CHANTILLY, Va. - The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) is one of the first national organizations to provide resource information on the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), a Web-based portal (www.wbdg.org) offering government and construction industry practitioners with one-stop access on a wide range of building-related advice, criteria, and technology from a "whole building" perspective.

Development of the WBDG is a collaborative effort among federal agencies, private sector companies, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions. Its success depends on industry and government experts contributing their knowledge and experience to better serve the building community.

"SMACNA is proud to take the lead in providing information for this outstanding effort that will enable architects, engineers, and project managers to improve the performance and quality of their buildings by following the guidance and recommendations provided on this Web site," noted Mark Watson, SMACNA president.

To date, SMACNA's contributions include information on commercial, industrial, and residential ductwork (Section 15810) and metal roofing (Section 07410). Each section contains a succinct overview and summary of the topic and provides links to relevant SMACNA technical manuals and standards on the SMACNA Web site (www.smacna.org).

The links provide the user with direct access to SMACNA's technical library of standards and manuals on specifying sheet metal installations and the fabrication and installation of HVAC, architectural, and sheet metal systems.

SMACNA is also providing the WBDG site with resource information on commissioning; kitchen and food service ventilation; seismic restraint of mechanical systems; louvers; flashing; architectural sheet metal; and testing, adjusting, and balancing.

Publication date: 11/17/2003