HVAC Acronyms

 



Acronyms are useful to simplify communication, however when you are new to an industry, they can also be confusing. Here is a list of some acronyms that may be encountered in the HVAC industry. 

1) AC – alternating current

2) ACH – air changes per hour

3) AHU – air handling unit

4) AMP – ampere 

5) BDD – back draft damper

6) BH – British thermal units per hour (BTU/ hr)

7) BHP – brake horsepower

8) BTU – British thermal units

9) CFM – cubic feet per minute

10) CAV – constant air volume

11) CHWR – chilled water return

12) CHWS – chilled water supply

13) CV – constant volume

14) CW – chilled water

15) DB – dry bulb

16) DBT – dry bulb temperature

17) DC – direct current

18) DP – dew point, differential pressure

19) DPT – dew point temperature

20) DX coil – direct expansion coil

21) EAT – entering air temperature

22) EF – exhaust fan

23) ERU – energy recovery unit

24) ERV – energy recovery ventilator

25) EWT – entering water temperature

26) EXH – exhaust 

27) FCU – fan coil unit

28) FLA – full load amps

29) FPM – feet per minute

30) FPS – feet per second

31) GPM – gallons per minute

32) HEPA – high efficiency particulate air

33) HP – horsepower

34) HRU – heat recovery unit

35) HVAC – heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

36) HW – hot water

37) HZ – hertz

38) I - current

39) IAQ – indoor air quality

40) LAT – leaving air temperature

41) LWT – leaving water temperature

42) MAT – mixed air temperature

43) MAU – make-up air unit

44) MBH – thousands BTUs per hour 

45) MERV – minimum efficiency reporting value

46) NC – normally closed

47) NO – normally open

48) NTS – not to scale

49) OA – outside air

50) OAT – outside air temperature

51) PD – pressure drop

52) PH – phase, pre-heat

53) PSI – pounds per square inch

54) RA – return air

55) RAT – return air temperature

56) RF – return fan

57) RH – re-heat, relative humidity

58) RTU – roof top unit

59) SA – supply air

60) SAT – supply air temperature

61) SF – service factor, supply fan

62) SP – set point, static pressure

63) SPEC – specification 

64) TEAO – totally enclosed air over

65) TEFC – total enclosed fan cooled

66) TON – 12,000 Btu/hr

67) TSP – total static pressure

68) TXV – thermal expansion valve

69) UH – unit heater

70) ULPA – ultra low particulate air

71) UV – ultra violet

72) V – voltage, velocity

73) VAV – variable air volume

74) VFD – variable frequency drive

75) VSD – variable speed drive

76) W - watt

77) WB – wet bulb

78) WC – water column

79) WG – water gauge

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