ARLINGTON, Va. - On a recent trip to the Middle East, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) President and CEO Stephen Yurek signed cooperative agreements with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Association (SASO) and the United Arab Emirate’s (UAE’s) Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority (ESMA), aimed at further harmonizing HVACR and water heating testing and rating standards globally. The agreement calls for SASO and ESMA to adopt AHRI’s standards as Saudi and UAE national standards, respectively, in some cases with regional adaptations.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE have begun to place a new emphasis on energy efficiency and environmental protection. AHRI has signaled its intent to work closely with the governments of those nations to use AHRI standards and performance certification programs to help them meet with efficiency and environmental goals and to further global harmonization of standards and certification programs.
“This agreement is an important first step in what we hope and expect will be an ongoing, very productive relationship,” Yurek said. “Our active involvement in this region not only helps us expand our global reach, but also helps our member companies that do business in the region compete on a level playing field with other manufacturers.”
Another recent trip found Yurek in India signing a tripartite agreement with the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) and the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Manufacturers Association (RAMA) establishing the basis for cooperation on the development and harmonization of standards and laying the groundwork for cooperation on performance certification programs in the future.
The agreement, signed Feb. 19, grants for two years the Indian parties non-exclusive, irrevocable licenses to use both current and future AHRI standards, in whole or in part, for the development and use of Indian Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Equipment Testing and Rating Standards (IAS) in India. The intent is that standards developed, adopted, or modified under this agreement will be adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards and referenced by the Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency, both of which will ensure widespread use of those standards throughout India.
“This agreement builds upon an agreement we signed two years ago with ISHRAE that began the standards harmonization process between our organizations,” said Yurek. “We are pleased that the Indian organizations wish to continue and even expand our standards development relationship for the benefit of their members, our members, and the people of India,” he said.
Since that agreement was signed, 15 standards have been harmonized, and an additional 25 are in the process of being harmonized.
For more information, visit www.ahrinet.org.
Publication date:04/05/2010
