Requirements for Refrigerators and Freezers - Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)

From 1 October 1999, refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator-freezers manufactured in or imported into Australia must comply with Minimum Energy Performance Requirements which are set out in AS/NZS 4474 Part 2. More stringent requirements, which are broadly harmonised with US 2001 MEPS levels, will be introduced on 1 January 2005. The levels for both 1999 and 2005 are defined in AS/NZS 4474.2-2001. The main factors for both the 1999 and 2005 MEPS levels are shown in the tables below.

MEPS Formula

For a refrigerating appliance model, the energy consumption (determined in accordance with AS/NZS 4474 Part 1) shall not exceed the MEPS cut off level, which is determined as follows:

MEPS cut-off level = [Kf + (Kv x Vadj tot)] x Ka + Ad tot + Awi (kWh/y) . . . 3(1)

where:

kWh = Kilowatt hours

Kf = Fixed allowance factor for its appliance group. (Refer to Table below) (kWh/y)

Kv = Variable allowance factor. (Refer to Table below) (kWh/y/L)

Ka = Adaptive defrost adjustment factor, which = 1.0 for MEPS 1999 and for non-adaptive defrost models in MEPS 2005, = 1.05 for adaptive defrost models for MEPS 2005.

Vadj tot = Total adjusted volume. (gross litres)

Ad tot = An allowance which is made where the external doors provided on an appliance differ from the regular arrangement for that appliance group - see the standard for details. The door allowance can be positive or negative.

Awi = An allowance of 120 kWh/year which applies where an appliance has a "through-the-door ice dispenser" i.e. it has an automatic ice-maker coupled with a device for delivery on demand of ice externally through a door. This allowance also applies if the through the door dispenser also dispenses chilled water.

Refrigerator Groups

The following provides an approximate description of refrigerator and freezer Groups - see Table 1.1 in AS/NZS 4474.1 for the precise definition:

Group 1: Refrigerator without a low temperature compartment, automatic defrost.
Group 2: Refrigerator with or without an icemaking compartment, manual defrost
Group 3: Refrigerator with a short or long term frozen food compartment, manual defrost
Group 4: Refrigerator-freezer, fresh food compartment is automatic defrost, freezer manual defrost ("partial automatic defrost")
Group 5B: Refrigerator-freezer, both compartments automatic defrost (frost free), bottom mounted freezer
Group 5T: Refrigerator-freezer, both compartments automatic defrost (frost free), not side by side configuration or bottom mounted freezer (ie top mounted freezer)
Group 5S: Refrigerator-freezer, both compartments automatic defrost (frost free), side by side configuration
Group 6U: Separate vertical freezer, manual defrost
Group 6C: Separate chest freezer, all defrost types
Group 7: Separate vertical freezer, automatic defrost (frost free)

Compartment in this context refers to compartment (with separate external door) or an internal sub-compartment.

MEPS Factors

Fixed and variable allowance factors are determined from the Group classification of the appliance in the Tables below.

MEPS CUT-OFF LEVEL FACTORS - October 1999

Refrigerator Group	Fixed allowance factor (Kf) kWh/y	Variable allowance factor (Kv) kWh/y/L
1	368	0.892
2	300	0.728
3	330	0.800
4	424	1.020
5T & 5B	424	1.256
5S	465	1.378
6C	248	0.670
6U	439	0.641
7	439	1.020

New MEPS levels for 2005 have been negotiated with industry and these have been publicly released in AS/NZS 4474.2-2001 and are set out in the table below. These levels are broadly harmonised with US 2001 MEPS levels. A copy of the standard can be obtained from SAI Global under licence from Standards Australia.

MEPS CUT-OFF LEVEL FACTORS - January 2005

Refrigerator Group	Fixed allowance factor (Kf) kWh/y	Variable allowance factor (Kv) kWh/y/L
1	278	0.335
2	289	0.290
3	283	0.344
4	277	0.330
5T	311	0.357
5B	411	0.357
5S	569	0.169
6C	190	0.483
6U	281	0.298
7	356	0.478

This page last modified 09 May 2007