Section 51-11C-403291. Section C403.2.11—Air system design and control.

C403.2.11 Air system design and control. Each HVAC system having a total fan system motor nameplate horsepower (hp) exceeding 5 horsepower (hp) (3.7 kW) shall comply with the provisions of Sections C403.2.11.1 through C403.2.11.3.

The air flow requirements of Section C403.2.11.5 shall apply to all fan motors. Group R occupancy exhaust fans shall also comply with Section C403.2.11.4.

C403.2.11.1 Allowable fan motor horsepower. Each HVAC system at fan system design conditions shall not exceed the allowable fan system motor nameplate hp (Option 1) or fan system bhp (Option 2) as shown in Table C403.2.11.1(1). This includes supply fans, exhaust fans, return/relief fans, and fan-powered terminal units associated with systems providing heating or cooling capability. Single zone variable-air-volume systems shall comply with the constant volume fan power limitation.

EXCEPTIONS:	1. Hospital, vivarium and laboratory systems that utilize flow control devices on exhaust or return to maintain space pressure relationships necessary for occupant health and safety or environmental control shall be permitted to use variable volume fan power limitation.
	2. Individual exhaust fans with motor nameplate horsepower of 1 hp or less are exempt from allowable fan motor horsepower requirements.

C403.2.11.2 Motor nameplate horsepower. For each fan, the selected fan motor shall be no larger than the first available motor size greater than the brake horsepower (bhp). The fan brake horsepower (bhp) shall be indicated on the design documents to allow for compliance verification by the code official.

EXCEPTIONS:	1. For fans less than 6 bhp (4413 W), where the first available motor larger than the brake horsepower has a nameplate rating within 50 percent of the bhp, selection of the next larger nameplate motor size is allowed.
	2. For fans 6 bhp (4413 W) and larger, where the first available motor larger than the bhp has a nameplate rating within 30 percent of the bhp, selection of the next larger nameplate motor size is allowed.
	3. For fans used only in approved life safety applications such as smoke evacuation.

C403.2.11.3 Fan efficiency. Fans shall have a fan efficiency grade (FEG) of 67 or higher based on manufacturers' certified data, as defined by AMCA 205. The total efficiency of the fan at the design point of operation shall be within 15 percentage points of the maximum total efficiency of the fan.

EXCEPTION:	The following fans are not required to have a fan efficiency grade:
	1. Fans of 5 hp (3.7 kW) or less as follows:
	1.1. Single fan with a motor nameplate horsepower of 5 hp (3.7 kW) or less, unless Exception 1.2. applies.
	1.2. Multiple fans in series or parallel that have a combined motor nameplate horsepower of 5 hp (3.7 kW) or less and are operated as the functional equivalent of a single fan.
	2. Fans that are part of equipment covered under Section C403.2.3.
	3. Fans included in an equipment package certified by an approved agency for air or energy performance.
	4. Powered wall/roof ventilators.
	5. Fans outside the scope of AMCA 205.
	6. Fans that are intended to operate only during emergency conditions.

C403.2.11.4 Group R occupancy exhaust fan efficacy. The Group R occupancies of the building shall be provided with ventilation that meets the requirements of the International Mechanical Code, as applicable, or with other approved means of ventilation. Mechanical ventilation system fans with 400 cfm or less in capacity shall meet the efficacy requirements of Table C403.2.11.4.

EXCEPTIONS:	1. Group R heat recovery ventilator and energy recovery ventilator fans that are less than 400 cfm.
	2. Where whole house ventilation fans are integrated with forced-air systems that are tested and listed HVAC equipment, they shall be powered by an electronically commutated motor where required by Section C405.8.
	3. Domestic clothes dryer booster fans, domestic range hood exhaust fans, and domestic range booster fans that operate intermittently.

C403.2.11.5 Fan airflow control. Each cooling system listed in Table C403.2.11.5 shall be designed to vary the indoor fan airflow as a function of load and shall comply with the following requirements:

1. Direct expansion (DX) and chilled water cooling units that control the capacity of the mechanical cooling directly based on space temperature shall have not fewer than two stages of fan control. Low or minimum speed shall not be greater than 66 percent of full speed. At low or minimum speed, the fan system shall draw not more than 40 percent of the fan power at full fan speed. Low or minimum speed shall be used during periods of low cooling load and ventilation-only operation.

2. Other units including DX cooling units and chilled water units that control the space temperature by modulating the airflow to the space shall have modulating fan control. Minimum speed shall be not greater than 50 percent of full speed. At minimum speed, the fan system shall draw more than 30 percent of the power at full fan speed. Low or minimum speed shall be used during periods of low cooling load and ventilation-only operation.

3. Units that include an airside economizer in accordance with Section C403.3 shall have not fewer than two speeds of fan control during economizer operation.

EXCEPTIONS:	1. Modulating fan control is not required for chilled water and evaporative cooling units with fan motors of less than 1 hp (0.746 kW) where the units are not used to provide ventilation air and the indoor fan cycles with the load.
	2. Where the volume of outdoor air required to comply with the ventilation requirements of the International Mechanical Code at low speed exceeds the air that would be delivered at the minimum speed defined in this section, the minimum speed shall be selected to provide the required ventilation air.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.025, 19.27A.160, and 19.27.074. WSR 16-03-072, § 51-11C-403291, filed 1/19/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.025, 19.27A.045, and 19.27.074. WSR 13-20-120, § 51-11C-403291, filed 10/1/13, effective 11/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.025 and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 13-04-056, § 51-11C-403291, filed 2/1/13, effective 7/1/13.]

RCW 19.27A.025, 19.27A.160, and 19.27.074. WSR 16-03-072, § 51-11C-403291, filed 1/19/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.025, 19.27A.045, and 19.27.074. WSR 13-20-120, § 51-11C-403291, filed 10/1/13, effective 11/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.025 and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 13-04-056, § 51-11C-403291, filed 2/1/13, effective 7/1/13.