The Glass Association of North America“s (GANA) annual Glass Week, which took place 25-30 March 2010 in Las Vegas, started with a meeting of the Flat Glass Manufacturing Division (FGMD).
During the …
The Glass Association of North America“s (GANA) annual Glass Week, which took place 25-30 March 2010 in Las Vegas, started with a meeting of the Flat Glass Manufacturing Division (FGMD). During the meeting, Stephen Farrar of Guardian presented a report from the Climate Change Committee, noting that, Climate change has obviously been one of the top two or three issues for GANA over the last year. Among the regulatory issues discussed was the potential upcoming legislation regarding greenhouse gas regulations and efforts in California toward standards to keep heat out of vehicles, which will impact all glass manufacturers. GANA“s membership committee, led by technical director Urmilla Sowell, reviewed updates to its Guide to Architectural Glass, and resolved comments. Other items were reviewed in the in-progress Physical and Mechanical Properties of Soda Lime Float Glass informational bulletin (GIB), while the LEED Recycled Content for Glass GIB was not reviewed by the group as it has recently passed a division ballot. The newest GIB, entitled Daylighting, was adapted from an article from the Efficient Window Collaborative, and presents information on how daylighting and the use of glass can reduce the need for electric lighting in buildings, along with other benefits, and information on picking the right glass. It“s a very important issue as it ties into efforts to tighten the building codes, commented Farrar. GANA executive vice president Bill Yanek proposed a future project to consider: collecting data on capacity utilization, while Kim Mann, GANA“s general counsel, noted that the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department have guidelines that do allow trade associations to compile such sensitive information. One member also pointed out that: If [a survey were] conducted today – we“re talking about capacity utilization – a week later all of the information might be obsolete. Mann agreed that it would have to be an ongoing process to eventually show tendencies within the industry. Other concerns were that not all float manufacturers are represented within the association (staff responded that an invitation to participate would be extended) and that the term “capacity“ would need to be better defined as the cullet-to-sand ratio differs from manufacturer to manufacturer. GANA staff will now research this topic and provide detailed information on why it might be useful and informative for members and the industry. Glass Week was also co-located with the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance annual meeting and the Building Envelope Contractors Conference.