When the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors standardized its reporting process for gathering incident statistics in 1991, it was with the objective of creating an accurate and consistent database that would, over time, yield a bona fide method of identifying and correcting the causes of boiler and pressure vessel accidents. The latest study shows that human error remains the foremost cause of boiler and pressure vessel incidents in North America.
Say you open up a customer’s duct plenum and find mold, or something that looks like mold. Do you make the customer sign a statement that their house has mold, and that you, the HVAC contractor, told them? Or, do you tell the customer they may have a moisture problem, sidestepping the mold question for the time being? Does this leave you liable for mold litigation? These were the questions facing contractors who attended the “Managing Your Mold Liability” conference.
In the world of pro football, the field is the game’s foundation. If it’s unsafe, the entire franchise is at risk. “The condition of the field can be our worst nightmare, or an answer to our dreams,” said one sports turf professional. There’s a trend afoot today that has the artificial turf makers on edge — real grass. Lush, living, carefully nurtured turf is all the rage, and now that turf can be hydronically conditioned.
Energy and the environment have been at the forefront of public and government concerns for the last three decades. The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and its member companies have made major contributions in addressing these issues, steadily and substantially increasing the energy efficiency of equipment and making environmental enhancements to the benefit of consumers.
On Friday, August 9, 2002, a delegation of members of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) stood on the podium of the New York Stock Exchange. There was a specific symbolism to the photo op. On that day, the HVACR industry was marking the production of the 130 millionth central air conditioner since the founding of ARI in 1953. But the gesture was far more than the commemoration of a production milestone. It was a reflection of the economic and social impact that the industry in general, and ARI members in particular, have had on this country and the world.
In recent years, the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) has accomplished several educational milestones. Whether it’s the ARI curriculum guide, the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA), or the widely popular Instructor Workshops, training is a major goal of the organization. But educating the industry is nothing new for ARI. In fact, training and education has been a continuous endeavor for the organization.
The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) was officially organized in 1953, primarily to give this new industry a united voice. Secondarily, but perhaps more importantly, the Institute collected its technical forces to create standards against which A/C and refrigeration equipment could be tested, and to create industry-wide certification programs to verify the products’ performance.
For many years, HVACR manufacturers have been making products that quietly and effectively keep homeowners and business owners comfortable, healthy, safe, and secure. The issues of health and safety are nothing new, but they have become increasingly important as end users strive for indoor comfort that goes beyond simple heating and cooling of the air.