DOE has published a Federal Register final rule pertaining to energy conservation standards VRF multi-split systems. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA), prescribes standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including small, large, and very large commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment, of which variable refrigerant flow (VRF) multi-split air conditioners and VRF multi-split system heat pumps (collectively referred to as “VRF multi-split systems”) are a category. EPCA requires DOE to consider the need for amended standards each time American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 is amended with respect to the standard levels or design requirements applicable to that equipment, or periodically under a six-year-lookback review provision. In this final rule, DOE is adopting amended standards for VRF multi-split systems that rely on a new cooling efficiency metric and are equivalent to those levels specified in ASHRAE Standard 90.1. DOE has determined that it lacks the clear and convincing evidence required by the statute to adopt standards more stringent than the levels specified in the industry standard.

• The effective date of this rule is May 30, 2023.
• Compliance with the amended standards established for VRF multi-split systems in this final rule is required on and after January 1, 2024.

For the latest information on the VRF working group please visit the ASRAC website.

For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

Variable refrigerant flow air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 431.97.

To determine that variable refrigerant flow air conditioners and heat pumps that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 431.96.