A comprehensive quality installation specification developed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) – with input from interested stakeholders, including CEE staff and CEE members – was released for public review on May 5.

The 45-day commenting period ended June 19. The document also included a section about quality contractors.

ACCA’s Quality Installation Committee will now review the comments and may amend the original document. CEE Residential Program Manager John Taylor is a member of the committee, as are representatives of ACEEE, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Massachusetts Cool Smart Program, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and TXU Electric Delivery.

The specification addresses all elements of an energy-efficient HVAC installation, including system selection and design, equipment installation, distribution, system documentation and verification. The QI Specification addresses residential and small commercial equipment for both new and existing buildings.

The section on quality contractors defines a “quality contractor,” based on business practices, adequate sales and technician support, and customer satisfaction. CEE remains focused on ACCA’s development of the quality installation section, which will provide enhancements to CEE’s existing QI specification that was developed in 2001.

In finalizing the specification, the ACCA committee is following protocols developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Adoption of the specification by ANSI would establish it as the nationally recognized industry standard.

ANSI, a nonprofit organization created in 1918, is recognized as the primary administrator and coordinator of the United States private sector voluntary standardization systems.

CEE has been active in ACCA’s quality installation specification development process to ensure its suitability for CEE member programs.

CEE members have long agreed that one of the major barriers to quality installation is the lack of clear guidelines that are supported by key industry stakeholders. In addition, members see great value in an ENERGY STAR^® QI Program.

EPA has been looking to the ACCA committee to develop a QI specification that meets EPA’s requirements for widespread acceptance by CEE members, manufacturers and HVAC contractors.

EPA is currently working with Pacific Gas & Electric to pilot an air conditioner quality installation program (see related story).

Click here to download the current draft of the ACCA specification.

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