By Bob Baker

Last month I wrote about the upcoming NADCA meeting in Albuquerque, NM. I ended the article with the statement: "This promises to be an exciting and memorable meeting." That statement can safely be categorized as one of the major understatements of the year. It was indeed a memorable meeting but not necessarily for the reasons that I cited. I suggested that the new training and certifications that have been proposed and the newly revised ACR Standard would be the highlights of the conference.

Although both of these subjects received considerable discussion and were important topics, they were overshadowed by a couple of other discussions that began in the general membership meeting and continued throughout the three days of the conference. In addition, a third issue raised in the Associate member meeting the day prior to the start of the conference is sure to have some impact.

Associate Member Status
NADCA has two classes of membership; regular members who are duct cleaning companies and associate members who are the suppliers to the industry, manufacturers, consultants and others who are not actual contractors. Only one Associate Member has been allowed on the Board of Directors (which actually runs the organization) at any given time. Thus, the associate members have little influence in the direction of the association. At them same time, associate members fund many of the activities of NADCA and traditionally have provided expertise to develop standards and training programs and staffed many of the committees.

During the associate member meeting, the lack of associate influence on the decision making process was discussed and a resolution passed formally requesting that up to three associate members be allowed to serve on the Board and that associate members be allowed to become officers. If accepted by the board, this will have a huge impact on the organization and the way it operates.

NADCA Staff Support
During the general meeting during the opening session, a motion was made that the Board be directed to put out invitations for other association management firms to submit proposals to provide staff services to the association. Sufka and Associates has managed the affairs of the organization since its formation. During a protracted discussion of the motion, several amendments were offered and numerous opinions were articulated. Most observed that the board has failed to show good governance by not periodically placing the management contract out for bid and evaluating different proposals.

The amended motion did pass by a substantial majority so the Board will be requesting proposals from alternate management companies in addition to Sufka and Associates. Naturally, any change in management after so many years, could have a profound effect on the direction and growth of the association. The actions of the Board will be closely followed by the membership during the coming year.

What is Duct Cleaning?
Later during the general meeting, a member expressed concern that the public may be confused about what services they are receiving when they retain a NADCA member duct cleaning contractor. He emphasized that this especially applies to residential customers. He went on to point out that many consumers are referred to member companies through the NADCA web site and may have the impression that all member companies clean to the level and using the protocols described in the ACR document which required cleaning of all system components including furnaces, cooling coils and air handlers.

He stated that many members clean only the air ducts and do not clean the balance of system components. This can result in customers being misled as to what services they will receive. He concluded by making a motion that a disclaimer statement be placed on the NADCA web page. This would advise the public that not all NADCA members clean in the manner described in the ACR document and that the exact scope of services that will be provided be determined before hiring a contractor.

A spirited and protracted debate followed this motion. While many in the room insisted that there was considerable variation from contractor to contractor in the scope and depth of services included in a cleaning, others vigorously asserted that service offerings are quite uniform throughout the membership. Ultimately, a sound majority defeated the motion. However, the debate continued in small groups throughout the balance of the meeting.

Impact on the future
Although all of the above debates and discussions were lively and spirited, they were at the same time thoughtful and professional. There is little doubt that NADCA will go through a period of introspection and review during the months to come as a result of these issues being brought to the surface. Such events can either strengthen an organization or result in a crisis.

We all hope that the outcome will be positive. NADCA is a strong organization that has contributed much to our industry and raised a one-time suspect specialty area to a level of considerable credibility and standing in the industry. No one wishes to see these significant accomplishments diminished or the advances realized lost. We will all be watching and praying for thoughtful discourse and positive decisions.

Mr. Baker's field of expertise is the control of contamination in air-conditioning and ventilating systems by mold, mildew and bacteria. He writes and speaks frequently about the efficacy, legal risks, and regulatory issues involved in various control strategies. He serves on ASHRAE Technical Committee TC 2.3, TC 2.4, TC 9.8, and Sampling of Airborne Particulate Concentration in Commercial and Residential Buildings GPC 17P. He also serves as a member of ASTM D22.06 (Indoor Air Quality) and is on the Board of Directors of the Indoor Air Quality Association and the Florida Public Health Foundation. Because HVAC applications encompass new uses from an U.S. EPA regulatory standpoint, Mr. Baker works closely with the EPA and industry groups, including serving as the chair of the IAQ committee of the Consumer Specialty Products Association, to help formulate policy in this area.

Bob Baker is Chairman and CEO of BBJ Environmental Solutions, Inc., a company specializing in providing clean air through environmentally responsible products, such as BBJ MicroBiocide , BBJ Micro Coil Clean , "FreshDuct Odor Eliminator ", and BBJ Mold and Mildew Remover™ as well as the revolutionary new Power Coil Clean™. For additional information, Mr. Baker can be reached at (800) 889-2251 or through the company web site at http://www.bbjenviro.com.