Validation of ASHRAE standard 152P in basement warm-air distribution systems

This project investigated the accuracy of ASHRAE Standard 152P, Method of Test for Determining the Design and Seasonal Efficiencies of Residential Thermal Distribution Systems, in predicting the distribution efficiencies of five different configurations of a single residential warm-air thermal distribution system. Benchmark values for actual design and seasonal distribution efficiencies were obtained through independent field measurements. It was found that Standard 152P predicted distribution efficiencies 11 percentage points less on average than the benchmark values and that Standard 152P predicted a significant change in distribution efficiency each time the ducts were reconfigured, while the benchmark values were virtually unchanged through the first four duct configurations.