Kuenzelsau, Germany, 30 April 2019: Zeihl-Abegg is the first company worldwide to certify a product range, ZAbluefin, for AMCA’s new Fan Energy Index (FEI), the German manufacturer of fans said through a Press communiqué. FEI is a wire-to-air, design-point metric, emphasising compliant fan selections based on operating points. In 2018, the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International introduced FEI to save energy, reduce operating costs and accelerate decarbonisation.

The product range, ZAbluefin is certified for the new AMCA fan energy index (FEI).

FEI is an energy-efficiency metric for fans, inclusive of motors and drives. The calculation method for the new metric is defined in ANSI/AMCA Standard 208, Calculation of the Fan Energy Index. The metric provides a standardised and consistent basis for comparing fan energy performance across fan types and sizes at a given fan duty point. FEI also considers the effects of motors and drives, when included in fan-rating tests.

FEI has several uses, Zeihl-Abegg said through the communiqué. Fan specifiers can use it to understand and communicate fan-efficiency design intent, while legislative and regulatory bodies can use it to define energy-efficiency requirements of fans. The standard has been written to support the fan industry’s entrance into energy and construction codes and standards and to support utility rebate programmes.

FEI is a replacement for fan efficiency grade (FEG), a metric currently referenced in model energy codes and standards, such as ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings; ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IEC 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings; and the International Energy Conservation Code and in federal regulations in several Asian countries. FEI will replace FEG in energy codes, standards and regulations as it is adopted through change proposals as part of routine revision cycles.

According to the communiqué, 27 ZAbluefin centrifugal fans with GR modules in several combinations, using different motors, are certified, as are the former product range, Cpro and C. Ziehl-Abegg has operated the world’s largest combined measurement and test chamber for fans in Künzelsau since 2008, the communiqué said. Ziehl-Abegg, the communiqué said, believes that state-of-the-art, high-precision measuring instruments and regular training for employees, combined with routine inspections by external organisations, such as AMCA and TÜV, are essential to continuing to inspire customers’ total confidence in its products.

Photo courtesy: Ziehl-Abegg