Hot News
MARCH 2019
HPBExpo 2019
Exhibition: March 14-16
Education: March 13-15
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Dallas, Texas
Connect with HPBExpo
Here are just some of the exciting highlights & events to check out at Expo!
Expo Keynote Address

Thursday, March 14
8:00am-9:15am
Ballroom C
Mike Holmes, DIY Network star of Holmes on Homes, Holmes Inspection, and All-American Handyman, will give the keynote address at HPBExpo this year thanks to our sponsor, Napoleon Products. Read more
Tailgate & Big Green Egg Cook-off Competition
Thursday, March 14
6:00pm-7:30pm
Outdoor Burn Area Booth 4423

Come join the Outdoor Burn Area exhibitors for the 8th annual HPBExpo Tailgate & Big Green Egg Cook-off event. Sample savory offerings from participating exhibitors and watch member retailer teams vie for top honors in this EGGstravaganza emceed again by Dr. BBQ. Read about the competing teams by clicking below.

Why do you grill?
Stop by our inaugural #WhyIGrill Confessional Booth and tell us your story, your memory, or your confession about why you love to grill. In support of our new promotional concept, #WhyIGrill , we’ll be filming grilling enthusiasts of all skill levels sharing their stories. We’ll be set up in the Member Services Booth next to registration periodically throughout the show.

Confess your grilling stories on any of the following days and times:

  • Thursday, March 14, between 1pm-3m
  • Friday, March 15, between 9am-11am
  • Saturday, March 16, between 9am-11am

Stop by to pick up some info about this program, perhaps a piece of swag, and join the fun!

Explore All the Big Things Happening in Dallas
This is the first time the HPBExpo will be held in   Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center . 

While there, be sure to explore all that Dallas has to offer. You've heard of pub crawls and wine tastings – but Dallas takes it to the next level. The Margarita Mile   is a collection of the best and brightest margaritas in the city!

In remembrance of the 55th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is presenting a new temporary exhibit, 55 Years. Featuring a broad representation of popular magazine covers from the last five decades, this captivating visual timeline of President Kennedy's image reflects his lasting imprint on the nation's consciousness and pays tribute to his life and legacy. Read more

Take the VIP guided tour: The Star in Frisco, that will give Cowboys fans a chance to experience the place where the Dallas Cowboys train and work 355 days of the year. With small group sizes and additional tour stops, the VIP Guided Tours are the ultimate tour experience. Enjoy the Grand Atrium, Ford Center, War Room, Nike Star Walk, and Super Bowl memorabilia. Tours are 7 days a week every 30 minutes from 8 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 
HPBExpo Gas and Solid Fuel Manufacturer Wednesday Meeting

All manufacturers that are members of either the Gas Hearth Appliance Section or the Solid Fuel Hearth Appliance Section should attend our meeting at HPBExpo on Wednesday, March 13 th from 8:00 to 10:30 am in Room A130 of the convention center.

The first half of the meeting will cover the interests of natural gas and propane-fueled hearth products (including outdoor products), while the second half will focus on issues affecting wood and pellet burning appliances.
HPBExpo Government Affairs Review Meeting for Retailers, Distributors, and Reps

Join HPBA’s government affairs team on Friday, March 15 th from 3:00 to 4:30 pm in Room A130 for an important briefing about the impact of EPA’s NSPS regulation for wood heaters, as well as a review of tax credits, gas fireplace rules, changeout program opportunities, licensing issues, and how you can make your voice heard with elected officials. RSVP for the meeting and download extra materials now. 
HPBEF/NFI
We’ve worked hard over the past four years to improve NFI exam formats. Stop by the NFI booth in the education area on the first floor at the Kay Bailey Convention Center or the Member Services Booth in the main lobby to learn about all of the changes.

This major project to expand, update, and simplify the NFI certifications is quickly (and finally!) drawing to a close. You will need to know and understand the new format if you are currently NFI certified or if you plan to get certified. While you are there, ask about our new online testing platform that makes it even easier to take the NFI exams from your own home or office. 
Kansas City Barbeque Society's - Great American Cookout Tour
Outdoor Burn Area Booth 4209

Ever want to dazzle your customers with your grilling expertise? Here is your chance to pick up a few pointers on technique, skills, recipes, and learn about some great products. Add grillmaster to your title of accomplishments after you experience the Great American Cookout Tour at HPBExpo. Be sure to check out the grilling demos scheduled daily in the outdoor burn area.


New Feature for 2019 - New Product Spotlight Sessions
 New Product Pavilion Booth 635

Attend a presentation on select New Products in the New Product Pavilion – hear direct from the exhibitor, live in the New Product Pavilion, about their new featured product! A schedule of these presentations will be available in the Show Guide, the Mobile App, and on signage in the Pavilion onsite.

Exhibitor e ntries are being accepted for the New Product Pavilion through March 7. Each product entered will also be an eligible entry for the 2019 Attendees' Choice Awards, in which attendees will vote for their choice of the most-marketable new product in both Hearth and Outdoor Living categories. Space is limited! Contact Amy Jackson with questions.
2020 Priority Booth & Housing Selection

Exhibitors should take advantage of the opportunity to select prime booth space for the 2020 Expo in New Orleans. Appointment times for priority holders are posted online. If you have questions or are interested in exhibit space, visit Lobby A during the following hours:
Thursday, March 14 (1pm-5pm)
Friday, March 15 (8am-5pm)
Saturday, March 16 (8am-12:30pm)
HPBExpo's official housing partner, onPeak, will be on-site taking attendee and exhibitor hotel reservations for HPBExpo 2020 in New Orleans, LA.

HPBExpo 2020 housing reservations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis in Lobby A during show hours.
Reach Expo Media with the Online Press Room

Exhibitors can now log on to add or update their Online Press Room profile . The Online Press Room is your opportunity to tell HPBExpo media about your brand and products. Don't miss out on this complimentary opportunity! Contact Emily McGee with any questions.
HPBExpo 2019 Mobile App is Now Available

The show mobile app conveniently allows you to plan your route, research and schedule appointments with exhibitors, manage your education, show events, and much more.
Government Affairs
EPA's May 15, 2020 Deadline Looms

HPBA does not expect to have any additional news regarding the possibility of sell-through relief for EPA Step 1 appliances by this month’s HPBExpo.

Although the comment period for EPA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding sell-through is closed, the Final Rule is likely delayed due to the partial government shutdown earlier this year. HPBA filed comments both on this issue and the broader Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which focused on several technical issues in the NSPS. As always, it is crucial that HPBA members are aware that until EPA changes the rule, the May 15, 2020 deadline for all provisions of the NSPS still applies.

Members will have several opportunities for further updates over the next month (both at Expo and elsewhere). For more info, contact John Crouch .
BTU Act Reintroduced in Congress

The Biomass Thermal Utilization (BTU) Act of 2019 was reintroduced for the fourth time on February 28, 2019 in the House (H.R. 1479) by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) and in the Senate (S. 628) by Senator Angus King (I-ME).

The BTU Act provides an investment tax credit of 30 percent of the purchase and installation costs for highly efficient wood and pellet heating appliances that are at least 75 percent efficient per the higher heating value (HHV) of the fuel.

HPBA commends Rep. Welch and Senator King for their leadership on this consumer incentive for biomass heating appliances.
Gas and Solid Fuel Hearth Appliance Section Meetings
HPBA manufacturing members are encouraged to attend the in-person Gas Hearth Appliance Section meeting (Wednesday, April 10 th) and the Solid Fuel Hearth Appliance Section meeting (Thursday, April 11 th).

Both meetings will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Aurora, Colorado. The meetings will cover the latest developments on NSPS revisions, California Energy Commission efforts on gas hearth product regulations, new approaches to Zero Net Energy in multiple North American jurisdictions, the latest developments on NSPS revisions, and legislative updates. Assessment limits and structure for the various projects will also be discussed at length. If you have any questions about next month’s meetings, please contact Ryan Carroll.
Tom Stroud Retirement, Eric Adair Hired for Codes & Standards
After nearly 14 years with HPBA (and many more serving the industry prior to working for the association), Tom Stroud will be retiring as HPBA’s Senior Manager – Codes & Standards effective March 28, 2019. Tom has been a huge asset for the industry for years by following, participating, and leading dozens of codes and standards development bodies that affect the products manufactured and sold by HPBA members. Tom will not be able to attend HPBExpo this year, so if you would like to join in wishing him all the best, please feel free to contact him . He will be missed by everyone at HPBA!

To build upon the solid foundation Tom has built for codes and standards efforts, HPBA is pleased to announce the hiring of Eric Adair as our new Senior Manager – Codes & Standards. Eric has worked in the venting and codes and standards world for more than 20 years, sitting on many of the same standards development organizations alongside HPBA. Eric will work with Tom over the next month to ensure continuous coverage of the issues important to us. Eric will be in Dallas for HPBExpo, so please welcome him when you see him, or feel free to reach him by email .

Cost Savings Update
Great news for our members! We have contracted with Lenovo, the computer manufacturing company, as a new partner in our Cost Savings/Affinity program. As a member, Lenovo offers you exclusive discounts and specials that cover their entire product line, including their award-winning ThinkPad notebooks. For more information, click below. Remember to visit our website to see all of your cost saving benefits.
ADDRESS UPDATE
New from the post office – for mailed payments to HPBA, the post office has changed the format of our address, effective immediately.

The new address is P.O. Box 424014, Washington DC 20042-4014

After the end of this year, any payments sent to our old address will be returned to sender. We apologize for this inconvenience.

All other correspondence can continue to be sent to our physical address below: