Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for CTI STD-201

Thermal Certification of Cooling Towers, Closed Circuit

Coolers and Evaporative Refrigerant Condensers

Contents
What is CTI STD-201? ................................................................................................................ 3
To what equipment does CTI STD-201 apply? ........................................................................... 3
What is the CTI STD-201 Thermal Certification Program? ....................................................... 3
What is required for initial Program participation? ..................................................................... 3
What data is a manufacturer required to submit to the Thermal Certification Administrator? ... 4
What data is a manufacturer required to provide to the public? .................................................. 4
What is required for the initial qualification and annual reverification tests?............................. 4
What are the program costs? ....................................................................................................... 5
What is the Thermal Certification Program Committee and how do I join? ............................... 5
How is equipment certified by the CTI STD-201 Thermal Certification Program? ................... 6
How does a manufacturer certify multiple types of equipment? ................................................. 6
What are CTI’s product line naming requirements? ................................................................... 6
Does CTI STD-201 cover sound, drift emissions or construction quality?................................. 6
Can a manufacturer produce a certified product at multiple locations? ...................................... 6
How should a manufacturer handle private labeling of a certified product line?........................ 6
Can process fluids other than water be allowed on a certified product line (Closed Circuit
Coolers/ Evaporative Condensers)?............................................................................................. 7
Are alternate materials of construction allowed on a certified product line? .............................. 7
Are thermal impacting accessories allowed on a certified product line? .................................... 7
Where can I find a manufacturer’s list of certified models by product line? .............................. 7
How can a customer confirm that a manufacturer’s selection is certified? ................................. 7
How often must equipment be tested to remain certified? .......................................................... 8
Does certification ever expire? .................................................................................................... 8
What are the CTI STD-201 limits of thermal certification? ........................................................ 8
Why were those design conditions selected? .............................................................................. 9
Why does STD 201 allow a 5% test tolerance?........................................................................... 9
If a customer’s design conditions are outside the CTI STD-201 limits, is the equipment still
certified? ...................................................................................................................................... 9
How is a potential CTI violation to be reported? ...................................................................... 10

Rev. 2, 5/12/2016 1
 How long is a unit expected to remain in certified condition after it has been installed and
operational? ............................................................................................................................... 10
Is field performance testing (other than for certification testing) covered under CTI STD-201?
................................................................................................................................................... 10
Does CTI STD-201 apply to field assembled cooling towers, closed circuit coolers and
evaporative refrigerant condensers? .......................................................................................... 10
Is a field test necessary for a CTI Certified product? ................................................................ 10
Why is CTI Certification necessary on new construction jobs? ................................................ 10

Rev. 2, 5/12/2016 2
 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for CTI STD-201
Thermal Certification of Cooling Towers, Closed Circuit
Coolers and Evaporative Refrigerant Condensers

What is CTI STD-201?

CTI Standard (STD) 201 sets forth a program for the Cooling Technology Institute to certify that
all models of a line of evaporative heat rejection equipment offered for sale by a specific
Manufacturer will perform thermally in accordance with their published ratings.

The standard is presented in two parts. STD 201RS is titled Performance Rating of Evaporative
Heat Rejection Equipment and contains the program requirements including testing, ratings and
published data requirements.

STD 201OM is titled Operations Manual for Thermal Performance Certification of Evaporative
Heat Rejection Equipment and guides program participants in complying with the provisions of
the latest edition of CTI Standard 201RS.

To what equipment does CTI STD-201 apply?

This Standard applies to Mechanical Draft Evaporative Heat Rejection Equipment such as
Cooling Towers, Closed Circuit Coolers and Evaporative Refrigerant Condensers where the
thermal capacity is selected from published ratings.

What is the CTI STD-201 Thermal Certification Program?

The Thermal Certification Program, through the Thermal Certification Administrator, manages
the validation and testing of manufacturer’s equipment, publishes certification letters (both for
product entries and withdrawals), answers questions from new and existing members, manages
the CTI website and Journal content and leads the Thermal Certification Program Committee.

What is required for initial Program participation?

All information required for initial program participation is specified in STD 201 RS and STD
201 OM. These documents are available for purchase on the CTI website at
http://www.cti.org/pub/cticode.shtml.
In summary, the requirements include:
• Confidential data submission to the Thermal Certification Administrator including the
Data of Record, rating information and rating methodology.
• Publically available data for customer support including thermal performance tables and
physical data.
• Completion of initial qualification testing and annual reverification testing of individual
models selected from the line by the CTI Certification Administrator.

Rev. 2, 5/12/2016 3
Please contact the Thermal Certification Administrator ([email protected]) with any questions
regarding the initial application process for certification.

What data is a manufacturer required to submit to the Thermal Certification

Administrator?
The applicant company will be required to assemble and submit the Data of Record information
and the supporting data folder for each of the product lines they wish to have certified. A
template spreadsheet may be downloaded at http://www.cti.org/certification.shtml.

Applicant companies shall also provide rating information and a methodology to the Thermal
Certification Administrator to allow the accurate calculation of the thermal performance
(capacity) of each model to be certified throughout the applicable range of thermal conditions.
Ideally, this is provided in the form of a selection program.

Proof of completion of an Initial Qualification Test by a CTI-licensed test agency is also

required. A CTI-licensed test agency will provide the necessary test instrumentation and
personnel for the collection of data during the test. A list of CTI Licensed Certification Test
Agencies is found at: http://www.cti.org/downloads/CertifiedCTIThermalTestingAgencies.pdf.

Information submitted to the Thermal Certification Administrator is kept strictly confidential

from all other applicants and program participants. For more information on these data
requirements see STD 201RS and OM available for purchase at
http://www.cti.org/pub/cticode.shtml or contact the Thermal Certification Administrator
([email protected]).

What data is a manufacturer required to provide to the public?

Public data disclosures are required to assist potential buyers of certified models. This includes
published ratings for at least the operating conditions listed in in STD 201RS, Section 6, Tables
3-5 as well as performance and physical dimensions in the form of a catalog, bulletin, or
preferably an electronic equivalent. (Example worksheets for these tables are located on the CTI
website under the “Cooling Tower Certification” section at
http://www.cti.org/certification.shtml.)

For more information on these data requirements see STD 201RS and OM available for purchase
at http://www.cti.org/pub/cticode.shtml or contact the Thermal Certification Administrator
([email protected]) .

What is required for the initial qualification and annual reverification tests?
Program participation requires both an initial qualification test and an annual reverification test
for each applicable product line. The tests must be performed in accordance with ATC 105,
105S or 106, as applicable for the product type, by a CTI-licensed test agency.

The applicant company should consider by what means each test will be conducted. Testing in
the field - at a customer facility for example - is allowed by the program. However, additional
preparations for testing are required, and of course the cooperation of the customer to provide

Rev. 2, 5/12/2016 4
adequate and stable heat duty for the tested unit. If the applicant company has access to or the
means to build and configure a test facility - boiler or other heat source, pump, heat exchanger
and controls for the above - then the initial and annual testing may preferably be conducted
within a test facility.

A CTI-licensed test agency will provide the necessary test instrumentation and personnel for the
collection of data during the test. A list of CTI Licensed Certification Test Agencies is found at:
http://www.cti.org/downloads/CertifiedCTIThermalTestingAgencies.pdf

For more information see STD 201RS and OM as well as ATC 105, 105S and 106 (as applicable
for the product type), available for purchase at http://www.cti.org/pub/cticode.shtml or contact
the Thermal Certification Administrator ([email protected]) .

What are the program costs?

The program costs fall into several categories:
1. CTI Certification Program Fees – for new, renewing or revised certifications;
2. Labor costs for review, consultation, record keeping, test report preparation and other
administrative tasks by the Thermal Certification Administrator (initially and annually
following certification) ;
3. Costs to conduct testing of the subject units – Licensed Certification Test Agent fees, test
unit construction costs, test facility operating costs, and so on.

Please contact the Thermal Certification Administrator ([email protected]) for up to date

program costs.

What is the Thermal Certification Program Committee and how do I join?

The Thermal Certification Program Committee is a standing committee organized under the
guidance of STD-201OM for the purpose of 1) advising the Thermal Certification Administrator,
2) ruling on any complaints relating to interpretation of the STD-201 standard, and, 3) reviewing
and approving the program budget and setting the CTI Program fee structure. The committee
also reviews pertinent technical topics of discussion and makes recommendations for additions,
improvements and changes to the program via recommendations made to the STD-201 Standards
Committee.

The Thermal Certification Program committee is made up of representatives from the

participating equipment manufacturers who have currently certified product lines, along with
representatives of the end-user community and CTI management. The Thermal Certification
Administrator is the chairman for the committee.

Certification Program Committee meetings are held at the CTI Annual Conference and Summer
Workshop sessions, and teleconference and web-based sessions throughout the year. Contact the
Thermal Certification Administrator ([email protected]) for more information or a schedule of
upcoming events.

Rev. 2, 5/12/2016 5
How is equipment certified by the CTI STD-201 Thermal Certification
Program?
The program validates the thermal performance of the equipment in a manufacturer's product
line through both thermal performance testing and comparative analysis where all of the models
have the same basic design and only differ in relative size. Thermal performance testing is
required annually or in the event of a substantial product design change resulting in a revision of
thermal performance.

How does a manufacturer certify multiple types of equipment?

If the manufacturer has several basic designs, each basic design must be separately certified and
issued a separate certification approval letter and separate CTI Certification Validation Number.

What are CTI’s product line naming requirements?

If a manufacturer participating in the CTI STD-201 Thermal Certification Program has several
product lines, each CTI Certified product line must have a unique model line name that is
different from other product line names whether the other product lines are certified or not
certified.

Does CTI STD-201 cover sound, drift emissions or construction quality?

The CTI STD-201 Thermal Certification Program is for thermal performance only and does not
include sound, drift emissions, materials of construction or quality of construction. The CTI and
other organizations have separate standards for sound, drift emissions, and materials and their
properties.

Can a manufacturer produce a certified product at multiple locations?

There are no restrictions on the manufacturing plant where the towers are produced or assembled
as long as the certified models produced are the same at all plants. Many of the participating
manufacturers have several manufacturing plants and some towers may actually use components
from several different plants or supply sources in the final assembly. Only one CTI Certification
approval letter and validation number is issued for each product line and these are applicable
wherever the final assembly or sale occurs.

The thermal selection software, tables or graphs used to determine the tower size versus
performance must be the same for all towers regardless of the assembly or sale location.
However, accommodation for different units of measurements may be made to match the
customary units used in a particular market.

How should a manufacturer handle private labeling of a certified product line?

If a line of CTI Certified towers is sold by several organizations using different company names
and/or line names, the manufacturer company is responsible for maintaining the "Data of
Record" for both the manufacturer company brand towers and the private company brand towers.

Rev. 2, 5/12/2016 6
The private brand company does not have to sell every model that the manufacturer company has
in the "Data of Record" but the private brand company cannot add models that do not have an
equivalent model listed in the manufacturer’s "Data of Record". Both the manufacture company
brand and the private company brand of a line of certified towers will be issued and use the same
CTI Certification Validation Number. Both the manufacture company brand and the private
company brand of a line of certified towers must use the same thermal performance ratings.

Can process fluids other than water be allowed on a certified product line
(Closed Circuit Coolers/ Evaporative Condensers)?
Ratings for units with alternate process fluids can be certified if at least one qualifying test is
conducted, and the alternate ratings are publicly disclosed. Certification for Closed Circuit
Coolers is commonly sought with aqueous glycol solutions as process fluid, for which disclosure
of ratings shall be made at one concentration. Please check the footnotes to the Certified Model
List for each product line, published at http://www.cti.org/certification.shtml, to learn the
approved process fluid choices for that line. Where no alternate fluids are listed, the certification
is based on water-only as the process fluid.

Are alternate materials of construction allowed on a certified product line?

The CTI STD-201 Thermal Certification Program allows for alternate materials of construction
as long as the components used for thermal performance are unchanged. Therefore, it is common
to have multiple materials such as galvanized steel, stainless steel and fiberglass used as
alternatives in the structure and external casing.

Are thermal impacting accessories allowed on a certified product line?

If an option or accessory affects the thermal performance of a certified cooling tower, it must be
identified and its impact on thermal performance must be stated. Those models must have their
model numbers modified to identify the option or accessory or be listed as separate units. Please
check the footnotes to the Certified Model List for each product line, published at
http://www.cti.org/certification.shtml, for additional details regarding optional accessories.

Where can I find a manufacturer’s list of certified models by product line?

A list of the models in a line of cooling towers with CTI STD-201 Thermal Certification is
provided on the CTI website (see http://www.cti.org/certification.shtml) for each product line
that is CTI Certified. The list also contains footnotes which may be needed to clarify the effects
of any options or accessories.

How can a customer confirm that a manufacturer’s selection is certified?

A list of the models in a line of cooling towers with CTI STD-201 Thermal Certification is
provided on the CTI website (see http://www.cti.org/certification.shtml) for each product line
that is CTI Certified. The list also contains footnotes which may be needed to clarify the effects
of any options or accessories. If the unit model in question is not included in the manufacturer’s
model list located on the CTI website, then it is not a certified model. Contact the Thermal

Rev. 2, 5/12/2016 7
Certification Administrator ([email protected]) with any questions regarding an individual
model’s certification status or to report invalid use of certification claims.

How often must equipment be tested to remain certified?

Following the successful review of the certification application, an Initial Qualification Test is
conducted for at least one model of the applicant product line. After the successful certification
is completed, a different model will be selected by the Administrator and tested each calendar
year of valid certification. For additional information on test schedule requirements refer to
Section 4.14 of STD 201OM.

Does certification ever expire?

The certification as issued does not expire. However, the manufacturer must comply with all
rules and program provisions, including the successful annual test of a different model each year,
in order for the certification to remain valid. Please check the listing at
http://www.cti.org/certification.shtml for a complete list of currently certified product lines and
certified models.

What are the CTI STD-201 limits of thermal certification?

As stated in STD 201RS, the limits of certification are different for cooling towers/closed circuit
coolers and evaporative condensers.
For Cooling Towers and Closed-Circuit Coolers:
SI Units IP Units
o o
Wet Bulb Temperature 10 C to 32.2 C 50oF to 90oF
o
Maximum Process Fluid Temperature 51.7 C 125oF
Minimum Range 2.2oC 4oF
Minimum Approach 2.8oC 5oF
Barometric Pressure 91.4 kPa to 105 kPa 27 in Hg to 31 in Hg

For Evaporative Refrigerant Condensers:

SI Units IP Units
Wet Bulb Temperature 10oC to 32.2oC 50oF to 90oF
Maximum Condensing Temperature 43.3oC 110oF
Barometric Pressure 91.4 kPa to 105 kPa 27 in Hg to 31 in Hg

Please note that the Original Equipment Manufacturer may place more restrictive operating
condition limits upon their products, so long as they are within the range of conditions listed
above. The Manufacturer shall state within their published data any applicable limits, and they
may not provide capacity information for conditions outside of those stated limits.

The thermal capacity of a certified model that is designed or operated at thermal conditions
above or below the stated limits is not certified by the CTI. The product line remains certified
within the limits of certification but capacities that are out of limits are not.

Rev. 2, 5/12/2016 8
Why were those design conditions selected?
The STD-201 Limitations of Certification establish ranges of conditions under which the product
lines may be accurately tested. The buyers of certified products are advised that if their specific
design conditions fall outside of the STD-201 limitations of certification, then the capacity of
any model selected (from any manufacturer) would not be certified by CTI.

Wet Bulb Temperature – The normal operating wet bulb range for the certified equipment
manufacturers was selected for the wet bulb temperature range. Recently the wet bulb range was
expanded to include operating conditions for Northern Europe.

Maximum Process Fluid Temperature - The normal limiting temperature for common materials
used in the construction of the equipment type was selected as the maximum process fluid
temperature.

Minimum Range – Per STD 201 minimum allowable instrumentation accuracy for temperature
measurement is ±0.10°F (±0.05°C). With a minimum range of 4oF (2.2oC), a 0.20°F (0.11°C)
inaccuracy in temperature (equivalent to a 0.1oF inaccuracy in each hot water and cold water
temperature readings) can result in a ±5% inaccuracy of the tested load. Due to cumulative
instrument minimum measurement accuracies anything less than the minimum range results in a
cumulative test error band that is outside of the allowable test tolerance of 5%. This cumulative
error will increase as the range further decreases.

Minimum Approach – Similar to the minimum range, due to cumulative instrument minimum
measurement accuracies, anything less than the minimum approach results in a cumulative test
error band that is outside of the allowable test tolerance of 5%. This cumulative error will
increase as the approach further decreases.

Maximum Condensing Temperature – The upper limit for normal operation was selected for the
maximum condensing temperature.

Barometric Pressure - The normal atmospheric range for the certified equipment manufacturers
was selected for the barometric range.

Why does STD 201 allow a 5% test tolerance?

The tolerance was established to account for uncertainties in the design and manufacture of a
"randomly" selected test model. It also accounts for the test uncertainty. Each test measurement
instrument carries a known minimum accuracy (STD 201RS, Table 2) which will combine to
determine the final test result.

If a customer’s design conditions are outside the CTI STD-201 limits, is the
equipment still certified?
If the customer’s specified design conditions fall outside of the STD-201 certification limits, then
no, the capacity of the selected models would not be certified by the CTI. The product line
remains certified within the limits of certification but capacities that are out of limits are not.

Rev. 2, 5/12/2016 9
Under those circumstances, the customer may still require that the proposed models be selected
from the models listed for certification on the CTI certification website. However, all
manufacturers answering such a specification should note in their proposals and documentation
that the design conditions of the subject tower are beyond the CTI certification limits.

How is a potential CTI violation to be reported?

Complaints regarding non-compliance can be submitted to the CTI Certification Administrator
by Certification Program Committee participants or by customers who have purchased a certified
product. Complaints should be submitted within twenty-four (24) months after shipment from
the Manufacturer. The unit in question shall have been in service for not less than one (1) month
or more than twelve (12) months.

How long is a unit expected to remain in certified condition after it has been
installed and operational?
Per STD 201 OM, complaints of non-compliance must be submitted within twenty-four (24)
months after shipment from the Manufacturer and have been in operation for not less than one
(1) month or more than twelve (12) months.

Is field performance testing (other than for certification testing) covered

under CTI STD-201?
No. STD 201 is a thermal performance certification program. Only testing performed for
thermal certification is covered by STD 201. Field performance tests follow the test procedures
outlined in ATC 105, ATC 105S or ATC 106, which are the same procedures used for STD 201
testing but are not considered STD 201 tests.

Does CTI STD-201 apply to field assembled cooling towers, closed circuit
coolers and evaporative refrigerant condensers?
No. STD 201 applies only to factory assembled equipment or, equipment that is designed to be
assembled in the factory but is assembled in the field according to factory instructions.

Is a field test necessary for a CTI Certified product?

No. The thermal performance of each model in a product line is evaluated by the Thermal
Certification Administrator prior to certification being granted. The capacity of individual
models is then confirmed via annual recertification testing and does not require individual field
performance testing.

Why is CTI Certification necessary on new construction jobs?

ASHRAE 90.1 requires CTI certification of cooling towers and closed circuit coolers on all new
construction projects. Any project requiring ASHRAE 90.1 compliance must use certified
equipment.

Rev. 2, 5/12/2016 10