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From Europe to the USA: Aligning cooling tower standards
The Eurovent Certified Performance programme for Cooling Towers is a fine example of collaboration across continents to improve system sustainability. The programme has been developed in cooperation with the Cooling Technology Institute Est.1950 (CTI, Houston, Texas, USA) to create a meaningful certification, combining CTI test protocols with the Eurovent Certification audit and surveillance process. The collaboration ensures that decision makers on both sides of the Atlantic have access to verified product data and guaranteed product performance.
This article explores the reasons why it’s important to align testing standards, the main developments facing the cooling tower programme today, and how to find out more about programme developments.
Why is it important to align testing standards?
Certification is often an identifier of high performing products. Therefore, aligning cooling tower testing standards between America and Europe is crucial for several reasons:
- Harmonised testing standards encourages innovation and promotes energy efficient designs, enhancing sustainability and reducing carbon footprints globally.
- Unified testing standards reduce trade barriers, making it easier for manufacturers to sell equipment in both markets without costly modifications.
- Aligning testing and performance criteria ensures cooling towers operate efficiently across different climates and applications.
Therefore, aligning CTI and Eurovent Certification testing standards brings real value to manufacturers and HVAC and refrigeration (HVACR) professionals alike.
The development of new test standards
The partnership between Eurovent Certification and the CTI is particularly crucial when it comes to the development of new test standards, where it’s vital to have alignment before the new standards are published. As the latest version of the CTI’s Thermal Performance Certification STD-201 is used for certification compliance, any changes must be replicated in Eurovent’s own programme. A joined-up approach is therefore vital when exploring the evolution of testing standards to ensure they are useful to both European and American markets.
The process
The 2025 CTI Winter Conference in Memphis, USA, offered Technical Working Group activities, alongside industry conference presentations. Eurovent Certification’s Cooling Tower programme manager, Ian Butler, attended the event where updates to programme standards were fully discussed. It is the job of the working groups to agree test standard changes, and then put recommendations to the CTI board for approval. Once changes are approved at board level, Eurovent Certification works with the CTI on the adoption of the new test standards.
Thermal Performance Certification STD-201
Working together with the CTI on the Performance & Technology Working Group, Ian debated developments to the Thermal Performance Certification STD-201. The group discussed expanding the certification with the addition of Sound Certification STD 204. With acoustic performance becoming a key consideration for decision makers, the addition is a logical next step. Once live, it is expected that manufacturers who already hold Thermal Performance Certification will be able to participate.
Adiabatic cooling certification
Other developments included the Adiabatic cooling certification programme, specifically targeted at 'wet media pad' product solutions. Ian Butler has been part of a working group to develop a test code for some time, and has seen the test standard progress through to approval by the CTI board, as the Adiabatic Supplement to CTI Code ATC-105.
Adiabatic cooling certification is set to become another programme under the CTI / Eurovent collaboration. Adiabatic product solutions reduce the usage of water between 65 - 90% in heat rejection products and also reduce the footprint size of the units for a like-for-like capacity. As demand for Adiabatic rises, as does the need for product certification to ensure specifiers choose sustainable solutions with proven performance.
Dry cooler alignment
Ian also provided feedback to the STD201 certification committee regarding Eurovent Certification’s future collaboration on Dry Cooler certifications. Eurovent is currently undertaking an alignment / gap analysis review. It is expected that in the future, Eurovent Certification and the CTI will share certification data to enable Eurovent certified manufacturers to also become CTI certified for the USA market.
Keeping up to date
With programmes constantly evolving it’s important that all industry stakeholders stay up to date with the latest information. While cooling tower programme participants will always be the first to know about the latest developments to programme standards, interested manufacturers and HVACR professionals can also be kept in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter.
Alternatively you can contact Ian Butler, Programme Manager for Cooling Towers by email or hit the ‘Apply for the cooling tower programme’ button below.
Useful links
View our cooling tower programme overview
View programme documents, definitions and certified characteristics