ARLINGTON, Va. — The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has announced that Manual J®, its residential load calculation procedure for HVAC systems, has been enhanced again for 2003.

In 2002, ACCA published the eighth edition of the manual. Updated and rewritten, the latest edition of Manual J significantly enhances the abilities of contractors to determine the appropriate sizing of HVAC systems for residential dwellings, says the association. It includes greater sensitivities to new construction materials and improved calculations for a wider variety of architectural features.

Now, ACCA has revised the manual to make it easier for contractors to learn and use. Color-coded sections are designed to make reference simpler, and each copy of the manual now includes an electronic spreadsheet that can be used in calculating a load according to the principles of Manual J.

Manual J, Eighth Edition, may be purchased online at www.acca.org or by calling 888-290-2220. The cost is $79 for ACCA members, $125 for non-members.

Individuals who purchased copies of this edition prior to the inclusion of the spreadsheet may download it for free at the ACCA Web site. Use of the spreadsheet requires a copy of the printed manual for table lookup.

Publication date: 04/07/2003