The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) has unveiled the international standard of excellence – the 2013 ACR, the NADCA standard for assessment, cleaning and restoration of HVAC systems.

“The ACR standard provides guidance to professionals as they evaluate the cleanliness of system components,” says NADCA president, Matt Mongiello. “The standard sets an expectation for cleaning and restoring HVAC systems to a specific level of cleanliness.”

NADCA is dedicated to upholding industry standards for cleaning, restoring and maintaining air handling units.

The new standard has been designed to reflect the most current industry information and best practices of HVAC inspection, cleaning and maintenance. It provides practical, reliable and industry-backed information for:

• Assessing new and existing HVAC systems;
• Evaluating and verifying the cleanliness of HVAC system components;
• Preventing job related hazards; and
• Guiding the cleaning and restoration o f HVAC systems to a specific level of cleanliness.

The NADCA ACR standard is available for all industry professionals. It defines the minimum performance and procedural requirements for the assessment, cleaning and restoration of heating, ventilation and air conditioning units. The standard is based on reliable principles, practical experience and review of applicable industry lecture and information. It focuses on preventing job-related hazards such as exposure to workers and occupants, as well as cross-contamination to the indoor environment.

“It’s important to be sure the individual or company inspecting your HVAC system is trained and qualified for the job,” says Mongiello. “NADCA certified professionals are equipped with the knowledge and experience to inspect the air handling system and determine the specific needs for cleaning and restoring the unit, when necessary.”

NADCA offers the following tips for determining the need for HVAC cleaning and restoration, and suggests systems be cleaned when one or more of the following conditions exist:

• The HVAC System is contaminated with an accumulation of particulate;
• The system’s performance is compromised, due to contamination build up;
• The system has been discharging visible dirt or debris and is a source of odour;
• The HVAC system has become contaminated with construction debris or dust; and/or
• The HVAC system has been contaminated as a result of fire, smoke and/or water damage

The 2013 ACR standard recommends that inspections of air handling systems be performed before and after HVAC cleaning and restoration projects. Doing so helps the contractor determine the current state of the system, the scope of work that needs to be performed, and the tools and equipment needed for the task.