{"id":"F2012L02123","name":"Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Liquid-chilling Packages Using the Vapour Compression Cycle) Determination 2012","slug":"greenhouse-and-energy-minimum-standards-liquid-chilling-packages-using-the-vapour-compression-cycle-","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":90091,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2012L02123-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Liquid-chilling Packages Using the Vapour Compression Cycle) Determination 2012","content":"![](image.001.png)\n\nGreenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Liquid-chilling Packages Using the Vapour Compression Cycle) Determination 20121\n\nGreenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012\n\nI, MARK DREYFUS, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, make this Determination under section 23 of the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012.\n\nDated 25 October 2012\n\nMARK DREYFUS\n\nParliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency\n\n  \nCOPYRIGHT\n\n© 2012 Commonwealth of Australia\n\nThis Determination includes material from Australian Standards and/or Australian/New Zealand Standards, which are copyright Standards Australia Ltd. Apart from reproduction for personal and non-commercial use, and uses permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, Standards Australia Ltd material may not be reproduced without permission or licence.\n\nWith the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, Commonwealth copyright material is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Australia Licence. To view a copy of this license, visit [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/).\n\nYou are free to copy, communicate and adapt the Commonwealth copyright material, so long as you attribute the Commonwealth of Australia.\n\nComplete Australian/New Zealand Standards are available for purchase from Standards Australia Ltd. Requests and inquiries concerning other reproduction and rights pertaining to standards should be directed to SAI Global Limited.\n\n  \n\n1 Name of Determination\n\nThis Determination is the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Liquid-chilling Packages Using the Vapour Compression Cycle) Determination 2012.\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis Determination comes into force on the day after it is registered.\n\n3 Definitions\n\nIn this Determination:\n\n> Act means the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012.\n\n> AS/NZS 4776.1.1:2008 means Australian/New Zealand Standard 4776.1.1:2008 Liquid-chilling packages using the vapour compression cycle - Part 1.1: Method of rating and testing for performance-rating, as it existed on the date this Determination came into force.\n\n> Note 1: AS/NZS 4776.1.1:2008 is available from Standards Australia Limited.\n\n> AS/NZS 4776.1.2:2008 means Australian/New Zealand Standard 4776.1.2:2008 Liquid-chilling packages using the vapour compression cycle. Part 1.2: Method of rating and testing for performance-testing, as it existed on the date this Determination came into force..\n\n> Note 1: AS/NZS 4776.1.2:2008 is available from Standards Australia Limited.\n\n> AS/NZS 4776.2:2008 means Australian/New Zealand Standard 4776.2:2008 Liquid-chilling packages using the vapour compression cycle. Part 2: Minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) and compliance requirements, as it existed on the date this Determination came into force.\n\n> Note 1: AS/NZS 4776.2:2008 is available from Standards Australia Limited.\n\nAustralian Standard means a standard that is published by Standards Australia Limited denoted by the letters “AS” and identifying numbers and/or letters.\n\nAustralian/New Zealand Standard means a standard that is jointly published by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, is applicable in both countries and denoted by the letters “AS/NZS” and identifying numbers and/or letters.\n\nCIE Standard means a standard that is published by, or on behalf of, the International Commission on Illumination.\n\nIEC Standard means a standard that is published by, or on behalf of, the International Electrotechnical Commission.\n\n> liquid-chilling package means a factory-made and prefabricated assembly (not necessarily shipped as one package) of one or more compressors, condensers and evaporators, with interconnections and accessories, designed for the purpose of cooling water, and is a machine specifically designed to make use of a vapour compression refrigeration cycle to remove heat from water and reject the heat to a cooling medium, usually air or water.\n\n> Note: This is the same meaning as in clause 4.10 of AS/NZS 4776.1.1:2008.\n\nstandard means an Australian Standard, an Australian/New Zealand Standard, a CIE Standard, an IEC Standard or any other equivalent document.\n\n> Note: Several other words and expressions used in this Determination have the meaning given by section 5 of the Act. For example:\n\n> category A product\n\n> covered by\n\n> family of models\n\n> GEMS\n\n> GEMS labelling requirements\n\n> GEMS level requirements\n\n> model\n\n> product classes\n\n4 Interpretation\n\nApplicable definitions of terms or phrases\n\n(1) If a term or phrase is not defined under the Act, the Regulations to the Act or in this Determination, but the term is defined in a standard mentioned specifically in section 3 of this Determination, the term or phrase is to be read for the purposes of this Determination as having the meaning of the term under the relevant standard.\n\n> Note: Notwithstanding this, for convenience to users, some of the key terms for ascertaining if a product is covered by this Determination are defined in this Determination.\n\nApplicable version of documents incorporated into standards\n\n(2) For the purposes of this Determination the applicable version of any document, including a standard, that:\n\n(a) is referred to in a standard under the heading ‘Referenced Documents’, or under an equivalent heading in a standard; and\n\n(b) must be applied to give effect to this Determination or a standard referred to in this Determination,\n\nis the version of the document, including a standard, that existed at the date this Determination came into force.\n\nNote: For example, clause 5.1 of AS/NZS 4776.1.1:2008 provides that all tests for liquid-chilling package ratings shall be conducted in accordance with AS/NZS 4776.1.2:2008. The applicable version of AS/NZS 4776.1.2:2008 is the version that existed at the date this Determination came into force.\n\n5 Specified product class covered by this Determination\n\n(1) This Determination covers air-cooled and water-cooled liquid-chilling packages with a cooling capacity of 350 kW or above.\n\nNote 1: This subsection reflects the scope specified in clause 1 of AS/NZS 4776.1.1:2008.\n\n> Note 1: This subsection specifies products that are covered by the Determination. See subsection (3) for products that are not covered.\n\n(2) The products covered by this Determination form a single product class for the purposes of the Act.\n\n(3) For subsection 23 (2) of the Act, this Determination does not cover:\n\n(a) liquid-chilling packages driven other than by an electric motor;\n\n(b) air-cooled liquid-chilling packages with centrifugal fans;\n\n(c) liquid-chilling packages with remote condensers;\n\n(d) liquid-chilling packages for fluids other than water;\n\n(e) free cooling liquid-chilling packages (air cooled);\n\n(f) free cooling liquid-chilling packages (water cooled);\n\n(g) heat pump (reverse cycle) liquid-chilling packages; or\n\n(h) heat recovery liquid-chilling packages.\n\n> Note: This subsection reflects the exclusions specified in clause 1 of AS/NZS 4776.1.1:2008.\n\n(4) In this section:\n\ncentrifugal fan means a fan impeller that produces pressure from the centrifugal force (created by rotating the air column contained between the fan and blades) and kinetic energy imparted to the air by its velocity leaving the impeller.\n\ncondenser means a vapour condenser in a refrigeration system, where the refrigerant is liquefied and discharges its heat to the environment.\n\nfree cooling means how ambient air, temperature permitting, is used to cool the chilled water supply, utilising, for example, compressors, evaporators, condensers, as in a conventional air cooled chiller, but with the addition of an integral dry cooler circuit.\n\nfree cooling liquid-chilling package (air cooled) means a liquid-chilling package that has an additional integral free cooling circuit with a self-contained control system.\n\nfree cooling liquid-chilling package (water cooled) means a liquid-chilling package that has been designed with the appropriate controls and valves to be able to utilise condenser water which is at a temperature lower than the required leaving chilled water temperature, typically 10°C to 12.5°C to provide cooling without the need to run the compressor.\n\nheat pump (reverse cycle) liquid-chilling package means a liquid-chilling package that has components and controls that enable the reverse of the flow of refrigerant so that the water leaving the evaporator vessel of the chiller is heated in the process rather than cooled.\n\nheat recovery liquid-chilling package means a liquid-chilling package that has components and controls that allow for heat to be reclaimed from the refrigeration and to be used for such applications as heating water for use in the air conditioning or heating system. The chiller must be specifically designed to be able to heat water to a minimum 40°C.\n\n6 GEMS level requirements\n\nEnergy use and greenhouse gas production\n\n(1) For paragraphs 24 (1) (a) and 25 (a) of the Act, the specified energy use requirements are the requirements mentioned in section 5 of AS/NZS 4776.2:2008.\n\nConducting tests\n\n(2) For paragraphs 24 (1) (b) and 26 (b) of the Act, the requirements for conducting tests for products covered by this Determination are the requirements mentioned in:\n\n(a) section 5 of AS/NZS 4776.1.1:2008 and\n\n(b) sections 5 to 10 of AS/NZS 4776.1.2:2008.\n\n7 GEMS labelling requirements\n\nThere are no GEMS labelling requirements for products covered by this Determination.\n\n8 Other GEMS requirements\n\nThere are no other GEMS requirements for products covered by this Determination.\n\n9 Families of models\n\n(1) For section 28 of the Act, the specified circumstances in which 2 or more models from a single product class covered by this Determination are in the same family of models, are when the models:\n\n(a) are of a single brand; and\n\n(b) rely on the same test report that sets out the results of testing conducted in accordance with section 6 of this Determination; and\n\n(c) have the same physical characteristics that are relevant to complying with sections 6 and 7 of this Determination; and\n\n(d) have the same energy performance characteristics that are relevant to complying with sections 6 and 7 of this Determination, including but not limited to:\n\n(i) rated energy consumption; and\n\n(ii) rated capacity; and\n\n(iii) energy efficiency.\n\n10 Product categories\n\nFor section 29 of the Act, the products covered by this Determination are category A products.\n\n> Note\n\n> Note: 1. All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See http://www.frli.gov.au.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original narrow scope. It targets a specific category of industrial cooling equipment (large liquid-chilling packages) as originally intended under the GEMS Act framework, with exclusions that align with the referenced technical standards. No scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive incorporation by reference of three separate Australian/New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS 4776.1.1, 4776.1.2, and 4776.2), requiring cross-referencing to external documents","8 specific product exclusions in section 5(3), each requiring technical understanding of chiller engineering (free cooling, heat recovery, centrifugal fans, etc.)","Nested definitions: 'liquid-chilling package' defined by reference to both the Determination and clause 4.10 of an external standard","Version-locking mechanism in section 4(2) that freezes applicable standards to versions existing at commencement date","4-part test for 'families of models' in section 9 requiring alignment of brand, test reports, physical characteristics, and energy performance metrics","Multiple interpretation rules: Act definitions, Regulation definitions, Determination definitions, AND standard definitions (section 4(1)) create overlapping interpretive layers"],"plain_english_summary":"This law requires manufacturers of large industrial chillers (air- and water-cooled liquid-chilling packages of about 350 kW and up) to meet minimum energy-efficiency and testing requirements under AS/NZS standards, operating within the GEMS scheme. It targets commercially sized chillers to cut electricity use, emissions, and operating costs, while excluding certain non-electric, centrifugal‑fan, remote‑condenser, non‑water, free‑cooling, and heat‑pump/heat‑recovery units."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Determination adopts the scope and exclusions set out in AS/NZS 4776.1.1:2008—covering air‑ and water‑cooled liquid‑chilling packages ≥350 kW and excluding specified types—so it does not expand the standard's scope. It also fixes the applicable document versions at commencement (section 4(2)), which preserves the original scope and prevents automatic later alterations."},"complexity_factors":["Incorporation by reference of multiple technical standards (AS/NZS 4776.1.1:2008; AS/NZS 4776.1.2:2008; AS/NZS 4776.2:2008) creates dependence on external documents for substantive obligations (see section 3 definitions and section 6).","Version‑locking: the Determination fixes the applicable versions to those in force on commencement, preventing automatic adoption of later amendments and creating potential administrative friction for future changes (see section 4(2)).","A numerical scope threshold (350 kW) defines coverage precisely but requires measurement and classification, which can raise borderline disputes (see section 5(1)).","Enumerated technical exclusions (e.g. non‑electric drives, remote condensers, free‑cooling, heat‑pump/recovery units) narrow scope but require factual assessment by manufacturers and regulators (see section 5(3)).","Compliance/testing burden: manufacturers must follow specified test methods and MEPS sections to demonstrate compliance; testing and test‑report reliance also affect when multiple models may be treated as a family (see section 6 and section 9).","Interplay with the Act and Regulations: several key terms and enforcement mechanisms rely on definitions and processes located in the Act, adding a cross‑reference layer for legal interpretation (see section 3 notes)."],"plain_english_summary":"**Sets mandatory minimum energy and greenhouse‑gas performance and testing rules for factory‑made liquid‑chilling packages using the vapour‑compression cycle with cooling capacity of 350 kW or above.** It adopts specified AS/NZS standards as the operative test methods and MEPS, lists technical exclusions (for example non‑electric drives and remote condensers), and imposes testing requirements on manufacturers. There are no GEMS labelling or other additional requirements under this Determination."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/greenhouse-and-energy-minimum-standards-liquid-chilling-packages-using-the-vapour-compression-cycle-","history":"/api/acts/greenhouse-and-energy-minimum-standards-liquid-chilling-packages-using-the-vapour-compression-cycle-/history","analysis":"/api/acts/greenhouse-and-energy-minimum-standards-liquid-chilling-packages-using-the-vapour-compression-cycle-/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/greenhouse-and-energy-minimum-standards-liquid-chilling-packages-using-the-vapour-compression-cycle-/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/greenhouse-and-energy-minimum-standards-liquid-chilling-packages-using-the-vapour-compression-cycle-/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/greenhouse-and-energy-minimum-standards-liquid-chilling-packages-using-the-vapour-compression-cycle-/documents"}}