Standard for Packaged Terminal Air-Conditioners and Heat Pumps

ARI-370/380-93, CSA-C744-93: Standard for Packaged Terminal Air-Conditioners and Heat Pumps

For engineers and designers working with HVAC systems, understanding and adhering to foundational industry standards is paramount. ARI-370/380-93, CSA-C744-93, the "Standard for Packaged Terminal Air-Conditioners and Heat Pumps," stands as an essential document for ensuring product quality, performance, and reliability in this critical sector. This authoritative standard provides a comprehensive framework for the design, testing, and rating of these widely used HVAC units.

What is ARI-370/380-93, CSA-C744-93?

This industry-leading standard, jointly developed by the Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), establishes uniform requirements for packaged terminal air-conditioners (PTACs) and heat pumps. Its primary purpose is to define clear criteria for product performance, rating methodologies, and testing procedures, fostering consistency and comparability across the market.

Scope & Purpose

The scope of ARI-370/380-93, CSA-C744-93 encompasses the rating, performance, and testing criteria for factory-made packaged terminal air-conditioners and heat pumps intended for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. It specifically addresses how these units should be evaluated for their cooling and heating capacities, energy efficiency, and operational reliability under various conditions. While it details performance metrics and testing protocols, it does not cover electrical safety codes or installation procedures, which are addressed by separate, complementary standards.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: HVAC engineers, product designers, test technicians, quality control inspectors, and standards developers.
• • Industries affected: HVAC manufacturing, construction, building management, and energy efficiency sectors.
• • Compliance nature: While the standard is often a prerequisite for product certification and market access, its direct mandatory compliance may vary by regional regulations and contractual agreements. However, adherence is highly recommended for product credibility and market acceptance.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically verified through third-party certification programs administered by accredited bodies, such as CSA itself, and is often scrutinized by regulatory bodies and specifiers in project procurements.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard mandates a rigorous approach to product development and validation. Key provisions include:

• • The standard requires precise definitions and methods for calculating standard ratings for both cooling and heating capacities, ensuring consistent performance data.
• • Professionals must ensure that units meet defined performance criteria under various operational temperatures, including maximum high-temperature operation and low-temperature cooling scenarios.
• • Key provisions include established testing procedures for evaluating energy efficiency metrics, such as Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) and Coefficient of Performance (COP), under specified conditions.
• • The standard outlines requirements for testing air infiltration to ensure unit integrity and performance efficiency.
• • It also specifies procedures for evaluating insulation effectiveness and condensate disposal to prevent operational issues and ensure user comfort.

Related Standards & References

ARI-370/380-93, CSA-C744-93 often works in conjunction with other standards. For instance, electrical safety is governed by separate CSA standards