For Industry
Electric water heaters
Overview
Hot water is a major source of energy use in Australia homes, often contributing to a quarter of the cost of energy bills.
Electric storage water heaters use an insulated tank to store water that’s been heated through solar power, heat pumps, indirect heated systems, heat exchange systems or electric resistive heating.
The requirements outlined on this page are for Australia. New Zealand requirements may be different. Visit the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority website for more information.
At a Glance
|
Determination |
Minimum Energy Performance Standards |
Energy Rating Label |
|---|---|---|
|
Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Electric Water Heaters) Determination 2012 |
Yes |
No |
Legislation
In Australia, these products are regulated under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012.
In New Zealand, the relevant legislation is the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002. Visit the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority website for more information.
What products are covered?
The Determination includes electric water heaters that:
- are storage water heaters with a delivery up to 630 litres, including the storage component of solar water heaters, heat pump water heaters, or indirectly heated systems,
- are heat exchange water heaters of a heat storage volume up to 710 litres, or
- are water heaters that use electric resistive heating as the primary energy source.
Products covered by the Determination must be in one of the following categories.
- Electric un-vented displacement water heaters with a rated hot water delivery of up to 630 litres inclusive.
- Electric vented displacement water heaters with a rated hot water delivery from 25 litres to 630 litres inclusive.
- Electric heat exchange water heaters with a heat storage volume from 45 litres to 710 litres inclusive.
Electric water heaters covered by the Determination must also be either:
- appliances that incorporate a thermally insulated container in which the water is heated and stored for subsequent use,
- heat exchange water heaters with a heat exchanger when the volume of heated water, which is subsequently delivered as hot water, is greater than the volume of the heat transfer fluid.
Refer to section 5 of the Determination for more details about what is included in this Determination.
What products are not covered?
The following products are not covered by this Determination.
- Water heaters that use electric-resistive heating to provide less than 50 per cent of the energy supplied in a typical year (for example, heat pump water heaters and solar water heaters) when simulated to AS/NZS 4234:2008.
- Vented water heaters, with an attached feed tank, that have a hot water delivery of less than 125 litres.
- Water heaters that are not intended for electric power grid connection, including water heaters for use in vehicles and marine applications.
Refer to section 5 of the Determination for more details.
Technical requirements
For technical requirements regarding water heaters, including testing requirements and Minimum Energy Performance Standards, review the relevant Determination and standards.
Standards
The following standards are referenced in this Determination and are available for purchase from Standards Australia.
- AS 1056-1991 Storage water heaters - Part 1: General requirements.
- AS 1361-1995 Electric heat-exchange water heaters — Part 1: For domestic applications.
- AS/NZS 4234:2008 Heated water systems – Calculation of energy consumption.
- AS/NZS 4692.1:2005 Electric water heaters - Part 1: Energy, consumption, performance and general requirements.
- AS/NZS 4692.2:2005 Electric water heaters - Part 2: Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) requirements and energy labelling.
Minimum Energy Performance Standards
The Minimum Energy Performance Standards for electric water heaters are set out in:
- for electric un-vented displacement water heaters – subclause 2.2.1.3 of AS/NZS 4692.2:2005
- for electric vented displacement water heaters – subclause 2.2.2.3 of AS/NZS 4692.2:2005
- for electric heat exchange water heaters – subclause 2.2.3.3 of AS/NZS 4692.2:2005.
Products covered by the Determination must also meet additional requirements. The requirements that apply are:
- for electric un-vented displacement water heaters – subclause 2.2.1.2 of AS/NZS 4692.2:2005 (rated hot water delivery)
- for electric vented displacement water heaters – subclause 2.2.2.2 of AS/NZS 4692.2:2005 (rated hot water delivery)
- for electric heat exchange water heaters – subclause 2.2.3.2 of AS/NZS 4692.2:2005 (heat storage volume and hot water delivery
- for any product where a claim is made by the supplier in respect to rated mixed hot water delivery – clause 2.4 of AS/NZS 4692.2:2005 (rated mixed hot water delivery).
For more information, see subsections 6 (1) and 8 (1) of the Determination.
Testing your product
Electric vented or un-vented displacement water heaters must be tested in accordance with:
- either Appendix C of AS/NZS 4692.1:2005 or Appendix B of AS 1056-1991, and
- either Appendix D of AS/NZS 4692.1:2005 or Appendix C of AS 1056-1991.
Electric heat exchange water heaters must be tested in accordance with:
- either Appendix C of AS/NZS 4692.1:2005 or Appendix C of AS 1361-1995, and
- subclause 6.2 of AS/NZS 4692.1:2005
In addition, any product where a claim is made by the supplier in respect to rated mixed hot water delivery must be tested in accordance with Appendix E of AS/NZS 4692.1:2005.
For more information, see subsections 6 (2) and 8 (2) of the Determination.
Labelling requirements
Electric storage water heaters sold in Australia aren't required to display an Energy Rating Label.