Filter Talk - Volume 8 / Number 1 - Spring 2010

NEW BUILDING LABELING PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ENERGY

ASHRAE has developed a new program that rates a building’s energy performance. The Building Energy Quotient (Building EQ) is a building energy labeling program designed to help owners and engineers understand the potential for energy efficiency as well as the current operating performance of their buildings. Building EQ is a tool to assist building owners and facility operators to understand their buildings energy use and to implement the most attractive options for more efficient energy consumption.

How does the Building EQ rating program work? The rating system has two components; an Asset Rating (As Designed) and an Operational Rating (In Operation). Both ratings use a similar scale with zero being the best, the median being 100, and values above 100 being worse than average. The rating program rates both new and old buildings.

The Building EQ Asset Rating provides an assessment of the building based on the components specified in the design, including mechanical systems, building envelope, and orientation. The Asset Rating will be based on the results of a building energy model. This rating gives owners and engineers data to evaluate how a building would perform under a predetermined set of parameters. As Designed allows easy comparison across buildings.

The Building EQ Operational Rating provides information on the measured energy use of a building as it is currently being operated and is based on actual utility bills. The rating is applicable to existing buildings and new buildings after 12-18 months of operation. In Operation demonstrates how buildings compare to peers.

What are the benefits of the Building EQ program? The Building EQ energy labeling program helps owners and operators understand the current operating performance of their building, as well as the potential for increased energy efficiency.

Building EQ Label information The most prominent information will be the label targeted for public display. The colorful and easy to understand label displays the various ratings in different colors and various length bars. The letter grade is very prominent and the label is suitable for display in building lobbies and marketing materials. The label is designed to be visible indication of the building’s ratings, and through the use of market forces drive the selection and acquisition of more efficient buildings.

The Energy Certificate contains specific technical information explaining the score on the label. The certificate provides useful and important information to building owners, tenants, engineering and operations staff, sustainability managers, and potential owners or buyers. The information is designed to target areas for energy improvement.

Timing The In Operation rating began the pilot program in late 2009 with a widespread launch in 2010. The As Designed rating pilot program will begin in early 2010 with launch scheduled for mid-2010. Filtration Group fully supports the ASHRAE Building EQ program and the intelligent approach to verifying and reducing energy consumption. Buildings account for 40% of the consumption of energy in the U.S. It is only logical to establish a program to target this sector for energy optimization.
Filtration Group is the industry leader in low resistance air filtration products designed to provide high levels air purity in the most advanced energy saving designs.

FILTRATION GROUP FILTERTALK NEWSLETTER PASSES 6 YEAR MARK

Filtration Group began publishing the FilterTalk company newsletters in November of 2003 to communicate to both employees and customers. FilterTalk allows us to distribute information on the many positive and diverse projects continuously happening within the company. Newsletters also help us communicate important industry information such as changes to ASHRAE standards, IAQ requirements, HEPA information, LEED Green Building information, and many other topics relevant to our industry.

FilterTalk provides the forum to promote new products and prompt discussion on energy savings, CO2 reduction, minimizing disposal volume, and reducing labor while creating improved indoor air quality. Our products help keep patients safe during surgery and recovery, remove allergens from the office environment, and protect workers in industrial environments from harmful chemicals and pollutants.

FilterTalk is distributed quarterly in high quality print or available online at www.filtertalk.com.

UPCOMING CHANGES TO UL LABELING OF AIR FILTERS

In November 2009, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) issued a revision of ANSI/UL 900 that effectively removes Class 1 and Class 2 distinctions from the standard. This change was the culmination of almost a year of work by the Standards Technical Panel (STP) 900 of which Filtration Group is a member. The change was proposed by the Industry Group for Air Filter Units because it was noted that the Class 1 designation implies a level of protection that is not supported by any test data. Any differences between Class 1 and Class 2 filters are only distinguishable while the filters are tested in the clean state and both filter types behave similarly once put into service. The revision does not go into effect until May 31, 2012 to allow users of this standard to comply with the marking requirements.

What does this mean? Rather than listing “Class 1” or “Class 2” on filters, all UL 900 filters will now be marked simply as “Classified.” The labeling and literature changes will be phased in as we work through our current inventories and will be complete before the effective revision date. Product labeled with Class 1 or Class 2 can be installed and used as normal. Several products that Filtration Group currently makes specifically to comply with UL Class 1 may also be changing as a result. Upcoming product announcements will address any changes made to our product lines.

How does this affect me? You will still be able to get both Class 1 and Class 2 products for the time being. However, FGI and other filter manufacturers will be modifying these products over time and products labeled as “Class 1” will disappear. As a result, you should start educating your customers about this upcoming change, so that they can select suitable alternate filters. In addition, you should help your customers modify any bid specifications to eliminate these distinctions.

There has been some confusion in the marketplace concerning Class 1 and Class 2 classified filters and their performance at higher temperatures. The UL Classification relates only to the filter’s performance during testing in regards to smoke generation and combustibility when clean. UL Classification does not have any relationship to a filter’s recommended maximum operating temperature. As this change with UL proceeds, special attention needs to be paid to determine that the correct filter is being specified for the customer’s application regardless of the UL Classification.

What about Canadian Classification? Filtration Group has been working with Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) to institute similar changes to the Canadian equivalent of UL 900, ULC-S111-07. In the last meeting of the Fire Test Committee on November 12, 2009, the Committee asked the Task Group to look into the requirements of this change and its impact on Canadian Building Codes. The Committee plans to discuss this change again in their Spring / Summer meeting. Until then, all ULC marking will continue to have Class 1 and Class 2 designations.