| Refrigerant Compatibility | Product documentation should clearly identify compatible refrigerants, lubricants, temperature ranges, and application limits. Compatibility must be confirmed separately for HFC, HFO, CO2, hydrocarbon, and blended refrigerants. | Model-specific compatibility chart, material declaration, lubricant compatibility statement, and written confirmation for the intended refrigerant. | 15% | 0–5 points |
| Pressure Rating and Safety | The declared maximum allowable working pressure should exceed the HVACR system design pressure with an appropriate engineering margin. The rating must be stated separately for the high-temperature and low-temperature operating conditions where applicable. | Maximum allowable working pressure, burst-pressure test data, hydrostatic or pressure-test procedure, safety standard references, and traceable test records. | 15% | 0–5 points |
| Moisture Removal Capacity | Moisture capacity should be reported using a recognized test method rather than only a general claim such as “high absorption.” Ratings should be compared at the same refrigerant, temperature, and moisture condition. | Water-capacity test results, test conditions, desiccant type, desiccant mass, and reference to AHRI 710 or an equivalent documented method. | 15% | 0–5 points |
| Flow Capacity and Pressure Drop | The drier should meet the required system flow without creating excessive pressure drop. Compare capacity at the intended refrigerant, liquid temperature, and pressure-drop condition. | Rated flow capacity, pressure-drop curves, test refrigerant, connection size, and capacity data at several operating conditions. | 12% | 0–5 points |
| Filtration Performance | Many HVACR liquid-line filter driers use fine filtration to capture contaminants, but the actual filtration rating varies by construction. A nominal or absolute micron rating should always be identified. | Micron rating, filtration test method, particle-removal data, internal screen material, and evidence that the filter remains secure during vibration and pressure cycling. | 8% | 0–5 points |
| Connection Options | Common HVACR connection sizes include approximately 1/4 to 1 1/8 inch ODF in inch-based markets and approximately 6 to 28 mm in metric markets. Flare, solder, and other connection types must match the installation design. | Dimensional drawings, connection tolerances, wall thickness, port configuration, and compatibility with the buyer’s tubing and brazing process. | 8% | 0–5 points |
| Construction Materials | Common housing materials include copper, steel, or copper-plated steel, while internal components may include molecular sieve, activated alumina, filter media, and screens. Materials must be suitable for the specified refrigerant and lubricant. | Bill of materials, material certificates, corrosion-resistance information, desiccant specification, and compatibility statement for internal adhesives or coatings. | 8% | 0–5 points |
| Leak and Cleanliness Control | Reliable filter driers should be internally clean, sealed against atmospheric moisture, and tested for leakage before shipment. Cleanliness is especially important for systems using expansion valves, capillary tubes, or electronic controls. | Helium or pressure-decay leak-test method, acceptance limit, vacuum-drying procedure, internal cleanliness specification, and sealed-end packaging details. | 10% | 0–5 points |
| Quality Management | A documented quality system should control incoming materials, production processes, pressure testing, dimensional inspection, and final release. ISO 9001 certification is useful, but it should not replace product-level evidence. | Valid ISO 9001 certificate, inspection plan, calibration records, nonconformance procedure, corrective-action reports, and batch traceability. | 8% | 0–5 points |
| Regulatory and Market Compliance | Export compliance depends on the destination market and product construction. Materials and products may need to address requirements such as RoHS, REACH, pressure-equipment rules, or market-specific safety approvals. | Declaration of conformity, RoHS and REACH documentation where applicable, safety certificates, technical file, and destination-market compliance statement. | 6% | 0–5 points |
| Production Capacity and Lead Time | Capacity should be evaluated using actual monthly output, available production lines, peak-season utilization, and realistic lead time. A short quoted lead time is valuable only when supported by production records. | Monthly capacity by model family, standard lead time, peak-season lead time, production schedule, and on-time delivery performance for recent orders. | 6% | 0–5 points |
| Sample and Pre-Shipment Testing | The supplier should provide samples from normal production rather than specially prepared demonstration units. Approval should include dimensional, pressure, leakage, flow, and packaging checks where relevant. | Sample inspection report, approved sample reference, pre-shipment inspection checklist, batch number, and retention-sample policy. | 5% | 0–5 points |
| Packaging and Moisture Protection | Filter driers should remain hermetically sealed until installation. Packaging should protect connection ends from damage and reduce exposure to humidity during ocean or air transport. | Sealed-cap design, desiccant packaging where appropriate, carton specifications, palletization method, humidity protection, and transport-drop test results. | 4% | 0–5 points |
| Technical Support and Warranty | International buyers should receive complete datasheets, installation guidance, application support, and a clearly defined warranty and claim process. Technical response time should be measured rather than assumed. | Response-time commitment, warranty period, replacement policy, installation manual, troubleshooting guide, and availability of engineering support. | 3% | 0–5 points |
