Fan Energy Index

New fan-efficiency metrics developed by AMCA International

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Energy efficiency should be one of the highest lifecycle considerations for economic and environmental performance of commercial and industrial air systems. We at AMCA are involved in energy efficiency programs on a variety of levels, depending on the regional interests of our members:

United States:

In the U.S., AMCA International is active in the development of model energy codes and standards, utility rebate programs and government regulations. AMCA believes that all of these areas are interrelated that overly stringent federal regulations leave little flexibility for model codes and standards to address the needs of local jurisdictions. Futhermore, we believe such regulations would ultimately starve utility rebate programs, preventing them from the reaching reasonable benchmarks needed to drive returns-on-investment for higher efficiency products.

DOE Fan Efficiency Rulemaking: The U.S. Department of Energy Appliance and Equipment Standards Program is currently developing an efficiency regulation for commercial and industrial fans and blowers. AMCA is fully engaged in this process by working with other stakeholders to develop a joint recommendation to DOE on what the regulation would look like and how it would be enforced.

• DOE Regulation Initiative
• DOE Rulemaking Docket

Model Codes & Standards for Energy Efficiency & Green Construction: AMCA is active on codes and standards committees that are adopting and refining provisions covering fan efficiency. AMCA Standard 205, Energy Efficiency Classification for Fans, is the reference standard for provisions in International Green Construction Code (2012), ASHRAE 90.1-2013, ASHRAE 189.1-2014 and International Energy Conservation Code (2015).

• Fan Efficiency Provisions
• ASHRAE Journal Article

Rebate Programs: AMCA is committed to the development of utility rebate programs for commercial and industrial fans because we believe that stimulating flexible, voluntary market forces will lead to more energy savings than regulatory approaches can procure. We are among the industrial groups represented in Extended Motor Product Label Initiative (EMPLI), led by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). We expect pilot rebate programs to be developed by 2015 and rolled out nationally in 2016.

• EMPLI Program

Education and Training: AMCA is developing education and training resources for manufacturers, consulting engineers, contractors, commissioning providers, building owners and code officials. A large body of technical articles already exists at no charge at Efficiency Resources.

Here at AMCA, we believe that both active and passive fire protection systems are needed to protect occupants and property from smoke and fire damage. This includes not only sprinklers but also fire and smoke dampers for isolation, fan-powered smoke evacuation systems and stairway pressurization systems. AMCA is an active participant in the development and refinement of building codes and fire/life-safety codes and standards, including the following:

NFPA 90A, Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems

NFPA 90B, Standard for the Installation or Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Systems

NFPA 92, Standard for Smoke Control Systems

NFPA 204, Standard for Smoke and Heat Venting

NFPA 101, Life Safety Code

NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code

Technical articles on fans and dampers in fire/life safety systems:

• 2015 Fire and Smoke Dampers: Best Practice Design Tips (White Paper)
• 2014 AMCA Guide for Commissioning and Periodic Performance Testing of Fire, Smoke and Other Life Safety Related Dampers
• 2012 Vickie Lovell, InterCode Life Safety Dampers are Essential
• 2011 Michael Ivanovich/Mike King Fan and Damper Specs
• 2011 John Knapp Fire Smoke Dampers
• 2009 Integrating Smoke Control Dampers and Fans/Belke and Felker
• 2008/May/JuneNFPA Journal/Firewatch Article
• 2001 John Klote Compartmentation and Dampers

California Proposition 65

The official name of Proposition 65 is the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.

Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. These chemicals can be in the products that Californians purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment. By requiring that this information be provided, Proposition 65 enables Californians to make informed decisions about their exposures to these chemicals.

Proposition 65 requires California to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. This list, which must be updated at least once a year, has grown to include approximately 900 chemicals since it was first published in 1987.

AMCA members that sell products in California are required to comply with Proposition 65. The following guidance is provided to AMCA members to help them understand and comply with Proposition 65. For more information about Proposition 65, visit the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) at https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65.