The design and installation of energy-efficient residential air conditioning has been given a helping hand with the publication of a new standard.
AS/NZS 5141:2018, Residential heating and cooling systems – Minimum applications and requirements for energy efficiency, performance and comfort criteria specifies the requirements for design, selection, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of residential heating and cooling climate control systems.
The standard has been published following the work of industry representatives, consumer advocates, regulators, and technical experts.
Phil Wilkinson, executive manager – government relations and technical services at the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating said AS/NZS 5141:2018 is a vital piece of the puzzle to reduce the impact of the industry on global warming.
“We now have a standard for consumers to rely on for a comfortable, cost effective, and safe outcome,” Wilkinson said.
Robert Beggs, Chair of the Standards Australia Technical Committee responsible for the standard said over the past two decades, equipment energy efficiency programs such as Energy Labelling and Minimum Energy Performance Standards have driven air conditioning equipment manufacturers to improve the energy efficiency of their products.
“However, these efficiency gains, which have come at a cost to the manufacturer and ultimately the consumer, can be blown away with poor application or installation,” Beggs said.
“This standard introduces minimum requirements for the selection and installation of the equipment and system components to ensure that the installed system can operate at optimum efficiency. Other important consumer requirements such as noise levels, system reliability, serviceability and workmanship are also addressed by this standard.”