Preface from AS/NZS2040: Performance of household electrical appliances - Clothes washing machines Part 1: Energy Consumption and Performance - 2005

The following text has been provided courtesy of Standards Australia.

This Standard was prepared by the Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand Committee EL-015, Quality and Performance of Household Electrical Appliances, to supersede AS/NZS 2040.1:1998, Performance of household electrical appliance - Clothes washing machines. Part 1: Energy consumption and performance, on publication.

The AS/NZS 2040 series is comprised of two Parts, as follows:

AS/NZS

2040 Performance of household electrical appliances - Clothes washing machines

2040.1 Part 1: Methods for measuring performance, energy and water consumption (this Standard)

2040.2 Part 2: Energy efficiency labelling requirements

The overall objective of the AS/NZS 2040 series is to promote high levels of performance, energy efficiency and water efficiency in clothes washing machines.

The Parts of AS/NZS 2040 are summarized as follows:

(a) Part 1 Includes performance test procedures and minimum performance criteria for clothes washing machines.

(b) Part 2 Includes algorithms for the calculation of the energy efficiency star rating and projected energy usage, performance requirements, details of the energy efficiency label and requirements for the valid application for registration for energy efficiency labelling. It also includes the application form for registration for water efficiency labelling. It has been structured to be suitable for reference in regulatory legislation and to be used in conjunction with Part 1.

This Standard is based on but has significant differences to IEC 60456, Ed. 4 (2003). A summary of differences between this edition and IEC 60456, Ed. 4 is included in the Foreword.

This Standard incorporates the following significant changes in comparison to earlier editions of the Standard:

(i) It has been clarified that any program can be tested to this Standard (i.e. 'test program'), but the performance requirements in Section 4 only apply to the program recommended for a normally soiled cotton load. The program for a normally soiled cotton load is the program mandated for energy efficiency labelling in AS/NZS 2040.2.

(ii) Program time and cycle time have been added to the definitions.

(iii) Power measurements on a number of standby modes are now required. Standby modes have been added to the definitions and examples of the types of standby modes have been added in Appendix O.
NOTE: The impact of communication by appliances over a network is under consideration.

(iv) A recommendation to purchase all test materials from the sources referred to at www.energyrating.gov.au website has been added to minimize variations in test results. These materials will be used for check testing.

(v) To test a clothes washing machine to the requirements of this Standard, the number of test runs on a single machine has been reduced from three to one.

(vi) The test voltage is now limited to 230 V, except for products marked for 240 V only.

(vii) Silicone type anti-sudsing agents are now specified in place of synthetic sebum.

(viii) Spectrophotometer specifications have been revised.

Amendment 4 to the previous edition of this Standard introduced a rinse performance requirement for clothes washing machines. Performance is determined by measuring the mass, per kilogram of rated load, of a marker (PBIS) present in the rinse liquor that is retained in the damp load at the end of the program.

Introduction of a rinse performance requirement facilitated the introduction of mandatory water efficiency rating and labelling. Without a rinse performance requirement higher water efficiency ratings could be achieved by reducing rinse performance to levels that may not meet the needs of washing machine users.

The rinse performance requirements are required for the registration of clothes washing machines for the new water efficiency labelling scheme of AS/NZS 6400. Regulatory authorities advise that rinse performance requirements will not become mandatory for energy labelling until 1 July 2006 but they can be included in new registrations immediately.

For complete details of the rinse performance test method development program, including the trial of several different test methods, refer to the report entitled 'Method for the Determination of Rinse Performance in Clothes Washers - Summary Report' available from: http://www.energyrating.gov.au website in the electronic library.

The terms 'normative' and 'informative' have been used in this Standard to define the application of the appendix to which they apply. A 'normative' appendix is an integral part of a Standard whereas an 'informative' appendix is only for information and guidance.

A copy of the standard can be obtained from SAI Global under licence from Standards Australia.

This page last modified 14 July 2008