Requirements for Airconditioners - Program Overview and Test Procedures

Single phase non-ducted airconditioners for household use are regulated for energy labelling and MEPS in Australia. All three phase and single phase ducted airconditioners up to 65kW cooling capacity are regulated for MEPS. Manufacturers can choose to label three phase and ducted airconditioners, but this is not mandatory. More stringent MEPS requirements for three phase airconditioners apply from October 2007 while more stringent MEPS requirements for single phase units apply from April 2006 or October 2007 (depending on the product type). MEPS details are shown on the airconditioner MEPS page and are set out in AS/NZS 3823.2-2005.

Product Definition for Energy Labelling: Single phase non-ducted airconditioners of the vapour compression type intended for household or similar use. It covers units with a single or multiple refrigeration systems such as window wall units (unitary) and single split systems. It includes units with a single outdoor unit and multiple indoor units with a single indoor control and also covers water sourced heat pumps.

Product Definition for MEPS: Single and three phase non-ducted or ducted room airconditioners of the vapour compression type of up to 65kW cooling capacity (commercial or residential). It covers units with a single or multiple refrigeration systems with a single indoor control such as single packaged units (unitary), packaged ducted units (unitary), double and triple split systems and single split systems. It also covers water sourced heat pumps.

Exemptions: The following airconditioner types are exempted from energy labelling and MEPS:

Close controlled airconditioners (for computer rooms), pending the development of MEPS levels for these products. (refer to AS/NZS3823.2-2005 for a precise definition of these products)
Multi-split systems (i.e., those having more than one indoor unit with more than one independent indoor controls) pending the development of a suitable test method.
Evaporative coolers or any other cooling systems which are not of the vapour compression type.
Ground water or ground loop sourced heat pumps within the Scope of AS/NZS 3823.1.3 (ISO 13256-1). Note that water loop heat pumps are not exempt and these are covered by AS/NZS 3823.1.3.
Unbalanced airconditioners and spot coolers (these include many portable types).
Commercial chillers which are used in commercial buildings to provide chilled-water for space cooling equipment.
Models that have been granted exemption by the relevant Australian/New Zealand regulatory authority due to their specific design for applications such as process heating or cooling or for heating or cooling of spaces to conditions that are not intended for human comfort.

Test Standards: Note that all energy labelling and MEPS standards for airconditioners are published jointly by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand.

AS/NZS3823: Performance of household electrical appliances - room airconditioners Part 1.1: Non ducted airconditioners and heat pumps - Testing and rating for performance

AS/NZS3823: Performance of electrical appliances - airconditioners and heat pumps Part 1.2: Test Methods - Ducted airconditioners and air-to-air heat pumps - Testing and rating for performance

AS/NZS3823: Performance of electrical appliances - airconditioners and heat pumps Part 1.3: Water-source heat pumps - Testing and rating for performance: Water-to-air and brine-to-air heat pumps

AS/NZS3823: Performance of electrical appliances - airconditioners and heat pumps Part 2: Energy labelling and minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements

AS/NZS3823: Performance of electrical appliances - airconditioners and heat pumps Part 3: Calculation of performance for minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements

Note that Part 1.1 and 1.2 have recently been amended to include standby measurement requirements. Part 1.3 covers any water source product.

Part 1.1, Part 1.2 and Part 1.3 of the standard defines the test procedures for the determination of energy consumption and capacity of airconditioners in Australia, depending on the product type.

Part 2 of the standard sets out the requirements for energy labelling and MEPS for airconditioners in Australia. An approved Energy Label for single phase non ducted airconditioners must be displayed on all products which are intended for household use and which are offered for sale in Australia. Note that all products registered to AS/NZS 3823.2-2005 must carry the revised label shown.

All airconditioners up to 65kW cooling capacity have to be registered for MEPS except for those that are exempt (see above). Part 3 sets out an alternative simulation method which can be used in lieu of physical tests to demonstrate compliance with MEPS requirements (this is not permitted where products are registered for energy labelling). The suppliers of single phase ducted and three phase models may elect to energy label their products, but all the normal rules for energy label then apply.

These standards can be purchased from Standards Australia.

Find out how to make an application for energy labelling and/or MEPS.

The MEPS 2004 Airconditioner Registration Fact Sheet provides more information on making an application. (factsheet-ac.pdf 31kB)

Overview of the Test Procedures for Room Airconditioners

The standard is applicable to non-ducted and ducted room airconditioners of the vapour compression type with a single or multiple refrigeration circuits. The cooling and heating capacity and energy is determined under AS/NZS 3823.1.1 or AS/NZS 3823.1.2. These standards have been cloned from ISO5151 and ISO13253 respectively and are technically equivalent. A number of minor amendments have been included (mostly regarding tolerances and minor editorial changes), but many of these changes are scheduled to appear in the forthcoming revised edition of the ISO standards.

AS/NZS 3823.1.3 now covers all products that use a water source for heating and/or cooling. It is based on ISO13256-1.

Part 1.1 and Part 1.2 have been amended to include standby power measurements. Part 1.3 also includes standby power measurements.

For applications which cover both energy labelling and MEPS:

one unit has to be tested (physical test) and results supplied with the labelling application
the model must be capable of meeting the maximum cooling test requirement and a test report to demonstrate this shall be supplied.
all tests must be carried out in a calorimeter (enthalpy method is not acceptable)
cooling capacity and energy consumption is determined to condition T1
heating capacity and energy consumption is determined to condition H1 (ISO condition "high")
for each unit tested, the measured capacity shall be > 0.95 of the rated value
for each unit tested, the measured energy consumption shall be < 1.05 of the rated value

For applications which are for MEPS only:

one unit has to be tested (or simulated) and results supplied with the MEPS application
a physical test in a calorimeter or the enthalpy method is acceptable
a simulation to AS/NZS 3823.3 is an acceptable alternative to a physical test where this standard covers the product type and configuration
cooling capacity and energy consumption is determined to condition T1
heating capacity and energy consumption is determined to condition H1 (ISO condition "high")
for each unit tested, the measured capacity shall be > 0.95 of the rated value
for each unit tested, the measured energy consumption shall be < 1.05 of the rated value

The Preface of AS/NZS 3823 of Part 1.1 describes the relationship between the Australian Standard and the International Standards Organisation standards for airconditioners. It should be noted that ISO has undertaken a revision of both the ducted (ISO5151) and non ducted airconditioner standard (ISO13253) over the past few years and many of the changes proposed by International Standards Organisation TC86 SC6 working group 1 have been included in AS/NZS 3823.1.1-1998 and AS/NZS 3823.1.2-2001.

The Preface of AS/NZS 3823 of Part 2 describes the current requirements for energy labelling for MEPS in Australia and New Zealand.

This page last modified 27 June 2007