AAON RK Series - Manual (Page 14)

14
ARI Performance Certification
The certified ratings program requires testing, rating
and independent verification of component
performance at standard conditions and rated flow.
Testing is in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 84.
ARI certified ratings include very complete information,
some of it previously unavailable, to allow designers to
fully characterize thermal and airflow performance. In
addition to separate sensible, latent, and total
effectiveness at two airflows for both summer and
winter test conditions, the standard requires
information on pressure loss as well as air leakage.
Airxchange publishes ARI certified ratings for all
energy recovery ventilation components of their
manufacture in accordance with the requirements of
the ARI program. These ratings may be found on the
ARI website
www.ari.org . Application ratings are
provided for the complete range of airflows and all
Airxchange cassettes bear the ARI Certification Seal.
With the ARI industry performance certification
program in place, engineers and building
owners/operators no longer need accept self
certification. It is important to point out that ratings
from non-participating manufacturers are difficult to
compare regardless of whether they are tested in
house or by an “independent” testing agency. This is in
part because the latent performance of a given unit
can change significantly when tested at different
outdoor air conditions and at less than rated airflows.
A product can be made to look better by testing it
“independently” at an easier condition. Lower relative
humidity (lower wet bulb) and less than rated airflow
improves the tested performance.
Also, self-certification does not include the necessary
periodic verification tests and challenge procedures
provided by the industry certification program.
Specifications requiring ARI Certification in
accordance with the latest revision of ARI Standard
1060 provide the best assurance that components and
systems will perform as designed.