IGMA 2015 Winter Conference Sees Election Results, Task Group Updates, More

A new Board of Directors was approved with the following slate of officers:President: Mark Hutchinson, INTIGRALPast President: Frank Caporiccio, PPG CanadaVice President: Nathalie Thibault, PrelcoTreasurer: Jennifer Kempf, Dow CorningSecretary: Helen Sanders, SAGE ElectrochromicsIn addition to electing the new Board of Directors, two honorary, lifetime memberships were awarded to Denny Raske (Allmetal) and Bob Spindler (Cardinal IG), both retired.Honorary, lifetime memberships allow these individuals to attend all future IGMA conferences on a complimentary basis and continue to receive all IGMA updates.



Emerging Technology & Innovation Committee – chaired by Helen Sanders, SAGE Electrochromics

1. The Advanced Testing Fenestration Task Group is working on three new test protocols designed to correlate to the ASTM standards and provide a faster means of testing:
   
   
   
   
   1. Positive Negative Pressure Cycling (Thumper): This equipment uses external pressure modulation of +/- 1 PSI to replicate pressure changes witnessed within the IGU cavity.

   
   

   2. Variable Environmental Cycling (Oscar): This equipment is a modified P1 chamber (full immersion UV at 100% RH and 60°C) pressurized to 5 psi.

   
   

   3. Differential Thermal Cycling Unit, DTCU (Big Hammer): Developed by NREL, this equipment uses rapid thermal cycling to replicate thermal cycles in ASTM E2188. The group is currently evaluating the fabrication of “flawed” test samples to determine equivalency to the ASTM standard.

   
   

   
   

Currently this group is working on how to correlate the NREL thermal chamber and the two other test methods with the ASTM E 2190 standard to ensure that the new test procedures will meet or exceed the objectives in the existing standard. NREL now has the capability to frost point the units as well as measure the gas content.

2. The Vacuum Insulating Glazing Task Group has completed the first two objectives under their scope.
   
   
   
   
   1. Literature Search – An extensive library has been established of existing document and is available to IGMA members as a reference center.

   
   

   2. Develop technical bulletin on VIG – This document has passed committee ballot, Technical Policy Committee ballot and the IGMA Board of Directors’ ballot is being developed. Anticipated publication of this document is expected mid-Summer 2015.

   
   

   3. Develop VIG test specification and standard. – Work is ongoing to develop an EN standard. IGMA will be monitoring the progress of this development and a number of IGMA members are participating on this task group.

   
   

   4. Develop certification program guidelines. – Currently VIG units are being tested under the IGCC-IGMA Certification Program to the ASTM E 2190 standard. Full certification guidelines will be developed once the standard specification has been completed.

   
   

   5. Develop glazing guidelines for VIG – This item has been assigned to the IGMA Glazing Guidelines Working Group.

   
   

   
   

3. The Product Category Rule for Fenestration Products has been split into two PCR’s, one for business to consumer which will be a cradle to cradle and the second for business to business which is a cradle to gate PCR. Both PCR’s are identical in the cradle to gate section. The Use Phase has been completed and the section forwarded to the PCR Operator, IERE for review. The PCR is now subject to Peer Review and it is anticipated that the PCR will be ready for publication this summer.

IGMA has awarded the contract for the development of the Processed Glass PCR to UL Environment. The timeline is ambitious (6 months from commencement of the work) and will be the development of one core PCR with three modules; one for coated and heat-strengthened glass, a second one for laminated glass and the third for insulating glass. Work will be commencing this spring.

4. The parameters for the Gas Content Field Correlation Study have been established and the task group is now researching appropriate tools for the measurement of gas content at the point of manufacture, installation and ongoing evaluation.

Technical Services Committee - chaired by Jeff Haberer, Trulite Industries

1. Glazing Guidelines: Work has been completed for the technical bulletin on setting blocks and has been published. The Board of Directors ballot on Section 5: Setting Blocks is under development pending completion of the diagrams to facilitate future revisions.




2. Thermal Stress Task Group: Bill Lingnell, PE (IGMA Technical Consultant) provided an update on the development of the models for the calculation of thermal stress in insulating glass units. Work is well underway developing the models and it is anticipated that all models will be completed by the end of 2015. Once this work has been completed it will be shared with the ASTM task group so that work can commence on the development of a thermal glass standard specification for thermal stress in insulating glass units.




3. Tolerances for IG Cavity Width: the scope of this task group is to address non-parallel glazing and the effect on thermal and long-term performance related to changes in the cavity width. The task group met early October and established three work groups:
   
   


1. Manufacturing Tolerances Working Group: This work group will develop and establish manufacturing tolerances for allowable deflection at the point of manufacture. There are a number of factors that influence IGU performance which are beyond the control of the fabricator. A survey has been circulated to the IGMA manufacturing members to understand current in-plant practices. Guidelines for manufacturing tolerances will be developed from best practices.




2. Thermal Working Group: This group is working on developing information which correlates the IGU cavity width with thermal performance and how changes in the cavity width impact U factor.




3. Impact of Reflectance Working Group: This group is reviewing existing available industry data. The scope and objectives of this group are under discussion.










4. Dimensional Tolerances:
   
   The task group has developed the first draft of the revised document and has included glass edge alignment as an additional tolerance. The task group will meet one more time and then a committee ballot will be issued.

Canadian Standards Development

The Canadian General Standards Board has reconvened the CGSB Glass Committee. The committee has established four task groups to work on the CGSB 12.1 standard for safety glazing and the existing standard will be expanded beyond laminated and tempered glass to included organic coated and plastic safety glazing.



The task groups are working closely with other organizations including the ANSI Z 97.1 group to harmonize safety glazing requirements.



The first draft of the standard will be reviewed by the full glass committee mid-May 2015.



Certification & Education Committee - chaired by Bill Briese, GED Integrated Solutions



The Sealant Adhesion to Spacer Work Group has developed a new test methodology based on a modification to the existing butterfly test. The test method has been approved by the full committee and the video will be re-filmed with an emphasis on handling glass safely. Now that this work has been completed and accepted, the Spacer and Integrated Spacer System Task Group will re-convene to continue development of equivalency criteria for spacers based on performance.



The TM-4000, Quality Manufacturing Task Group has completed the first draft for the revised manual. This revision includes all clauses for accreditation to the ISO 9001:2008 standard specific to IG manufacturing. Additionally, each section includes a commentary on the purpose and objectives so that manufacturers can determine which sections are relevant to their manufacturing operations and those that are to be exempted from. Substantial negatives were received on the first committee ballot and the task group will be reviewing these, revising the draft document as required and re-issuing a committee ballot.



The IGCC-IGMA Certification Program requires adherence to TM-4000. At the most recent meeting, IGCC-IGMA specified that quality assurance requirements will be to the TM-4000-02(07) version of the document.



The IGMA 2015 Summer Conference will be held in the Denver, CO area with a site visit to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to view the DTCU and other research initiatives. The conference is scheduled for September 29^th to October 2^nd.



The next IGMA Winter Conference will be held in Palm Springs, CA, February 29 to March 4, 2016.