What’s New in HVAC Inspection & Maintenance?

Dear Website Customer:

“So what?” you’re probably saying to yourself, “what could be ‘new’ in maintaining an air conditioning system?”  Quite a bit!  Please take a minute and read on….

For many years, since the invention of air conditioning, building systems have been designed, engineered, and manufactured to exacting standards.  Then, they are installed by a contractor according to the design specifications and the needs of the building and its occupants.  At this point, each individual facility becomes responsible for figuring out the best plan of preventative maintenance to protect their investment, which in most cases is a big one.

Up to this time, building owners and operators and service contractors have had to devise their own set of criteria and best practices for checking and inspecting HVAC equipment and systems.  All the while, the need for a standardized method has been recognized and requested of various industry organizations time and again.

At long last, all those requests are being heard and answered!  Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRA)—two highly respected industry organizations—have partnered to develop a “Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial and Residential High-Rise HVAC Systems.”  This standard will become recognized as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)* standard and will be developed in accordance with their rigorous process.

“That doesn’t apply to my building, it isn’t a high-rise” you might be thinking.  Not true!  These standards can and should be applied to any commercially designed rooftop package unit or split HVAC system as well.  Any contractor who is concerned about giving his/her clients the best advise on maintenance practices will take advantage of the Standard as it provides a consistent basis for this counsel.

A blue ribbon panel of manufacturers, contractors, building owners and operators, and individuals with a general interest (i.e. educators, consumer groups), all considered to be “affected stakeholders,” has been assembled to establish these minimum Standards.  Their work includes outlining the Standards, submitting them for review and comments, revisions and resolution of comments.  It is scheduled to be complete and ready for publication by January, 2006.

As contractors dedicated to providing service that exceeds our customers expectations, we at Kahn Mechanical welcome the HVAC Inspection and Maintenance Industry Standard and look forward to its arrival.  If you have any questions in its regard, don’t hesitate to call me at 214.631.1010 or email .  I’d like to hear from you.

Sincerely,

KAHN MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS  

Ann R. Kahn

TACL A370C

*The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization (501(c)3) that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system.  The Institute's mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity.