USE OM - JANUARY 2017
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CERTIFICATION OF LABORATORY FACILITIES USED TO DETERMINE PERFORMANCE OF UNITARY AIR-
CONDITIONING & AIR-SOURCE HEAT PUMP EQUIPMENT
Preface
The Laboratory Evaluation and Adjustment Plan (LEAP) has been developed upon direction of the AHRI Select Committee
as a result of the 2011 White Paper. The intent of LEAP is to provide validation that results from a given laboratory are as
accurate as current technology permits. LEAP is required for all Third Party Laboratories that perform Laboratory
Certification Test functions for Unitary Air-Conditioning and Air-Source Unitary Heat Pump equipment rated below 65,000
Btu/h [19,000 W] at AHRI Standard Rating Conditions per AHRI Standard 210/240. LEAP may be used by Original
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to validate their Laboratory Facilities as dictated by the Unitary Small Equipment
Operations Manual.
LEAP is based on scientific principles and the tolerances of individual tests are considered achievable by a test facility that
common to the industry. The AHRI USE Engineering Committee Certification Subcommittee (Committee) reserves the right
to review and adjust individual test tolerances as new information becomes available. The setting of tolerances may be
dynamic for the first year or two of the program. It is highly advised that the laboratory that wishes to perform LEAP should
obtain the latest copy from the AHRI web site prior to execution. Tolerance changes may be made by the Committee by
providing a request to the AHRI USE Compliance Committee and shall be performed with the authority of the Committee
only.
Section 1. Purpose
1.1
Purpose.
The purpose of the appendix is to establish, for laboratory facilities used to determine performance of
Unitary Air-Conditioners and Air-Source Unitary Heat Pumps, definitions, test requirements, certification requirements and
documentation requirements that provide a uniform method to evaluate and adjust the quality of test data produced for the
AHRI USE Certification Program.
1.1.1
Intent
– Third Party Laboratories.
This appendix is intended to be the minimum requirement, along with
ISO 17025 accreditation, to qualify a Laboratory Facility for use as a third party partner in the AHRI 210/240
certification program.
1.1.2
Intent
– Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Laboratories
. This appendix is intended to be a guideline,
along with ISO 17025 compliance, to qualify a test facility for use as an OEM in the AHRI USE Certification
Program.
1.1.3
Review and Amendment.
This appendix is subject to review and amendment as technology advances.
Section 2. Scope
2.1
Scope
. This standard applies to any laboratory facility that performs tests used to determine performance of Unitary
Air-Conditioners and Air-Source Unitary Heat Pumps within the AHRI USE Certification Program, as defined in Section 3.
Section 3. Definitions
All terms in this document will follow the standard industry definitions in the ASHRAE Wikipedia website
(http://wiki.ashrae.org/index.php/ASHRAEwiki) unless otherwise defined in this section.
