Section MTG -- Multidisciplinary Task Groups

Click on the below for more information on each task group.

Scope

MTG.ACR will coordinate TC/TG/TRG/SSPC technical activities to help evaluate the technical basis and adoption of airflow rate specifications in terms of Air Change Rate (ACR) or Air Changes per Hour (ACH) for spaces such as cleanrooms, laboratories, patient rooms, operating rooms, and other similar spaces. Responsibilities include the development of research projects, development and presentation of technical programs for all types of spaces which currently require ACR specifications, and a special publication detailing aspects of the ACR philosophy and practice. The work of this MTG will potentially impact design guidelines, ASHRAE Handbook, and related ASHRAE standards. This MTG intends to involve other national and international groups and organizations in these efforts.

Objective/Impact

Also note this group would not be limited to ventilation and infiltration studies as in the scope of TC4.3. Activities of this group would help in optimizing the use of ASHRAE resources including ASHRAE research funds by avoiding duplicate efforts among different TCs. Findings of the research and literature review will be disseminated through special publications, ASHRAE Handbooks, ASHRAE conferences and other special conferences on the subject. The outcome of these efforts will be communicated to ASHRAE standards committees, regulatory authorities, and other similar organizations to facilitate any modifications in their codes and standards.

Roster

Current Projects/ Goals

• Winter Meeting February 2020 Programs
• Ventilation Effectiveness Metrics, Part 1: Humans
• The History of the Use of Air Changes per Hour in HVAC Codes, Standards and Guidelines
• Seminar ideas for Annual Conference in Austin, TX
• Present RP-1833 results at Annual Conference in Austin, TX

Accomplishments

• 1^st Phase of RP-1833 submitted to Project Review Committee
• Presentation at 2019 Annual Conference in Kansas City: Use of Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis to Optimize Laboratory Airflow, Safety and Energy Efficiency, Kishor Khankari, AnSight LLC
• Presentation at 2019 Annual Conference in Kansas City: Use of Airflow to Mitigate Risk of Exposure to Hazardous Airborne Materials Generated in Labs, Thomas Smith, 3Flow
• Presentation of preliminary results from volunteer research effort: Thomas Smith, Cliff Cooper, Kishor Khankari

Meeting Times

• MTG.ACR meets before and after ASHRAE conferences

Agendas

•  Meeting Agenda 2016-11-22
• Meeting Agenda 2017-03-20
• Meeting Agenda 2017-08-23
• Meeting Agenda 2018-01-04
• Meeting Agenda 2018-04-16
• Meeting Agenda 2019-02-21
• Meeting Agenda 2019-05-23
• Meeting Agenda 2019-09-05
• Meeting Agenda 2020-01-20
• Meeting Agenda 2020-07-10
• Meeting Agenda 2020-10-30
• Meeting Agenda 2021-03-19
• Meeting Agenda 2021-10-01

Minutes

• Meeting Minutes 2016-11-22
• Meeting Minutes 2017-03-20
• Meeting Minutes 2017-06-19
• Meeting Minutes 2017-08-23
• Meeting Minutes 2018-01-04
• Meeting Minutes 2018-04-16
• Meeting Minutes 2018-09-06
• Meeting Minutes 2019-02-21
• Meeting Minutes 2019-05-23
• Meeting Minutes 2020-01-20
• Meeting Minutes 2020-07-10
• Meeting Minutes 2020-10-30
• Meeting Minutes 2021-03-19

Scope:

MTG.BEQ will be responsible for the technical development, business development, planning, training, and marketing of programs for the Building EQ enterprise. Responsibilities include suggestions for research, development, and presentation of technical programs of all types on Building EQ and special publications detailing aspects of the Building EQ program.

Scope

MTG.BIM will coordinate the activities of multiple TC/TG in the area of standards and approaches to support the implementation of BIM within ASHRAE products and within the industry workplace and will generate ASHRAE research. MTG-BIM will also represent ASHRAE interests within the BIM marketplace outside of ASHRAE and provide a conduit for funneling information about the BIM industry to ASHRAE members.

Roster

Current Projects, Goals, or Objectives

Committee members are currently participating in development of ASHRAE Standards SPC 205 “Representation of Performance Data for HVAC&R and Other Facility Equipment” and SPC 224 “Standard for the Application of Building Information Modeling,” and updating ASHRAE Guideline 20-2010 (RA 2016) “Documenting HVAC&R Work Processes and Data Exchange Requirements.”

We are currently working on initiating further activities within ASHRAE to promote adoption of BIM techniques and technologies by ASHRAE members.

Our plans moving forward must include better coordination within ASHRAE and with ASHRAE and outside organizations plus engaging in a more proactive effort to attain a leadership position in the industry in the area of standards development for BIM.

Accomplishments to Date

ASHRAE RP-1801 Standardizing and Utilizing ASHRAE Online BIM Data Exchange Protocols was officially completed in 2020. This research project was based on Guideline 20 protocols and focused on Asset Management work processes.

Meetings

MTG.BIM typically meets on Monday from 10:15 am to 12:00 pm during Society meetings. Web/Conf. call meetings are also scheduled as required between Society meetings.

MTG Listserv Sign-up Link

Terms of Use/Sign-Up

Scope:

MTG.CEA will coordinate TC/TG/TRG technical activities related to the design of indoor plant production facilities and their HVAC&R systems. The priority of the MTG will be coordinating communication and opportunities between and through each of the involved committees to align and provide an ASHRAE society stance and direction for the development of plant production facilities. There is an ASABE standard in development, X653, which focuses on environmental conditions for indoor plant production facilities. This ASHRAE MTG will help guide designers, engineers and owners on how to best design and select the HVAC&R systems and equipment given the conditions in that standard. The MTG would ensure that aspects related to energy efficiency, efficacy, and selection of optimum HVAC&R systems are well understood within ASHRAE.

Roster

Scope: The scope of this MTG includes areas of Cybersecurity relevant to HVAC and related systems, infrastructure, and interfaces, including industry standards, advocacy and education. The scope includes the entire lifecycle of buildings, including building planning, design, construction and operation. The MTG will be active in Program to fulfill advocacy and education. The MTG would contribute to the Handbook by coordinating information in the section on cybersecurity. The MTG would also be active in Publications by production of guideline documents to assist ASHRAE members in implementing and developing cybersecurity designs and practices.

Scope:
MTG.EBO will coordinate the activities of multiple TC/TG/TRG and other stakeholders in the area of training and tools to support the operation of buildings to enhance the indoor environment and use energy effectively. Responsibility will include suggestions for research as well as development of technical programs and special publications on effective building operation for energy management.

The initial MTG roster includes Voting Representatives and Alternates for TCs 1.4 (Control Theory and Application), 7.3 (Operation and Maintenance Management) 7.8 (Owning and Operating Costs) and GPC 1.3 (Building Operation and Maintenance Training for the HVAC&R Commissioning Process)

Other TCs GPCs, and SPCs may also now wish to participate in this MTG with a Voting Representative and Alternate(s) given its scope and charge.

Scope:          

MTG.GenerativeAI will coordinate TC/TG/TRG technical activities to help support the adoption of generative AI by compiling technology adoption resources, best practice development guidelines and undertaking research projects to benefit ASHRAE members and for society operations and members services.

Objective:    

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications for HVAC in the past have often been focused on knowledge-based expert systems for design and operation, and fault diagnosis. More recently data science techniques have been used for energy use predictions and time-series data analysis to improve building operation and maintenance. Current advances in Large Language Models (LLMs) have resulted in generative AI tools and techniques that have transformed processing all

forms of digital information to solve every day problems in all domains. Integrating generative AI technology application in the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) industry can offer various benefits, including energy efficiency, predictive maintenance, and improved system optimization. There are several specific application scenarios currently envisioned:

• Develop a generative AI application for the HVAC industry to enhance energy efficiency, predictive maintenance, and system optimization.
• Develop Chatbots or other user-interfaces to access ASHRAE standards, research publications and handbooks.    
• Develop related RTARs that address ASHRAE research needs that can utilize AI and coordinate the RTAR’s with appropriate FGs. These may include using AI to analyze historical data to predict equipment failures, optimize energy consumption, and dynamically adjust HVAC parameters. Using AI to assess/implement fault detection algorithms, occupancy pattern recognition, and seamless integration with Building Management Systems.
• Provide a user-friendly interface for real-time monitoring and visualization.
• Ensure compliance with energy efficiency standards and regulations, prioritize security and privacy, and offer continuous improvement mechanisms.

Scope:
MTG.HCDG will coordinate TC/TG/TRG technical Activities to help support the development of the technical basis and adoption of the Hot Climate Design Guide. Responsibilities include suggestions for Research, Development and Presentations and special publications detailing aspects of the Hot Climate Design Guide.

Scope

MTG.LowGWP will coordinate TC/TG/TRG technical activities to help transition the HVAC&R industry to sustainable lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternative refrigerants. The MTG will further request participation from US DOE, AHRI, and others with shared goal. The MTG responsibilities include research, development and presentation of technical programs of all types on alternative lower GWP refrigerants, suggestions for Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP) systems evaluation for different applications, development of lower GWP solutions for different applications, and a special publication detailing aspects of LCCP applied to the HVAC&R fields.

Objective/Impact

This MTG will create a synergy between TCs working on advancing the HVAC&R state-of-the-art. The Members will coordinate the efforts undertaken by TCs 1.1, 1.3, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.8, 6.3, 8.2, 8.4, 8.5, 8.7, 8.11, 10.1, and 10.7 plus SSPC 15, SSPC 34 and the work of AHAM, AHRI, U.L., and UNEP to investigate the performance of alternative refrigerants and refrigerant blends proposed by TC 3.1. The MTG will also work closely with TC 3.2 and TC 3.4 to ensure the compatibility of the new refrigerants with current and future systems. Furthermore, the MTG will coordinate the results obtained from research performed in different TCs with TCs 1.5, 2.5 and 4.1 to establish a standardized LCCP evaluation in order to ensure that the lower GWP refrigerants do not contribute more emissions indirectly. Results from the work coordinated by this MTG will be published in ASHRAE handbook chapters sponsored by different committees. The diversity of the MTG participating TC membership will result in stronger impact on the HVAC&R community and ensure faster and sustainable transition to environmentally friendly refrigerants.

Roster

Accomplishments

• The MTG since its inception has tracked current research activities relevant to its mission and coordinated between different TCs in this regard. The MTG also disseminated related information stemming from AHRI AREP-2 and IIR LCCP working party to their committees. In 2016, MTG.LowGWP was granted authority by the ASHRAE Technical Activities Committee (TAC) to develop and sponsor their own research projects.
• RP-1807 (Guidelines for Flammable Refrigerant Handling, Transporting, Storing and Equipment Servicing, Installation and Dismantling). Research project complete and final report published December 2018, available in the ASHRAE Technology Portal (https://technologyportal.ashrae.org/).
• RP-1808 (Servicing and Installing Equipment using Flammable Refrigerants: Assessment of Field-made Mechanical Joints). Research project complete and final report published December 2019, available in the ASHRAE Technology Portal (https://technologyportal.ashrae.org/).
• RP-1855 (Determination of the Impact of Combustion Byproducts Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) and Carbonyl Fluoride (COF2) on the Safe Use of Fluorinated Refrigerants). Research project complete and final report published June 2023, available in the ASHRAE Technology Portal (https://technologyportal.ashrae.org/).

Meeting Times

• Periodic teleconferences between conferences as needed
• Scheduled Meetings:
• Sunday afternoon at Society meetings from 5 pm to 6 pm
• Wednesday mornings Society meetings from 10 am to 12 pm

Minutes

January 13 & 16, 2019 Conference Minutes - Atlanta

June 24 and 27, 2018 Conference Minutes - Houston

January 21 and 24, 2018 Conference Minutes - Chicago - Draft

MTG Listserv Sign-up Link

Terms of Use/Sign-Up

Scope

MTG.RES will coordinate TC/TG/TRC activities related to resilience including promoting the ASHRAE definition of “resilience”, finalizing a roadmap for ASHRAE to follow, prioritizing activities, and providing guidance to functional groups regarding developing their resilience plans. The MTG will develop documents as necessary to formalize resilience concepts and procedures.

Objective / Impact

This MTG will create a synergy between TCs working on advancing ASHRAE activities related to resilience. The Members will coordinate the efforts undertaken by the following TC’s and other organizations:  2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 2.10, 4.2 and 4.3.  Other TC’s and functional groups and organizations that could be included for potential membership include: 2.1, 4.4, 9.6, 9.7 and 9.9, SSPC 189.1, Oak Ridge National Lab, NREL, FEMA, DOD, DOE, USGBC, and FOCUS.

Results from the work coordinated by this MTG will be published in ASHRAE handbook chapters and influence the standards/guidelines sponsored by the represented technical committees. The diversity of the MTG participating TC membership will result in stronger impact on the HVAC&R community and ensure faster acceptance of the concepts of Building Resilience.