ASHRAE Journal - ACMA Supplement - Fall 2013 - 4

c o d e w at c h

By Michael ivanovich

usa

Director of Strategic energy initiativeS,
aMca international

United States Fan Efficiency Codes and Standards Update
Where to find resources for understanding and applying recent
codes and standards changes for fan efficiency.
The 2012 Inter national Green Constr uction Code and
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2013 have adopted fan efficiency
provisions that reference AMCA Standard 205 Energy Efficiency Classification for Fans. AMCA
Fans
205 defines fan efficiency grades, a metric
for rating fan efficiency without motors
or drives, and directs that fans be sized
and selected to operate within a specific
range of the fan’s rated peak total effi
efficiency. The 2010 version of AMCA 205,
which is referenced by IgCC-2012,
specifies a sizing/selection range of 10
percentage points. The 2012 version of AMCA 205, which
is ANSI-accredited, specifies 15 percentage points.
Now that the green code and energy standard for commercial
buildings are being promulgated, engineers are looking for
resources to learn about fan efficiency metrics, and they are
looking for reliable fan data to work into their designs and
demonstrate compliance.
LEarning aboUt FEgS
Since 2009, AMCA International has published 10 white papers
and technical articles about fan efficiency grades and related
topics, all of which are available at the AMCA website at
www.amca.org/feg/best-practices.aspx. The articles published
in the April 2013 issue of ASHRAE Journal and the May 2013
issue of HPAC Engineering describe how AMCA 205 is referenced
in ASHRAE 90.1-2013, how the 90.1 language evolved, and
how FEGs are considered in tandem with 90.1’s fan power
limits.
Earlier articles describe the foundations of fan efficiency grades
and how to use them (or not use them) in fan sizing and selection
(published in AMCA inmotion in 2009, 2010, and 2011). The
collection also includes an article about fan total efficiency
compared to fan static efficiency, (ASHRAE Journal 2011) and
an article about fan motor efficiency grades (FMEGs), which is
similar to the metric the European Commission uses for its fan
efficiency regulation (AMCA inmotion 2012).
To help the industry learn about and apply AMCA 205, AMCA
International has temporarily made the standard available at no
cost on its website at: www.amca.org/feg/codes-and-standards.
aspx.
FEg ratingS and CErtiFiCation
FEG ratings are calculated from fan performance data taken
during rating tests conducted in accordance with testing standards,
4

Fa l l 2 0 1 3

such as AMCA 210 and ISO 5801. AMCA 205-12 lists applicable
fan test standards; fans that cannot be tested by the listed standards cannot have an FEG rating. Fans that have been previously
tested under the applicable standards can have an FEG calculated
using the test data; new tests are not needed. Furthermore, if
AMCA-certified fans can have an FEG calculated, the resulting
FEG rating can be certified, if the manufacturer elects to do so.
There are several ways to find FEG ratings
and ratings for peak total efficiency. One
resource is the AMCA Certified Ratings
Program (CRP) online database. AMCA
began certifying FEGs in 2010 in accordance with AMCA Publication 211,
Certified Ratings Program - Product
Rating Manual for Fan Air Performance.
Currently, there are over 300 fan models
with certified FEG ratings. For more
information about the Certified Ratings Program,
visit: www.amca.org/certified/default.aspx.
AMCA’s CRP database will identify the fan models that are
FEG-certified, and, where permitted by the manufacturer, display
the ratings for FEG and peak total efficiency. AMCA recently
created a web page, www.amca.org/feg-finder.aspx, that instructs
visitors how to find certified FEG ratings and peak total
efficiency.
Other resources include manufacturers’ literature and electronic
sizing/selection software. If the FEG data are certified, the
literature and software output will have an FEG label licensed
through AMCA.
Because the IgCC and 90.1 fan-efficiency provisions do not
require third-party-certified data, engineers and code officials
should check with fan manufacturers for FEG and peak-totalefficiency ratings, if the data are not available through AMCA.
rESoUrCES
■ Fan efficiency codes and standards information, including U.S. Dept. of Energy rulemaking progress: www.amca.
org/feg/codes-and-standards.aspx.
■

FEG and tan-total-efficiency technical articles and white
papers: www.amca.org/feg/best-practices.aspx.

■

AMCA Standard 205 Energy Efficiency Classification for
Fans, www.amca.org/feg/codes-and-standards.aspx.

■

Certified FEG ratings: www.amca.org/feg/feg-finder.aspx.

a m c a I n t e r nat I o na l

inmotion

w w w. a m c a . o r g

http://www.amca.org/certified/default.aspx http://www.amca.org/feg-finder.aspx http://www.amca.org/feg/best-practices.aspx http://www.amca.org/feg/codes-and-standards.aspx http://www.amca.org/feg/codes-and-standards.aspx http://www.amca.org/feg/codes-and-standards.aspx http://www.amca.org/feg/best-practices.aspx http://www.amca.org/feg/codes-and-standards.aspx http://www.amca.org/feg/codes-and-standards.aspx http://www.amca.org/feg/feg-finder.aspx http://WWW.AMCA.ORG

ASHRAE Journal - ACMA Supplement - Fall 2013

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