HVAC checklist
A checklist for airside and waterside equipment: relevant nameplate fields, locations, access constraints and the system connections to verify.
On every HVAC unit capture make, model, serial, capacity, electrical rating, refrigerant where applicable, location and condition. Then establish the relationships while on site: which unit serves which zones, which drive runs which motor, and which loop feeds which coil. The ratings can be read from a plate later; the relationships usually cannot.
01: Air handling unit
02: Rooftop unit
03: Fan coil unit
04: VAV / terminal box
05: Exhaust fan
| Equipment | Capture from the plate and unit | Also record |
|---|---|---|
| Air handling unit | CFM, external static pressure, coil rows and capacity, fan motor HP, V/Ph/FLA | Filter sizes, access clearance, coil pull space |
| Rooftop unit | Tons, refrigerant type and charge, heating input/output, MCA/MOCP, economiser | Curb size, roof access and rigging route |
| Fan coil unit | CFM, coil capacity, motor rating, control arrangement | Ceiling access, condensate route |
| VAV / terminal box | Box size, design airflow, reheat type and capacity | Parent air handler, rooms downstream |
| Exhaust fan | CFM, static pressure, motor rating, drive type | Area served, discharge arrangement |
01: Chiller
02: Boiler
03: Pump
04: Cooling tower
05: Heat exchanger
| Equipment | Capture from the plate and unit | Also record |
|---|---|---|
| Chiller | Tons, refrigerant, compressor type, evaporator/condenser flow and pressure drop, kW/ton | Loops served, plant room access for replacement |
| Boiler | Input and output MBH, fuel, efficiency, pressure rating, stack arrangement | Loops served, flue and combustion air constraints |
| Pump | GPM, head, motor HP, V/Ph/FLA, seal and drive arrangement | Loop served, driving VFD |
| Cooling tower | Nominal tons, flow, fan motor rating, basin capacity, material | Condenser loop served, access for maintenance |
| Heat exchanger | Capacity, primary and secondary flows and temperatures, material | Loops on each side |
Age and refrigerant type support replacement planning alongside condition, maintenance history and system needs. Record a printed manufacture date or the basis for an age estimate. Review refrigerant availability and current requirements when planning work.
Capturing both at survey time means the capital plan can be sorted by exposure as well as by age, without going back to read plates that were already photographed once.
On HVAC surveys the constraint that decides project cost is frequently physical: a chiller that cannot leave the plant room without removing a wall, a rooftop unit whose crane position blocks the only service road, a fan coil above a hard ceiling in an occupied tenant space.
Record it while you are there. Curb sizes, door and riser dimensions, access routes and rigging constraints belong in the survey, because they are the fields nobody thinks to capture and everybody needs later. The general equipment checklist covers the fields common to all disciplines.
What should be captured on a rooftop unit?
Manufacturer, model and serial from the main plate; cooling capacity in tons; heating input and output; refrigerant type and factory charge; MCA and MOCP; supply fan motor rating; and the economiser arrangement. Add the curb dimensions and the roof access route, because both decide what a replacement actually costs.
How do you keep a large terminal-unit survey organized?
Use a consistent route and capture standard: tag, location, nameplate and relevant airflow or reheat information. Confirm proposed connections against available plans and observations. Survey duration still depends on equipment count and access.
Is refrigerant worth recording if the equipment is working fine?
Yes. Record the refrigerant type and nameplate charge for servicing and replacement planning, alongside age, condition and maintenance history. Check current requirements and availability when making a replacement decision.