NFRC Around the World
Last November, the NFRC Board of Directors approved a number of measures to build upon the strategic planning the organization conducted. One of these goals was “to maintain a long-term global focus.” International partnerships have always been an important part of NFRC’s mission, going all the way back to the 1992 Energy Policy Act, which directed the U.S. Department of Energy to support NFRC’s efforts to promote international harmonization of its rating and certification program for fenestration products. This past year, NFRC has worked with Australia and India.
In maintaining an international presence, NFRC has sought to promote a uniform technical basis and institutional framework for energy ratings of fenestration products and to help reduce trade barriers for U.S. manufacturers. Other nations, like Australia, United Kingdom, and other European nations, use THERM and WINDOW modeling, but environmental conditions and product model sizes differ, making it difficult to adopt NFRC’s program.
International Partnerships
NFRC is working towards providing the means for countries to adapt NFRC technical procedures by way of international partnerships, or bilateral agreements. Under these agreements, NFRC will closely coordinate its technical and certification work with partner nations – conducting computer simulation training workshops, setting up testing facilities, developing standards and program documents – all of which are the foundation of a successful rating program.
The nature of these agreements is beneficial for both parties involved. In the short term, NFRC will expend the resources necessary to get the program off the ground and to also keep the partner engaged. As for the long-term implications, these bilateral agreements will mean a more integrated and holistic approach to product certification globally.
“NFRC also looks to industry organizations to play a substantial role in these partnerships,” said Bipin Shah, former director of technical program at NFRC and now president of his own consulting firm, WinBuild, Inc. “Several NFRC members conduct business in countries which are in the process of developing energy codes. Engaging a country in the early stages will help transition the country to NFRC’s program and ensure that NFRC labels are recognized in those specific countries from the start.”
Shah added, “Energy ratings programs are starting to be developed in many areas of the world, due to the growing importance of building energy efficiency and the shifts caused by climate change.”
The Case for Uniformity
While working with partners globally will require a concerted effort from NFRC initially, the ends justify the means. Among the many benefits are:
- Reduced Cost – Any duplicative efforts of certification, testing, and simulating for manufacturers and suppliers will be eliminated– saving both time and dollars. Also, the costs for standards development and maintenance and update of software, e.g., THERM, WINDOW, OPTICS, and Spectral Data Library, will be spread across partner countries in the long term.
- Shared Knowledge – A key benefit for international partners will be information sharing on developments in fenestration products. These agreements will foster the flow of technology exchange in regards to the next generation of fenestration products – a goal that DOE strongly supports. Additionally, research activities as they relate to advanced technology will be coordinated.
- Improve and Widen Scope of NFRC – The scope of NFRC’s standards will be significantly improved by adding international efficiency requirements and goals – all of which vary right now. Including different building types to the mix, e.g. high, medium and light mass building, will show the impact of U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, and Visible Transmittance on a wide array of buildings.
- Facilitates Trade – These agreements will help to reduce trade barriers for U.S. manufacturers, simplify enforcement, and encourage the trade of energy efficient fenestration products into new markets.
- Improve Training – NFRC will offer training to identified experts in partner countries and certify them to teach the simulation program and to provide quality control in their country. This will increase the number of qualified experts internationally.
Here’s a glimpse of what NFRC has been working on this year:
Australia
To successfully carry out these agreements, NFRC has to develop licensing and procedures to enable partner countries to adopt NFRC’s program. Currently, NFRC is working with Australia as a partner country and helping them adopt NFRC ratings procedures. The framework for providing other countries with NFRC’s program will be guided by the process in Australia. This process is not yet complete, but has begun to take shape.
India
NFRC is one of the associate partners with the International Resources Group that has been awarded the Energy Conservation and Commercialization Project-Phase III, a USAID project in India tasked to implement energy codes. As a partner on this project, NFRC is helping to set up an energy unit at the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology in India. This will help build the infrastructure to support future building energy codes for fenestration in India.
Looking forward, NFRC will continue its efforts abroad – focusing on its partnership with Australia and establishing new agreements as well. From a strategic standpoint, it is in the best interest of NFRC and its stakeholders to maintain a long-term global focus.
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NFRC Update | October 2006