AWEF FAQ

AWEF FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

AWEF FAQ - GENERAL

What are the new regulations?

New US Department Of Energy (DOE)/ Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) rules require significant energy reductions for condensing units and evaporators used in commercial walk-in cooler and freezers under 3,000 ft2.

These new regulations establish efficiency minimums for refrigeration equipment used with walk-in coolers and freezers, including condensing units, evaporators and self-contained refrigeration. These requirements necessitate significant changes in the sale and manufacture of refrigeration equipment in Canada and the USA.

What products/equipment are affected?

Generally speaking, refrigeration systems covered by WICF standards include:

  • A packaged dedicated system (i.e., a matched evaporator and condensing unit sold as one package);
  • A split, matched dedicated system (i.e., a matched evaporator and condensing unit sold as two parts); and
  • A split system that is not matched, including:
    • An evaporator that is sold separately for use in connection with a multiplex condensing system;
    • An evaporator that is sold separately for use with one or more dedicated condensing units; and
    • A dedicated condensing unit that is sold separately for use with one WICF (the WICF may contain one or more evaporators).
For more information on regulations affecting Evaporators, click here.
For more information on regulations affecting Condensing Units, click here.
When do the new regulations go into effect?

The new regulations go into effect in two different stages. There are two important dates to be aware of: January 1, 2020 and July 10, 2020. See below.

What happens Jan 1?

Beginning January 1, 2020:

  • Medium temperature (MT) air-cooled condensing units must be compliant.
  • Every non-compliant condensing unit manufactured up to December 31, 2019 can be legally sold at anytime after. Everything manufactured after December 31, 2019 must be compliant. The serial number can be used to determine the date of manufacture

What happens July 10?

Beginning July 10, 2020:

  • Low temperature (LT) air-cooled condensing units must be compliant.
  • Medium temperature (MT) & Low temperature (LT) evaporators must be compliant
  • Every non-compliant LT condensing unit and MT or LT evaporator built before July 10, 2020 can be sold legally at any time after. Everything manufactured after July 10, 2020 must be compliant.
For more information on regulations affecting Evaporators, click here.
For more information on regulations affecting Condensing Units, click here.
Do these dates apply to date of install, sale, or manufacture of affected equipment?

These dates apply to the manufacture of the equipment, not the date of sale or installation. Any non-compliant equipment manufactured prior to the date of compliance can be legally sold at anytime after. The serial number can be used to determine the date of manufacture.

What products or equipment are exempted?

Exemptions include;

  • equipment used in walk-in coolers and freezers equal to or greater than 3,000 ft2,
  • water-cooled condensing units or systems,
  • compressor unit with remote condensers,
  • equipment intended solely for medical/scientific/& research applications, and
  • multi-compressor condensing units solely designed to serve multiple WICFs or other pieces of refrigeration equipment (often referred to as “multi-plex” condensing units, including parallel racks & our LINK/LINK+ distributed systems)
Does it matter if it’s a new install or retrofit?

Compliance is required on new equipment whether for retrofit or for new installations.

Whose responsibility is it to make sure products or equipment is compliant?

It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to certify its equipment to be manufactured and sold as compliant. It is the responsibility of those “assembling” the system to use certified equipment for retrofitting existing jobs and/or for new installations.

  • Manufacturer: Build, Certify, and Label Compliant Equipment
  • Wholesaler/Salesperson/OEM: Ensure Correct Equipment is selected
  • Contractor: Ensure equipment supplied is compliant
Are these new models available in NROES?

Yes.

Where can I get more information on the regulations?

You are encouraged to visit the following websites for more details about the new regulations and how they affect you:

In the USA: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/standards.aspx?productid=56&action=viewlive

In Canada: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/walk-coolers-and-freezers/19543?wbdisable=true

I need more information, who can I talk to at KeepRite Refrigeration?

Contact your local sales representative who will be happy to help.

AWEF FAQ - EVAPORATORS

What Evaporators does KeepRite Refrigeration offer to meet the new regulations?

We now offer a complete line up of "Generation D" evaporators that meet or exceed the new requirements for evaporators:

For more information on regulations affecting Condensing Units, click here.

Where do I find specifications on KeepRite Refrigeration’s compliant Evaporators?

Our website always provides the most up-to-date product information available:

For more information on regulations affecting Condensing Units, click here.

How do I find AWEF numbers for KeepRite Refrigeration Evaporators?

Use this guide which collects all of the AWEF numbers for compliant equipment: https://docs.k-rp.com/awef/kr_awef_quick_reference.pdf

Or refer to the individual spec sheets:

For more information on regulations affecting Condensing Units, click here.

What’s the new equivalent of an Evaporator I used to buy?

This guide gives a cross-reference of our Evaporators for AWEF-Exempt vs. AWEF-Compliant applications: https://docs.k-rp.com/awef/KEEPRITE_EVAPS_AWEF_cross-reference.pdf

I can’t find a new model that would replace an older Evaporator I used to buy – what can I do?

Use this guide which gives a cross-reference for new compliant Scroll equipment roughly equivalent to old non-compliant hermetic or semi-hermetic equipment: https://docs.k-rp.com/awef/kr_C2D_scroll_equivilents.pdf

Does these changes mean a change in installation or maintenance of these models?

Generally speaking, nothing has changed. View the Product Data and Installation Manual for the individual units for details.

Can I get non-compliant Evaporators for an exempted application?

We will continue to offer models for use where the new regulations are not required (subject to change based on market dynamics). Follow the links below for details:

AWEF FAQ - CONDENSING UNITS

What about Indoor vs Outdoor Condensing Units?

Please consult the most current AWEF information using the links below which reflect our compliant models. Be advised that you cannot legally use a compliant outdoor model as a compliant indoor model. And vice versa: an Indoor Unit cannot be used as an Outdoor Unit.

What Condensing Units does KeepRite Refrigeration offer to meet these regulations?

We now offer a complete line up of "Generation D" condensing units that meet or exceed the new requirements for condensing units, including compliant Medium and Low Temperature versions:

In addition, our KQ Quiet Condensing Units, and many of our KMS/KMD and KVS/KVD Condensing Units can also be used in applications requiring compliance:

For information on regulations affecting Evaporators, click here.

Where do I find specifications on KeepRite Refrigeration’s compliant Condensing Units?

Our website always provides the most up-to-date product information available:

In addition, our KQ Quiet Condensing Units, and many of our KMS/KMD and KVS/KVD Condensing Units can also be used in applications requiring compliance:

For information on regulations affecting Evaporators, click here.

How do I find AWEF numbers for KeepRite Refrigeration Condensing Units?

Use this guide which collects all of the AWEF numbers for compliant equipment: https://docs.k-rp.com/awef/kr_awef_quick_reference.pdf

Or refer to the individual spec sheets:

What’s the new equivalent of an old Condensing Unit I used to buy?

Use this guide which gives a cross-reference for compliant equipment roughly equivalent to old non-compliant equipment: https://docs.k-rp.com/awef/kr_C2D_cross_reference.pdf

I can’t find a new model that would replace an older hermetic or semi-hermetic Condensing Unit I used to buy – what can I do?

Use this guide which gives a cross-reference for new compliant Scroll equipment roughly equivalent to old non-compliant hermetic or semi-hermetic equipment: https://docs.k-rp.com/awef/kr_C2D_scroll_equivilents.pdf

Does these changes mean a change in installation or maintenance of these models?

The newest version of our Condensing Unit Installation and Maintenance Manual is here: https://docs.k-rp.com/1068155.pdf

Can I get non-compliant Condensing Unit for an exempted application?

We will continue to offer legacy models for use where the new regulations are not required (subject to change based on market dynamics). Follow the links below to legacy model literature:

Does this affect any other product offerings?

Even though exempt from compliance, there will be an impact on models offered in the KX (water-cooled) and KF (multi-compressor) condensing unit line-ups that use some of the same compressors that were used in discontinued models. For more information:

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