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Uniformat D3030

Condensing unit, split system

Also called CU, condensing unit, split AC outdoor unit

  • Confidence C
  • Version 0.2.0 (permanent link)
  • Reviewed 2026-10-22

This is version 0.2.0. The latest is 0.4.0.

Service life

15 yearsas stated by one source
051015201515

Years in service. One stated life so far; the band will widen as sources are added.

One source. This value rests on a single document (CNA e-Tool Estimated Useful Life Table, p12). Treat it as that source's figure, not a settled life, until others confirm it.

Basis

  • 15 years · CNA e-Tool Estimated Useful Life Table, p12 · HUD CNA 3.4.3.1.2 “Electric AC condenser, pad or rooftop” — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (planning life)
    Same life for family and elderly properties. US multifamily housing.

How sources are chosen and recorded: sourcing policy.

Municipal lives for HVAC (D30)

48 municipalities in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta state a life for HVAC as a whole, in 39 distinct tables: 10–50 years, median 20. 65 rows come from capital asset policies (accounting lives, used for amortization) and 6 from asset management plans (planning lives, used to forecast replacement). They describe the system rather than this component, and none is a measured life.

Median 20 yearsTrent Lakes: HVAC systems, 10 yearsDuncan and North Cowichan: Building Other (HVAC), 15 yearsLantzville: HVAC, 15 yearsGrey Highlands: Furnace, 15 yearsKapuskasing: HVAC Systems, 15 yearsSarnia: HVAC, 15 yearsThe Blue Mountains: Furnace, 15 yearsLloydminster: Permanent Structures - HVAC, 20 yearsLloydminster: Permanent Structures - Mechanical equipment, 20 yearsLloydminster: Portable Structures - HVAC, 20 yearsLloydminster: Portable Structures - Mechanical equipment, 20 yearsComox Valley: HVAC systems, mechanical, plumbing, wiring, etc., 20 yearsCranbrook: HVAC, plumbing, lighting, etc, 20 yearsParksville: HVAC, 20 yearsTelkwa: HVAC Systems, 20 yearsAmherstburg: Mechanical/Electrical - HVA, Lighting, Security systems, Electrical Panel, 20 yearsAmherstburg: Arena - Air Conditioner, Brine Chillers, Compressors, Dehumidifiers, 20 yearsChapple: Building Improvements - HVAC Systems, 20 yearsGreater Napanee: E20 Mechanical - Boilers, Fire Panel/Alarm, Unit Heaters, HVAC, 20 yearsGrey Highlands: HVAC, 20 yearsHuron: Patrol Yards - Building Mechanical, 20 yearsHuron: Property Services - Building Mechanical, 20 yearsHuron: Housing - Building Mechanical, 20 yearsHuron: Homes for the Aged - Mechanical, 20 yearsKenora: Buildings - Mechanical System, 20 yearsLondon: Building Components - Services (HVAC, lighting, communication, plumbing etc.), 20 yearsMeaford: HVAC - Air Distribution, 20 yearsPrince Edward: Buildings - HVAC, 20 yearsRainy River: Building Improvements - HVAC Systems/Generator, 20 yearsRainy River: Building Improvements - HVAC Systems/Generator, 20 yearsSevern: Building Components - Air Conditioner, 20 yearsThe Blue Mountains: Boiler, 20 yearsWelland: HVAC/Electrical/Mechanical, 20 yearsCanmore: Mechanical, 25 yearsLeduc: Mechanical Systems, 25 yearsDuncan and North Cowichan: Building Other (Electrical, Mechanical, etc.), 25 yearsLantzville: Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, 25 yearsTofino: Systems - mechanical, electrical, HVAC, 25 yearsAmherstburg: Arena - Refrigeration Condenser, Scoreboard, Sound System, 25 yearsGreater Madawaska and Quinte West: HVAC, 25 yearsGreater Napanee: E25 Plant Mechanical & Electrical, 25 yearsGrey Highlands: Boiler, 25 yearsKingston: Mechanical Equipment, 25 yearsKirkland Lake: Buildings and Improvements - Mechanical/Electrical, 25 yearsOrillia: Arena - Condenser/refrigeration, compressor, HVAC, heating units, 25 yearsSevern: Building Components - Furnace/Heating System, 25 yearsSevern: Building Components - Condenser, 25 yearsThe Blue Mountains: HVAC System, 25 yearsBrantford: Buildings - Mechanical, 30 yearsGreater Napanee: E30 Chillers, Rink Piping, Fuel Storage Tanks, 30 yearsSimcoe: Mechanical, 30 yearsBrockton: Mechanical/Electrical (Heating/Cooling System, Refridgerating System), 40 yearsMeaford: HVAC - System, 50 yearsFort St. James, Revelstoke and 3 more: HVAC Systems, 10–12 yearsOkanagan-Similkameen: HVAC Systems, 10–12 yearsSalmo: HVAC Systems, 10–12 yearsWestlock: HVAC, 15–20 yearsMeaford: HVAC - Furnace, 15–25 yearsBancroft, Centre Hastings and 2 more: HVAC Systems, 20–25 yearsOrillia: Facility - HVAC, Boiler, 20–25 yearsVulcan County: HVAC (electrical, mechanical), 20–30 years0102030405060

Years. Each dot is one stated life and each bar a stated range; equal values stack. Hollow marks are planning lives from asset management plans; filled marks are accounting lives from policies. The dashed line is the median. Policies that copy the same table count once.

All 61 stated lives
MunicipalityAs writtenYearsKindSource
Trent LakesHVAC systems10accountingp10 · 2009
Fort St. James, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sicamous, Tumbler Ridge · same tableHVAC Systems10–12accountingp5, p9, p7, p9, p5 · 2010
Okanagan-SimilkameenHVAC Systems10–12accountingp11 · 2023
SalmoHVAC Systems10–12accountingp6 · 2016
Duncan, North Cowichan · same tableBuilding Other (HVAC)15accountingp17, p9 · 2011
LantzvilleHVAC15accountingp11 · 2019
Grey HighlandsFurnace15accountingp11 · 2026
KapuskasingHVAC Systems15accountingp14 · 2009
SarniaHVAC15accountingp1
The Blue MountainsFurnace15accountingp11 · 2019
WestlockHVAC15–20accountingp11 · 2021
MeafordHVAC - Furnace15–25accountingp17 · 2020
LloydminsterPermanent Structures - HVAC20accountingp11 · 2023
LloydminsterPermanent Structures - Mechanical equipment20accountingp11 · 2023
LloydminsterPortable Structures - HVAC20accountingp11 · 2023
LloydminsterPortable Structures - Mechanical equipment20accountingp11 · 2023
Comox ValleyHVAC systems, mechanical, plumbing, wiring, etc.20accountingp6 · 2010
CranbrookHVAC, plumbing, lighting, etc20accountingp9 · 2010
ParksvilleHVAC20accountingp9 · 2023
TelkwaHVAC Systems20accountingp8
AmherstburgMechanical/Electrical - HVA, Lighting, Security systems, Electrical Panel20accountingp8 · 2026
AmherstburgArena - Air Conditioner, Brine Chillers, Compressors, Dehumidifiers20accountingp8 · 2026
ChappleBuilding Improvements - HVAC Systems20accountingp1
Greater NapaneeE20 Mechanical - Boilers, Fire Panel/Alarm, Unit Heaters, HVAC20accountingp16 · 2012
Grey HighlandsHVAC20accountingp11 · 2026
HuronPatrol Yards - Building Mechanical20planningp42 · 2025
HuronProperty Services - Building Mechanical20planningp57 · 2025
HuronHousing - Building Mechanical20planningp68 · 2025
HuronHomes for the Aged - Mechanical20planningp77 · 2025
KenoraBuildings - Mechanical System20accountingp15 · 2026
LondonBuilding Components - Services (HVAC, lighting, communication, plumbing etc.)20accountingp2 · 2023
MeafordHVAC - Air Distribution20accountingp17 · 2020
Prince EdwardBuildings - HVAC20accountingp34 · 2022
Rainy RiverBuilding Improvements - HVAC Systems/Generator20accountingp11 · 2010
Rainy RiverBuilding Improvements - HVAC Systems/Generator20planningp17 · 2026
SevernBuilding Components - Air Conditioner20accountingp400 · 2019
The Blue MountainsBoiler20accountingp11 · 2019
WellandHVAC/Electrical/Mechanical20accountingp8 · 2021
Bancroft, Centre Hastings, Hastings Highlands, Wollaston · same tableHVAC Systems20–25accountingp5, p4, p6, p5
OrilliaFacility - HVAC, Boiler20–25accountingp19
Vulcan CountyHVAC (electrical, mechanical)20–30accountingp5 · 2024
CanmoreMechanical25accountingp10 · 2025
LeducMechanical Systems25accountingp13 · 2019
Duncan, North Cowichan · same tableBuilding Other (Electrical, Mechanical, etc.)25accountingp17, p9 · 2011
LantzvilleElectrical, Mechanical, Plumbing25accountingp11 · 2019
TofinoSystems - mechanical, electrical, HVAC25accountingp12 · 2009
AmherstburgArena - Refrigeration Condenser, Scoreboard, Sound System25accountingp8 · 2026
Greater Madawaska, Quinte West · same tableHVAC25accountingp17, p38 · 2025
Greater NapaneeE25 Plant Mechanical & Electrical25accountingp16 · 2012
Grey HighlandsBoiler25accountingp11 · 2026
KingstonMechanical Equipment25accountingp15 · 2016
Kirkland LakeBuildings and Improvements - Mechanical/Electrical25accountingp10 · 2020
OrilliaArena - Condenser/refrigeration, compressor, HVAC, heating units25accountingp19
SevernBuilding Components - Furnace/Heating System25accountingp400 · 2019
SevernBuilding Components - Condenser25accountingp400 · 2019
The Blue MountainsHVAC System25accountingp11 · 2019
BrantfordBuildings - Mechanical30planningp10 · 2025
Greater NapaneeE30 Chillers, Rink Piping, Fuel Storage Tanks30accountingp16 · 2012
SimcoeMechanical30accountingp19 · 2025
BrocktonMechanical/Electrical (Heating/Cooling System, Refridgerating System)40accountingp2 · 2009
MeafordHVAC - System50accountingp17 · 2020

Of 71 rows, 4 were compared with an image of their page; 67 were matched to their page automatically (the label and number appear in the page text). Follow the page link before relying on an automatically matched row. About the policies · All approved rows as JSON

Preventive maintenance

13 tasks in 2 work orders. Intervals that fall due together are one visit: the annual visit also covers the semi-annual tasks.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6Semi
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12Annual

Months from the schedule start. Download the tasks as CSV for a CMMS, or ask the MCP tool get_pm_schedule for dated visits.

Semi-annual · 1 task

Source: Good estate management for schools: Compliance tracker, Compliance tracker, sheet "Tracker", ref 30

TaskPage
Air conditioning checks and maintenancepundefined

Annual · 12 tasks

Source: Public Buildings Service Preventive Maintenance Guide (Public Buildings Maintenance Standards), HVAC-CND-01-01Y Condensing Unit - Refrigeration

TaskPage
Remove debris from air screen and clean under unitp443
Pressure wash condenser coil with coil cleaner and rinsep444
Straighten coil fins with a fin combp444
Check electrical connections for tightnessp444
Check unit mounts and refrigerant line supportsp444
Clean and treat rusted areas; touch up paintp444
Leak test refrigerant circuitp444
Check refrigerant chargep444
Inspect disconnect switches and contactors for arcing or overheatingp444
Check compressor crankcase heaterp444
Check condenser fan blades for dirt and wearp444
Run unit with gauges; check compressor, controls and refrigerant pressuresp444

Frequencies are ISO 8601 durations in the data (P3M = every 3 months).

Open questions

  • Only one source so far: HUD planning lives for US multifamily housing. Canadian and observed sources are needed.
  • Written for schools in England; several rows are statutory safety checks under UK law rather than equipment maintenance.
  • Written for GSA contracted O&M in US federal buildings; job plans are generic and defer to manufacturer instructions, and the fire extinguisher plans only point to NFPA 10.

Know the answer? Send it with a source to [email protected].

Cite this

Citation

unfinished.one (2026). Condensing unit, split system, v0.2.0. https://unfinished.one/c/condensing-unit/v/0.2.0

BibTeX

@misc{unfinished_condensing_unit_0_2_0,
  title = {Condensing unit, split system},
  author = {{unfinished.one}},
  year = {2026},
  version = {0.2.0},
  url = {https://unfinished.one/c/condensing-unit/v/0.2.0},
  note = {CC BY 4.0}
}

Licence CC BY 4.0 · How to cite · JSON · Versions: 0.4.0, 0.3.0, 0.2.0, 0.1.0