A standard practice for inspection and maintenance of commercial HVAC systems to improve thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality is provided in the new, revised 2012 edition of ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180.

For the public good, it is essential that HVAC systems in all buildings support a high-quality indoor environment, and sustainability mandates that those conditions be maintained in as energy efficient a manner as possible. This standard establishes minimum HVAC inspection and maintenance requirements that preserve a system's ability to achieve acceptable thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality in commercial buildings. Without routine inspection and maintenance of system components, systems can be found operating outside their optimum performance parameters; often manufacturers' maintenance information applies only to their components, not the entire system. This standard considers each component separately as well as the integration of those components and the ways they interact. The provisions of this standard do not apply to single-family houses or multi-family structures of three or fewer stories above grade or to HVAC equipment and portions of building systems that primarily provide for industrial, manufacturing, or commercial processes.

The 2012 edition combines Standard180-2008 and Addendum a to the 2008 edition. A thorough review of the standard resulted in improvements, revisions, and updates to the tables in Section 5 to eliminate duplication, add additional tasks, list equipment tables in alphabetical order for easier reference, and consolidate similar equipment where appropriate.

Standard 180 was created in a collaborative effort between ASHRAE and Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). Its intent is to address the often inconsistent practices for inspecting and maintaining HVAC systems in commercial, institutional, and other buildings where the public may be exposed to the indoor environment.

Keywords: Inspection and Maintenance, Maintenance Program, Maintenance Tasks, HVAC System, Commercial Buildings, Commercial Building Maintenance