ASHRAE Board of Directors Approves the Standard 62.2 Effective Ban of Unvented Gas Heating Appliances on a Second Time Around.
The de facto ban, proposed in Addendum ‘a’ of Standard 62.2 and discussed at length in previous Friday Updates, was disapproved by the ASHRAE Board of Directors in 2019 and returned to SSPC 62.2 through the cognizant standards committees. This week, the ASHRAE Board reversed itself and approved Addendum ‘a’ for publication despite efforts of anad hoc ASHRAE working group’s efforts to put forward a compromise proposal that addressed technical flaws and unsubstantiated requirements within Addendum ‘a.’  This outcome follows three years of debate over the Addendum and several years of challenges preceding the drafting of the Addendum.  No modifications to Addendum ‘a’ were implemented, and no efforts or requirements for addressing unresolved negative comments were undertaken.  AGA remains an unresolved negative commenter.  According to AHRI’s coverage of this week’s Board meeting, the Board vote was 22 for approval of the Addendum, six against, one abstention, and one member recusing himself.  Negative voters cited issues of potential violation of ASHRAE ANSI-approved procedures as their reason for their votes.  Both the negative voter’s rationale and similar industry issues of potential procedural violations will be discussed by the industry interest group early next week as grounds for appealing the Board’s decision under ASHRAE’s appeals process.  Last week and before the Board meeting, AGA and other organizations had submitted letter to the Board urging it to stand fast on its disapprove of Addendum.  Should an ASHRAE appeal not succeed, appellants may submit appeals to ANSI under that governing bodies “Essential Requirements” covering procedures of ANSI-recognized standards developers.  AGA staff remain committed to industry following up with legal action against ASHRAE should either set of appeals not succeed and had recommended legal engagement with the ASHRAE standards committee’s deliberations three years ago.  However, manufacturers of unvented combustion heating appliances did not respond to the AGA recommendations at that time.  From the comments of at least one manufacturer during the latest Board consideration of the Addendum, that recommendation may now be revisited.
 
AGA Comments on the “Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap”.
Attached is the November 12, 2020 comments submitted by AGA President & CEO  Karen Harbert to the Colorado Energy Office on the “Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap” in which AGA strongly urges Colorado to consider the benefits and the role of the direct use of natural gas as part of the Colorado’s roadmap to reduce greenhouse gases. The AGA comments include detailed information and facts that can be used to provide input on natural gas benefits to states that are initiating similar programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
AHRI Releases September 2020 Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data.
For those interested in shipment trends for residential and commercial gas and electric storage type water heaters, residential gas and oil furnaces, electric heat pumps and air-conditioners, click here for the November 13, 2020 Air-Conditioning Heating, & Refrigeration (AHRI) Press Release that provides the September 2020 U.S. Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data. You may also wish to share this information with other groups or individuals within your organization that would be interested in water heater and HVAC equipment shipment trends.
State Codes Activity Update
[This is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards.]
 
Recent and Upcoming Activity Alerts
State
Date
Title
OR
12/16/2020
The division is currently working on the 2021 Oregon Residential Reach Code.
WA
11/25/2020
Proposed Amendments to Section 5707 and 105.6 of 2018 WA State Fire Code- Draft V3
FL
11/10/2020
Final Amendments to 2018 edition of the Fire Code® (NFPA 1)
FL
11/10/2020
Final Amendments to 2018 edition of the Life Safety Code® (NFPA 101)
QC
11/06/2020
The draft Regulation replaces Chapter III, Plumbing, of the Construction Code (chapter B-1.1, r. 2) in order to incorporate by reference the 2015 edition of the National Plumbing Code of Canada 2015 (NPC), with amendments to reflect the specific needs of Québec. The draft Regulation also provides for the extension of most of the Québec amendments made to the previous edition.
 
Recent Code Body Meetings
State
Body
Date
Address
Agenda
OH
Code Committee Meeting
11/19/2020
Teleconference
HI
State Building Code Council (SBCC) Meeting
11/17/2020
Teleconference
 
Bills with Recent Activity
State
Bill #
Bill Title
Primary Sponsor(s)
Last Action
Last Action Date
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A