The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration
Institute has promised to help the countries of Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates comply with
AHRI standards.
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and
Refrigeration Institute has promised to help the countries of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates comply with
AHRI standards.
AHRI recently signed cooperative agreements with Saudi
Standards, Metrology and Quality Association and the UAE's Emirates
Standardization and Metrology Authority. The agreements aim 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.
According to AHRI, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and
the United Arab Emirates have begun to place a new emphasis on energy
efficiency and environmental protection. With personal visits in November 2009
and February 2010, AHRI says it 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 efficiency and environmental
goals.
”This agreement is an important first step in what we
hope and expect will be an ongoing, very productive relationship,” said Stephen
Yurek, president and CEO of AHRI. “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.”
Discussions are underway between AHRI, SASO
and ESMA about holding a series of workshops that could lead to an agreement
on adoption of certification in the near future.
