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Testing Labs and the Credibility of Certifications in the Ventilation Industry
Reading time: 4 mins
Safety
Manufacturers that make fans and ventilators, air-to-air ventilation equipment, or both, must test their products to industry-accepted testing standards. These tests ensure that manufactured products can perform in the field as they are marketed.
Additionally, there are safety regulations that manufacturers must adhere to when developing products. These regulations are implemented to assure specifying engineers and end users that manufactured products are safe.
In this article, we will detail the ins and outs of the testing laboratories used in our facilities and the resulting certifications obtained from using these testing labs.
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Heat/Energy Recovery Laboratory
Our facility in Bouctouche, NB, Canada houses a laboratory designed to test and validate the safety and performance characteristics of heat/energy recovery ventilators (H/ERVs, also known as fresh air appliances). Additionally, the lab is instrumental in research and development efforts, component testing, quality assurance, and much more.
Safety Testing
Affirming engineering test results were recorded alongside industry standards meant developing a laboratory compliant to ISO/IEC 17025, Testing and calibration laboratories. This type of lab demonstrates competency in generating valid test results for our products. The lab is part of CSA’s Supervised Manufacturer’s Testing for Certification Program (SMTC) and is accredited so that engineers and technologists can perform their own tests for certification to the following standards.
CSA Standard C22.2 No. 113, Fans and Ventilators
Underwriter’s laboratory (UL) Standard No. 1815, Ducted Heat Recovery Ventilators
UL Standard No. 507, Electric Fans
Performance testing
Performance testing H/ERVs requires a means to simulate outdoor and indoor environments simultaneously, given that the product supplies fresh outdoor air while exhausting stale air from indoors. To prove our products can handle extreme heat or cold, they are often required to be tested under both heating and cooling conditions, simulating winter and summer operations respectively. Therefore, the reported performance covers its yearly usage in different markets.
To test in both extreme hot or cold conditions, the Bouctouche lab holds two Performance Test Chambers. Each lab comprises an outdoor and indoor environmental test chamber where the temperature and humidity levels can be accurately maintained for long testing periods. These tests are conducted in accordance with CAN/CSA-C439, Laboratory methods of test for rating the performance of heat/energy-recovery ventilators. CAN/CSA-C439 is the industry standard for certifying H/ERVs in rating programs such as Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) and ENERGY STAR®.
Following this test standard yields the necessary data to calculate the following performance metrics accurately.
Ventilation performance
Net supply airflow
Exhaust air transfer ratio (EATR)
Energy Performance
Sensible recovery efficiency (SRE)
Total recovery efficiency (TRE)
Power consumption
Fan efficacy
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Air and Sound Laboratory
Similarly, our facility in Lenexa, KS, USA houses an Air Movement Control Association (AMCA) accredited laboratory designed for our engineers and technologists to test fans and ventilators to industry standard practices. To be accredited by a third-party agency like AMCA, our team needed proper equipment and had to meet specific testing room requirements to initially fulfill specific criteria spelled out by AMCA Publication 111.
Like our heat/energy recovery laboratory, the air and sound laboratory is designed so that our engineers can test air performance for fans and ventilators via AMCA 210. We are also able to test sound performance of fans and ventilators via AMCA 300. Furthermore, our Lenexa engineering team participates in UL’s Data Acceptance Program (DAP). The program permits engineers to evaluate products to UL standards, such as Standards 507 and 705, at the air and sound lab. Like the H/ERV performance testing lab, the air and sound lab permits engineers and technologists to evaluate products to CSA standard C22.2 No. 113.
According to the review committee behind the publication, several steps must materialize before becoming accredited as an AMCA laboratory:
An initial application is sent to AMCA stating the desire to obtain a license for a laboratory.
Required documentation is submitted to AMCA to show the test setup or space meets qualification criteria.
AMCA Staff reviews the submittals and responds accordingly.
Using one of the representative’s products, an in-person AMCA test is performed and witnessed by an AMCA member at the applying laboratory.
An AMCA check test is then done at the official AMCA Laboratory.
A review of the initial report and a final test report is sent back to the applying representative with a laboratory accreditation certificate.1
Additionally, each accredited laboratory is audited to a specific standard and figure setup every 3 years to ensure compliance.
Credibility of Certifications
Verifying performance, safety, and energy performance in suitable laboratories allows manufacturers to place certain markings on their products and/or within product literature. These markings come from third-party, industry-accepted institutions such as AMCA, UL, HVI, Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL), CSA, and ENERGY STAR.
When shown on specific products, these certifications highlight the many steps manufacturers have taken to ensure products are rigorously tested. Each certification shines as a symbol showcasing certified product performance, safety, or future energy savings (versus non-ENERGY STAR-qualified products).
In Closing
Our products are tested under stringent and industry-accepted testing standards. Upon passing these requirements, the resulting product or accompanying literature can be equipped with applicable markings. Furthermore, our laboratories are equipped to handle the safety and performance of fans, ventilators, and energy recovery equipment alike.
By prioritizing rigorous testing and certifications from respected organizations, we demonstrate our commitment to providing safe, high-quality, and energy-efficient ventilation products you can trust.
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