1. Chapter Toolkit
How You Can Participate in Government Activities with Code Officials

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 a contact so that government officials 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 government officials about ASHRAE’s scope, expertise, available documents, and willingness to help
Improve ASHRAE’s understanding of government situations and their needs
ASHRAE can transfer knowledge through approved documents to government 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 government officials of ASHRAE’s existence, reputation, independence, and expertise
Do provide ASHRAE information that is freely available (Position Documents and Public Policy Issue Briefs)
Do inform government officials of other ASHRAE publications (Standards, Building EQ)
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 government officials
Do ask government officials for their needs

6. Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t assume you know what 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

7. ASHRAE Documents
Public Policy Issue Briefs/Position Documents
Standards
Guidelines
User’s Manuals
Handbooks
Special Publications (e.g., Advanced Energy Design Guides)

8. Current Position Documents
Airborne Infectious Diseases
Ammonia as a Refrigerant
Combustion of Solid Fuels and Indoor Air Quality in Primarily Developing Countries
Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Filtration and Air Cleaning
Indoor Air Quality
Limiting Indoor Mold and Dampness in Buildings
Refrigerants and their Responsible Use
Unvented Combustion Devices and IAQ
All are available for free download at Please be sure to use the latest version of any of these documents downloaded.

9. Current Public Policy Issue Briefs
Building Energy Data: A Critical Resource
Climate Change and Building Energy Efficiency
Consensus Standards: Expert Solutions to Meet National Needs
Energy Efficiency for Buildings and HVAC&R Equipment
Energy Use Metrics and Targets for Commercial Buildings
Research and Development to Meet National Goals
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education and Competitiveness
Commercial Building Energy Use Disclosure
All are available for free download at Please be sure to use the latest version of any of these documents downloaded.

10. 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

11. Standards and Guidelines of Particular Interest
Gdl
The Commissioning Process
Gdl
The HVAC Commissioning Process
Gdl (RA 2013(
Preparation of Operating and Maintenance Documentation for Building Systems
Gdl 1.5
The Commissioning Process for Smoke Control 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

12. 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
Ventilation for Commercial Cooking Operations SPC 155P Method of Testing for Rating Commercial Space Heating Boiler Systems
Std
Climatic Data for Building Design Standards
Std
Ventilation of Health Care Facilities
Std
Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of HVAC Systems

13. Standards and Guidelines of Particular Interest
Std
Methods and Procedures for Performing Cooling and Heating Load Calculations in Nonresidential Buildings
Std
Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water
Systems
Std
Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings
Std
Commissioning Process for Buildings and Systems

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Overview of U.S. Codes Process
Proposed code changes submitted to code body
Suggested changes made public
Code development hearing for people to support or oppose suggested changes
Code committee recommends action
Recommended action published for comment
Comments submitted on proposed actions
Final action taken
New/revised code published
Notes: For step 7 – If no comments are received in step 6 the committee recommendation stands. If there are comments than at NFPA and IAPMO final action is taken by the committee. At ICC the final action is taken by eligible membership.

20. 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 2015, 2018, etc.
ASHRAE republishes in:
2016, 2019, etc.
Supplements every 18 months

21. Resources www.ashrae.org
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: Jay Scott–
Special Publications (Staff contact: Cindy Michaels–
Additional ASHRAE information is available:
Public Relations (Staff contact: Kristin Gocke –
Government Relations and Advocacy (Staff contact: Jim Scarborough –
ASHRAE Learning Institute (Staff contact:
ASHRAE Bookstore (

22. 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