The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) hosted industry events in South Korea and India on October 21 and 23, 2026, focusing on data center cooling, HVACR performance, heat pumps, and standards certification. The events brought together manufacturers, industry representatives, and technical experts to discuss emerging technologies and performance requirements.
At AHRI Talks Korea in Goyang, nearly 120 participants attended sessions on data center technology, cooling solutions, the Korean government’s support strategy, and AHRI certification programs. AHRI Senior Vice President of Global Operations Henry Hwong signed a certification testing agreement with Korea Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Industry Association (KRAIA) Chairman Seunghee Kang. AHRI Vice President of Global Services Bridge Xue also signed a memorandum of understanding with M.S. Oh of Yungdo Engineering to reference AHRI standards.
AHRI maintains more than 100 performance rating standards and guidelines designed to support consistent product specifications and objective performance evaluation. Its certification programs cover various HVACR and water heating products, including equipment used in data center cooling applications.
At AHRI Talks India in New Delhi, discussions addressed data center performance, emerging technologies, heat pump opportunities, global HVACR challenges, and the role of standards and certification. Technical updates included AHRI Certified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), fan coils, and air handling units. Representatives from Daikin India, Carrier India, Kent Data Centers, AEON Consultants, and other organizations participated in the program.
The India event also introduced the AHRI Award for Technical Excellence and Standards Leadership, recognizing Deepak Pahwa of Pahwa Group, Varun Pahwa of DRI, and Amit Goel of Edgetech Air Systems. New AHRI members and certification program participants were also recognized.
“AHRI standards and certification programs are designed to provide reliable, predictable performance for heating and cooling equipment, including data center cooling solutions,” said Christine Kim, AHRI Korea Representative, as part of her remarks at the Korea event.
