G/TBT/N/NZL/86  
 
21 March 2019  
(19-1769) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  NEW ZEALAND   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment  
P.O. Box: 10729  
Wellington, New Zealand  
Phone: +64 -4-897 5319  
Email: Briony.Bennett@mbie.govt.nz  
Web: http://www.mbie.govt.nz  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Energy Efficiency and Conservatio n Authority  
P.O. Box: 388  
Wellington, New Zealand  
Phone: +64 -4-470 2200  
Email: Brian.Fitzgerald@eeca.govt.nz  
Web: http://www.eeca.govt.nz  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Air 
conditioning machines, comprising a motor -driven fan and elements for changing the 
temperature and humi dity, including those machines in which the humidity cannot be 
separately regulated (HS 8415); Ventilators. Fans. Air -conditioners (ICS 23.120)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Air-conditioners. 
A full list of policy doc uments developed to consult on these proposed changes can be 
found under "Key Documents" at http://www.energyrating.gov.au/products/space -
heating -and-cooling /air-conditioners  
6. Description of content:  Proposed changes to the current regulatory requirements for 
air conditioners are set out in Items One to Four below.  
One: Adopt a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) methodology for rating 
air conditioner energy efficiency, by incorporating the following Australia/New 
Zealand Standards into regulation:  
• AS/NZS 3823.4.1:2014  Performance of electrical appliances - Air conditioners and 
heat pumps - Part 4.1: Air -cooled air conditioners and air -to-air heat pumps  - 
Testing and calculating methods for seasonal performance factors - Cooling 
seasonal performance factor(ISO 16358 -1:2013, MOD) - Including 
Amendment  1, 2017  
• AS/NZS 3823.4.2:2014 Performance of electrical appliances - Air conditioners and 
heat pumps - Part 4.2: Air -cooled air conditioners and air -to-air heat pumps - G/TBT/N/NZL/86  
 
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  Testing and calculating methods for seasonal performance factors - Heating 
seasonal performance factor (ISO 16358 -2:2013, MOD) - Including 
Amendment  1, 2017  
• AS/NZS 3823.1.5:2015 Performance of electrical appliances - Air conditioners and 
heat pumps - Part 1.5: Non -ducted portable air -cooled air conditioners and air -
to-air heat pumps having a single exhaust duct - Testing and rating for 
performance . 
Note : The Standards AS/NZS 3823.4.1:2014 and AS /NZS 3823.4.2:2014 listed above 
are based on Parts 1 and 2 of ISO 16358:2013 Air -cooled air conditioners and air -to-air 
heat pumps -- Testing and calculating methods for seasonal performance factors but they 
make use of local climate data. Amendments to th e Australian/New Zealand Standards 
were published in May 2017, to include more realistic operational hours (at the request 
of industry).  The three Standards  listed above will supplement the following test 
standards that currently apply under New Zealand re gulation:  
• 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 (ISO 5151:2010, MOD)  
• AS/NZS 3823.1.2:2012: Performance of elec trical appliances - Airconditioners 
and heat pumps - Test methods - Ducted airconditioners and air -to-air heat 
pumps - Testing and rating for performance (ISO 13253:2011, MOD)  
• 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 (ISO 15042:2011, MOD)  
• AS/NZS 3823.2:2013 Performance of electrical appliances - Air conditioners and 
heat pumps - Part 2: Energy lab elling and minimum energy performance 
standards (MEPS) requirements   
The Standards AS/NZS 3823.4.1:2014, AS/NZS 3823.4.2:2014 and 
AS/NZS  3823.1.5:2015 listed above will also replace the following test standard that 
currently applies under New Zealand and A ustralian regulation:  
• 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  
Two: Adopt a Zoned Energy Rating Label to repla ce the existing Energy Rating 
Label, and, (for products not required to display a label) report Seasonal Energy 
Efficiency Ratings on the Energy Rating website.  
Products up to 30kW capacity  
• Products currently required  to display a label (i.e. single -phase non-ducted units) 
will need to display a Zoned Energy Rating Label in place of the existing Energy 
Rating Label  
• Products  currently not required  to display a label (mainly single -phase ducted and 
three-phrase units) will not need to display a label but it will be mandatory to 
report SEER ratings (including star ratings and noise information) for these 
products on the Energy Rating website.  
Products >30kW capacity  will not need to display a label but it will be mandatory to report 
SEER ratings for these prod ucts for cooling only on the Energy Rating website. (SEER 
ratings for heating based on a physical test report can be provided voluntarily).  
Portable air conditioners (single duct and double duct)  will need to display the Zoned 
Energy Rating Label, and to b e labelled with the test results obtained from testing in 
accordance with AS/NZS 3823.1.5:2015 Performance of electrical appliances - Air 
conditioners and heat pumps - Part 1.5: Non -ducted portable air -cooled air conditioners 
and air -to-air heat pumps havi ng a single exhaust duct - Testing and rating for 
performance.  
Three : Changes to MEPS requirements  
Portable air conditioners : G/TBT/N/NZL/86  
 
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  • Double ducted units : Reduce the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) 
to a level of 2.5, based on the energy efficiency ratio (EER) and coefficient of 
performance (COP).(See 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  for the current 
requirem ents.)  
• Single ducted units : Introduce MEPS, also at a level of 2.5, based on the EER and 
COP. 
Residential air conditioners  
Align New Zealand and Australian cooling MEPS levels for residential products (i.e. 
products with a rated cooling capacity of up to 65kW).  
Four: Minor changes  
Resolve some minor technical issues with air conditioner regulations.  These will not have 
significant impacts on the requirements of regulation.  
Remove H2 MEPS : Meeting a separate H2 MEPS level will no longer be required.  
Multi-split registration : Systems comprising of multiple, already registered outdoor units 
will no longer be required to register the combined systems.  
Supply of outdoor units only : MEPS requirements will apply to the supply of outdoor units 
that are not sold as  a system.  
Noise test standard for products : EN 12102:2013 Air conditioners, liquid chilling 
packages, heat pumps and dehumidifiers with electrically driven compressors for space 
heating and cooling. Measurement of airborne noise. Determination of the sound power 
level.  
Noise rating test points : Measu red at the operating points T1 (35°C) for the rated capacity 
cooling test or H1 (7°C) for heating only units.  
Noise test requirements :  
• Non-ducted split systems: indoor and outdoor noise levels  
• Ducted units (both split and unitary units): outdoor noise lev els only.  
• Non-ducted unitary units (e.g. window/wall units): indoor and outdoor noise 
levels.  
• Single and double duct 'portable' unitary units that sit wholly within the 
conditioned space: indoor noise levels only.  
• Multi-split systems: outdoor noise level o f single outdoor units, based on the 
representative combination used for registration.  
Changing the SEER degradation coefficient : The degradation coefficient from AS/NZS 
3823.4  will be fixed at the default value of 0.25.  
Measurement of non -operative power : Non-operative power (e.g. standby) for the MEPS 
metric will change to the weighted average power consumption (Pia) of AS/NZS 3823.4  
H2 and H3 testing : Air enthalpy tests or a shorter calorimeter room test will be accepted 
for H2/H3 (2°C/ -7°C) tests for al l air conditioners.  
Use of default SEER values : Fixed speed products will be able to use the default values 
for the 29°C cooling test and variable speed products will be allowed to use the fixed 
speed test points.  
Certifying test results for >30 kW products : Eurovent, and AHRI certification and regional 
adoptions of ISO test standards will be able to be used.  
Simulation testing of >30 kW products : Simulation software that can be demonstrated to 
yield equivalent results to a physical test will be able  to be used.  
Maximum cooling test : Will no longer be a requirement for labelled products.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:   G/TBT/N/NZL/86  
 
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  1. Alignment of standards and regulation with New Zealand 's major trading partner , 
Australia, and with international standards.  
2. Ensuring improvements in product technologies are available on the New Zealand 
market, which will lead to increased productivity and lower energy costs and 
greenhouse gas emissions.  
3. Ensuring that consumers ar e better informed about energy -using products so that 
they can make informed decisions that reduce their overall energy costs . 
4. Contributing to the government 's priority "Efficient use of energy " under the New 
Zealand Energy Strategy 2011 -2021.  
5. Contributin g to the target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent 
below 2005 levels  by 2050.  
Consumer information, labelling; Protection of the environment; Harmonization  
8. Relevant documents:   
A full list of policy documents developed to consult on these proposed changes can be 
found under "Key Documents" at http://www.energyrating.gov.au/products/ space -
heating -and-cooling/air -conditioners  
The relevant regulations that apply in New Zealand are the Energy Efficiency (Energy 
Using Products) Regulations 2002 (the Regulations).  The current version of the 
Regulations (into which these proposed changes wi ll be incorporated) is available for 
viewing at:  
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regu lation/public/2002/0009/latest/DLM108730.html?se
arch=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_energy+efficiency_resel_25_a  
The relevant Australia/New Zealand Standards (those currently incorporated under 
Schedules One and Two of the Regulations and those tha t are proposed for incorporation) 
can be purchased from the Standards New Zealand website at:  
https://shop.standards.govt.nz/search/ed  
The Australian Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Air Cond itioners and Heat 
Pumps) Determination 2013 (which applies under the Greenhouse Energy Minimum 
Standards (GEMS) Act 2012) is the equivalent regulation in Australia. The current version 
can be viewed at:  
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2013L01672  
It will be updated to incorporate the same changes that are proposed for New Zealand 
(as outlined in this WTO TBT notification).  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  16 September 2019  
Proposed dat e of entry into force:  1 March 2020  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority  
P.O. Box: 388  
Wellington, New Zealand  
Phone: +64 -4-470 2200  
Email: Brian.Fitzgerald@eeca.govt.nz Web: http://www.eeca.govt.nz  
http://www.energyrating.gov.au/products/space -heating -and-cooling/air -conditioners