Overview

From July 1, 2009 Close Control Air Conditioners are regulated for Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) in Australia. Regulation is likely to be in place in New Zealand in 2011. MEPS levels and compliance requirements are covered in AS/NZS 4965.2-2008. The method for Rating for Testing is covered in AS/NZS 4965.1-2008. Registration of products can be conducted online at http://reg.energyrating.gov.au/

All Close Control Air Conditioners that are to be imported or manufactured in Australia after July 1, 2009 must be registered before being imported or sold.

Program Scope and Application

This Standard, AS/NZS 4965-2008, specifies the conditions on which the capacity and energy consumption of factory-made Close Control Air Conditioners are based and the test methods to be applied to determine the capacity and efficiency ratings. This Standard covers equipment utilizing a single or multiple refrigerated direct expansion (DX) system designed to control and monitor temperature and humidity and may include supplementary conditioning equipment.

The Standards are based on rating only the indoor unit where the compressor is part of the indoor unit. If the compressor is part of the outdoor unit the compressor power must be added to the indoor unit’s power consumption.

Close Control Air Conditioners are used for applications where temperature and humidity are required to be monitored and maintained within narrow limits. Examples of such applications are computer rooms, data processing units, telecommunication facilities and other industrial process areas

The program excludes units defined as:

• Close – Coupled Row Based Cooling Units

Close – Coupled Row Based Cooling Units are cooling devices designed to be mounted in the row containing the rack enclosures and are placed in such a way that it takes the air from a hot aisle, cools it, and then discharges the air to an adjacent cold aisle.

• Application conditions

To qualify for an exemption the particular unit must be designed to operate up to a minimum entering air temperature of 35C DB. The manufacturer shall also submit published operating data to enable an exemption to be claimed.

Note: that the referenced Standards are published jointly by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand and are available from SAI Global or Standards New Zealand.

• Rating and Testing Procedures

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard (ASHRAE) 127-2007 was reviewed during the development of these Standards. However, there are many differences between the ASHRAE Standard and the Australian and New Zealand Standard, particularly in the testing methodology.

The objective of the Testing for Rating Standard, AS/NZS 4965.1-2008, is to prescribe the method of testing Close Control Air Conditioners and to determine the capacity, power and efficiency under a specific set of rating conditions as described in the standard.

MEPS Requirements

The objectives of the MEPS Standard is to:

• Provide detailed information on the performance requirements that a Close Control Air Conditioner has to comply with in order to meet MEPS requirements.
• Describe the circumstances in which alternatives to physical testing may be used to demonstrate and verify compliance with MEPS requirements.

When rated and tested in accordance with AS/NZS 4965.1-2008, the efficiency levels shall be not lower than those defined below.

Unit Size kW	Min EERs
< 19.05	2.62
> 19.05 < 39.5	2.62
> 39.5 < 70.0	2.62
> 70.0	2.62

 

Registration Requirements and Process

For the purpose of demonstrating compliance with MEPS requirements, one of the following reports shall be prepared:

(a) a manufacturer’s computer simulation output report

or

(b) a performance test conducted in accordance with AS/NZS 4965.1-2008 and recorded in accordance with Appendix B of Standard AS/NZS 4965.2 – 2008.

NOTE: To register, contact the relevant state regulatory authority.