ACCA Residential HVAC Design study guide
ACCA Residential HVAC Design · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ACCA Residential HVAC Design exam is an independent study resource for HVAC professionals preparing to design and specify residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. It is aimed at contractors, designers, installers, and technicians who want to demonstrate working knowledge of load calculation, equipment selection, duct design, quality installation practices, refrigerant safety, and the business and code context in which residential HVAC work is performed. Because ACCA is the national trade association furthering the interests of HVACR contracting businesses and the broader HVACR industry, and because ACCA's Quality Standards outline precisely the procedures that contractors should follow when designing, installing, maintaining, repairing, and verifying residential and light commercial HVAC systems, preparation should center on those published standards and on the Manual J, S, and D technical manuals. Candidates should also build familiarity with refrigerant handling safety material and with the code-compliance and business-operation topics that surround residential projects. The ACCA Residential HVAC Design study guide has 4 sections and about 1,226 words.
01Residential HVAC System Design: Manual J, S, and D
Manual J estimates room-by-room heating and cooling loads from an ACCA-approved method: envelope areas and U-factors, window solar gain and orientation, infiltration (or a blower-door result), internal gains, and design indoor/outdoor conditions. Manual S then selects equipment so its capacity meets the load at design conditions, not just nominal tonnage.
358 words, about 2 min02Quality Installation and Quality Standards
Field studies show most comfort and efficiency complaints trace to installation, not equipment. Quality installation (QI) standards emphasize commissioning, measurement, and documentation: correct charge, correct airflow, sealed ducts, and verified performance.
275 words, about 1 min03Refrigerant Handling and Safety
Refrigerant work is governed by EPA Section 608 rules (certification, leak repair, recovery, recordkeeping) and safety standards for handling pressurized and asphyxiant refrigerants. Candidates must know recovery requirements, leak-repair timelines, and safe practices.
294 words, about 1 min04HVAC Business Operations and Code Compliance
Beyond technical skill, candidates must understand permitting, code adoption, contracts, warranties, and financial controls. Codes are adopted locally; the model codes (e.g., International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Energy Conservation Code) are amended by jurisdiction, so always verify local requirements.
299 words, about 1 min