100+ Free ACCA Residential HVAC Design Practice Questions

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Key Facts: ACCA Residential HVAC Design Exam

Core Standards (J/S/D/T + 5)

ACCA

95-115%

Manual S Cooling Sizing

ACCA Manual S

0.06-0.18

Manual D Friction Rate (in. w.c./100 ft)

ACCA Manual D

8th Ed

Manual J Edition

ANSI/ACCA 2

5 yrs

Certificate Validity

ACCA

+/-15%

QI Airflow Tolerance

ANSI/ACCA 5

The ACCA Residential HVAC Design exam tests the full residential design workflow across Manual J, S, D, and T plus Standard 5 Quality Installation. Manual J 8th Edition drives load calculation using design conditions and block versus room-by-room loads; Manual S selects equipment within a 95-115% cooling sizing window using OEM expanded performance data; Manual D sizes ducts with the friction-rate method, FR = (ASP x 100) / TEL; Manual T selects registers and grilles; and ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 verifies airflow, refrigerant charge, and documentation. The certificate is valid for 5 years.

Sample ACCA Residential HVAC Design Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ACCA Residential HVAC Design exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Per ACCA Manual J 8th Edition, which load calculation should be used to select cooling and heating equipment for a typical single-family home with one central system?

A.The block (whole-house) load

B.The largest single room load

C.The sum of all peak room loads regardless of timing

D.The connected appliance nameplate load

Explanation: Equipment for a single-zone central system is sized from the block load, which accounts for the simultaneous peak of the entire house rather than adding non-coincident room peaks. Room-by-room loads are used to size the air distributed to each room, not the equipment.

2Manual J specifies default indoor design conditions for cooling. What indoor dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity does Manual J use as the standard cooling design point?

A.70 degrees F and 30% RH

B.75 degrees F and 50% RH

C.72 degrees F and 60% RH

D.78 degrees F and 55% RH

Explanation: Manual J uses a default indoor cooling design condition of 75 degrees F dry-bulb and 50% relative humidity. The heating indoor default is 70 degrees F. These defaults set the indoor-outdoor temperature differences that drive the load.

3When selecting outdoor design conditions in Manual J, the cooling outdoor dry-bulb is typically taken at which ASHRAE annual percentile?

A.0.4% cooling design dry-bulb

B.5% cooling design dry-bulb

C.1% cooling design dry-bulb

D.10% cooling design dry-bulb

Explanation: Manual J commonly uses the 1% cooling design dry-bulb (with the mean coincident wet-bulb) so the system is sized for conditions exceeded only about 1% of the cooling hours. Using a more extreme percentile like 0.4% would oversize the equipment for residential comfort.

4A heating design temperature difference (Delta T) is needed for a Manual J calculation. If the indoor heating design is 70 degrees F and the outdoor 99% heating design dry-bulb is 5 degrees F, what is the heating Delta T?

A.60 degrees F

B.70 degrees F

C.75 degrees F

D.65 degrees F

Explanation: Heating Delta T equals the indoor design temperature minus the outdoor design temperature: 70 - 5 = 65 degrees F. This temperature difference drives the conductive (transmission) and infiltration heating losses through the building envelope.

5In Manual J, the heat transfer multiplier (HTM) for an opaque surface such as a wall is best described as:

A.The U-value multiplied by the design temperature difference

B.The R-value divided by surface area

C.The CFM of infiltration times 1.1

D.The latent load per square foot of glazing

Explanation: The HTM is the heat flow per square foot of surface and equals the surface U-value times the applicable design temperature difference. Multiplying the HTM by the net surface area gives the conductive load for that component.

6A wall has a U-value of 0.065 Btu/h.ft2.F and a heating Delta T of 65 degrees F. What is the heating HTM for this wall?

A.1.0 Btu/h.ft2

B.4.2 Btu/h.ft2

C.6.5 Btu/h.ft2

D.13.0 Btu/h.ft2

Explanation: HTM equals U times Delta T: 0.065 x 65 = 4.225, rounded to about 4.2 Btu/h per square foot. Multiplying this HTM by the net wall area yields the wall's conductive heating loss.

7Fenestration cooling loads in Manual J depend strongly on which two glazing properties?

A.Visible transmittance and emissivity only

B.Frame width and glazing thickness only

C.U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

D.Air leakage and condensation resistance only

Explanation: Window cooling load combines a conductive component driven by the U-factor and a solar component driven by the SHGC. Manual J uses both, along with orientation and shading, to compute the window heat gain.

8In Manual J, window solar gains are strongly affected by orientation. Which orientation typically produces the highest peak instantaneous solar gain for a vertical window during the cooling design hour in summer?

A.North

B.Directly overhead (skylight aside)

C.Northeast at sunrise only

D.East or West

Explanation: East and west vertical glazing receive intense low-angle sun in the morning and afternoon, producing the largest peak solar gains for the cooling load. North glass gets the least direct solar gain in summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

9The Manual J sensible infiltration/ventilation load is calculated with which standard relationship (I-P units)?

A.Q_sensible = 1.1 x CFM x Delta T

B.Q_sensible = 4.5 x CFM x Delta h

C.Q_sensible = 0.68 x CFM x Delta W_grains

D.Q_sensible = 500 x GPM x Delta T

Explanation: The sensible air-side load uses Q = 1.1 x CFM x Delta T, where 1.1 bundles air density and specific heat at standard conditions. The 4.5 and 0.68 constants apply to total enthalpy and latent (grains) calculations respectively.

10Using Q = 1.1 x CFM x Delta T, what is the sensible heating load from 60 CFM of infiltration at a heating Delta T of 65 degrees F?

A.2,145 Btu/h

B.4,290 Btu/h

C.3,300 Btu/h

D.5,400 Btu/h

Explanation: Q = 1.1 x 60 x 65 = 4,290 Btu/h. This is the sensible heating load attributable to that infiltration airflow under the design temperature difference.

About the ACCA Residential HVAC Design Exam

The ACCA Residential HVAC Design for Quality Installation Certificate exam is an objective knowledge exam covering the core ACCA design manuals: Manual J (residential load calculation), Manual S (equipment selection), Manual D (duct design), Manual T (air distribution), and ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 (HVAC Quality Installation). Candidates complete a 3-part online class with unit assessments and a final exam, or a 3-day in-person class plus exam. The resulting Residential Design certificate is valid for 5 years.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

Proctored/online final exam; no fixed time limit published

Passing Score

ACCA does not publish a fixed numeric passing percentage

Exam Fee

Set by ACCA as part of the course-plus-exam package (Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA))

ACCA Residential HVAC Design Exam Content Outline

30%

Manual J - Load Calculation

Heat transfer, design conditions, fenestration and opaque loads, infiltration/ventilation, block vs room-by-room loads

25%

Manual S - Equipment Selection

OEM expanded performance data, 95-115% cooling sizing limits, sensible/latent split, cooling and heating equipment matching

25%

Manual D - Duct Design

Available static pressure, total effective length, friction rate, duct sizing, fittings, supply/return design, balancing

10%

Manual T - Air Distribution

10%

Standard 5 - Quality Installation

QI requirements for design, installation, airflow and refrigerant-charge verification, and documentation

How to Pass the ACCA Residential HVAC Design Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: ACCA does not publish a fixed numeric passing percentage
Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
Time limit: Proctored/online final exam; no fixed time limit published
Exam fee: Set by ACCA as part of the course-plus-exam package

Keys to Passing

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ACCA Residential HVAC Design Study Tips from Top Performers

1Learn the design sequence: Manual J loads, then Manual S equipment, then Manual T outlets and Manual D ducts, verified by Standard 5

2Memorize the Manual S cooling sizing window of 95 to 115 percent and why oversizing hurts humidity control

3Practice the Manual D friction-rate formula FR = (ASP x 100) / TEL and total effective length calculations

4Know the air-side formulas: sensible Q = 1.1 x CFM x Delta T and latent Q = 0.68 x CFM x grains difference

5Understand block vs room-by-room loads and how room loads convert to design CFM

6Use OEM expanded performance tables, not the single AHRI nominal rating, to find capacity at design conditions

7Review Manual T throw, spread, drop, and T50 catalog values for register selection

8Study the Standard 5 QI verification steps for airflow, refrigerant charge, duct leakage, and documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the ACCA Residential HVAC Design exam cover?

The exam covers the core ACCA design manuals: Manual J (residential load calculation), Manual S (equipment selection), Manual D (duct design), Manual T (air distribution basics), and ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 (HVAC Quality Installation). It tests the full residential design workflow from calculating loads to selecting equipment, sizing ducts, choosing air outlets, and verifying a quality installation.

How is the ACCA Residential HVAC Design certificate earned?

Candidates complete the ACCA Residential HVAC Design class, offered as a 3-part online program with 28 unit assessments and a final exam, or as a 3-day in-person class with an exam. Passing the objective final exam earns the Residential Design certificate, which is valid for 5 years before renewal.

What is the 95 to 115 percent rule in Manual S?

Manual S generally limits cooling equipment total capacity to roughly 95 to 115 percent of the Manual J design total cooling load (or the next available nominal size). Staying within this window meets the load while avoiding oversizing that causes short cycling and poor humidity control. The capacity is verified against the load and the latent requirement using OEM expanded performance data.

How is the duct friction rate calculated in Manual D?

The Manual D design friction rate equals the available static pressure times 100, divided by the total effective length: FR = (ASP x 100) / TEL. Available static pressure is the blower's external static pressure minus component losses, and total effective length sums the longest supply and return run plus all fitting equivalent lengths. Residential friction rates commonly fall between about 0.06 and 0.18 inches of water column per 100 feet.

What is the difference between a block load and a room-by-room load?

The block (whole-house) load reflects the simultaneous peak of the entire home and is used to size the heating and cooling equipment in Manual S. Room-by-room loads determine the supply airflow each room needs so the duct system in Manual D can deliver comfort and be balanced. Summing non-coincident room peaks would overstate the equipment load.

What does ANSI/ACCA Standard 5 require?

Standard 5 (HVAC Quality Installation) defines the minimum measurable requirements to properly design, install, and commission a system. It requires loads from an approved method such as Manual J, equipment matched to the load per Manual S, verified indoor airflow within about 15 percent of design, verified refrigerant charge, acceptable duct leakage and static pressure, and documentation of each step. Third-party verification is covered by ACCA Standard 9 (QIVP).