ACCA Welcomes Ed Lehr to Board of Directors

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The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) staff and leaders are pleased to welcome Ed Lehr to the Board of Directors. Lehr was unanimously elected to the board on February 9.

“I’m excited to welcome Ed to the ACCA Board of Directors,” said Dr. Stephen Pape, board chairman. “I have no doubt that his insights and experience will benefit this organization and help us in our important work of improving the lives of contractors.”

As the president of Jack Lehr Heating, Cooling & Electric Inc. in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Lehr brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. Lehr serves as the president of the Pennsylvania Air Conditioning Contractors Association (PAACCA) and plays an active role in other organizations including the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

“ACCA has always been near and dear to my heart,” Lehr said. “It’s important to me that we all find some way to give back to this larger industry that we’re all a part of. I’m honored to join the ACCA Board of Directors and serve the hard-working men and women of our industry.”

Lehr is well-recognized for his strong history of commitment to the HVACR industry. When the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) introduced a new requirement for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) devices on outdoor HVAC equipment, Lehr recognized the potential challenges this mandate posed and immediately volunteered to represent ACCA on a collaborative NEC/industry working group.

As a part of his work, Lehr testified on behalf of ACCA when the new requirement was appealed before the NFPA Standards Council. His testimony convincingly argued that the GFCI requirement would not only burden HVAC technicians with excessive nuisance trips but also pose risks to customers attempting to reset or bypass the devices. In a victory for the industry, the Standards Council granted an exemption for outdoor HVAC equipment from the GFCI requirement in both the 2020 and 2023 editions of the NEC, effective until September 1, 2026. This provided valuable time for the HVACR industry to address the underlying issues and develop better solutions with contractors in mind.

“Ed is exactly the type of leader that ACCA needs,” said Barton James, ACCA president and chief executive officer. “We’ve been so impressed by his volunteer leadership throughout the years; I’m looking forward to his contributions in his new role on the ACCA Board of Directors. Welcome aboard, Ed!”

Learn more about ACCA’s Board of Directors here.

 

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Posted In: Leadership & Planning, Leadership Development