Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)[1] is the

technology of indoor and vehicular environmental comfort. Its goal is
to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HVAC
system design is a subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on
the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer.
"Refrigeration" is sometimes added to the field's abbreviation, as
HVAC&R or HVACR or "ventilation" is dropped, as in HACR (as
in the designation of HACR-rated circuit breakers).
Rooftop HVAC unit with view of fresh
HVAC is an important part of residential structures such as single
air intake vent
family homes, apartment buildings, hotels and senior living facilities,
medium to large industrial and office buildings such as skyscrapers
and hospitals, vehicles such as cars, trains, airplanes, ships and
submarines, and in marine environments, where safe and healthy
building conditions are regulated with respect to temperature and
humidity, using fresh air from outdoors.

Ventilating or ventilation (the "V" in HVAC) is the process of

exchanging or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air
quality which involves temperature control, oxygen replenishment,
and removal of moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria,
carbon dioxide, and other gases. Ventilation removes unpleasant Ventilation duct with outlet diffuser
vent. These are installed throughout
smells and excessive moisture, introduces outside air, keeps interior
a building to move air in or out of
building air circulating, and prevents stagnation of the interior air.
rooms.
Ventilation often refers to the intentional delivery of the outside air to
the building indoor environment. It is one of the most important
factors for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings.
Methods for ventilating a building are divided into mechanical/forced
and natural types.[2]

Contents
Overview
Individual systems The control circuit in a household
District networks HVAC installation. The wires
connecting to the blue terminal block
History
on the upper-right of the board lead
Heating to the thermostat. The fan enclosure
Generation is directly behind the board, and the
Distribution filters can be seen at the top. The
safety interlock switch is at the
Water/steam
bottom left.
Air
Dangers
Ventilation
 Mechanical or forced ventilation
Natural ventilation
Airborne diseases
Air conditioning
Refrigeration cycle
Free cooling
Packaged vs. split system
Dehumidification
Maintenance
Energy efficiency
Heating energy
Ground source heat pump
Ventilation energy recovery
Air conditioning energy
Demand controlled kitchen ventilation
Air filtration and cleaning
Clean air delivery rate and filter performance
HVAC industry and standards
International
North America
United States
HVAC Technician
Europe
United Kingdom
Australia
Asia
Philippines
India
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Overview
The three major functions of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are interrelated, especially with the need
to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality within reasonable installation, operation, and
maintenance costs. HVAC systems can be used in both domestic and commercial environments. HVAC
systems can provide ventilation, and maintain pressure relationships between spaces. The means of air delivery
and removal from spaces is known as room air distribution.[3]

Individual systems
In modern buildings, the design, installation, and control systems of these functions are integrated into one or
more HVAC systems. For very small buildings, contractors normally estimate the capacity and type of system
needed and then design the system, selecting the appropriate refrigerant and various components needed. For
larger buildings, building service designers, mechanical engineers, or building services engineers analyze,
design, and specify the HVAC systems. Specialty mechanical contractors and suppliers then fabricate, install
and commission the systems. Building permits and code-compliance inspections of the installations are
normally required for all sizes of building.

District networks

Although HVAC is executed in individual buildings or other enclosed spaces (like NORAD's underground
headquarters), the equipment involved is in some cases an extension of a larger district heating (DH) or district
cooling (DC) network, or a combined DHC network. In such cases, the operating and maintenance aspects are
simplified and metering becomes necessary to bill for the energy that is consumed, and in some cases energy
that is returned to the larger system. For example, at a given time one building may be utilizing chilled water
for air conditioning and the warm water it returns may be used in another building for heating, or for the
overall heating-portion of the DHC network (likely with energy added to boost the temperature).[4][5][6]

Basing HVAC on a larger network helps provide an economy of scale that is often not possible for individual
buildings, for utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar heat,[7][8][9] winter's cold,[10][11] the cooling
potential in some places of lakes or seawater for free cooling, and the enabling function of seasonal thermal
energy storage. By utilizing natural sources that can be used for HVAC systems it can make a huge difference
for the environment and help expand the knowledge of using different methods.

History
HVAC is based on inventions and discoveries made by Nikolay Lvov, Michael Faraday, Rolla C. Carpenter,
Willis Carrier, Edwin Ruud, Reuben Trane, James Joule, William Rankine, Sadi Carnot, and many others.[12]

Multiple inventions within this time frame preceded the beginnings of first comfort air conditioning system,
which was designed in 1902 by Alfred Wolff (Cooper, 2003) for the New York Stock Exchange, while Willis
Carrier equipped the Sacketts-Wilhems Printing Company with the process AC unit the same year. Coyne
College was the first school to offer HVAC training in 1899.[13]

The invention of the components of HVAC systems went hand-in-hand with the industrial revolution, and new
methods of modernization, higher efficiency, and system control are constantly being introduced by companies
and inventors worldwide.

Heating
Heaters are appliances whose purpose is to generate heat (i.e. warmth) for the building. This can be done via
central heating. Such a system contains a boiler, furnace, or heat pump to heat water, steam, or air in a central
location such as a furnace room in a home, or a mechanical room in a large building. The heat can be
transferred by convection, conduction, or radiation. Space heaters are used to heat single rooms and only
consist of a single unit.

Generation
Heaters exist for various types of fuel, including solid fuels, liquids, and
gases. Another type of heat source is electricity, normally heating ribbons
composed of high resistance wire (see Nichrome). This principle is also used
for baseboard heaters and portable heaters. Electrical heaters are often used as
backup or supplemental heat for heat pump systems.

The heat pump gained popularity in the 1950s in Japan and the United
States.[14] Heat pumps can extract heat from various sources, such as
environmental air, exhaust air from a building, or from the ground. Heat
pumps transfer heat from outside the structure into the air inside. Initially, heat
pump HVAC systems were only used in moderate climates, but with
improvements in low temperature operation and reduced loads due to more
efficient homes, they are increasing in popularity in cooler climates.

Distribution

Water/steam
Central heating unit
In the case of heated water or steam, piping is used to transport the heat to the
rooms. Most modern hot water boiler heating systems have a circulator, which
is a pump, to move hot water through the distribution system (as opposed to older gravity-fed systems). The
heat can be transferred to the surrounding air using radiators, hot water coils (hydro-air), or other heat
exchangers. The radiators may be mounted on walls or installed within the floor to produce floor heat.

The use of water as the heat transfer medium is known as hydronics. The heated water can also supply an
auxiliary heat exchanger to supply hot water for bathing and washing.

Air

Warm air systems distribute heated air through duct work systems of supply and return air through metal or
fiberglass ducts. Many systems use the same ducts to distribute air cooled by an evaporator coil for air
conditioning. The air supply is normally filtered through air cleaners to remove dust and pollen particles.

Dangers

The use of furnaces, space heaters, and boilers as a method of indoor heating could result in incomplete
combustion and the emission of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, volatile organic
compounds, and other combustion byproducts. Incomplete combustion occurs when there is insufficient
oxygen; the inputs are fuels containing various contaminants and the outputs are harmful byproducts, most
dangerously carbon monoxide, which is a tasteless and odorless gas with serious adverse health effects.[15]

Without proper ventilation, carbon monoxide can be lethal at concentrations of 1000 ppm (0.1%). However, at
several hundred ppm, carbon monoxide exposure induces headaches, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Carbon
monoxide binds with hemoglobin in the blood, forming carboxyhemoglobin, reducing the blood's ability to
transport oxygen. The primary health concerns associated with carbon monoxide exposure are its
cardiovascular and neurobehavioral effects. Carbon monoxide can cause atherosclerosis (the hardening of
arteries) and can also trigger heart attacks. Neurologically, carbon monoxide exposure reduces hand to eye
coordination, vigilance, and continuous performance. It can also affect time discrimination.[16]
Ventilation
Ventilation is the process of changing or replacing air in any space to control temperature or remove any
combination of moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, or carbon dioxide, and to replenish
oxygen. Ventilation often refers to the intentional delivery of the outside air to the building indoor space. It is
one of the most important factors for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in buildings. Methods for
ventilating a building may be divided into mechanical/forced and natural types.[17]

Mechanical or forced ventilation

Mechanical, or forced, ventilation is provided by an air handler

(AHU) and used to control indoor air quality. Excess humidity, odors,
and contaminants can often be controlled via dilution or replacement
with outside air. However, in humid climates more energy is required
to remove excess moisture from ventilation air.

Kitchens and bathrooms typically have mechanical exhausts to control

odors and sometimes humidity. Factors in the design of such systems
include the flow rate (which is a function of the fan speed and exhaust HVAC ventilation exhaust for a 12-
vent size) and noise level. Direct drive fans are available for many story building
applications, and can reduce maintenance needs.

In summer, ceiling fans and table/floor fans circulate air within a room for the purpose of reducing the
perceived temperature by increasing evaporation of perspiration on the skin of the occupants. Because hot air
rises, ceiling fans may be used to keep a room warmer in the winter by circulating the warm stratified air from
the ceiling to the floor.

Natural ventilation

Natural ventilation is the ventilation of a building with outside air

without using fans or other mechanical systems. It can be via operable
windows, louvers, or trickle vents when spaces are small and the
architecture permits. ASHRAE defined Natural ventilation as the flow
of air through open windows, doors, grilles, and other planned
building envelope penetrations, and as being driven by natural and/or
artificially produced pressure differentials. [2]

In more complex schemes, warm air is allowed to rise and flow out
high building openings to the outside (stack effect), causing cool
outside air to be drawn into low building openings. Natural ventilation
schemes can use very little energy, but care must be taken to ensure Ventilation on the downdraught
comfort. In warm or humid climates, maintaining thermal comfort system, by impulsion, or the 'plenum'
solely via natural ventilation might not be possible. Air conditioning principle, applied to schoolrooms
systems are used, either as backups or supplements. Air-side (1899)
economizers also use outside air to condition spaces, but do so using
fans, ducts, dampers, and control systems to introduce and distribute
cool outdoor air when appropriate.

An important component of natural ventilation is air change rate or air changes per hour: the hourly rate of
ventilation divided by the volume of the space. For example, six air changes per hour means an amount of new
air, equal to the volume of the space, is added every ten minutes. For human comfort, a minimum of four air
changes per hour is typical, though warehouses might have only two. Too high of an air change rate may be
uncomfortable, akin to a wind tunnel which have thousands of changes per hour. The highest air change rates
are for crowded spaces, bars, night clubs, commercial kitchens at around 30 to 50 air changes per hour.[18]

Room pressure can be either positive or negative with respect to outside the room. Positive pressure occurs
when there is more air being supplied than exhausted, and is common to reduce the infiltration of outside
contaminants.[19]

Airborne diseases

Natural ventilation is a key factor in reducing the spread of airborne illnesses such as tuberculosis, the common
cold, influenza and meningitis. Opening doors and windows are good ways to maximize natural ventilation,
which would make the risk of airborne contagion much lower than with costly and maintenance-requiring
mechanical systems. Old-fashioned clinical areas with high ceilings and large windows provide greatest
protection. Natural ventilation costs little and is maintenance free, and is particularly suited to limited-resource
settings and tropical climates, where the burden of TB and institutional TB transmission is highest. In settings
where respiratory isolation is difficult and climate permits, windows and doors should be opened to reduce the
risk of airborne contagion. Natural ventilation requires little maintenance and is inexpensive.[20]

Air conditioning
An air conditioning system, or a standalone air conditioner, provides cooling and/or humidity control for all or
part of a building. Air conditioned buildings often have sealed windows, because open windows would work
against the system intended to maintain constant indoor air conditions. Outside, fresh air is generally drawn
into the system by a vent into a mix air chamber for mixing with the space return air. Then the mixture air
enters an indoor or outdoor heat exchanger section where the air is to be cooled down, then be guided to the
space creating positive air pressure. The percentage of return air made up of fresh air can usually be
manipulated by adjusting the opening of this vent. Typical fresh air intake is about 10% of the total supply air.

Air conditioning and refrigeration are provided through the removal of heat. Heat can be removed through
radiation, convection, or conduction. The heat transfer medium is a refrigeration system, such as water, air, ice,
and chemicals are referred to as refrigerants. A refrigerant is employed either in a heat pump system in which a
compressor is used to drive thermodynamic refrigeration cycle, or in a free cooling system which uses pumps
to circulate a cool refrigerant (typically water or a glycol mix).

It is imperative that the air conditioning horsepower is sufficient for the area being cooled. Underpowered air
conditioning system will lead to power wastage and inefficient usage. Adequate horsepower is required for
any air conditioner installed.

Refrigeration cycle

The refrigeration cycle uses four essential elements to cool, which are compressor, condenser, metering device
and evaporator.

At the inlet of a compressor, the refrigerant inside the system is in a low pressure, low
temperature, gaseous state. The compressor pumps the refrigerant gas up to a high pressure
and temperature.
From there it enters a heat exchanger (sometimes called a condensing coil or condenser)
where it loses heat to the outside, cools, and condenses into its liquid phase.
An expansion valve (also called metering device) regulates the refrigerant liquid to flow at the
proper rate.
 The liquid refrigerant is returned to another heat exchanger
where it is allowed to evaporate, hence the heat exchanger
is often called an evaporating coil or evaporator. As the
liquid refrigerant evaporates it absorbs heat from the inside
air, returns to the compressor, and repeats the cycle. In the
process, heat is absorbed from indoors and transferred
outdoors, resulting in cooling of the building.

In variable climates, the system may include a reversing valve that A simple stylized diagram of the
switches from heating in winter to cooling in summer. By reversing refrigeration cycle: 1) condensing
coil, 2) expansion valve,
the flow of refrigerant, the heat pump refrigeration cycle is changed
3) evaporator coil, 4) compressor
from cooling to heating or vice versa. This allows a facility to be
heated and cooled by a single piece of equipment by the same means,
and with the same hardware.

Free cooling

Free cooling systems can have very high efficiencies, and are sometimes combined with seasonal thermal
energy storage so that the cold of winter can be used for summer air conditioning. Common storage mediums
are deep aquifers or a natural underground rock mass accessed via a cluster of small-diameter, heat-exchanger-
equipped boreholes. Some systems with small storages are hybrids, using free cooling early in the cooling
season, and later employing a heat pump to chill the circulation coming from the storage. The heat pump is
added-in because the storage acts as a heat sink when the system is in cooling (as opposed to charging) mode,
causing the temperature to gradually increase during the cooling season.

Some systems include an "economizer mode", which is sometimes called a "free-cooling mode". When
economizing, the control system will open (fully or partially) the outside air damper and close (fully or
partially) the return air damper. This will cause fresh, outside air to be supplied to the system. When the outside
air is cooler than the demanded cool air, this will allow the demand to be met without using the mechanical
supply of cooling (typically chilled water or a direct expansion "DX" unit), thus saving energy. The control
system can compare the temperature of the outside air vs. return air, or it can compare the enthalpy of the air, as
is frequently done in climates where humidity is more of an issue. In both cases, the outside air must be less
energetic than the return air for the system to enter the economizer mode.

Packaged vs. split system

Central, "all-air" air-conditioning systems (or package systems) with a combined outdoor
condenser/evaporator unit are often installed in North American residences, offices, and public buildings, but
are difficult to retrofit (install in a building that was not designed to receive it) because of the bulky air ducts
required. (Minisplit ductless systems are used in these situations.) Outside of North America, packaged
systems are only used in limited applications involving large indoor space such as stadiums, theatres or
exhibition halls.

An alternative to packaged systems is the use of separate indoor and outdoor coils in split systems. Split
systems are preferred and widely used worldwide except in North America. In North America, split systems
are most often seen in residential applications, but they are gaining popularity in small commercial buildings.
The split systems are a great choice for small buildings where ductwork is not feasible or where the space
conditioning efficiency is of prime concern.[21] The benefits of ductless air conditioning systems include easy
installation, no ductwork, greater zonal control, flexibility of control and quiet operation.[22] In space
conditioning, the duct losses can account for 30% of energy consumption.[23] The use of minisplit can result in
energy savings in space conditioning as there are no losses associated with ducting.
With the split system, the evaporator coil is connected to a remote condenser unit using refrigerant piping
between an indoor and outdoor unit instead of ducting air directly from the outdoor unit. Indoor units with
directional vents mount onto walls, suspended from ceilings, or fit into the ceiling. Other indoor units mount
inside the ceiling cavity, so that short lengths of duct handle air from the indoor unit to vents or diffusers
around the rooms.

Split systems are more efficient and the footprint is typically smaller than the package systems. On the other
hand, package systems tend to have slightly lower indoor noise level compared to split system since the fan
motor is located outside.

Dehumidification

Dehumidification (air drying) in an air conditioning system is provided by the evaporator. Since the evaporator
operates at a temperature below the dew point, moisture in the air condenses on the evaporator coil tubes. This
moisture is collected at the bottom of the evaporator in a pan and removed by piping to a central drain or onto
the ground outside.

A dehumidifier is an air-conditioner-like device that controls the humidity of a room or building. It is often
employed in basements which have a higher relative humidity because of their lower temperature (and
propensity for damp floors and walls). In food retailing establishments, large open chiller cabinets are highly
effective at dehumidifying the internal air. Conversely, a humidifier increases the humidity of a building.

Maintenance

All modern air conditioning systems, even small window package units, are equipped with internal air filters.
These are generally of a lightweight gauze-like material, and must be replaced or washed as conditions
warrant. For example, a building in a high dust environment, or a home with furry pets, will need to have the
filters changed more often than buildings without these dirt loads. Failure to replace these filters as needed will
contribute to a lower heat exchange rate, resulting in wasted energy, shortened equipment life, and higher
energy bills; low air flow can result in iced-over evaporator coils, which can completely stop air flow.
Additionally, very dirty or plugged filters can cause overheating during a heating cycle, and can result in
damage to the system or even fire.

Because an air conditioner moves heat between the indoor coil and the outdoor coil, both must be kept clean.
This means that, in addition to replacing the air filter at the evaporator coil, it is also necessary to regularly
clean the condenser coil. Failure to keep the condenser clean will eventually result in harm to the compressor,
because the condenser coil is responsible for discharging both the indoor heat (as picked up by the evaporator)
and the heat generated by the electric motor driving the compressor.

Energy efficiency
Since the 1980s, manufacturers of HVAC equipment [24] have been making an effort to make the systems they
manufacture more efficient. This was originally driven by rising energy costs, and has more recently been
driven by increased awareness of environmental issues. Additionally, improvements to the HVAC system
efficiency can also help increase occupant health and productivity.[25] In the US, the EPA has imposed tighter
restrictions over the years. There are several methods for making HVAC systems more efficient.

Heating energy
In the past, water heating was more efficient for heating buildings and was the standard in the United States.
Today, forced air systems can double for air conditioning and are more popular.

Some benefits of forced air systems, which are now widely used in churches, schools and high-end residences,
are

Better air conditioning effects

Energy savings of up to 15-20%
Even conditioning

A drawback is the installation cost, which can be slightly higher than traditional HVAC systems.

Energy efficiency can be improved even more in central heating systems by introducing zoned heating. This
allows a more granular application of heat, similar to non-central heating systems. Zones are controlled by
multiple thermostats. In water heating systems the thermostats control zone valves, and in forced air systems
they control zone dampers inside the vents which selectively block the flow of air. In this case, the control
system is very critical to maintaining a proper temperature.

Forecasting is another method of controlling building heating by calculating demand for heating energy that
should be supplied to the building in each time unit.

Ground source heat pump

Ground source, or geothermal, heat pumps are similar to ordinary heat pumps, but instead of transferring heat
to or from outside air, they rely on the stable, even temperature of the earth to provide heating and air
conditioning. Many regions experience seasonal temperature extremes, which would require large-capacity
heating and cooling equipment to heat or cool buildings. For example, a conventional heat pump system used
to heat a building in Montana's −57 °C (−70 °F) low temperature or cool a building in the highest temperature
ever recorded in the US—57 °C (134 °F) in Death Valley, California, in 1913 would require a large amount of
energy due to the extreme difference between inside and outside air temperatures. A metre below the earth's
surface, however, the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature. Utilizing this large source of
relatively moderate temperature earth, a heating or cooling system's capacity can often be significantly
reduced. Although ground temperatures vary according to latitude, at 1.8 metres (6 ft) underground,
temperatures generally only range from 7 to 24 °C (45 to 75 °F).

Ventilation energy recovery

Energy recovery systems sometimes utilize heat recovery ventilation or energy recovery ventilation systems
that employ heat exchangers or enthalpy wheels to recover sensible or latent heat from exhausted air. This is
done by transfer of energy to the incoming outside fresh air.

Air conditioning energy

The performance of vapor compression refrigeration cycles is limited by thermodynamics.[26] These air
conditioning and heat pump devices move heat rather than convert it from one form to another, so thermal
efficiencies do not appropriately describe the performance of these devices. The Coefficient-of-Performance
(COP) measures performance, but this dimensionless measure has not been adopted. Instead, the Energy
Efficiency Ratio (EER) has traditionally been used to characterize the performance of many HVAC systems.
EER is the Energy Efficiency Ratio based on a 35 °C (95 °F) outdoor temperature. To more accurately
describe the performance of air conditioning equipment over a typical cooling season a modified version of the
EER, the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), or in Europe the ESEER, is used. SEER ratings are
based on seasonal temperature averages instead of a constant 35 °C (95 °F) outdoor temperature. The current
industry minimum SEER rating is 14 SEER.[27] Engineers have pointed out some areas where efficiency of
the existing hardware could be improved. For example, the fan blades used to move the air are usually
stamped from sheet metal, an economical method of manufacture, but as a result they are not aerodynamically
efficient. A well-designed blade could reduce electrical power required to move the air by a third.[28]

Demand controlled kitchen ventilation

Demand controlled kitchen ventilation (DCKV) is a building controls approach of controlling the volume of
kitchen exhaust and supply air in response to the actual cooking loads in a commercial kitchen. Traditional
commercial kitchen ventilation systems operate at 100% fan speed independent of the volume of cooking
activity and DCKV technology changes that to provide significant fan energy and conditioned air savings. By
deploying smart sensing technology, both the exhaust and supply fans can be controlled to capitalize on the
affinity laws for motor energy savings, reduce makeup air heating and cooling energy, increasing safety and
reducing ambient kitchen noise levels.[29]

Air filtration and cleaning

Air cleaning and filtration removes particles, contaminants, vapors
and gases from the air. The filtered and cleaned air then is used in
heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Air cleaning and filtration
should be taken in account when protecting our building
environments.[30]

Clean air delivery rate and filter performance

Air handling unit, used for heating,
Clean air delivery rate is the amount of clean air an air cleaner cooling, and filtering the air
provides to a room or space. When determining CADR, the amount
of airflow in a space is taken into account. For example, an air cleaner
with a flow rate of 30 cubic metres (1,000 cu ft) per minute and an efficiency of 50% has a CADR of 15 cubic
metres (500 cu ft) per minute. Along with CADR, filtration performance is very important when it comes to
the air in our indoor environment. Filter performance depends on the size of the particle or fiber, the filter
packing density and depth and also the air flow rate.[30]

HVAC industry and standards

The HVAC industry is a worldwide enterprise, with roles including operation and maintenance, system design
and construction, equipment manufacturing and sales, and in education and research. The HVAC industry was
historically regulated by the manufacturers of HVAC equipment, but regulating and standards organizations
such as HARDI, ASHRAE, SMACNA, ACCA, Uniform Mechanical Code, International Mechanical Code,
and AMCA have been established to support the industry and encourage high standards and achievement.

The starting point in carrying out an estimate both for cooling and heating depends on the exterior climate and
interior specified conditions. However, before taking up the heat load calculation, it is necessary to find fresh
air requirements for each area in detail, as pressurization is an important consideration.

International
ISO 16813:2006 is one of the ISO building environment standards.[31] It establishes the general principles of
building environment design. It takes into account the need to provide a healthy indoor environment for the
occupants as well as the need to protect the environment for future generations and promote collaboration
among the various parties involved in building environmental design for sustainability. ISO16813 is applicable
to new construction and the retrofit of existing buildings.[32]

The building environmental design standard aims to:[32]

provide the constraints concerning sustainability issues from the initial stage of the design
process, with building and plant life cycle to be considered together with owning and operating
costs from the beginning of the design process;
assess the proposed design with rational criteria for indoor air quality, thermal comfort,
acoustical comfort, visual comfort, energy efficiency and HVAC system controls at every stage
of the design process;
iterate decisions and evaluations of the design throughout the design process.

North America

United States

In the United States, HVAC engineers generally are members of the American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), EPA Universal CFC certified (for installation and
service of CFC HVAC devices), or locally engineer certified such as a Special to Chief Boilers License issued
by the state or, in some jurisdictions, the city. ASHRAE is an international technical society for all individuals
and organizations interested in HVAC. The Society, organized into regions, chapters, and student branches,
allows exchange of HVAC knowledge and experiences for the benefit of the field's practitioners and the
public. ASHRAE provides many opportunities to participate in the development of new knowledge via, for
example, research and its many technical committees. These committees typically meet twice per year at the
ASHRAE Annual and Winter Meetings. A popular product show, the AHR Expo, has been held in
conjunction with each winter ASHRAE meeting. The Society has approximately 50,000 members and has
headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

The most recognized standards for HVAC design are based on ASHRAE data. The four volumes of most
popular ASHRAE Handbooks are Fundamentals, Refrigeration, HVAC Applications and HVAC Systems and
Equipment. The current versions of the four handbooks are shown below:[33]

2020 ASHRAE Handbook—HVAC Systems and Equipment

2019 ASHRAE Handbook—HVAC Applications
2018 ASHRAE Handbook—Refrigeration
2017 ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals

Each volume of the ASHRAE Handbook is updated every four years. The Fundamentals Handbook includes
heating and cooling calculations. The design professional must consult ASHRAE data for the standards of
design and care as the typical building codes provide little to no information on HVAC design practices; codes
such as the UMC and IMC do include much detail on installation requirements, however. Other useful
reference materials include items from SMACNA, ACGIH, and technical trade journals.

American design standards are legislated in the Uniform Mechanical Code or International Mechanical Code.
In certain states, counties, or cities, either of these codes may be adopted and amended via various legislative
processes. These codes are updated and published by the International Association of Plumbing and
Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) or the International Code Council (ICC) respectively, on a 3-year code
development cycle. Typically, local building permit departments are charged with enforcement of these
standards on private and certain public properties=.

HVAC Technician

An HVAC technician is a tradesman who specializes in heating, HVAC Technician

ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. HVAC technicians in Occupation
the US can receive training through formal training institutions, where
Occupation Vocational
most earn associate degrees. Training for HVAC technicians includes type
classroom lectures and hands-on tasks, and can be followed by an
apprenticeship wherein the recent graduate works alongside a Activity Construction
sectors
professional HVAC technician for a temporary period. HVAC techs
who have been trained can also be certified in areas such as air Description
conditioning, heat pumps, gas heating, and commercial Education Apprenticeship
refrigeration.[34] required
Related Carpenter,
jobs electrician, plumber,
Europe
welder

United Kingdom

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is a body that covers the essential Service (systems
architecture) that allow buildings to operate. It includes the electrotechnical, heating, ventilating, air
conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing industries. To train as a building services engineer, the academic
requirements are GCSEs (A-C) / Standard Grades (1-3) in Maths and Science, which are important in
measurements, planning and theory. Employers will often want a degree in a branch of engineering, such as
building environment engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering. To become a full member
of CIBSE, and so also to be registered by the Engineering Council UK as a chartered engineer, engineers must
also attain an Honours Degree and a master's degree in a relevant engineering subject. CIBSE publishes
several guides to HVAC design relevant to the UK market, and also the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New
Zealand and Hong Kong. These guides include various recommended design criteria and standards, some of
which are cited within the UK building regulations, and therefore form a legislative requirement for major
building services works. The main guides are:

Guide A: Environmental Design

Guide B: Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Guide C: Reference Data
Guide D: Transportation systems in Buildings
Guide E: Fire Safety Engineering
Guide F: Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Guide G: Public Health Engineering
Guide H: Building Control Systems
Guide J: Weather, Solar and Illuminance Data
Guide K: Electricity in Buildings
Guide L: Sustainability
Guide M: Maintenance Engineering and Management
Within the construction sector, it is the job of the building services engineer to design and oversee the
installation and maintenance of the essential services such as gas, electricity, water, heating and lighting, as
well as many others. These all help to make buildings comfortable and healthy places to live and work in.
Building Services is part of a sector that has over 51,000 businesses and employs represents 2%-3% of the
GDP.

Australia

The Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association of Australia (AMCA), Australian Institute of
Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH), Australian Refrigeration Mechanical Association and
CIBSE are responsible.

Asia

Asian architectural temperature-control have different priorities than European methods. For example, Asian
heating traditionally focuses on maintaining temperatures of objects such as the floor or furnishings such as
Kotatsu tables and directly warming people, as opposed to the Western focus, in modern periods, on designing
air systems.

Philippines

The Philippine Society of Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineers (PSVARE) along with
Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) govern on the codes and standards for HVAC / MVAC
(MVAC means "mechanical ventilation and air conditioning") in the Philippines.

India

The Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) was established to
promote the HVAC industry in India. ISHRAE is an associate of ASHRAE. ISHRAE was started at Delhi in
1981 and a chapter was started in Bangalore in 1989. Between 1989 & 1993, ISHRAE chapters were formed
in all major cities in India.

See also
Air speed (HVAC) Mechanical engineering
Architectural engineering Outdoor wood-fired boiler
ASHRAE Handbook Radiant cooling
Auxiliary power unit Sick building syndrome
Electric heating Uniform Codes
Fan coil unit Uniform Mechanical Code
Glossary of HVAC terms Ventilation (architecture)
Head-end power World Refrigeration Day
Hotel electric power

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Further reading
Mechanical system (building service) (https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1382534)
at the Encyclopædia Britannica
International Mechanical Code (https://web.archive.org/web/20150308003244/http://publicecod
es.cyberregs.com/icod/imc/2012/index.htm) (2012 (Second Printing)) by the International Code
Council, Thomson Delmar Learning.
 Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (https://archive.org/details/ModernRefrigerationAnd
AirConditioning) (August 2003) by Althouse, Turnquist, and Bracciano, Goodheart-Wilcox
Publisher; 18th edition.
The Cost of Cool. (https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/sunday-review/air-conditioning-is-an-e
nvironmental-quandary.html?_r=0)

External links
Media related to Climate control at Wikimedia Commons

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