Single phase non-ducted air conditioners for household use are regulated for energy labelling in Australia and New Zealand. All three phase and single phase ducted air conditioners up to 65kW cooling capacity are regulated for MEPS. Manufacturers can choose to label three phase and ducted air conditioners, but this is not mandatory. In Australia, more stringent MEPS requirements for all air conditioners have applied from April 2010, with further changes introduced in April and October 2011. In New Zealand, revisions to air conditioner standards were implemented on the 9th of June 2011. Current MEPS details are shown on the air conditioner MEPS page and are set out in AS/NZS 3823.2-2011. More stringent MEPS levels are currently under consideration.

In New Zealand, products imported after June 2011 must comply with the MEPS & labelling requirements specified in AS/NZS 3823.2:2009.

 In Australia, products imported after October 2011 must comply with the MEPS & labelling requirements specified in AS/NZS 3823.2:2011.

Product Definition for Energy Labelling: Single phase non-ducted air conditioners of the vapour compression type intended for household or similar use. It covers units with a single or multiple refrigeration systems such as window wall units (unitary) and single split systems. It includes units with a single outdoor unit and multiple indoor units with a single indoor control and also covers water sourced heat pumps.

Product Definition for MEPS: Single and three phase non-ducted or ducted room air conditioners of the vapour compression type of up to 65kW cooling capacity (commercial or residential). It covers units with a single or multiple refrigeration systems with a single indoor control such as single packaged units (unitary), packaged ducted units (unitary), double and triple split systems and single split systems. It also covers water sourced heat pumps.

Energy Labelling: Air conditioners were first required to carry an energy label in 1987. The algorithm and label was updated in 2000. Over the period to April 2010, a new energy label design and a new energy labelling algorithm was introduced for air conditioners. While the appearance and dimensions of the labels are similar, the revised algorithm reduced the number of stars on the label for the same energy consumption. Once a rating exceeds 6 stars an additional crown will be added to accommodate 10 stars for super efficient appliances. Details are set out in the Labelling and MEPS Transition Fact Sheet (October 2009) and the current requirements are included in AS/NZS3823.2-2011. More information on how star ratings for air conditioners are calculated is available.

Exemptions: The following air conditioner types are exempted from the requirements of energy labelling and/or MEPS:

• Close controlled air conditioners within the scope of AS/NZS 4965 and chillers within the scope of AS/NZS 4776.
• Multi-split systems (i.e., those having more than one indoor unit with an independent control for each indoor unit) pending the development of a suitable test method. MEPS levels are under consideration.
• Evaporative coolers or any other cooling systems which are not of the vapour compression type.
• Ground water or ground loop sourced heat pumps within the Scope of AS/NZS 3823.1.3 (ISO 13256-1). Note that water loop heat pumps are not exempt and these are covered by AS/NZS 3823.1.3.
• Unbalanced air conditioners and spot coolers (these include some portable types). Regulatory requirements for these types are under consideration.
• Air conditioners powered by mains electricity specifically designed and sold only for installation in end-use mobile applications of caravans, mobile homes, camper vans and rail cars.
• Single phase models that are designed for commercial applications, and where the requirements of (1), (2) and (3) below are met, are not required to display an Energy Rating label but are still required to be registered.
  1. designed for and used only in non-residential applications; and
  2. not on display for sale through retail outlets; and
  3. not promoted in any catalogue or advertising material that could be interpreted as suitable for some residential applications.
• Models that have been granted exemption by the relevant Australian/New Zealand regulatory authority due to their specific design for application such as process heating or cooling, or for heating or cooling of spaces to conditions that are not intended for human comfort.

Test Standards: Note that all energy labelling and MEPS standards for air conditioners are published jointly by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand.

AS/NZS3823: Performance of household electrical appliances – room air conditioners Part 1.1: Non ducted air conditioners and heat pumps – Testing and rating for performance

AS/NZS3823: Performance of electrical appliances – air conditioners and heat pumps Part 1.2: Test Methods – Ducted air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps – Testing and rating for performance

AS/NZS3823: Performance of electrical appliances – air conditioners and heat pumps Part 1.3: Water-source heat pumps – Testing and rating for performance: Water-to-air and brine-to-air heat pumps

AS/NZS3823: Performance of electrical appliances – air conditioners and heat pumps Part 2: Energy labelling and minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements

AS/NZS3823: Performance of electrical appliances – air conditioners and heat pumps Part 3: Calculation of performance for minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements

Note that Part 1.1 and 1.2 have recently been amended to include standby measurement requirements. Part 1.3 covers any water source product.

Part 1.1, Part 1.2 and Part 1.3 of the standard defines the test procedures for the determination of energy consumption and capacity of air conditioners in Australia, depending on the product type.

Part 2 of the standard sets out the requirements for energy labelling and MEPS for air conditioners in Australia. An approved Energy Label for single phase non ducted air conditioners must be displayed on all products which are intended for household use and which are offered for sale in Australia. Note that all products registered to AS/NZS 3823.2-2011 must carry the label shown.

All air conditioners up to 65kW cooling capacity have to be registered for MEPS except for those that are exempt (see above). Part 3 sets out an alternative simulation method which can be used in lieu of physical tests to demonstrate compliance with MEPS requirements (this is not permitted where products are registered for energy labelling). The suppliers of single phase ducted and three phase models may elect to energy label their products, but all the normal rules for energy label then apply.

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.

The standard is applicable to non-ducted and ducted room air conditioners of the vapour compression type with a single or multiple refrigeration circuits. The cooling and heating capacity and energy is determined under AS/NZS 3823.1.1 or AS/NZS 3823.1.2. These standards have been cloned from ISO5151 and ISO13253 respectively and are technically equivalent. A number of minor amendments have been included (mostly regarding tolerances and minor editorial changes), but many of these changes are scheduled to appear in the forthcoming revised edition of the ISO standards.

AS/NZS 3823.1.3 now covers all products that use a water source for heating and/or cooling. It is based on ISO13256-1.

Part 1.1 and Part 1.2 have been amended to include standby power measurements. Part 1.3 also includes standby power measurements.

For applications which cover both energy labelling and MEPS:

• one unit has to be tested (physical test) and results supplied with the labelling application
• the model must be capable of meeting the maximum cooling test requirement and a test report to demonstrate this shall be supplied.
• all tests must be carried out in a calorimeter (enthalpy method is not acceptable)
• cooling capacity and energy consumption is determined to condition T1
• heating capacity and energy consumption is determined to condition H1 (ISO condition “high”)
• for each unit tested, the measured capacity shall be > 0.95 of the rated value
• for each unit tested, the measured energy consumption shall be < 1.05 of the rated value

For applications which are for MEPS only:

• one unit has to be tested (or simulated) and results supplied with the MEPS application
• a physical test in a calorimeter or the enthalpy method is acceptable
• a simulation to AS/NZS 3823.3 is an acceptable alternative to a physical test where this standard covers the product type and configuration
• cooling capacity and energy consumption is determined to condition T1
• heating capacity and energy consumption is determined to condition H1 (ISO condition “high”)
• for each unit tested, the measured capacity shall be > 0.95 of the rated value
• for each unit tested, the measured energy consumption shall be < 1.05 of the rated value

The Preface of Part 1.1 of AS/NZS 3823 1 describes the relationship between the Australian Standard and the International Standards Organisation standards for air conditioners. It should be noted that ISO has undertaken a revision of both the ducted (ISO5151) and non ducted air conditioner standard (ISO13253) over the past few years and many of the changes proposed by International Standards Organisation TC86 SC6 working group 1 have been included in AS/NZS 3823.1.1-1998 and AS/NZS 3823.1.2-2001.

The Preface of Part 2 of AS/NZS 3823: 2011 describes the current requirements for energy labelling for MEPS in Australia and New Zealand.