National Environmental Balancing Bureau
Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA; the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) is an international association certifying firms and qualifying supervisors and technicians in the following disciplines: Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing (TAB) of HVAC systems; Building Systems Commissioning (BSC); Sound and Vibration Measurement (S&V); Retro-commissioning (RCX); Fumehood Testing (FHT); and Cleanroom Performance Testing (CPT). NEBB also establishes and maintains industry standards, procedures, and work specifications for these disciplines. Administration. The NEBB program is administered through 28 chapters throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. NEBB firms are also located in Qatar, Puerto  Rico, Korea, Denmark, England, Germany, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE- United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Thailand and Costa Rica; in the future, NEBB plans to expand its consolidated international chapter system—currently being used in Canada and Australia—to these areas. Programs. Discipline committees, consisting of highly experienced field professionals, set guidelines and standards for NEBB disciplines. As of January 2007, NEBB has the following discipline committees: Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing; Building Systems Commissioning; Sound and Vibration Measurement; Fumehood Testing; and Cleanroom Performance Testing. Fumehood Testing (FHT) and Retro-Commissioning (RCX) Programs. NEBB's FHT and  RCX programs were established at a NEBB Board of Directors' meeting held at NEBB's 2006 Annual Meeting and Educational Conference in Palm Springs, California on November 9–11, 2006. NEBB's FHT Committee is working to produce a FHT procedural standards text and plans to offer a seminar in FHT in Fall 2007. NEBB's BSC Committee is producing a seminar in RCX to be offered in Fall 2007. Certification Requirements. In addition to being affiliated with a local NEBB chapter, NEBB firms are required to have been in business for at least 12 months and enjoy a reputation of  integrity and responsible performance. They also must possess sophisticated instruments required for their discipline, which must be calibrated in accordance with NEBB guidelines. In addition, the firm must employ at least one supervisor—who meets NEBB qualifications—to represent the firm and be responsible for the firm's work. Finally, NEBB firms are required to possess a copy of the NEBB procedural standards for their discipline. Publications. NEBB publishes home study courses, technical manuals, and training materials for industry use. Below is a list of current NEBB publications: Educational Programs. In addition to its publications, NEBB offers educational seminars at  NEBB TEC—NEBB's training and educational facility located in Tempe, Arizona—to enhance the educational experience of each discipline. Each November, NEBB hosts its Annual Meeting and Educational Conference. The meeting features technical sessions and prominent guest speakers to enhance the professional capabilities of NEBB contractors and staff members. Educational sessions at the meeting feature presentations by industry experts on various topics related to the NEBB disciplines. Past invited guest speakers have included the presidents of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA). NEBB TEC. NEBB TEC (Training  and Educational Center) is a multi-purpose facility used for seminars and practical exams. Managed by NEBB's technical director, the facility has two cleanrooms, a seminar classroom, and a TAB practical exam room complete with an air handler and pumps.