AMD SHEDS TIMELINE AND PUBLIC COMMENTS

In May, AMD will travel the International Code Council (ICC) Final Action Hearings in Dallas, Texas, to present its AMD Side-Hinged Exterior Door Standard (SHEDS). Although the AMD SHEDS is still in the process of seeking ANSI accreditation, the ICC has rescheduled AMD to appear at the Final Action Hearings in the May hearings rather than the second round in November 2010.

As you may recall, AMD has been at the forefront of attention at the International Building Code hearings with its Side-Hinged Exterior Door Standard (SHEDS) since last year fall when AMD stunned the millwork industry with a seven to four decisive vote from the ICC Residential Code Development Council. However, this progressive action may be short lived as the ICC made Calendar changes to the Final Action Hearings that are detrimental to the AMD, SHEDS and the millwork industry. AMD Chief Executive Officer, Rosalie Leone has been in discussions with the ICC regarding this change and it’s effects to SHED timeline; although no final determination has been communicated, AMD is still waiting for recommendations and alternate options from the ICC.   AMD will still appear at the ICC Code Hearing next month.

Once AMD achieved its approval for SHEDS from the ICC Residential Code Development Council in Baltimore last November, opponents of the action may submit public comments for the May Final Action Hearings.   AMD has received four opposing public comments from the ICC regarding the AMD SHEDS thus far.

In summary, all four public comments in opposition regard the AMD standard as not accredited or approved. These statements are correct; however, keep in mind that AMD SHEDS has not finished its ANSI standard accreditation process. The AMD SHED’s completion timeline for the standard is now altered by one year as a result of the ICC changing its code cycle unless AMD presents its standard in the fall 2010. Also, last December, in a move by the ICC to equalize code development time, another six months delay was added.

Technically, there are a number of issues that have been raised technically by the American Architectural Manufacturing Association (AAMA) about AMD SHEDS.  Most of the technical responses speak to the lack of laboratory testing that substantiates SHEDS.  AMD has offered testimony at prior ICC hearings validated by  a variety of research papers from builders, insurance interests and academia that show that Side Hinged Exterior Doors are not a cause of significant damage during wind (non-tornado) events.  

In conclusion, AMD looks to move its SHEDS forward, working cohesively with all parties of interest with the best intention of resolving roadblocks that prohibit the AMD SHEDS from its place in the International Residential Code.   AMD’s mission is to continue to have a voice, on behalf of AMD members and the millwork industry on codes and standards.

AMD wishes to acknowledge the AMD SHEDS Working Group, who should be credited for their diligent contribution to producing the best possible document for the industry.

March 7, 2010 AMD Millwork Magazine 

AMD SHEDS…the Short of It!

Several AMD members have inquired as to where the association is with regard to the AMD SHEDS (AMD’s first Side Hinge Exterior Door Standard).  In an attempt not to be too technical and explain the the status of SHEDS, here it goes…..

THE AMD SHEDS STANDARD

In 2009, AMD wrote a draft standard called SHEDS (Side-hinged exterior door standard); it defines a method for SHED static pressure component interchange using methodologies from an existing standard called ASTM E330. SHEDS requires an ATM E330 tested door system at the start and it explains how to test the individual components of that door system. To interchange components, the AMD SHEDS tested component must meet or exceed the tested result of the E330 system test result. If it does, the components can be interchanged.

OUTCOME OF THE BUILDING CODE HEARINGS

In November, 2009, the International Code Council (ICC) held a “transitional” code development cycle in Baltimore, Maryland. At the International Residential Code (IRC) Development hearing, AMD was awarded a 7-4 victory allowing the AMD SHEDS into the 2011 IRC.  We view the outcome as an anomaly and feel fortunate to be able to move ahead with the AMD SHEDS, since typically a standard that has not been nationally accredited does not find approval at the ICC code development hearings.  We also outcome from the ICC hearings lets us know that fellow industry professionals see the importance and necessity of the AMD SHEDS to the millwork industry.   

As was stated earlier, this is a “transitional” cycle and special rules apply. Back in February 2009, AMD questioned the ICC in a Town Hall Meeting on the revised timing of their “transitional” code cycle and was told that new standards, like AMD SHEDS, would be afforded special opportunities (this was an  advantage of opportunity, but we also appreciate and THANK THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS (NAHB) for their votes and testimony). AMD SHEDS was not the only new standard to receive this opportunity.

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE PROCESS FOR SHEDS

Needless to say, AMD and its standard may need one more round of votes from the ICC at the Final Action Hearing in Charlotte, North Carolina, in October/November 2010.   First, AMD SHEDS must pass a Public Comment period ending on July 1, 2010.  If no one files a comment on SHEDS, it will enter a consent agenda at the hearings, which usually passes in total.  If a comment is filed, AMD must testify at the hearing. AMD would need a 50% plus 1 vote to have the standard added to the 2012 IRC.

NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

In 2009, AMD became an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) national standards writer and proposed AMD SHEDS as a proposed standard for accreditation. AMD also submitted a standards writing procedure that has been approved by ANSI.  SHEDS needs ANSI accreditation by September 2010. AMD is in the process of earning this approval and the following times are crucial for 2010:

So AMD continues to work towards having SHEDS placed in the ICC Residential Code, which is uncommon for a first time attempt.  Depending on the public comment, AMD may require the assistance of members and advocates; we will know more on that in or around July.  So that’s the short of it!

AMD continues to work on behalf of you, the members!  Remember that the AMD SHEDS is only one of numerous important projects.   AMD’s Certification Program provides services for EnergyStar; and now available is Fire Rating.  We offer a state of the art Education Program.

For more information, please contact mail@amdweb.com

Making Lemonade Out Of Lemons..AMD SHEDS Moves Forward

It was reported in the AMD Millwork Magazine last month that AMD won a decisive Building Code debate in Baltimore, earning a 7-4 vote at the International Code Council (ICC) Code Development Hearings, in Baltimore, for the inclusion of the Side Hinged Exterior Door Standard (SHEDS) into the International Residential Building Code (IRC).  This is the first leg of a long distance race, whose completion is the full identification of the AMD SHEDS in the 2012 IRC.  The second leg is the “body” vote at the final action hearings.  AMD SHEDS is in Group B of the ICC Code Development Process.

In the ICC town hall meeting webcast held on March 22, 2009 in New Orleans, AMD, in a written submission, questioned ICC about its timeline for the “Code Development Transition Plan” and its effects on new standards, Mike Pfeiffer, P.E. Deputy Senior Vice President, Technical Services answered,

“ …when it comes to new standards, you will be held to the Group A and the Group B considerations, which means, for example, if you’ve got a new standard, that’s going to be considered with the Group B Codes, you will need to have the proposed code change due June 1^st, as well as the standard available by the Final Action Hearings in October of 2010”.

What has changed since then? Soon after the Baltimore Code Hearings, ICC decided to move a portion of Group B from the Fall of 2010 to the Spring of 2010. As a result of this recent decision, the timeline for completion of the AMD SHEDS accreditation process will not meet the new ICC dates.   An additional obstacle, the ICC doesn’t accept standards that are not accredited according to ICC rules.

Most recently, AMD CEO, Rosalie Leone, respectfully submitted a letter of inquiry to the ICC leadership informing that “AMD and members of the millwork industry have continued to be an active voice over the past several years at the ICC Hearings, defending the majority of the millwork industry with regards to the current IRC exemption to the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) and the ICC Code Development outcome has consistently resulted in substantiating our opposition.”  It was further communicated that the ICC recent schedule change to the Final Action Hearings would have a significant impact on industry prehangers and component manufacturers; “the AMD SHED standard was created out of necessity for the millwork industry and we strongly believe that the industry cannot afford another crippling setback by waiting another three years to present the AMD SHED standard”.  No response has been forthcoming as of the writing of this article; however, we look forward with anticipation to see what opportunities ICC affords AMD.

For over a year, top AMD technical experts have worked diligently to develop and write SHEDS, while AMD leadership and staff have pushed to gain accreditation as a ‘national standards writer” with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). We continue to have supportive AMD members who give their time and are committed to travel to code hearings providing key testimony and industry partners to stand in favor of the project.