The new nonresident-ial cooling and heating load calculation procedures are included in the handbook, which covers basic prin-ciples and provides essential data for hvacr designs and several other updates.

The handbook will also explain the principles of the heat balance (HB) method and the radiant time series (RTS) method, which must be calculated using computer programs.

“These procedures will eliminate guesswork,” said Thomas Romine, member of technical committee 4.1, load calculation and data procedures. “We see these procedures as the first step in a more logical way to calculate heating and cooling loads. The new methods more accurately model the real-world situation by taking maximum advantage of a powerful, inexpensive computational tool — the computer. The change in approach is comparable from using the Farmer’s Almanac to computerized weather models for forecasting.”

The ASHRAE handbook is also available in CD format. For more infor-mation, call 800-527-4723 or visit www.ashrae.org (website).

Publication date: 10/15/2001