Dr Saad S Al-Jandal

Kuwait City, Kuwait, 16 April 2019: Kuwait’s new energy efficiency standards for air conditioning equipment is set to be implemented in September 2019. Dr Saad S Al-Jandal, Research Scientist, Energy and Building Research Center (EBRC), Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), said that T3 and T4 are the Public Authority Industry’s (PAI) technical standards for air conditioning systems up to 70,000 BTU/hr or 5.8 tonnes of refrigeration, for all developments and building applications. “The Ministry of Electricity and Water and KISR have developed the code, and reducing the allowable power consumption requirements in kW/tonne as per AC system type,” he explained.

Dr Al-Jandal provided greater clarity on the new standards by describing the three main authorities involved in its implementation and enforcement. The first is the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW), which will oversee the enforcement through power supply to various installations, such as residential, government and commercial buildings. “The enforcement is on the level of AC system consumption in (kW/tonne) or (Watts/m²), as per MEW’s R6 and R7 codes,” he said. The second body, which Dr Al-Jandal said, plays a crucial role is the Public Authority for Industry (PAI), which sets the commercial or technical standards or labelling regulations of imported air conditioning equipment. Lastly, he pointed to the Kuwait General Administration of Customs (KGAC), which will enforce the PAI regulations on air conditioning imports. “Importers have to show compliance certificates at the port of entry,” he said.

Dr Al Jandal said that usually, MEW and PAI will allow a grace period before the enforcement and implementation of the new rules and regulations. Manufacturers and importers, he emphasised, must take the notice into consideration before importing equipment, as non-compliance, following the grace period, means the product is unlawful and no trading of such products will be allowed.

Dr Al-Jandal said the move to implement the new regulations is in alignment with the government’s commitment to promote energy conservation and reduce power consumption in buildings, especially during the peak period and summer seasons, in the move to promote energy efficiency and reduce 15% of consumption by 2030. As such, he said, addressing power consumption by air conditioners is vital, given that they account for 70% of electricity during peak hours and that 55% of the total cost of power generation go into HVAC. “The regulations are aimed at reducing the summer demand gradually by improving AC specifications, in line with the codes and regulations,” he said. Dr Al-Jandal added that he believes the engineering community, along with government, will be happy to accept the new regulation, as not only will it improve the business profile of the respective companies but also will play a great role in meeting the sustainability goals of the country.

Hannah Jo Uy is Assistant Editor at Climate Control Middle East magazine. She may be contacted at hannah@cpi-industry.com