On a recent trip to the middle east, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) President and CEO Stephen Yurek signed cooperative agreements with the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Association (SASO) and the UAE's Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority (ESMA) aimed at further harmonizing HVACR and water heating testing and rating standards globally. The agreement calls for SASO and ESMA to adopt AHRI's standards as Saudi, and UAE national standards, respectively, in some cases with regional adaptations.

In recent months, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have begun to place a new emphasis on energy efficiency and environmental protection. With personal visits in November 2009 and February 2010, AHRI has signaled in a very serious way its intent to work closely with the governments of those nations to use AHRI standards and performance certification programs to help them meet with efficiency and environmental goals and to further global harmonization of standards and certification programs.  

Discussions are underway between AHRI, SASO and ESMA about holding a series of workshops that could lead to an agreement on adoption of certification in the near future. The Emirates Standardization and Metrology Authority (ESMA) has invited AHRI and other private parties, including AHRI member companies to apply to participate in ESMA standards development and conformity assessment committees that ultimately will develop Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for the UAE.

Yurek also has signed a tripartite agreement with the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) and the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Manufacturers Association (RAMA) establishing the basis for cooperation on the development and harmonization of standards and laying the groundwork for cooperation on future performance certification programs.  

The agreement, signed February 19, grants for two years the Indian parties non-exclusive, irrevocable licenses to use both current and future AHRI standards, in whole or in part, for the development and use of Indian Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Equipment Testing and Rating Standards (IAS) in India. The intent is that standards developed, adopted or modified under this agreement will be adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards and referenced by the Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency, both of which will ensure widespread use of those standards throughout India.

This current agreement builds upon an agreement signed two years ago that began the standards harmonization process between the organizations. Since that agreement was signed, 15 standards have been harmonized, and an additional 25 are in the process of being harmonized.