Reference Pu^i.

cations

A111Q4 3n?fib

NBSIR 78-1535

Laboratories Technically Qualified to

Test Solar Collectors in Accordance

with ASHRAE Standard 93-77:

A Summary Report

W. J. Niessing

Building Economics and Regulatory Technology Division

Center for Building Technology

National Engineering Laboratory

National Bureau of Standards

U S. Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C. 20234

November 1978

<5

Prepared for Department of Energy

Office of the Assistant Secretary

Conservation and Solar Applications

Washington, D.C. 20545 -QC

100

.U56

tt78-1535

T’lwrean cf Stan^^rd* may 1 4 1Q3»

NBSIR 78-1535

• > i LABORATORIES TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED TO

TEST SOLAR COLLECTORS IN ACCORDANCE

WITH ASHRAE STANDARD 93-77:

A SUMMARY REPORT

W. J. Niessing

Building Economics and Regulatory Technology Division

Center for Building Technology

National Engineering Laboratory

National Bureau of Standards

U S. Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C. 20234

November 1978

Prepared for Department of Energy

Office of the Assistant Secretary

Conservation and Solar Applications

Washington, D.C. 20545

' \)C'"

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Juanita M. Kreps, Secretary

Dr. Sidney Harman, Under Secretary

Jordan J. Baruch, Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Director
'
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Preface 1

Acknowledgnents ii

I. Introduction 1

II. Procedures 5

III. Results of Evaluation 7

IV. Conclusions and Recanmendations 10

V. Continuing Activities 11

Appendix A A-1
Tvr.

P

%
PREFACE

In fulfilling its responsibilities under the National Program for Solar Heating

and Cooling of Buildings established as a result of the Solar Heating and Cooling

Demonstration Act of 197^ (PL 93-^09) and related legislation, the ^ergy Research

and Development Administration (ERDA) requested the National Bureau of Standards

(^BS) to develop criteria for assessing the capabilities of laboratories for

testing solar collectors, to identify those laboratories qualified to test solar

collectors, and to develop a plan for the certification of solar collectors.

fBS engaged the professional services of ARI Foundation, Inc. (ARIF), a subsidiary

of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), to identify laboratories

qualified to test solar collectors and to develop documentation for a solar

collector certification program. ARI is a national trade association of manufacturers

of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment with established experience and

background in standards development for HVAC equipment and the conduct of

certification programs for such equipment.

This summary report covers the identification of qualified solar collector testing

laboratories. It discusses the procedures used by ARIF, the results of their

evaluation and lists the laboratories evaluated as qualified to test solar

collectors in accordance with American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and

Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 93-77. It also identifies continuing

activities for laboratory accreditation.

i
ACKNOWLEDGIVENTS

This report Is a suinmary of an investigation and evaluation of laboratories

qualified to test solar collectors conducted for the National Bureau of Standards,

Center for Building Technology by the ARI Foundation, Inc. (AKCF), Arlington,

Virginia. Acconllngly, the author wishes to thank Messrs. G. R. Munger, R. J. Evans,

A. B. Newton and P. J. Reed of ARIF for their fine cooperation and support of

this study.

In addition, acknowledgment is also made to the many individuals and organizations

that provided ARIF with information concerning their laboratories and operatidns.

The many helpful suggestions pertaining to this study and report provided by

Carl Conner of the Department of Energy and William Freebome of the Department

of Housing and Urban Development are also gratefully acknowledged.

il
T. Introduction

The use of solar heating, cooling and domestic hot water systems In buildings has

been on the Increase In this country since the advent of the Solar Demonstration

Program for Residential and Canmerclal Applications. These solar systems consist

of conventional heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) components such

as furnaces, fans, pumps, piping, etc. and solar unique components such as solar

collectors. As protection to the consumer ajid assurance of quality and performance, the conventional components are tested and certified by nationally recognized

laboratories and Institutions. As examples, gas furnaces are tested and rated by

the American Gas Association (AGA), electrical equipment by Underwriters Laboratories

(UL), and air conditioning units by the Alr-Conditloning and Refrigeration Institute

(ARI). After testing the components under approved methods of test and standard

conditions, the performance of the units Is formally certified and their ratings

published. No similar national testing and certification process presently exists

for solar collectors.!/

In response to state legislation effective October 1, 1976, the Florida Solar

Energy Center (FSEG) developed standards and criteria for solar collectors sold

or manufactured In Florida and currently maintains a testing facility to evaluate

the performance of such collectors. Two documents which control the collector

certification program were published by the Center; FSEC 77-5 (was 76-1), "Test

Methods and Minimum Standards for Solar Collectors," and FSEC 77-6 (was 76-2),

"Operation of the Collector Certificati.on Program."

The California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (ERCDC)

^.as developed a Testing and Inspection Program for Solar Equipment (TIPSE) which

was implemented in early 1978. Under this program, solar equipment will be

certified for use In California If certain minimum criteria are met which Include

the completion of various tests to be performed In private laboratories accredited

by ERCDC. They have also issued two reports, "Guidelines for Certification of

Solar Equipment" (no number), and "Standards and Procedures - Accreditation of

Testing Laboratories for Solar Components and Systems" (no number). As of June 15,

1978 , ERCDC has accredited six (6) laboratories for testing solar equipment.

1
There are currently more than 200 manufacturers of solar collectors. Claims are

made by them concerning the efficiency and performance of their collectors. Some

of these claims may be exaggerated and misleading. Since the solar co3.1ectors are

a major element of the cost of solar systems, the consumer can invest thousands of

dollars for equipment that may not perform as expected or produce the savings in

energy costs anticipated.

Standard testing, validation and certification processes are necessary to protect

the consumer and the market for solar systems. This fact was anticipated by

Congress when they enacted the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 197^

(PL 93-409). Section 8 of this act states that, as soon as feasible, the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development shall determine, prescribe and publish in the

Federal Register procedures whereby manufacturers of solar heating and combined

solar heating and cooling components and systems shall have their products tested

In order to provide certification that such products conform to the established

performance criteria.

Based on PL 93-409 and related legislation—{ the Energy Research and Development

Administration (ERDA), now the Department of Energy (DoE), released a report

2/ designated ERDA-23A—, dated October 1975 and entitled the "National Program for

Solar Heating and Cooling (Residential and Commercial Applications)." A task in

this National Program Plan stated that "To certify that the solar energy systems

meet a given set of criteria, private laboratories must be capable of testing

such systems and ultimately provide a method of labeling. To acconplish this,

private laboratories must be capable of meeting minimum standards. Support will

be obtained from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) , American

National Standards Institute (ANSI), and other appropriate groups in the development of minimum laboratory standards and to insure that private laboratories will

be available to carry out necessary testing programs once solar heating and cooling

become a part of the normal market process." DoE/CS-00073/, "National Program for

Solar Heating and Cooling of Buildings," dated July 1978 updates the research.

VSolar Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Act (PL 93-473)-

Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (PL 93-438).

Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 (PL 93-577).

^/Available from DoE Technical Information Center, P.O. Box 62, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

37830.

VAvailable from Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Stock Nujnber 061-000-00136t-1.

2
development and demonstration program activities outlined in ERDA-23A. DoF/CS-Onny

continues to cite the need for a procedure to accredit testing laboratories and

reports on efforts to identify laboratories capable of performing collector tests.

It further states that such efforts will be integrated into a more corrprehensive

program of laboratory accreditation under the National Voluntary Laboratory

Accreditation Program (NVLAP)

In fulfilling its responsibilities under the national program for establishing

criteria for the accreditation of testing laboratories, ERDA requested the National

Bureau of Standards (NBS) to develop criteria for assessing the capabilities of

laboratories for testing solar collectors, to identify those laboratories qualified

to test solar collectors, and to develop a plan for the certification of solar

collectors

Because of their background and experience in the development of standards and

in the conduct of certification programs, the National Bureau of Standards

entered into a contractural arrangement with ARE Foundation, Inc ARIF) , a

subsidiary of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), to

accomplish the following:

1. To identify laboratories qualified to test solar collectors in

2/ accordance with ASHRAE Standard 93-77—, and

2. To develop documents (l.e., proposed solar collector rating

standard, certification program operational manual) for a solar

collector certification program.

The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) is a national trade

association of manufacturers of commercial and industrial air-conditioning and

refrigeration equipment and central residential air-conditioning equipment that

is very active in the standards development for HVAC equipment. They have issued

52 standards covering various types of HVAC equipment and components. In addition,

ARI has developed and are administering 11 certification programs for certain types

of HVAC equipment which Involve the use of an ARI Certification Seal for equipment

manufactured and rated in accordance with the applicable ARI standards, following

validation by an independent laboratory.

]/ARI Foundation, Inc., l8l5 North Fort I%er Drive, Arlington, Vix'ginla 22209-

2/ASHRAE Standard 93-77, "Methods of Testing to Determine the Thermal Perfomance

of Solar Collectors," February 1977, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating

and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc., 3^5 E. 47th Street, New York, NY 10017 - price $8.00 per copy + $.35 per copy for postage and handling.

3 ~
This suinmapy report covers the identification of qualified solar collector

testing laboratories. ARIF prepared a separate report for the solar collector

certification program.—'^

—^r©S-GCR 78-125 , "Report on Organization of Certification Program

Collectors." Available from NTIS, Order Number PB-280025, price

for Solar

$6.00
II . Procedures

In order to identify testing laboratories having the desire and technical capability

to conduct thermal performance tests of solar collectors in accordance with the ASHRAE

Standard 93-77, ARIF issued a news release entitled, "Need for Solar Collector Testing

Facilities," to various technical publications and trade journals in December 1976.

The release requested interested laboratories to contact ARIF.

Those laboratories that responded to the news release and those whose names were

taken from other available lists such as the laboratories Involved in the NBS

Round-Robin Test Program for Solar Collectors were sent a preliminary questionnaire

with an explanatory letter, a draft copy of ASHRAE Standard 93P (which later became

ASHRAE Standard 93-77 in February 1977), and a copy of ASTM E5^8-76— "Crenerlc

Criteria for Use in the Evaluation of Testing and/or Inspection Agencies." The

preliminary questionnaire was an abbreviated data sheet soliciting information

upon which to make a judgment on whether a laboratory should be considered for

participation in the program. The preliminary questionnaire was sent to 138 organizations , 93 of which were conmercial, manufacturer's, university. Federal, or state

testing laboratories.

Those laboratories that responded to the preliminary questionnaire and indicated

that they did not have test facilities available which could qualify for testing

solar collectors per ASHI3AE Standard 93-77 were promptly notified that no further

action would be taken on their questionnaire. They were Invited to notify ARIF

at such time as a suitable laboratory facility had been built and had become

available for testing solar collectors. All other laboratories that responded to

the preliminary questionnaire were sent a more detailed one which required responses

to questions concerning conflict of Interest, ASTM E548-76 requirements, quality

control, ASHRAE Standard 93-77 requirements, and some specific testing activities.

Before the transmittal of either questionnaire to the laboratories, NBS convened

a committee conposed of representatives of collector manufacturers (both air and

liquid types), testing laboratories, and Federal and state agencies in January 1977

to review the preliminary and detailed questionnaires plus the evaluation criteria

for each which had been proposed by ARIF. Suggested modifications agreed upon at

this meeting were incorporated into the questionnaires and the criteria. (See Appendix

A for Forms SARIF-1 and SARIF-2 Questionnaires, and their respective Criteria).

1/Available from American Society for Testing and Mterials, 1916 Race Street, “ Philadelphia, PA 19103.

5
To be sure that no laboratory that felt qualified to test solar collectors and

had an interest in participating in this program was overlooked, the National

Bureau of Standards sent out another news release in June 1977 announcing the

program "to Identify qualified solar collector testing laboratories."

Thirty-eight (38) laboratories responded to the preliminary questionnaire.

Evaluation of these responses showed that three laboratories had no solar facility

at the time of the response, and these were invited to notify ARIF when their

solar facility was ready. The remaining thirty-five (35) laboratories were sent

the more detailed questionnaire for conplet'ion. Of this group, nineteen (19)

laboratories chose not to return the latter questionnaire. One of the sixteen

(l6) laboratories that did respond submitted an incomplete response indicating that

their solar facility was still under construction. No action was taken in this

case and the laboratory was so notified.

The responses from the remaining fifteen (15) laboratories were reviewed and

evaluated. Laboratory facility visitations for these labs were conducted between

February and October 1977. The purpose of the facility visits, in part, was:

o to meet the personnel responsible for the management of the

laboratory and the conduct of tests,

o.to discuss the detailed questionnaire responses,

p to verify their statement on conflict of interest,

o to examine the laboratory test facilities and procedures, and

test specimen and data security provisions,

o to discuss plans for the test facility.

Earlier this year, DoE solicited proposals from industry regarding the testing of

solar collectors for thermal performance and reliability characteristics. As

part of the proposal evaluation process, DoE requested NBS to provide additional

information concerning the qualifications of some of the proposal respondees, all

of whom had been evaluated by ARXF. In addition, there was one laboratory that

had not been previously evaluated by ARIF. Accordingly, NBS requested ARIF to

conduct additional laboratory facility visitations for these several laboratories

in April and May 1978.

6
Ill . Results of Evaluation

The responses from the sixteen (l6) laboratories were evaluated against the

criteria that were developed for the detailed questionnaire (SARIF-2). These

evaluations coupled with the laboratory facility visit (s) and evaluation formed

the basis for establishing a laboratory’s qualifications to test solar collectors

in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 93-77. It should be pointed out that the ARIF

evaluation team did not witness or monitor the actual test of a solar collector or

the instrumentation calibration procedures at each laboratory during their facility

visit. The ARIF evaluation is based, in part, on a visual inspection of each test

laboratory including its solar test facilities plus verbal information from qualified

laboratory personnel.

Based on the ARIF criteria and visits, eleven (11) laboratories were considered

technically qualified to perfom thermal perfomance tests in accordance with

the ASHRAE 93-77 procedure using existing instrumentation, test stands and

personnel. All laboratories had performed some collector testing. However,

based on their questionnaire responses and their facility evaluation, some

laboratories had conpleted more solar collector testing than others. The

laboratories detemlned to be qualified at the time of the lab visit (s) and

their capability with respect to type of test stand (liquid or air) and location

of test stand (indoors or outdoors) are shown in the following table.

7
Laboratory

Date of Lab Visit Type of Stand Location of stand

Initial Follow-Up Liquid Air Indoors Outdoors

1 . Approved Engineering Test

Laboratories

15720 Ventura Boulevard

Encino, CA 91^36

( 213 ) 783-5985

Mr. Robert Finch

7/28/77

. t

4/26/78 J / /

1

1

!

2 . The Boeing Aerospace Company

P.O. Box 3999 , M/S 86-01

Seattle, WA 98124

(206) 773-8516 ( Mr. Paul T. Sauber

7/25/77 4/27/78 /.5 /.5

3. Desert Sunshine Exposure

Tests, Inc.

Box 185

Black Canyon Stage

Phoenix, AZ 85020

(602) 465-7521

Mr. Gene A. Zerlaut

7/29/77 4/24/78 / 2 /

4 . Florida Solar Energy Center

300 State Road 401

Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

(305) 783-0300

Dr. Charles Beach

3/ 1/77 / /

5. Honeywell-Energy Resource

Center

724 Harding Avenue, N.E.

Minneapolis, MM 55413

(612) 379-1141

Mr. A1 Baldwin

8/25/77 /

3,6 /

3 . 4,6 /3,6 /

6 . Johnson Environmental and

Energy Center

The University of Alabama

at Huntsville

P.O. Box 1247

Huntsville, AL 35807

(205) 895-6361

Dr. B. J. Schroer

7/20/77 5/ 1/78 / / /

7. Lockheed Palo Alto

Research Labs

3251 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, CA 94304

( 415 ) 493-4411

Mr. R. K. Wedel

1/27/11

4

/ /

8
Laboratory

Date of Lab Visit Type of Stand Location of Stand

Initial Follow-Up Liquid Air Indoors Outdoors

8. Physical Science Laboratory

New Mexico State University

Box 3-PSL

Las Cruces, NM 88OO3

( 505 ) 522-i|400

Mr. W. C. Stevens

4/24/78 / / /

9 . Solar Energy and Energy

Conservation Laboratory

Mechanical Engineering Dept.

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL 32611

(904) 392-0818

Mr. C. A. Morrison

8/31/77 / /

10. University of Connecticut

Solar Energy Evaluation

Center

Box 7-139

Storrs, CT O6268

(203) 486-2090

Mr. David R. Jackson

6/ 8/77 9/ 9/77 / / /

11. Vtyle Laboratories

Solar Energy Systoiis

Division

P.O. Box 1008

Huntsville, AL 35807

(205) 837-4411

Mr. David R. Reese

9/ 1/77 5/ 1/78

/I /I /

NOTES:

1. Laboratories which had performed limited solar collector thermal performance testing.

2. Laboratory has altazimuth stands.

3 . Laboratory has an indoor simulator with a ^ ft. by 4 ft. light bank which is equipped

for either air or liquid testing.

4. Laboratories had outdoor air test stands under construction at the time of the ARIF

visit. The facility would probably be acceptable; however, final inspection and

evaluation of the operational installation is required before qualification.

5 . This laboratory is qualified based on its meeting the spectral distribution sp)eclfied

in ASHRAE Standard 93-77 (i.e. the use of filters may be required to reduce the W

from the light source in their A-7000 Simulator) . The use of a mirror at the

appropriate angle in the collimated beam may also be required to allow an angled

position of the collector in test.

6. This company is only Interested in testing products it makes (itself or jointly with

others) and, if requested, to do developmental testing for other manufacturers.

7 . Air collector test facility was not operational at the time of the lab visit

(initial or follow-up). However, it was near enough to completion so that a judgment could be made as to its suitability.

9
IV. Conclusions and Recanmerxiatlons

It should be recognized that this study to establish criteria, evaluate capabilities, and Identify solar collector testing laboratories technically qualified

for performing a standard test in accordance with ASHPIAE Standard 93-77 represents

the initial effort to provide accredited measurement facilities on a national

basis. It should be further recognized that this study is limited since only

thirty-eight ( 38 ) laboratories responded to the initial questionnaire and, of

these, only fifteen (15) submitted the more detailed questionnaire. This number

was further reduced to ten (10) as a result of the laboratory visits. Because of

the laboratory evaluations and visitations required to satisfy DoE’s needs for

their Solar Collector Testing Program, an additional laboratory has been evaluated

as qualified to test in accordance with the ASHRAE Standard. It is believed that

these eleven (11) laboratories will provide an adequate geographic and climatic

base to implement an accreditation program.

It should be noted that those laboratories that are not listed herein, additional

laboratories that did not desire to participate in this program and laboratories

that were in the process of developing their facilities may wish to participate

in future voluntary accreditatiai programs.

10
V. Continuing Activities

As stated in DoE/CS-0007, "National Program for Solar Heatj^ and Cooling of

Buildings," the efforts to Identify laboratories capable of performing collector

tests, i.e., the results of this study, will be Integrated into a more conprehenslve program of laboratory accreditation under the National Voluntary Laboratory

Accreditation Program (NVLAP).

The NVLAP was established with the publication of a notice in the Federal Register

on February 25, 1976 in which the Department of Corrmerce made known the operating

procedures for the program, in Part 7, Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations.

The NVLAP establishes a national voluntary system that would examine the professional and technical conpetence of testing laboratories that serve regulatory

and non-regulatory product evaluation and certification needs. Laboratories

that meet the qualifications established as a result of the aforementioned

procedures would be accredited. The intended goal of the NVLAP is to serve,

on a timely basis, the needs of industry, consumer, the Government, and others

by accrediting this nation’s testing laboratories.

In addition to integration into the NVLAP, the results of this laboratory

investigation and evaluation will be submitted to the Solar Energy Research

and Education Foundation—"^ (SEREF) for dse in their on-going contract effort

for the Department of Energy to design a program v^ilch will provide for

solar collector performance and physical testing, rating, certification and

labeling.

Those testing laboratories that did not participate In this study who are

interested in testing solar collectors and may wish to participate in continuing

activities described above should contact the Solar Technology Program, National

Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. 2023^.

VSolar Energy Research and Education Foundation, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.

Suite 800, V/ashlngton, D.C. 20006

11
&

>v
APPENDIX A

A-1
SARIF-1 Form

A-2
Information Required from Laboratories

Interested in Testing Solar Collectors

for Performance

as Prescribed in ASHRAE 93-P

1. Organization Name

Address Phone:

Principal Contact:

2. Location of Test Facility

Address Phone:

Principal Contact:

Latitude Elevation

3. Do you have a facil ity for outdoor testing per 93-P? Yes 1

Do you have a facility for simulation test per 93-P? Yes , No

If "No", are you considering obtaining these facilities?

4. Have you customarily done thermal performance testing of solar collectors?

Yes , No . If "Yes", how long? ^mos. How many collectors?

5. Summary of Lab personnel and training. (Number in each category)

PhD MS BS Associates High School

Graduates

Others

Management

Lab. Manager

Test Set-up

Instrumentation

Test Operators

Data Processors

Report Writers

Technicians

O'* en' ra 1

Note: Indicate highest level of education for each individual.

Form SARIF-1 A-3
- 2 -

If your laboratory is interested in testing

usual method of charging for testing:

for others. providi

Use of Test Stand(s) $ per

Pre-Test $ per

Performance Testing $ per

Data Processing $ per

Final Report $ per

Other $ per

7. Other pertinent information you wish to furnish as to your Laboratory

capabilities and plans. What other comparable thermal testing have

you done?

8. Laboratory Facilities.

A. Number of test stands for Air Liquid ( Indoor)

Air Liquid (Outdoor)

B. Size limits for collectors Max. mm X mm Min . mm x mm

C. Comments

D. Operational Limits

a

Temperature

r

b. Flow (max. rate) jAir

^Liquid

c

Solar (outdoor). W/ra^

d.

2 Simulation, W/ra

e. Data processing

Control

o o C to C

oMeasuremento C to C

Form SARIF-1
- 3 -

9. Special Instrumentation for Insolation ,

No. of pyranometers available

No. of pyrheliometers available

Describe your practice as to calibration and frequency thereof, what

standard is used as reference, etc.

10. Submitted by

Typed Name _

Date

Phone

A n
SARIP-2 Pottn

A-6
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED FROM LABORATORIES

INTERESTED IN TESTING SOLAR COLLECTORS

for PERFORMANCE

as PRESCRIBED in ASHRAE 93-P

A. Laboratories who have roade acceptable responses to SARIF-1 indicating an

interest and capability in becoming accepted for performance testing of

solar collectors while adhering to the requirements of ASHRAE Standard

93-P, as now in draft form, and as required under Public Law 93-409, the

Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974, are now requested to

furnish more detailed information. Part of this information will answer

questions contained in ASTM 548-76 dealing with the evaluation of testing

and/or inspection agencies, part will deal with testing under ASHRAE Standard 93-P, now in draft form, and part will be additional information needed

for a complete review of each laboratory's capabilities.

B. In addition to the information specifically requested, it will be to your

advantage to include complete vitae or professional records of your key

personnel. This is particularly helpful if your laboratory is a large one

and does testing in a variety of fields,

C. Your response to this request will be reviewed by a competent team under

the supervision of ARI Foundation, Inc. There may be a need for a visitation by ARIF technical personnel for on site inspection of personnel and

facilities. You will be notified in advance of any such visit. Please

respond as completely as possible to all questions and information requests

in the remainder of this document.

1. Please verify the accuracy and completeness furnished with your response

to SARIF-1. A copy is enclosed herev/ith for your use in case the first

copy was incomplete, or in case any information has changed since you submitted the previous copy.

2. Does your Laboratory or its personnel have any pecuniary interest, such as being an officer or owning significant stock of a company engaged in the

manufacture or sale of solar collectors? Yes . No

If yes, give details below or on additional sheets.

SARIF-2 A-7
2

ASTM E548 Requirements

3. Your complete response to all requests in this section will be important

in determining the desireability of including your laboratory in the solar

collector testing program.

4. Please show the organizational structure and the lines of responsibility

as they exist in your operation. This may be done on a separate sheet

of paper as for example by an organization chart.

5. Give job descriptions of key management and technical personnel. A separate sheet for each person may be supplied.

6. From your personnel records suppy the qualifications, work experience,

training history, of each person who will be closely associated with any

solar collector facility or testing.

7. Describe programs operated by your laboratory which are intended to assure

continued competence of the laboratory's human resources.

8. Describe why you believe your laboratory is well suited to testing of solar

collectors by methods described in ASHRAE Standard 93-P. This information

may include comments on the geographic location(s), the number of indoor

simulators and outdoor test stands you possess, the adequacy of your

instrumentation, and methods of data processing.

9. Describe the types of inspection and instrumentation equipment you customarily employ in your test facility.

10. Describe your calibration procedures for various devices, and the program

for assuring continued accuracy.

11. Do you have a library of standards and procedures? List typical material

contained therein.

12. Describe your facilities for storage and protection of collectors before

and after testing.

13. LTiat logistic services do you employ? Have you been able to provide continuous operation of all tests without interruption from lack of supplies?

14. Describe the data processing equipment you employ. What accuracy can it

consistently achieve? Will it be used in connection with solar tests?

SARIF-2

A-8
3

Quality Control

15. Describe the calibration devices employed for the various types of instrumentation used in your laboratory. In your opinion, will the same devices

and procedures be adequate for testing of solar collectors?

16. To what degree have you standardized the methods of testing and securing

data? Has this allowed a determination of the expected accuracy for the

various regimes of testing?

17. It is well recognized that physical values, calibration and numerical

standards must be traceable to National or other standards. How is this

traceability provided in your laboratory to provide reliable data recording, processing and reporting?

18. Describe any use made in your laboratory of specimen sampling programs

to establish and validate quality control.

19. In what ways does your laboratory use statistical analysis to assure consistency and best fits in the presentation of data and its analysis?

Give details of the application of statistical processes to the various

types of testing which will apply to determination of performance of

solar collectors.

20. Feedback and cross-checking is a useful method of locating discrepancies

in data or its reduction. What provisions do you employ to use feedback

to find and correct problems? Do you employ peer review, either by consultation or by checking a particular test with another laboratoiry? Will

these methods be employed for maintaining the quality of solar collector

testing?

21. To what degree do you employ audit sampling of test results to maintain

consistency and accuracy? How do you implement this technique?

22. Do you practice frequent on-site reviews to assure the best test and

operating methods? Do such reviews utilize personnel from other test

areas to broaden such investigations and bring additional expertise into

the analysis?

23. How comprehensive are the reviews of Item 22? How do you ascertain that

proper feedback is obtained from such reviews? How do you ascertain that

improvements suggested from such reviews are implemented at as early a date as possible? Do you then make rechecks of the improvements obtained?

SARIF-2

A-9
24 .

- 4

-

93-P Requirements

Please give an overview of why you believe your laboratory has the ability

to test solar collectors for performance per Section 8 of ASKRAE Standard

93-P.

25. Describe your provisions for the three-day stagnation test required of

each collector before performance testing. You should include your

estimate of the elapsed time such tests may require in your area due to

prolonged periods with insufficient insolation. You may also describe

any planning you have to provide such tests on an indoor simulator.

26. Do your outdoor test locations, including those for stagnation tests, show

freedom from reflections which can invalidate a test? How have you determined this reflection factor? Do foreground areas around test stands have

less than the prescribed reflectivity of 0.20?

27. List the number of pyranometers and pyrheliometers meeting the "first

class" category of the World Meterological Organization which your laboratory possesses. Does this number meet the requirements for performance

of the number of simultaneous tests of collectors planned at your facility?

28. Do the instruments of Item 26 provide ambient compensation to maintain

accuracy to ±1% thruout a temperature range of -20 to +40 °C?

29. It is necessary to assure that the output of the instruments of Item 26

can be viewed as linear within il7o. How is this accomplished?

30. Provide assurance that the time response of the instruments of Item 26

is not greater than 5 seconds.

31. Describe your provisions to assure that each instrument of Item 26 is

within 17o of being proportional to the cosine of the zenith angle.

32. What means do you employ to prevent condensation within the instruments

of Item 27 during use? Comment on how satisfactory the results of this

method of control have been.

33. Describe your provisions to assure that each instrument of Item 26 is

calibrated to a known standard within 6 months of its use in any test.

What magnitude of deviations have been encountered during this period?

34. It is necessary to measure the direct component of insolation during tests.

How does your laboratory calibrate its pyranometer when it is in a tilted

SARIF-2 A-10
5

34. position? Have your results been consistent?

35. Standard 93-P requires the use of ASHRAE Standard 41.1-75 when measuring

temperatures. Is your laboratory using this standard in other testing

involving temperature measurement?

36. Refer to Paragraph 6.2.2 of ASHRAE Standard 93-P and indicate any problems

you might foresee in meeting the accuracy and precision required in measurement of temperature.

37. Describe the provisions used in your laboratory for niaking accurate temperature differential measurements.

38. Provide assurance that the smallest scale division of all temperature

measuring devices which will be employed in testing of solar collectors

does not exceed twice the required precision of the device.

39. Identify the types of flow measurement devices which you will employ for

air and/or liquids. Provide assurance that measurements made therewith

will have an accuracy within ±17o of the measured value in mass units.

40. Provide assurance that strip chart recorders to be used in testing of solar

collectors have an accurancy of ±0.57o of full scale, and that their

time constant is less than 1 second.

41. Provide proof that any electronic integrators you use can provide results

equal to or better than 17. of measurement.

42. Give assurance that the measuring techniques used by your laboratory for

nozzle throat pressures provide readings within an accuracy of ±17.

of any reading, and scale divisions do not exceed 27, of reading.

43. Show that your manometer calibrations are accurate to ±17 of any

reading

.

44. Provide assurance that the manometer to be used for measuring the Ap across

the collector has an accuracy of at least 25 Pa (0.1” water).

45. Describe your provisions for calibration of time and mass measurements

to an accuracy of ±0.207.

46. Describe your approach to measurement of wind velocity to ±0.8m/s,

(± 1.8 mph)

.

47. It is intended that all laboratories taking part in this test program will

use test configurations shown in Figures 1 thru 4 of ASHRAE Standard 93-P

as applicable. Will your laboratory meet these configurations in their

SA'RTT:’-2 A-11
6

A7- testing when testing collectors? If there are any departures cocatecnplated^

define and defend them.

48. Provide assurance that your method of measuring outdoor ambient temperature conforms to the standard NOAA device completely.

49. How do you measure the direct component of insolation? Do you have adequate

instrumentation to do so?

50. Does your laboratory have calibrated flow elements for measuring small air

flows, for example the nozzle referenced as being less than 0.025m (1”)

in diameter. If not, do such small measurements present a problem which

would require additional instrumentation?

51. Provide assurance that the air re-conditioning apparatus used with air type

collectors is capable of controlling the inlet air temperature to the collector within ±1.0*^C (1.8°F).

Testing by Simulator

52. If your laboratory includes a solar simulator provide assurance that the

spectral qualities of the radiation produced by the simulator meets the

energy spectrum of Paragraph 7.3.1 of ASHRAE 93-P.

53. Provide assurance that using the radiation from your simulator, the absorptivity of the selective surface specified in 93-P Paragraph 7.3.1

does not change over 17o for a change in radiation flux of 0.45 to 0.75

of one solar constant.

54. Show that the solar simulator beam does not vary more than 77. over the

test plane.

55. Provide assurance that 957 or more of the energy output of the simulator

o appears within a 10 subtended angle.

Testing

56. Describe your plans for determining the collector time constant.

57. Provide assurance that your laboratory is equipped to test at several

incident angles other than normal incidence as required to determine the

factor "b" used in Equation 8.14.

58. Provide assurance that your laboratory can provide all facets of the re- quired solar testing, - 1, by outdoor test, and/or 2, by indoor simulation.

SARIF-2

A-12
7

59. Provide assurance that the laboratory can perform the required tests to

determine the collector incident angle modifier as per paragraph 8.3.2

of ASHRAE Standard 93-P.

60. Discuss your method of calculating the collector time constant.

61. Describe your method of providing a least squares fit to the applicable

second order polynominal obtainable from your data points.

Discuss the method you will use to accurately compute the incident angle

modifier

.

63. Discuss the reliability with which your laboratory can provide all applicable information from tests of specific collectors required by Table A13.

6A. Discuss the ability of your laboratory to accurately provide all information required by Table 14 of ASHRAE Standard 93-P for each collector

tes ted

.

General

65. University laboratories who use students to perform all or a portion of

the testing must discuss the degree and type of supervision provided.

66. List or describe any intangibles you feel to be pertinent to the operation and effectiveness of your laboratory. Any other information you

feel will be useful to the reviewers may be detailed at your option.

SARIF-2 A-13
Evaluation Criteria for SAflIF-1 Form

A-14
CRITERIA FOR FORM SARIF-L

a. Degree to which the location of the laboratory permits outdoor

collector testing with good continuity.

b. Relative geographic location with respect to manufacturers and

others who are expected to need collector testing.

3 ^ a. Degree of readiness for outdoor testing requirements of 93 -P.

b. Existence of simulation facility capable of testing per 93-P.

4. Experience level in terms of months of operation and number of collectors tested. 12 months of full operation and testing of 3 or

more different collectors are considered a good experience.

5. a . An in-depth organization should be indicated regardless of its

size. Variations due to size and type should be considered.

b. Degree to which necessairy capabilities for testing, accuracy,

data reduction, report writing, and record keeping are indicated.

Consideration as to mix must be given considering the type of laboratory, - i.e., university, private, research organization, industrial.

6. a. Interest in testing for others, v/ith possible exception of those

laboratories operated by collector manufacturers.

b. Existence and completeness of suitable cost schedules for tests

made for others.

7. Evaluation of comparable thermal testing for relevance to solar tests.

8-A. a. Degree to which existing test stands are available to test indoors

with air as the heated medium.

b. Degree to which existing test stands are available to test indoors

with liquids as the heated medium.

c. Degree to which existing test stands are available to test outdoors

with air as the heated medium.

d. Degree to which existing test stands are available to test outdoors

with liquid as the heated medium.

8-B. a. Existence of test stands capable of accepting collectors up to

4 feet by 8 feet in face dimensions.

b. Existence of test stands capable of accepting collectors down to

14 Ul) liiu by lUUU inm in face dimension.

SAillF-l-Eval. A-15
^ 1 ^

CRITERIA FOR FORK SAIlIF-1

8-C. Evaluatioa of commeats.

8-D. a,b,c,d. Degree to which coatrol and measurement meets or exceeds the

requirements of ASHRAE 93-P*

e. Degree to which data processing can maintain accuracy and provide

consistent results within the requirements of ASHRAE 93-P.

9. Existence of at least one pyranometer for each test stand. Existence

of sufficient pyrheliometers to measure direct solar component^ or

satisfactory alternate for determination of direct solar component.

Recalibration at a capable national laboratory every six to twelve

months

.

S'^RT.F-l-Eval A-16
Evaluation Criteria for SARIF-2 Fonn

A-17
CRITERIA FOR FORM SARIF-2.

1 .

2 .

3.

4.

5.

6 .

7.

8 .

9.

10 .

II.

12 .

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

Verification of accuracy of information furnished in SARIF-1.

Evidence that laboratory has no pecuniary interest in manufacture or sale

of solar collectors.

ASTM E548 Requirements . Page

Completeness of response to information requested and 2

relevance of material provided.

Assurance of clear lines of responsibility 2

Degree to which job descriptions of key management and 2

technical personnel are available.

Existence of adeqxoate personnel records showing qualifi- 3

cations, work experience, training history of each person

described in Item 5.

Degree to which programs are provided to assure contin- 3

ued competence of the laboratory's human resources.

Adequacy of solar testing laboratories, including suit- 3

ability of location for solar collector testing and/or

provision of indoor simulator.

Degree to which required testing and inspection equip- 3

ment and instrumentation is available.

Adequacy of calibration standards and equipment. 3

Existence of a library of standards and procedures. 3

Facilities for storage of collectors before and 3

after testing.

Adequacy of logistic services. 3

Degree of accuracy of data processing equipment 3

Quality Control

Adequacy of calibration programs for all instru- 3

mentation.

Level of standardization of methods of test, measure- 3

ment, determination.

Traceability of physical, calibration, or numerical 3

standards, and of data recording, processing and

reporting

Para.

4

5.1.1

5.1.2

5.2

5.3

6 . 1.1

6 . 1.2

6.1.3

6.1.4

6.1.5

6 . 1.6

6.1.7

7. 1.1.1

7. 1.1.

2

7.1.1.

3

7. 1.1.

4

S ARIF-2 -Eval. A-18
Page Para.

- 2 -

CRITERIA FOR FORM SARIF-2.

18. Existence of specimen sampling program. 3 7. 1.2.1

19. Use of statistical analysis in analyzing data. 3 7. 1.2.

2

20. Feedback available on causes of discrepancies in data

detected, and availability of peer review

3 7.1.2.

3

21. Degree to which a representative audit sampling of

test results is employed.

3 7. 1.3.1

22. Practice of frequent on-site reviews. 3 7.1. 3.2

23. Comprehensiveness of reviews of Item 22, and existence

of feedback of relevant information obtained.

3 7.1. 3.3

7.1. 3.4

93-P Requirements

24. Overall ability to test collectors per Section 8 of 93-P. 4 5.1

25. Provision for stagnation test, by outdoor exposure for 3 5 5.1.1

days with mean of 1500 Btu/ft^ per day, or alternately*

indoors with 24 hours at mean of 187 Btu/ ft^-hr with

three excursions of 1-hour each to 350 Btu/ft^-hr.

26. Demonstrated freedom of reflection for outdoor testing, 5 5.1.3

and reflectivity of foreground area less than the prescribed diffuse reflectivity of 0.20.

27. Availability of sufficient pyranometers and pyrhelio- 6 6.1.1

meters meeting the "first class" requirements of the World

Meterological Organization to perform the number of

simultaneous tests planned by the laboratory.

28. Existence of ambient compensation in the instruments of 6 6. 1.1.1

Item 26 + or - 1% from -20 to +40°C.

29. Existence of calibration relating output of instruments 6 6.1. 1.3

of Item 26 insolation, or assurance of linearity within

+ or - 1%.

30. Evidence that time response of pyranometers is less than 7 6. 1.1.

4

5 seconds when irradiated at flux level of 300 Btu/sq ft hr.

31. Assurance tliat response of instrumentation of Item 26 to 7 6. 1.1.

5

changing angles of incidence is within 1% of being proportional to the cosine of the zenith angle of the direct

solar radiation.

32.

Assurance of adequate means to prevent condensation in the 7

instruments of Item 26.

6 . 1 . 1.

6

*Under consideration by ASHRAE 93 Committee

SARIF-2-Eval. A-19
- 3 -

CRITERIA FOR FORM SARIF-2. Page Para

33. Existence of positive program to calibrate each instrument

of Item 26 to a known standard within 6 months of any test.

7 6.1.2

34. Ability to calibrate pyranometer to determine the direct

component of the insolation when in a tilted position.

7 6.1.2,

35. Evidence that the laboratory will use ASHRAE Standard

41.1-74 in measuring temperatures during tests.

7 6.2.1

36. Assurance that the accuracy and precision of temperature

measuring devices meets the requirements of Para 6.2.2 of

AHSRAE Standard 93-P.

7 6.2.2

37. Adequacy of provisions for differential temperature measurement .8 6.2.3

38. Assurance that the smallest scale division of all temperature measuring devices does not exceed twice the required

precision of the device.

8 6.2.4

39. Identification of flow devices and assurance that measurements made therewith have accuracy within + or - 1% of the

measured value in mass units.

8 6.3.1

40. Proof that strip chart recorders have an accuracy of + or - 0.57o of full scale and a time constant under 1 second.8 6.4.1

41. Assurance that any electronic integrators used can

provide results equal to or better than 17, of measurement.

8 6.42

42. a. Proof that the laboratory uses measuring techniques

for nozzle throat pressures accurate to + or - 27. of

absolute pressure.

8 6.61

b. Assurance that instrument scale divisions are less

than twice the specified accuracy.

43. a. Assurance that manometer calibration is accurate within

+ or - 17o of any reading.

9 6.62

b. Proof that manometer scales do not exceed 27o of reading.

44. Showing that manometer for measuring collector Z!\p has an

accuracy of at least 25 Pa (0.1" of water).

9 6.6.3

45. Assurance of provisions to calibrate time and mass measurements to an accuracy of + or - 0.207,.9 6.7

46

Ability to measure wind velocity to + or - 0.8m/s (±1.8mph) 9 6.8

47. a. Degree to which the laboratory's test configurations are

identical to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 of ASHRAE Standard y3-P.

11 7.1

A-20
- 4 -

CRITERIA FOR FORM SARIF-2. Page Para

b. Number of test stands of Fig. 1 configuration.

c. Number of test stands of Fig. 2 configuration.

d. Number of test stands of Fig. 3 configuration.

e. Number of test stands of Fig. 4 configuration.

48. Degree to which ambient temperature measuring device conforms to standard NOAA device as described in paragraph

7.12 of ASHRAE Standard 93 -P.

11 7.1.2

49. Degree to which need to measure direct component of insolation is recognized as by use of pyrheliometer

11-12 7.1.3

50. Availability of calibrated flow element for low air flows

when nozzle diameters would be less than 0.025m (1”).

15 7.2.8

51. Demonstrated capability of the air reconditioning apparatus to control air temperature to collector within + or

- 1.0°C (1.8°F).

16 7.2.10

Indoor Testing by Simulator.

52. Degree of assurance that spectral qualities of radiation

produced by the simulator meets the energy spectrum in

this paragraph of ASHRAE Std. 93-P.

16 7.3.1

53. Degree of assurance that absorptivity of the selected surface specified does not change over 17. for a change in

radiation flux from 0.45 to 0.75 of one solar constant.

17 7.31

54. Degree to assurance that the solar simulator flux does not

vary over TL over the test plane used.

17 7.3.2

55. Assurance that 957. or more of the energy output of the

simulator appears within a 10° subtended angle.

17 7.3.3

Testing.

56. Degree to which laboratory shows its ability to determine

the collector time constant.

19-20

22

8.2.2

8.3.1

57. Assurance that laboratory is equipped to test at one or

more incident angles other than normal as required to determine the factor "b” used in Equation 8.14,

20-21 8.2.3

00 • Assurance that the laboratory can perform all facets of

the required testing,- 1, by outdoor test, and/or 2, by

indoor simulation.

22-25 8.3.2

59. Assurance that the laboratory can perform the tests to

determine the collector incident angle modifier for all

collectors it is capable of testing, as per paragraph 8.3.2.

25 8.3.3

A-21
- 5 -

CRITERIA FOR FORM SARIF-2. Page

60. Assurance that laboratory has the expertise to accurately

calculate the collector time constant, either by hand or

by computer.

26

61. Assurance that laboratory has - the expertise to accurately

calculate the required data points and to provide a least

squares fit to the applicable second order polynominal.

27

62. Assurance that laboratory has the expertise to accurately

compute the collector incident angle modifier.

28

63. Assessment of reliability with which the laboratory is

capable of providing all applicable information from

tests of specific collectors required by Table A 13.

30

50-51

64. Degree to which laboratory is able to furnish all information required in Table 14 for each collector tested.

52-52A

General.

65. For University laboratories, - degree of supervision of

students performing test duties.

66. Assessment of intangibles observed during the analysis of

the laboratory's proposal and correspondence.

Para.

8.4

8.5

8.6

A-13

A-14

SARIF-2-Eval.

A-22
NBS-1 14A (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET

1. PUBLICATION OR REPORT NO.

NBSIR 78-1535

2. Gov’t Accession

No.

3. Recipient’s Accession No.

4. TlTl.E AND SUBTITLE

Laboratories Technically Qualified to Test Solar Collectors

in Accordance with ASHRAE Standard 93-77: A Summary Report

5. Publication Date November 1978

6. Performing Organization (.ode

7. AU I IIOR(S)

William J. Niessing

8, Performing Organ. Report No.

9. iv-;reorming organization name and address

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. 7446505 (Task 6.8)

11. Contract/Grant No. IAA-EA-77-A-01-6010

12. .Sponsoring Organization Name and Complete Address (Street, City, State, ZIP)

Department of EnergyOffice of Conservation and Solar Applications

20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 205^5

13. Type of Report & Period

Covered

Final

14. Sponsoring Agency Ciode

15. SUF^PLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRAC/I' (A 200-word or less factual summary of most sigrtifleant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

In fulfilling its responsibilities under the National Program for Solar Heating and

Cooling of Buildings established as a result of the Solar Heating and Cooling

Demonstration Act of 197^ (PL 93-^09) and related legislation, the Energy Research and

Development Administration (ERDA) requested the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) to

develop criteria for assessing the capabilities of laboratories for testing solar

collectors, to identify those laboratories qualified to test solar collectors, and to

develop a plan for the certification of solar collectors.

NBS engaged the professional services of ARI Foundation, Inc. (ARIF), a subsidiary of

the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), to identify laboratories

qualified to test solar collectors and to develop documentation for a solar collector

certification program. ARI is a national trade association of manufacturers of airconditioning and refrigeration equipment with established experience and background in

standards development for HVAC equipment and the conduct of certification programs for

such equipment.

This summary report covers the identification of qualified solar collector testing

laboratories. It discusses the procedures used by ARIF, the results of their evaluation and lists the laboratories evaluated as qualified to test solar collectors in

accordance with American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning

Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 93-77.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons)

Collector; evaluation; laboratories; qualification; solar; testing.

18. AVAILABILITY [X] Unlimited 19. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS REPORT)

21. NO. OF PAGES

Q2 For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

UNCL ASSIFIED

37

D J Order From Sup. of Doc., U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C. 20402. SD Cat. No. C13

20. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS PAGE)

22. Price

[XX ^^'der From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

-Springfield, Virginia 22151 UNCLASSIFIED $4.50

USCOMM.DC 29042-P74
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