Requirements for Commercial Refrigeration

Overview of MEPS

From 1 October 2004, refrigerated display cabinets manufactured in or imported into Australia must comply with Minimum Energy Performance (MEPS) requirements which are set out in AS 1731.14-2003. The scope of commercial refrigeration MEPS includes both remote and self-contained refrigerated display cabinets primarily used in Commercial applications for the storage of frozen and unfrozen food. The intention of MEPS is to improve end-use energy efficiency by eliminating lower efficiency refrigerated display cabinets from the market and to encourage the sale and purchase of higher efficiency display cabinets.

The standard also defines minimum efficiency levels for "High Efficiency" refrigerated display cabinets. Only products which meet the specified efficiency levels can apply this term to promotional or advertising materials.

The Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for commercial refrigeration are set out as total energy consumption per total display area (TEC/TDA) in kWh/day/square metre for various unit types. The methods for measurement of energy consumption are set out in AS 1731.9 and AS 1731.12. Methods for determination of area are set out in AS 1731.3.

Find out how to make an application for MEPS.

The MEPS 2004 Commercial Refrigeration Registration Fact Sheet provides more information on making an application. (factsheet-commrefrig.pdf 26kB)

The Fact Sheet: Summary of MEPS Requirements sets out regulatory requirements for commercial refrigeration. (factsheet2-commrefrig.pdf 148kB)

Summary of Test Procedures for Commercial Refrigeration

Test Standards: Regulatory standards and test procedures for commercial refrigeration are published by Standards Australia. The following parts are relevant:

AS 1731.1 Part 1: Terms and definitions
AS 1731.2 Part 2: General mechanical and physical requirements
AS 1731.3 Part 3: Linear dimensions, areas and volumes
AS 1731.4 Part 4: General test conditions
AS 1731.5 Part 5: Temperature test
AS 1731.9 Part 9: Electrical energy consumption test
AS 1731.12 Part 12: Measurement of the heat extraction rate of the cabinets when the condensing unit is remote from the cabinet
AS 1731.13 Part 13: Test report
AS 1731.14 Part 14: Minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements

These standards can be purchased from Standards Australia.

AS1731 - Overview

The test methods used to determine compliance with MEPS are based on the International Standard prEN ISO 23953-2:2003, which have been substantially incorporated into the AS 1731 series of Standards. These standards are not equivalent. Regulatory authorities intend to continue to align the Australian Standard as far as possible with the ISO Standard.

AS 1731.1 Part 1: Terms and definitions

Scope: This Standard specifies terminology, general mechanical and physical requirements, test conditions as well as installation and maintenance, including a user's guide, for refrigerated display cabinets for the sale or display, or both, of food products.

AS 1731.2 Part 2: General mechanical and physical requirements

Scope: This standard defines the requirements for construction, selection and use of materials, components and performance of refrigerated display cabinets. It specifies the reference to other Parts of AS 1731 which define in detail the conditions and test methods for these requirements. Finally, it specifies the requirements for marking and the list of characteristics to be declared by the manufacturer.

AS 1731.3 Part 3: Linear dimensions, areas and volumes

Scope: This standard defines the linear dimensions, areas and volumes for refrigerated display cabinets.

AS 1731.4 Part 4: General test conditions

Scope: This standard specifies general conditions for testing refrigerated display cabinets.

AS 1731.5 Part 5: Temperature test

Scope: This standard specifies methods for the determination of test package temperatures in refrigerated display cabinets.

AS 1731.9 Part 9: Electrical energy consumption test

Scope: This standard specifies the method of measuring the consumption of electrical energy of refrigerated display cabinets.

AS 1731.12 Part 12: Measurement of the heat extraction rate of the cabinets when the condensing unit is remote from the cabinet

Scope: This standard specifies heat extraction rate measurements and conditions for refrigerated display cabinets when the condensing unit is remote from the cabinet and used with compression-type or indirect-type refrigerating system.

AS 1731.13 Part 13: Test report

Scope: This standard defines the requirements for recording test results and preparing a test report for testing of refrigerated display cabinets.

AS 1731.14 Part 14: Minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements

Scope: This standard specifies the mandatory requirements for remote and self-contained refrigerated display cabinets that fall within the Scope of AS 1731.1. This Standard does not specify electrical safety requirements.

This page last modified 27 June 2007