Reflecting its growing presence at the industry’s leading HVACR event, ‘Plumbing’ has been added as a new category to the 2011 AHR Expo Innovation Awards. The definition and criteria that is being used for the new plumbing category is:   "Any product or tool used to conserve water, or to direct, distribute, increase or decrease the flow of water."  It is for the "behind-the-wall" applications.

Widely acclaimed as one of the most prestigious honors in the HVACR industry, the Innovation Awards recognize the most innovative and useful products among the thousands on display at the AHR Expo. About 150 entries submitted by exhibitors each year are judged on the basis of design, unique performance, market impact and value to the HVACR industry. Now in its ninth year, the Awards are also meant to promote and encourage new product development in ten major categories:

Building Automation

Cooling

Green Building

Heating

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Refrigeration

Software

Tools & Instruments

Ventilation

Plumbing

“Plumbing products, technologies and solutions have had a growing presence at AHR Expo for several years,” said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Co., which produces and manages the AHR Expo. “Adding plumbing as a new category to the AHR Expo Innovation Awards allows us to include all the major segments represented at the Show.”

Sponsored by International Exposition Company (IEC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), all entries are reviewed and evaluated by a panel of industry judges based on the competition criteria. Winners of the Innovation Awards will be recognized at an awards ceremony during the AHR Expo in Las Vegas and will receive special placards to place in their booths as well as an etched crystal award to be displayed in their company headquarters. In addition, 1 of the 10 winning entries will be selected as the 2011 AHR Expo Product of the Year.

Exhibitors can submit one product per category, but AHR Expo Innovation Awards winners from the previous year cannot resubmit the same product. For complete rules as well as the Innovation Award Exhibitor Entry form, visit www.ahrexpo.com/innovation. All entries are due by September 15, 2010.

The 2011 AHR Expo will take place January 31 –  February 2, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information, current schedule and registration information visit www.ahrexpo.com.