Appliance Design - December 2008 - (Page 11)

NEwS watch ASHRAE 90.1 energy efficiency standard for non-standard size PTACs and PTHPs, and also adopted AHRI’s definition of these products. The agency published an addendum to the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 for standard and non-standard size package terminal equipment. However, contrary to an AHRI recommendation, the DOE adopted energy-efficiency standards for standardsize equipment that is significantly more stringent than the levels established in ASHRAE 90.1. The new standards will be effective on Oct. 7, 2010, for non-standard size equipment and on Oct. 8, 2012, for standard size products. gas water heaters. The ICC also followed an AHRI recommendation to reject a proposal that would have prohibited the installation of gas-fired vent-free heaters in aftermarket manufactured homes and those that meet International Energy Conservation Code requirements. Changes approved at the hearings will be published in the 2009 edition of the codes. The ICC will accept code change proposals for the next code cycle until March 24, 2009. housings, recycled plastic keypads, zero charger with 3.5mW standby power, HTML based e-manuals, a game style educational application called Ecomate and environmentally conscious packaging. a method for hedging against weather-related risks in commodities trading. Industry observers are split in their opinion of the ruling. Some say the denial eliminates a whole class of innovations from protection and will subsequently discourage such innovations. Others disagree, saying that the granting of protection to vague, abstract ideas would hinder innovation. Legal observers expect the issue to reemerge in the courts, saying that emerging technologies will compel further refinement of the machine-or-transformation test that was the basis of the ruling. PatENt RULING. Icc BacKS VENt-FREE aPPLIaNcES. Members of the International Code Council (ICC) voted in September to uphold the ability of homeowners to choose to install and use vent-free gas appliances in U.S. homes. During hearings on Sept. 23, vent-free gas appliance proponents testified that homes using vent-free gas appliances for supplemental heat meet recognized indoor air quality guidelines, and that all ventfree gas products are subject to stringent product safety standards and are certified by independent testing agencies. Also, at the ICC meetings, the AHRI was able to defeat proposals that would have established a standard in the International Energy Conservation Code that would have included a furnace electricity ratio, a 2 percent maximum leakage rate on air handlers, a minimum 90 percent AFUE furnace efficiency standard, and a requirement mandating the use of pilotless, electronic ignition systems on www.applianceDESIGN.com A federal appeals court decision that restricts patent protection for business methods may affect the way high-tech firms protect their intellectual property, according to legal observers. On Oct. 30, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled 9-3 that methods or processes cannot be patented unless they are linked to a machine or involve some sort of physical transformation. (In Re Bilski) The KItchEN GaDGEt SaLES. AD12054Kanthal 11/8/05 12:02 PM Page 1 court ruled against Bernard Specialty kitchen electric Bilski, who sought to patent products that offer conve- Greenheart phone. caLL FOR GREEN. Top element makers and OEM’s rely on Kanthal’s element materials for performance and long life. As the world leader in advanced electrical heating technology, Kanthal delivers a complete line of standard and problem-solving proprietary element materials. From standard materials to problem-solving alloys… Sweden-based Sony Ericsson has introduced a recycling program and released an environmentally friendly phone. Under the recycling program, when any Sony Ericsson product is taken to a designated collection point, the company will recycle the product even if the product was purchased in another country. The initiative has been introduced in India, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Singapore, the U.S., and Mexico. To date, more than 500 collection points are in operation and the company intends to complete the rollout by the end of 2009. The GreenHeart phone includes features such as bio-plastic North America’s top element makers and OEM’s know that they can rely on rapid, responsive and comprehensive technical support. Kanthal a Sandvik brand Kanthal - - a Sandvik brand 1-877-456-2279 1-800-KANTHAL (526-8425) www.kanthal.com www.kanthal.com ISO 9001 Registered ISO 9001 Registered ® © Kanthal 2005 applianceDESIGN December 2008 11 http://www.kanthal.com http://www.kanthal.com http://www.appliancedesign.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Appliance Design - December 2008

Appliance Design - December 2008 Contents Editorial Shipments/Forecasts News Watch New Products Design Marts Meetings Directory of Appliance Industry Associations EID Call for Entries Design, Engineering, and Prototyping Electrical and Electronic Components Fastening and Joining Fluid, Gas, and Refrigeration Materials, Forms, and Fabrication Mechanical Components Software and Computers Testing and Certification Supplier Locator Product and Services Locator Index Association Report: CEA Advertiser’s Index

Appliance Design - December 2008

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