Air Conditioners are categorized as household appliances requiring mandatory energy labeling and minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) as defined by Decision No. 14/2023/QĐ-TTg. Therefore, to legally introduce these products to the market, enterprises involved in import, production, and trade are obligated to perform Energy Efficiency Testing for Non-ducted Air Conditioners in Vietnam. Let Phuc Gia guide you through detailed information regarding the required timeframe, procedures, and product scope for this mandatory testing activity in the article below.
See more: Capacity Profile Of Phuc Gia Laboratory Corporation
1) When must enterprises mandatorily perform Declaration of Energy Labeling and Energy Efficiency Testing for Non-Ducted Air Conditioners in Vietnam?
a) Energy Efficiency Testing
Pursuant to Decision No. 14/2023/QĐ-TTg—the authoritative Decision promulgating the List and roadmap for energy-consuming equipment to be eliminated and low-efficiency power generating units not allowed to be newly built, issued on May 24, 2023, replacing Decision No. 24/2018/QĐ-TTg—the specific regulations for the Air Conditioner product are as follows:
- Appendix I strictly prohibits the import, production, and trading of Air Conditioners whose energy efficiency fails to meet the minimum energy efficiency level mandated by the National Standard (TCVN).
- Consequently, enterprises involved in the import, production, and trading of this product are mandatory to submit to Energy Efficiency Testing according to TCVN 7830:2015 from July 15, 2023 until March 31, 2025, and subsequently according to TCVN 7830:2021 starting from April 01, 2025. This process also mandatorily requires that all Air Conditioners must achieve the Minimum Energy Efficiency Level.
b) Declaration of Energy Labeling
Pursuant to Decision No. 04/2017/QĐ-TTG—the regulatory Decision stipulating the official list of means and equipment subject to energy labeling, the application of the minimum energy efficiency level, and its implementation roadmap—the Non-ducted Air Conditioner product category is specified as follows:
- Clause 1, Article 1 explicitly mandates that Air Conditioners belong to the equipment group subject to energy labeling and the application of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Level.
- Point a, Clause 1, Article 2 concerning the Energy Labeling Implementation Roadmap requires “the implementation of mandatory energy labeling for the following group of household appliances and industrial equipment: linear fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps, electromagnetic and electronic ballasts for fluorescent lamps, air conditioners, electric rice cookers, electric fans, refrigerators, horizontal-axis washing machines, vertical-axis washing machines, televisions, three-phase distribution transformers, and electric motors.”
- Therefore, effective from January 01, 2013, enterprises engaged in the import, production, and trading of this item are mandatory to file the Energy Labeling Declaration for Air Conditioners.
2. What are the mandatory standards for Energy Efficiency Testing for Non-ducted Air Conditioners in Vietnam?
Appendix I of Decision No. 14/2023/QĐ-TTg mandates the standards for Energy Efficiency Testing and Energy Labeling specifically for Non-ducted Air Conditioners as detailed below:
- TCVN 7830:2015 is enforced from the Decision’s effective date (July 15, 2023) through March 31, 2025.
- TCVN 7830:2021 becomes the governing standard for Non-ducted Air Conditioners starting April 01, 2025.
- These regulatory standards were developed by the National Technical Subcommittee TCVN/TC/E1/SC5 focusing on “Energy efficiency of refrigeration equipment,” subsequently proposed by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality (STAMEQ), and officially issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).
3. What specific Air Conditioner models must undergo mandatory Energy Efficiency Testing for Non-ducted Air Conditioners in Vietnam?
Based on TCVN 7830:2015 and TCVN 7830:2021—the National Standard titled “Non-ducted Air Conditioners – Energy Efficiency”—the required product scope for mandatory Energy Efficiency Testing under this technical specification is defined as follows:
- The scope covers “Non-ducted Air Conditioners utilizing hermetically-sealed compressor-motors and air-cooled condensers, configured as single-split or multi-split (two units), incorporating or not incorporating inverter technology, with a maximum rated cooling capacity up to 12,000W (41,000 BTU/h).” Notably, TCVN 7830:2021 explicitly adds that “this standard specifies the necessary energy efficiency levels and the official method for determining energy efficiency” for these defined equipment types.
- It is critical to note that TCVN 7830:2015 also included “ducted air conditioners with a rated cooling capacity below 8,000W designed for operation at an external static pressure of less than 25 Pa.” This specific scope, however, was removed/omitted in TCVN 7830:2021. Enterprises must strictly monitor the transition timeline to guarantee complete adherence to current testing regulations.
- The standard explicitly does not apply to water-cooled air conditioners, ducted type, portable type, floor-standing type, ceiling-cassette type, multi-split air conditioners (systems with more than two units), or air conditioners operating on three-phase electric power.
4. What are the essential technical requirements that must be met during the Energy Efficiency Testing for Non-ducted Air Conditioners in Vietnam?
a) Cooling Capacity Requirements
The operational cooling capacity must be guaranteed to be greater than or equal to 95% of the rated cooling capacity officially published by the manufacturer.
b) Energy Efficiency Requirements for Ducted Air Conditioners
The energy efficiency of the equipment is classified into 5 levels. For energy efficiency levels 1 through 5, the measured energy efficiency must not fall below the specific values detailed in the Table presented below. Level 1 represents the lowest energy efficiency level and serves as the foundation for establishing the Minimum Energy Efficiency Level (MEEL). Level 5 signifies the highest energy efficiency level.
Table: Energy Efficiency Levels under TCVN 7830:2015
(Effective from July 15, 2023 to March 31, 2025)
| Equipment Type | Rated Cooling Capacity (f) W (BTU/h) |
Level | ||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||
| Single-split | – | ≥ 2,80 | ≥ 3,00 | ≥ 3,20 | ≥ 3,40 | ≥ 3,60 |
| Multi-split | f < 4 500 (f < 15 000) | ≥ 3,10 | ≥ 3,40 | ≥ 3,60 | ≥ 3,80 | ≥ 4,20 |
| 4 500 ≤ f < 7 000 (15 000 ≤ f < 24 000) | ≥ 3,00 | >3,20 | ≥ 3,40 | ≥ 3,60 | ≥ 4,00 | |
| 000 ≤ f < 12 000 (24 000 ≤ f < 41 000) | ≥ 2,80 | ≥ 3,00 | ≥ 3,20 | ≥ 3,40 | ≥ 3,80 | |
Table: Energy Efficiency Levels under TCVN 7830:2021
(Applied from April 01, 2025)
| Equipment Type | Rated Cooling Capacity (f) W (BTU/h) |
Level | ||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||
| Single-split | – | ≥ 2,80 | ≥ 3,00 | ≥ 3,20 | ≥ 3,40 | ≥ 3,60 |
| Multi-split | ϕ < 4 500 (ϕ < 15 000) | ≥ 3,10 | ≥ 3,40 | ≥ 3,60 | ≥ 4,80 | ≥ 5,20 |
| 4 500 ≤ ϕ < 7 000 (15 000 ≤ ϕ < 24 000) | ≥ 3,00 | >3,20 | ≥ 3,40 | ≥ 4,60 | ≥ 5,00 | |
| 7 000 ≤ ϕ< 12 000 (24 000 ≤ ϕ < 41 000) | ≥ 2,80 | ≥ 3,00 | ≥ 3,20 | ≥ 4,40 | ≥ 4,80 | |
When the Non-ducted Air Conditioner product completes the Energy Efficiency Testing for Non-ducted Air Conditioners in Vietnam and proceeds to the Energy Labeling Declaration process, it must display the Comparative Label, which is designed based on the following standard sample:
5. Official Testing Laboratories Designated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) for Energy Efficiency Testing for Non-ducted Air Conditioners in Vietnam
To confirm the authorized status of the Testing Center/Laboratory where you plan to conduct testing, you should contact the service provider directly to obtain the official designation decision issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT). Public verification is also available on the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s official website.
The Phuc Gia Testing Center is verified as one of the key units designated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to execute Energy Efficiency Testing for a range of household appliances, including Air Conditioners. This designation is formalized under the Registration Certificate for Energy Efficiency Testing Operations No. 986/GCN-BCT.
6. What is the required sample quantity for enterprises submitting Air Conditioners for Energy Efficiency Testing for Non-ducted Air Conditioners in Vietnam?
Enterprises engaged in the import, production, or trading of Air Conditioners must currently provide a minimum of 1 sample per model to the designated Testing Laboratory to fulfill the mandatory Energy Efficiency Testing requirements.
7. What are the required cost and turnaround time for Energy Efficiency Testing for Non-ducted Air Conditioners in Vietnam?
The testing fees are subject to variation based on the official pricing published by each Testing Laboratory. The current official fee for Air Conditioner Energy Efficiency Testing at Phuc Gia Lab is available in the: QUOTATION – Testing and other Certification Services [2025].
The overall testing duration is dependent on the customer’s selected Testing Laboratory, generally taking between 2 and 10 days/ model. Nevertheless, Phuc Gia Testing Center is committed to providing optimized timelines for clients. Specifically, the mandatory Energy Efficiency Testing for Non-ducted Air Conditioners in Vietnam is processed quickly, requiring only 1-3 days/ model for non-inverter (standard) units and 3-5 days/ model for high-efficiency inverter units.
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