Air to Air Heat Pump System Design Manual

This manual was designed for use with TECA&'s Quality First Air to Air Heat Pump System Design course.

1st Edition, May 2024

140 pages, coil-bound book

Heat pump systems are a popular design choice for residential and commercial buildings because they provide high energy efficiency for both heating and cooling services in a living environment. Designing, installing, and operating heat pump systems to satisfy load conditions is complex and requires specialized training. The A2A manual provides guidance supporting the certification of technicians to design, install, and maintain heat pump equipment as efficient energy sources for thermal comfort, and who desire an understanding of the critical design considerations.

This manual supports the design and installation of heat pump systems to support air to air heat pumps and the ancillary components. Sizing methods, example drawings, definitions, and descriptions of essential features and functions of the equipment have been provided. This manual and its related certification cannot replace trade certifications for plumbing, refrigeration, sheet metal, electrical, or gas fitting.

The A2A manual includes:

• Principals of heat pumps: Fundamentals of thermodynamics and code requirements
• Heat pump selection: Categories of heat pumps, indoor & outdoor unit types, & zone control considerations
• Heat pump sizing: Selection of heat pump equipment based on load requirements and climate zones, considerations for variable, multi, and fixed speed heat pumps
• Balance point analysis: Creation and interpretation of balance point graphs for heating and cooling designs
• Auxiliary & Supplemental heating: Requirements to meet design conditions, selection process, best practices for effective backup and auxiliary heater design
• Installation of heat pumps: Locating indoor & outdoor units, mitigating noise, sealing penetrations, insulation requirements, installation of condensate drains, & best practices for installing linesets
• Retrofit installations: How to perform a preliminary electrical panel assessment, analyzing existing duct systems, installation of HVAC accessories, & examples of supply and return air systems
• Testing, commissioning, service & maintenance: Pre-operations checks, common contractor errors, relevant information to discuss with the customer, service contracts, general service requirements.

DISCLAIMER: This manual was developed in consultation with, and using information obtained from manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and others with specialized experience. It is subject to revision as further use and investigation may show such revision necessary or desirable. Installations and designs that comply with this manual will not necessarily be acceptable if, when examined and tested, they are found to have features that impair the result contemplated by these requirements. The authors and editors assume no responsibility and accept no liability for the application of the principles or techniques contained in this manual or for errors or omissions and expressly disclaim any such responsibility.