Date: 2023-10-31 10:37:00

Note: This article appears in the 2023 edition of AMCA inmotion magazine.


By SCOTT ARNOLD

It is a new day in the air-movement industry, with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) publishing a test procedure (soon to be followed by an energy standard) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) approving an efficiency regulation for commercial and industrial fans and blowers. The journey to this point has been long and, at times, arduous. Involved every step of the way has been AMCA International, which has worked collaboratively with the DOE, the CEC, and various industry stakeholders to ensure the rules are equitable and any unintended consequences are minimized. In this edition of AMCA inmotion, we take a look at where the federal test procedure and energy standard and the California efficiency regulation stand and where they likely are headed. Separately, we examine the federal test procedure’s coverage of air-circulating fans that are not ceiling fans, along with an updated federal test procedure for ceiling fans, with a focus on large-diameter ceiling fans, or, as they are more widely known, high-volume, low-speed fans.

During the spring and summer of 2023, as the sky in cities across North America turned an eerie orange from smoke from wildfires raging out of control in eastern and western Canada, local health officials issued air-quality alerts and encouraged people to stay inside. This edition of AMCA inmotion discusses results of studies of an air curtain’s effectiveness in preventing airborne particulates from entering a building and of an ultraviolet-lamp-equipped air curtain’s ability to disinfect air.

From air pollution, we go to noise pollution, specifically that resulting from the operation of mechanical equipment, and various means of controlling it.

Lastly, we clarify confusion surrounding the selection of the proper ceiling radiation damper for a given application.

I hope you find this edition of AMCA inmotion useful. As always, your feedback is welcome. If there is an air-systems-related topic you would like to see covered, please contact me at [email protected] or +1 847-704-6335.

About the Author

Scott Arnold is senior manager, industry engagement and content, for AMCA International and editor in chief of AMCA inmotion.