Testing and Balancing
ASHRAE Technical Committee 7.7

The ASHRAE Handbook is published in a series of four volumes, one of which is revised each year, ensuring that no volume is older than four years.

The Handbook can be purchased at the ASHRAE Bookstore by clicking on this link.  TC 7.7 is responsible for the following chapter in the HVAC Applications Handbook:

HVAC APPLICATIONS: Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing
Systems that control the environment in a building change with time and use, and must be rebalanced accordingly. The designer must consider initial and supplementary testing and balancing requirements for commissioning. Complete and accurate operating and maintenance instructions that include intent of design and how to test, adjust, and balance the building systems are essential. Building operating personnel must be well trained, or qualified operating service organizations must be employed to ensure optimum comfort, proper process operations, and economical operation. This chapter does not suggest which groups or individuals should perform a complete testing, adjusting, and balancing procedure. However, the procedure must produce repeatable results that meet the design intent and the owner’s requirements. Overall, one source must be responsible for testing, adjusting, and balancing all systems. As part of this responsibility, the testing organization should check all equipment under field conditions to ensure compliance.

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Technical committees develop and sponsor technical sessions at the winter and annual conferences. Information about their future technical program is discussed at each TC meeting and at the TC’s Program Subcommittee meeting

ASHRAE publishes papers and transactions from presentations at its conference events. In addition, ASHRAE records most of the seminar sessions from its conferences on DVD. These DVDs are ideal for use at chapter meetings, in university courses, or company lunch and learns. Products available from the most recent conference may be found here.

Technical Committees are responsible for identifying research topics, proposing research projects, selecting bidders, and monitoring research projects funded by ASHRAE. Information about their specific research program is discussed at each TC meeting and at the TC’s Research Subcommittee meeting.

ASHRAE writes standards for the purpose of establishing consensus for: 1) methods of test for use in commerce and 2) performance criteria for use as facilitators with which to guide the industry. ASHRAE publishes the following three types of voluntary consensus standards: Method of Measurement or Test (MOT), Standard Design and Standard Practice. ASHRAE does not write rating standards unless a suitable rating standard will not otherwise be available. ASHRAE is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and follows ANSI's requirements for due process and standards development. Standards may be purchased at the ASHRAE Bookstore.

TC 7.7 is cognizant for the following guideline and standard:

Guideline 11: Field Testing of HVAC Controls Components
Standard 111: Measurement, Testing, Adjusting and Balancing of Building Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning Systems

ASHRAE Technical FAQs are provided as a service to ASHRAE members, users of ASHRAE publications, and the general public. While every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy and reliability, they are advisory and provided for informational purposes only, and in many cases represent only one person’s view. They are not intended and should not be relied on as an official statement of ASHRAE. Technical questions not addressed may be submitted to the ASHRAE Technical Services department at tse@ashrae.net.

TC 7.7 is responsible for the following FAQ:

How do I prove proper air pressure relationships in a health care facility?

Include other activities, such as MTG involvement, into this section.