Spotlight on
TABB Certification Why the youngest of the testing and balancing organizations is making waves
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ore than 50 years ago two gentleman from Ohio had an idea that would change the sheet metal industry. Disheartened by the way the mechanical systems they designed worked once installed, H. Taylor Kahoe and George E. Coultas decided to look into establishing a totally independent testing and balancing agency. In 1964, thanks to their efforts and other supporters within the industry, the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC) was formed. A lot has changed since then, thanks to major advances in technology and our understanding of energy efficiency and human safety and comfort. Other balancing organizations have also formed, including the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB), the National Comfort Institute (NCI), and the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB). Each publishes and advances procedures and standards that further define HVAC system performance measurement. For TABB, being the new kid on the block comes with its challenges, as well as its benefits. “As TABB is the youngest of the three major testing, adjusting, and balancing firms, we sometimes see a generational pushback, due in part to misinformation,” says Duane Smith, director of certification (ICB/TABB) at The National Energy Management Institute Committee (NEMIC), a not-for-profit organization created in 1983 and sponsored by SMART and SMACNA. However, being relatively new means that TABB was able to learn from its predecessors, come to the table with a fresh approach, and adapt quickly to changing regulations. “A TABB contractor said it best when he told me, ‘a TABB technician understands the system from a sheet metal perspective and has had hands-on experience.’ Rather than being specialists, they
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By Natalie Bruckner
understand every aspect of the job, and this means they are perfectly positioned to provide effective testing and balance,” Smith says. Being the first and only ANSI-accredited HVAC testing, adjusting, and balancing certification program brings weight to the certification. So, too, does the fact that it conforms to ISO/IEC Standard 17024 Conformity assessment—General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons. TABB-certified professionals are recognized as the most competent, reliable, and qualified in the HVAC industry. By specifying utilization of TABB-certified technicians, contractors, and supervisors, engineers can ensure that their customers receive a product at the highest levels of quality. With TABB-certified technicians undergoing rigorous and ongoing training to ensure they remain up-to-date with the latest changes, there is great value to both the contractor and building owners. “In our area, being TABB certified results in engineers’ respect,” explains Mark B. Ellis, Jr, TABB supervisor at Air Moving Equipment Company in Las Cruces, New Mexico. “We have been able to do a lot of projects simply because of the reputation of TABB.” In fact, Ellis’ company is a perfect example of how being TABB certified opens up new windows of opportunity. Once a mechanical contracting firm, Air Moving Equipment Company now focuses on testing, balancing, and related work. “Being TABB certified really opened up a market for us to thrive,” Ellis says. “We are now working with companies that were once our competitors. It has made everyone here better at all facets of this kind of work, not just the balancing part. It Partners in Progress » July 2019 » 9
