VIC Part E2 Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems

The Objective of this Part is to—

1. safeguard people from illness, injury or loss (including loss of amenity) due to the failure of a heating, ventilation or air-conditioning installation; and
2. ensure that a heating, ventilation or air-conditioning installation is suitable; and
3. conserve water and energy; and
4. safeguard the environment; and
5. safeguard public and private infrastructure; and
6. ensure that a heating, ventilation or air-conditioning installation is designed and is capable of being maintained so that throughout its serviceable life it will continue to satisfy Objectives (a) to (e).

Mechanical services, plant and equipment used for heating, cooling and/or ventilation of a building must be adequate.

A building’s heating, cooling and/or ventilation system installation and maintenance must support energy efficient outcomes and minimise any adverse impact on building occupants or occupants of adjoining places, the Network Utility Operator’s infrastructure, property and the environment.

(1) Mechanical services, or plant and equipment for heating, cooling and/or ventilation must avoid the following:

1. Damage to property.
2. Loss of amenity to occupants.

(2) Mechanical services, or plant and equipment for heating, cooling and/or ventilation must ensure the following:

1. Efficient use of energy and water.
2. Access for maintenance.

Pressure equipment used in mechanical heating, cooling or ventilation systems must avoid the likelihood of explosion, rupture or leakage.

Mechanical air-handling and cooling water systems installed in a building must control the accumulation of harmful microbial growth.

Performance requirements E2P1 to E2P3 are satisfied by complying with E2D2.

(1) Mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning systems for buildings and structures must comply with the requirements of the relevant Parts of:

1. NCC Volume One for Class 2 to 9 Buildings; or
2. NCC Volume Two for Class 1 and 10 Buildings.

(2) Mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning equipment must be in accordance with:

1. AS/NZS 1200 for the design, materials, manufacture, examination, testing, installation, commissioning, operation, inspection, maintenance, repair, alteration, and disposal of pressure equipment,
2. AS 1324.1 for the application, performance and construction for air filters for use in general ventilation and air-conditioning,
3. AS 1345 for the identification of the contents of pipes, conduits and ducts,
4. AS/NZS 1668.1 for the use of mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning in buildings for fire and smoke control in multi-compartment buildings,
5. AS 1668.2 for the use of mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning in buildings for mechanical ventilation,
6. AS/NZS 3500.1 for the design, installation, alteration, addition, repair and commissioning of cold water services,
7. AS/NZS 3500.2 for the design, installation, alteration, addition and repair of sanitary plumbing and drainage,
8. AS/NZS 3500.4 for the design, installation, commissioning, alteration, addition and repair of heated water services,
9. AS 4254.1 for flexible ductwork for air-handling systems in buildings,
10. AS 4254.2 for the rigid ductwork for air-handling systems in buildings,
11. AS 4426 for the selection, installation and finish of thermal insulation of pipework, ductwork and equipment.
12. AS 4508 for the thermal resistance of insulation for ductwork used in building airconditioning, and
13. AS/NZS 5141 for residential heating and cooling systems.
14. AS/NZS 5601.1 for gas installations.
15. AS 1271, AS 1358 and AS 4041 for the design, construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration and maintenance of pressure equipment and piping.
16. AS/NZS 4859.1 for thermal insulation of ductwork and pipework.
17. HB 276 for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of mechanical ventilation and air conditioning systems in class 1, 2, 3 and 4 buildings.
18. AS/NZS ISO 817 in relation to assigning designations for refrigerants used in air conditioning systems.
19. AS/NZS 5149.1, AS/NZS 5149.2, AS/NZS 5149.3 and AS/NZS 5149.4 for the design, construction, installation, testing, commissioning, operation, maintenance, repair and safety of refrigeration systems (including heat pumps) and recovery, reuse and disposal of refrigerants.
20. Australian and New Zealand Refrigerant handling code of practice 2007 Part 1 for selfcontained low charged refrigeration systems.
21. Australian and New Zealand Refrigerant handling code of practice 2007 Part 2 forsystems other than self- contained low charged systems.

(3) Copper piping for air-conditioning and refrigeration must meet the requirements of AS/NZS 1571.

(4) Microbial control must be carried out in accordance with AS/NZS 3666.1 and AS/NZS 3666.2 as appropriate.

(5) Condensate drains and bleed down drains installed in heating, cooling and air-conditioning equipment (including evaporative coolers) other than cooling towers must discharge to any of the following—

1. an evaporative tray if specified by the manufacturer; or
2. a sanitary drainage system by way of an untrapped tundish discharging to a charged floor waste gully in accordance with clause 4.6.7.8 or tundish and self-sealing device in accordance with clause 13.21 of AS/NZS 3500.2; or
3. a surface water drainage system; or
4. an absorption pit, but only if a sanitary or surface water drainage system is not available and the discharge water will not cause damage to buildings or facilities by changing soil moisture conditions.
5. a stormwater downpipe directly over the connection to the roof gutter; or
6. Directly to the stormwater downpipe below the connection to the roof gutter provided a means of overflow or reverse flow protection is incorporated; or
7. for evaporative coolers only, over a tiled roof, by way of a spreader.

(6) Drains from a cooling tower must discharge to a sanitary drainage system in accordance with any applicable trade waste agreement.

(7) Condensate drains and bleed down drains shall not discharge to a system that is used for the collection of water for potable use.

(8) In this clause, bleed down drain means a drain that collects fluid from a valve used for bleeding and purging; evaporative tray means a tray used to gather excess moisture or condensation for the purpose of evaporation.

(9) Domestic solid fuel burning appliances must be in accordance with AS/NZS 2918.

(10) Medical gas systems must be in accordance with AS 2896, AS 2473.3, AS 2568, and AS 2902.