World Insulation Acoustic Organization Holds 2004 Meeting in Barcelona

I have just returned from the World Insulation and Acoustic Organization (WIACO) Congress held in Barcelona, Spain, from September 29 to October 2. What a wonderful opportunity this was to represent the National Insulation Association (NIA) and convey all of the wonderful activities and programs in which we are currently involved. I was also able to discuss our Foundation, its purpose and our progress. By engaging in these discussions, I was fascinated by all of the varied outreach activities going on across this vast nation that are geared toward educating those involved in making decisions regarding insulation.

There were 210 delegates present with 80 accompanying guests from 28 countries including France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Spain and Switzerland. The United States brought 35 attendees-including 17 delegates-and Canada brought 25-with 15 delegates. NIA president David Andrew and I made up a portion of the U.S. delegates. WIACO committee advisory members included ANDIMA president Juan José Sáez-Torres and FESI president Klaas Versteegh. Other NIA board members that attended were Wayne Killion Jr. and Tom Tuttle.

As Spain's Xavier Balda, WIACO committee president and ANDIMA vice president, stated, the meeting was "the appropriate forum for finding the most useful answers...to whether enough progress is being made in the innovation of products and systems, and also whether we have been able to awaken sufficient interest in the market in seeking and applying new solutions."

The technical lectures given at the conference helped support his statement, including my own presentation, "Insulation, the Proven Technology." I took the chance to remind attendees that insulation is a proven technology with a host of benefits to industries, including a return on a company's investment year after year. More importantly, I reminded them that insulation is often overlooked and that we are taking the opportunity in the United States to educate and train professionals about insulation's importance through the National Insulation Training Program and the Insulation Energy Appraisal Program.

The Netherlands' Dr. Urbi Van der Velden, NCTI director and CINI general secretary, similarly stated in his presentation that "technical insulation is a vastly underrated issue in today's public debate for a sustainable future."

Charles C. Cottrell, NAIMA director, technical services, added important details about the beneficial initiatives of NIA's Insulation Energy Appraisal Program. He informed attendees that the program "gives facility/energy managers a better understanding of the true dollar and performance value of an insulation system." Cottrell also demonstrated the new 4.0 version of the 3E Plus® Software for the delegates.

There were other great lectures about fire protection, technological advancements, acoustic and thermal ventilation. It was quite interesting and educational to hear the views of how the industry is growing, or not, in different parts of the world and what each sector is doing to change it. Twenty-one companies had exhibits in place at the congress. The list includes:

• AENOR
• ANDIMA
• Armacell Iberia
• ARTEX
• BASF Española
• Climatech International
• Col.Legi Oficial D'Enginyers Industrials de Catalunya
• Cubiertas Muñoz
• Inabensa Protisa
• Isover-Saint Gobain/Wanner y Vinyas
• L'ISOLANTE K-FLEX ESPAÑA
• MABI
• Mark Industry
• Pittsburgh Corning Europe
• Poliuretanos
• SAITEC
• TEMATI
• URSA Ibérica Aislantes
• Venture Tape Europe

The traditional FESI Apprentice Championship was held at the congress. This is a biennial competition held among European young apprentices who have finished their training within the two previous years of the event and are already winners of their national championship. Participants were required to prove their professional skills in insulation and protection using different materials on a provided scale model.

There were 12 entries and three winners in the championship this year. First place went to Marcel Koschela of Germany, and second place, as well as a productivity prize, went to Niklas Stahl of Sweden. Other entrants were Andreas Bernhart and Oliver Griesbach of Austria, Jesper Rygaard Rasmussen of Denmark, Tommi Paaso of Finland, David Bueno and David Múñoz of Spain, Raphaël Chassot of Switzerland, Hendrik Lassche and Jeffrey Sieverts of Holland, and Darren Bateman of United Kingdom.

Of course, the congress wasn't all business. There were two social programs planned for us. On the first night, there was a welcome reception and cocktails held at the Generalitat Palace, a beautiful building of the Catalan Government. We next entered the Chapel of Saint Felip Neri down the street to attend a choral concert, where we enjoyed a memorable performance by the prestigious Coral Polifónica de Puigreig (Puigreig Polyphonic Chorus).

On Friday evening, the Congress Gala Dinner was held at the Casa Batlló, a former residence of the Batlló Family. The building is located in the aristocratic center of Barcelona and hosts some of the best art and culture of the city.

An additional exciting decision occurred during the congress. Dave Andrew made the suggestion that NIA organize and host the 2008 WIACO Congress, and it was unanimously accepted. The location of the 2008 meeting will be announced during our 50th convention in Las Vegas next March. Both Dave and I invited the WIACO delegates to join us in Las Vegas, and there were many positive responses to this invitation; so maybe that means you will get to meet some of these fascinating people as well.

This article appeared in the October/November 2004 issue of NIA News.

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Author

Michele M. Jones

Michele Jones is Executive Vice President of NIA. She can be reached at mjones@insulation.org.