< Previous30 AUGUST 2018HIGH PERFORMANCE HVAC TODAYWHY MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS SHOULD SUPPORT ITIt’s important to note that the intent of the stan-dard is not to create a new rating of the unitary equipment itself, just the opposite. Put in simple terms, the standard's focus is on the air distribu-tion system and its interaction with the space it’s conditioning. Finally, there would be a way to take the bull-seye off equipment that is running within its manufactured specifications, and onto the deliv-ery system. It doesn't matter if the delivery system is installed in a brand-new home or building, or in an existing structure. With this standard the industry has a unique opportunity to improve brand reputation in the eyes of end customers.HOW QUALITY CONTRACTORS WOULD TRULY BENEFITThe really good news is the standard would finally support contractors who want to do it right. HVAC contractors who follow the standard, and get the training and tools to deliver high-perform-ing systems, will finally have a chance to separate themselves from low bid, low quality competitors. This is what Standard 221P was intended to do: Raise the bar for the entire industry by holding it accountable at the field level. We are already accountable at the manufactur-ing level under AHRI’s watchful eye. We would finally have the opportunity for accountability through the entire chain, from manufacturer to consumer! Let that sink in. This simple standard could go a long way towards improving our indus-try’s reputation in our customers’ eyes!Consumer education is key to success, but with a standard like 221P, high-performance HVAC contractors would finally have the ammunition to educate their customers about what they do differently and why. In case you missed it, there's a new proposed ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) standard called 221P. It's focused on deliver-ing high performance HVAC systems to residential and commercial customers. The standard is a “Test Method to Field-Measure and Score the Cooling and Heating Performance of an Installed Unitary HVAC System.” The proposed standard, which just went through a round of full review and public comment, hit a major wall of resistance by some manufactur-ers and the Air Conditioning, Heating, Refriger-ation Institute (AHRI). AHRI is an association of HVACR equipment manufacturers and is also the industry’s equipment performance standards and certification body.IT’S NOT AN EQUIPMENT STANDARDI have a great deal of respect for AHRI and its member companies, as they provide an invaluable service to our industry. It appears, however, that there is a great deal of confusion about the scope and intent of ASHRAE 221P. Part of the issue seems to be that they see the words, “Unitary HVAC System” in the standard 's title, and draw the conclusion that it's an equip-ment performance standard — something they already do in their AHRI certified labs. I could see how one could draw this conclusion, but when you dig deeper, you’ll find the rating is about the air distribution system, NOT the equipment. The word “Unitary” is in the standard’s title to de-fine the type of installed equipment. It's not intend-ed as a rating of the equipment itself. To be fair, when you look at it through AHRI’s and the manufacturer’s eyes, it’s easy to see the potential confusion.Hopefully we can get past the title of the stan-dard, and either rename it to make its scope clearer, or define it more clearly in the Purpose and Scope section of the standard.Dominick Guarino is publisher of HVAC Today magazine and CEO of National Comfort Institute, Inc. He can be reached at domg@ncihvac.com ONE MORE THING...By Dominick GuarinoWhy ASHRAE 221P is a Home Run For The HVAC IndustryAUGUST 2018 31HVACTODAY.COMNext >