California Energy Commission offers guide for testing air handling systems

When air handling systems do not work as designed, it often leaves building occupants uncomfortable and makes energy bills high. The California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program offers a technical brief, “Guide Aids Commissioning of Air Handling Systems.”

A longer guide, “The Functional Testing Guide for Air Handling Systems,” can be accessed from information in the brief, or directly at //www.energy.ca.gov/reports/2003-11-20_500-03-097F-A11.PDF. This longer guide explains benefits of functional testing and details the process of commissioning.

The California Energy Commission PIER program is aimed at decreasing building energy use through research that develops or improves energy efficient technologies, strategies, tools, and building performance evaluation methods. Other briefs available from PIER at the esource Web site include topics of classroom lighting, small HVAC savings, and hybrid lighting fixtures.