General
Overview
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) launched one of its more
ambitious campaigns in 2002: Keep Aluminum Windows (KAW).
The mission is simple—the name actually says it all-to keep
aluminum windows as a viable and preferred component within
the residential and commercial construction markets.
Although the mission is simple, achieving it is
complex. To do so we must educate the building and construction
industry, the standards and codes bodies within it, and government
agencies regulating it, as to the advantages of working with
aluminum extrusions. We must be constantly vigilant and persistently
proactive. We must be and are an aggressive advocate for the
aluminum fenestration industry. Join the KAW Campaign
 You
can make a difference!
...it's
not just a residential issue anymore!
KAW Activities Update
Highlights of Recent KAW Activities—November 2007
by Tom Culp, AEC Consultant for KAW
ASHRAE January 2006 Winter Meeting Update
Our KAW representative, Thomas Culp, Birch Point Consulting LLC, attended the ASHRAE winter meeting in Chicago on Jan 20-23, where changes to the ASHRAE 90.1 standard were being considered. Here are some highlights from the meeting.
- In the envelope requirements, the main issue was a proposed requirement for continuous air barriers (CAB) in all commercial buildings. This was a highly contentious item because of added questionable testing and material requirements. It ended up failing, but will be revised.
- As the result of time constraints, the fenestration items were only reviewed and no action was taken. The items that will be addressed in the coming months include possible minimum VT requirements and revision of all the fenestration U-factors (key area to monitor) . Previous attempts to pass a limitation on the amount of west-facing glass failed, but this may also be revisited.
- Only items that passed at this meeting will become part of the 2007 ASHRAE 90.1, which means the updated fenestration requirements will first appear as an addendum to the 2007 version, but they will not be in the next full version until 2010. Usually only the full versions are adopted in the codes, so any new U-factors won't be widely required until after 2010.
- Big announcement -> The standards committees of ASHRAE and the USGBC have voted to jointly develop a new standard for commercial buildings that goes beyond ASHRAE 90.1 in terms of energy efficiency and also includes sustainability. This can be viewed as something between ASHRAE 90.1 (which has become a minimum standard in the codes) and LEEDS (which promotes above-code buildings). It was also hinted that ASHRAE wants to develop a certification program for buildings. This is very preliminary, and it is not clear what the exact intention is. One comment was that this new standard will become a minimum standard for sustainability, whereas ASHRAE 90.1 is a minimum standard for energy efficiency, with both intended to be adopted in the codes. Another comment was that this will not be intended for the codes, but exists as a superior standard for above-code buildings, but more technically rigorous than LEEDS. Either way, this will be a key activity to monitor . Because it includes sustainability, we can use this opportunity to promote the recycling and life cycle advantages of aluminum.
- There is discussion of developing a new approach for AHRAE 90.1 after 2010 based on "linked criteria." Rather than simply complying with all the separate requirements for lighting, mechanical, envelope, and other systems, whole building analysis would be used to develop multiple options for complying with the overall energy efficiency requirement. In essence, this would be a simplified way of doing performance-based compliance where trade-offs between all the areas are allowed as long as the overall energy performance is satisfied. This is only in the embryonic stage at this time, but we would certainly support this performance-based approach.
Expanding KAW's Role Position
Paper
Although KAW has been vigorous in its interaction with the Department
of Energy and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory relative to the Energy
Star program, it has become apparent that to meet our goals of protecting
and expanding the aluminum extrusion market within the fenestration industry,
we must expand our outreach. In order to position the KAW program in
a proactive rather than reactive position, we must expand our influence
into additional arenas. The expansion of KAW's role to include meeting
the needs of the members who serve the commercial fenestration markets
also dictates that we become involved with other organizations and code
bodies.
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Increased Presence- NFRC
Early on the KAW program recognized the importance and influence that
the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) had, and continues
to have, with the DOE, the Energy Star Program, and all companies involved
in the manufacture of fenestration products. It is our position that
aluminum interests have been under-represented and equally underserved
in the past within this influential organization. We now have KAW's
interests represented. Our KAW consultant, Thomas Culp at Birch Point
Consulting LLC, is active on numerous NFRC committees and subcommittees.
We have also been aggressive in urging the aluminum industry's stakeholders
to become active within this organization.
Increased Collaborative
Efforts
In our efforts relative to combating mandated changes within
the Energy Star-Windows program, which are detrimental to
our interests, we have developed strong working relationships
with other industry stakeholders. We continue to explore collaborative
efforts whenever possible when KAW interests coincide with
those of other groups.
Developing an
ICC/IECC Presence
KAW recognizes the increasing role of the International Code Council
(ICC) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) relative
to the establishment of a national as well as international building
code. AEC has become a member of the ICC and plans to be an active participant
and watchdog for KAW interests. AEC has joined forces with the American
Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) as co-proponent in submitting
comments to two code changes coming before the Final Hearing process
within the ICC. These codes affect both residential and commercial interests.
As KAW strives to protect the interests of our members and other
stakeholders in the aluminum fenestration industry, our role
within ICC and vigilance of their actions will become increasingly
important.
We need your support-both funding and
expertise! KAW is supported by contributions.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions (html)
FAQs and Recent Activities (pdf)
Follow link to view frequently asked questions.
Past
Events
Follow the link to view archived articles.
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