Standard for Commercial and Industrial Unitary Air-Conditioning Condensing Units

ARI Standard 365: Standard for Commercial and Industrial Unitary Air-Conditioning Condensing Units

For HVAC engineers and product developers, understanding and adhering to industry standards is paramount for ensuring product performance, reliability, and market acceptance. ARI Standard 365 provides an essential framework for the design, testing, and rating of commercial and industrial unitary air-conditioning condensing units, serving as an authoritative guide for specifying and verifying these critical HVAC components.

What is ARI Standard 365?

ARI Standard 365, developed by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), establishes comprehensive definitions, classifications, testing procedures, and rating requirements for commercial and industrial unitary air-conditioning condensing units. Its primary purpose is to ensure consistent performance and facilitate fair comparison of products within the HVAC industry, offering proven methodologies for evaluating unit capacities and efficiencies.

Scope & Purpose

This comprehensive standard governs the testing and rating of electrically-driven, mechanical compression-type condensing units intended for commercial and industrial applications. Specifically, it applies to units with cooling capacities ranging from 135,000 Btu/h up to, but not including, 250,000 Btu/h, operating under standard rating conditions. The standard explicitly excludes condensing units designed solely for refrigeration purposes, directing users to complementary standards for those applications.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: HVAC Engineers, Mechanical Designers, Product Managers, Test Engineers, and Building Managers responsible for specifying, evaluating, or maintaining commercial and industrial HVAC systems.
• • Industries affected: HVAC Manufacturing, Commercial Real Estate, Industrial Facilities Management, and Building Construction.
• • Compliance nature: While the standard itself outlines testing and rating requirements, compliance is generally voluntary unless mandated by specific project specifications, contractual agreements, or participation in ARI certification programs.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically verified through internal quality control processes, third-party testing for certification programs, or by specifiers during project procurement and acceptance.

Key Requirements Overview

• • The standard requires manufacturers to establish standard rating conditions for consistent performance evaluation.
• • Professionals must ensure that cooling capacity, Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), and Integrated Part-Load Value (IPLV) are determined and published according to defined test methods.
• • Key provisions include detailed test requirements, referencing ANSI/ASHRAE standards for testing procedures, and specify minimum data points for published ratings.
• • Manufacturers are required to provide clear marking and nameplate data, facilitating proper identification and application of the units.
• • The standard also outlines specific operating requirements and conformance conditions to ensure reliable performance under stated conditions.

Related Standards & References

ARI Standard 365 often works in conjunction with other industry-leading standards. It references ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 23 and ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 37 for fundamental testing methodologies. For specialized refrigeration applications, ARI Standard 520 provides complementary guidance, ensuring a cohesive approach to product evaluation across different HVAC and refrigeration sectors.