Variable Refrigerant Flow

Department of Energy

The Department of Energy (DOE) regulates the energy efficiency of small, large, and very large commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps, which includes variable refrigerant flow products. Commercial air conditioners and heat pumps are air-cooled, water-cooled, evaporatively-cooled, or water source unitary air conditioners or heat pumps that are used for space conditioning of commercial and industrial buildings.

    Negotiated Rulemaking for Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

    Summary: The Department of Energy is giving notice that it intends to establish a negotiated rulemaking working group under the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Negotiated Rulemaking Act to negotiate proposed test procedures and amended energy conservation standards for variable refrigerant flow multi-split air conditioners and heat pumps.

    Type of Regulation: Test Procedure and Energy Conservation Standard

    Rulemaking Link: Rulemaking Webpage

    Docket ID: EERE-2018-BT-STD-0003

    UPDATES:

    Comment Period Close Date: Closed

    Where to Comment: EERE-2018-BT-STD-0003

    AHRI Comments to Previous Stages of Rulemakings:

    Staff Contact: Laura Petrillo-Groh

    • August 22, 2019 â€” AHRI comments response to the notice of data availability and request for information

    N/A

    Current Standard:

    For the purposes of this regulation, standards cover air-cooled, evaporatively-cooled, and water-cooled and water source commercial packaged air conditioners and heat pumps.

    Commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 10 CFR 431.92, must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 431.97. Compliance dates and minimum efficiencies are found in the following tables.

    Table 1. Minimum Cooling Efficiency Levels for Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps (including Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems)

    Equipment Type

    Cooling Capacity

    Sub-Category

    Heating Type

    Efficiency Level

    Compliance Date

    Small Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Air-Cooled, 3 Phase)

    < 65,000 Btu/h

    AC

    All

    SEER = 13

    6/16/2008

    HP

    All

    SEER = 13

    6/16/2008

    Small Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Air-Cooled)

    65,000 Btu/h and < 135,000 Btu/h

    AC

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 11.2

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 11.0

    1/1/2010

    HP

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 11.0

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 10.8

    1/1/2010

    Large Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Air-Cooled)

    135,000 Btu/h and < 240,000 Btu/h

    AC

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 11.0

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 10.8

    1/1/2010

    HP

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 10.6

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 10.4

    1/1/2010

    Very Large Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Air-Cooled)

    240,000 Btu/h and < 760,000 Btu/h

    AC

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 10.0

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 9.8

    1/1/2010

    HP

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 9.5

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 9.3

    1/1/2010

    Small Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Water-Cooled, Evaporatively-Cooled, and Water-Source)

    < 17,000 Btu/h

    AC

    All

    EER = 12.1

    10/29/2003

    HP

    All

    EER = 11.2

    10/29/2003

    17,000 and < 65,000

    AC

    All

    EER = 12.1

    10/29/2003

    HP

    All

    EER = 12.0

    10/29/2013

    65,000 Btu/h and < 135,000 Btu/h

    AC

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 11.3

    10/29/2003

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 11.3

    10/29/2003

    HP

    All

    EER = 12.0

    10/29/2003

    Large Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Water-Cooled, Evaporatively-Cooled, and Water-Source)

    135,000 Btu/h and < 240,000 Btu/h

    AC

    All

    EER = 11.0

    10/29/2003

    HP

    All

    EER = 11.0

    10/29/2004

    Very Large Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Water-Cooled, Evaporatively-Cooled, and Water-Source)

    240,000 Btu/h and < 760,000 Btu/h

    AC

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 11.0

    1/10/2011

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 10.8

    1/10/2011

    HP

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 11.0

    1/10/2011

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 10.8

    1/10/2011

     

    Table 2. Minimum Heating Efficiency Levels for Commercial Package Heat Pumps (including Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems)

    Equipment Type

    Cooling Capacity

    Efficiency Level

    Compliance Date

    Small Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Air-Cooled, 3 Phase)

    < 65,000 Btu/h

    HSPF = 7.7

    6/16/2008

    Small Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Air-Cooled)

    65,000 Btu/h and < 135,000 Btu/h

    COP = 3.3

    1/1/2010

    Large Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Air-Cooled)

    135,000 Btu/h and < 240,000 Btu/h

    COP = 3.2

    1/1/2010

    Very Large Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Air-Cooled)

    240,000 Btu/h and < 760,000 Btu/h

    COP = 3.2

    1/1/2010

    Small Commercial Packaged Air-Conditioning and Heating Equipment (Water-Source)

    < 135,000 Btu/h

    COP = 4.2

    10/29/2003

     

    For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this standard, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.

    Table 4. Energy Conservation Standards for Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps*

    Equipment Type

    Cooling Capacity

    Heating Type

    Efficiency Level

    Compliance Date

    VRF Multi-Split Air Conditioners (Air-cooled)

    < 65,000 Btu/h

    All

    SEER = 13.0

    6/16/2008

    ≥ 65,000 Btu/h and < 135,000 Btu/h

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 11.2

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 11.0

    1/1/2010

    ≥ 135,000 Btu/h and < 240,000 Btu/h

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 11.0

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 10.8

    1/1/2010

    850 and < 1,500

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    4.42 - 0.00028H

    200 - 0.022H

    ≥ 240,000 Btu/h and < 760,000 Btu/h

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 10.0

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 9.8

    1/1/2010

    VRF Multi-Split Heat Pumps (Air-Cooled)

    < 65,000 Btu/h

    All

    SEER = 13.0
    HSPF = 7.7

    6/16/2008

    ≥ 65,000 Btu/h and < 135,000 Btu/h

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 11.0
    COP = 3.3

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 10.8
    COP = 3.3

    1/1/2010

    ≥ 135,000 Btu/h and < 240,000 Btu/h

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 10.6
    COP = 3.3

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 10.4
    COP = 3.2

    1/1/2010

    ≥ 240,000 Btu/h and < 760,000 Btu/h

    No Heating or Electric Resistance Heating

    EER = 9.5
    COP = 3.2

    1/1/2010

    All Other Types of Heating

    EER = 9.3
    COP = 3.2

    1/1/2010

    VRF Multi-Split Air Conditioners

    < 17,000 Btu/h

    Without Heat Recovery

    EER = 12.0
    COP = 4.2

    10/29/2012 (EER Level)
    10/29/2003 (COP Level)

    With Heat Recovery

    EER = 11.8
    COP = 4.2

    10/29/2012 (EER Level)
    10/29/2003 (COP Level)

    ≥ 17,000 Btu/h and < 65,000 Btu/h

    All

    EER = 12.0
    COP = 4.2

    10/29/2013

    ≥ 65,000 Btu/h and < 135,000 Btu/h

    All

    EER = 12.0
    COP = 4.2

    10/29/2013

    ≥ 135,000 Btu/h and < 760,000 Btu/h

    Without Heat Recovery

    EER = 10.0
    COP = 3.9

    10/29/2013

    With Heat Recovery

    EER = 10.0
    COP = 3.9

    10/29/2013

    *Variable Refrigerant Flow Equipment were previously covered under the broader classes of small, large, and very large commercial package air conditioning equipment before being distinguished as separate equipment classes in the May 16, 2012 final rule. 77 FR 28991.
     

    Links:

    To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 431.96 for commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured or distributed into commerce on or after January 8, 2007.

    AHRI comments to rulemaking:

    For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this test procedure, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.

     

    EPA ENERGY STAR

    Current Product Specifications:

    Light Commercial HVAC Program Requirements Version 3.1

    In Development:

    There are no new versions currently in development.

    Applying for Energy Star:

    To qualify a new product, contact an EPA-recognized Certification Body (CB) to have the product's performance certified. A list of EPA-recognized CBs, as well as an overview of EPA's third-party certification procedures, is available at Third-Party Certification. AHRI is an EPA-recognized CB. Email AHRICert_EnergyStar@ahrinet.org for more information.

    More Information:

    Energy Star Light Commercial HVAC Website