CHICAGO - Intertek, a leader in testing, inspection, and certification services, announced that it has begun construction in its Dallas laboratory on the first independent, North American test facility designed to support the specific testing needs of multi-split air conditioning and heating equipment. The new facility is being built to conduct testing to the new Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) 1230 Standard, Performance Rating of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Multi-Split Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment. In addition, the new facility will provide manufacturers with third-party energy efficiency testing of multi-split air conditioning and heating equipment to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requirements. Many of these products are no longer waived under DOE minimum energy efficiency regulations.

Traditional “single-split” air conditioners connect a single outdoor condenser with a single indoor evaporator, which provides the cooling effect. Multi-split units connect a single outdoor condenser to multiple indoor evaporators, providing individually controlled cooling units for each room of the house or office. Multi-split systems have been widely used in Europe and Asia, and are now gaining popularity in the North American market.

To accommodate testing to the new AHRI 1230 Standard and DOE requirements, Intertek’s new facility will consist of four test chambers, capable of testing multi-split systems (single condenser and up to eight evaporators) by configuring the test facility for one outdoor chamber and multiple indoor rooms.

“By working closely with AHRI and industry, Intertek is able to develop and deploy leading edge laboratories in step with advancing HVAC technologies,” said Gregg Tiemann, executive vice president of Intertek’s Commercial and Electrical division. “Our relationship with AHRI began in 1959, and our work in the HVAC industry long before that. Decades later we’re still on the forefront of HVAC testing and certification for product safety, performance, and energy efficiency.”

Designed as a quad cell psychrometric room, the facility will be equipped with controls and instrumentation required to produce performance ratings and safety and reliability verification tests on air conditioners and heat pumps.

For more information, visit www.intertek.com/hvac.

Publication date: 10/26/2009