HARTFORD, Wis., January 28, 2013 – Broan-NuTone^®, the leader in residential ventilation that meets green building codes such as ENERGY STAR^® qualified products, has created an online tool to help builders, contractors, code officials and other building professionals find code-compliant solutions for range hood make-up air.

Since 2009, national model code language such as the International Building Code (IRC) and mechanical codes such as the International Mechanical Code (IMC) have included interlocked make-up air for domestic range hoods that are capable of exhausting more than 400 CFM (cubic feet per minute). It is expected that more than 65 percent of local or state jurisdictions will adopt this make-up air language in their codes by 2013. With the new Range Hood Make-Up Air (MUA) Specifier Tool, building professionals can more efficiently and accurately determine their make-up air solution system. The tool recommends solutions based on input such as geographic location, range hood type, duct characteristics, exhaust rate and home leakage rate. By using the tool, users can be confident that the BROAN ^®, NuTone^® and BEST^® branded products they choose will meet these make-up air codes and regulations.

“With the new Range Hood Make-Up Air Specifier Tool, we are striving to provide HVAC professionals, builders and code officals with a more effective way to quantify and size make-up air systems,” says Brian Wellnitz, marketing manager, kitchen ventilation, Broan-NuTone. “It’s a very flexible tool, and we expect it will help take some of the confusion out of meeting make-up air regulations.”

The Range Hood Make-Up Air Specifier Tool ensures that a building’s make-up air system is up to code by estimating the design flow rates of range hood exhaust, taking into account duct system losses as well as the home’s air leakage rate and the design depressurization of the building envelope. The tool will assist the user in identifying the quantity and size of BROAN Make-Up Air Dampers that can be used to comply with building codes for the user’s unique situations.

In addition, the solutions provided by the Range Hood Make-Up Air Specifier Tool can be printed and used as a cut sheet (pictured right) to demonstrate the design’s code compliance to officials. This cut sheet can also be used by building professionals to order products and parts.

“We are always thinking of ways to provide peace of mind to our customers so that their systems will comply with code and meet all regulations,” states Wellnitz. “The Range Hood Make-Up Air Specifier Tool takes the guesswork out of make-up air sizing and provides accessible solutions for building professionals.”

For more information on the new Range Hood Make-Up Air Specifier Tool, visit www.BROAN.com,www.NuTone.com or www.BESTrangehoods.com, or click here to use the tool.

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BROAN^® is a registered trademark of Broan-NuTone LLC, North America’s leading manufacturer and distributor of residential ventilation products including range hoods, ventilation fans, heater/fan/light combination units, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Fresh Air Systems, built-in heaters, whole-house fans, attic ventilators and trash compactors. NuTone^® is a registered trademark of Broan-NuTone LLC, North America’s leading manufacturer and distributor of residential built-in convenience products including door chimes, central vacuum systems, ceiling fans, stereo intercom systems, home theater speakers, medicine cabinets, ironing centers and ventilation fans. BEST^® is a registered trademark of Broan-NuTone LLC, North America’s leading manufacturer and distributor of residential kitchen ventilation products.

Broan-NuTone is proud to be an ENERGY STAR^® partner.

Broan-NuTone LLC is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc., a global, diversified company whose many market-leading brands deliver broad capabilities and a wide array of innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement at home and at work. Please visit www.nortekinc.com for more information.

For more information about the full line of Broan-NuTone products,
call 800-558-1711 (BROAN) or 888-336-3948 (NuTone),
write Broan-NuTone,
926 W. State Street, Hartford, WI 53027 U.S.A.
or visit www.BROAN.com, www.NuTone.com or www.BESTrangehoods.com.