The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), Washington, D.C., has revised the technical standard for portable air conditioners. AHAM PAC-1-2009, Portable Air Conditioners, is now available on the AHAM Web site. The standard was revised to differentiate between spot coolers and single duct configurations.

This standard establishes a uniform, repeatable procedure for measuring specified product characteristics of portable air conditioners. The standard methods and the recommended levels of performance, where they appear, are intended to provide a means to compare and evaluate different brands and models of portable air conditioners regarding characteristics significant to product use.

This standard applies to portable air conditioners with a rated cooling capacity of less than 19,000 watts (65,000 Btu/h). This standard also applies to the cooling performance of units with heating capability.

AHAM will seek accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to establish AHAM PAC-1-2009 as the American National Standard for portable air conditioners. AHAM is an accredited Standards Development Organization (SDO) through ANSI.

The AHAM PAC-1-2009 standard, along with all other AHAM standards, is available for purchase online at www.aham.org/ht/d/Store/name/MAJOR/pid.