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Business PlanNEEDThere are opportunities for the "Institute" to test products and components of the building envelope (siding and roofing) and HVAC systems. Those opportunities are a result of marketing needs, technological changes and improvements in products and systems, the impact of codes and code enforcement, and increasing engineering/design community reliance on industry standards, especially with the continuing trend toward the under funding of the design and engineering phase of projects. In the marketing area, there is a continuing need for manufacturers to have products and systems recognized as conforming to acceptable standards. In addition, there is an increasing focus by the specified and owner community on the availability and use of testing certification and verification programs. Furthermore, the growing competition between the spiral or longitudinal seamed rectangular, round and oval duct markets has established an environment where some type of attestation would add to the engineering and contractor communities' comfort level. Competition between manufactured and contractor fabricated products is another area where attestation would eliminate confusion about conformance to credible and accepted standards. Eventually, tests and research will have to take place to ease the concern and debate over allowable duct leakage. There is also a growing demand for duct systems for use in special circumstances, as for example, PVC and FRP. Beyond research and tests based on SMACNA standards, there is increasing potential for tests to establish and verify indoor air quality and duct cleaning protocols, standards, or guidelines. There are a number of other areas in the sheet metal or HVAC industries which could benefit from standards, engineering analysis, and appropriate tests (i.e., kitchen equipment, custom roofing, sealants, adhesives, sound insulation). In some instances, tests are being conducted at the insistence of code organizations. Overall tests, engineering analyses, and attestation of those analyses or tests as well as performance tests to verify claims represent a potential niche for the Institute. There is also a need to begin and continue research and analysis on the development and effective use of performance standards as both the US and global communities seek alternatives to prescriptive standards. STRENGTHS
Access to and ownership of engineering data supporting HVAC and sheet metal standards and procedures. MISSION STATEMENTThe primary mission of the Institute is to educate and assure the public at large and building owners that HVAC and sheet metal products are manufactured and/or constructed to perform to a credible industry standard. KEY RESULTSThe mission would be accomplished by:
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SMACNA Testing & Research Institute | 4201 Lafayette Center Drive Chantilly, Virginia 20151-1209 Phone: (703) 803-2980 | Fax: (703) 803-3732 | E-Mail: info@smactri.org |
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