In January, Q-PAC announced it was building an airflow tunnel designed to the AMCA 270 standard. The goal was to test complete multimotor plenum fan systems at full scale, rather than estimating array performance from single-fan tests. That laboratory, in Elkton, Florida, is now the first accredited by AMCA International for fan array testing under ANSI/AMCA Standard 270, according to AMCA. It also holds accreditation under AMCA 210/ASHRAE 51.

Fan array performance is often estimated from extrapolated data, rules of thumb, or safety factors for system effects. With an accredited lab, Q-PAC engineers can test and refine customer-specific designs in-house. They can use measured data to set fan quantity, speed, and control strategy, troubleshoot issues before field deployment, and compare configurations across a range of operating conditions, without waiting on outside test-facility schedules.

To earn accreditation, Q-PAC tested its Multimotor Plenum Fan (MPF) in a 2 x 2 plug-fan configuration. The process included verification of AMCA 210 and AMCA 270 protocols, including flow-uniformity and measurement requirements, plus remote and on-site witness testing. AMCA also independently tested Q-PAC fans at its Chicago lab and found results consistent with Q-PAC's tunnel data.

"It is a significant industry milestone for the Q-PAC Lab to be awarded accreditation as the first AMCA-accredited laboratory for fan array testing in accordance with ANSI/AMCA Standard 270, Laboratory Methods of Aerodynamic Testing Fan Arrays for Rating," said Nazme Mohsina Senior Director, Certification, Accreditation, and Documentation at AMCA International. "It demonstrates the team’s technical competence and leadership, establishing Q-PAC as a pioneer in advancing fan array testing and moving the industry forward."

The lab measures airflow from 2,000 to 70,000 CFM (3,400 to 118,900 m³/h) at up to ±12 inches water column static pressure. Its 12 x 12 ft (3.7 x 3.7 m) plenum accommodates individual fans and full arrays. Q-PAC says the lab was designed to exceed AMCA 270 requirements for multifan testing and to establish performance data for its MPF platform. Sixteen flow nozzles with automatic closures and a modular auxiliary fan system support AMCA 210 test arrangements. The measurement system logs the parameters AMCA 270 requires, including barometric pressure, rotational speed, input power, velocity, static, and total pressure, temperature, and nozzle pressure drop. Custom software integrating PLC, LabVIEW, automated dampers, and automated cone closures runs test plans while still allowing manual control.

Q-PAC plans to use the lab to expand its formal testing programs for individual fans and fan arrays, supporting customer and OEM engineering development. The test and auxiliary fan sections can be swapped to accommodate different fan types and configurations, and Q-PAC continues to expand the control software.

Q-PAC developed the tunnel with Airflow Sciences Corp. of Livonia, Michigan, using structural and airflow simulation to refine the design before construction.