AS/NZS 3823.2:2013: MEPS for air-conditioners and heat pumps

Last updated: 5 November 2017

Air conditioners (which include heat pumps) that are sold, leased or hired in New Zealand must, by law, comply with Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) requirements.

 

MEPS covers air conditioners that use the vapour compression cycle and are:

  • Single and/or three phase, and
  • Ducted and/or non-ducted units, and
  • Single-split or multi-split, and
  • Have a cooling capacity less than or equal to 65 kW.

Labelling covers air conditioners that are:

  • Single phase, and
  • Single-split, and
  • Are non-ducted.

 

The MEPS requirements for air conditioners are based on the minimum AEER and ACOP values that the air conditioner must meet.

AEER is the Annual Energy Efficiency Ratio for cooling. It is defined as the ratio of the heating capacity (rated or tested) to the effective power input (rated or tested) for heating and standby power.

ACOP is the Annual Coefficient of Performance for heating. It is defined as the ratio of the cooling capacity (rated or tested) to the effective power input (rated or tested) for cooling and standby power.

The star rating for cooling and heating that appears on the label is calculated from the AEER and ACOP respectively.

 

The standards that apply are the following:

For non-ducted air conditioners:

AS/NZS 3823.1.1:2012: Performance of electrical appliances— Airconditioners and heat pumps—Part 1.1: Non-ducted

airconditioners and heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance.

AS/NZS 3823.3:2002: Performance of electrical appliances— Airconditioners and heat pumps—Calculation of performance for

minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements.

For ducted air conditioners:

AS/NZS 3823.1.2:2012: Performance of electrical appliances— Airconditioners and heat pumps—Test methods—Ducted airconditioners and air-to-air heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance; or

AS/NZS 3823.3:2002: Performance of electrical appliances— Airconditioners and heat pumps—Calculation of performance for

minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements.

For multi-split air conditioners:

AS/NZS 3823.1.4:2012 Performance of electrical appliances— Airconditioners and heat pumps—Part 1.4: Multiple split-system

airconditioners and air-to-air heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance; or

AS/NZS 3823.3:2002 Performance of electrical appliances— Airconditioners and heat pumps—Part 3: Calculation of performance for minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements,

For variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems:

Any VRF system testing standard (as defined in regulation 3) applied in accordance with clause 3.11 of AS/NZS 3823.2:2013.

 

Labelling for all air conditioners:

AS/NZS 3823.2:2013: Performance of electrical appliances—Air conditioners and heat pumps—Part 2: Energy labelling and minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) requirements.

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