Documents Required for Integral HPWH Registration
This guide outlines the documentation requirements for modelling and registering an integral heat pump water heater (HPWH) system for incentives in Australia. An integral HPWH is a system where the condenser is integral to the tank, such as a wrap-around coil or microchannel heat exchanger.
Document summary
| Phase | Documents required |
|---|---|
| AS/NZS 4234 modelling | AS/NZS 5125.1 report and test data (COP); AS/NZS 4692.1 test report (standing heat loss); Technical Details Sheet; tank drawing; schematic and bill of materials |
| Submission to SRES, VEU, ESS | AS/NZS 2712 certificate; installation manual; data plate images; manufacturer declarations; authorisation letter, if applicable; EESS registration and electrical certificate of conformity |
Overview
Documentation required for an Australian incentive scheme application falls into three broad categories: testing, certification, and technical details.
Testing evidence covers electrical safety, water safety, design and construction, and energy efficiency. Certification evidence usually covers AS/NZS 2712, AS 3498, and electrical safety. Technical details include drawings, schematics, specifications, manuals, data plates, and declarations.
Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs)
Certification to the relevant standards is provided by Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) that are JAS-ANZ accredited. EnergyAE commonly works with SAI Global, IAPMO, and Global-Mark for HPWH certification.
Testing
We recommend discussing precise testing requirements with your CAB early in the project. The two energy efficiency test reports EnergyAE requires before AS/NZS 4234 modelling are the AS/NZS 5125.1 report and the AS/NZS 4692.1 tank heat loss report.
AS/NZS 5125.1 report and test data
AS/NZS 5125.1 measures the COP and power draw for HPWHs across a range of ambient test conditions. These results are used to create regression functions for AS/NZS 4234 annual performance modelling.
Testing can be conducted by any NATA-accredited or equivalent laboratory, such as Intertek, CVC, SGS, VIPAC, or Yukawa. Request 1-minute test data for test condition 2 and test condition 5 from the test lab, including the low temperature test data where applicable.
AS/NZS 4692.1 test report
AS/NZS 4692.1 measures the standing heat loss for thermal storage tanks. Testing can be conducted by any NATA-accredited or equivalent laboratory, such as Intertek, CVC, SGS, VIPAC, or Yukawa.
Certification
Three forms of product certification are required to show compliance: the electrical safety Certificate of Conformity, AS/NZS 2712 design and construction certification, and AS 3498 water safety certification.
Products must appear on these certificate schedules in the brand and model name of the company that will later claim incentives.
Electrical safety certification
Electrical safety certification and RCM registration use the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS).
Manufacturers use electrical safety test reports to apply for an Electrical Safety Certificate of Conformity, often called an SAA certificate, and then register the product on the EESS. Certification must be provided by a JAS-ANZ accredited body such as SAA Approvals or SGS Australia.
Australian importers use EMC test reports and the SAA certificate to apply for the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) on the ERAC Database.
AS/NZS 2712 and AS 3498 certificate
AS/NZS 2712 specifies the performance-based design and construction required for HPWHs. AS 3498:2020 specifies safety and public health requirements, including Legionella control methods.
Certification must be provided by a JAS-ANZ accredited body such as IAPMO or SAI Global.
Model identification
It is extremely important that the system, heat pump, and tank model IDs are consistent between certificates, test reports, and other technical details.
For all-in-one units, the system model ID should usually be identical to the heat pump and tank model ID. Where the model name is not consistent, a manufacturer declaration is required.
For split systems, different model names may exist for the heat pump, tank, and system. This can be acceptable, but it needs to be handled carefully so the relationship between components is clear.
The system model ID is the overall name that will appear on certificate registers. The heat pump model ID should match the data plate and AS/NZS 5125.1 report, while the tank model ID should match the tank data plate, tank drawing, and tank test reports.
Technical details
Technical Details Sheet (TDS)
Technical details of each model must be provided for modelling and applications. Please download the template, fill out the relevant details, and send it back to EnergyAE.
Tank and condenser diagram
Tank diagrams must be clearly labelled in English. The drawing must state the brand and model name consistent with the AS/NZS 2712 certificate of the applying company, not only the original manufacturer’s brand or model name.
Drawings should show the cold water inlet, hot water outlet, top and bottom of the condenser, heat pump temperature sensors, and any element or thermostat. The sensor positions are particularly important where they control daily heat pump operation or weekly Legionella control.
Drawings should also be dimensioned. At minimum, EnergyAE needs the tank inner diameter, tank wall thickness, condenser dimensions, port and sensor heights, and total tank height from the base of the tank.
For coil condensers, include tube length, inner diameter, thickness, and material. For microchannel condensers, include strip length, number of strips, and internal cross section.
Installation manual
The installation manual must include the brand and model names, a plumbing schematic, and the control valves used in the installed system.
The whole product, including the tank, compressor, and parts, must be covered for at least 5 years from the date of installation. The manual must also include the Australian Consumer Law warranty statement and contact details for warranty obligations in Australia.
The manual must be consistent with the AS/NZS 4234 modelling and other submitted documents, particularly control settings and Legionella control.
Control logic information
To ensure AS/NZS 4234 modelling matches real product performance, provide the default setting name, heat pump set point, element set point, dead-band values, and any user-adjustable modes.
EnergyAE also needs to know whether users can permanently change control settings. If a user selects a different mode, confirm whether the controller automatically reverts to the default mode within 24 hours.
Authorisation letter
If models are purchased from a different manufacturer and the test reports reference the original manufacturer’s models, a letter of consent from the original manufacturer is required. This letter authorises the use of their test reports for the application.
EnergyAE can provide an authorisation letter template.
Manufacturer declarations
Manufacturer declarations are required if any model names differ from test reports or if testing was conducted on a prototype unit. EnergyAE will prepare the declaration and send it to you for signature.
Testing laboratories and contacts
| Laboratory | Services | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Intertek SAI Global | AS/NZS 4692, 5125 testing; AS/NZS 2712, AS 3498 certification | Felix Li, Felix.Li@intertek.com |
| IAPMO | AS/NZS 2712, AS 3498 certification | Adam Wegmann, Adam.wegmann@iapmo.org |
| CVC | AS/NZS 4692, 5125 testing | Tao Yucheng, taoyc@cvc.org.cn |
| VIPAC | AS/NZS 4692, 5125 testing | Marcus Klein, marcusk@vipac.com.au |
| SGS | AS/NZS 4692, 5125 testing; electrical safety certificate | sgs.com/en-au |
| SAA Approvals | Electrical safety certificate | saaapprovals.com.au |
| Yukawa | AS/NZS 4692, 5125 testing | Satya Mavuri, contact@yukawalab.com.au |
Get in touch with EnergyAE if you need help navigating the documentation requirements for your HPWH registration.