Manuals


Please find overviews on all AIRAH’s Design Application manuals below.

For information on how to access the DA Manuals on Adobe Digital Editions,  refer to the FAQ page

You can also purchase a complete set of our DA manuals at a discounted price – just $1,200 for AIRAH members for all 24 DAs. Please click here to find out more about the bundle.

DA01 Centrifugal Pumps


DA01 is a guideline for the selection and application of centrifugal pumps used in the building services industry for pumping water and other fluids.

Published: 2013 | Pages: 100

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Scope and introduction
2. Centrifugal pumps, an overview
3. Centrifugal pumps and energy use
4. Pump performance
5. Pump and system design
6. Pump selection
7. Controlling pumps
8. System configuration
9. Installation and commissioning
10. Operation and maintenance.

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DA02 Noise Control


DA02 comprehensively covers the fundamentals of noise control. This includes terminology and definitions, as well as the use and calculations of noise ratings and recommended design criteria. It also describes design methods for analysing sound transmission from noise sources, both inside and outside buildings, in order to estimate interior and exterior noise levels.

Published: 1995 | Pages: 96

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This two-part manual is particularly valuable for building services engineers.

Part one covers fundamentals, noise ratings and criteria:
1. Introduction
2. Fundamentals, terminology and definitions
3. Noise rating methods
4. Design criteria
5. Glossary of symbols and abbreviations.

Part two covers sound transmission in and outside buildings:
1. Introduction
2. Noise sources
3. Sound transmission within and into buildings
4. Speech transmission
5. Sound transmission outside buildings.

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DA03 Duct Work for Air Conditioning


DA03 features detailed guidelines for designing air conditioning ductwork systems.

Published: 1987 | Pages: 114

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Design consideration
3. Fundamentals and terminology
4. Procedure for designing ductwork systems
5. Duct layout and sizing
6. Duct fitting pressure loss data
7. The fan duty and system effect
8. Duct heat and leakage losses or gains
9. Noise in the ductwork system – general considerations
10. Acoustically analysing a duct network
11. Self-generated noise in ducts, duct fittings and outlet and grilles
12. Noise attenuation in ducts and duct fittings
13. Estimating the cost of a ductwork system.

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DA04 Air System Balancing – in HVAC


DA04 is a manual on the testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) of air distribution systems in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) applications. The accurate measurement and adjustment of airflow rates using a recognised and reliable process during commissioning ensures that plant and equipment are adjusted and set correctly to meet the specified design operating conditions. For air conditioning systems, TAB activities ensure that operational variables are adjusted and set correctly to create the design comfort conditions, including volume, temperature, humidity, pressure, air movement and air quality set points or targets within the occupied space.

Published: 2021 | Pages: 100

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Scope and introduction
2. Commissioning and TAB – an overview
3. Fundamentals of airflow in ducts
4. Measuring airflow
5. Preparing and programming for TAB
6. Air balancing procedures
7. Components and TAB
8. The systems approach
9. Recording and reporting
10. Appendices.

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DA05

DA05 Guide to Fire and Smoke Control in Buildings using AS 1668 Part 1


DA05 provides a holistic overview of smoke control in buildings, as applied by Australian Standard AS 1668.1-2015 The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings. Part 1: Fire and smoke control in buildings. It covers the basic fundamentals behind the six “methods” of smoke control and outlines how and where AS 1668.1 applies them, depending on the smoke control strategy called for by the building and building regulations.

This Design Application manual is based on a training program developed by AIRAH members with over 100-years of combined experience participating on the Standards Australia technical committee responsible for AS 1668.1. This manual is an essential companion to AS 1668.1-2015 and is a must-read for anyone involved in smoke control in buildings.

Published: 2021 | Pages: 50

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Scope and introduction
2. Purpose and application of fire and smoke control
3. Introduction to AS 1668.1-2015
4. Selecting a smoke control system
5. Designing a smoke control system
6. Developing a smoke control system
7. Fire protection of openings
8. System activation and operation
9. Testing and commissioning smoke control systems
10. Appendices.

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DA06

DA06 Guide to Fire, Smoke and Air Dampers using AS 1682 Parts 1 & 2


DA06 steps through the entire damper life-cycle, from the fundamentals of the whys and hows of fire, smoke, and air dampers, through to individual performance testing, design, and selection considerations; the details of installation, labelling, and commissioning; and the inspection and maintenance of dampers through their operational lives. The focus is on the major compliance standards – AS 1668.1, AS 1682.1/.2 and AS 1851 – with sections of the manual dedicated to design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance topics.

This Design Application manual highlights the common issues that are encountered in noncompliant installations. It also outlines the allowable alternatives to fire dampers and identifies where they can and should be applied. DA06 originated as an AIRAH training course and is a must-read for anyone involved in the selection, installation, commissioning, maintenance, or certification of fire, smoke, and smoke exhaust air dampers in building HVAC systems.

Published: 2021 | Pages: 41

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You can also save on your hard copy order of DA06 when you bundle it with DA05 Guide to Fire and Smoke Control in Buildings using AS 1668 Part 1. Please click here for more information on this package.

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Scope and introduction
2. Damper application
3. Damper installation
4. Damper commissioning
5. Damper maintenance
6. Appendices.

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DA07 Criteria for Moisture Control Design Analysis in Buildings


DA07 Criteria for Moisture Control Design Analysis in Buildings is a technical resource that helps specify performance-based design criteria for predicting, mitigating, or reducing moisture damage to the building envelope, materials, components, systems, and furnishings, depending on climate, construction type, and HVAC system operation. This includes: a) Criteria for selecting analytic procedures; b) Criteria for inputs; c) Criteria for evaluation and use of outputs. It is designed for use by engineers, architects and contractors, as well as equipment owners, operators and specifiers.

Special note: This AIRAH technical guide is adapted from ASHRAE 160, which is an American voluntary consensus.

Published: 2020 | Pages: 32

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This manual includes the following sections:
1. Scope and introduction
2. Scope
3. Definitions, abbreviations, and symbols
4. Criteria for design parameters
5. Criteria for selecting analytical procedures
6. Moisture Performance Evaluation Criteria
7. Reporting
8. References.

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DA08 HVAC&R – An Introduction


DA08 provides a concise overview of air conditioning systems. It describes the different systems and system components for the full range of equipment used by Australia’s air conditioning, heating and ventilation industry.

Published: 1998 | Pages: 51
 
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This manual is a must for newcomers to the industry. It contains the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Components of refrigeration and air conditioning systems
3. Commercial and industrial air conditioning systems
4. Air conditioning systems
5. Energy conservation considerations.

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DA09 Air Conditioning Load Estimation and Psychrometrics


DA09 is the fourth edition of AIRAH’s air conditioning load estimation manual. It provides a range of information and design data that can be used in any load estimation calculation. The method outlined in this publication continues to follow the principles of the Carrier Method of load estimation, originally developed by the Carrier Corporation prior to 1972, but has incorporated several modifications not included in the original version.

DA09 covers heat and moisture flow through building elements; solar and transmission loads; internal heat gains from people, lights, and equipment; quantifying infiltration and outdoor ventilation impacts; and quantifying system effects. The manual also explains air conditioning process psychrometrics including plotting air states and interpreting psychrometric data to generate air conditioning system design/selection/operation criteria. The manual is also a source of data and default values for the estimation of internal and external loads on an air conditioning system.

Published: 2022 | Pages: 266

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This manual includes the following sections:
1. Scope and application
2. Building survey and load estimate
3. Design conditions
4. Heat storage, glazing, solar loads, diversity, and stratification
5. Solar heat gain through glass
6. Heat and water vapour flow through structures
7. Infiltration and ventilation
8. Internal and system heat gains
9. Applied psychrometrics
10. Appendices
        a. Climate data
        b. History of DA09 climate data sets
        c. Properties of materials
        d. AIRAH psychrometric chart
        e. Psychrometrics – characteristics of sprays
        f. Apparatus dewpoints tables
        g. References and resources Read less

 


DA11 Steam and Condensate


DA11 is a detailed guideline for the design of steam distribution and condensate recovery systems. This manual describes precisely how to design and install efficient reticulation systems to maximise steam heat energy and minimise waste.

Published: 1998 | Pages: 50

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Steam distribution
3. Steam trapping
4. Condensate recovery
5. Flash steam.

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DA12 Energy Efficiency in Cold Rooms


DA12 Energy Efficiency in Cold Rooms is the definitive reference for walk-in cold room energy efficiency in Australia. Using DA12 will help all stakeholders overcome the barriers to improved energy efficiency in cold room operation. It is designed for engineers, refrigeration technicians and contractors, as well as equipment owners, operators and specifiers.

Published: 2020 | Pages: 72

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Scope and introduction
2. Design considerations
3. Star rating index for walk-in cold rooms
4. Refrigeration equipment, controls and defrost
5. The insulated enclosure
6. Installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and documentation
7. Appendices.

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DA13 Fans


DA13 is a comprehensive guideline on the selection and application of centrifugal and axial fans for mechanical services in buildings.

Published: 2013 | Pages: 106

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Fan types and their characteristics
3. Pressure and its measurement
4. Fan ratings
5. Fan and systems resistance laws
6. Fan control
7. Series and parallel operation
8. Noise from fan systems
9. Essentials of a fan enquiry
10. Fan and system interaction
11. Effects of fan accessories.

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DA15 Air Filters and Cleaning Devices


DA15 focuses on the selection and application of filters for air conditioning and ventilation.

Published: 2019 | Pages: 152 

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The manual includes the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Theory of filtration
3. Air filter performance characteristics
4. Testing methods
5. Types of air filters
6. Filter selection and installation, including application guidelines for the full range of buildings in which filters are used.

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DA16 Air Conditioning Water Piping


DA16 provides advice on the design of the various types of configurations of piping systems and the method for designing such piping systems.

Published: 1994 | Pages: 135

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Design considerations
3. Calculation of pressure loss
4. Control valve selection
5. Heat gains and losses
6. Other considerations
7. Example calculations
8. Pipe expansion and pipe stress analysis
9. Estimating the cost of a piping system.

DA16 also includes data for steel, copper, plastic piping and numerous charts and tables.

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DA17 Cooling Towers


DA17 is a guide to the selection and application of cooling towers for mechanical services in buildings. The scope of this application manual includes the manufacture, design, installation, maintenance and management of cooling towers and their associated systems. It contains detailed advice and information on open and closed circuit, direct and indirect cooling towers.

Published: 2014 | Pages: 103

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Tower design and manufacture
3. System design and control
4. Tower location and installation
5. Commissioning
6. System operation
7. System maintenance.

This manual also includes appendices and a notes section.

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DA18 Water Treatment


DA18 details the scientific principles on which water treatment practices are based. It describes proven techniques which can reasonably be expected to be applied in water treatment system design, installation, maintenance and monitoring.

Published: 1998 | Pages: 82

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This manual includes the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Water chemistry
3. Parameters affecting water quality
4. Scale control principles
5. Principles of corrosion prevention
6. Inhibitors for corrosion control
7. Microorganisms
8. Cooling towers and microorganisms
9. Legionella
10. Microbial control principles
11. Chemical biocides
12. Non-chemical options
13. Biocide effectiveness
14. Water treatment for open recirculating systems
15. System management, specifically for Legionella control
16. Water treatment for closed recirculating systems
17. Case studies
18. Potable water treatment
19. Sampling
20. Safety in handling chemicals
21. Specifying water treatment
22. Regulatory approaches to prevention of Legionellosis.

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DA19 HVAC&R Maintenance


This application manual has been the definitive reference for HVAC&R maintenance in Australia for more than 20 years. It is used throughout the Australian property, facility management and HVAC&R maintenance industries. Now in its fourth edition, DA19 has been developed with considerable industry engagement and features significant updates relating to energy efficiency, system sustainability, asset management and the digitisation of maintenance (smart maintenance). 

AIRAH, with support from the ARBS Education & Research Foundation, has developed Specifying a Maintenance Package with DA19 – an online user guide to complement the 2019 update to DA19. It is designed to assist building owners and managers to better understand the steps they need to take when using DA19 to specify their maintenance needs.

Published: 2019 | Pages: 208

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The maintenance discussed in this manual can be applied for a variety of objectives such as health and safety, comfort, indoor air quality, reliability, asset protection, risk minimisation, energy efficiency, water conservation, workplace productivity, indoor environmental quality and sustainability.

This manual contains the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Maintenance overview
3. Maintenance in design, installation and commissioning
4. Managing maintenance in operation
5. Maintenance strategies
6. Smart maintenance
7. Continuous improvement: tuning and optimisation.

DA19 also includes appendices on HVAC&R maintenance schedules, developing a system maintenance schedule, operating and maintenance manuals, risk-based maintenance, maintenance costs and reliability, glossary of terms and referenced documents.

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DA20 Humid Tropical Air Conditioning


DA20 explores the topic of comfort in hot tropical climates, starting from the very fundamentals of climate, thermal comfort, human response and adaptive comfort. The manual covers natural, mechanical and hybrid comfort cooling systems, as well as building design and moisture-management strategies.

Published: 2016 | Pages: 140

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Providing a holistic overview of the topic, DA20 offers insight on the underlying engineering theory; the design and installation stage; and commissioning, operation and maintenance. Air conditioning receives detailed attention, with comprehensive information on equipment selection and application, system design strategies, system controls and detailed design notes, particularly in respect of moisture management. 

This manual contains the following sections:
1. Scope and application
2. Climate, comfort, external air, internal moisture
3. Building design and system selection
4. Air conditioning equipment selection and application
5. Air conditioning system design
6. Installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance.

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DA21 Ammonia Refrigeration


DA21 contains information and recognised best practices for all types of ammonia systems. It covers the selection of ammonia as a refrigerant, giving examples of traditional areas where ammonia is used as the primary refrigerant.

Published: 2000 | Pages: 97

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Refrigerant selection
3. Heat load calculation, product cooling and storage
4. System selection
5. Plant room equipment
6. Production area equipment
7. Refrigerant and water piping
8. Evaporative piping and valves
9. Cold pipe and vessel insulation
10. Avoiding component failure caused by abnormal pressure or shock
11. Plant safety and good practice
12. Testing, charging and commissioning
13. Plant operation and maintenance
14. New concepts.

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AIRAH DA24 Hydronic System Balancing – in HVAC

DA24 Hydronic System Balancing – in HVAC


DA24 is a publication on the commissioning and testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) of hydronic water systems in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) applications. During commissioning, the accurate measurement and adjustment of water flow rates using a recognised and reliable process ensures that plant and equipment are adjusted and set correctly to meet the specified design operating conditions.

Special note: This is an update and revision to the previous version of DA24, titled DA24 Water Systems Balancing.

Published: 2021 | Pages: 72 

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You can also save on your hard copy order of DA24 when you bundle it with DA04 Air System Balancing – in HVAC. Please click here for more information on this package.

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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Scope and introduction
2. Commissioning and TAB – an overview
3. Fundamentals of water flow
4. Measuring water flow
5. Preparing and programming for TAB
6. Water balancing TAB procedures
7. Components and TAB
8. The systems approach
9. Recording and reporting
10. Appendices

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DA26 Indoor Air Quality


This manual takes a close-up look at measures to remediate indoor air quality issues that can usually be implemented without major redesign or system modification.

Published: 2004 | Pages: 125

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These measures are presented in the form of suggested policies, procedures, and maintenance/operational practices to help provide acceptable indoor air quality in systems that are capable of appropriate performance. Recommendations are also provided for dealing with complaint situations.

This manual contains the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Health and comfort factors
3. HVAC systems
4. Indoor air quality management
5. Impact of construction and renovation on IAQ
6. Legal issues
7. Case studies
8. New developments
9. Relevant legislation
10. A summary of good practice guidance for HVAC designers.

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DA27 Building Commissioning

DA27 Building Commissioning


DA27 helps to define and standardise the building commissioning process, its critical steps and the common language.

Published: 2011 | Pages: 90
 
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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Scope and introduction
2. Commissioning overview
3. The commissioning process
4. Specifying and procuring commissioning
5. Key commissioning documentation
6. Testing and commissioning
7. System specific documentation requirements
8. Transition to operation
9. Retrocommissioning.

DA27 also includes appendices and a notes section.

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DA28 Building Management and Control Systems

DA28 Building Management and Control Systems (BMCS)


This manual is intended to help building practitioners understand and manage BMCS and building controls. It outlines a generic process for the design and implementation of control systems for buildings.

Published: 2011 | Pages: 118
 
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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Scope and introduction
2. Controls – an overview
3. Building management and control systems (BMCS)
4. Intelligent buildings
5. Implementing a control system
6. Briefing, scoping and engaging
7. System design and specification
8. Installing control systems
9. System commissioning
10. Operation and maintenance.

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DA29 Evaporative Air Cooling Systems

DA29 Evaporative Air Cooling Systems


This manual provides essential information for the purchaser, designer, installer, owner, operator and maintainer of any evaporative air cooling system. It outlines best practices for the selection, application and operation of evaporative air cooling systems. Direct, indirect and two-stage systems are covered.

Published: 2011 | Pages: 62
 
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This manual contains the following sections:
1. Scope and introduction
2. Understanding evaporative air cooling
3. Unit selection and system design
4. Installing systems
5. Operating systems
6. System maintenance
7. Retrocommissioning
8. Energy – the issues
9. Water – the issues
10. Noise – the issues
11. Environment – the issues.

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