HVAC Acronyms, Abbreviations, & Definitions Print
User Rating: / 2
PoorBest 
Written by Richard   
Saturday, 01 March 2008 14:01

HVAC Abbreviations & Acronyms

AC - Air Conditioning or Alternating Current

AFUE - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency

AHU - Air Handling Unit

AI - Analog Input

AO - Analog Output

AQS - Air Quality Systems 

AWG - American Wire Gage

BACnet - Computer communication protocol for building automation systems and control networks

BAS - Building Automation System

BI - Binary Input

BO - Binary Output

BP - Backflow Preventer

BTU - British Thermal Unit

BTUh - Brtish Thermal Units per Hour 

HVAC Abbreviations & Acronyms

CAV - Constant Air Volume

CD - Cold Deck 

CFC - ChloroFluoroCarbon

CFM - Cubic Feet per Minute

CHWP - Chilled Water Pump

CHWR - Chilled Water Return

CHWS - Chilled Water Supply

COP - Coefficienct of Performance

CSR - Capacitor Start Capacitor Run

CV - Constant Volume

CWP - Condenser Water Pump

CWR - Condenser Water Return

CWS - Condenser Water Supply

HVAC Abbreviations & Acronyms

DA - Discharge Air or Direct Acting 

DAT - Discharge Air Temperature

DB - Dry Bulb or Dead Band 

DC - Direct Current

DCBP -  Double Check Backflow Preventer

DD - Degree Day

DDC - Direct Digital Control

DI - Digital Input

DO - Digital Output

DP - Differential Pressure

DPDT - Double Pole Double Throw

DPST - Double Pole Single Throw

DSI - Direct Spark ignition

DX - Direct Expansion

HVAC Abbreviations & Acronyms

EDR - Equivalent Direct Radiation

EER - Energy Efficiency Ratio

EMF - Electromotive Force

EF - Exhaust Fan

EMS - Energy Management System

EP - Electric to Pnuematic

ERV - Energy Recovery Ventilator

EXV - Electronic Expansion Valve


FA - Fire Alarm

FCU - Fan Coil Unit

FD - Fire Damper

FLA - Full Load Amps

FPM - Feet Per Minute

FS - Float Switch

F & T - Float & Thermostatic


GPM - Gallons per Minute

GWP - Global Warming Potential

HVAC Abbreviations & Acronyms

HEPA - High Efficiency Particulate Arresting

HCFC - HydroChloroFluoroCarbon

HD - Hot Deck

HFC - HydroFluoroCarbon

HOA - Hand Off Auto

HP - High Pressure or Horse Power

HPS - High Pressure Steam

HRV - Heat Recovery Ventilator

HSI - Hot Surface Ignition

HSPF - Heating Seasonal Performance Factor

HVAC - Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning

HVACR - Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration

HWP - Hot Water Pump

HWR - Hot Water Return

HWS - Hot Water Supply

HX - Heat Exchanger

HZ - Hertz 

HVAC Abbreviations & Acronyms
I/O - Input/Output

IAQ - Indoor Air Quality

in. Hg - inches of mercury vacuum

in. WC - inches of Water Column 

JB - Junction Box

KO - Knock Out

KW - Kilowatts 


LL - Low Limit

LP - Low Pressure or Liquified Petroleum

LPS - Low Pressure Steam

LRA - Locked Rotor Amps

LWCO - Low Water Cut Off


MA - Mixed Air

MAT - Mixed Air Temperature 

MAU - Make-up Air Unit

MCC - Motor Control Center

MFD - Micro-Farad

MP - Motor Protector

MPT - Male Pipe Thread

NC - Normally Closed

NEC - National Electric Code

NFPA - National Fire Protection Association

NO - Normally Open

NPT - National Pipe Thread

NTC - Negative Temperature Coefficient


OA - Outside Air

OAT - Outside Air Temperature

OP - Oil Pressure

ODP - Ozone Depletion Potential


PCB - Printed Circuit Board

PE - Pnuematic to Electric

PID - Proportional, Integral, & Derivative

PRV - Pressure Reducing Valve

PSC - Permanent Split Capacitor

PSIA - Pounds per Square Inch Absolute 

PSIG - Pounds per Square Inch Gauge 

PT - Pressure Temperature

PTAC - Portable Terminal Air Conditioner

PTC - Positive Temperature Coefficient

PWM - Pulse Width Modulation


RA - Return Air or Reverse Acting

RAT - Return Air Temperature

RF - Return Fan

RH - Relative Humidity

RPBP - Reduced Pressure Backflow Preventer (sometimes also seen as RPZ)

RPM - Revolutions Per Minute

RTU - Roof Top Unit

RV - Reversing Valve


SA - Supply Air

SAT - Supply Air Temperature

SD - Smoke Damper

SEER - Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio

SF - Service Factor or Supply Fan

SH - Super Heat

SP - Static Pressure or Set Point

SPDT - Single Pole Double Throw

SPST - Single Pole Single Throw

SV - Solenoid Valve


TD - Temperature Difference or Time Delay

TDS - Total Dissolved Solids

TEV - Thermostatic Expansion Valve (sometimes also seen as TXV)

Ton - ton of refrigeration effect


UH - Unit Heater

UV - Ultra-Violet or Unit Ventilator


VAV - Variable Air Volume

VFD - Variable Frequency Drive

VSD - Variable Speed Drive

VVT - Variable Volume/Temperature


W - Watt 

WB - Wet Bulb

WC - Water Column


XFMR - Transformer


ZD - Zone Damper

Comments (0)Add Comment

Write comment
quote
bold
italicize
underline
strike
url
image
quote
quote
smile
wink
laugh
grin
angry
sad
shocked
cool
tongue
kiss
cry
smaller | bigger

security code
Write the displayed characters


busy