Standards and Legislation

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The recent major Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City that sickened at least 127 people and killed 12 could have been prevented through regular cooling tower service and maintenance. But, it’s not just cooling towers that need to be maintained.

Representatives from participating industry associations, refrigerant producers, and manufacturers of refrigeration equipment and components also provided progress reports detailing the steps they’ve taken over the past year to meet the goal of reducing hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) use 80 percent by 2050. 

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America Educational Institute (ACCA-EI) Standards Task Team announced that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has recognized the new ANSI/ACCA 14 QMref - 2015 (Quality Maintenance of Commercial Refrigeration Systems) standard.  

Although the ruling went into effect Aug. 3, 2015, OSHA has agreed to refrain from issuing citations to any employer that is making good-faith efforts to comply with the standard.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America Educational Institute (ACCA-EI) Standards Task Team (STT) has announced an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) public review period for its BSR/ACCA 2 Manual J-201x, “Residential Load Calculation,” as a revised industry standard.

The 30 percent federal tax credit for residential geothermal heating and cooling installations (as well as solar and wind) is set to expire at the end of 2016. This is an irrefutable fact, but everything else surrounding the tax credit remains in a state that is best described as limbo.

Regardless of the strategy employed, many contractors are chafing at the new government-imposed regulations, noting that proper installation is far more important than mandated efficiency ratings.

Do you think OSHA's regulations are becoming more intrusive on your business?

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America Educational Institute (ACCA-EI) Standards Task Team announced that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has recognized the updated ANSI/ACCA 6 QR - 2015 (Restoring the Cleanliness of HVAC Systems) standard.

The settlement is a victory for the manufacturers and contractors who may have been substantially harmed by the standards had they remained in place. Yet, many in the industry are concerned about the growing need to litigate in order to ensure regulations are developed properly and fairly.