ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., October 17, 2022—Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International, Inc. announces the publication of an updated standard, ANSI/AMCA Standard 240-22, (Laboratory Methods of Testing Positive Pressure Ventilators for Aerodynamic Performance Rating), replacing AMCA 240-15.

This standard establishes a uniform method of laboratory testing for the determination of the aerodynamic performance of a positive pressure ventilator (PPV) in terms of airflow rate, pressure, air density, and rotational speed for a performance rating or guarantee purposes. A PPV tested in accordance with this standard shall be freestanding and without a ductwork connection to the test chamber, thereby allowing for the measurement of entrained airflow.

The current revision of ANSI/AMCA Standard 240 includes the following key updates:

  • First, the standard doorway dimensions, used since inception in 1996, were updated to be inclusive of international testing capabilities. With several European-based PPV manufacturers expressing frustration about how expensive it was to ship test units to the USA, the committee found it necessary to change the standardized doorway size, so labs in Europe could meet the testing requirements. The original doorway size was 2.03 meters x 0.91 meters, and the proposed new doorway size would be 1.90 meters x 0.97 meters. Both doorways were tested with the same PPV, and the committee determined that the minimal change in aspect ratio was insignificant related to airflow.
  • Second, an additional test procedure for battery-operated PPVs was developed. With the dramatic increase in battery technology, the firefighting industry has widely accepted the use of battery-operated PPVs. Performance under battery power decreases in relationship to the decrease in power level remaining from the battery source. For this reason, the committee has proposed to replace the battery power source with a constant voltage DC power supply matched to the nominal voltage provided to the PPV. This allows the PPV to be tested with consistent performance during the test. In addition to the performance test completed under a constant voltage supply, the committee has decided to include a runtime test on the same unit following all performance testing. This runtime test is completed using battery power and is not measured for performance. After the test unit turns off automatically, the runtime duration would be recorded and included in the test report. The purpose of the runtime test is to hold the performance to a measurable quantity that any customer can perform.

In conclusion, the review committee feels confident that the proposed changes are adequate to match the most recent developments in the PPV industry. The proposed changes also allow for flexibility through the next revision cycle of the standard, to allow innovation in the industry, while still providing a relevant testing standard.

The PDF version of the publication is available through the AMCA store. If you have any questions, please direct them to Joe Brooks, Director of Publications & Standards (jbrooks@amca.org) or Shruti Kohli-Bhargava, Senior Manager of Publications & Standards (shrutik@amca.org).


About AMCA International

Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International Inc. is a not-for-profit association of manufacturers of fans, dampers, louvers, air curtains, and other air-system components for commercial HVAC, industrial-process, and power-generation applications. With programs such as certified ratings, laboratory accreditation, verification of compliance, and international-standards development, its mission is to advance the health, growth, and integrity of the air-movement-and-control industry consistent with the interests of the public. For more information about AMCA, visit www.amca.org.