Document vBYd2dE6xQR5vVEaoE7aYoEbR

TECHNICAL k RESEARCH COMMITTEE REPORT Activities of this Committee since the Spring Association Meeting May 5 have included the following; National District Heating Association Annual Meeting June 6-9, Asheville, N. C., representation by R. C, Parlett. Technical papers on insulation installations were presented by utility members and were later distributed to NIMA members. NIMA Technical Sc Research Committee_Meeting June 22 - 23 at New York. The Glass, Molded and R.ock Cc Slag Sections held simultaneously on June 22 will be reported upon by their respective chairmen. At the combined sections meeting on June 23 subjects pertaining to all three sections alike were discussed and decisions reached can be briefly summarized as follows; (a) Thermal Insulating Society and Similar Requests for Data to Compile Insulation Handbooks Agreed to reply with list of known and accepted sources of such information such as ASHRAE Guide, (to which NIMA furnished information) also ASTM Specs, BRAB Reports, etc. (b) Philosphy of ASTM Specs It was the consensus that ASTM does not have the authority to issue the proposed ^ new type of use specification and that at present NIMA is in favor of strengthen ing existing material specifications which are classed according to composition of generic types, since in this way the consumer will obtain a better quality of product and more selective choice of products. (c) Basis of Calculating Heat Losses Results of questionnaire on the company members different methods of calcul ating heat losses was discussed and subsequently sent to all members on July 7, 1960, for further study. This will be on the nexg Agenda of the T h. R Committee to determine which agreement can be reached in using a single standard method. 2 (d) Government Engineers Y/ashingtor. Meetings The Technical &c Research Committee endorsed the recommendations made to the Board of Directors at the NIMA May Meeting and urged an early decision (This subject is on the Board of Directors Agenda). (e) Veterans Administration Spec. 5860 Section 991 on Thermal Insulation For Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Related Piping Systems This general spec given to NIMA for comment at the Washington, D. C. , April Meeting with Government engineers was reviewed by our Committee and the comments coordinated by the Technical Advisor and returned by NIMA to the Veterans Administration. This is the second general government specifica tion. affecting many types of insulating materials which NIMA has reviewed, the first being the Corps of Engineers Guide Spec, for Heat Distribution Systems, CS 301. 21. A third has now been sent to us by the Bureau of Yards & Docks, Navy Department on Air Conditioning and Cold Storage Refrigeration No, 16 YF. Submission of these three specs to us for review confirm the value to be derived from NIMA periodic Washington Meetings with Government Engineers. (f) Thermal Conductivity Calibration of Test Methods A progress report on this special NIMA Committee will be given later by Mr. Schuman, its Chairman, Request for Insulation Data by Government Engineers Following a request from Mr, Goran of National Research Council and Mr. Graul, Navy Bureau Yards & Docks, the Technical Advisor called on them July 14. They had two problems - First, how to answer the Philadelphia Thermal Insulating Society circular letter requesting insulation data for the Society's proposed handbook. V/e explained how NIMA was answering it and they agreed, namely, that present sources of data such as ASH&RAE Guide were sufficient. Mr, Govans explained that from time to time in their (Build ing Research Institute) studies being made for government agencies they might need special information and he would call on NIMA. At present he required the method of determining economic thickness of insulation to be included in a study and report to be issued on Heating Systems in Government Buildings* As a result he furnished us heat cost and operation data from which we later sent him a typical example calculated for the particular conditions. General Services Administration, Washington, D, C. - Federal Specs On July 14 the Technical Advisor discussed with Mr. Thomasson the expediting of revised specs sent him by NIMA. He advised this can be done by issuing as ,'Intcr.im,, which can be used by Government agencies while at the same time they can send in comments. An example of this v/as an interim amendment to the calcium silicate spec which he is issuing as revised by NIMA. Other NIMA revised specs on magnesia and various insulating cements are in his hands at present. Glass Section T & R Committee Meeting Held July 27 Si 28 near Sandusky, Ohio and September 24 at Lake Placid, N, Y, Due to the great amount of specifications and development of standard test methods required for glass products these special interim meetings were held and will be reported on by the Section Chairman. ASTIvi C-16 Meeting - Lake Placid, N, Y, September 26 - 28. This meeting just concluded and for which C-16 Minutes are not yet available was well attended and NIMA company members as usual took an active part. Messrs. Barnhart, Shuman, Keyes and Ritchie presented to ASTM various specifications and recommended practices developed in NIMA and will no doubt cover these in their reports. The writer who has followed the operations of this Committee since its inception in 1932-has observed the increase in its membership among both producers and consumers the later including govern ment agencies, the increased number of types of insulations and accessories its eleven sections have under consideration and the increased use of ASTM Methods of Test in Government specifications, I strongly urge our company members to continue to have their individual engineers and research men representatives on the various sections and support them in this ASTM C~l6 work. Respectfully submitted R. C. Parlett