Division 23 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Performance Specification Gap in Division 23 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) submittals

By Deviation Check Editorial Team. Last reviewed June 1, 2026.

Short answer

A measurable performance property in the submittal (rating, capacity, tolerance, efficiency) does not meet what the spec requires. Default grade in Division 23 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC): Blocker.

A measurable performance property in the submittal (rating, capacity, tolerance, efficiency) does not meet what the spec requires. This guide covers how it shows up specifically in Division 23 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) submittals.

What to look for in Division 23 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Key performance parameters in HVAC submittals:

  • Cooling capacity - tons, MBH, or BTU/hr must meet or exceed spec at stated conditions
  • Heating capacity - MBH input and output at specified entering conditions
  • SEER / SEER2 / EER / IEER - efficiency ratings for cooling equipment (must meet or exceed minimum)
  • COP (Coefficient of Performance) - for heat pumps at specified conditions
  • AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) - for boilers and furnaces
  • Airflow (CFM) at specified external static pressure (ESP)
  • External static pressure capability - AHUs and fans must meet spec ESP at design CFM
  • Sound ratings - NC (Noise Criteria) level, sones, or dBA at specified distance
  • AHRI certified capacity vs catalog/non-certified ratings
  • Minimum outside air percentage or CFM
  • Refrigerant type - R-410A vs R-32 vs R-454B (environmental/code compliance)
  • Motor horsepower and efficiency (NEMA Premium per ASHRAE 90.1)
  • Fan BHP (Brake Horsepower) at design conditions
  • Water flow rate (GPM) and pressure drop for coils, chillers, boilers
  • Entering/Leaving water or air temperatures at design conditions
  • Duct leakage class (CL 6, CL 3 per SMACNA)
  • Pipe pressure rating (ANSI class, schedule)
  • Insulation R-value or thickness per ASHRAE 90.1 Table 6.8.2
  • Filtration efficiency - MERV rating (MERV 8, 13, 14, 16)

How severe is it?

Default grade: Blocker. Always a Blocker when the gap touches life-safety or structural performance.

Deviation Check assigns a default per category and escalates or de-escalates based on the spec, always showing its reasoning. See the Division 23 severity rules.

What the PM should do

Treat this as a hold. Do not approve the submittal until the sub resolves it, either by providing the specified product and documentation or by routing an approved substitution or or-equal request. Return the relevant spec passage to the sub as a redline.

Back to the Division 23 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) hub, browse all divisions, or start a review.

Frequently asked questions

Which numeric performance parameters in Division 23 HVAC submittals are most often short of spec, and what ratings should a PM check first?

Cooling capacity in tons or MBH at stated conditions and airflow in CFM at the specified external static pressure (ESP) are the most common gaps. After those, check SEER2, EER, or IEER for cooling equipment and AFUE for boilers and furnaces - all must meet or exceed the spec minimum. AHRI certified ratings are the accepted benchmark; catalog ratings that are not AHRI certified do not satisfy the requirement.

Does a refrigerant type difference - such as R-410A versus R-454B - count as a performance specification gap in Division 23 HVAC submittals?

Yes. The spec names a refrigerant type, and a different refrigerant is a performance and code compliance deviation, not just a product substitution. COP for heat pumps at specified conditions and motor efficiency under ASHRAE 90.1 NEMA Premium requirements are additional parameters to confirm. Water-side equipment must also match the specified GPM, pressure drop, and entering and leaving water temperatures at design conditions.

View this page as Markdown for LLMs and note-taking.