Performance Rating of Direct Geoexchange Heat Pumps

ARI Standard 870-2005: Performance Rating of Direct Geoexchange Heat Pumps

For engineers and designers working with geothermal HVAC systems, understanding reliable performance data is paramount. ARI Standard 870-2005 provides an essential framework for evaluating and comparing the performance of direct geoexchange heat pumps, ensuring consistency and transparency in product ratings. This authoritative standard is a cornerstone for selecting equipment that meets stringent efficiency and capacity requirements.

What is ARI Standard 870-2005?

ARI Standard 870-2005 is a comprehensive engineering document established by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI). Its primary purpose is to define the procedures and conditions for testing and rating the performance of factory-made direct geoexchange heat pumps. This standard ensures that manufacturers provide consistent and comparable performance data for cooling and heating capacities, and energy efficiency.

Scope & Purpose

This standard specifically governs the rating and testing of factory-made residential, commercial, and industrial direct geoexchange heat pumps. It details the requirements for defining performance characteristics such as cooling capacity, heating capacity, Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), and Coefficient of Performance (COP) under defined rating conditions. The standard applies to electrically-driven, mechanical compression type systems and excludes the rating and testing of individual assemblies or retrofit units.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: HVAC Engineers, Test Engineers, Product Managers, Compliance Officers, and Installers involved in the specification, testing, or installation of direct geoexchange heat pumps.
• • Industries affected: Manufacturing (HVAC equipment), Construction, Energy, and HVAC Services.
• • Compliance nature: Voluntary for manufacturers seeking ARI certification, but recommended for ensuring consistent performance data and market acceptance.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically verified through participation in the ARI certification program, where independent laboratories test products against the standard's requirements.

Key Requirements Overview

• • The standard requires manufacturers to establish standardized rating conditions for both cooling and heating modes to ensure comparable performance data.
• • Professionals must ensure that published ratings for cooling capacity, heating capacity, EER, and COP are derived from tests conducted according to the specified procedures.
• • Key provisions include detailed definitions for various performance metrics and system components, such as direct geoexchange heat pumps and their associated heat exchangers.
• • The standard outlines minimum data requirements for published ratings and specifies marking and nameplate data to clearly communicate performance characteristics to end-users and specifiers.
• • It establishes conformance conditions and testing methodologies to validate the claimed performance of direct geoexchange heat pumps.

Related Standards & References

ARI Standard 870-2005 often works in conjunction with broader HVAC standards. While not directly listed as references within the provided excerpt, common complementary standards might include those from ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) for general HVAC terminology and testing procedures, and potentially ISO standards for international comparisons. These related documents provide foundational knowledge and broader testing contexts that support the specific requirements of ARI 870-2005.