Performance Rating of Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers for Energy Recovery Ventilation Equipment

ARI 1060: Performance Rating of Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers for Energy Recovery Ventilation Equipment

For engineers and designers grappling with the complexities of energy-efficient building systems, establishing reliable performance benchmarks for critical components is paramount. The ARI 1060 standard provides an essential framework for understanding and verifying the performance of air-to-air heat exchangers, the heart of many energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems. This authoritative document ensures that the energy savings potential of ERV equipment is accurately represented and consistently measured across the industry.

What is ARI 1060?

ARI 1060, formally titled "Performance Rating of Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers for Energy Recovery Ventilation Equipment," is a comprehensive standard developed by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI). Its primary purpose is to define standardized methods for testing and rating the performance characteristics of air-to-air heat exchangers used within ERV systems, ensuring consistency and comparability of product data.

Scope & Purpose

This standard governs the testing and rating of factory-made air-to-air heat exchangers specifically designed for integration into air-to-air energy recovery ventilation equipment. It covers a defined range of airflow capacities, typically from 50 to 5,000 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm). Notably, ARI 1060 explicitly excludes heat exchangers that utilize a circulated heat transfer medium, such as run-around loop systems, focusing solely on direct air-to-air energy transfer devices.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Mechanical Engineers, HVAC Designers, Product Engineers, Test Technicians, and Quality Control Managers involved in the design, manufacturing, and specification of ERV equipment.
• • Industries affected: HVAC Manufacturing, Building Construction, Energy Management, and Facilities Management.
• • Compliance nature: While ARI standards are often voluntary, participation in ARI's certification program, which relies on this standard, makes compliance a de facto requirement for product marketability and competitive positioning.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically verified through third-party testing and certification bodies, often managed by ARI or its accredited agents, as part of the ARI Certification Program.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard mandates several core requirements for manufacturers and designers:

• • The standard requires the establishment of defined test conditions to ensure consistent and repeatable performance evaluations.
• • Professionals must ensure that published ratings accurately reflect key performance metrics, including airflow, pressure drop, and various effectiveness values (sensible, latent, and total).
• • Key provisions include detailed requirements for calculating and reporting Exhaust Air Transfer Ratio (EATR) and Outdoor Air Correction Factors to account for air leakage.
• • The standard specifies minimum data requirements for published ratings and dictates the necessary information to be included on unit nameplates for clear identification.
• • It outlines conformance conditions that products must meet to be considered compliant with the standard.

Related Standards & References

ARI 1060 often works in conjunction with broader HVAC standards. For example, it references definitions and methodologies found in ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) standards, such as ASHRAE Standard 84, which provides foundational knowledge on energy recovery ventilators.