The increased demand for heat recovery equipment is resulting in the establishment of many new manufacturers and the use of heat exchangers before their operating characteristics are fully known and understood.

In September 1972, an agreement between ASHRAE Research Canada and the University of Manitoba to develop Standard Procedures for Rating Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers was ratified. The acceptance of standard procedures for testing will, in addition to providing comparable performance data in this field, eliminate inconsistencies in terminology and interpretation and use of the measured data.

Under the guidance of the ASHRAE Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Committee TC 5.5, this ASHRAE Standard 84-78 - Method of Testing for Rating Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers - has been developed. The standard prescribes methods for rating the heat transfer capacities, the thermal effectiveness, and supply air contamination of air-to-air heat exchangers.

The purposes of Standard 84-78 are to:
a. Establish a uniform method of testing for obtaining rating data;
b. Specify types of test equipment for performing such tests;
c. Specify data required and calculations to be used.

This paper describes the development and qualification of a test facility for providing a uniform method for testing all types of HVAC air-to-air energy recovery systems. Conformance of the method to applicable ASHRAE Standards is described.