Here’s a list we’ve compiled of many of the HVAC acronyms and HVAC abbreviations that are seen regularly.
| Acronym | What it stands for … |
|---|---|
| AC | Air Conditioning |
| AC | Alternating Current |
| ACH | Air Changes per Hour |
| ACM | Asbestos Containing Material |
| AEE | Association of Energy Engineers |
| AFD | Adjustable Frequency Drive |
| AFUE | Annual Fuel Efficiency Ratio |
| AHU | Air Handling Unit |
| AI | Analog Input |
| AO | Analog Output |
| ASHRAE | American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers |
| B | Boiler |
| BACnet | A Data Communication Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks |
| BAS | Building Automation System |
| BCA | Building Commissioning Association |
| BI | Backward Incline |
| BI | Binary Input |
| BO | Binary Output |
| BSLN | Baseline |
| BTU | British Thermal Unit |
| BTUH | Brtish Thermal Units / Hour |
| BY | Base Year |
| CAV | Constant Air Volume |
| CD | Cold Deck |
| CDD | Cooling Degree Days |
| CEM | Certified Energy Manager |
| CFC | ChloroFluoroCarbon |
| CFM | Cubic Feet per Minute |
| CH | Chiller |
| CHW | Chilled Water |
| CHWP | Chilled Water Pump |
| CHWR | Chilled Water Return |
| CHWRT | Chilled Water Return Temperature |
| CHWS | Chilled Water Supply |
| CHWST | Chilled Water Supply Temperature |
| CLF | Cooling Load Factor |
| CLTD | Cooling Load Temperature Difference |
| COP | Coefficient Of Performance |
| CRAC | Computer Room Air Conditioner |
| CT | Cooling Tower |
| CV | Constant Volume |
| CVRMSE | Coefficient of Variation of the Root Mean Square of the Error |
| CWP | Condenser Water Pump |
| CWR | Condenser Water Return |
| CWRT | Condenser Water Return Temperature |
| CWS | Condenser Water Supply |
| CWST | Condenser Water Supply Temperature |
| CY | Current Year |
| DA | Discharge Air |
| DB | Data Base |
| DB | Dry Bulb |
| DC | Direct Current |
| DCV | Demand Controlled Ventilation |
| DD | Degree Day |
| DDC | Direct Digital Control |
| DH | Duct Heater |
| DI | Digital Input |
| DO | Digital Output |
| DP | Dew Point |
| DP | Differential Pressure |
| DX | Direct Expansion |
| EAT | Entering Air Temperature |
| ECM | Electronically Commutated Motor |
| ECM | Energy Conservation Measure |
| ECO | Energy Conservation Opportunity |
| EDH | Electric Duct Heater |
| EEM | Energy Efficiency Measure |
| EER | Energy Efficiency Ratio |
| EF | Exhaust Fan |
| EH | Electric Heater |
| EMS | Energy Management System |
| ESCO | Energy Service Company |
| EUH | Electric Unit Heater |
| EWT | Entering Water Temperature |
| FC | Forward Curve |
| FCU | Fan Coil Unit |
| FIM | Facility Improvement Measure |
| FLA | Full Load Amps |
| FMS | Facility Management System |
| FPM | Feet Per Minute |
| FW | Feed Water |
| GPM | Gallons Per Minute |
| GUI | Graphical User Interface |
| HCFC | Hydrochlorocfuorocarbon |
| HD | Hot Deck |
| HDD | Heating Degree Days |
| HEPA | High Efficiency Particulate Arresting |
| HFC | HydroFluoroCarbon |
| HHV | Higher Heating Value |
| HHWP | Heating Hot Water Pump |
| HHWR | Heating Hot Water Return |
| HHWS | Heating Hot Water Supply |
| HL | High Limit |
| HPS | High Pressure Steam |
| HR | Heat Recovery |
| HRU | Heat Recovery Unit |
| HRV | Heat Recovery Ventilator |
| HSPF | Heating Seasonal Performance Factor |
| HVAC | Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning |
| HWP | Hot Water Pump |
| HWR | Hot Water Return |
| HWS | Hot Water Supply |
| HWRT | Hot Water Return Temperature |
| HWST | Hot Water Supply Temperature |
| HX | Heat Exchanger |
| I/O | Input Output |
| IAQ | Indoor Air Quality |
| IPMVP | International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol |
| IR | Infra-Red |
| LAT | Leaving Air Temperature |
| LHV | Lower Heating Value |
| LL | Low Limit |
| LON | Local Operating Network |
| LP | Low Pressure |
| LPS | Low Pressure Steam |
| LRA | Locked Rotor Amps |
| LWBT | Leaving Wet Bulb Temperature |
| LWT | Leaving Water Temperature |
| M&V | Measurement and Verification |
| MA | Mixed Air |
| MAT | Mixed Air Temperature |
| MCC | Motor Control Center |
| MUA | Make-up Air Unit |
| MX | Metrix Utility Accounting System |
| MZ | Multi-Zone |
| NC | Normally Closed |
| NEMA | National Electrical Manufacturers Association |
| NO | Normally Open |
| NPSH | Net Positive Suction Head |
| OA | Outside Air |
| OAP | Outside Air Percentage |
| OAT | Outside Air Temperature |
| ODP | Open Drip Proof |
| OWS | Operator Work Station |
| PC | Performance Contracting |
| PE | Professional Engineer |
| PH | Pre-Heat |
| PID | Proportional Integral Derivative |
| PRV | Pressure Relief Valve |
| PRV | Pressure Reducing Valve |
| PTAC | Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner |
| RA | Return Air |
| RF | Return Fan |
| RH | Reheat |
| RH | Relative Humidity |
| RPM | Revolutions Per Minute |
| RTD | Resistance Temperature Detector |
| RTU | Roof Top Unit |
| SA | Supply Air |
| SAT | Supply Air Temperature |
| SC | Shading Coefficient |
| SEER | Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio |
| SF | Supply Fan |
| SHFG | Solar Heat Gain Factor |
| SHR | Sensible Heat Ratio |
| SP | Set Point |
| SP | Static Pressure |
| SWP | Steam Working Pressure |
| T | Temperature |
| T | Thermostat |
| TEV | Thermostatic Expansion Valve |
| TOD | Time Of Day |
| TORR | Millimeter of Mercury (mmHg) |
| TXV | Thermostatic Expansion Valve |
| UH | Unit Heater |
| UV | UltraViolet |
| UV | Unit Ventilator |
| VAV | Variable Air Volume |
| VD | Volume Damper |
| VFD | Variable Frequency Drive |
| VSD | Variable Speed Drive |
| VSP | Variable Speed Pump(ing) |
| WB | Wet Bulb |
| WC | Water Column |
| YTD | Year To Date |