Non-domestic Fans

Fans are not currently regulated for energy efficiency in Australia and New Zealand.

A range of options for driving improvements to the energy efficiency of new fans sold, including possible regulations, are discussed in three Product Profiles which were released by the E3 Committee for public comment in 2012.

The Product Profiles cover both Non-Domestic Fans (driven by an electric motor with power input of 125 W to 500 kW) which are used in industrial and commercial applications, and Small Fan Units (driven by a motor with a power input less than 125 W).

This work on fans follows a Discussion Paper on Industrial Equipment which was released by the E3 Committee in 2010. It identified fans as one of the high priority products for further consideration. The draft 'In from the Cold Strategy' also proposed MEPS regulations for fan motors used in some refrigeration applications.

This work has also been prompted by developments in the European Union, where minimum energy performance regulations for fan units with an input power in the range of 125 W to 500 kW were introduced in 2013 and made more stringent in 2015.

Relevant documents include:

• Report: In from the Cold – Background Technical Report Volume 1 »
• Report: In from the Cold – Background Technical Report Volume 2 »

A Regulation Impact Statement considering policy options for increasing the energy efficiency of new fan-units (fan plus electric motor combination) sold into the Australian and New Zealand markets, including regulatory options, is currently under preparation.