Requirements for Close Control Air Conditioners

Overview

Program Scope and Application

Rating and Test Procedures

MEPS Requirements

Registration Requirements and Process

Overview

From July 1, 2009 Close Control Air Conditioners are regulated for MEPS in Australia and New Zealand. The MEPS 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 done on line at http://reg.energyrating.gov.au.

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

Program Scope and Application

This Standard 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 is placed in such a way that it takes air from a hot isle, cools it and discharges it to a cold isle.
Application conditions:
To qualify for an exemption under this clause the particular unit must be designed for, and the manufacturer shall have published operating data up to a minimum of 35C DB entering air temperature.

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

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 it and the Australian and New Zealand Standards particularly in the methodology of testing.

The objective of the Testing for Rating Standard, AS/NZS 4965.1-2008, is to prescribe the method of testing Close Control Air Conditioners 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 as to meet in order to meet minimum energy performance standard requirements
describe the circumstances in which alternatives to physical testing may be used to demonstrate and verify compliance with minimum energy performance standard 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 minimum energy performance standard requirements, one of the following reports shall be prepared:

(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 A/NZS 4965.2 - 2008.

NOTE: For registration, contact the relevant state regulatory authority.

This page last modified 29 June 2009