AMCA InMotion - September 2019 - 1

F R O M

T H E

E D I T O R

Spotlighting Code and Standard Changes
Staff
Scott Arnold, Editor in Chief
Manager of Industry Content
AMCA International Inc.
Bonnie James, Art Director
JAM Graphics & Publishing

2019 has seen changes to codes and standards of interest to not
only AMCA and its members, but anyone interested in energy
efficiency and building safety, namely:
■

Published by ASHRAE JOURNAL
and HIGH PERFORMING BUILDINGS
on behalf of AMCA INTERNATIONAL
Greg Martin
Associate Publisher
ASHRAE Media Advertising

■

AMCA International
2018-2019 Board of Directors
Doug Yamashita, Chairman of the Board
Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Acme Engineering & Manufacturing Corp.
David Johnson, President
Director, Engineering Group
Berner International
Amit Ahuja, Vice President
Managing Director
Maico Gulf LLC
Keith Glasch, Treasurer
President
Ruskin
Jim Meats, PE, Secretary
Vice President, Marketing
Loren Cook Co.
Mark Bublitz, Director
Vice President, Engineering
The New York Blower Co.
Yongning, Chen, Director
Senior Engineer
Zhejiang Yilida Ventilator Company Ltd.
Frank R. Cuaderno, Director
Vice President of Engineering
Mars Air Systems
Trinity Persful, Director
Vice President, Marketing
Twin City Fan Companies Ltd.
Mats Sándor, Director
Technical Director
Systemair AB
Louis Shum, Director
Marketing and Technical Director
Prefco-JohnsonTech Air Control Inc.
Mike Wolf, PE, Director
Director of Regulatory Business Development
Greenheck Fan Corp.
Mark Stevens, Executive Director
Executive Director
AMCA International Inc.
w w w. a m c a .o r g

■

The replacement of fan efficiency grade (FEG) as the metric
for fan-efficiency provisions in ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1, Energy
Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings,
with the new fan energy index (FEI). FEI is superior to FEG in that
it considers the efficiency of motors and drives, not just fans.
Additionally, unlike FEG, FEI is a direct indicator of fan energy
use and is easier to enforce, among other benefits.
The introduction of remote automated testing as an option for
the periodic inspection of certain life-safety dampers in NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors
and Other Opening Protectives, and NFPA 105, Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and
Other Opening Protectives. With remote automated testing, dampers that are difficult to
access and that otherwise might not be inspected at the code-required frequency-if they
are inspected at all-can be tested with relative ease at little cost. What's more, the need to
breach ceiling membranes, which is a concern because of the potential to expose building
occupants to dangerous airborne microbes and asbestos, is reduced, as is risk to maintenance technicians, who are spared having to climb on ladders to perform visual inspections.
The allowance of air curtains as an alternative to vestibules in ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1. Normally
installed at a building's entrance, air curtains minimize the cross-migration of warm and cold
air while repelling airborne dust and dirt, fumes, odors, and flying insects. The energy savings
air curtains provide has been thoroughly documented in research since the early 1960s.

For this issue of AMCA inmotion, we have prepared articles providing guidance on using FEI
in variable-air-volume-system design (Page 2), explaining how remote automated testing of
life-safety dampers works (Page 10), and summarizing recent air-curtain research (Page 14).
Also related to codes and standards, we have an article explaining that more and more states
and jurisdictions are adopting building codes requiring severe-duty louvers (Page 30).
Lastly, furthering the discussion started with last year's cover story on high-performance air
systems (HPAS), we have an article on air-distribution design for comfort in HPAS (Page 22).
I hope you find this edition of AMCA inmotion useful. As always, your feedback is welcome. If
there is an air-systems-related topic you would like to see covered, please contact me at
sarnold@amca.org or +1 847-704-6335.
-Scott Arnold, Editor in Chief

Features

Departments

02 Applying Fan Energy Index
in Variable-Air-Volume Systems

01
36
40
44

10 Remote Periodic Testing
of Life-Safety Dampers
14 Air Curtains: A Proven
Energy-Saving Alternative

From the Editor
AMCA Middle East Update
AMCA Europe Update
AMCA Asia Update

22 Air-Distribution Design for Comfort
in High-Performance Air Systems
30 Improving Building Resilience
With Severe-Duty Louvers
ON THE COVER: Photograph of centrifugal fan taken by
Bonnie James in AMCA's laboratory in Arlington Heights, Ill.

AMCA International Inc. is a not-for-profit association of manufacturers of air-system components for
commercial HVAC, industrial-process, and power-generation applications. Its mission is to advance
the knowledge of air systems and uphold industry integrity on behalf of AMCA members worldwide.
Editorial content for this supplement was provided by Air Movement and Control Association International Inc. The appearance
of any technical data, editorial material, or advertisement in this publication does not constitute endorsement, warranty, or
guarantee by either ASHRAE or AMCA International of any product, service, process, procedure, design, or the like.

20 19 A M CA i n m o t i o n

http://www.amca.org

AMCA InMotion - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AMCA InMotion - September 2019