SPX Cooling Tech, LLC has become the first manufacturer to achieve certification under the Cooling Technology Institute’s (CTI) new Sound Certification Program, launched on January 19, 2026. The U.S.-based company announced that several Marley cooling tower models have successfully completed qualification testing, marking a milestone in acoustic performance verification for the industry.
The CTI Sound Certification Program, outlined in CTI STD-204 and tested using ATC-128 procedures, validates that a manufacturer’s published sound pressure levels at 1.5 meters and 15 meters match independent test data. To qualify, equipment must also meet thermal certification under CTI STD-201. The program applies to cooling towers, closed-circuit fluid coolers, evaporative refrigerant condensers, and both adiabatic and dry fluid coolers.
Initial Marley products certified under the program include the Aquatower, AV Cooling Tower, MD Cooling Tower, NC Cooling Tower, and OlympusV Fluid Cooler. Certified products will be listed in the CTI Certification Directory for verification during system specification and procurement.
SPX Cooling Tech emphasized its longstanding investment in acoustic engineering and data integrity. The company noted that it has supported the development of the certification program over more than a decade and brings over 60 years of experience in sound testing, evolving from analog tools to modern digital multi-microphone systems.
“SPX Cooling Tech has invested for more than a decade in helping shape this program, and being the first to qualify products reflects our commitment to engineering accuracy, transparency and giving customers confidence in the data they rely on,” said Glenn Brenneke, Vice President of Global Engineering and R&D.
According to SPX, independent evaluations have revealed discrepancies of up to 10 dBA in sound levels between published and actual data for non-certified systems. CTI Sound Certification aims to reduce such discrepancies, enabling engineers and developers to make better-informed decisions in sound-sensitive applications.
“Sound certification gives engineers and owners greater confidence that published sound data reflects real-world performance,” said Corey Baker, Senior Manager of Global Technical Services.
