Air system performance is greatly influenced by how the system is designed and how equipment is sized, selected, installed, controlled, and operated within the system. These factors have an influence an order of magnitude greater than the marginal gains possible when attempting to increase the efficiency of any one component. With this in mind, AMCA advocates lifecycle best practices for air systems.

• Technical Articles: Fan Efficiency Grades
• Technical Articles: Design – sizing, selection, specification
• Technical Articles: Applications – air systems and buildings
• Industrial Energy Efficiency Resources
• Other Engineering Resources
• Resources on System Effect
• Air System Specifications
• Power Point Presentations

Technical Articles: Fan Efficiency Grades

•  Fan Efficiency Grades: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions, by Tim Mathson, Greenheck; and Michael Ivanovich, AMCA International. AMCA inmotion. Fall 2011.
•  The Role of Fan Efficiency in Reducing HVAC Energy Consumption, by Michael Brendel, PhD., Lau Industries/Ruskin. AMCA inmotion. Spring 2010. 
•  Fan Industry Meeting Energy Challenges, by John Cermak, PhD, PE, ACME Engineering; John Murphy PhD, JOGRAM Inc.; Joe Brooks, PE, AMCA International Inc. AMCA inmotion. Spring 2009.
• Download all three FEG articles in one PDF. Includes cover and forward as one booklet, "Fan Efficiency Standards
  for Commercial & Industrial Buildings–What you need to know about AMCA International’s Standard 205."

• How ASHRAE 90.1-2010 Will Affect HVAC Design, by Jeff Boldt, PE, LEED AP, KJWW Engineering, Consulting-Specifying Engineer, January 2012.
• Achieving Optimal Fan Performance, by Mark Stevens, AMCA International, Consulting-Specifying Engineer. December 2011.
• High-Performance VAV Systems, by John Murphy, Trane, ASHRAE Journal, October 2011 (search for the title at www.ashrae.org).
• Select Fans Using Fan Total Pressure To Save Energy, by John Cermak, Ph.D., ACME Engineering, John Murphy, PhD., JOGRAM Inc. ASHRAE Journal. July 2011.
• Basic Fan Selection, by Tim Mathson, Greenheck. HPAC Engineering. July 2011.
• How to Select a VFD, by John Yoon, PE, LEED AP, McGuire Engineers Inc. Consulting-Specifying Engineer. November 2010.
• Efficient Motors or Efficient System Designs?, by Kenneth Lovorn, PE. Engineered Systems. September 2010.
• Fan Selection and Energy Savings, by Brian Mleziva. Greenheck. HPAC Engineering. August 2010.
• VFDs and Motors: Making the Right Match, Syed M. Peeran, PhD, PE, Camp Dresser & McKee. Consulting-Specifying Engineer. July 2008.
• The Myth About Fan Static Pressure, by Dr. Alex London, PE. Engineered Systems. March 2006.
• Know Your Fans, by Khalil Kairouz, Ph.D., P.E. and Dale Price. Engineered Systems. May 2005.
  

Technical Articles: Applications – air systems and buildings

• High-Performance VAV Systems, by John Murphy. ASHRAE Journal. October 2011.
• The Case for Increased Ventilation, by David Harlos, ScD, and Michael West, PhD, PE Advantek. HPAC Engineering. March 2010.
• Pressurization Control in Large Commercial Buildings, by David Moser, PECI. HPAC Engineering. February 2010.
• Getting More Out of Kitchen Ventilation Systems, Brian Rivet, Greenheck Fan Corp. Consulting-Specifying Engineer. September 2009.
• Systems design and performance tips for packaged rooftop units (RTUs), by Richard Kronick and Michael Ivanovich. Consulting-Specifying Engineer. March 2009.
• Mechanical and HVAC Design Goes Underfloor, by David Peters, PE, Southland Industries. Consulting-Specifying Engineer. October 2009.
• Specifying VAV Boxes, by Jeff Stein, PE, Taylor Engineering. HPAC Engineering, November 2005.
• It’s In the Details: Engineering for Low Cost and High Efficiency, by Jeff Stein, PE, and Steve Taylor, PE, Taylor Engineering. ASHRAE Journal, October 2005.
• A Fresh Look at Fans, by Mark Hydeman, PE and Jeff Stein, PE, Taylor Engineering. HPAC Engineering, May 2003.

 Industrial Energy Efficiency Resources

U.S. Department of Energy

Note: In 2011, DOE's "Office of Industrial Technologies" was renamed to "Advanced Manufacturing Office"

• Software: Fan System Assessment Tool (FSAT). U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Technologies Program. FSAT is a free online software tool that helps industrial users quantify energy use and savings opportunities in industrial fan systems.
• Technical Paper: DOE Fan System Assessment Tool (FSAT) and Qualified FSAT Specialist Training: A Model for Increasing Industrial Fan System Energy Efficiency, by Anthony Radspieler Jr., and Aimee McKane, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Philip Jallouk, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and Joe Brooks, AMCA International.
• Two-Hour Webcast on Fan System Assessment Tool, from DOE Industrial Technologies Program.
• Manual: Improving Fan System Performance: A Sourcebook for Industry, by and U.S. Dept. of Energy Industrial Technologies Program, and AMCA International. 1999.
  

Other Engineering Resources

• Design Guidelines: Advanced Variable Air Volume (VAV) Systems, Energy Design Resources, December 2009
• Advanced Variable Air Volume System Design Guide, University of California & California State University Project Teams, 2003. Note: This manual is written for HVAC designers and focuses on built-up variable air volume (VAV) systems in multi-story commercial office buildings in California.
• Commercial Energy Services Network (COMNET) Modeling Guidelines and Procedures, Fan Systems, Baseline Building Fan System Summary. Note: COMNET energy efficiency calculation process serves multiple purposes, including the following:
  • Establishing eligibility for federal tax deductions per Section 179D of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) code;
  • Calculating percent savings for point eligibility related to green building rating systems; and
  • Estimating annual energy use for a building in the design phase for the purpose of energy labels.
    

Resources on System effect

• Technical articles
  • Achieving Optimal Fan Performance, by Mark Stevenson, AMCA International, Consulting-Specifying Engineer, December 2011.
• AMCA publications
  • DVD: System Effect  (US $36)
  • PowerPoint PDF: Fan Performance and System Effect, by Mark Stevens, AMCA International, July 2011.
    
  • Technical article: Fan Performance and System Effect, by Mark Stevens, AMCA International. Consulting-Specifying Engineer, December 2011. (in press)
    

Air System Specifications

AMCA International is working with ARCOM, which publishes MasterSpec for the American Institute of Architects), to review MasterSpec sections involving air movement and control products. The collaboration will update and refine references to AMCA standards and publications. For more information, read Fan and Damper Specs Update by Michael Ivanovich, AMCA International; and Michael King, ARCOM. AMCA inmotion, Fall 2011.

Power Point Presentations

From AMCA Seminar at 2012 AHR Expo:

• Michael Brendel, PhD, Lau Fan, gave a presentation on how fan efficiency grades, as defined by AMCA Standard 205, Energy Classification for Fans, are linked to the fan brake-horsepower requirements in ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.  Click here for Michael Brendel's PowerPoint slides (1-MB PDF).
  

• Steve Wiggins, PE, LEED AP, from Newcomb & Boyd Engineering, then described how commissioning newly installed systems and revisiting the systems after a period of time (or setting up monitoring-based commissioning systems) will reduce wasted energy consumption and costs. Click here for Steve Wiggins PowerPoint slides (1-MB PDF).
  

• John Reints, PE, (consulting engineer) and Gene Smithart, PE, Trane, closed the session with an in-depth presentation on high-velocity static-regain duct systems, which reduce first costs and operating costs. Click here for the Smithart/Reints PowerPoint slides (6-MB PDF).