🛣️ Test procedures and measurement methods for handing over mechanically operated ventilation and air conditioning systems — in order: completeness check, functional check, functional measurements (air flow rate from velocity and cross-section — anemometer, Prandtl tube, throttling device; ductwork leakage; indoor air velocity; temperature; humidity; sound level; fan power; pressure drop across the filter), special measurements and report; permissible uncertainty: air flow rate ± 15 % per room and ± 10 % per system, supply air temperature ± 2 °C, velocity in the occupied zone ± 0.05 m/s, sound ± 3 dBA, PN-EN 12599

Construction PN-EN 12599

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We read the text of the standard in the iTeh sample of SIST EN 12599:2013 (text of EN 12599:2012, English): from the title page through the contents, foreword and Clauses 1–5 up to and including 6.4.4 (indoor air velocity). Outside the sample remain the further items 6.4–6.5 (temperature, humidity, sound, fan power, filter, accompanying measurements), Clauses 7 (special measurements), 8 (measurement uncertainty) and 9 (reports) and Annexes A–I, including the normative C (extent of checks and measurements), D (methods and instruments for functional measurements) and E (special measurements).

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF EN 12599:2012 (foreword, Clauses 1–5, 6.1–6.4.4). The standard was prepared by CEN/TC 156 “Ventilation for buildings” (secretariat BSI); CEN approved it on 25.08.2012; it supersedes EN 12599:2000. Significant changes according to the foreword: the test methods and instruments can be used before, during and after handing over, also for measurements under the EPBD; the standard no longer excludes dwellings; Table 1 includes requirements on cleanliness and leakage of the system; the uncertainty of the air flow rate was reduced (the foreword refers to Table 2, in the text the values stand in Table 3) from ± 20 % to ± 15 % per individual room and from ± 15 % to ± 10 % per system; a formula for the uncertainty of the measuring location (Table E.4) and methods for measuring electrical power were added. Scope (1): checks, test methods and instruments to verify the fitness for purpose of installed systems, mainly for handing over; choice between simple methods and extensive measurements; mechanically operated ventilation and air conditioning systems according to EN 12792 — air terminal devices, air handling units, air distribution systems (supply, extract, exhaust), fire protection devices, automatic control; not heat or cold generation with its control, distribution of heating and cooling media to the air handling units, compressed air, water conditioning, central steam generation for humidification or electric supply; systems for maintaining comfort conditions, not for industrial process environments (though it may be referred to for similar technology); the methods are suitable for the energy inspection of air conditioning under Directive 2010/31/EU (EN 15239, EN 15240); also applies to residential ventilation. Normative references (2): among others EN 308, EN 1507, EN 12237, EN 13182, EN 13779, EN 15726, EN 15780, EN 60751, EN 61672-1, EN ISO 3744, EN ISO 7726, EN ISO 12569, ENV 13005. Procedure (3, Table 1): a) completeness check, b) functional check, c) functional measurements, d) special measurements, e) report — in this order; the extent of checks and measurements is defined by 4 levels (Annex C), agreed in the contract; special measurements only when required and agreed. Completeness (4): comparison with the contract, compliance with rules, accessibility for operation, cleaning and maintenance (EN 12097), cleanliness (EN 15780), documentation, balancing, tightness test. Function (5): putting the system into use, adjustment protocols and instructions; checking every kind of installed equipment according to a checklist; locations agreed by the parties. Functional measurements (6.1–6.3): confirm the design conditions; may take place under other conditions and be converted where possible (e.g. heat exchanger — yes, air flow pattern — no); Table 2 — which measurements for which system (Z, H, C, M/D and combinations; 0 — not necessary, 1 — always, 2 — if agreed); in a room up to 20 m2 at least one measuring position, larger rooms subdivided, in the occupied zone, preferably at positions of intensive occupancy; calibrated instruments; measurement at the design air flow rate; Table 3 — permissible uncertainty: air flow rate per room ± 15 %, per system ± 10 %, supply air temperature ± 2 °C, relative humidity ± 15 % RH, velocity in the occupied zone ± 0.05 m/s, temperature in the occupied zone ± 1.5 °C, A-weighted sound pressure level ± 3 dBA; the standard does not define tolerances for the design values themselves — the result is accepted when the design value lies within the measurement uncertainty. Methods (6.4): with negative pressure avoid infiltration through the measuring opening, close openings after measuring; air flow rate usually from velocity and cross-section (anemometer, Prandtl tube, pressure drop across a throttling device), at several points of the cross-section and averaged; total air flow rate preferably in the air handling unit; for air terminal devices other methods (bag, reference pressure, funnel), for terminals with low pressure drop — the compensation method; ductwork leakage — tightness class according to EN 1507 and EN 12237, in large systems in part of the system, during installation; indoor air velocity — turbulent flow, the mean velocity at selected positions is usually sufficient, in a room up to about 20 m2 one position.

STATUS (as of 03.10.2026). In the PKN search (term “PN-EN 12599”, 03.10.2026) PN-EN 12599:2013-04 (English version, “Ventilation for buildings — Test procedures and measurement methods to hand over air conditioning and ventilation systems”, “Introduces: EN 12599:2012 [IDT]”) has no withdrawal note; PN-EN 12599:2002 (Polish version) — “Withdrawn and replaced by PN-EN 12599:2013-04”. In the iTeh catalogue (read on 03.10.2026) EN 12599:2026 has the status “Not Published”, stage 60.55 “CEN Ratification completed (DOR) — Publishing” (completed on 05.07.2026), publication date 07.10.2026 and the relation “Revises EN 12599:2012”; its abstract speaks of checks, measurement methods and procedures to verify the fitness for purpose of installed systems “according to design”. We did not read the content of the new edition, so we do not state what it will change for the result; after publication of the EN and its adoption as PN, the 2013 edition will be due for replacement. The measurement of gas velocity and volume flow rate in ducts with a Pitot tube in emissions is described in a separate entry on PN-EN ISO 16911-1.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, load up to 17.09.2026, read on 03.10.2026). The number 12599 as PN-EN 12599 appears in 11 records at 6 laboratories: AB 746, AB 833, AB 863, AB 886, AB 976, AB 1100; a twelfth record with this number (AB 1862) is “issue 12599” of the TEMPO TC kit instruction (coliform bacteria in fish) — a false hit of the number. In the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026, issues from 05.01.2026 to 31.07.2026) the standard appears at these 6 laboratories in 6 cells, each shared by two items (velocity or flow rate and air change rate), at AB 1100 — by one. The form “PN-EN 12599:2013-04”, at AB 886 “PN-EN 12599:2013”; at AB 833 together with PN-83/B-03430 and PN-67/B-03432. None of these items is suspended. The “Laboratories” tab (“PN-EN 12599”) shows the same 6 laboratories — checked with the tab query on the production server labcoda.pl on 03.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in PCA). Rooms in residential, collective accommodation and public buildings (at AB 863 also industrial) — ventilation: air stream velocity at air terminal devices or in the duct cross-section and air volume flow rate with air change rate (by calculation) — AB 833 (vane anemometer (0.20–20.0) m/s, in the cross-section (0.15–20.0) m/s), AB 863 (anemometer (1.0–25) m/s, thermo-anemometer (0.15–20.0) m/s), AB 886 (vane (0.32–20) m/s, in the cross-section (0.50–25) m/s), AB 976 (anemometer (1.0–25) m/s, thermo-anemometer (0.15–10) m/s, dynamic pressure method (5–800) Pa). Rooms for work and stay of people: AB 746 — air flow at air terminal devices (0.4–30) m/s, anemometric, and air change rate; AB 1100 — air flow measurement at air terminal devices and in the duct cross-section (0.3–20) m/s, with vane anemometer and thermo-anemometer. No laboratory has temperature, humidity, noise or completeness checks with this standard in its scope — only flow measurements.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. With the criterion: the standard gives no tolerances for design values — the result is accepted when the design value lies within the measurement uncertainty (Table 3, note); without a calculated uncertainty conformity cannot be decided. With uncertainty: for the air flow rate ± 15 % per room and ± 10 % per system — the 2000 edition allowed ± 20 % and ± 15 % (foreword). With the cross-section: velocity is seldom uniform — it is measured at an appropriate number of points and averaged (6.4.2). With negative pressure: air drawn in through the measuring opening falsifies the result (6.4.1). With air terminal devices of low pressure drop: the instrument itself changes the flow — the compensation method is used (6.4.2). With conditions: measurement at the design air flow rate; conversion to design conditions only where possible (6.1, 6.3). With the number of positions: at least one per 20 m2 of floor (6.3, 6.4.4).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not read Annexes C, D and E (extent of checks, details of methods and instruments, special measurements) or Clause 8 (calculation of uncertainty), so we do not give the number of points in the cross-section, instrument requirements or uncertainty formulae. Nor do we give requirements of building regulations on ventilation or the content of PN-83/B-03430 and PN-67/B-03432.

Method principle

Handing over follows a fixed order: completeness check (conformity with the contract, accessibility, cleanliness, balancing, tightness, documents), functional check of the equipment, functional measurements to the extent agreed in the contract (air flow rate from velocity measured with an anemometer, Prandtl tube or throttling device and from the cross-section, ductwork leakage, velocity, temperature and humidity in the occupied zone, sound level, fan power, pressure drop across the filter), special measurements if necessary, and the report. The result is accepted when the design value lies within the measurement uncertainty.

Applications

• Mechanically operated ventilation and air conditioning systems (EN 12792), also in dwellings — handing over and verification of fitness for purpose (1)
• Measurements under Directive 2010/31/EU (energy inspection of air conditioning) (1)
• Outside the scope: heat and cold generation, compressed air, water conditioning, electric supply, industrial process environments (1)
• Rooms in buildings — air velocity, air volume flow rate and air change rate in the accreditation scopes of 6 laboratories in PCA

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 12599:2013-04

Title (PL)

Wentylacja budynków — Procedury badań i metody pomiarowe stosowane podczas odbioru instalacji wentylacji i klimatyzacji

Title (EN)

Ventilation for buildings — Test procedures and measurement methods to hand over air conditioning and ventilation systems

Step-by-step procedure

1. Completeness check

   Comparison with the contract, accessibility, cleanliness (EN 15780), balancing, tightness, documents. PN-EN 12599:2013-04 current (PKN search, 03.10.2026).

2. Functional check

   Putting into use, adjustment protocols; checking every kind of equipment according to a checklist.

3. Functional measurements

   According to Table 2 and the level from Annex C; at the design air flow rate; calibrated instruments.

4. Assessment

   Design value within the uncertainty of Table 3 — result accepted.

5. Special measurements and report

   Only when agreed (Clause 7, Annex E); report according to Clause 9 — outside the sample.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Measurements with fans running and in air handling units — protection against rotating parts and electric shock
• Measuring openings in ducts are closed after measuring (6.4.1)

Frequently asked questions