GANA appoints Culp as code consultant

The new Glazing Industry Code Committee of the Glass Association of North America, Topeka,Kan.,has retained Thomas Culp, president, Birch Point Consulting LLC, La Crosse, Wis., to act as a consultant for the group, as it becomes actively engaged in the energy code process. The group, which formed at the beginning of 2010, becomes part of the ongoing GANA: Advocacy effort by the association to represent the glass and glazing industry's interest in the full gamut of building and energy codes, as well as various rules, regulations and standards-creating organizations. GICC was previously an autonomous organization whose members voted to roll the association into GANA, according to a Jan. 20 release.

"I am very excited to continue working with the Glazing Industry Code Committee and the Glass Association of North America," said Culp, in the release. "There is an unprecedented new focus on increasing energy efficiency in the codes and standards. This can provide positive opportunities to promote green attributes, daylighting, value-added products, and building integrated photovoltaics. There are also, however, a lot of misperceptions about glazing out there, which can lead to harmful, flawed changes such as recent proposals to reduce total glazing area."

After earning his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Culp worked at Atofina Chemicals in Philadelphia for six years, focusing on the development of low-E glass coatings for energy-efficient glazing. He then created Birch Point Consulting that provides engineering and strategic consulting services to glazing and framing manufacturers in the areas of energy-efficient window performance, building code development, and interaction with government and industry bodies.

"Tom has been an integral part of our current efforts with the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers and other organizations," said Bill Yanek, GANA executive vice president, in the release. "His leadership and vision have been vital in preventing punitive changes to codes and standards that would cause irreparable damage to the glazing industry. We are glad to have his guidance as part of GANA's future code and energy advocacy efforts."

The first formal meeting of GANA's GICC group is scheduled for 8 a.m. PST, March 30 at the Paris Las Vegas Resort as part of GANA's Glass Week activities. More information may be found online. At that meeting, the group will receive updates on efforts at ASHRAE and the International Code Council, as well as map out the direction for the new code cycle at ICC.

"GANA understands the vital importance of being involved in that process to ensure the best interests of the fenestration industry are represented," Culp said in the release.