The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced Dec. 19, 2007, that their members have voted to approve the merger of the two trade associations to represent the interests of cooling, heating and commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturers. The merger was approved by the members of GAMA and ARI on Dec. 10 and Dec. 17, respectively.

The merged association will become the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) on Jan. 1, 2008. It will be headquartered in Arlington, Va. The merger will directly benefit the 370 AHRI members by creating a single, influential entity to more effectively represent their interests, while continuing the work of both associations in establishing industry standards and certifying the performance of heating, cooling and commercial refrigeration equipment.

The AHRI Board of Directors has appointed Johnson Controls Vice President C. David Myers as chairman of the combined organization. The AHRI Board consists of the current directors of the two constituent associations and is representative of the membership and its different product areas.

"The merger will create a more efficient and influential organization to serve the needs of cooling, heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturers and their customers," says Myers. "The interests of the memberships of the two associations are so closely aligned that we expect a seamless integration."

For more information, visit: www.ari.org