Industry News & Announcements

>>ASHRAE Proposes Alternate Compliance Path for Existing Buildings in IAQ Standard
Source: ashrae.org
Recognizing that the ventilation rate procedure in its indoor air quality standard may be difficult to apply in existing buildings, ASHRAE is proposing an alternate compliance path.

Proposed addendum b is one of six addenda to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2013, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality currently open for public comment from Sept. 5 to Oct. 5, 2014. To comment or learn more, visit www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.
 
>>Airflow 100: A Review of Air Velocity Testing Methods
Source: bpi.org
Industry studies have shown that 70% of residential systems have improper airflow. Airflow measurements are among the most daunting tasks in the industry, During this free webinar -- Tuesday, October 21, 11 a.m. (EDT)-- learn the wide variety of measurement methods and the benefits of each. Dig into the science behind good airflow measurement, as well as the importance of considering air density corrections. The ins and outs of picking the correct tool for the measurement task or application will also be covered. 
  
Click here to register. Earn up to 1 BPI CEU.

>>Dr. Joseph Lstiburek to Speak at Upcoming Events, Sept. 30 and Oct. 2
Source: bpi.org 
Building Science Corporation's Joseph W. Lstiburek, Ph.D., P.Eng., Fellow ASHRAE, will be a speaker at two upcoming events at the new ROXUL Energy Design Centre. The Sept. 30 event will be at the JW Marriott Chicago and participants can earn up to 15 AIA credit hours. The Oct. 2 event will be at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel and will have the same number of AIA credits available. Click here to register for either. 

>>3M Personal Safety Division Donates Nearly 1 Million Respirators to Help Fight Ebola Virus 
Source: 3m.com
3M has donated nearly 1 million respirators to help doctors and aid workers contain the spread of the deadly Ebola virus disease. Project HOPE, MAP International, and Direct Relief International will distribute 3M’s NIOSH-approved N95 respirators to workers in Sierra Leone and surrounding areas. Read more here.

>>Report on Polyurethane Chemicals Released
Source: ialconsultants.com
IAL Consultants announced the publication of the first edition of its report on the markets for Polyurethane Chemicals and Products in the Americas (North America and South America). 

Total production of polyurethane products in the Americas is reported to have been 3.98 million tonnes in 2013 compared with 3.84 million tonnes in 2012. By 2018 this figure is forecast to be 4.78 million tonnes, equivalent to an average growth of 3.7% p.a. over the next five years.
 
The polyurethane industry remains larger by far in North America, which is dominated by the USA, but expected growth rates are strongest in the developing South American market, at 4.7% p.a. over the forecast period. Download the full report here.

>>What to Expect from Congress this Fall 
Source: ase.org / David Caughran
Congress returns from August recess with a number of items on the docket and only a few legislative weeks remaining before both Chambers leave town again for the campaign trail. Work on a Continuing Resolution (CR), funding the government through at least the midterm elections will likely dominate the two-week September session, as lawmakers look to avoid another government shutdown. While many believe that Democrats and Republicans will be able to get through a "clean" CR, without any controversial policy riders, that does not preclude more partisan brinkmanship next year if control of the Senate changes hands in November. Along with hopefully passing a CR to keep the government running, Congress will look to find a way to prevent the Export-Import Bank from closing at the end of the month, and possibly push through a bill barring new taxes on Internet access. Other big ticket items such as tax extenders, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, known as the Shaheen-Portman bill, all loom on the horizon as well. Read more here.

>>Deadlines Fast Approaching for Polyurethanes Technical Conference
Source: americanchemistry.com
Deadlines for the 2014 Polyurethanes Technical Conference are fast approaching and available spaces in the Polyurethane Professional Development Program (PDP) and conference sponsorships are also quickly filling. Hosted by the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council, the conference will take place at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Dallas from Sept. 22-24.

To learn more about the conference’s full program, including the more than 60 technical presentations by industry experts and government officials, visit CPI’s website.

Get the latest updates and conference news on LinkedIn and Twitter. Follow @AmChemEvents and use the hashtag #PUtech to join the conversation.