NFRC Demonstrates CMA Software Tool at California Energy Code Workshop

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and Southern California Edison presented a workshop about the Component Modeling Approach (CMA) and its software, attracting a roomful of building officials from California. CMA will be a required compliance tool for rating and certifying nonresidential fenestration under changes to the California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) in 2009.

More than 55 building professionals attended the workshop, which took place on August 20 in Irwindale, Calif. During the workshop, NFRC Executive Director Jim Benney addressed NFRC’s function in rating the energy performance of fenestration products and presented an overview of the CMA procedure. Nelson Pena, of the California Energy Commission, discussed changes to Title 24, Part 6, and their effect on rating and certifying nonresidential fenestration. Additionally, Charlie Curcija of Carli, Inc., the firm developing the software for the CMA program, demonstrated the core functionality of the CMA Software Tool (CMAST).

“NFRC designed the CMA program to be fair, accurate and user-friendly,” said Benney. “It will provide the entire building industry with a uniform standard of rating and certifying nonresidential fenestration products and the feedback we received was very encouraging.”

A few weeks earlier, Curcija also demonstrated the prototype software at the NFRC Summer Membership Meeting in Chicago. During the hour-long session, Curcija explained in-depth how CMAST will function, highlighted the user’s interface in client mode, and demonstrated a number of scenarios.

He explained that the application on a user’s computer will have its own database that stores all of the client’s data. Components, certified products, and label certificates will then synchronize with a main server database. (The planned online database of NFRC-approved framing, spacer, and glazing components is expected to be ready by the end of the year). “The software allows you a flexible way of sharing different information on the server,” said Curcija.

CMAST is continuing to undergo prototype testing. Upon completion, it will offer many benefits to users, including client-based and Web-based functionalities. It will maintain libraries of component data, define projects, assemble components, and calculate whole-product ratings.

NFRC’s target implementation date for the CMA program – including software, technical documents, standards, and procedures – is August 2009.

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NFRC Insider | Vol. 2, Issue 4 - September 2008