The first standard, ASHRAE Standard 152P, Method of Test for Determining Seasonal Efficiencies of Residential Thermal Distribution Systems, is open to public review until September 24. This standard is designed to facilitate annual energy calculations and heating and cooling equipment capacity calculations. “The standard provides a standard-ized method to evaluate the energy efficiency of hvac systems to allow for comparison between different systems,” said Mark Modera, chairman of the committee writing the standard. “It allows users to demonstrate the benefits of better sealing, improved insulation, good air flow, and relocating ducts without having to develop calculation methods.”

Another standard, ASHRAE Standard 62.2P, Ventilation and Acceptable In-door Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is open to public review until October 8. The public review draft document includes revisions to the title, purpose, and scope, which were made at ASHRAE’s recent 2001 Summer Meeting. The scope was changed to eliminate consideration of unvented space heaters. Other changes were made to the body of the proposed standard relating to whole-house ventilation rates, the use of windows, and source control.