The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)

18 Pages·2013·2.05 MB·English

uality Installation - Codeements, Best Practices, Contractor Selection Donald Prather Technical Services Manager Air Conditioning Contractors of America Pennsylvania Housing Research Center Webinar 9 April, 2013 ThTtomhfeha e eiU n Ato.teSancii.lnhr y n o bi nCinucfdasa ooitAlni,oon e rnmes dwedsneuiiedvtsceiri ar ooitt hiacnonasmna stia eo n ldnc,( egtiAaaasnt li iCgdCosn nypCo,s o trAinelenicmpst)ytrsr aei nalslt ee canrnettidsont gs r s
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ACCA History Don’s History
AA General Engineering Technology
National Warm Air Heating and Air Conditioning
Association (1914) Montgomery College, MD

Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors of
1st Class Stationary Engineer, MD
America (1946)

National Environmental Systems Contractors Licensed HVAC Contractor, FL
Association (1968)
BS Mechanical Engineering Technology
Air Conditioning Contractors of America (1969)
Thomas Edison State College, NJ

HVAC Contractor Competency Contributes “Defining the Bar” Questions
to the HVAC Industries Poor Image
What is a good HVAC contractor?
What is a quality HVAC installation?

What makes one HVAC contractor more
~10%. Do a proper job nearly all of the
competent than another?
time.
How can HVAC contractors demonstrate superior
~35%. Know what to do. But are
performance?
constrained.
How can a home owner/builder identify/engage the
~25%. Think doing okay. Often fall short.
services of a quality HVACR contractor?

~30%. Don’t know, don’t care How can a home owner/builder be assured that the
quality installation paid for was obtained?
We talk about “raising the bar” … but,
we still have to “define the bar!”
Committee Represented All
Version 1 2007 HVAC Quality
HVAC Industry Sectors:
Installation Specification

HVAC Contractors
ANSI / ACCA 5 QI-2007 Was Developed Over
Program Administrators
A Three Year Period By A Diverse National
Equipment Manufacturers
Committee And Vetted Through Public Reviews
Educators

Free downloads still available at: Code Officials
www.acca.org/quality
(Others EPA etc.)

Why Would ACCA Want So Many Involved?

The HVAC Quality Installation
ANSI / ACCA 5 QI-2010 HVAC
Specification was Updated in
Quality Installation Specification
2010
Available for free at: www.acca.org/quality

ANSI / ACCA 5 QI-2010

Once Again the Updating Committee

Represented All HVAC Industry Sectors:
HVAC Contractors
Utility Program Administrators
Equipment Manufacturers
Others (Educators, EPA, Code Officials, etc.)
Why Would ACCA Want To Update Early?
Purpose and Scope
QI Divided Into Six Sections
(Section 1 and Section 2)
1. Purpose
ANSI / ACCA 5 QI-2010 HVAC Quality

2. Scope Installation Specification

3. Design Aspects

4. Equipment Installation Aspects

5. Distribution Aspects

6. System Documentation and Owner
Education Aspects
Purpose (Section 1) Scope (Section 2)

The HVAC QI Specification:
This specification applies to HVAC
establishes minimum criteria for use by
equipment/components being installed in
stakeholders concerned with the proper
residential and commercial buildings
installation, maintenance, and servicing of

HVAC systems to meet occupant demands for
energy efficiency, comfort, and IAQ in
residential and commercial applications.

That’s a Broad Scope QI Divides HVAC Equipment
Is Anything Excluded? Into 3 Main Categories

Due to differing design aspects and control/operation
1) Unitary air conditioners, air-source/water-
situations, built-up systems (i.e., chillers, custom or
source heat pumps and geothermal heat
specialty-built penthouse units, etc.) are not included in
pumps
this specification. Buildings employing built-up systems
2) Furnaces
are generally designed by architects or professional
engineers. Additionally, commercial buildings using 3) Boilers
built-up equipment are more likely to benefit from
increased owner scrutiny via building commissioners,
owner agents, etc.

Furnaces (gas-fired, oil-fired,
Unitary air conditioners, air-
electric, and other)
source/water-source heat

pumps, and geothermal heat
pumps
Boilers (gas-fired, oil-fired,
Design Aspects (Section 3)
electric, and other)
This Section focuses on the upfront design
procedures/tasks undertaken before the
equipment is actually installed.

Building Heat Gain / Loss Load
Ventilation (Section 3.1)
Calculations (Section 3.2)
The contractor shall ensure that ventilation
The contractor shall ensure:
calculations are performed for every HVAC
system installation/replacement For NEW CONSTRUCTION, or when adding
ducts to an existing structure, room-by-room

heat gain/loss load calculations are completed
Building ventilation requirements (outside air,
Or
exhaust air and building pressurization) are
For EXISTING CONSTRUCTION, without
performed to recognized standards, codes, or
contractor modification of the existing duct
requirements.
system, block load heat gain/loss load
(For example: ASHRAE 62.1 or ASHRAE 62.2)
calculations are completed.
QI’s Acceptable Procedures For
Loads Types: Heat Gain and
Load Calculations
Heat Loss Calculations
(Section 3.2)
Manual J8 or Manual N5
• Block Load • System Loads
• Duct Loads
• Peak Block Load • Ventilation Load
• Humidification Loads
• Dehumidification Loads
• Avg. Room Load
• Blower Heat Load

• Infiltration Loads
• Peak Room Load • Internal Loads
QI’s Additional Acceptable
Proper Equipment Capacity
Procedures
Selection (Section 3.3)

ASHRAE Handbook Guidelines,
The contractor shall ensure that all
DOE Energy Plus™
equipment is properly sized and selected
Or
prior to being installed
Other approved equivalents per the authority

having jurisdiction
Help, I need a Manual J for the
Or
equipment I installed so my
Confirm that the calculations were performed
customer will qualify for the rebate
by a qualified third party

Central Air Conditioner / Heat
Proper Equipment Capacity
Pump Sizing Requirements
Selection (Section 3.3)

i. OEM product data demonstrates that latent
For CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONERS and HEAT requirements are addressed.
PUMPS - the selected equipment will satisfy And
the building ‘s load requirement at design ii. Total equipment capacity is between: 95% and
115% of total cooling requirements
conditions.
(for air conditioners and heat pumps).

Or

Central Air Conditioner / Heat Gas/Oil-Fired Warm Air Systems
Pump Sizing Requirements and Boiler Sizing Requirements
95% and 125% total cooling requirements (for heat
For gas-fired or oil fired WARM AIR SYSTEMS
pumps with heating dominated requirements).
and HEATING BOILERS – the heating capacity
Or
of the selected equipment will satisfy the
the next largest nominal piece of equipment per heating requirement at design conditions
OEM increment that is available to satisfy the
latent and sensible requirements.
Gas/Oil-Fired Warm Air Systems Acceptable Sizing Procedures
and Boiler Sizing Requirements (Section 3.3.2)
Using OEM performance information and
i. WARM AIR SYSTEMS - output capacity between industry-approved procedures (e.g., ACCA
100% and 140% of calculated system load Manual S for residential applications, ACCA
®
unless dictated by the cooling equipment Manual CS for commercial applications, OEM
®
selection. guidelines, or other approved equivalent per the
ii. HEATING BOILERS - equipment capacity authority having jurisdiction)
between 100% and 115% of calculated
system load, OR the next largest nominal
piece of equipment that is available.
Geothermal Heat Pump Ground Geothermal Heat Pump Ground
Heat Exchanger (Section 3.4) Heat Exchanger (Section 3.4)
i. The ground interface heat exchanger fluid
The contractor shall observe industry design
temperatures [extremes] and flow rates used
practices for the proper design of the exterior
as the basis for design equipment capacity are
ground heat exchanger.
within the range specified in OEM guidelines.

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- And
Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
ii. The ground heat exchange design
International Ground Source Heat Pump Association
methodology incorporates:
(IGSHPA)
• Building loads and total installed equipment capacity
National Ground Water Association (NGWA)
• Ground heat exchanger type, materials, and soil
Original Equipment Manufacturer’s guidance
geometry

• Soil thermal characteristics
• Climatic characteristics of project location
QI Approved System Matching
Matched Systems (Section 3.5)
Methods
The contractor shall ensure that all evaporators,
condensing units, and furnaces are properly AHRI Product Certification directory/database
matched systems as identified by industry-
CEE directory of AHRI-verified equipment
recognized certification programs.

www.ahridirectory.org

www.ceedirectory.org
Equipment Installation Aspects QI Section 4
(Section 4) Equipment Installation Aspects

Airflow Through Indoor Heat Exchangers The Contractor shall verify that the airflow
Water Flow Through Heat Exchangers through the indoor blower unit (e.g. furnace,
Refrigerant Charge fan coil, air handler) is within acceptable
Electrical requirements CFM ranges.
On-Rate for Fuel-Fired Equipment
Combustion Venting System
System Controls

Airflow Through Indoor Heat
Evidence For Cooling Coils
Exchangers (Section 4.1)
i. Airflow across the coil, at fan design speed
and full operating load, is within 15% of the
The contractor shall provide evidence of airflow required per the system design. and
the following for the measured airflow ii. Airflow across the coil or fan unit is within the
across the indoor heat exchanger for range recommended by the OEM product
installed systems (with all accessories data. and
and system components in place): iii. Measured external static pressure (ESP) is:
1. Within OEM specified acceptable range, and
2. Not more than 25% or 0.10 iwc (which ever is
greater) over the calculated ESP used to design
the duct system [exception for existing buildings:
measured ESP is not required for change-out applications if
there has been no modification to the pre-existing ductwork.]
Evidence For Gas-Oil Fired Heat Evidence For Gas-Oil Fired Heat
Exchanger Applications Exchanger Applications
iii. Heat exchanger airflow requirements shall be
considered separately from any combined and
i. Airflow, across the heat exchanger, at fan
attached cooling coils sharing the same
design speed and full operating load, is within
distribution duct system design,
15% of the airflow required per the system
design, And
And iv. Measured external static pressure (ESP) is:
ii. Airflow across the indoor heat exchanger is 1. Within OEM specified acceptable range, and
within the range recommended by the OEM 2. Not more than 25% or 0.10 iwc (which ever is
greater) over the calculated ESP used to design the
product data.
duct system [exception for existing buildings: measured ESP
And is not required for change-out applications if there has been
no modification to the pre-existing ductwork.]
OEM CFM Pressure Drop Across
Acceptable Procedures A Clean Coil
(Section 4.1.2 )

OEM CFM / SP drop a cross coil table method
Traversing Duct
Flow Grid Method
Pressure Matching Method
Temperature Rise Across the Heat Exchanger

Traversing Duct Flow Grid Measurment Method
Manometer and probe, or an
anemometer (e.g., hot wired,
rotary style) or other methods
per ACCA, AABC, ASHRAE,
ASTM, NEBB, SMACNA, or
TABB procedures
Temperature Rise Across The
Heat Exchanger (heating only)
Pressure Matching Method
Water Flow Through Indoor
Heat Exchangers (Section 4.2) Acceptable Procedures
(Section 4.2.2 )

The contractor shall verify that the water
Water Pressure Dr op Method
flow through the refrigerant-to-water,
Or
water-to-water, or water-to-air heat
exchanger are within acceptable ranges. Water Temperature Change Method
Or
Any method approved and specifically by
the OEM that can be used to determine
water flow rate

Water Temperature Change
Water Pressure Drop Method
Method
Water Pressure Dr op (in feet @ 180°F)

GPM COIL A COIL B COIL C

2 0.4 0.4 0.5
4 1.4 1.6 1.7
6 3.0 3.3 3.7
8 5.2 5.7 6.3
10 7.9 8.7 9.6
Other Methods Refrigerant Charge
(Section 4.3)

Any method approved and specifically
The contractor shall ensure that the HVAC
stated by OEM that can be used to
system has the proper refrigerant charge.
determine the water flow rate.

Acceptable Procedures:
– Superheat
– Subcooling
– OEM approved methods
Superheat Method Subcooling Method
System refrigerant charging per OEM charging
System refrigerant charging per OEM charging
data/instructions and within ± 3°F of the OEM-
data/instructions and within ± 5°F of the OEM
recommended optimal refrigerant charge.
recommended optimal refrigerant charge.
Electrical Requirements
Other OEM Approved Methods
(Section 4.4)
Any method approved and specifically stated by the OEM
that will ensure proper refrigerant charging of the system The contractor shall ensure all electrical
requirements are met as related to the installed
equipment.
– Line and Low Voltages
– Amperages
– Wiring Sizes
– Grounding/Bonding per NEC or Equivalent.

Amperages
Line and Low Voltages
Amperages per equipment (single and three-phase) rating
Per equipment (single and three-phase) rating plate - the plate - the percentage (or amount) below or above
percentage (or amount) below or above nameplate values nameplate values are within OEM specifications and/or
are within OEM specifications and/or code requirements code requirements.