Council (ICC) International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) International Mechanical Code (IMC) International Plumbing Code (IPC) –National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Building Construction and Safety Code National Electrical Code (NEC) National Fuel Gas Code

15 Overview of U.S. Codes Process Adoption –Federal, state or local legislation or regulation –Utilities, lenders, insurance and others Implementation and Enforcement –By adopting agency or those under their authority Compliance –By those regulated or required to comply

16 1.Proposed code changes submitted to code body 2.Suggested changes made public 3.Code development hearing for people to support or oppose suggested changes 4.Code committee recommends action 5.Recommended action published for comment 6.Comments submitted on proposed actions 7.Final action taken 8.New/revised code published Overview of U.S. Codes Process

17 ASHRAE Code Participation Code Interaction Subcommittee (CIS) of Standards Committee Code-intended standards list Submits change proposals to code bodies Coordinated with ICC 3-year cycle: –Publication in 2003, 2006, etc. –Supplements in 2004, 2005, etc. ASHRAE republishes in: –2004, 2007, 2010, etc. –Supplements every 18 months

18 Resources Standards Committee (Staff contact: Stephanie Reiniche– –Code Interaction Subcommittee (Staff contact: Steve Ferguson – –Standard and Guideline Project Committees (Staff contact: Mark Weber – The titles, purposes, and scopes (TPS) of all standard and guideline project committees are available online at Other ASHRAE documents may be helpful, such as: –Handbooks (Staff contact: Mark Owen – –Journal (Staff contact: Fred Turner – –Special Publications (Staff contact: Cindy Michaels– Additional ASHRAE information is available: –Public Relations (Staff contact: Jodi Dunlop – –Advocacy (Staff contact: Pat Ryan – –ASHRAE Learning Institute (Staff contact: Ericka Reid– –ASHRAE Bookstore (

19 Conclusion ASHRAE’s mission is to advance the arts and sciences of HVAC & R to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world Part of that responsibility is to support: –Adoption of ASHRAE standards into codes –Utilization of our position documents –Exploitation of other ASHRAE resources Lack of participation in the process allows someone else to make the decisions affecting HVAC & R