03/07/2020

On 5 June 2020, SAC/TC20 held a meeting to review the foreign language versions of two mandatory national standards targeting air conditioners, low ambient temperature air source heat pump fan motors, and air cleaners. Specifically:

  • GB 21455-2019 Minimum allowable values of the energy efficiency and energy efficiency grades for room air conditioners; and
  • GB 36893-2018 Minimum allowable values of the energy efficiency and energy efficiency grades for air cleaners.

The experts participating in the review agreed and approved unanimously the foreign language versions.

The China National Institute of Standardisation (CNIS) was responsible for the translation. This is the first time that China publishes a foreign language version of mandatory energy efficiency standards. Mandatory energy efficiency standards stipulate the minimum energy efficiency requirements that energy-using products and equipment need to meet in order to be sold on the Chinese market. Currently, 83 countries and regions, including the European Union, the US, Japan and Australia, have developed and adopted mandatory energy efficiency standards.

China is the world’s biggest manufacturing base of household air conditioners. The energy consumption of air conditioners and other cooling equipment is growing rapidly, together with that derived from air cleaners which are becoming increasingly common in people’s homes in line with stronger awareness of atmospheric pollution. As a result, Chinese energy efficiency standards of air conditioners and air cleaners are receiving growing attention both within China and from abroad. The translation and publication of versions in foreign languages, therefore, constitutes a solid action aimed at deepening the international understanding of Chinese standards.

As the two standards were developed entirely within China, in certain areas there may be differences compared to international standards. European stakeholders should therefore take this chance to compare Chinese standards with their international counterparts, in order to adopt the right strategies to deal with risks caused by the differences.