The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has
announced that its “HVAC Quality Installation Specification,” which was
developed with a broad coalition of industry stakeholders, has been formally
recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a national
standard.
With the publication of the QI Specification, for the first
time there is a set of nationally recognized objective requirements for the
quality installation of residential and commercial HVAC systems.
The QI Specification identifies consensus requirements
associated with quality installations, acceptable procedures for measuring or
verifying the attainment of those requirements, and acceptable forms of
documentation to show compliance to the requirements.
Skip Snyder, president of the Snyder Co. and chairman of the
Quality Installation Specification Development Committee, said, “Installation
of quality HVAC systems is more than just using high-efficiency products and
equipment. The QI Specification focuses on elements associated with ensuring
that HVAC equipment is properly sized, selected, and installed for residential
and commercial applications. These elements have a large impact on occupant
satisfaction and energy savings.”
The QI Specification characterizes several core areas,
including equipment aspects, equipment installation aspects, duct distribution
aspects, and system documentation and owner education aspects. The standard was
written with the intent to meet the needs of many different groups.
•Contractors: to demonstrate their ability to install
residential and commercial HVAC systems that maximize occupant comfort, find
green solutions, and provide energy savings to consumers.
•Equipment manufacturers: to highlight and encourage
quality installation practices, resulting in better equipment performance and
durability.
•Building owners/operators:to identify quality contractor
practices and to ensure that quality installations are received.
•HVAC trainers:to assist in the ongoing development of
appropriate course curricula and training programs.
•Utilities:to integrate the recommendations into their
incentive programs, reduce CO2 emissions, and assist a stretched electric grid
during extreme usage periods.
A version of the standard is available for download as a
service to the industry from ACCA at www.acca.org/tech/. A printed version of
the QI Specification is also available for purchase from the ACCA bookstore at
www.acca.org.store/.
Send questions about the specification to ACCA’s
Glenn Hourahan, at glenn.hourahan@acca.org.
Publication date:05/07/2007
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