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The All New Light Duty AGV from Aire Technologies is Here.

Posted on October 19, 2022 by Aire Technologies

Lighter and Leaner

An inexpensive ventilator option for areas that do not require hurricane ratings.

Perfect Complement

To the Aire Tech Miami-Dade County rated AGV, providing great air performance.

Designed and engineered specifically for noncoastal regions, the new Light Duty Aluminum Gravity Ventilator from Aire Technologies is now available. By shedding the interior subframe required for hurricane regions, this complementary AGV offers similar air performance and options at a much lower cost. Don’t overpay for ratings you don’t need and go lighter and leaner with Aire Technologies.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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New Heights for the New Standard

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Aire Technologies

Series 58 EAD/DD Meets New High Speed Air Volume Demands

Aire Technologies recently re-tested our tried and true UL classified Series 58 EAD/DD ceiling radiation damper with Underwriters Laboratories to meet new high speed air volume demands.  This product, combined with either a factory or field supplied and installed ductboard plenum above the sheetrock, has been tested to allow for larger ductwork connections in the annular space. This accommodates greater cubic feet per minute fan velocity (CFM) with higher internal duct static pressures delivered by larger air handlers.

This new trend in the multi-family industry – apartments and condos that are getting bigger, ceilings that are going higher, and larger common spaces – demands more heated or cooled air.  Aire Technologies has responded by being the first in the industry to afford up to 345.5 sq inches of duct opening! Our 58 EAD/DD True Truss ceiling radiation damper enclosures are designed specifically for this application. We have recently tested and received approval for the stringent one hour UL263 testing required for a product to safely meet the demands of the wood-truss multi-family industry.  We can easily meet the demands of the latest construction trends and are the only one tested and approved in the industry.

Aire Technologies continues to design, test, and meet the demands of the multi-family industry with our signature True Truss line of products.

Series 58 Product Features:

  • The first 345.5 SqIn duct opening
  • UL263 tested and approved
  • Meets new high speed air volume demands

Download This Announcement 

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Our 2020 Sustainability Report Is Now Available

Posted on June 7, 2021 by Aire Technologies

Our annual report is now available highlighting our corporate wide sustainability efforts including our Zero Waste and Energy/Water Conversations strategies.

The Year’s Overview – Ray Yeager, President and CEO

Dear stakeholder,

2020 was an incredible year by all accounts – incredibly difficult, but also incredibly successful in spite of all the challenges. Although our face-to-face interactions were hindered, our sustainability efforts still can be considered one of our greatest successes of the year.

DMI Companies is a leader of sustainable efforts throughout the country. Our new five-year strategic plan places ‘Sustainability’ at the forefront, allowing our long term vision to be focused on innovative products and sustainable solutions. Our new, overarching strategic objectives guide our organization to operate in a manner that both protects and promotes the well-being of our environment. The corporate initiatives include a continuous emphasis on encouraging all DMI employees to build a better, more sustainable world. Each of our employees make a difference.

In 2020, we were able to emphasize our commitment to environmental, social and community stewardship. Here are just a few examples of what our sustainability program accomplished:

  • Our Monongahela facility became Gold recertified through the TRUE program!
    • Our landfill diversion rate is now over 96%. I am proud of the Sustainability Team and all our employees for going the extra mile in 2020 to achieve this Top Tier Status.
  • Adopted ‘Environmentally Preferred Purchasing’ strategies.
    • The goal of this is to encourage source reductions through procurement. Our purchasing department was trained on how to find the most eco-friendly, responsibly-sourced products and services for all our company needs. We always aim to find less/non-hazardous and energy efficient solutions.
  • Monongahela’s “Rag Roll-out”:
    • Originally, our production staff utilized old pieces of clothing as rags. These rags were minimally absorbent and needed to be thrown into our dumpster once soiled. Now, we work with a local vendor to purchase efficient cotton rags which are collected once soiled, washed and resold. With this seemingly small change, we’ve been able to reduce our rag waste by 100%.
  • Sustainable practices have started spreading to Wagoner, Oklahoma.
    • All cardboard and shrink wrap waste will now be diverted from landfill, baled and sold to local commodity buyers. It is our hope that Wagoner will be our next certified zero-waste site by 2023!
  • Put Green Engineering strategies in motion:
    • In October, our engineering team designed and created a new semi-automated punch press for our Fire & Smoke department. Components were sourced from scrapped, discontinued or on-hand items which allowed us to cut costs and reduce waste during the construction process.
  • Made our headquarters in Charleroi, Pennsylvania as energy efficient as possible.
    • Built in 1889, our current headquarter building was once a bank, hotel, and housed numerous other operations. With retrofits and redesigns, the building is now Energy Star certified. We first achieved this feat in 2012 when the building was 123 years old. Now, it is considered one of the most energy efficient buildings of its time in the world!
  • Our Manufacturing Execution System (MES) implemented in 2020 with the roll-out of Industry 4.0 has allowed several of our production floors to go completely paperless.

We remain an active participate in every community in which we operate; albeit in 2020 most of our interaction was virtual.  In 2021 we will again venture outside our doors to help our communities to thrive.  Expect to see our amazing staff members help put our communities back together.By thinking and acting sustainably, we will continue to deliver excellent customer service and produce strong financial results and position the company for a strong future.  The future is here!  If you have any questions or comments about this subject or any other topic, please feel free to correspond with me at ryeager@dmicompanies.com.

Sustainability Strategy – Paxton Bucheral, Sustainability and Environmental Compliance Manger

In last year’s annual report, we made the announcement that our Monongahela facility became silver-certified through the Total Resource Use & Efficiency (TRUE) program, administered by GBCI. The TRUE Zero Waste certification program is an assessor-based program that rates how well facilities perform in minimizing their non-hazardous, solid wastes and maximizing their efficiency in the use of resources by awarding credits when certain milestones are achieved. I am pleased to announce that as of October 2020, our Monongahela facility has been recertified with the TRUE Gold Zero-Waste certification, reaching a waste diversion rate of 96.68%.

We committed to improving our diversion rate to over 97% in our 2019 annual report. Originally, we believed that it would take several years to achieve that goal but with everyone’s combined efforts, we were able to complete it within 10 months. Much of our recertification effort stemmed from the Procurement Department’s commitment to source reduction. In 2020, we challenged our vendors to redesign their packaging on the materials we buy and sought to buy the majority of our products locally, where applicable. Our buyers all received training on how to put EPA-based Environmentally Preferred Purchasing strategies to use.

Going forward, the TRUE program will be used to help us define, pursue, and maximize our zero-waste goals while reducing our carbon footprint and supporting community health. Our focus will be to continue pushing our sustainable strategies into each of DMI’s facilities. Continued implementation of this program offers a platform for perpetual improvement that leads to advanced certification levels and aligns with DMI’s sustainable core concepts: people, planet, and profit.

Our current waste program is providing a sustained benefit to the bottom line as we were able to avoid$92,000 worth of expenses in 2020. The list below summarizes some of our recycling and reduction efforts during the calendar year:

  • 2,379 tons of metal recycled
  • 92 tons of wood recycled
  • 40 tons (combined) of cardboard & plastic film recycled 18 tons of totes and drums recycled
  • 78 tons of pallets reused
  • 81 tons of steel pallets returned to vendor

Although 2020 was a challenging year for companies and commodity markets alike, our Monongahela location was able to divert 2,717 total tons of waste from landfill – a 96.68% diversion rate. We are committed to increasing this quantity year over year and incorporating our sustainability program throughout every single DMI facility across the country.

Energy and Water Conservation

Energy conservation continues to be a top priority at all DMI facilities. In 2020, we took advantage of multiple energy rebates to improve our infrastructure while simultaneously reducing energy consumption and costs. Solar panels, LED lighting, skylights and energy-efficient air compressors are a few examples of our continued initiatives.  Continued on the next page are our combined energy statistics in 2020:

  • Electricity consumption: +0.25%
  • Water consumption: +3.87%
  • Natural Gas consumption: -39.57%

With the vast majority of our office personnel working remotely or on staggered shifts, we were able to keep the buildings at a lower temperature throughout the cold months which led to a huge reduction of our natural gas usage. Although we were lucky that our production did not slow across 2020, it did cause us to see a slight increase in our electric usage. Throughout the year, we discovered several faulty toilets and sinks whose leaks caused an increase in our annual water usage.

Our headquarter building in Charleroi, Pennsylvania maintains an Energy Star score of 75, allowing the 130 year old building to be eligible for an Energy Star certification. All our facilities are outfitted with LED lighting, motion sensors and water-efficient fixtures. We will work towards addressing our water and electric usage to assure that we can maintain the greatest efficiency possible.

Workforce Development – Katie Hager, Workforce Development Manger

We can all agree 2020 had its fair share of challenges! Despite them all, our workforce persevered and we have quite a few note-worthy accomplishments:

DMI’s Wagoner facility is poised for great things.  When DMI relocated its Tulsa, OK facility to Wagoner, OK in 2017, the plan was to, gradually, build the manufacturing operations of this much larger space to, somewhat, mirror Monongahela operations.  This would allow key product lines to be moved or duplicated in a strategic location that would facilitate market expansion and growth across all SBUs.  In fact, Wagoner is the only DMI location that manufactures products for all five SBUs.  DMI also had a goal of having enough production in Wagoner to support employing 40 people within five years.  Well, in 2020 Wagoner exceeded that goal early.  They now have enough production to support over 40 jobs.  Throughout 2020, and despite the challenges of the pandemic, teams from across DMI worked together to design and install the ATI Insulated Register Box (IRB) and GSI Pipe lines in Wagoner.  This included training employees on standard operating procedures, quality control and scheduling, to name a few.  The addition of these lines added five new employees and improved sales and distribution capabilities.

Bruce Ellsworth and David Verbanick of DMI Monongahela were the first graduates of DMI’s Maintenance Technician (MT) program.  During their 15-month program, they worked with the DMI Maintenance, Production and Engineering teams to assimilate what they learned in their classroom training into DMI’s increasing culture of automation.  In December 2020, they earned their certificates in Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics from Westmoreland County Community College and assumed their new roles.    As Maintenance Technicians, David and Bruce will be responsible for the overall efficiency of our robotics and automated systems which is a vital component of DMI’s Industry 4.0 and IT/OT initiatives.

Our workforce showed great resolve and resiliency.  When other businesses shut down and left millions of people without jobs, benefits and hope, DMI was able to continue making our products because they were essential to people’s everyday lives.  A number of our products were used in the construction of temporary hospitals to help treat COVID-19 patients when hospitals were overrun.  We even converted one of our lines to manufacture metal nose strips for N95 masks.  We donated over a half million of these strips to help overcome the mask shortage so that medical personnel and first responders could continue to safely care for the sick.  To make this happen, the entire DMI team learned new ways of doing business whether it was adjusting to alternate procedures, learning new skills or leveraging technology.  Throughout these challenging circumstances, our workforce showed up in a big way to ensure DMI could do its part to contribute to the fight against COVID-19, continue to serve our customers’ needs and remain a leader in our industry.

Our People – Melissa Lourimore, Human Resources Manger

Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

The year 2020 and the global COVID-19 pandemic was one for the record books! Its challenges often felt impossible but through hard work and ingenuity, we never gave up and kept our doors open to keep our workforce employed, and our customer needs met.

In 2020, the world confirmed what we always knew; DMI Companies is an “essential business.” During the shutdown orders, we remained open and made products that enabled other essential businesses to function. DMI products were included in temporary hospitals erected to aid with the care of COVID-19 patients. Our employees did not face the challenges of losing their income or benefits that millions of other American workers faced due to the pandemic. Quite honestly, we could not find enough workers to do all the work we had available in our facilities.

As CDC, federal, state and local government guidance became available, the COVID Task Force reviewed and adapted to develop protocols necessary to keep our employees safe. Increased cleaning of high-touch areas, mandatory face mask usage, reworking of work stations to encourage social distancing and temperature checks of all employees are just a few examples of those protocols. All the extra handwashing kept other common illnesses away too!

The pandemic created a historic deployment of remote work and digital access across all areas of our business, and we are stronger because of it. Business travel abruptly halted, and it forced us to enrich the customer experience through video conferencing and virtual trainings. Many of our staff worked remotely for the first time. We overcame equipment shortages and learning curves. It may not become the new normal, but it has become another tool in our toolbox.

It was often difficult, but in the end, we did the impossible and made it through 2020 intact – poised to be even stronger in the future. We missed being together in person and hope the vaccines will allow us to gather again in the near future. Our Ownership, Board of Directors and Senior Management were proud of our employee’s courage to face the challenges of 2020 during such a difficult period of uncertainty.

Manufacturing will always be an essential part of any thriving community. We each play an important role in our success. 2020 made us resilient, more flexible, and able to think outside the box in a way we never thought possible.

Financial Growth and Stability – Dan Bruno, Chief Financial Officer

DMI Companies takes pride in being a socially responsible corporate citizen, and recognizes the importance of sustainability in that role. We believe that there can most often be great harmony between environmental, ecological and economical sustainability, and we always strive to act in ways that ensure those harmonies. Our continued growth and financial success will never compromise our commitment to the sustainability of future generations!

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Ray Yeager Appointed Co-Chair – CEOs for Sustainability

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Aire Technologies

We are proud to announce that DMI Companies President and CEO Ray Yeager has been appointed to Co-Chair of CEOs for Sustainability. Ray is looking forward to sharing our successful sustainability practices with other companies so they can experience the same benefits as DMI.  One of the first projects that Ray will be involved with is the Leading Forward initiative – “a call to action for businesses in the Pittsburgh region to commit to a sustainable economic recovery”. Ray will be a great asset to this project and to his new role!

Read the full story here.

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Available Now – Severe Duty Louvers

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Aire Technologies

Now available from Aire Technologies, “A” Rated WDV-6 and DC-638 Louvers, expanding our line of extruded aluminum air management products. These new additions are ideal for severe duty wind and weather applications – exceeding industry standards for air and wind driven rain performance.

Technical Specifications
  • AMCA 550 Listed for High Velocity Wind-Driven Rain
  • AMCA 500-L “A” Rating for Wind Driven Rain
  • Exceeds Miami-Dade County standards
  • Maximum wind load +/- 160 PSI (equivalent 250 mph)
  • Durable aluminum construction
  • Standard mill finish with many coating options
  • Large single section sizes
  • Multi-section sizing available
  • Simple and efficient installation
  • Quick ship eligible
  • Superior quality
  • Competitive pricing

For any questions about these new products please email us at ATIOrders@airetechnologies.com or download the submittals listed below.

Product Submittals:

Model WDV-6 Submittal
Model DC-638 Submittal

For a pdf copy of this announcement please Click Here to download it.
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From Silver to Gold – TRUE Zero Waste Certification

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Aire Technologies

2020 was a difficult year for businesses and individuals alike; however, it ended up being the best year to date for DMI’s sustainability program.  Our Monongahela facility ended the year with a land?ll diversion rate of over 97% and became recertified through TRUE at a Gold level!  They achieved 11 additional TRUE credits in 2020, which helped to bolster our higher recertification.

In 2020, the Monongahela facility recycled 2,698 tons of materials, ranging from metals to mix bags.  Together, Monongahela and Charleroi composted nearly 1,200 lbs. of food scraps and recycled 500 lbs. of universal/electronic waste.  More than 15 printer ink cartridges were diverted from the landfill, as well.

The efforts and diligence of the entire DMI team made this possible and we’re so thankful for all of you! Let’s see if we can surpass our numbers again this year!

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Developments in Aire Technologies

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Aire Technologies

Aire Technologies evolved into a new level of manufacturing and sales growth recently via an asset acquisition of Leader Industries in Nashville, Tennessee in 2018. Leader Industries had a vast offering of steel dampers, louvers, penthouses, aluminum gravity ventilators, and extruded aluminum dampers. This provided much needed larger sized dampers, new configurations and extruded aluminum products new to Aire Technologies to propel our business into the larger, engineered, bid and spec market with a much broader range of product offering. We are poised for continued aggressive growth.

Providing Solutions to the HVAC Industry

Aire Technologies is a progressive and innovative manufacturer of air management, air control, and HVAC life safety devices.  We have developed a unique CRD frame design. We have heavily incorporated automation for manufacture of subcomponents, and we rely on lean six sigma continuous process improvement.  Our commitment to provide an unequalled customer experience and craftsmanship in our products is the drive that makes us who we are.

Aire Technologies’ continued success in the multi-family, commercial, and Industrial HVAC segments will be based upon the continued development of progressive, engineering focused, air management and life safety solutions. These include such innovative capabilities as Rev-it 3D BIM capabilities, and a new web-based pricing program. A completely new Aire Technologies extruded aluminum product category emerged including commercial and severe duty (Miami Dade County) rated louvers, penthouses, and aluminum gravity ventilators have emerged in our Wagoner, Oklahoma facility. The motorized leakage rated damper line (combination fire & smoke dampers) has grown to include larger single-section sizes, multi-section dampers, corridor, and out-of-wall dampers that include many options such as smoke detectors, and blade indicator packages for automation.

The DMI Companies Wagoner, Oklahoma facility houses Aire Technologies newest equipment and manufacturing capabilities along with shared resources, warehousing, and shipping for Aire Technologies. The extruded aluminum product manufacturing was operational in December of 2019. Insulated CRD Boots (57IB’s) were relocated from our Pennsylvania facility to Wagoner in July of 2020 to free up space and capacity for continued growth in PA. We now manufacture the products in the region in which they are most frequently used, effectively reducing transit time and shipping costs. This represents a significant growth and performance opportunity for Aire Technologies and our customers.

Aire Technologies is currently building redundancy of the heavily taxed CRD (True-Truss, wood truss UL classified devices for multi-family) manufacturing by initiating a large-scale resource taxing project intended to double CRD manufacturing capacity for Aire Technologies for 2021 and beyond. Production capabilities will add much needed redundancy to our current highest volume product lines. This will aid in building momentum in our efforts to expand much further west. It will improve our turnaround times and even enable us to reduce our lead times to a highly competitive region. We will leverage our capabilities to reduce transit time and shipping costs from Pittsburgh by manufacturing the desired products regionally.

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Louver Q and A with Sales Management Solutions

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Aire Technologies

Our newest line of air management products, Louvers, have been available since the start of 2020 and naturally there may be some questions about them. Our Engineered Sales Consultant and Louver Product Specialist Justin Burke sat down with one of our Manufacturer Reps, Sales Management Solutions (SMS), to answer some questions and provide some clarity on the newest product offerings from Aire Technologies.

Questions:

Why would you put a motor on a louver and why do you want an adjustable louver?

a. Adjustable louvers act as a combo louver AND damper. Can be manually controlled with a hand quadrant, but if they are inaccessible or tied to a fan system, you need a motor. There are 2 sets of blades – one set is stationary.

Are stationary louvers or combination/adjustable louvers more popular?

a. Stationary

Are actuators typically installed in the airstream, or out of it?

a. In the airstream – “internal mount”

If the power fails, do the blades stop open, or closed?

a. Typical wiring would have them fail closed, but you can invert them and have them power closed, and fail open.
Is it spec’d that the blades should fail open, or closed? ATI will do some research to determine this.

Are all motorized louvers drainable?

a. You can order them either way. Specs do not generally call them out to be drainable or not. The drainable profile helps with keeping water out so the test data behind the drainable profile is typically better than models that do not drain water through a gutter (in meeting CFM requirements).

Can these be wired into a control panel?

a. Yes, they can. An electrician would perform this.

How are louvers installed?

a. Non-hurricane rated products do not have stringent rules on installation. Screws, anchor clips, and a water-tight caulking are generally used.

Should you be requesting a flange to provide the material to anchor to the wall?

a. No, anchoring is usually done on the back portion. The flange provides a more aesthetically appealing look on the install. It also acts as an extra water repellent.

Will it ever be spec’d to have a flange, or is it merely for aesthetic purposes?

a. Yes, it would/could be spec’d.

Could you sell the flange add-on as something that protects the integrity of the masonry by keeping water flow off of it?

a. Yes. A bottom flange has a curve on it, which pushes the water away from the wall.

How deep are the (optional) sleeves that attach to the louver?

a. There are 4 different options – 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16” standard options.

How do the anchor clips work (on the hurricane rated model for Dade County)?

a. There are set installation instructions on the website for this specific product.

How do you choose one style of blade vs another, ie storm resistant/drainable?

a. This is tied to the performance data behind the louver. One of the deciding factors is the profile of the blade.

Why is the free area important in the louver testing data (on AMCA rated products)?

a. It affects how well air flows through the product. The more free area available, the easier air can flow through the louver.

What are the finish options available on louvers?

a. Mill finish is standard. Where the product needs to be painted, the surface can be powder-coated in many colors. A sample color chart is available. ATI can offer powder coat finishes compliant to AAMA standards.

Why do some louvers have minimum and maximum sizes?

a. Hurricane rated products are limited to what sizes were tested. Other product sizes are based on manufacturing capabilities of single sections. However, if a larger size is needed, multi-sections can be done.

Click Here to browse our line of available louvers for more detailed information and specifications. Should you have additional question or inquires about our louvers or any ATI product you can reach us through our Contact Page or by calling 1-855-258-3033.


SMS YouTube Channel

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Smacna Edge Conference 2020

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Aire Technologies

The SMACNA Edge Conference

A Virtual Education Forum
October 13-15, 2020

The SMACNA Edge Conference: A Virtual Education Forum is our industry’s premier digital event offering attendees the opportunity to learn, network and interact with service providers and suppliers.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • More than four hours of educational sessions per day.
  • A virtual product show filled with demos, presentations and representatives ready to answer your questions.
  • The opportunity to catch up with peers, friends and colleagues.

The SMACNA Edge Conference is open to everyone, members and non-members alike. Members have the option to attend individually for $100 per seat, or you can choose to buy All-Company Access for $250 and all your employees can attend as well.

Aire Technologes will have a virtual booth that you can visit for some general product and company information.

REGISTER NOW
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Dynamic CRD’s – DEBUNKED!

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Aire Technologies

Aire Technologies has been approached by industry partners regarding a dynamically rated ceiling radiation damper that has recently emerged. We wanted to take this opportunity to dispel misinformation being propagated about dynamically rated UL floor-ceiling assemblies and specifically those CRD’s that are claimed acceptable in all wood-truss assemblies. Keep in mind that the greatest means of success is fully understand building codes, fire ratings, local jurisdictions and most importantly UL263 wood truss assembly ratings.

1. Dynamic ceiling radiation dampers are required in dynamic HVAC systems

a. TRUE. IBC 2015 requires that ceiling radiation dampers that are used in dynamic wood truss systems must be rated for dynamic systems AND dynamic fire-resistance-rated assemblies.

2. IBC 2015 requires all ceiling radiation dampers to be dynamically rated by an NRTL.

a. FALSE. IBC differentiates between static and dynamic ceiling radiation dampers but does not require one or the other on all projects. Dynamic dampers must be used in dynamic systems. Static dampers must be used in static systems. “Ceiling radiation dampers shall comply with the requirements of UL 555C or shall be tested as part of a fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assembly in accordance with ASTM E119 or UL 263. Only ceiling radiation dampers labeled for use in dynamic systems shall be installed in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems designed to operate with fans on during a fire.” (IBC 2015 717.3.1 item 4).

3. A dynamic ceiling radiation damper can be used in any floor-ceiling or roof-ceiling truss assembly.

a. FALSE. Static assemblies are evaluated differently than dynamic assemblies and are not interchangeable. According to UL, “…the certified ceiling damper must be directly referenced in the floor-ceiling and/or roof-ceiling design, by manufacturer and model number, in order to be used in that design. Only the dampers specified in the design may be utilized.” (UL.com. CABS.Guideinfo, 2020).

4. Ceiling Radiation Dampers listed by UL can be used in any wood truss assembly.

a. FALSE. Assemblies specify which dampers are compatible with the assembly. “Ceiling radiation dampers shall be installed in accordance with the details listed in the fire-resistance-rated assembly and the manufacturer’s instructions and the listing.” (IBC 2018 717.6.2.1).

5. A dynamic CRD can be used in a static floor-ceiling assembly like L-521 and L-587.

a. FALSE. A dynamic ceiling radiation damper can only be used in a dynamic assembly, unless also tested in a specific static assembly. Assemblies tested with dynamic ceiling radiation dampers are considered holistically to be dynamic assemblies. A dynamic assembly will state, “Ratings were developed under conditions employing air movement within a dynamic system.” (UL Product iQ, 2020).

6. A dynamic CRD can be used in a static HVAC system.

a. FALSE. A dynamic CRD cannot be used in a static HVAC system unless specifically listed by an NRTL (UL) for use in a static HVAC system on the UL Product iQ listing service. The testing procedure is different between a static assembly and a dynamic assembly, and the testing procedures are not comparable.

7. A dynamic CRD can be used in a roof-ceiling assembly.

a. FALSE. At the time of this writing, there are no tested and listed dynamic wood truss roof-ceiling assemblies, or any roof-ceiling assemblies with dynamically rated CRD’s. All roof-ceiling assemblies at the time of this writing employ static dampers.

8. Dynamic Ceiling Radiation Dampers are the most cost-effective solution to building life safety plans.

a. SPECULATIVE. Dynamic CRD’s are estimated to be approximately 30% more costly per damper than corresponding static CRD’s. The cost of the project also depends on which products are listed in the fire resistance-rated assembly (e.g. gypsum board, insulation, resilient channel, dampers). With limited options in an existing dynamic floor-ceiling assembly, the potential for a higher overall cost increases. A cost-effective alternative is to make the system static with a firestat.

9. Dynamic ceiling radiation dampers are the only code-compliant solution to modern multi-family life safety plans.

a. FALSE. Systems are made static by the proper wiring of a firestat HVAC limit switch and/or smoke detector to the local HVAC fan that triggers it to shut off upon firestat operation. Most fans are required to have a smoke detector nearby. Static ceiling radiation dampers are intended for use in systems with an HVAC limit switch wired to the fans.

Dynamic Ceiling Radiation dampers should not be considered in isolation for evaluation, specification, or approval. All relevant factors of multi-family wood truss construction and specification should be considered. What is the design rating that has been specified? Keep in mind that dynamic ceiling radiation dampers cannot be used in a static floor-ceiling assembly nor can a static ceiling radiation damper be used in a dynamic floor-ceiling assembly.

Beyond the actual price increase of a dynamic CRD over a standard static CRD, there is the increased cost of the fabrication and installation associated with a dynamic floor-ceiling system. Fabrication of a steel plenum (box) enclosure for every dynamic CRD and R-11 (required) wrap for every enclosure. Also, every CRD in the system must be dynamic – not just the one over the air handler. Therefore, that cost is then multiplied by the total number of dampers per unit.

A typical firestat installed within close proximity of the air handler in each unit will be a substantial cost-effective alternative, allowing faster completion and practical acceptance for critical life safety installations.

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