AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016 - 32

AMIT AHUJA, GENERAL MANAGER, MAICO GULF; CHAIR, AMCA MIDDLE EAST REGION; MEMBER, AMCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS M I D D L E E A S T A M C A U P D AT E The AMCA Middle East region is primed for growth and continues to be an exciting part of the world for AMCA and its members to be involved with. AMCA's Middle East region has 24 members, 16 of which participate in the AMCA Certified Ratings Program (CRP). This accounts for 86 of AMCA-certified products. Between its initiatives, committees, conferences and marketing, the region's activity increases month by month. AMCA looks forward to a continued increase in participation from manufactures in the Middle East. certification program was officially launched with the establishment of Thomas BellWright International Consultants as an AMCA-accredited independent laboratory. Lastly, Saad AMCA Middle East Region Meeting attendees learn Ali, the general the latest industry news. Image courtesy of AMCA International. manager of Ruskin Titus Gulf, was elected chair of the Meetings The first annual AMCA Middle East region's marketing committee. In the coming year, AMCA will be Region Meeting took place in January 2016. The meeting closely followed hosting two technical seminars in the November 2015's Middle East Technical region. As a follow up to a two-hour Seminar, held in Dubai in association seminar given by Michael Ivanovich to with the ASHRAE Falcon Chapter, and the ASHRAE Qatar Oryx chapter on the Big 5 International Building and AMCA and the CRP March, AMCA Constructions Show, at which AMCA and ASHRAE Qatar Oryx will cohost exhibited. The Middle East Technical the 2016 Middle East Air-Systems Seminar attracted more than 120 engi- Engineering Seminar in Doha, Qatar, neers from the region, and presentations on Dec.10. The seminar will cover the covered sand louvers, dampers, fan effi- following: ciency and system effect. * Sizing & selection of AMCA-certified sand louvers; At the annual meeting, members from the region and AMCA staff devel- * Avoiding fan system effect; oped a strategic plan outlining * Introducing the fan efficiency index organizational goals, marketing and * System design for tunnel-smoke exhaust; and communications plans and evolutionary changes to testing standards * Car park design using CFD software. More than 130 ASHRAE members relevant to the region. The sand louver from Qatar and the surrounding region are expected to attend. Also, AMCA will cohost a seminar with the ASHRAE UAE Falcon Chapter on April 4, 2017, in Dubai. The agenda for that meeting is still being finalized. Besides attending and hosting these formal events, AMCA staff has been travelling to the Middle East frequently to meet with people of influence in the region. This includes officials from the United Arab Emirates Quality and Conformance Council (QCC); engineers and architects from firms in Kuwait City; and AMCA members from Maico Gulf, Ruskin Titus Gulf and KDK/ Panasonic. Information gathered from these talks is helping AMCA understand how to better address the needs of region. Sand Louver Certification Stemming from work conducted by the AMCA Sand Louver Committee, AMCA revised two publications and collectively expanded the AMCA Certified Ratings Program to cover sand louvers. ANSI/ AMCA Standard 500-L establishes a method for testing a louver's resistance to wind-driven sand. The second document, AMCA Publication 511, created a new AMCA Certified Ratings Program specifically for sand louvers. Now Thomas Bell-Wright Accreditation After completing the approval process, Thomas Bell-Wright's facility was announced as an AMCA independent Thomas Bell-Wright of Thomas Bell-Wright Independent Consultants and Mark Stevens of AMCA International solidify a partnership in Dubai. Image courtesy of AMCA International. 32 Summer 2016 AMCA inmotion accredited laboratory. This laboratory is now able to test sand louvers per ANSI/AMCA Standard 500-L, and sand louvers can now obtain AMCA certification. A signing ceremony took place at the first AMCA Middle East Region Annual Meeting, held in January. W W W. A M C A . O R G http://WWW.AMCA.ORG

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AMCA In Motion - Fall 2016