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C403.4.1 Fan Control
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Controls shall be provided for fans in accordance with Sections C403.4.1.1 through C403.4.1.3
C403.4.1.2.
Each cooling system listed in Table C403.4.1.1 shall be designed to vary the indoor fan airflow as a function of load and shall comply with the following requirements:
- Direct expansion (DX) and chilled water cooling units that control the capacity of the mechanical cooling directly based on space temperature shall have not fewer than two stages of fan control. Low or minimum speed shall not be greater than 66 percent of full speed. At low or minimum speed, the fan system shall draw not more than 40 percent of the fan power at full fan speed. Low or minimum speed shall be used during periods of low cooling load and ventilation-only operation.
- Other units including DX cooling units and chilled water units that control the space temperature by modulating the airflow to the space shall have modulating fan control. Minimum speed shall be not greater than 50 percent of full speed. At minimum speed the fan system shall draw not more than 30 percent of the power at full fan speed. Low or minimum speed shall be used during periods of low cooling load and ventilation-only operation.
- Units that include an airside economizer in accordance with Section C403.3 shall have not fewer than two speeds of fan control during economizer operation
Exceptions:
- Modulating fan control is not required for chilled water and evaporative cooling units with fan motors of less than 1 hp (0.746 kW) where the units are not used to provide ventilation air and the indoor fan cycles with the load.
- Where the volume of outdoor air required to comply with the ventilation requirements of the International Mechanical Code at low speed exceeds the air that would be delivered at the speed defined in Section C403.4.1, the minimum speed shall be selected to provide the required ventilation air.
EFFECTIVE DATES FOR FAN CONTROL
| COOLING SYSTEM TYPE | FAN MOTOR SIZE | MECHANICAL COOLING CAPACITY |
| DX cooling | Any | ≥ 75,000 Btu/h (before 1/1/2016) |
| ≥ 65,000 Btu/h (after 1/1/2016) | ||
| Chilled water and evaporative cooling | ≥ 5 hp | Any |
| ≥ 1/4 hp | Any |
For SI: 1 British thermal unit per hour = 0.2931 W; 1 hp = 0.746 kW.
Static pressure sensors used to control VAV fans shall be located such that the controller setpoint is no greater than 1.2 inches w.c. (2099 Pa). Where this results in one or more sensors being located downstream of major duct splits, not less than one sensor shall be located on each major branch to ensure that static pressure can be maintained in each branch.
Exception: Systems complying with Section C403.4.1.2.
Static pressure sensors used to control VAV fans shall be located such that the controller set point is not greater than 1.2 inches w.c. (299 Pa). Where this results in one or more sensors being located downstream of major duct splits, not less than one sensor shall be located on each major branch to ensure that static pressure can be maintained in each branch.
For systems with direct digital control of individual zones reporting to the central control panel, the static pressure setpoint shall be reset based on the zone requiring the most pressure. In such cases, the set point is reset lower until one zone damper is nearly wide open. The direct digital controls shall be capable of monitoring zone damper positions or shall have an alternative method of indicating the need for static pressure that is configured to provide all of the following:
For systems with direct digital control of individual zones reporting to the central control panel, the static pressure set point shall be reset based on the zone requiring the most pressure. In such case, the set point is reset lower until one zone damper is nearly wide open. The direct digital controls shall be capable of monitoring zone damper positions or shall have an alternative method of indicating the need for static pressure that is capable of all of the following:
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