ATLANTA - A new standard from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) will help ensure a consistent minimal level of HVACR maintenance and inspection to preserve a system’s ability to achieve acceptable thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and IAQ in commercial buildings.

ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180-2008, Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial Building HVAC Systems, is the first standard to address inspection and maintenance of HVAC systems. Robert Baker, chair of the committee that wrote the standard, noted that inconsistencies exist within the building industry when it comes to inspection and maintenance of HVAC systems, with some facilities following rigorous policies while others have adopted a run-to-failure approach.

“Consistent maintenance ensures that energy efficiency remains at design levels,” said Baker.

“Where maintenance is neglected, energy costs rise significantly and equipment life drops dramatically. With HVACR systems responsible for about 60 percent of site electrical energy use, it’s imperative that we provide consistent maintenance and inspection to improve energy efficiency along with thermal comfort and IAQ. When systems are not maintained, IAQ, occupant comfort, and energy efficiency all suffer.”

In addition, much of the information that will be required to prepare the maintenance program can be obtained from building commissioning documents, which provides a basis for identifying failures.

For more information, visit www.ashrae.org.

Publication date: 09/22/2008