2,400+ Definitions
HVAC GLOSSARY
Every HVAC term, acronym, and industry phrase — defined in plain English.
Away Mode
Away mode is an HVAC operating schedule that automatically switches…
AWG
AWG stands for American Wire Gauge, the standard measurement system…
Azeotropic Blend
An azeotropic blend is a refrigerant mixture composed of two…
Backflow Preventer
A backflow preventer is a critical safety device that allows…
BACnet
BACnet is an open-source communication protocol standard developed by ASHRAE…
Bag Filter
Bag filters are cylindrical or rectangular fabric containers that capture…
Balanced Mechanical Ventilation
Balanced mechanical ventilation simultaneously supplies filtered fresh air and exhausts…
Balanced Ventilation
Balanced ventilation systems simultaneously supply and exhaust equal volumes of…
Balancing Damper
A balancing damper is a manually adjustable blade device installed…
Ball Valve
A Ball Valve is a quarter-turn shutoff valve featuring a…
Ball Valve Plumbing
A ball valve is a quarter-turn shutoff valve with a…
Balometer
A balometer is a specialized airflow measurement device that combines…
Baseboard Heater
A baseboard heater is a self-contained heating unit installed along…
Batch Solar Heater
A batch solar heater is a passive solar system that…
Bathroom Exhaust Fan
A bathroom exhaust fan is a ventilation device that removes…
Battery Capacity
Battery capacity is the total amount of electrical energy a…
Battery Cycle Life
Battery cycle life is the number of complete charge and…
Bearing Lubrication
Bearing lubrication is the maintenance process of applying appropriate oils…
Belt Alignment
Belt alignment is the process of ensuring drive belts run…
Belt Replacement
Belt replacement is the process of removing worn or damaged…
Belt Tension Gauge
A belt tension gauge is a precision instrument that measures…
Benzene
Benzene is a volatile organic compound commonly found in indoor…
Bi-Flow Filter Drier
A bi-flow filter drier is a refrigerant line component designed…
Bidirectional Meter
A bidirectional meter is a utility-grade device that measures electricity…
Bifacial Solar Panel
A bifacial solar panel captures sunlight from both front and…
BIM
BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a digital methodology that creates…
Bioeffluent
Bioeffluent consists of volatile organic compounds and other chemical substances…
Biological Contaminant
Biological contaminants include bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and allergens that…
Biosafety Cabinet
A biosafety cabinet is an enclosed, ventilated laboratory workspace designed…
Bipolar Ionization
Bipolar ionization releases positive and negative ions into the air…
BIPV
BIPV is an acronym for Building Integrated Photovoltaics, referring to…
Black Iron Pipe
Black iron pipe is a steel tubing without galvanized coating,…
Blast Chiller
A blast chiller is a commercial refrigeration unit that rapidly…
Block Load
Block load represents the total HVAC system capacity required to…
Blower Door Machine
A blower door machine is a calibrated fan system that…
Blower Door Test
A blower door test is a diagnostic procedure that measures…
Blower Motor
A blower motor is an electric motor that drives the…
Blower Wheel Cleaning
Blower wheel cleaning is the removal of dust, dirt, and…
Blue Roof
A blue roof is a water retention system installed on…
Bluetooth HVAC
Bluetooth HVAC control uses short-range wireless connectivity to pair thermostats…
Boiler
A boiler is a heating system that heats water (or…
Boiler Installation
Boiler installation involves mounting a heating unit that produces hot…
Boiling Point
The boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid’s…
Bonding
Bonding is the electrical connection of metallic components and equipment…
BPI Certification
BPI (Building Performance Institute) Certification validates professional competency in building…
Brake Horsepower
Brake horsepower (BHP) is the mechanical power required to operate…
Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger
A brazed plate heat exchanger uses copper brazing to permanently…
Brazing
Brazing is a metal-joining technique using a filler metal with…