NFRC Membership to be Busy
In Baltimore
2009 Summer Membership Meeting Set For July 20-23

NFRC will hold its Summer Membership meeting in downtown Baltimore, steps away from the teeming Inner Harbor. The hardest working professionals in the fenestration energy rating industry will come together for a series of committee, subcommittee, and task group meetings concentrating on NFRC’s varied programs.
 
Task groups commence Monday, July 20, at 7:30 a.m., with two tracks of business being conducted by busy volunteers. Kicking off the day is a task group block focusing on the different products currently classified as Attachments (i.e., Awnings, Storm Windows, and more).
 
A networking welcome lunch will be held for all registered attendees directly prior to the Opening Session – featuring retired Sgt. Major First Class Thomas Morrissey as speaker. There are a total of 17 ballots set for discussion over the course of the week.  
 
On Tuesday, there will be an early evening presentation on complex window and attachment ratings by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and, on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies Program will be available to discuss its recent R-5 windows project.

A Story of Courage and Determination from One of Our Own
During the Opening Session on July 20, attendees will hear a message of hope and commitment from NFRC member Thomas Morrissey, who retired from the military after 30 years of service. After being wounded while serving in Afghanistan he overcame great obstacles: enduring three years of surgeries and rehabilitation. This NFRC volunteer and vice president with Hunter Douglas, Inc., has graciously agreed to share his amazing experience of triumph over adversity.

Regulatory Affairs and Marketing – Extended Session
Changes can hit like a tidal wave if you are not “in the know.” NFRC meeting attendees will get an opportunity to plug in to all the latest from Washington, D.C., during Monday’s Regulatory Affairs and Marketing (RAM) Committee meeting. The extended committee meeting will feature reports from the DOE and ENERGY STAR®, and a legislative update from Lisa Kountoupes, NFRC’s legislative affairs coordinator. We also hope to welcome a number of guests from related organizations to the RAM meeting, including representatives from the state of Maryland, American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI).

Ballots and the 2009 Document Cycle Make for a Packed Agenda
Each committee will meet in designated block periods starting with the RAM Committee as mentioned above, with the NFRC Policy Committees finishing off the busy day.  
 
The Research and Technology Committee block begins bright and early on Tuesday (at 7:30 a.m.) with the Thermophysical Properties of Materials Subcommittee looking to discuss the NFRC 101 ballot, peer reviews, and the latest report from the 101 and 103 Task Group (led by Peter Lyons). The Research and Technology Committee will have three additional subcommittees meeting, including the Research Subcommittee. Bipin Shah, chair of the subcommittee, will hear updates from several project monitoring task groups before the Technical Committee begins on Tuesday afternoon.

Special Note: As with all the committees throughout the week, the subcommittees will meet consecutively under their allotted committee block. This may mean that subcommittee meetings scheduled for one day could be moved to the day before if time allows. Watch for this with the split Technical block July 21 and 22.

On Wednesday morning, the Technical Committee continues its full schedule, which involves wrapping up the subcommittees with Attachments and CMA groups. The Technical Committee’s subcommittees will have 10 ballots to review – including four in U-factor alone. Annual Energy Performance Subcommittee Chair Tom Culp will be leading a review of the feedback received on the NFRC 901 – “Whole House Procedure.” The busy day of meetings will conclude with the Ratings Committee, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The subcommittees within that block have three ballots and the Labeling Subcommittee will be discussing requirements for metric labeling.   
 
Detailed agendas and past meeting minutes are available online for all the task groups, subcommittees, and committees meeting in Baltimore. See below for link to the Upcoming Meetings Web page.

Baltimore – Charm City
Baltimore has a lively downtown area and the NFRC’s host hotel, the Sheraton Inner Harbor, is located within a few blocks of the best the city has to offer! Unfortunately, the Baltimore Orioles are playing away that week, but there are still tons of things to do to fill your out-of-meeting free time.
 
Attendees and their guests will find many options for diversion along the picturesque waterfront after the meetings. Just steps from the hotel, Harbor Place and the Gallery offer numerous shopping options, and Baltimore’s National Aquarium is home to more than 16,000 different creatures.

Keep your eyes peeled!

• Watch for a product display onsite from NFRC’s Gold Meeting Sponsor – Hunter Douglas

• Look for information on the new R-5 program from DOE’s Building Technologies Program

• Check out the NFRC’s new exhibit booth, making its membership meeting debut

Check out the following Web sites that may offer some assistance in planning:

NFRC looks forward to seeing you in Baltimore, Maryland. As always, the staff will be on hand to answer your questions and help in any way.
 
Registration, schedules, agendas, and accommodation and additional information can be found on NFRC’s Upcoming Meetings Web page, or feel free to contact the NFRC staff - we are at your service.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

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IA Corner >>>

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NFRC Membership to be Busy in Baltimore >>>

Experts Discuss Complex Fenestration Systems >>>

What Happens in Vegas –
Is NFRC Education! >>>

IRS Issues Guidance on Federal Tax Credit for Efficient Fenestration Products >>>

NFRC Manufacturer Members Invited to Participate in R-5 Windows Program >>>

SPOTLIGHT ON: WINDOW 6/THERM 6 Approval Task Group >>>

SPOTLIGHT ON: Members >>>

 

NFRC Insider | Vol. 3, Issue 4 - July 2009