The de facto ban, proposed in Addendum ‘a’ of Standard 62.2 and discussed at length in previous Friday Updates, was disapproved by the ASHRAE Board of Directors in 2019 and returned to SSPC 62.2 through the cognizant standards committees. This week, the ASHRAE Board reversed itself and approved Addendum ‘a’ for publication despite efforts of anad hoc ASHRAE working group’s efforts to put forward a compromise proposal that addressed technical flaws and unsubstantiated requirements within Addendum ‘a.’  This outcome follows three years of debate over the Addendum and several years of challenges preceding the drafting of the Addendum.  No modifications to Addendum ‘a’ were implemented, and no efforts or requirements for addressing unresolved negative comments were undertaken.  AGA remains an unresolved negative commenter.  According to AHRI’s coverage of this week’s Board meeting, the Board vote was 22 for approval of the Addendum, six against, one abstention, and one member recusing himself.  Negative voters cited issues of potential violation of ASHRAE ANSI-approved procedures as their reason for their votes.  Both the negative voter’s rationale and similar industry issues of potential procedural violations will be discussed by the industry interest group early next week as grounds for appealing the Board’s decision under ASHRAE’s appeals process.  Last week and before the Board meeting, AGA and other organizations had submitted letter to the Board urging it to stand fast on its disapprove of Addendum.  Should an ASHRAE appeal not succeed, appellants may submit appeals to ANSI under that governing bodies “Essential Requirements” covering procedures of ANSI-recognized standards developers.  AGA staff remain committed to industry following up with legal action against ASHRAE should either set of appeals not succeed and had recommended legal engagement with the ASHRAE standards committee’s deliberations three years ago.  However, manufacturers of unvented combustion heating appliances did not respond to the AGA recommendations at that time.  From the comments of at least one manufacturer during the latest Board consideration of the Addendum, that recommendation may now be revisited.

 

Attached is the November 12, 2020 comments submitted by AGA President & CEO  Karen Harbert to the Colorado Energy Office on the “Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap” in which AGA strongly urges Colorado to consider the benefits and the role of the direct use of natural gas as part of the Colorado’s roadmap to reduce greenhouse gases. The AGA comments include detailed information and facts that can be used to provide input on natural gas benefits to states that are initiating similar programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For those interested in shipment trends for residential and commercial gas and electric storage type water heaters, residential gas and oil furnaces, electric heat pumps and air-conditioners, click here for the November 13, 2020 Air-Conditioning Heating, & Refrigeration (AHRI) Press Release that provides the September 2020 U.S. Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data. You may also wish to share this information with other groups or individuals within your organization that would be interested in water heater and HVAC equipment shipment trends.

[This is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards.]