subject: Why Air Conditioning Inspections are Required? [print this page] Why Air Conditioning Inspections are Required?
The primary aim of the inspection is to give buildingowners and operators information about the performanceof their buildings and plant, and to identify opportunitiesto save energy and cut operating costs.The inspection should as far as possible be carried out bymaking visual observations of the plant and other visualindicators such as refrigerant sight glasses, pressure, temperature or filter gauges, although where these are notavailable the inspector may be able to take some testreadings.
Existing air conditioning systems greater than 250kW, will need to havetheir first inspection by 4 January 2009. Existing systems greater than12kW, will need to have their first inspection by 4 January 2011.
Having your air-conditioning system inspected by an Energy Assessor is designed to improve efficiency and reduce the electricity consumption, operating costs and carbon emissions for your system. Energy inspections will highlight improvements to the operation of your existing systems oropportunities to replace older, less energy efficient systems or oversized systems with new energy efficient systems. As the replacement of refrigerant is restricted in older systems (as establishedunder other legislation), there is an additional incentive to improve or replaceolder systems with more modern energy efficient units. Building owners and managers who control air-conditioning systems have statutory obligations and duties of care in the operation and maintenance of air-conditioning systems. The air conditioning inspection discussed in this guide are in addition to the normal activities associated with the ownership and operationof air-conditioning systems. Inspection, maintenance and cleaning programmes maintain the ability ofthe system to provide healthy and comfortable environments for building occupants, limiting the escape of refrigerant gases and ensuring the safety of equipment. The practices and procedures needed to achieve these aims should be applied more frequently than the assessment for energy efficiency described here.
