Overview of MEPS Requirements for Three Phase Electric Motors

This page sets out the relevant test procedures for three phase electric motors which are regulated for MEPS in Australia. Since 1 October 2001, three phase electric motors from 0.73kW to <185kW manufactured in or imported into Australia must comply with Minimum Energy Performance (MEPS) requirements which are set out in AS/NZS 1359.5-2000. These MEPS levels bcame more stringent in April 2006.

MEPS does not apply to submersible motors, integral motor-gear systems, variable or multi-speed speed motors or those rated only for short duty cycles (IEC60034-2 duty rating S2).

The Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) requirements are set out as minimum efficiency levels.

Information of interest on voluntary programs for electric motors can be found in supplementary information.

Test Standards

Note that regulatory standards for motors are published jointly by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand. Some of the test standards (IEC based standards) are only issued as AS standards.

AS1359: Rotating electrical machines - General Requirements Part 101: Rating and Performance
AS1359: Rotating electrical machines - General Requirements Part 102.1: Methods for determining losses and efficiency - General
AS/NZS1359: Rotating electrical machines - General Requirements Part 102.3: Methods for determining losses and efficiency - Three phase cage induction motors
AS/NZS1359: Rotating electrical machines - General Requirements Part 5: Three phase cage induction motors - High efficiency and minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) requirements

Part 101 of the standard sets out methods for determining the rated output of the electric motor, thermal performance and other related performance tests (pull up torque, various short circuit tests etc.). This standard is based on and is equivalent to IEC60034.1.

Part 102.1 (also known as Test Method B) of the standard sets out methods for determining the efficiency of an electric motor, primarily using the summation of losses for AC cage induction motors (it also covers other motor types and methods of determining efficiency). This standard is based on and is equivalent to IEC60034.2 including up to amendment 2 (1996). Note that this standard assumes that additional losses (also called stray losses) are fixed at 0.5% for all motor types and sizes.

Part 102.3 (also known as Test Method A) of the standard sets out methods for determining the efficiency of a three phase electric motor using the summation of losses method, and includes the direct measurement of additional load losses (also called stray losses) by use of accurate torque measurements over a wide range of outputs. This standard is based on and is equivalent to US test procedures ANSI/IEEE 112-1984 (Method B) and NEMA MG1-1987. It is also equivalent to the recently published IEC motor test procedure IEC 61972 which was published in November 2002.

Part 5 of the standard sets out the requirements for MEPS for three phase electric motors in Australia. Three phase products from 0.73kW to <185kW have to be registered for MEPS.

These standards can be purchased from SAI Global under licence from Standards Australia.

Find out how to make an application for MEPS.

This page last modified 09 May 2007