HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Aside from HVAC full form, knowledge of key terms like equipment abbreviation and air conditioning symbols is of paramount importance in MEP industry. Having a stronghold over hvac basics is necessary when building a foundation. Here, we have compiled a list of 250 of the most commonly used acronyms in the HVAC industry (mainly in hvac design). These abbreviations and hvac full forms may appear in daily use situations and hence any passionate HVAC engineer must be familiar with these terms.

Acronym-Expansion

AAV-Automatic Air Vent

ABC-Above Ceiling

ACH-Air Changes per Hour

A/C-Air Conditioning/Air Curtain

AFF-Above Finished Floor

AFG-Above Finished Grade

ACD-Automatic Control Damper

AD-Access Door

AMB-Ambient

AF-Air Foil

AFU-E-Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency

AHR-I-Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute

AHU-Air Handling Unit

ASHRAE-American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

ASME-American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASTM-American Society for Testing and Materials

ATC-Automatic Temperature Control

ATM-Atmosphere

AUX-Auxiliary

B & S-Bell And Spigot

BBD-Boiler Blowdown

BDD-Back-Draft Damper

BG-Barrier Grill

BHP-Brake Horsepower

BOD-Bottom Of Duct

BOP- Bottom Of Pipe

BP-Back Pressure

BI-Backwards Inclined

BSMT-Basement

BTU-British Thermal Unit

BTUH-British Thermal Unit Per Hour

BU-Blower Unit

BV-Butterfly Valve

oC-Celsius

C-Condensate Line

C to C-Centre To Centre

CA-Compressed Air

CAP-Capacity

CAV-Constant Air Volume

CCU-Closed Control Unit

CDR-Condensate Drain Line

CF-Cubic Feet

CFH-Cubic Feet Per Hour

CFM-Cubic Feet Per Minute

CH-Chiller

CI-Cast Iron

CL-Centre Line

CO-Clean Out

COL-Column

CONN-Connection

CONT-Continuation

CR-Condenser Return

CS-Condenser Supply

CHWS-Chilled Water Supply

CHWR-Chilled Water Return

CV-Check Valve

CW-Cold Water

C/W-Complete With

CWR-Cold Water Riser

CU-Cubic/Cooling Unit

CT-Cooling Tower

CTBD-Cooling Tower Blow Down

D/DR-Drain

DBT-Dry Bulb Temperature

DDC-Direct Digital Control

DELTA T-Temperature Difference

DIA-Diameter

DIM-Dimension

DL-Door Louver

DP-Differential Pressure

DPT-Dew Point Temperature

DRV-Double Regulating Valve

DWG-Drawing

EA-Exhaust Air

EAD-Exhaust Air Duct

EAG-Exhaust Air Grill

EAHU-Exhaust Air Handling Unit

EAL-Exhaust Air Louver

EAR-Exhaust Air Register

EAT-Entering Air Temperature

EATR-Exhaust Air Transfer Ratio

ECG-Exhaust Ceiling Grill

ECD-Exhaust Ceiling Diffuser

EDH-Exhaust Duct Heater

EER-Energy Efficient Ratio

EF-Exhaust Fan

EG-Extract Grill

EJ-Expansion Joint

EL-Elevation

ELB-Elbow

ELSD-Exhaust Linear Slot Diffuser

ERV-Energy Recovery Ventilator

ESP-External Static Pressure

ET-Expansion Tank

EVAP-Evaporator

EVV-Exhaust Venture Valve

EXST-Existing

EXF-Exhaust Fan

EXT-External

E-FCU-Exposed Fan Coil Unit

F-Fahrenheit

FA-Free Area, Fire Alarm, From Above

FAF-Fresh Air Fan

FAHU-Fresh Air Handling Unit

FAI-Fresh Air Intake

FAL-Fresh Air Louver

FAD-Fresh Air Duct

FAF-Fresh Air Fan

FAR-Fresh Air Register

FB-From Below

FC-Flexible Connection

FCO-Floor Clean Out

FCU-Fan Coil Unit

FD-Floor Drain, Fire Damper, Fire Department

FDW-Feed Water

FEC-Fire Extinguisher Cabinet

FF-Finish Floor

FG-Finish Grade

FHC-Fire Hose Cabinet

FJ-Flexible Joint

FLR-Floor

FM-Flow Meter

FPM-Feet Per Minute

FOV-Flush Out Valve

FRP-Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic

FS-Flow Switch

FTG-Fitting

FTR-Fin Tube Radiation

FU-Fixture Unit

FV-Flush Valve

GA-Gauge

GV-Globe Valve/Gate Valve

GPM-Gallons Per Minute

GR-Grade

HB-Hose Bib

HD-Head

HF-Hepa Filter

HP-Horsepower, High Point

HRU-Heat Recovery Unit

HRV-Heat Recovery Ventilator

HU-Humidistat

HVAC-Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

HWS-Hot Water Supply

HWT-Hot Water Tank

ID-Inside Diameter

IV-Isolating Valve

J-Joule

K-Kelvin

KPA-Kilo Pascal

KW-Kilowatt

LAT-Leaving Air Temperature

LD-Linear Diffuser

LL-Low Level

LPD-Lift Pressurization Duct

LSD-Linear Slot Diffuser

LVR-Louver

LVL-Level

MAU-Makeup Air Unit

MU-Make-Up Water

MSD-Motorized Smoke Damper

MSFD-Motorized Smoke Fire Damper

MSIU-Mini Split Indoor Unit

NA-Not Applicable

NC-Noise Criteria, Normally Closed

NPHP-Name Plate Horsepower

NPS-Nominal Pipe Size

NPSH-Net Positive Suction Head

NRD-Non-Return Damper

NRV-Non Return Valve

NTS-Not To Scale

OA-Outside Air

OAT-Outside Air Temperature

OED-Open End Duct

OF-Overflow

PCR-Pounds Per Cubic Foot

PD-Pressure Drop

PICV-Pressure Independent Control Valve

PG-Pressure Gauge

PP-Primary Pump

PRD-Pressure Relief Damper

PRV-Pressure Reducing Valve

PSI-Pounds per Square Inch

PSIA-Pounds per Square Inch Absolute

PTAC-Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner

R/E-Return and Exhaust

RA-Return Air

RAD-Return Air Duct

RAG-Return Air Grill

RCD-Return Ceiling Diffuser

RD-Roof Drain

RH-Relative Humidity

RL-Refrigerant Liquid

RLA-Rated Load Amperes

RLBG-Return Linear Bar Grille

RLF-Relief

RLSD-Return Linear Slot Diffuser

RM-Room

RTU-Roof-Top Unit

RV-Relief Valve

SA-Supply Air

SAD-Supply Air Duct

SAG-Supply Air Grill

SAT-Supply Air Temperature, Sound Attenuator

SCD-Supply Ceiling Diffuser

SD-Smoke Detector, Smoke Damper

SE-Smoke Exhaust

SED-Smoke Extract Duct

SEG-Smoke Extract Grille

SEER-Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio

SF-Service Factor

SFD-Combination Smoke / Fire Damper

SHC-Sensible Heat Capacity

SI-International Systems of Units

SLBG-Supply Linear Bar Grille

SLSD-Supply Linear Slot Diffuser

SP-Secondary Pump

SPD-Stair Pressurization Duct

SS-Stainless Steel

SSH-Static Suction Head

SST-Saturated Suction Temperature

ST-Strainer

STH-Static Total Head

SVH-Static Velocity Head

T-Temperature, Thermostat

TA-To Above

TAB-Testing, Adjusting and Balancing

TB-To Below

TDH-Total Dynamic Head

TE-Toilet Exhaust

TED-Toilet Extract Duct

TEFC-Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled

TEWI-Total Equivalent Warming Impact

TON-12,000 Btuh

TSP-Total Static Pressure

TXV-Thermostatic Expansion Valve

UF-Under Floor

UH-Unit Heater

VAV-Variable Air Volume

VCD-Volume Control Damper

VD-Volume Damper

VFD-Variable Frequency Drive

VSD-Variable Speed Drive

VTR-Vent Through Roof

VVT-Variable Volume Variable Temperature

WB-Wet Bulb Temperature

WC-Water Column

WCO-Wall Clean Out

WG-Water Gauge

WH-Water Heater

ZV -Zone Valve

Next time you wonder what does hvac stand for, you’ll have the answer and more.