The Condenser - The Importance of Louver Testing

You should know the capabilities of your louvers before you install them. Learn the importance of louver testing with this quick Condenser read.

Why is testing important for louver design? This may seem like a strange question. Naturally, you want to know that a louver passed a test and received the proper seals. However, as we discussed in our article on AMCA testing, the ratings seals don’t indicate performance.

Even so, ratings seals are important. They show that a louver completed AMCA testing.

Louver Tests and Performance

Tests help provide a metric for louver performance. For example, air performance testing measures the louver's pressure drop. This demonstrates how the louver will affect airflow.

You can examine the louver’s blade profile to get a general sense of how the louver will perform, but test data provides the clearest picture.

Compare this data against your own airflow calculations to determine whether the louver meets the needs of the application.

Air performance data is important when designing an energy efficient HVAC system.

AMCA Seals and Testing

An AMCA ratings seal doesn’t indicate a level of performance. The seal indicates the listed test was conducted in an AMCA-approved laboratory under AMCA’s standards for testing. That means that every louver is tested under the same standards.

When you compare two louvers with AMCA ratings seals, you can compare their test data on equal footing. You can trust the performance data presented on each submittal. When you see a Class A effectiveness rating for wind driven rain, you can trust that the louver will protect against heavy rain and wind gusts at the given air velocity.

AMCA listing labels are the exception. Where a ratings seal indicates test completion, listing labels indicate the louver passed the test. These labels are reserved for hurricane louver testing: AMCA 540 and 550.

The tests conducted under AMCA 550 are pass-fail tests. This is a key difference between this and standard wind driven rain testing. If a louver can’t reject 99% of incoming rain during AMCA 550 testing, then it fails.

Louver testing provides an accurate picture of how a louver will perform when installed. Ratings seals and listing labels ensure the data presented on the louver’s submittal is accurate and reliable.

Looking for louvers? Airline Louvers can help. We build stationary louvers for any application, including wind driven rain and hurricane protection. Keep your interiors safe and dry throughout the year with Airline Louvers.

For more on louvers, check out these Newsstand articles:

• FEMA 361 Louvers for Storm Shelters and Safe Rooms
• The Condenser - Miami Dade Louvers for Hurricane Protection
• Four Types of Louver Rain Protection
• Louver Specifications - The Blueprint for HVAC