Part J6 Air-conditioning and ventilation

(1) Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirements J1P1 to J1P4 are satisfied by complying with—

1. J2D2; and
2. J3D2 to J3D15; and
3. J4D2 to J4D7; and
4. J5D2 to J5D8; and
5. J6D2 to J6D13; and
6. J7D2 to J7D9; and
7. J8D2 to J8D4; and
8. J9D2 to J9D5.

(2) Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3) as applicable.

The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of this Part do not apply to a Class 8 electricity network substation.

(1) An air-conditioning system—

1. must be capable of being deactivated when the building or part of a building served by that system is not occupied; and
2. when serving more than one air-conditioning zone or area with different heating or cooling needs, must—
   1. thermostatically control the temperature of each zone or area; and
   2. not control the temperature by mixing actively heated air and actively cooled air; and
   3. limit reheating to not more than—
      1. for a fixed supply air rate, a 7.5 K rise in temperature; and
      2. for a variable supply air rate, a 7.5 K rise in temperature at the nominal supply air rate but increased or decreased at the same rate that the supply air rate is respectively decreased or increased; and
3. which provides the required mechanical ventilation, other than in climate zone 1 or where dehumidification control is needed, must have an outdoor air economy cycle if the total air flow rate of any airside component of an air-conditioning system is greater than or equal to the flow rates in Table J6D3; and
4. which contains more than one water heater, chiller or coil, must be capable of stopping the flow of water to those not operating; and
5. with an airflow of more than 1000 L/s, must have a variable speed fan when its supply air quantity is capable of being varied; and
6. when serving a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 3 building, must not operate when any external door of the sole-occupancy unit that opens to a balcony or the like, is open for more than one minute; and
7. must have the ability to use direct signals from the control components responsible for the delivery of comfort conditions in the building to regulate the operation of central plant; and
8. must have a control dead band of not less than 2°C, except where a smaller range is required for specialised applications; and
9. must be provided with balancing dampers and balancing valves, as required to meet the needs of the system at its maximum operating condition, that ensure the maximum design air or fluid flow is achieved but not exceeded by more than 15% above design at each—
   1. component; or
   2. group of components operating under a common control in a system containing multiple components; and
10. must ensure that each independently operating space of more than 1 000 m² and every separate floor of the building has provision to terminate airflow independently of the remainder of the system sufficient to allow for different operating times; and
11. must have automatic variable temperature operation of heated water and chilled water circuits; and
12. when deactivated, must close any motorised outdoor air or return air damper that is not otherwise being actively controlled.

(2) When two or more air-conditioning systems serve the same space they must use control sequences that prevent the systems from operating in opposing heating and cooling modes.

(3) Time switches — the following applies:

1. A time switch must be provided to control—
   1. an air-conditioning system of more than 2 kWr; and
   2. a heater of more than 1 kW_heating used for air-conditioning.
2. The time switch must be capable of switching electric power on and off at variable pre-programmed times and on variable pre-programmed days.
3. The requirements of (a) and (b) do not apply to—
   1. an air-conditioning system that serves—
      1. only one sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2, 3 or 9c building; or
      2. a Class 4 part of a building; or
   2. a conditioned space where air-conditioning is needed for 24 hour continuous use.

(1) General — A mechanical ventilation system, including one that is part of an air-conditioning system, except where the mechanical system serves only one sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2 building or serves only a Class 4 part of a building, must—

1. be capable of being deactivated when the building or part of the building served by that system is not occupied; and
2. when serving a conditioned space, except in periods when evaporative cooling is being used—
   1. where specified in Table J6D4, have—
      1. an energy reclaiming system that preconditions outdoor air at a minimum sensible heat transfer effectiveness of 60%; or
      2. demand control ventilation in accordance with AS 1668.2 if appropriate to the application; and
   2. not exceed the minimum outdoor air quantity required by Part F6 by more than 20%, except where—
      1. additional unconditioned outdoor air is supplied for free cooling; or
      2. additional mechanical ventilation is needed to balance the required exhaust or process exhaust; or
      3. an energy reclaiming system preconditions all the outdoor air; and
3. for an airflow of more than 1000 L/s, have a variable speed fan unless the downstream airflow is required by Part F6 to be constant.

(2) Exhaust systems — An exhaust system with an air flow rate of more than 1000 L/s must be capable of stopping the motor when the system is not needed, except for an exhaust system in a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2, 3 or 9c building.

(3) Carpark exhaust systems — Carpark exhaust systems must have a control system in accordance with—

1. clause 4.11.2 of AS 1668.2; or
2. clause 4.11.3 of AS 1668.2.

(4) Time switches — The following applies:

1. A time switch must be provided to a mechanical ventilation system with an air flow rate of more than 1000 L/s.
2. The time switch must be capable of switching electric power on and off at variable pre-programmed times and on variable pre-programmed days.
3. The requirements of (a) and (b) do not apply to—
   1. a mechanical ventilation system that serves—
      1. only one sole-occupancy unit in a Class 2, 3 or 9c building; or
      2. a Class 4 part of a building; or
   2. a building where mechanical ventilation is needed for 24 hour occupancy.

(1) Fans, ductwork and duct components that form part of an air-conditioning system or mechanical ventilation system must—

1. separately comply with (2), (3), (4) and (5); or
2. achieve a fan motor input power per unit of flowrate lower than the fan motor input power per unit of flowrate achieved when applying (2), (3), (4) and (5) together.

(2) Fans:

1. Fans in systems that have a static pressure of not more than 200 Pa must have an efficiency at the full load operating point not less than the efficiency calculated with the following formula:

   ${\eta }_{\min }=0.13\times \ln (p)-0.3$

2. In the formula at (a)—

   1. ${\eta }_{\min }$

      = the minimum required system static efficiency for installation type A or C or the minimum required system total efficiency installation type B or D; and

   2. $p$

      = the static pressure of the system (Pa); and

   3. $\ln$

      = natural logarithm.
3. Fans in systems that have a static pressure above 200 Pa must have an efficiency at the full load operating point not less than the efficiency calculated with the following formula:

   ${\eta }_{\min }=0.85\times (a\times \ln (P)-b+N)/100$

4. In the formula at (c)—

   1. ${\eta }_{\min }$

      = the minimum required system static efficiency for installation type A or C or the minimum required system total efficiency installation type B or D; and

   2. $P$

      = the motor input power of the fan (kW); and

   3. $N$

      = the minimum performance grade obtained from Table J6D5a; and

   4. $a$

      = regression coefficient a, obtained from Table J6D5b; and

   5. $b$

      = regression coefficient b, obtained from Table J6D5c; and

   6. $\text{In}$

      = natural logarithm.
5. The requirements of (a), (b), (c) and (d) do not apply to fans that need to be explosion proof.

(3) Ductwork:

1. The pressure drop in the index run across all straight sections of rigid ductwork and all sections of flexible ductwork must not exceed 1 Pa/m when averaged over the entire length of straight rigid duct and flexible duct. The pressure drop of flexible ductwork sections may be calculated as if the flexible ductwork is laid straight.
2. Flexible ductwork must not account for more than 6 m in length in any duct run.
3. The upstream connection to ductwork bends, elbows and tees in the index run must have an equivalent diameter to the connected duct.
4. Turning vanes must be included in all rigid ductwork elbows of 90° or more acute than 90° in the index run except where—
   1. the inclusion of turning vanes presents a fouling risk; or
   2. a long radius bend in accordance with AS 4254.2 is used.

(4) Ductwork components in the index run:

1. The pressure drop across a coil must not exceed the value specified in Table J6D5d.
2. A high efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) air filter must not exceed the higher of—
   1. a pressure drop of 200 Pa when clean; or
   2. the filter design pressure drop when clean at an air velocity of 1.5 m/s.
3. Any other air filter must not exceed—
   1. the pressure drop specified in Table J6D5e when clean; or
   2. the filter design pressure drop when clean at an air velocity of 2.5 m/s.
4. The pressure drop across intake louvres must not exceed the higher of—
   1. for single stage louvres, 30 Pa; and
   2. for two stage louvres, 60 Pa; and
   3. for acoustic louvres, 50 Pa; and
   4. for other non-weatherproof louvres, 30 Pa.
5. The pressure drop across a variable air volume box, with the damper in the fully open position, must not exceed—
   1. for units with electric reheat, 100 Pa; and
   2. for other units, 25 Pa not including coil pressure losses.
6. Rooftop cowls must not exceed a pressure drop of 30 Pa.
7. Attenuators must not exceed a pressure drop of 40 Pa.
8. Fire dampers must not exceed a pressure drop of 15 Pa when open.
9. Balancing and control dampers in the index run must not exceed a pressure drop of 25 Pa when in the fully open position.
10. Supply air diffusers and grilles must not exceed a pressure drop of 40 Pa.
11. Exhaust grilles must not exceed a pressure drop of 30 Pa.
12. Transfer ducts must not exceed a pressure drop of 12 Pa.
13. Door grilles must not exceed a pressure drop of 12 Pa.
14. Active chilled beams must not exceed a pressure drop of 150 Pa.

(5) The requirements of (1), (2), (3) and (4) do not apply to—

1. fans in unducted air-conditioning systems with a supply air capacity of less than 1000 L/s; and
2. smoke spill fans, except where also used for air-conditioning or ventilation; and
3. the power for process-related components; and
4. kitchen exhaust systems.

(1) Ductwork and fittings in an air-conditioning system must be provided with insulation—

1. complying with AS/NZS 4859.1; and
2. having an insulation R-Value greater than or equal to—
   1. for flexible ductwork, 1.0; or
   2. for cushion boxes, that of the connecting ductwork; or
   3. that specified in Table J6D6.

(2) Insulation must—

1. be protected against the effects of weather and sunlight; and
2. be installed so that it—
   1. abuts adjoining insulation to form a continuous barrier; and
   2. maintains its position and thickness, other than at flanges and supports; and
3. when conveying cooled air—
   1. be protected by a vapour barrier on the outside of the insulation; and
   2. where the vapour barrier is a membrane, be installed so that adjoining sheets of the membrane—
      1. overlap by at least 50 mm; and
      2. are bonded or taped together.

(3) The requirements of (1) do not apply to—

1. ductwork and fittings located within the only or last room served by the system; or
2. fittings that form part of the interface with the conditioned space; or
3. return air ductwork in, or passing through, a conditioned space; or
4. ductwork for outdoor air and exhaust air associated with an air-conditioning system; or
5. the floor of an in-situ air-handling unit; or
6. packaged air conditioners, split systems, and variable refrigerant flow air-conditioning equipment complying with MEPS; or
7. flexible fan connections.

(4) For the purposes of (1), (2) and (3), fittings—

1. include non-active components of a ductwork system such as cushion boxes; and
2. exclude active components such as air-handling unit components.

Ductwork in an air-conditioning system with a capacity of 3000 L/s or greater, not located within the only or last room served by the system, must be sealed against air loss in accordance with the duct sealing requirements of AS 4254.1 and AS 4254.2 for the static pressure in the system.

(1) General — Pumps and pipework that form part of an air-conditioning system must either—

1. separately comply with (2), (3) and (4); or
2. achieve a pump motor power per unit of flowrate lower than the pump motor power per unit of flowrate achieved when applying (2), (3) and (4) together.

(2) Circulator pumps — A glandless impeller pump, with a rated hydraulic power output of less than 2.5 kW and that is used in closed loop systems must have an energy efficiency index (EEI) not more than 0.27 calculated in accordance with European Union Commission Regulation No. 622/2012.

(3) Other pumps — Pumps that are in accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of European Union Commission Regulation No. 547/2012 must have a minimum efficiency index (MEI) of 0.4 or more when calculated in accordance with European Union Commission Regulation No. 547/2012.

(4) Pipework — Straight segments of pipework along the index run, forming part of an air-conditioning system—

1. in pipework systems that do not have branches and have the same flow rate throughout the entire pipe network, must achieve an average pressure drop of not more than—
   1. for constant speed systems, the values nominated in Table J6D8a; or
   2. for variable speed systems, the values nominated in Table J6D8b; or
2. in any other pipework system, must achieve an average pressure drop of not more than—
   1. for constant speed systems, the values nominated in Table J6D8c; or
   2. for variable speed systems, the values nominated in Table J6D8d.

(5) The requirements of (4) do not apply—

1. to valves and fittings; or
2. where the smallest pipe size compliant with (4) results in a velocity of 0.7 m/s or less at design flow.

(1) Piping, vessels, heat exchangers and tanks containing heating or cooling fluid, where the fluid is held at a heated or cooled temperature, that are part of an air-conditioning system, other than in appliances covered by MEPS, must be provided with insulation—

1. complying with AS/NZS 4859.1; and
2. for piping of heating and cooling fluids, having an insulation R-Value in accordance with Table J6D9a; and
3. for vessels, heat exchangers or tanks, having an insulation R-Value in accordance with Table J6D9b; and
4. for refill or pressure relief piping, having an insulation R-Value equal to the required insulation R-Value of the connected pipe, vessel or tank within 500 mm of the connection.

(2) Insulation must—

1. be protected against the effects of weather and sunlight; and
2. be able to withstand the temperatures within the piping, vessel, heat exchanger or tank.

(3) Insulation provided to piping, vessels, heat exchangers or tanks containing cooling fluid must be protected by a vapour barrier on the outside of the insulation.

(4) The requirements of (1) and (2) do not apply to piping, vessels or heat exchangers—

1. located within the only or last room served by the system and downstream of the control device for the regulation of heating or cooling service to that room; or
2. encased within a concrete slab or panel which is part of a heating or cooling system; or
3. supplied as an integral part of a chiller, boiler or unitary air-conditioner complying with the requirements of J6D10, J6D11 and J6D12; or
4. inside an air-handling unit, fan-coil unit, or the like.

(5) For the purposes of (1), (2), (3) and (4)—

1. heating fluids include refrigerant, heated water, steam and condensate; and
2. cooling fluids include refrigerant, chilled water, brines and glycol mixtures, but do not include condenser cooling water.

(1) A heater used for air-conditioning or as part of an air-conditioning system must be—

1. a solar heater; or
2. a gas heater; or
3. a heat pump heater; or
4. a heater using reclaimed heat from another process such as reject heat from a refrigeration plant; or
5. an electric heater if—
   1. the heating capacity is not more than—
      1. 10 W/m² of the floor area of the conditioned space in climate zone 1; or
      2. 40 W/m² of the floor area of the conditioned space in climate zone 2; or
      3. the value specified in Table J6D10 where reticulated gas is not available at the allotment boundary; or
   2. the annual energy consumption for heating is not more than 15 kWh/m² of the floor area of the conditioned space in climate zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; or
   3. the in-duct heater complies with J6D3(1)(b)(iii); or
6. any combination of (a) to (e).

(2) An electric heater may be used for heating a bathroom in a Class 2, 3, 9a or 9c building if the heating capacity is not more than 1.2 kW and the heater has a timer.

(3) A fixed heating or cooling appliance that moderates the temperature of an outdoor space must be configured to automatically shut down when—

1. there are no occupants in the space served; or
2. a period of one hour has elapsed since the last activation of the heater; or
3. the space served has reached the design temperature.

(4) A gas water heater, that is used as part of an air-conditioning system, must—

1. if rated to consume 500 MJ/hour of gas or less, achieve a minimum gross thermal efficiency of 86%; or
2. if rated to consume more than 500 MJ/hour of gas, achieve a minimum gross thermal efficiency of 90%.

An air-conditioning system refrigerant chiller must comply with MEPS and the full load operation energy efficiency ratio and integrated part load energy efficiency ratio in Table J6D11a or Table J6D11b when determined in accordance with AHRI 551/591.

Unitary air-conditioning equipment including packaged air-conditioners, split systems, and variable refrigerant flow systems must comply with MEPS and for a capacity greater than or equal to 65 kWr—

1. where water cooled, have a minimum energy efficiency ratio of 4.0 W_r/W_{input power} for cooling when tested in accordance with AS/NZS 3823.1.2 at test condition T1, where input power includes both compressor and fan input power; or
2. where air cooled, have a minimum energy efficiency ratio of 2.9 W_r/W_{input power} for cooling when tested in accordance with AS/NZS 3823.1.2 at test condition T1, where input power includes both compressor and fan input power.

(1) The motor rated power of a fan in a cooling tower, closed circuit cooler or evaporative condenser must not exceed the allowances in Table J6D13.

(2) The fan in an air-cooled condenser must have a motor rated power of not more than 42 W for each kW of heat rejected from the refrigerant, when determined in accordance with AHRI 460 except for—

1. a refrigerant chiller in an air-conditioning system that complies with the energy efficiency ratios in J6D11; or
2. packaged air-conditioners, split systems, and variable refrigerant flow air-conditioning equipment that complies with the energy efficiency ratios in J6D12.