---
title: Chillers
…3 unchanged lines
When to use: Packaged factory-assembled water-cooled and air-cooled liquid chillers for commercial, institutional, and industrial HVAC service. Covers centrifugal, screw, and scroll compressor machines from approximately 50 tons through 3,000 tons producing chilled water for comfort cooling and process cooling within the standard HVAC temperature range (typically 38°F to 55°F leaving chilled water). Includes the chiller package — compressor(s), evaporator, condenser (water-cooled shell-and-tube or air-cooled finned-coil with integral condenser fans), refrigerant circuit, oil management, microprocessor unit controller, integral power and control panel, and factory-mounted accessories. Both fixed-speed and variable-speed compressor drives are addressed.
− Not intended for: Absorption chillers (driven by steam, hot water, or direct-fired heat input rather than electric compressor); air-cooled refrigerant condensing units paired with field-installed evaporators; DX rooftop and split-system equipment with refrigerant evaporators ([[syncs/rooftop-packaged-units]] where present); process chillers for industrial cooling at non-HVAC temperatures; low-temperature glycol industrial chillers below approximately 20°F leaving fluid temperature; modular skid-mounted chillers assembled in the field from separate components; and water-source heat pumps. The condenser water system, chilled water distribution piping, and cooling tower are covered separately — see [[syncs/hvac-pumps]], [[syncs/hydronic-piping]], and the cooling tower standard. Variable frequency drives external to the chiller package (where a starter is field-furnished) are covered in [[syncs/hvac-variable-frequency-drives]].
+ Not intended for: Absorption chillers (driven by steam, hot water, or direct-fired heat input rather than electric compressor); air-cooled refrigerant condensing units paired with field-installed evaporators; DX rooftop and split-system equipment with refrigerant evaporators ([[sync/rooftop-packaged-units]] where present); process chillers for industrial cooling at non-HVAC temperatures; low-temperature glycol industrial chillers below approximately 20°F leaving fluid temperature; modular skid-mounted chillers assembled in the field from separate components; and water-source heat pumps. The condenser water system, chilled water distribution piping, and cooling tower are covered separately — see [[sync/hvac-pumps]], [[sync/hydronic-piping]], and the cooling tower standard. Variable frequency drives external to the chiller package (where a starter is field-furnished) are covered in [[sync/hvac-variable-frequency-drives]].
---
…5 unchanged lines
## The boundary of work under this standard is the chiller package itself, from the chilled water and condenser water connections (or, for air-cooled units, the chilled water connections only) through the integral power and control terminations. {note}
−## Field-installed piping, valves, strainers, flow meters, and isolation devices on the connected loops are covered in [[syncs/hydronic-piping]]. {note}
+## Field-installed piping, valves, strainers, flow meters, and isolation devices on the connected loops are covered in [[sync/hydronic-piping]]. {note}
## The cooling tower and condenser water heat rejection system, including the tower itself and its sump piping, are covered in the cooling tower standard. {note}
−## The chilled water distribution beyond the chiller connections, including primary/secondary decoupling, distribution pumps, and air separation, is covered in [[syncs/hydronic-piping]] and [[syncs/hvac-pumps]]. {note}
+## The chilled water distribution beyond the chiller connections, including primary/secondary decoupling, distribution pumps, and air separation, is covered in [[sync/hydronic-piping]] and [[sync/hvac-pumps]]. {note}
## A chiller is a single integrated machine but it sits at the center of a system, and its performance, reliability, and service life depend as much on the design and condition of the connected systems — condenser water loop, chilled water distribution, electrical service, and building automation system — as on the machine itself. {note}
−## The Contractor shall coordinate chiller installation with [[syncs/hvac-pumps]] for chilled water and condenser water pumps, [[syncs/hydronic-piping]] for piping sizing and arrangement at the chiller connections, [[syncs/hvac-water-treatment]] for both closed-loop chilled water chemistry and open-loop condenser water chemistry and Legionella risk management, [[syncs/building-automation-system]] for control integration, [[syncs/testing-adjusting-and-balancing]] for system flow verification, [[syncs/concrete-pads]] for the housekeeping pad, [[syncs/grounding-and-bonding]] for equipment grounding, and [[syncs/equipment-labeling]] for nameplate and arc-flash labeling.
+## The Contractor shall coordinate chiller installation with [[sync/hvac-pumps]] for chilled water and condenser water pumps, [[sync/hydronic-piping]] for piping sizing and arrangement at the chiller connections, [[sync/hvac-water-treatment]] for both closed-loop chilled water chemistry and open-loop condenser water chemistry and Legionella risk management, [[sync/building-automation-system]] for control integration, [[sync/testing-adjusting-and-balancing]] for system flow verification, [[sync/concrete-pads]] for the housekeeping pad, [[sync/grounding-and-bonding]] for equipment grounding, and [[sync/equipment-labeling]] for nameplate and arc-flash labeling.
## Performance rating shall conform to AHRI 550/590 (I-P) or AHRI 551/591 (SI) for water-chilling packages.
…324 unchanged lines
### Higher leaving temperatures (45°F to 48°F) improve chiller efficiency and are common in projects optimized for low pumping energy or for use with chilled-beam systems. {note}
−### The design ΔT shall be coordinated with the chilled water distribution design in [[syncs/hydronic-piping]] and the air-side coil selections; mismatch between the chiller ΔT and the coil ΔT produces "low ΔT syndrome" in the distribution system.
+### The design ΔT shall be coordinated with the chilled water distribution design in [[sync/hydronic-piping]] and the air-side coil selections; mismatch between the chiller ΔT and the coil ΔT produces "low ΔT syndrome" in the distribution system.
## Condenser Rating Conditions — Water-Cooled {toc}
…535 unchanged lines
### The starter and motor selection shall be coordinated with the electrical engineer for short-circuit current rating (SCCR), maximum inrush, and harmonic compatibility with the building service.
−### Where a VFD is remote-mounted, the cable length and motor filtering requirements of [[syncs/hvac-variable-frequency-drives]] shall be applied to the chiller-to-VFD run.
+### Where a VFD is remote-mounted, the cable length and motor filtering requirements of [[sync/hvac-variable-frequency-drives]] shall be applied to the chiller-to-VFD run.
## Electrical Safety {toc}
…60 unchanged lines
```
−### BACnet/IP is the preferred protocol for new commercial buildings and is the protocol assumed by [[syncs/building-automation-system]]. {note}
+### BACnet/IP is the preferred protocol for new commercial buildings and is the protocol assumed by [[sync/building-automation-system]]. {note}
### Modbus and LonWorks remain in service in legacy buildings and may be specified where consistency with an existing BAS is required.
…185 unchanged lines
- Verify the chiller has been set on its housekeeping pad, leveled, anchored, and that any seismic restraints are installed per the manufacturer's instructions
−- Verify chilled water and condenser water piping is complete, pressure-tested, flushed, and refilled per [[syncs/hydronic-piping]] and [[syncs/hvac-water-treatment]]
+- Verify chilled water and condenser water piping is complete, pressure-tested, flushed, and refilled per [[sync/hydronic-piping]] and [[sync/hvac-water-treatment]]
- Verify all flow switches, pressure taps, and instrumentation are installed and the flow paths through the evaporator and condenser are correct
−- Verify electrical power termination at the chiller is complete, the SCCR is adequate for the available fault current, and ground per [[syncs/grounding-and-bonding]]
+- Verify electrical power termination at the chiller is complete, the SCCR is adequate for the available fault current, and ground per [[sync/grounding-and-bonding]]
- Verify the refrigerant relief vent piping is installed, routed to outdoors, and supported per ASHRAE 15
−- Verify the BAS communication wiring is installed and the chiller has been added to the BAS database per [[syncs/building-automation-system]]
+- Verify the BAS communication wiring is installed and the chiller has been added to the BAS database per [[sync/building-automation-system]]
- Verify the machinery room ventilation, refrigerant monitor, and emergency shutdown per ASHRAE 15 are installed and functional
…35 unchanged lines
## Setting and Anchoring {toc}
−### Chillers shall be set on housekeeping pads designed per [[syncs/concrete-pads]] sized for the operating weight of the chiller, including a full water charge in the evaporator and condenser (water-cooled).
+### Chillers shall be set on housekeeping pads designed per [[sync/concrete-pads]] sized for the operating weight of the chiller, including a full water charge in the evaporator and condenser (water-cooled).
### The pad shall extend a minimum of 4 in. beyond the chiller footprint on all sides and shall be a minimum of 4 in. above the surrounding floor for drainage and access.
…32 unchanged lines
## Water Piping Connections {toc}
−### Chilled water and condenser water piping shall be connected to the chiller per [[syncs/hydronic-piping]].
+### Chilled water and condenser water piping shall be connected to the chiller per [[sync/hydronic-piping]].
### Pipe size at the chiller shall match the connection size; reductions or expansions in piping shall be made away from the chiller, not at the connection.
…19 unchanged lines
## Insulation of Connected Piping {toc}
−### Chilled water piping connected to the chiller shall be insulated continuously with vapor-tight insulation per [[syncs/hydronic-piping]].
+### Chilled water piping connected to the chiller shall be insulated continuously with vapor-tight insulation per [[sync/hydronic-piping]].
### Insulation shall be continuous over flanges, valves, and fittings to prevent condensation, and the vapor barrier shall be continuous and sealed.
…73 unchanged lines
### The warranty shall cover defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and service conditions for the specified period.
−### Warranty shall not apply to damage caused by operation outside the design conditions, operation with water chemistry outside the limits established by [[syncs/hvac-water-treatment]], operation without functional flow switches or freeze protection, lack of the manufacturer's specified annual maintenance, field-installed refrigerant of incorrect type or quality, or installation contrary to the manufacturer's published installation instructions.
+### Warranty shall not apply to damage caused by operation outside the design conditions, operation with water chemistry outside the limits established by [[sync/hvac-water-treatment]], operation without functional flow switches or freeze protection, lack of the manufacturer's specified annual maintenance, field-installed refrigerant of incorrect type or quality, or installation contrary to the manufacturer's published installation instructions.
## Extended Warranty Coverage {toc}
…48 unchanged lines
default: "Manufacturer's installation, operation, and maintenance manual"
```