Only air conditioning systems with an effective rated output of more than12kW are affected by Air Conditioning Inspection regulations.
The effective rated output is the maximum calorific output in kW stated bythe manufacturer of the system as deliverable during continuous operationwhile complying with the useful efficiency indicated by the manufacturer.
One or more air conditioning units within a building controlled by a singleperson are considered to comprise a single air conditioning system for the purposes of the regulations.The person who controls the operation of the system is the person who controls the technical functioning of the system, not someone who can just alter the temperature.
For the purposes of the Air Conditioning Inspection Report, a building is defined as "a roofed construction having walls, for which energy is used to condition the indoor climate, and a reference to a building includes a reference to a part of a building which has been designed or altered to be used separately".
A part of a building designed or altered to be used separately is where the accommodation is made or adapted for separate occupation. This could be indicated by the accommodation having its own access, separate provision of heating and ventilation or shared heating and ventilation but with the ability by the occupier to independently control those services. For a non-dwelling the part could be deemed to be separate even if some facilities (i.e. kitchen and toilet facilities) were shared.
An air conditioning system inspection refers to the inspection of any system where refrigeration is used to provide cooling for the comfort of occupants. This would exclude separate refrigeration provided solely for process applications such as cold stores, pharmaceutical production etc.