The ‘NFRC / Energy Star Setup’ screen allows window, door, and skylight manufacturing users to set up attributes for label printing according to NFRC / Energy Star® standards. This article has some NFRC / Energy Star tips. The FeneVision Core user manual explains the fields on the NFRC interface setup screen. The BP0139-NFRC Interface Implementation document (attached) contains important information.
Note: Cyncly is not notified about rating standard changes, so please notify Cyncly support when you hear of upcoming rating changes so that we can support them in FeneVision.
Ratings for Windows with Multiple IGs
An area that some customers are unaware of or do not understand are the rules regarding windows with multiple IGs, especially when the IGs do not have the same rating. Per NFRC guidelines, the ratings on the label must be from the IG with the worst rating. Therefore in a double hung, if the lock sash rating is worse, then the lock sash ratings appear on the NFRC label.
For example, if the following ratings are returned for the LS and KS of a double hung window, the KS ratings should be returned for the product. The KS has a higher U Factor and higher SHGC resulting in 2/3 metrics being worse for the KS.
In a mulled twin double hung, each double hung receives its own label, so the logic is the same as a standalone double hung. A continuous frame twin double hung is considered one window, so it receives only one NFRC label total, displaying the lowest rating of the four IGs.
Ratings Displayed in Options Wizard and Order Acknowledgement
FeneVision gathers the data for NFRC / EStar labels using stored procedures in the database, and this functionality has existed in FeneVision for decades. At this time, ratings displayed in Options Wizard and on the Order Acknowledgement have to mimic the logic in those procedures in the database using BOM attributes. These attributes must also follow the NFRC rules for displaying the worst case IG rating described in "Ratings for windows with multiple IGs". If your ratings for these muti-IG windows in Options Wizard are not matching up with your labels, then review the NFRC attributes in your BOM used for Options Wizard. Typically, you will find the Options Wizard and Order Acknowledgement NFRC attributes on the root part in the BOM. This is complicated configuration, and therefore some users are showing ratings in Options Wizard and Order Acknowledgement for single-IG windows only.
What ZPL Template is Used for the Label
The Reports_GlobalDirectory parameter (GSP) is set to the folder where ZPL templates reside. The templates in the Reports_GlobalDirectory folder are used first. If this GSP does not exist, then the template on the local PC is used from the application folder. For Tracking this would be: C:\Program Files (x86)\FeneVision\Tracking. The software also uses the application folder if the PC cannot access the Reports_GlobalDirectory folder!
During installation, the ZPL templates are laid down in this folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Fenetech Shared\Labels on your FeneVision database server. These templates must be copied to the Reports_GlobalDirectory folder. If you do not want to use a global directory, then they must be copied to the application folder on the local PC.
Excluding Products from NFRC Labels
The column of checkboxes to the left of the Part Number column in the center grid is for excluding parts from NFRC. When you hover over the header for this column with the check boxes, a tooltip displays "Check the box if labels are NOT to be printed for this part". Therefore if you have products you do NOT want to receive labels, then check the box to the left of Part Number in the center grid. When the box is unchecked, the product WILL receive an NFRC label.
Testing
Near the bottom of the setup screen is the Troubleshoot button which brings up a screen that allows you to test the label without printing. The unit(s) must be on a released schedule. Enter one of the sets of information for filtering.
- ‘Schedule’ and ‘Unit’ number.
- ‘Schedule’, ‘Start Batch’, and ‘End Batch’.
- ‘Schedule’, ‘Batch’, and ‘Bin’.
- ‘Order Number’, ‘Line-item’.
Select one of the two buttons: ‘Distinct ‘or ‘All’ and verify the numbers and values are correct on the right side of the screen.
How to Find the Energy Star Map Criteria
- The map criteria can be found at www.energystar.gov, but it takes a few clicks to get to the information. Click the Find Products link near the top of the www.energystar.gov site. Then scroll down until you see the Building Products section on the left side. Click Residential Windows, Doors, & Skylights.
- Then find the Additional Resources section and select What makes windows, doors & skylights ENERGY STAR?
- Click the third link in the section below for the criteria.
- Then you will find tables like the one below. Compare your product's ratings against the chart to be sure your product falls into the category you think it does. There are separate charts for windows, skylights, and doors. (Go to www.energystar.gov for the most up to date charts.)
Examples / Tips
Why is the map missing or incorrect?
- Check your product's ratings against the map criteria. Doing this solves most of these tickets entered into support because often the product does not fall into the category the user thinks it does. See the previous section "How to Find the Energy Star Map Criteria" to find the latest criteria. Compare your unit with the associated windows, skylights, or doors table for map criteria.
Why is the map on my patio door product missing or incorrect?
- For patio doors, verify the category, product type, and glazing level attribute. We've seen cases for various customers where their patio doors product a glazing level attribute error, so they switch the Category in NFRC Setup to Windows and then they get a map. However, they do not get the correct map and are getting a citation during NFRC evaluation. A patio door must be Category = Doors and Product Type = Sliding Doors. The Doors category requires an additional attribute for glazing level that windows do not need! This is often why our customers do not get a map when using the Doors category, because they are missing the glazing attribute. Configure this attribute on your patio doors. The glazing attribute is assigned on the Energy Star tab of NFRC Setup.
- Valid return values for the glazing level attribute are (see first column of chart above): Opaque = 0, Less than or equal to 1/2 lite = 0.5, Greater than 1/2 lite = 1.
What is the NFRC lookup table?
- In newer configurations, one or more lookup tables are configured containing NFRC ratings. Each row is for a certain glass buildup. There is a glass buildup attribute to return the key into the NFRC lookup table for the options selected on the unit. For example, the glass buildup key IG.CLCL.SSB.ARG.A.NG stands for the characteristics clear clear glass, single strength, argon gas, annealed, no grids. These characteristics control the NFRC rating values. When the configuration passes the key IG.CLCL.SSB.ARG.A.NG into the NFRC lookup table, the correct NFRC ratings are returned. It is up to the customer to keep these ratings in the lookup table up to date as their products evolve. Note: your key might not follow the exact format of IG.CLCL.SSB.ARG.A.NG, but it will be similar since glass, strength, gas, processing and grids are the determining factors.
Why did I get an error stating Energy Star Category evaluated to NULL?
- You do not have the Category in the center grid of the NFRC setup screen assigned to this part. A similar error occurs when the Product Type is not assigned in the center grid, or you do not have the Product Type attribute on the part. The Product Type attribute is listed near the top of the NFRC Setup screen.
I have new NFRC / Energy Star images, but the new images are not showing up on my labels.
- Reboot the PC and the printer and try again.
I get the error "A CPD number was not found on the same level as the rating values in the BOM"
- This is a configuration error, and it truly does mean that FeneVision did not find the CPD attribute on the same part (typically the IG) as the rating values. It can mean that the CPD attribute was not assigned to the IG part.
- It could mean that the CPD attribute is blank. Run a part breakdown and verify its value. How to Generate a Part Breakdown Report
- On the NFRC Setup screen, verify the CPD Number attribute assigned is correct. Below, the attribute name was NOT supposed to be ROLL, it was supposed to be RCPD.
- This is a common error, and it may call out one of the other rating attributes, like RUF. Perform the same troubleshooting steps as suggested for CPD.
Why am I getting a RetrieveNFRCData error?
- In this case, the user had accidentally changed multiple assigned attributes at the top of the NFRC Setup screen. The CPD number must be a string, and the CPD Number attribute was switched to a different attribute that returns a numeric value. This resulted in "Conversion failed when converting the varchar value"
Why am not getting an NFRC label at all?
- There are multiple reasons this could occur, things to check are:
- Verify unit is on a released schedule.
- Check Tracking Setup to see if the NFRC label is enabled, and whether there is a printer selected.
- Verify default printer setting in NFRC Setup.
- Use Troubleshoot on NFRC Setup screen to verify values. See earlier Testing section.
- Verify NFRCINC is True.
- Verify unit is on a released schedule.
- Verify unit is not checked in the column to the left of Part Number, in the center grid on the NFRC Setup screen.
- If you are using the Reports_GlobalDirectory GSP previously explained, verify the PC can access that folder.
Canadian Rating Standards
FeneVision provides label support for multiple Canadian rating standards. Additional attribute settings are needed in NFRC Setup and the BOM for Canada.
Standard Attribute
The Standard Attribute setting on the Energy Star tab is important for customers who switch between Canadian and US labels. They need to send Canadian rating labels to their Canadian customers, and US rating labels to their US customers. The Standard Attribute controls which is printed for the customer. This is an additional attribute that must be configured and assigned to the IG/glass, on the same part as the other NFRC attributes, such as NFRCINC and NFRCUF.
One way to script this attribute is to use the Order.MfgCustomerID as the key to determining if the customer is US or Canadian. The customer IDs can be placed in a lookup table and the location assigned to each customer id, for example "US" or "CAN". An example script is below. The return value is based on the Global Standard setting on the Energy Star tab. In the screenshot below, you can see that the standard is 11 - Canada 2020 NFRC. Return the number you see at the beginning of the standard value, such as 11 for Canadian customers.
cust = TableLookup(NFRCCUSTTABLE,"LOC",Order.MfgCustomerID)
If cust = "US" Then
retval = 13 'US NFRC US
Else
retval = 11 'CAN NFRC Canadian (Metric)
End IfUse the Global Standard dropdown to find the other rating standards available, and the number at the beginning to use for the return value of your Standard Attribute. There are multiple Canadian rating systems, in this example only 11 - Canada 2020 NFRC is being used for Canada.
Note: If you do not switch your standard for certain customers, then you do not need the Standard Attribute. The rating system selected in the Global Standard setting will be used.
Energy Rating Attribute
The Energy Rating Attribute is required for Canadian rating labels. This is an additional attribute that must be configured and assigned to the IG/glass, on the same part as the other NFRC attributes. Note: The Standard Attribute described previously must also be at this level in the BOM.
Metric Attributes
Some of the Canadian rating standards require metric values, so use the U-Factor Metric and Air Leakage Metric attributes in that case to return metric values.
Canadian ZPL Templates
As of version 18.7, below are the Canadian ZPL template files available. These are first installed in the C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\FeneTech Shared\Labels\NFRCEnergyStar\Canada\200dpi\4x6 directory on your FeneVision database server. Then they are copied to your Reports_GlobalDirectory folder if you are using Canadian standards.
Troubleshooting Canadian Labels
If you feel your Canadian labels are not showing proper data, or if labels are not printing, use this site to verify your window is compliant: Windows, doors and skylights – ENERGY STAR Canada technical specification - Natural Resources Canada. Also refer to the Examples / Tips section of this article.