NFRC Presents Proposed Document Changes to Membership with 17 Ballots

On Sept. 10, 2021, 17 ballots were submitted to members of the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) for input. These ballots represent proposed changes to NFRC program and technical documents, potentially affecting program and testing procedures.

The 17 ballots will be resolved at the Fall Membership Virtual meeting during the Research and Technology Committee (6 ballots), Technical Committee (10 ballots), and Ratings Committee (1 ballot) blocks.

Ballot topics include:

• Removing unused product types from NFRC 100: Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product U-factor, Table 4-3;

• An updated ballot with details related to the new Commercial Trendline Approach (CTA) in NFRC 100, NFRC 200: Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and Visible Transmittance at Normal Incidence, and NFRC 500: Procedure for Determining Fenestration Product Condensation Index Ratings;

• Correction of errors related to dividers in NFRC 100 and NFRC 200;

• The addition of vacuum insulated glass (VIG) as a covered product for U-factor (NFRC 100) and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient and Visible Transmittance (NFRC 200);

• Inclusion of domed skylights in NFRC 202: Procedure for Determining Translucent Fenestration Product Visible Transmittance at Normal Incidence;

• Additional language for calculating condensation index (CI) for products that cannot be calculated using the trendline approach in NFRC 500;

• The use of rubber mats, thermal paste, calibration of ASTM C518 equipment for measuring conductivity, and a new procedure to obtain thermal conductance for VIG have all be added to NFRC 101: Procedure for Determining Thermophysical Properties of Materials for Use in NFRC-Approved Software;

• Changes to NFRC 301: Standard Test Method for Emittance of Glazing Products and NFRC 302: Verification Program for Optical Spectral Data for diffuse glazing products based on the Diffuse Glazing research report; and

• An updated ballot for the new NFRC 715 Commercial Energy Performance Certification Program: Products & Projects document.

These changes affect a number of NFRC stakeholders and participants – from laboratories to residential and commercial manufacturers, and others.

Though only NFRC members in good standing may vote on ballots (one vote per company), all interested parties can review the proposed changes and become members if they believe contributing to the process will be in their company’s best interest.

Ballots may be downloaded from the NFRC website Ballots page. For more information on the NFRC ballots for this Fall 2021 cycle, please contact Jen Padgett.  To become a member to be able to participate in the ballots, please contact Jessica Finn.