A key component to passing the Mechanical HVAC & Refrigeration PE Exam is to obtain and to study the necessary references. These references contain the equations, skills, terms and concepts that appear on the Mechanical HVAC & Refrigeration PE Exam. Engineering Pro Guides teaches all the necessary skills and concepts required to pass the Mechanical HVAC & Refrigeration PE Exam. www.engproguides.com Link to References: www.engproguides.com/hvacreferences.html

1. Must Have References for
the HVAC & Refrigeration
PE Exam
Engineering Pro Guides
www.engproguides.com

2. Introduction
The following references are recommended to be reviewed prior to the
exam and should be used during the exam. When reviewing these
references, make sure you first understand the content. These references
do not go into depth on explaining the equations or concepts but are
simply references. If you require more background information on any of
the information in these references, then you may need to research that
information on the internet. Secondly, you should be very familiar with the
indices of these references and should be able to navigate the references
to find information quickly. This may require you to insert tabs into the
references. Once you have completed these two tasks then you should
be ready to use these references during the exam. (Tip: It is helpful to
have the indices of your references printed separately to allow you to
have both the index and the reference material open at the same time,
making for quicker searches.)

3. NCEES HVAC & Refrigeration PE Topics
The list references the HVAC & Refrigeration PE exam topics that are relevant to each
reference. These topics are also shown below with the number of problems that may appear
on the exam. There are a total of 80 problems and the more detailed outline can be found at
this link: NCEES HVAC & Refrigeration PE Outline
● Topic 1.0 - Introduction (0 of 80 problems)
● Topic 2.0 - Basic Engineering Practice (4 of 80 problems)
● Topic 3.0 - Thermodynamics (4 of 80 problems)
● Topic 4.0 - Psychrometrics (8 of 80 problems)
● Topic 5.0 - Heat Transfer (7 of 80 problems)
● Topic 6.0 - Fluid Mechanics (4 of 80 problems)
● Topic 7.0 - Energy/Mass Balance (5 of 80 problems)
● Topic 8.0 - Heating/Cooling Loads (8 of 80 problems)
● Topic 9.0 - Equipment & Components (18 of 80 problems)
● Topic 10.0 - Systems & Components (18 of 80 problems)
● Topic 11.0 - Supportive Knowledge (4 of 80 problems)

4. Engineering Pro Guides
Engineering Pro Guides provides a technical study guide for the HVAC &
Refrigeration PE Exam that teaches the key concepts and skills necessary to pass
the exam. These guides are like a class within a book and more detailed and
focused than the references presented You can also test out your knowledge with
a sample exam.
www.engproguides.com

10. Engineering Unit Conversions Book
Another book related to the MERM is the Engineering Unit Conversions book.
This is also another recommended book to use during the exam and while
studying for the exam.
Amazon Link: Engineering Unit Conversions
Topics Covered: 2.0 Basic Engineering Practice

11. ASHRAE Fundamentals (1 of 2)
You should use the following chapters in this book as a reference to solve
problems on the exam. Certain problems may require you to simply lookup the
solution in this book. Thus you should be familiar with this material at a minimum
and hopefully all of the contents of this book. You don’t need to read every single
word, but just be aware of what is contained in this book.
Ch 4 Heat Transfer: Heat transfer rate for pipes.
Ch 8 Sound and Vibration: Sound level and adding sources equations, vibration
transmissibility
Ch 15 Fenestration: Visible transmittance tables
Ch 16 Ventilation & Infiltration: Infiltration, tightness, thermal draft equations
Ch 18 Nonresidential Cooling & Heating Load Calculations: Typical heat gains for
all types of loads.
Ch 21 Duct Design: Equivalent duct diameter tables, loss coefficients

12. ASHRAE Fundamentals (2 of 2)
Ch 22 Pipe Design: Pipe materials, k factors, hanger spacing, thermal expansion,
pipe tables, friction loss graphs, equivalent lengths
Ch 23 Insulation: Insulation materials, thickness equations; heat transfer
equations
Ch 26 Material Properties: Density, conductivity, resistance, specific heat values.
Ch 28 Combustion and Fuels: Combustion stoichiometry equations, excess air,
HHV
Ch 29 Refrigerants: Refrigerant properties, ODP, GWP
Ch 30 Thermophysical Properties Refrigerants: Refrigerant tables and P-H
diagrams
Amazon Link: 2017 ASHRAE Handbook: Fundamentals
Topics Covered: 3.0 Thermodynamics, 4.0 Psychrometrics, 5.0 Heat
Transfer, 6.0 Fluid Mechanics, 7.0 Energy/Mass Balance, 8.0 Heating/Cooling
Loads, 9.0 Equipment and Components, 10.0 Systems & Equipment

13. ASHRAE Systems & Equipment (1 of 3)
You should use the following chapters in this book as a reference to solve
problems on the exam. Certain problems may require you to simply lookup the
solution in this book. Thus you should be familiar with this material at a minimum
and hopefully all of the contents of this book. You don’t need to read every single
word, but just be aware of what is contained in this book.
Ch 4 Air Handling and Distribution: Air-Handling Unit Psychrometric Processes
Ch 11 Steam Systems: Traps, PRVs, Piping
Ch 13 Hydronic Heating and Cooling: Energy balance equations
Ch 19 Duct Construction: Pressure and leakage classes
Ch 20 Room Air Distribution: Diffuser and terminal unit types
Ch 21 Fans: Fan types, laws, pressure relationships, temperature effect, system
effects, parallel/series operation, vibration
Ch 23 Air Cooling and Dehumidifying Coils: Coil performance

14. ASHRAE Systems and Equipment (2 of 3)
Ch 24 Desiccant Dehumidification and Pressure-Drying Equipment: Pressure
drop through wheel
Ch 26 Air to Air Energy Recovery Equipment: Efficiency and energy balance
equations.
Ch 38 Compressors: Performance equations, thermodynamic equations
Ch 39 Condensers: Performance equations, thermodynamic equations
Ch 40 Cooling Towers: Performance equations, psychrometric equations
Ch 41 Evaporative Air Cooling Equipment: Performance equations, psychrometric
equations

15. ASHRAE Systems and Equipment (3 of 3)
Ch 44 Centrifugal Pumps: Pump performance, arrangement, NPSH, curves,
efficiency
Ch 46 Pipes, Tubes and Fittings: Pipe materials, thickness, stresses, supports,
expansion loops
Ch 47 Valves: Control valve sizing
Ch 48 Heat Exchangers: Heat transfer and LMTD
Amazon Link: 2016 ASHRAE Handbook: Systems and Equipment
Topics Covered: 9.0 Equipment and Components, 10.0 Systems &
Equipment, 11.0 Supportive Knowledge

16. ASHRAE HVAC Applications
Ch 48 Noise and Vibration Control: Insertion losses, airflow sound, sound
absorption, transmission loss, transmissibility, outdoor sound, isolation efficiency,
NC, attenuators
Ch 52 Evaporative Cooling: Efficiency, psychrometrics
Ch 57 Room Air Distribution: ADPI, draft temperature
Ch 48 Heat Exchangers: Heat transfer and LMTD
Amazon Link: 2015 ASHRAE Handbook: HVAC Applications
Topics Covered: 9.0 Equipment and Components, 10.0 Systems &
Equipment, 11.0 Supportive Knowledge

17. ASHRAE Refrigeration
This handbook has refrigerant properties, but the required properties should be
provided in the PE exam.
Ch 1 Halocarbon Refrigeration Systems: Refrigerant components and pipe sizing.
Ch 19 Food Storage:
Ch 20 Cooling and Freezing Times of Food: Specific heat above/below freezing
and latent heat of fusion of various foods.
Amazon Link: 2014 ASHRAE Handbook: Refrigeration
Topics Covered: 9.0 Equipment and Components, 10.0 Systems &
Equipment, 11.0 Supportive Knowledge

18. Online Information
You should be familiar with the psych charts for various elevations and
temperatures.
http://www.coolerado.com/pdfs/Psychrmtrcs/0000Psych11x17US_SI.pdf
http://www.coolerado.com/pdfs/Psychrmtrcs/5000Psychrmtrc11x17.pdf
http://www.coolerado.com/pdfs/Psychrmtrcs/7500Psychrmtrc11x17.pdf
http://www.mitsubishielectric.ca/en/hvac/PDF/erv/RenewAire_Low_Temp.pdf
http://www.uigi.com/UIGI_IP.PDF
These sites are useful in checking your psych chart and P-H diagram skills, when
studying.
Online Psych Chart: http://linricsoftw.web701.discountasp.net/webpsycalc.aspx
Online P-H Diagram: https://www.irc.wisc.edu/properties/

19. Codes and Standards
At most there will be 4 questions on HVAC Codes and Standards. Unfortunately,
there are a lot of codes and standards that are commonly used.
ASHRAE Standards
ASHRAE 15, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems
ASHRAE 55, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy
ASHRAE 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
NFPA Codes
NFPA 90A, Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating
Systems
90B, Standard for the Installation of Warm Air Heating and Air Conditioning
Systems.

20. Conclusion
Good luck on the HVAC & Refrigeration PE Exam!
Engineering Pro Guides
www.engproguides.com