September, 2015

How to Ensure
AMCA-Certified
Products Get
Installed
An AMCA International White Paper

AMCA International
30 West University Dr.
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 USA
www.amca.org

This white paper is available to download at no cost at www.amca.org/whitepapers

 LISA ULLRICH, AMCA INTERNATIONAL
MICHAEL IVANOVICH, AMCA INTERNATIONAL

SEND COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS TO

PUBLICATIONS@AMCA.ORG

How to Ensure AMCA-Certified

Products Get Installed
With a Step-By-Step Checklist

ABSTRACT
This white paper describes what building industry
professionals need to know to properly specify an AMCA-
certified product and then ensure that product gets
installed. Included are a handy step-by-step checklist and
several practical examples.

BENEFIT FROM AMCA-CERTIFIED VALUE

The AMCA International Certified Ratings Program is a globally recognized third-party program
that assures buyers, specifiers and other building industry professionals that manufacturers pub-
lished data for air movement and control products are accurate.

SELECT AN AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCT TYPE

If you want to specify an AMCA-certified product, first verify that the product type is one that AMCA
certifies. For example, many of the components within an air handling unit can be AMCA certified,
but AMCA does not certify air handling units.

An AMCA Certified Ratings Program

seal indicates product performance
data has been verified and meets a
rigorous set of standards.

W W W. A M C A . O R G 1
 STEP 1: SELECT AN AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCT TYPE

Agricultural fans Propeller fans Louvers: weather-resistant,

Axial fans Air circulator fans acoustic, sand-resistant
Ceiling ventilators Air curtains Gravity ventilators
Centrifugal fans Induced flow fans Spiral duct
Energy recovery ventilators Positive pressure ventilators Transverse duct connectors
Evaporative coolers Airflow measurement Acoustic duct silencers
Jet tunnel fans stations
Mixed flow fans Dampers: volume control,
Power roof ventilators isolation, economizer

FIND AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS

The most reliable way to find AMCA-certified products is to use our online certified products database at
www.amca.org, which includes a directory of licensed products. The web address for this online database is
listed in the resources section of this document.

Manufacturers also identify AMCA-certified products in their literature. If you select products based on manu-
facturer literature, it is good practice to verify certifications are current by checking our online database.

Search for AMCA-certified products in our online database by

Company name

Product type

Country

License type

AMCA offers the following types of licenses in the AMCA Certified Ratings Program:

Air performance FEG (fan efficiency grade)

Sound Positive pressure ventilator

Air leakage Airflow measurement station

Water penetration Acoustic duct silencer

Wind driven rain Induced flow fan

CFM per watt Circulating fan

Efficiency

W W W. A M C A . O R G 2
For example, if you are looking for an AMCA-certified induced flow fan, first search the online database by license
type and then review products and literature by manufacturer.

Certified Product Search Certified Product Search

By License Type >> Induced Flow Fan By License Type >> Induced Flow Fan >> XYZ Company, Inc. >> Induced Flow Fans

Please select a company: Please select a product type:

> Azen Manufacturing Pte. Ltd. Model 1234 Lab Exhaust Fan
Models A, B, C, D, E, F
> Greenheck Fan Corporation
Catalogs:
> Loren Cook Company Model 1234 Lab Exhaust Fan, Rev. 2 (Print) May 2015

Certification date:
> M.K. Plastics Corporation
January 15, 2015

> Plasticair Inc.

> Strobic Air Corporation

> Twin City Fan Companies, Ltd.

> XYZ Company, Inc

Figure 1: To find a specific type of Figure 2: After searching by license type, select a manufacturer to review
AMCA-certified product, search the products. Click on a catalog link to review performance.
online database by license type.

STEP 2: FIND AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS

Search for certified products in AMCAs online database

or
Identify AMCA-certified products in manufacturer literature and verify certification in AMCAs online database

VERIFY SPECIFIC CERTIFIED PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS

It is important to understand that a product certified for a general license type, such as sound, may only be certi-
fied for specific parameters. For example, a fan may be certified to display the AMCA sound and air performance
seal but only be certified for inlet LwA sound and air performance, not hemispherical sones or octave bands. Or
a louver may be certified to display the AMCA water penetration and air performance seal but only be certified
for intake pressure drop and water penetration, not exhaust pressure drop. To verify specific certified parameters,
view approved manufacturer literature found or referenced in our online database.

STEP 3: VERIFY SPECIFIC CERTIFIED PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS

View approved manufacturer literature found or referenced in AMCAs online database

WRITE A SPECIFICATION THAT ENSURES

AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS GET INSTALLED
After you have selected your AMCA-certified product and have verified the performance parameters you need
certified, the next step is to write a product specification that will hold throughout the challenges of plan review
and the ever-present threat of inappropriate substitution.

First, write a performance specification. Avoid creating a specification that lists a particular product. Rather, make
one that lists requirements for how that product type must perform. W W W. A M C A . O R G 3
Second, to ensure the specification clearly requires an AMCA-certified product, include statements for each
product similar to those shown in the bulleted statements below, which use a fan product as an example. Refer-
ence the Table 1 excerpt in Figure 3 below, or reference the full Table 1 in this document for publication and
standard references by product type.

We suggest following the advice below while writing your specification.

Include AMCA Publication 11 (Certified Ratings Program Operating Manual) in your specification.
For example:
Fan(s) shall comply with AMCA Publication 11 ...

Include the AMCA publication referenced in the CRP publications column from Table 1
(see Figure 3 below) for your particular product. For example:
... and bear the AMCA Certified Ratings Program seal for air performance in compliance with
AMCA Publication 211 and sound performance in compliance with AMCA Publication 311.

Include the appropriate standards, found in the test/rating standards column in Table 1 (see Figure 3
below) for your particular product. For example:
Induced flow fans shall be tested for air performance in compliance with AMCA Standard 260,
for sound performance in compliance with AMCA Standard 300 and rated for energy efficiency
in compliance with AMCA Standard 205.

Products Certification License Types CRP Publications Test/Rating Standards

Induced flow fans AMCA Publication 211 ANSI/AMCA Standard 26012

AMCA Publication 311 ANSI/AMCA Standard 300

ANSI/AMCA Standard 205

Figure 3: Excerpt from Table 1, shown in full in this document.

Important: Do not include the following language in your specification without providing additional
clarification:

Tested in accordance with [a particular test standard]

A product that was tested in accordance with an AMCA standard is not necessarily an AMCA-
certified product. If you include this language without referencing compliance with AMCA 11-series
publications, you open the door to a possible uncertified product substitution.

Tested in an AMCA or AMCA-accredited laboratory

Again, this language does not ensure that the product is certified. Do not use this language in your
specification.

For more information about writing a specification for AMCA-certified products, see the white paper How to
Specify AMCA-Certified Products.23

W W W. A M C A . O R G 4
 STEP 4: WRITE A SPECIFICATION THAT ENSURES
AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS GET INSTALLED

Write a performance specification; do not flat spec a specific product

Reference AMCA Publication 11
Include the AMCA publication referenced in the CRP publications column from Table 1
Include the appropriate standards from the test/rating standards column in Table 1
Do not include tested in accordance with [a particular test standard] without referencing compliance with the
AMCA 11-series publications
Do not include tested in an AMCA or AMCA-accredited laboratory

VERIFY CERTIFICATION AUTHENTICITY

The building design and construction process is long and complex. Things change along the way. Products get
packaged with other products. Substitutions happen. From the time when products are specified to when they
are procured, installed and commissioned, building industry professionals need to ensure that there are no
eliminations of AMCAs cerritfication requirements or substitutions with uncertified products.

The goal of the AMCA certification program is simply to ensure that air movement and control products perform
as stated in manufacturer literature. But it is not always clear whether a product is certified or not. Below are
items to check to verify that a product is, indeed, AMCA certified.

VERIFY THE ACTUAL PRODUCT AGAINST THE SPECIFIED PRODUCT

At submittal, installation and commissioning, verify the selected product matches the product specification.

VERIFY CERTIFICATION IN THE ONLINE DATABASE

Go to AMCAs online database and search by product, company, country or license type to verify certification.

CHECK ONLINE FOR VIOLATIONS

Go to AMCAs online certified products violations database to see lists of unlicensed products, program violation
notices and products with licenses withdrawn. The web address for this online violations database is listed in
the resources section of this document.

VERIFY THE PRODUCT HAS THE CORRECT AMCA SEAL

AMCA-certified products do not have to have a seal on them. But if there is a seal, look at Table 1 in this docu-
ment to verify that the seal matches the certification requirement identified in the product specification. Also,
printed seals on product packaging are not allowed and do not indicate AMCA certification.

KNOW THAT AFFIXED SEALS ARE NOT REQUIRED ON AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS

AMCA does not require a certified product to have an affixed seal. This is a manufacturer choice. Therefore, a
product may be certified but not have a seal. Check our online database to verify certification.

W W W. A M C A . O R G 5
VERIFY THE AMCA CERTIFICATION SEAL IS AUTHENTIC

Regretfully, we have found that counterfeit AMCA seals do exist in the field. Table 1 in this document shows all
AMCA seals. Look carefully at the graphic design of AMCA seals to verify authenticity. Product manufacturers
are not authorized to print their own seals for use on physical products; seals must be purchased directly from
AMCA. Compare current seals found in the field with Table 1 in this document for verification.

Authentic AMCA seal Counterfeit seal Authentic AMCA seal Counterfeit seal

This seal on the right is too wide, and the text alignment The seal on the right should say water penetration,
and colors are incorrect. not water performance. Also, the design, width, text
alignment and colors are incorrect.

Authentic AMCA seal Counterfeit seal Authentic AMCA seal Counterfeit seal

AMCA-certified seals will always be in English. The seal on the right has the wrong font, text
alignment and colors. It is also missing elements.

Figure 4: Authentic and counterfeit AMCA seals

VERIFY THAT PRODUCT AND COMPANY NAMES MATCH THE AMCA CERTIFICATION
If an AMCA-certified product is sold to and renamed by a different company (nameplated), the renamed product
must have its own AMCA certification to ensure product performance. Verify AMCA-certified products by name
in our online database.

LOOK FOR MISLEADING REPRESENTATIONS IN PRODUCT LITERATURE

The AMCA seal can only be associated directly with a certified product. For example, an AMCA seal cannot be
placed on the cover of a brochure that includes both certified and uncertified products. This is a strict AMCA
requirement that helps avoid misrepresentation, usually unintentional, by manufacturers. Best practice is to refer-
ence approved product literature in the online database.

W W W. A M C A . O R G 6
Also, the AMCA member logo does not indicate certification. It just means that the company is a member of
AMCA. For that reason, AMCA does not allow the AMCA member logo to appear with any product performance
data because readers might be confused, thinking this means a product is certified. The AMCA member logo
should only be displayed on documents without performance data, such as letterheads, email footers and com-
pany overview brochures.

Air Flow Louver Model XX 000.

While this product may have
been tested in accordance with
AMCA standards, this is not the
same as being AMCA certified
and could be misleading.
The ratings shown are based on tests
and procedures made in accordance with
AMCA standard 500-L. The actual test
results of water penetration and air
performance may vary (+/-10%)
depending on the actual application. Free
area calculations are (+/-5%)
Unit test size: 48 x 48
(Ratings reflect without the bird screen) MEMBER
WIND DRIVEN RAIN PERFORMANCE

It is a violation to show 1m x 1m
29 mpm Wind Velocity @
Test
the AMCA member logo Size
3 in./hr. Rainfall Rate
with product performance
Core Water Pen. Water Pen.
data because readers may Velocity Effectiveness Classification
conclude this product is
AMCA certified, which may 0 fpm - A
not be accurate. 99 fpm 99.3 A
195 fpm 98.6 B
295 fpm 96.3 B
390 fpm 95.0 B
490 fpm 92.0 C
590 fpm 89.0 C
675 fpm 87.2 C

Figure 5: This image is from a manufacturers product catalog. The company name and
model number have been changed for this illustration.

STEP 5: VERIFY CERTIFICATION AUTHENTICITY

Verify the actual product against the specified product

Verify the product is in AMCAs online certified products database
Check that the product is not in AMCAs online certified products violations database
Verify the product has the correct AMCA seal by comparing to seals in Table 1
Verify the AMCA certification seal is authentic
Check AMCAs online database to verify product and company names match AMCA certification

CONCLUSION:
CHOOSE AMCA-CERTIFIED, SPECIFY CORRECTLY AND VERIFY SELECTION
There is significant value in being able to specify a building product that has independently-verified product
performance data. Not all product types offer this value. Given that this benefit is available for many air movement
and control products, it makes sense to not only gain the advantage from specifying a certified product, but to
also ensure that the specified certified product actually gets installed. Specifying AMCA-certified air movement
and control products and then carefully verifying product selection throughout the design and construction
process will ensure products perform as described and expected.

W W W. A M C A . O R G 7
 Table 1. License types, publications and test standards associated with the 21 products covered by the AMCA CRP

Products Certification License Types CRP Publications Test/Rating Standards

Agricultural fans AMCA Publication 2111 ANSI/AMCA Standard 2053

Axial fans AMCA Publication 3112 ANSI/AMCA Standard 2104

Ceiling ventilators ANSI/AMCA Standard 2505

Centrifugal fans ANSI/AMCA Standard 3006

Energy recovery ventilators ANSI/AMCA Standard 3207

Evaporative coolers ISO 58018

Jet tunnel fans ISO 13347-39

Mixed flow fans

Power roof ventilators

Propeller fans

Air circulator fans AMCA Publication 211 ANSI/AMCA Standard 23010

Air curtains AMCA Publication 211 ANSI/AMCA Standard 22011

AMCA Publication 311 ANSI/AMCA Standard 300

Induced flow fans AMCA Publication 211 ANSI/AMCA Standard 26012

AMCA Publication 311 ANSI/AMCA Standard 300

ANSI/AMCA Standard 205

Positive pressure ventilators AMCA Publication 211 ANSI/AMCA Standard 24013

Airflow measurement stations AMCA Publication 61114 ANSI/AMCA Standard 61015

More Table 1 on the next page u

W W W. A M C A . O R G 8
Table 1 continued

Products Certification License Types CRP Publications Test/Rating Standards

Dampers, including volume AMCA Publication ANSI/AMCA Standard 500-D17

control dampers, isolation 51116
dampers and economizer
dampers

Louvers, including weather- AMCA Publication 511 ANSI/AMCA Standard 500-L18

resistant, acoustic and
sand-resistant louvers ASTM E9019

Gravity ventilators AMCA Publication 511 ANSI/AMCA Standard 500-L

Spiral duct AMCA Publication 511 ANSI/ASHRAE/SMACNA

Standard 12620
Transverse duct connectors

Acoustic duct silencers AMCA Publication ASTM E47722

101121

W W W. A M C A . O R G 9
CHECKLIST TO ENSURE AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS GET INSTALLED

STEP 1: SELECT AN AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCT TYPE

Agricultural fans
Axial fans
Ceiling ventilators
Centrifugal fans
Energy recovery ventilators
Evaporative coolers
Jet tunnel fans
Mixed flow fans
Power roof ventilators
Propeller fans
Air circulator fans
Air curtains
Induced flow fans
Positive pressure ventilators
Airflow measurement stations
Dampers: volume control, isolation, economizer
Louvers: weather-resistant, acoustic, sand-resistant
Gravity ventilators
Spiral duct
Transverse duct connectors
Acoustic duct silencers

STEP 2: FIND AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS

Search for certified products in AMCAs online database
or
Identify AMCA-certified products in manufacturer literature and verify certification in AMCAs online database

STEP 3: VERIFY SPECIFIC CERTIFIED PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS

View approved manufacturer literature found or referenced in AMCAs online database

STEP 4: WRITE A SPECIFICATION THAT ENSURES AMCA-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS GET INSTALLED

Write a performance specification; do not flat spec a specific product
Reference AMCA Publication 11
Include the AMCA publication referenced in the CRP publications column from Table 1
Include the appropriate standards from the test/rating standards column in Table 1
Do not include tested in accordance with [a particular test standard] without referencing compliance with the AMCA
11-series publications
Do not include tested in an AMCA or AMCA-accredited laboratory

STEP 5: VALIDATE CERTIFICATION AUTHENTICITY

Verify the actual product against the specified product
Verify the product is in AMCAs online certified products database
Check that the product is not in AMCAs online certified products violations database
Verify the product has the correct AMCA seal by comparing to seals in Table 1
Verify the AMCA certification seal is authentic
Check AMCAs online database to verify product and company names match AMCA certification

W W W. A M C A . O R G 10
REFERENCES
AMCA Publication 211. Certified Ratings Program Product Rating Manual for Fan Air Performance. Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA
1
International, 2012.
AMCA Publication 311. Certified Ratings Program Product Rating Manual for Fan Sound Performance. Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA
2
International, 2010.

3 ANSI/AMCA Standard 205. Energy Efficiency Classification for Fans. Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA International, 2012

ANSI/AMCA Standard 210ANSI/ASHRAE 51. Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for Aerodynamic Performance Rating.
4
Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA International, 2007.
ANSI/AMCA Standard 250. Laboratory Methods of Testing Jet Tunnel Fans for Performance. Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA
5
International, 2012.

6 ANSI/AMCA Standard 300. Reverberant Room Method for Sound Testing of Fans. Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA International, 2014.

ANSI/AMCA Standard 320. Laboratory Methods of Sound Testing of Fans Using Sound Intensity. Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA
7
International, 2013.

8 ISO 5801. Performance Testing Using Standardized Airways. Geneva: ISO, 2007.

ISO 13347-3. Industrial Fans Determination of Fan Sound Power Levels Under Standardized Laboratory Conditions. Part 3.
9
Enveloping Surface Methods. Geneva: ISO, 2004.
ANSI/AMCA Standard 230. Laboratory Methods of Testing Air Circulating Fans for Rating and Certification. Arlington Hts., IL:
10
AMCA International, 2012.
ANSI/AMCA Standard 220. Laboratory Methods of Testing Air Curtain Units for Aerodynamic Performance Rating. Arlington Hts.,
11
IL: AMCA International, 2012.
ANSI/AMCA Standard 260. Laboratory Methods of Testing Induced Flow Fans for Rating. Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA International,
12
2013.
ANSI/AMCA Standard 240. Laboratory Methods of Testing Positive Pressure Ventilators for Aerodynamic Performance Rating.
13
Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA International, 2006.
AMCA Publication 611. Certified Ratings Program Product Rating Manual for Airflow Measurement Stations. Arlington Hts., IL:
14
AMCA International, 2010.
ANSI/AMCA Standard 610. Laboratory Methods of Testing Airflow Measurement Stations for Performance Rating. Arlington Hts.,
15
IL: AMCA International, 2012.
AMCA Publication 511. Certified Ratings Program Product Rating Manual for Air Control Devices. Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA
16
International, 2013.

17 ANSI/AMCA Standard 500-D. Laboratory Methods of Testing Dampers for Rating. Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA International, 2012.

18 ANSI/AMCA Standard 500-L. Laboratory Methods of Testing Louvers for Rating. Arlington Hts., IL: AMCA International, 2012.

ASTM Standard E90, Standard Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions.
19
DOI: 10.1520/E0090-09. West Conshohocken, PA: The American Society for Testing and Materials, 2009. www.astm.org

20 ANSI/ASHRAE/SMACNA Standard 126. Methods of Testing HVAC Air Ducts and Fittings. Section 7. Atlanta: ASHRAE, 2008.

AMCA Publication 1011. Certified Ratings Program Product Rating Manual for Acoustical Duct Silencers. Arlington Hts., IL:
21
AMCA International, 2010.
ASTM E477. Standard Test Method for Laboratory Measurements of Acoustical and Airflow Performance of Duct Liner Materials
22
and Prefabricated Silencers. West Conshohocken, PA: American Society for Testing and Materials International, 2013.
Brooks, Joseph; Michael Ivanovich; Lisa Ullrich. How to Specify AMCA-Certified Products.
23
www.amca.org/resources/AMCA_CRP_whitepaper.pdf

W W W. A M C A . O R G 11
RESOURCES
DIRECTORY OF CRP
Online certified products database WHITE PAPERS
www.amca.org/certified-listed/cpsearch.php available at www.amca.org/whitepapers:
Online certified products violations database
www.amca.org/certified-listed/
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE
crpnotifications.php
AMCA CERTIFIED RATINGS
AMCA International headquarters and laboratory PROGRAM Includes a detailed
www.amca.org explanation of how the AMCA
Certified Ratings Program (CRP)
Asia AMCA offices and testing lab works and how to properly specify
www.asiaamca.org AMCA-certified products for air
systems, plus a mapping of the
AMCA Certified Ratings Program white papers: different CRP seals/labels, publica-
www.amca.org/whitepapers tions and test standards applicable to the 21 air movement
a n d c o n t r o l p r o d u c t s c o v e r e d b y t h e C R P.
CRP publications (no cost) and standards (for purchase)
www.amca.org/store
GUIDELINE SPECIFICATIONS
AMCA Laboratory Accreditation Program F O R S E L E CT E D A M CA-
www.amca.org/testing/ CERTIFIED PRODUCTS This
becomeaccreditedlab.php white paper provides examples
AMCA listing and labeling programs for dampers and louvers of specifications for AMCA-
www.amca.org/testing certified products that are of
aboutlistingandlabeling.php primary interest to the engineering
community. It also provides a list
of referenced AMCA standards
and publications, as well as a list
of online resources from AMCA International websites.

HOW TO ENSURE AMCA-

CERTIFIED PRODUCTS GET
INSTALLED This white paper
describes what building industry
professionals need to know to
prope r ly spe cif y an AMCA-
certified product and then ensure
that product gets installed.
Included are a handy step-by-step
checklist and several practical examples.

AMCA INTERNATIONAL
30 WEST UNIVERSITY DRIVE
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60004-1893 USA
+1 847-394-0150
PUBLICATIONS@AMCA.ORG
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