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Since 1 October 2001, three phase air conditioners with a cooling capacity of up to 65kW manufactured in or imported into Australia must comply with Minimum Energy Performance (MEPS) requirements. Current and future MEPS requirements are set out in AS/NZS 3823.2-2005. MEPS covers three phase non-ducted or ducted room air conditioners of the vapour compression type of up to 65kW cooling (commercial or residential) within the scope of AS/NZS 3823.1.1 or AS/NZS 3823.1.2 or AS/NZS 3823.1.3, as applicable.
Since 1 October 2004, all single phase air conditioners manufactured in or imported into Australia must comply with Minimum Energy Performance (MEPS) requirements. Current and future MEPS requirements are set out in AS/NZS 3823.2-2005. MEPS covers single phase non-ducted or ducted room air conditioners of the vapour compression type (commercial or residential) within the scope of AS/NZS 3823.1.1 or AS/NZS 3823.1.2 or AS/NZS 3823.1.3, as applicable.
AS/NZS 3823.1.1 and AS/NZS 3823.1.2 and AS/NZS 3823.1.3 cover equipment utilizing one or more refrigeration systems with one outdoor unit and one or more indoor units controlled by a single thermostat/controller. They cover equipment utilizing single, multiple and variable capacity components. Examples of equipment types covered include those with a single indoor control such as single packaged units, packaged ducted units, double and triple split systems and single split systems and water sourced heat pumps.
MEPS requirements for single phase and three phase air conditioners have been revised and are documented in the revised edition of AS/NZS 3823.2 which was published on 30 December 2005. The changes include accelerated MEPS levels for many non-ducted single phase models effective from April 2006. Other single phase and all three phase types have revised MEPS levels effective from October 2007. The details are set out in the latest Regulatory Impact Statement. The details included below are from the 2005 edition of the standard.
Notice of increased levels Minimum Energy Performance Standards for Air Conditioners - 1 October 2007 Postponement of the Proposed 2008 MEPS Levels for Air Conditioners - May 2007 letter dated 19 January 2006 confirms that MCE have now agreed to the proposal for MEPS to commence on 1 April 2006. Letter from the NAEEEC Chair outlines the proposal under consideration by Energy Ministers for the revised MEPS date for non-ducted single phase air conditioners less than 7.5kW for household use.Products manufactured or imported must comply with the relevant requirements and MEPS levels at the time of manufacture or importation. Once registered to these requirements, products manufactured or imported prior to any new MEPS date can continue to be sold after new MEPS levels come into force. Details related to stock that has been imported into Australia or manufactured in Australia before 1st April 2006 are set out in the Administrative Guidelines (refer to MEPS transition arrangements, clause 3.2.2).
Test procedures for single and three phase units are the same: see requirements for air conditioners.
The following air conditioner types are exempted from energy labelling and MEPS:
The Minimum Energy Performance Standards requirements are set out as minimum EER levels. These are set out in the table below.
|
Configuration |
Cooling only or reverse cycle |
Phase |
Rated cooling capacity (kW) |
Min EER 1 Oct 2001 |
Min EER 1 Oct 2004 |
Min EER 1 Apr 2006 |
Min EER 1 Oct 2007 |
|
|
Non ducted unitary |
C/O |
1 |
< 7.5 |
n/a |
2.45 |
2.75b |
2.75 |
|
|
C/O |
1 |
7.5 to <10 |
n/a |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.75 |
||
|
C/O |
1 |
≥ 10.0a |
n/a |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.75 |
||
|
R/C |
1 |
< 7.5 |
n/a |
2.30 |
2.75b |
2.75 |
||
|
R/C |
1 |
7.5 to < 10 |
n/a |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.75 |
||
|
R/C |
1 |
≥ 10.0a |
n/a |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
< 10 |
2.25 |
2.25 |
2.25 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
10 to 12.5 |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
12.6 to 15.5 |
2.35 |
2.35 |
2.35 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
15.6 to 18 |
2.40 |
2.40 |
2.40 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
18.1 to 18.9c |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.75 |
||
|
Non ducted split |
C/O |
1 |
< 4 |
n/a |
2.45 |
3.05b |
3.05 |
|
|
C/O |
1 |
4 to < 7.5 |
n/a |
2.45 |
2.75b |
2.75 |
||
|
C/O |
1 |
7.5 to < 10 |
n/a |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.75 |
||
|
C/O |
1 |
≥ 10.0a |
n/a |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.75 |
||
|
R/C |
1 |
< 4 |
n/a |
2.30 |
3.05b |
3.05 |
||
|
R/C |
1 |
4 to < 7.5 |
n/a |
2.30 |
2.75b |
2.75 |
||
|
R/C |
1 |
7.5 to < 10 |
n/a |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.75 |
||
|
R/C |
1 |
≥ 10.0a |
n/a |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
< 4 |
2.25 |
2.25 |
2.25 |
3.05 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
4 to < 7.5 |
2.25 |
2.25 |
2.25 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
7.5 to < 10 |
2.25 |
2.25 |
2.25 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
10 - 12.5 |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
12.6 - 15.5 |
2.35 |
2.35 |
2.35 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
15.6 - 18 |
2.40 |
2.40 |
2.40 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
18.1 - 18.9 |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
19 - 25 |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.45 |
3.05 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
25.1 - 30 |
2.50 |
2.50 |
2.50 |
3.05 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
30.1 - 37.5 |
2.55 |
2.55 |
2.55 |
3.05 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
37.6 - 39 |
2.60 |
2.60 |
2.60 |
3.05 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
39.1 - 45.5 |
2.60 |
2.60 |
2.60 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
45.6 - 65 |
2.65 |
2.65 |
2.65 |
2.75 |
||
|
Ducted (split & unitary) |
C/O |
1 |
0 to < 10 |
n/a |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.50 |
|
|
C/O |
1 |
≥ 10.0a |
n/a |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.50 |
||
|
R/C |
1 |
0 to < 10 |
n/a |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.50 |
||
|
R/C |
1 |
≥ 10.0a |
n/a |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.50 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
0 to < 10 |
2.25 |
2.25 |
2.25 |
2.50 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
10 - 12.5 |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.30 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
12.6 - 15.5 |
2.35 |
2.35 |
2.35 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
15.6 - 18 |
2.40 |
2.40 |
2.40 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
18.1 - 18.9 |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
19 - 25 |
2.45 |
2.45 |
2.45 |
3.05 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
25.1 - 30 |
2.50 |
2.50 |
2.50 |
3.05 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
30.1 - 37.5 |
2.55 |
2.55 |
2.55 |
3.05 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
37.6 - 39 |
2.60 |
2.60 |
2.60 |
3.05 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
39.1 - 45.5 |
2.60 |
2.60 |
2.60 |
2.75 |
||
|
Both |
3 |
45.6 - 65 |
2.65 |
2.65 |
2.65 |
2.75 |
||
| NOTES: a Amendment 2 b Increased MEPS levels for 1 April 2006 apply to any product marketed for household use. Products which are purely commercial are subjected to the 2006 MEPS levels indicated apply from 1 October 2007. MEPS for 2007 apply to all product types irrespective of use. c For three phase non-ducted unitary products > 18.9kW, MEPS are the same as for non-ducted-split systems. 1. AS/NZS 3823.2 defines terms and applicable dates used in this table. 2. Not applicable is indicated by n/a - no coverage of this product type from the date specified. 3. Amendment 3 (to be published in late 2007) deletes the published 2008 MEPS levels (not shown above). These MEPS levels (with any adjustments) are expected to be included in a revision of AS/NZS3823.2 in 2008 with a delay of 12 to 18 months - see stakeholder letter dated May 2007 above. | ||||||||
|
Supply |
Cooling capacity/Type |
Oct. 2001 |
Oct. 2004 |
Oct. 2007 |
|
1 |
All capacities-Cooling only (ducted and non-ducted) |
N/A |
2.45 |
3.50 |
|
All capacities-Reverse cycle (ducted and non-ducted) |
N/A |
2.30 |
3.50 |
|
|
3 |
< 10 kW |
2.25 |
2.25 |
3.50 |
|
10-12.5 kW |
2.30 |
2.30 |
3.50 |
|
|
12.6-15.5 kW |
2.35 |
2.35 |
3.50 |
|
|
15.6-18.0 kW |
2.40 |
2.40 |
3.50 |
|
|
18.1-18.9 kW |
2.45 |
2.45 |
3.50 |
|
|
19.0-25.0 kW |
2.45 |
2.45 |
3.50 |
|
|
25.1-30.0 kW |
2.50 |
2.50 |
3.50 |
|
|
30.1-37.5 kW |
2.55 |
2.55 |
3.50 |
|
|
37.6-39.0 kW |
2.60 |
2.60 |
3.50 |
|
|
39.0-45.5 kW |
2.60 |
2.60 |
3.20 |
|
|
45.6-65.0 kW |
2.65 |
2.65 |
3.20 |
|
| NOTES:
1. This table includes requirements for airconditioners with water cooled condensers and water sourced heat pumps. 2. In New Zealand, MEPS became mandatory on 1 July 2002. |
||||
|
Rated cooling capacity (kW) |
Minimum EER cooling (W/W) |
|
kW ≤ 10.0 |
Under consideration |
|
10.0 < kW ≤ 19.0 |
3.35 |
|
19.0 < kW ≤ 39.0 |
3.65 |
|
kW > 39.0 |
3.35 |
The rated capacity is defined under condition T1 in AS/NZS 3823.1.1 or AS/NZS3823.1.2 or AS/NZS3823.1.3, as applicable.
For MEPS purposes:
Note that where a product is registered for energy labelling as well as MEPS, only physical tests are permitted (ie simulation is not allowed). For products registered for energy labelling, a test report must also be submitted to show that the model is capable of meeting the maximum cooling test requirement.
Note that heating only units (with no cooling function) are not required to be registered for MEPS.
A copy of the standard can be purchased from SAI Global under licence from Standards Australia.
Find out how to make an application for energy labelling and/or MEPS.
You can also download the MEPS 2004 Air Conditioner Registration Fact Sheet for more information on making an
application. (factsheet-ac.pdf 31kB)
This page last modified 17 October 2007
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