MANUAL S EQUIPMENT SELECTION SCHEDULE

Field reference workflow | Manual J → Manual S → Manual D equipment selection

Trade Reference Workflow: Manual J → Manual S → Manual D
Manual S® Equipment Screening · Trade Reference Workflow

Manual S Calculation

Screen HVAC equipment candidates against Manual J design loads using Manual S equipment screening checks. Review cooling capacity, sensible and latent fit, heating capacity, AHRI/OEM data status, and Manual D readiness before final equipment selection.

Manual J Inputs Required Design Condition Capacity Checks Manual D Airflow Bridge
Equipment is screened using Manual S-style design-condition capacity checks and available manufacturer performance data. Missing AHRI, OEM, or blower data is flagged before final selection.

Step 1: Manual J Design Loads

Confirm the Manual J design conditions. These values drive equipment selection and airflow requirements.

No Manual J data?

HVAC Load Calculator

Cooling design load

Use the final Manual J design-load values: total, sensible, latent, indoor design conditions, outdoor design dry bulb, and target airflow. Manual S should be based on the same completed load inputs that will be used for equipment selection.

Heating design load

Heating-side data must include the winter design heat loss, indoor design setpoint, outdoor winter dry bulb, and airflow target if the blower target differs from cooling mode.
▾

Manual J Input Check

Manual S should start from completed Manual J design-load values, including total cooling, sensible cooling, latent load, heating load, and design conditions. Do not use rough tonnage guesses or incomplete field notes as equipment-selection inputs.

Step 2: Equipment Candidates

Filter the equipment list by brand, type, and nominal size before checking each candidate against the Manual J design point.

▾
▾
▾
▾

Step 3: Interpolated Performance Audit

The workflow screens the equipment list against total, sensible, latent, heating, and oversize limits, then prepares the selected blower/static reference values for Manual D.

Manual J total

Manual J sensible

Manual J latent

Cooling cap

Step 4: Screening Summary

Review the current screening outcome before printing, sharing, or carrying values forward.

TradeHub HVAC Workflow

Manual S connects load calculations to duct design

Manual J defines the design load. Manual S screens the equipment at the actual design point. Manual D carries the selected airflow, blower, and pressure assumptions into the duct workflow. This page is the equipment selection step in that connected system.

Workflow position

Residential → Manual J → Manual S → Manual D

Dependency

Start with Manual J

Manual S should read a finished load profile first so total, sensible, latent, and winter design targets are grounded before equipment screening begins.

HVAC Load Calculator

Current page

Manual S Equipment Selection

This workflow compares manufacturer expanded performance data to the Manual J design point, then prepares the selected blower and pressure assumptions for the downstream airside workflow.

Equipment Selection Step Expanded Performance Data Manual D Ready

Next step

Carry the result into Manual D

Once equipment clears the screen, use the selected airflow, TESP point, and device pressure drops as the starting reference for friction-rate and pressure-budget work.

Manual D Duct Design Calculator

Technical Review

Manual S Equipment Selection Reference Context

This workflow follows ACCA Manual S® equipment selection principles using Manual J® design loads and manufacturer expanded performance data. It supports structured screening of total, sensible, latent, and heating capacity against design conditions. Final equipment selection, AHRI matching, manufacturer data, and local code requirements should be verified prior to installation or permitting.

ACCA Source Alignment April 2026

Manual S Field Reference

Using The Manual S Equipment Result

Use this reference after the calculator result to confirm the load inputs, identify jobsite conditions that can change the match, and carry only verified airflow and pressure assumptions into Manual D or equipment ordering.

Inputs used for screening

The workflow starts with completed Manual J design-load values, then compares each equipment candidate using manufacturer expanded performance data instead of nominal tonnage alone. Cooling is screened at design outdoor dry bulb, entering wet bulb, and target airflow. Heating is screened at the selected winter design dry bulb and airflow target.

Capacity checks performed

The workflow checks total capacity, sensible capacity, latent behavior, heating output, and oversize limits. It also carries the selected blower profile, delivered airflow point, and pressure-drop assumptions into the Manual D bridge so the airside design stays connected to the equipment choice.

Current selection status

Current candidate

Primary limiter

Cooling design point

Heating design point

Performance data check

Manual J load status

Confirm the Manual J load is final enough for equipment selection. Rough loads, changed windows, added rooms, duct leakage assumptions, or altered indoor design targets can move the Manual S result.

Manufacturer data point

Verify that the selected match is supported by manufacturer expanded performance data at the entered outdoor dry bulb, entering wet bulb, airflow, and heating design conditions.

Airflow and blower path

Check delivered airflow, blower profile, TESP assumptions, coil pressure drop, filter pressure drop, and accessory pressure drops before relying on the selection for Manual D.

Matched-system verification

Confirm the indoor unit, outdoor unit, refrigerant, efficiency rating, AHRI match, installation instructions, and local code requirements before ordering or permitting equipment.

  • It does not replace manufacturer submittals, installation instructions, product availability, or match-specific notes.
  • It does not replace AHRI verification, matched-system approval, final commissioning, or field airflow testing.
  • It does not prove the duct system can deliver the selected airflow without a separate Manual D pressure and friction-rate review.
  • It does not override local code requirements, AHJ review, utility requirements, or project-specific engineering judgment.

Cooling capacity validation

Interpolated total cooling capacity is compared against the Manual J total load. Sensible capacity is checked against the sensible portion of the load, and latent behavior is reviewed as its own part of the split.

Heating capacity validation

Heating output is screened at winter design temperature and target airflow so the selected system is not accepted on rated nameplate claims alone.

Oversize limits

Passing a job is not only about being above the load. Candidates that exceed the selected cooling oversize band are flagged for review instead of being treated as automatic upgrades.

Airflow and pressure assumptions

The selected result carries blower profile, delivered CFM, TESP point, and device pressure-drop assumptions so the equipment result can be checked again during Manual D duct design.

1. Confirm Manual J

Start by verifying that the Manual J load inputs are complete enough for equipment selection.

2. Screen equipment

Compare candidates using expanded performance data, not nominal tonnage alone.

3. Verify the blower path

Review delivered airflow, TESP, and pressure-drop assumptions before locking the equipment path.

4. Carry into Manual D

Use the selected airflow and pressure assumptions as the starting point for duct friction-rate and pressure-budget work.

ACCA Source Alignment · April 2026

This workflow is aligned to ACCA Manual S® equipment selection principles and depends on Manual J® design loads, manufacturer expanded performance data, matched-system verification, and downstream Manual D® airflow coordination.

Use the result as a structured screening reference. Final equipment approval still requires current manufacturer data, AHRI match confirmation where applicable, installation instructions, local code review, and AHJ requirements.

What does this Manual S screening workflow check?

It screens equipment candidates against Manual J design loads and identifies whether total capacity, sensible capacity, latent capacity, heating output, oversize limits, AHRI/OEM data status, and blower/static readiness are passing, failing, incomplete, or verification-required.

Does this tool provide final equipment approval?

No. This is a screening and verification workflow. Final equipment selection must be confirmed against the exact OEM expanded performance data, AHRI match, blower data, installation instructions, jobsite conditions, and local requirements.

Why is nominal tonnage not enough?

Nominal tonnage does not prove capacity at the actual design point. A candidate can still fail on total capacity, sensible capacity, latent balance, heating output, airflow assumptions, or oversize limits once Manual S-style checks are applied.

What does verification required mean?

It means the capacity screen may look acceptable, but required field-use verification is not complete. The result should not be treated as a final Manual S match until AHRI/OEM data, manufacturer tables, and blower/static assumptions are confirmed.

When can results be carried into Manual D?

Manual D handoff should only be used when the selected candidate has usable blower airflow, static pressure, and device pressure-drop assumptions. If that data is missing or verification-required, the handoff remains blocked.