Air-Conditioning Design Manual Updated to Reflect Technology, Industry Upgrades

From eSociety, January 2020

Technology and product delivery methods have changed since 2007, and now so has ASHRAE’s Air-Conditioning System Design Manual. 

The forthcoming third edition of the design manual is a major update and revision. New material addresses creating and implementing a designer’s business plan, decentralized cooling and heating and central cooling and heating, and commissioning and testing, adjusting and balancing. The manual also includes updates to the health, wellness and safety, components, and special HVAC&R systems chapters.

The design guide is “all encompassing,” starting with the new chapter on the designer's business plan to be financially successful when engineering a project, said Howard McKew, P.E., Fellow/Life Member ASHRAE, the author of the guide. 

“This is followed by enhancements to the discussion on the design process,” he said, adding that these sections are meant to specifically help engineers cost-effectively design and approach each job and project.

The third edition of the design guide has 13 chapters, which is three more than the previous version. The new edition also includes updated technical information and significantly extends discussions about ASHRAE’s four Handbook volumes.

“The information within this design manual is helpful to the engineers working in the field, as well as contractors’ mechanical and electrical coordinators and facility operation and maintenance technicians,” said McKew.

The design manual was last updated in 2007.