NADCA ACR-2000 Delayed: 
Despite a public news release to the contrary, don't look for NADCA's proposed standard, Assessment, Cleaning, and Restoration of HVAC Systems for Hygiene (ACR-2000), until sometime next month. Bob Krell, chairman of the Standards Committee, told IE Connections that the standard is currently in "limited review." That means the standards is getting a once-over by the NADCA Board of Directors and several industry professionals outside the organization prior to the official public comment period.

IAQ On AOL: 
gazoontite.com, an indoor air quality-related internet retailer in San Francisco, recently scored a deal with AOL Inc. for placement in the Shop@AOL marketplace. The San Francisco company's products, currently offered through its own website, retail stores and catalog, include: air purifiers; vacuum cleaners; bath and beauty products; dust-control products; odor control and asthma-management products; and anti-allergen and hypoallergenic bedding. Under the agreement, gazoontite.com will be listed in the Drugstore and Pharmacy, and Toys and Home Furnishings departments of the Shop@AOL, AOL.com, CompuServe and Netscape online shopping destinations.

Filter Certification: 
Last month, sources told IE Connections that the National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) Board had overwhelmingly approved a new program to certify HVAC air filters for performance efficiency claims. What was really approved was a Procedural Guide to the NAFA Product Certification (NPC) Program, which allows the program to move forward into further development and implementation. It will be several months before the program is up and running. The NPC Procedural Guide has been distributed to NAFA members for comment through the end of 1999. After that, NAFA will appoint a Product Certification Administrative Board, followed by education of the NAFA membership on the details of the program at the 2000 NAFA Technical Seminar to be held April 6-8th, in Baltimore, Md.

Candle Research Projects: 
The ARTI 21-CR Research Project, "Investigation of the Causes of 'Black Soot' Phenomena was recently awarded ENERGEN Consulting Inc., a research/consulting firm in Germantown, Md. ENERGEN has done consulting work on numerous ASTM standards and has conducted research on airline cabin indoor air quality. Also, word is that EPA has contracted with Lockeed-Martin in New Jersey to conduct candle emissions testing for VOC, lead and other compounds.

Scent Ban: 
According to HAPPI Magazine (Household & Personal Products Industry), a public employees union is supporting a pro-posal to extend a smoking ban to exclude the use of perfume and after shave products in Canadian government offices. The ban would prohibit the use of personal scents as well as the use of scented cleaning products.

Duct Cleaning In Brazil: 
Earlier this year, new Brazilian regulations went into effect to require regular maintenance of air-conditioning systems in public buildings. In response, the U.S. duct cleaning franchise DUCTBUSTERS has entered into a joint venture with Credere Consultoria e Fomento Mercantil Ltda. of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Credere group has purchased a Master Franchise for the country and expansion rights to the state of Sao Paulo. In addition, they bought Brazil's first operational DUCTBUSTERS franchise, located in the city of Sao Paulo. Word has it that company president Tom Yacobellis will be traveling to Brazil before the new year to seal the deal on additional franchise locations.