A comparison of commonly used water-cooled chiller sound metrics

Noise from centrifugal chillers can often be a key driver in the selection process for large equipment. This paper presents the history of sound standards applicable for water-cooled centrifugal compressor chiller sound measurements, specifically AHRI Standard 575 and AHRI Standard 1280. Presented is an overview of the beginnings of AHRI 575 and how it became the de facto method for rating water-cooled centrifugal chillers, though it was never intended for that purpose. Discussion on the creation of AHRI 1280, how it improves on AHRI 575, and, finally, the benefits of using it as the measurement standard for rating water-cooled centrifugal chillers are provided.