product application guide

®

A technical bulletin for engineers, contractors and students in the air movement and control industry.

Codes and Standards

CS/100-99

P.O. Box 410 • Schofield, WI 54476 • 715.359.6171 • Fax 715.355.2399®

Copyright © 1999 Greenheck Fan Corp.

Why AMCA? Because you need the performance you specify.

The engineers anddesigners who selectand specify productsof all types forbuilding projects carrya great deal ofresponsibility. ThatÕswhy you need tospecify fan, damper,and louver products

that are AMCA licensed and that each individualproduct bear the AMCA Certified Rating Seal.

The following summarizes what you need to knowabout AMCA. Read on to learn more about:

¥ What is AMCA (What the AMCA Certified RatingProgram means)

¥ AMCA certified rating seals¥ AMCA published standards (test standards)¥ Other AMCA publications¥ GreenheckÕs commitment¥ How to get what you really want

What is AMCA (What the AMCA

Certified Rating Program means)

AMCA is an international, non-profitassociation which administers thecertified ratings program. Theprogram incorporates the certificationof laboratories, manufacturerÕsproduct ratings, and assures continuedcompliance through check testverification.

The present AMCA membership includes themajority of the worldÕs leading manufacturers of airmovement and control equipment. AMCA providesyou with independent "third party" verification of

performance ratings. In addition to verifyingperformance ratings, AMCA provides importantapplication information to the fan and damperindustry. (Refer to AMCA Publications listed onpage 3.)

As stated by AMCA, "the associations' mission is topromote the health and growth of the air movementand control industry consistent with the interest ofthe public." AMCA is a valuable resource and astrong means of self-regulation for our industry.People who buy and specify fans need to be awareof the value of the AMCA seal.

AMCA Certified Rating Seals

The AMCA certified rating program seal assuresyou that a product line has been tested to theappropriate AMCA standards in accordance with alegal license agreement and that the manufacturerÕscatalogued certified ratings have been submitted tothe AMCA staff for approval prior to publication.

The eight certified programs coveredby AMCA are as follows:

1. Air Performance2. Sound and Air Performance3. Air Leakage/Air Performance4. Air Leakage5. Water Penetration/Air Performance6. cfm/Watt Ð Air Performance7. Airflow Measurement Station Ð Air

Performance8. Positive Pressure Ventilators Ð Air

Performance

For a product to be licensed to bear the AMCA sealunder the certified rating program, it must first betested in an accredited lab (usually the

Greenheck Product Application Guide

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Codes and Standards CS/100-99

manufacturerÕs or an independenttesting facility accredited by AMCAÕstechnical staff). To obtain a license touse the AMCA seal, each manufactureragrees to eight major requirements:

1. Published ratings will be based ontests conforming to the appropriateAMCA standard.

2. All tests will be made in a laboratoryaccredited by the AMCA technicalstaff.

3. Test results will be submitted to theAMCA staff for checking.

4. A unit selected by the AMCA staff will be sent tothe AMCA laboratory for a "PrecertificationCheck".

5. All catalogs containing "Certified Ratings" will besubmitted to the AMCA staff for approval beforepublication.

6. Every three years each licensed product line willbe subject to continuing check tests in the AMCAlaboratory.

7. Licensed products will also be liable to challengetests initiated by competing manufacturers whomay challenge published versus actual testedperformance of a product. The AMCA license willbe withdrawn if the product does not continue toperform as cataloged.

8. Fees and assessments will be paid to fund theprogram.

AMCA Certified Ratings Program

There are three AMCA rating standards that applyto air moving and control products. These are thestandards under which AMCA license agreementare granted. Publication 211 is the testing procedurethat applies to fans for air performance. Publication311 applies to fans for sound performance.Publication 511 applies to dampers and louvers forair performance, air leakage, and water leakage.

Other AMCA Publications

For complete information on all materials, visitwww.amca.org AMCAÕs web site. Some of theavailable publications include:

Publications List: Lists all available AMCAPublications and Standards along with pricing andordering instructions.

Directory of Licensed Products, AMCA Publication261:A listing of all the products licensed by AMCAto bear the Certified Rating Seal. (This is onlyavailable via AMCAÕs web site, www.amca.org)

Fans and Systems, Publication 201: Includesinformation on how fans are tested in thelaboratory, how performance tables and curves aredeveloped and published, and how systemconnections will affect fan performance. Theadverse effects of specific system connections andof other poor inlet and outlet conditions areexpressed numerically in the form of "System EffectFactors".

Troubleshooting, Publication 202: Intended to helpidentify and correct problems with the performanceand operation of the fan system after installation.

Field Performance Measurements, Publication 203:Reviews the problems of making fieldmeasurements of fan-systems and discusses indetail how to measure and calculate the actualperformance of the fan and system. It discusses theaccuracy that may be expected and gives examplesof how to test typical fan systems and allow for theeffects of the system connections on fanperformance.

Methods for Calculating Fan Sound Ratings fromLaboratory Test Data, Standard 301: This documentestablishes standard methods for calculatingconsistent sound ratings from laboratory test data.Data must come from AMCA 300, 320, and 330 teststandards.

Application of Sone Ratings, Publication 302: Listsrecommended sone level and outlines a method fordetermining the loudness of fans as installed takinginto account room size and acousticalcharacteristics.

#211 - Certified RatingsProgram, Air Performance

#311 - Certified Sound RatingsProgram for Air Moving Devices

#511 - Certified RatingsProgram for Air Control Devices

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Codes and Standards CS/100-99

Greenheck Product Application Guide

Application of SoundPower Level Ratings,Publication 303:Outlines a method forcalculating andapplying LwA and dBasound ratings.

Application Manualfor Air Louvers,Publication 501:Provides generalinformation andcomments on importantpoints to consider whendesigning or specifying installations requiringlouvers.

Greenheck’s Commitment

Greenheck is a strong advocate of AMCA, havingmore testing facilities and personnel dedicated toperformance testing than any of our majorcompetitors. We also have the most people of anycompetitor serving onAMCA committees. All ofthis results in thecombination of more fan,damper, and louverproducts licensed to bearAMCA Certified RatingSeals than any of ourcompetitors.

Greenheck has threeAMCA accreditedlaboratories for air testing

(ratings, pressure drop, leakage) of fans, dampers,and louvers plus one (one of 16 in the world) soundtesting laboratory using the reverberant roommethod. This means that Greenheck has passed arigid inspection by AMCA and has met all of therequirements of AMCA Publication 111 (LaboratoryAccreditation Program) for facilities, personnelqualifications, and equipment calibration andmaintenance. AMCA and Greenheck haveconducted tests on identical pieces of equipmentwith test results being within one half of the CRP(certified ratings program) tolerance. In addition,our labs are accredited by UnderwritersLaboratories to participate in the U.L. Client TestData Program.

Greenheck has a few products that are not licensedto bear AMCA Certified Rating Seals. The few

#111 Laboratory Registration Program

Air testing being conducted on a centrifugal roof fan

Damper Leakage TestingDamper being put through the test cycle on the wind driven rain tunnel

GreenheckÕs Sound Room

Greenheck Product Application Guide

4 Codes and Standards CS/100-99GREENHECKP.O. BOX 410 SCHOFIELD, WISCONSIN 54476-0410

PH. 715-359-6171www.greenheck.com¨

Greenheck catalogs and selection programscontaining performance not licensed by AMCA arecompletely accurate and all performance isguaranteed by Greenheck. The testing has beendone in accordance with the appropriate AMCAstandard in an AMCA Accredited Lab.

How to get what you really want

Using the following criteria will assure you that theproduct you specify will perform as expected.

¥ Identify products that are licensed to bear theAMCA Seal. The latest issue of AMCA publication261 "Directory of Licensed Products" is your bestsource of current information.

Note: Listing in this directory does not imply thatall of a companyÕs products are licensed to use theAMCA Seal Ð only the specific products that arelisted. The listing also differentiates betweenproducts licensed to bear the Air Certified RatingSeal or the Sound and Air Certified Rating Seal.

¥ When using manufacturersÕ catalogs and selectionprograms, make sure that the product you selectshows the appropriate label and AMCA Statement.(See samples below.)

Some Pitfalls to Avoid

Some manufacturersÕ literature carries thestatement, "Tested in accordance with AMCA

standards". This is NOT the same as ÒProductslicensed to bear the AMCA Certified Ratings SealÓ.

Literature containing this notation indicatesproducts are tested according to standardsdeveloped and published by AMCA. Such a note,however, only ensures the methods used in testing.It does not ensure that the test equipment, testlaboratory, or the published data meet AMCAstandards. Without a laboratory that conforms to anaccepted industry-wide standard, (the AMCAtesting laboratory) performance data obtainedconforms only to other measurements made in thatparticular lab. Data may be suspect, and theproduct may not perform as required.

Another area where a distinction needs to be veryclear is the functional difference between theAMCA Certified Ratings Seal and the member logo.There are some manufacturers who have used theAMCA member logo in their literature where itmight have been misinterpreted as licensedproducts. The orange and white logo shown belowsignifies membership in AMCA. Only the blue andyellow Certified Ratings Seals denote products thatare licensed.

When comparing performance of differentmanufacturers, onlycompare ratings ofmanufacturer productsthat are licensed to bearAMCA seals. Avoidcomparing sound data toa manufacturer that hasboth the AMCA Soundand Air Seal to anotherwith only the AMCA AirSeal. In comparing catalog performances, payattention to statements regarding product testing,for example: inlet, outlet, or total sound,with/without ducts, with/without drive loss.

¥ Specify that each individual product bears theAMCA Certified Rating Seal.

¥ For specialized products (not AMCA licensed)specify products manufactured by the companythat has the best reputation for accurate data.

Remember, you can always count on Greenheck.

Greenheck certifies that the modelSMD-21 shown herein is licensed tobear the AMCA Seal. The ratingsshown are based on tests andprocedures performed in accordancewith AMCA Publication 511 andcomply with the requirements of theAMCA Certified Ratings Programs.

This logo only signifies membership inAMCA. When shown in catalogs, thelogo does not denote products that arelicensed to bear a certified rating seal

Greenheck certifies that the backwardinclined and airfoil centrifugal fansshown herein are licensed to bear theAMCA Seal. The ratings shown arebased on tests and proceduresperformed in accordance with AMCAPublication 211 and Publication 311 andcomply with the requirements of theAMCA Certified Ratings Program.