The Air Movement and Control Association, International was founded in 1955 when the National Association of Fan Manufacturers (NAFM) combined with the Power Fan Manufacturers Association (PFMA) and the Industrial Unit Heater Association (IUHA). Originally known as the Air Moving and Conditioning Association, AMCA was retitled in 1960 to its current name. In 1996, the AMCA Board of Directors added the term International to AMCAs name in order to better indicate the global scope of AMCAs membership.
In 1923, the first edition of the Fan Test Codes was developed as a result of problems encountered by the U.S. Navy in regards to performance ratings of fans being procured during World War 1. To resolve the issue of variations in testing methods and performance ratings, a joint committee of NAFM and the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHVE) was formed to develop a standard test code for fans.
When NAFM combined with PFMA and IUHA, the organizations major concern was the accuracy and practicality of the pitot traverse method of testing, and a committee was formed to study various test methods and develop a new test code. To aid in the study, AMCA sponsored research by the Battelle Memorial Institute to compare the test results using the pitot tube test methods and nozzle test methods. The result of this effort was a new revision of the test code, which was published in 1960 as AMCA Standard Test Code for Air Moving Devices, Bulletin 210'. Standard 210 became widely accepted and known as virtually the only standard used in the United States and Canada.
In 1985, AMCA expanded its scope to include air control devices, such as louvers, dampers, and airflow measurement stations.
In 1996, AMCAs first accredited laboratory, ITRI, began testing in Taiwan. In 2008, AMCAs second independent accredited laboratory, AFMA, began testing in Singapore.