Unitary Industry Sector
AHRI's membership is divided into four broad groups called Industry Sectors, each overseen by a Leadership Council. The Sector scope, membership, and related standards and certification programs are listed below.
Unitary Sector Scope
The Unitary Sector includes both products and components.
Products
Matched one-to-one or multi-split ductless-split air conditioner and ductless-split heat pump systems using distributed refrigerant technology for cooling and heating. Each indoor unit is designed to condition a single zone.
Ductless split systems consist of the following matched components: a) an outdoor unit with single or multiple compressors or variable capacity compressor or with a variable speed drive; b) indoor unit(s) that have a coil, air movement device intended for single zone air distribution, and a temperature sensing control; and c) a zone temperature control device.
There are five classes of ductless split systems:
- Ductless One-to-One Split Systems
- Space Constrained Ductless-Split Systems
- Ductless Multi-Split Systems
- Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Ductless Split Systems
- Heat Recovery Multi-Split Systems
Included are ductless-split matched system air conditioners and heat pumps irrespective of their type of power source or type of refrigeration cycle. Specifically excluded are products included in other AHRI product scopes, room air conditioners, and heat pumps.
Gas-fired and oil-fired forced-air central furnaces and fuel gas heat pumps.
Direct Geoexchange Heat Pumps
Direct geoexchange heat pumps may consist of one or more factory made assemblies normally include an indoor conditioning coil with air moving means, compressor(s) and refrigerant-to-earth heat exchanger(s), including means to provide a heating function or a cooling function or both. It is defined as a continuous sealed underground closed loop heat exchanger with one refrigerant supply tube and one refrigerant return tube. Where such equipment is provided in more than one assembly, the separate assemblies are to be designed to be used together and the requirements of rating outlined in the standard are based upon the use of matched assemblies.
This program applies to all factory made residential, commercial and industrial production models of direct geoexchange heat pumps, rated up to 100,000 Btu/h at AHRI Standard Rating Conditions (Cooling). A “production model” is a model for which a manufacturer regularly publishes data, catalogs.
Water-Source Heat Pumps
Water-source heat pumps may consist of one or more factory-made assemblies that include indoor space conditioning and/or domestic water heating heat exchanger(s), compressor(s), and a liquid-side heat exchanger. When provided in more than one assembly, the separate assemblies are designed to be used together. Water-source heat pumps may provide space heating, space cooling, domestic water heating, or a combination of these functions and may also include the functions of liquid circulation, thermal storage, air circulation, air cleaning, dehumidifying or humidifying. There are two classes of water-source heat pumps.
Water-to-Air Heat Pumps
Water-to-air heat pumps provide space conditioning primarily by the use of an indoor air heat exchange coil. Water-to-air models may also provide domestic water heating and hydronic space heating by using desuperheater and/or demand water heating functions.
Water-to-Water Heat Pumps
Water-to-water heat pumps provide space conditioning and/or domestic water heating by the use of indoor refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger(s). Water-to-water models may provide domestic water heating by using desuperheater and/or demand water heating functions.
This program applies to all production models of water-source Heat Pumps rated below 39,500 W [135,000 Btu/h] at ISO Standard Rating Conditions (Cooling), manufactured for sale in North America and as covered by the Standard, shall be included for those participating in the certification program. Each consists of one or more factory-made assemblies, which may include an indoor conditioning coil with air moving means, compressor(s), and refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger(s), including means to provide both cooling and heating, cooling only, or heating only functions. When such equipment is provided in more than one assembly, the separate assemblies shall be designed for use together, as the requirements of rating outlined in the Standard are based upon the use of matched assemblies.
Factory-assembled packaged terminal airconditioners and heat pumps intended for use in residential, commercial, and industrial heating and cooling systems.
A packaged terminal airconditioner is a wall sleeve and a separate encased combination of heating and cooling assemblies specified by the manufacturer and intended for mounting through the wall. It includes refrigeration components, separable outdoor louvers, forced ventilation, and heating which may be provided by hot water, steam, or electrical resistance heat. Models designated as "cooling only" units need not include heating elements if the physical characteristics and arrangement of the refrigeration systems are identical to models with heating availability.
A packaged terminal heat pump is a separate encased refrigeration system installed in a cabinet of similar function and configuration to that of a packaged terminal airconditioner. It utilizes reverse refrigeration as its prime heat source and should have another supplementary heat source which may be provided by hot water steam, or electric resistance heat.
Excluded are room airconditioners, room fan-coil airconditioners, water-source heat pumps, unitary single packaged airconditioners and heat pumps, and single package vertical air conditioners and heat pumps.
Includes air conditioners, air source heat pumps, condensing units, and coils, irrespective of their type of power source or type of refrigeration cycle.
- One piece or matched split system air conditioners and air source heat pumps with cooling capacities of 65,000 BTUH and above.
- Condensing units for air conditioning applications with cooling capacities of 65,000 BTU and above.
- Evaporator coils with or without blowers intended for use as a part of a matched split system.
Included are air conditioners, air source heat pumps, condensing units, and coils, irrespective of their type of power source or type of refrigeration cycle. Specifically excluded are products included in other AHRI product scopes, room air conditioners, and heat pumps.
- One piece or matched split system air conditioners and air source heat pumps with cooling capacities less than 65,000 BTU, ducted or non-ducted.
- Central forced air electric furnaces with or without cooling coils.
- Condensing units for air conditioning applications with cooling capacities less than 65,000 BTU.
- Evaporator coils with or without blowers intended for use as a part of a matched split system.
Components
Mechanical Air Filter:
A device that utilizes a filter media, which may or may not have a passive electrostatic charge, to mechanically remove airborne particulate, including particulate from biological sources, in residential and commercial heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Electronic Air Filter:
An electrically powered device that utilizes an active electrical or ionization field to impose a charge on the airborne particulate, including particulate from biological sources, that assists in removing the particulate from the air stream in residential and commercial heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Ultraviolet Light Treatment:
Factory made devices that create light in the Ultraviolet wavelength for use either as a germicidal light to affect microorganisms on illuminated surfaced or in the air stream or to cause a catalytic reaction to break down contaminants in the air circulating in the ductwork of residential and commercial environments.
Air and combustion gas moving devices, consisting of impellers, motors, and associated components, produced for other manufacturers in the air -conditioning, heating, and refrigeration industry.
Gas burners, oil burners, and combination gas/oil burners and components thereof for use in residential, commercial and industrial applications.
Manufacture chemical compounds that have significant application in conjunction with the manufacture, operation, or service of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, and containers and equipment used to transport, store, or process these chemicals.
Reclaim recovered refrigerants to the purity specifications outlined in the current version of AHRI Standard 700 (Specification for Fluorocarbon Refrigerants). The process can be used to reclaim customer-owned refrigerants or to reclaim used refrigerant that will subsequently be sold to third parties. Specifically excluded are refrigerants synthesized from virgin materials.
Compressors and compressor units designed for use in HVACR equipment and building systems and not included in another AHRI product scope, with the specific exclusion of:
- Compressors and compressor units intended for use in:
- Household refrigerators
- Farm and home freezers
- Automotive air conditioners
- Room air conditioners
- Household dehumidifiers
Controllers and auxiliary control devices, which are primarily designed to aid in unattended operation, energy efficiency, electric utility demand reduction, cloud connectivity, fault detection & diagnosis, cyber security or safety in the operation of components of comfort conditioning equipment, commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment covered by other AHRI product scopes. Such devices are to be responsive to, but not limited to, one or more of the following conditions: time, temperature, pressure, humidity, fluid flow, air quality (this includes all air contaminants including leaked refrigerants), current, voltage, or, power, and demand reduction or pricing signals.
Specifically excluded are:
- General purpose motor starters and circuit breakers.
- All low voltage thermostats.
- Component controllers and auxiliary controlling devices used in equipment not covered by AHRI product scopes, for example: automotive and recreational vehicles, domestic refrigerators, freezers, and room air conditioners.
- Gas controls.
Manufacturers of solenoid valves; 2-, 3-, 4-way reversing valves; thermostatic, electronic and automatic expansion valves of all capacities; temperature and pressure regulating valves, which function alone or in combination with other controls or sources, that are designed primarily for the purpose of automatically controlling refrigerant flow (liquids or gases) or the flow of fluids supporting the refrigeration cycle in refrigeration or air conditioning systems.
All manually operated valves used to control the flow of refrigerant or flow of fluids supporting the refrigeration cycle.
Sealed filter-driers having solid core desiccant, loose-fill desiccant, or a combination of the two; replaceable core filter-driers for use in liquid or vapor refrigerant lines; sealed or replaceable element suction filters; cores or elements for shells; receiver driers; strainers; and liquid or moisture-liquid indicators. These products alone or in combination are intended for use primarily in refrigeration or air conditioning systems for the purpose of detecting and/or removing system contaminants.
Excluded are devices used with:
- Automotive and recreational vehicle air conditioning
- Domestic refrigerators/freezers, and Individual room air conditioners not included in other AHRI product scopes
- Hydronic system flow control valves that are included in the scope of the AHRI product scopes
Factory-designed and prefabricated products used as part of a building’s gas distribution system or to connect gas fired appliances and equipment to the building’s distribution system. These products include corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) systems listed in compliance with ANSI LC 1, Fuel Gas Piping Systems using Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing; and gas appliance connectors and quick-disconnect devices. Specifically excluded are products included in the scope of other AHRI product scopes.
Controls, including components, and accessories, for use on gas-fired utilization equipment (including, but not limited to, combination gas controls; manual gas valves; gas appliance pressure regulators; automatic gas valves; automatic gas ignition systems; flame sensors, monitors and programmers; gas filters and sediment traps; thermostatic system components; automatic flue and vent dampers; oxygen depletion sensing (ODS) devices, pressure sensors and switches; and line pressure regulators.
Devices designed to add moisture to the air, including:
- Central humidifiers designed to add moisture to air circulated through ducts.
- Central system humidifiers, designed to add moisture directly into a room or duct system but dependent upon associated outside generating source such as:
- Steam grid duct
- Steam room humidifiers
- Pneumatic atomizing
- Fixed humidifiers, designed to add moisture directly to the space where the humidifier is located, excluding portable.
- Self-contained humidifiers, designed to add moisture directly into a room or duct system independent of associated outside generating source such as:
- Electrode steam generators
- Electric evaporative
- Centrifugal atomizing
All low voltages, 690 volts ac and below, adjustable frequency motor controllers used in HVACR applications shall be included. Specifically excluded brushless DC motor controllers and external control automation.
Venting systems and related equipment used for the venting of gas and oil burning appliances (includes metallic and plastic gas venting products, and metallic chimney liners).
Zone control systems are defined as in-line duct dampers and controllers for the purpose of multiple zone control with single zone unitary HVAC equipment.
Members
APCOM, A Division of State Ind.
Applied Comfort Products Carver Inc. dba Applied Comfort Products
Bekaert Combustion Technology USA
CGC Group of Companies Incorporated
Daikin Comfort Technologies Manufacturing, L.P.
FluoroFusion Specialty Chemicals, Inc.
Friedrich Air Conditioning, LLC
GD Midea Air-Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd.
GD Midea Heating & Ventilating Equipment Co., Ltd.
GE Appliances, a Haier Company
Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai
Guangdong Carrier Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Company Limited
Guangdong Zhongguang Heating Ventilation & AC Co., Ltd.
Hisense (Guangdong) Air Conditioning Co., Ltd.
Honeywell Performance Materials & Technologies
Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating
National Refrigeration Products
Nidec Global Appliance North America Inc
Petra Engineering Industries Co.
Qingdao Hisense Hitachi Air-conditioning Systems Co.,Ltd.
Samhwa Air Conditioning Engineering
Sensience/Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
Shanghai Highly Electrical Appliances Co., LTD
Shrieve Chemical Products, LLC
Smartech International Sdn Bhd.
TCL Air Conditioner (ZhongShan) Co.,Ltd.
Thermal Solutions Products, LLC
Thermoplus Air Industries Inc.
United Electric L.P. dba Magic Aire
United Technologies Electronic Controls
WaterFurnace International, Inc.
Weil-McLain, a brand of WM Technologies, LLC
Zamil Central Air Conditioners Co. (LLC)
Standards and Guidelines
Ductless Equipment (VRF)
- AHRI Standard 1230-2014 with Addendum 1, Performance Rating of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Multi-split Air-conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment Performance Rating of Central Station Air-handling Unit Supply Fans (with Addendum 1)
Furnaces
- Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR Part 431
- Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix N
- Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix AA
Geothermal & Water-Source Heat Pumps
- AHRI 870 (I-P/2016), Performance Rating of Direct Geoexchange Heat Pumps
- AHRI 871 (SI/2016), Performance Rating of Direct Geoexchange Heat Pumps
- ISO 13256-1 (1998), Water-source heat pumps – Testing and rating for performance
Packaged Terminal Air-Conditioners/Heat Pumps
- AHRI 310/380 (2017), Standard for Packaged Terminal Air-conditioners and Heat Pumps (CSA-C744-17)
Unitary Large Equipment
- AHRI 340/360 (I-P/2022), Performance Rating of Commercial and Industrial Unitary Air-conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment
- ANSI/AHRI 365 (I-P/2009), Commercial and Industrial Unitary Air-Conditioning Condensing Units
- ANSI/AHRI 366 (SI/2009), Commercial and Industrial Unitary Air-Conditioning Condensing Units
Unitary Small Equipment
- AHRI 210/240 (2017), Performance Rating of Unitary Air-conditioning & Air-source Heat Pump Equipment (with Addendum 1)
- AHRI 210/240 (2023), Performance Rating of Unitary Air-conditioning & Air-source Heat Pump Equipment
Certification Programs
- Commercial Furnaces (CFRN)
- Geothermal Direct Geoexchange Systems (DGX)
- Geothermal Water-Source Heat Pumps (WSHP)
- Packaged Terminal Air-Conditioners (PTAC)
- Packaged Terminal Heat-Pumps (PTHP)
- Residential Furnaces (RFRN)
- Unitary Small Air-Conditioner Equipment (includes Mixed-Match Coils) (USAC)
- Unitary Small Heat Pump Equipment (includes Mixed-Match Coils) (USHP)
- Unitary Large Equipment (ULE)
- Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Equipment