MEPS, S&L - Variable Capacity Air conditioners

The room air conditioner of the vapour compression type which are of unitary air conditioner and split air conditioner up to a rated cooling capacity of 10,465 Watts (9,000 kcal/hour) being manufactured, commercially purchased or sold in India shall – (a) meet the compliance requirements of the maximum operating conditions test in accordance with IS 1391(Part1) for unitary air conditioner and IS 1391(Part2) for split air conditioner. (b) be certified against IS/ISO 9000 or above. The label to be affixed to room air conditioner shall display a maximum of five stars with an interval of one star, and the room air conditioner shall be rated from star one to star five based on their relative energy efficiencies. The star rating depends on the year of manufacturing or purchasing of the equipment. For Unitary Type Air Conditioners manufactured or sold from 1st January, 2018 to 31st December, 2019 (then postponed to 2020): 1 star - minimum: 2.5 - maximum: 2.69 2 stars - minimum: 2.7 - maximum: 2.89 3 stars - minimum: 2.9 - maximum: 3.09 4 stars - minimum: 3.1 - maximum: 3.29 5 stars - minimum: 3.3 Minimum and maximum are expressed in Indian seasonal energy efficiency ratio (kWh/kWh) For Split Type Air Conditioners manufactured or sold from 1st January, 2018 to 31st December, 2019 (then postponed to 2020): 1 star - minimum: 3.1 - maximum: 3.29 2 stars - minimum: 3.3 - maximum: 3.49 3 stars - minimum: 2.9 - maximum: 3.99 4 stars - minimum: 4.0 - maximum: 4.49 5 stars - minimum: 4.5 1 star (EER 2.50 – 2.69) of unitary air conditioners shall not be permitted from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2019, for the purpose of upgrading the minimum energy performance level of such air conditioners. This was later amended in 2019 by S.O. 3897(E) postponing the end of validity of the star rating standard to the 31st of December 2020.

Want to know more about this policy ? Learn more