(a) Scope. This section contains test procedures for measuring, pursuant to EPCA, the energy efficiency of any small, large, or very large commercial package air-conditioning and heating equipment, packaged terminal air conditioners and packaged terminal heat pumps, computer room air conditioners, variable refrigerant flow systems, and single package vertical air conditioners and single package vertical heat pumps.
(b) Testing and calculations. (1) Determine the energy efficiency of each covered product by conducting the test procedure(s) listed in the rightmost column of Table 1 of this section, that apply to the energy efficiency descriptor for that product, category, and cooling capacity, until compliance with this test procedure version is no longer required per the date shown in the 5th most column from the left of Table 1 of this section.
Table 1 to Sec. 431.96--Test Procedures for Commercial Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test procedure Use tests,
Equipment type Category Cooling capacity Energy efficiency required for conditions, and
descriptor compliance until procedures \1\ in--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Small Commercial Packaged Air- Air-Cooled, 3-Phase, <65,000 Btu/h........ SEER and HSPF......... May 13, 2013......... ARI 210/240-2003.
Conditioning and Heating Equipment. AC and HP. =65,000 EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... ARI 340/360-2004.
Air-Cooled AC and HP.. Btu/h and <135,000
Btu/h.
Water-Cooled and <65,000 Btu/h........ EER................... May 13, 2013......... ARI 210/240-2003.
Evaporatively-Cooled =65,000 EER................... May 13, 2013......... ARI 340/360-2004.
AC. Btu/h and <135,000
Btu/h.
Water-Source HP....... <135,000 Btu/h....... EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... ISO Standard 13256-1
(1998).Large Commercial Packaged Air- Air-Cooled AC and HP.. =135,000 EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... ARI 340/360-2004.
Conditioning and Heating Equipment. Water-Cooled and Btu/h and <240,000 EER................... May 13, 2013......... ARI 340/360-2004.
Evaporatively-Cooled Btu/h.
AC. =135,000
Btu/h and <240,000
Btu/h.Very Large Commercial Packaged Air- Air-Cooled AC and HP.. =240,000 EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... ARI 340/360-2004.
Conditioning and Heating Equipment. Water-Cooled and Btu/h and <760,000 EER................... May 13, 2013......... ARI 340/360-2004.
Evaporatively-Cooled Btu/h.
AC. =240,000
Btu/h and <760,000
Btu/h.Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners AC and HP............. <760,000 Btu/h....... EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... AHRI 310/380-2004.
and Heat Pumps.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ Incorporated by reference, see Sec. 431.95.
(2) On or after the compliance dates listed in Table 2 of this section, determine the energy efficiency of each type of covered equipment by conducting the test procedure(s) listed in the rightmost column of Table 2 of this section along with any additional testing provisions set forth in paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of this section, that apply to the energy efficiency descriptor for that equipment, category, and cooling capacity. Note, the omitted sections of the test procedures listed in the rightmost column of Table 1 of this section shall not be used.
Table 2 to Sec. 431.96--Test Procedures for Commercial Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compliance with test
Equipment type Category Cooling capacity Energy efficiency procedure required on Use tests, conditions,
descriptor or after and procedures \1\ in--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Small Commercial Packaged Air- Air-Cooled, 3-Phase, <65,000 Btu/h........ SEER and HSPF......... May 13, 2013......... AHRI 210/240-2008
Conditioning and Heating Equipment. AC and HP. =65,000 EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... (omit section 6.5).
Air-Cooled AC and HP. Btu/h and <135,000 AHRI 340/360-2007
Btu/h. (omit section 6.3).
Water-Cooled and <65,000 Btu/h........ EER................... May 13, 2013......... AHRI 210/240-2008
Evaporatively-Cooled =65,000 EER................... May 13, 2013......... (omit section 6.5).
AC. Btu/h and <135,000 AHRI 340/360-2007
Btu/h. (omit section 6.3).
Water-Source HP...... <135,000 Btu/h....... EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... ISO Standard 13256-1
(1998).Large Commercial Packaged Air- Air-Cooled AC and HP. =135,000 EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... AHRI 340/360-2007
Conditioning and Heating Equipment. Water-Cooled and Btu/h and <240,000 EER................... May 13, 2013......... (omit section 6.3).
Evaporatively-Cooled Btu/h. AHRI 340/360-2007
AC. =135,000 (omit section 6.3).
Btu/h and <240,000
Btu/h.Very Large Commercial Packaged Air- Air-Cooled AC and HP. =240,000 EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... AHRI 340/360-2007
Conditioning and Heating Equipment. Water-Cooled and Btu/h and <760,000 EER................... May 13, 2013......... (omit section 6.3).
Evaporatively-Cooled Btu/h. AHRI 340/360-2007
AC. =240,000 (omit section 6.3).
Btu/h and <760,000
Btu/h.Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners AC and HP............ <760,000 Btu/h....... EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... AHRI 310/380-2004
and Heat Pumps. (omit section 5.6).Computer Room Air Conditioners..... AC................... <65,000 Btu/h........ SCOP.................. October 29, 2012..... ASHRAE 127-2007 (omit
<65,000 Btu/h and SCOP.................. May 13, 2013......... section 5.11).
<760,000 Btu/h. ASHRAE 127-2007 (omit
section 5.11).Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi- AC................... <760,000 Btu/h....... EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... AHRI 1230-2010 (omit
split Systems. sections 5.1.2 and
6.6).Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi- HP................... <760,000 Btu/h....... EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... AHRI 1230-2010 (omit
split Systems, Air-cooled. sections 5.1.2 and
6.6).Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi- HP................... <17,000 Btu/h........ EER and COP........... October 29, 2012..... AHRI 1230-2010 (omit
split Systems, Water-source. sections 5.1.2 and
6.6).Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi- HP................... =17,000 EER and COP........... May 13, 2013......... AHRI 1230-2010 (omit
split Systems, Water-source. Btu/h and <760,000 sections 5.1.2 and
Btu/h. 6.6).Single Package Vertical Air AC and HP............ <760,000 Btu/h....... EER and COP........... July 16, 2012........ AHRI 390-2003 (omit
Conditioners and Single Package section 6.4).
Vertical Heat Pumps.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ Incorporated by reference, see Sec. 431.95.
(c) Optional break-in period for tests conducted using AHRI 210/240-2008, AHRI 340/360-2007, AHRI 390-2003, AHRI 1230-2010, and ASHRAE 127-2007. Manufacturers may optionally specify a ``break-in'' period, not to exceed 20 hours, to operate the equipment under test prior to conducting the test method specified by AHRI 210/240-2008, AHRI 340/360-2007, AHRI 390-2003, AHRI 1230-2010, or ASHRAE 127-2007 (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 431.95). A manufacturer who elects to use an optional compressor break-in period in its certification testing should record this information (including the duration) in the test data underlying the certified ratings that is required to be maintained under 10 CFR 429.71.
(d) Refrigerant line length corrections for tests conducted using AHRI 1230-2010. For test setups where it is physically impossible for the laboratory to use the required line length listed in Table 3 of the AHRI 1230-2010 (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 431.95), then the actual refrigerant line length used by the laboratory may exceed the required length and the following correction factors are applied: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooling
Piping length beyond minimum, X Piping length beyond capacity
(ft) minimum, Y (m) correction %------------------------------------------------------------------------0X <=20................ 0Y <=6.1. 120X <=40............... 6.1Y 2
<=12.2.40X <=60............... 12.2Y 3
<=18.3.60X <=80............... 18.3Y 4
<=24.4.80X <=100.............. 24.4Y 5
<=30.5.100 X <=120............ 30.5Y 6
<=36.6.------------------------------------------------------------------------
(e) Additional provisions for equipment set-up. The only additional specifications that may be used in setting up the basic model for test are those set forth in the installation and operation manual shipped with the unit. Each unit should be set up for test in accordance with the manufacturer installation and operation manuals. Paragraphs (e)(1) through (3) of this section provide specifications for addressing key information typically found in the installation and operation manuals.
(1) If a manufacturer specifies a range of superheat, sub-cooling, and/or refrigerant pressure in its installation and operation manual for a given basic model, any value(s) within that range may be used to determine refrigerant charge or mass of refrigerant, unless the manufacturer clearly specifies a rating value in its installation and operation manual, in which case the specified rating value shall be used.
(2) The air flow rate used for testing must be that set forth in the installation and operation manuals being shipped to the commercial customer with the basic model and clearly identified as that used to generate the DOE performance ratings. If a rated air flow value for testing is not clearly identified, a value of 400 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) per ton shall be used.
(3) For VRF systems, the test set-up and the fixed compressor speeds (i.e., the maximum, minimum, and any intermediate speeds used for testing) should be recorded and maintained as part of the test data underlying the certified ratings that is required to be maintained under 10 CFR 429.71.
(f) Manufacturer involvement in assessment or enforcement testing for variable refrigerant flow systems. A manufacturer's representative will be allowed to witness assessment and/or enforcement testing for VRF systems. The manufacturer's representative will be allowed to inspect and discuss set-up only with a DOE representative and adjust only the modulating components during testing in the presence of a DOE representative that are necessary to achieve steady-state operation. Only previously documented specifications for set-up as specified under paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section will be used. [77 FR 28989, May 16, 2012]
Energy Efficiency Standards