What's the difference between AHRI and ASHRAE?

When it comes to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R), there are two major organizations that come to mind: ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) and AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute). Both organizations play important roles in the HVAC&R industry, but they have different areas of focus and serve different purposes.

ASHRAE is a professional society of engineers, architects, and other building professionals. Its primary focus is on advancing the arts and sciences of HVAC&R to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world. The organization conducts research, provides education and training, publishes guidelines and standards, and holds conferences to share the latest information and technologies in the field. One of ASHRAE's main activities is to publish standards and guidelines for the design, installation, and maintenance of HVAC&R systems, which are widely recognized and adopted in the industry. They also focus on promoting healthy indoor air quality and energy-efficient HVAC&R systems.

On the other hand, AHRI is a trade association that represents manufacturers of HVAC&R equipment, components, and supplies. Its primary focus is on setting standards and certifying products to ensure that they meet performance and efficiency criteria. AHRI develops standard test methods and procedures for determining performance, and certifies the performance of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and water heating equipment. They also helps maintain industry performance ratings. This certification process is used to validate that a product is performing as stated by the manufacturer, also its provide a way for customers to compare and choose the best product based on its performance.  The International Exposition Company (IEC), a subsidiary of AHRI, organizes and hosts The AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Exposition), one of the largest HVACR events in the world. The show is held annually in different locations across the United States, and it brings together manufacturers, contractors, engineers, and other professionals in the HVACR industry to showcase the latest products, technologies, and trends.  This year, it's in Atlanta, February 6-8.

While ASHRAE focuses on advancing the knowledge and education of HVAC&R systems, AHRI focuses on product certification and performance rating. Both organizations work together in some aspects and also work separately in their own areas of focus, but both aim to improve the efficiency, comfort and safety of heating and cooling systems.

In summary, ASHRAE and AHRI are both important organizations in the HVAC&R industry. ASHRAE focuses on advancing the arts and sciences of HVAC&R through research, education, publishing, and standards development, while AHRI focuses on setting standards and certifying products to ensure that they meet performance and efficiency criteria. Both organizations work to improve the efficiency, comfort and safety of heating and cooling systems, but they do so in different ways and with different audiences in mind.