Ref. No.: RSC-C1.

Accelerated Capital Allowances Eligibility Criteria

Category: Refrigeration and Cooling Systems
Technology: Refrigeration System Controls

Refrigeration System Controls are defined as equipment that controls and optimises the
temperatures and pressures in a refrigeration system, and automatically adjusts the
refrigeration system’s operation to minimise its energy consumption, while maintaining
within predefined temperature limits the spaces, processes or equipment being
refrigerated, and reflecting changes in load, weather conditions and operating
requirements.

Refrigeration System Controls equipment is considered to include the following:

• System management package consisting of one or more control units or modules

that are designed to optimise an entire refrigeration system, including the operation
of refrigeration compressor(s), evaporator(s) and condenser(s)

• ‘Add-on’ controllers that are designed to be used in conjunction with a specific

system management unit or package, and enable the operation of additional
refrigeration compressors, evaporators and condensers to be optimised

Eligibility criteria
To be included on the ACA Specified List, the specific Refrigeration System Controls
equipment must meet all the relevant requirements set out below.

General Eligibility Criteria

(Applicable to all Refrigeration System Controls equipment)
No. Condition
1. All equipment and/or components must be CE marked as required by the
specific EU directive(s).
2. Must comply with the relevant requirements, as set out in Tables 1 to 3
below, for products that directly control by means of an analogue or
digital signal connection:
a) Evaporators (see Table 1)
b) Condensers (see Table 2)
c) Compressors (see Table 3)

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3. Products must incorporate a microprocessor-based controller that is pre-

programmed to automatically control the rate of flow of refrigerant
through, and/or operating temperature of, at least one of the following
types of refrigeration equipment:
a) Evaporators
b) Condensers
c) Compressors

System management package specific Eligibility Criteria

(To be met in addition to the general eligibility criteria)
No. Condition
4. Must automatically adjust the system operating set points in a manner that
minimises the refrigeration system’s energy consumption under different
operating loads, weather conditions and surrounding air temperatures
5. Is pre-programmed to undertake one or more of the following:
i. Monitor temperatures and/or pressures around the refrigeration
system, and automatically initiate defrost cycles, or inhibit (or
delay) scheduled defrost cycles, within individual parts of the
refrigeration system, as required, to optimise the overall
performance of the refrigeration system
ii. Monitor refrigeration system energy input (kWh) and generate a
visual or audible alarm when system power consumption exceeds
a pre-defined limit, or when system efficiency degradation is
preventing automatic adjustment
iii. Automatically, in accordance with a pre-defined weekly time
schedule, turn off, or turn down, ancillary power loads around the
refrigeration system (such as lighting in display cabinets, trim
heaters or fans), or activate night blinds, in order to reduce system
energy consumption

6. Must provide facilities that enable system managers to define the default
set points, and alarm limits, for each item of refrigeration equipment
controlled.

‘Add-on’ controller specific Eligibility Criteria

(To be met in addition to the general eligibility criteria)
No. Condition
7. Must automatically accept instructions from the system manager to change
its operating set points or alarm limits, or to initiate or inhibit a defrost
cycle.
8. Must automatically transmit data on operating temperatures, pressures, or
flow rates to the system manager at intervals not exceeding 10 minutes.

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Table 1: Control of evaporators

All products that directly control evaporators must:

No. Requirement
a.
Be designed to directly measure evaporator pressure or temperature by
means of a sensor, and automatically adjust the flow of refrigerant through
the evaporator to maintain the refrigerated space within pre-defined
operating limits.
b.
Automatically terminate its defrost cycle when:
• The temperature of the evaporator or refrigerated space exceeds a
preset value.
• A maximum defrost time consistent with sensor failure has been
exceeded.

c. Provide facilities that enable system managers to define separate

temperature set points and alarm limits for each evaporator being
controlled.
d. Provide facilities that enable system managers to take the equipment out of
service for cleaning or maintenance.
e. Generate an alarm signal when the temperature of the refrigerated space is
in danger of straying outside, or has strayed outside, its pre-defined safe
operating limits.

Table 2: Control of condensers

All products that directly control Condensers must:

No. Requirement
a. Be designed to directly measure condenser pressure or temperature by
means of a sensor, and automatically adjust the airflow across the
condenser(s) in a manner that maintains condensation at the rate required
to maintain the thermal balance of the refrigeration system under different
operating loads and weather conditions.
b.
Allow the compressor discharge (head) pressure to ‘float’ with ambient
temperature down to the minimum safe level for the particular refrigeration
system for maximum system efficiency.
c.
Provide facilities that enable system managers to define separate
temperature set points and alarm limits for each condenser being
controlled.
d.
Generate an alarm signal when the condensing pressure or temperature is
in danger of straying outside, or has strayed outside, the predefined limits
for safety or efficiency.

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Table 3: Control of compressors

All products that directly control Compressors must:

No. Requirement
a.
Be able to control the operation of at least two refrigeration compressors.
b.
Incorporate automatic control algorithms that monitor rate of change in
system suction pressure or refrigerant temperature to prevent compressors
from unnecessarily being controlled to load or unload in response to small
fluctuations in cooling demand.

Where:
• Automatic control may be implemented either directly by means of an analogue or
digital signal connection, or indirectly by means of another control device or
network.
• A mechanism is defined as “any sequence of pre-defined actions that performs a
given function, where an action can be defined in hardware and/or software”.
• An algorithm is defined as “a mechanism that is defined in software”.
• The product’s control strategy is the combination of automatic control functions,
mechanisms and facilities specified for the particular equipment controlled. In this
context, products may be pre-programmed in one of the following ways:
a) One or more fixed control strategies that are designed to control a specific set of
equipment that can be selected during commissioning
b) One or more flexible control strategies that can be configured to control different
equipment, as part of a clearly defined commissioning procedure

---------------------------------- End of ACA eligibility criteria --------------------------------

Please see next section for guidance on:

1. Technical details required in product submission
2. Supporting documentation required

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Guidance on product details and supporting

documentation
NOTE: The following information is not part of the official criteria document published
within the relevant Statutory Instrument. It has been added here for guidance purposes
only in order to help you to provide (a) product details and (b) the required supporting
documentation.
All information contained in this guidance document is subject to change without notice.

Technical information required in product submission

The following are the specific technical values required as part of the product submission for
this technology:

Refrigeration Systems Controls type

As part of the product submission you must first select which type of equipment your
product is. Only one type can be chosen per product. The product must be one of the
following equipment types
• System Management Unit or Package
• Add-on Controller

Refrigeration Product Controlled by System

The products that the control system chosen is able to control must be chosen. At least one
of the following product types must be chosen.
• Evaporators
• Condensers
• Compressors

Supporting documentation required

Described below is the list of documents that are accepted as proof of compliance for the
specific Refrigeration and Cooling RSC condition.

Note: This information will only be requested AFTER you submit your product’s basic
details online

Important Notes to Product Providers

Please ensure that you read the “Important Notes for Product Providers” section at the
end of this document prior to submitting documentation.

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General conditions
(Applicable to all Refrigeration System Controls equipment)

No. Condition Supporting Documentation Requirement

1 All equipment and/or components must be CE Official and published manufacturer’s technical data sheet or brochure that
marked as required by the specific EU directive(s). demonstrates CE marking compliance
OR
A copy of an official signed declaration on headed paper that confirms CE marking
compliance

Official declarations should explicitly state the product for which CE marking is being
confirmed (i.e. do not provide a letter simply stating general compliance with the
relevant ACA condition).
Where a document is used to demonstrate conformance for a number of products or
range of products, it should clearly specify each individual product covered by that
document.

2 Must comply with the relevant requirements, as set Official and published manufacturer’s technical data sheet, or brochure, that
out in Tables 1 to 3 below, for products that demonstrates compliance with the requirements of the condition
directly control by means of an analogue or digital
signal connection:
a) Evaporators (see Table 1)
b) Condensers (see Table 2)
c) Compressors (see Table 3)

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No. Condition Supporting Documentation Requirement

3 Products must incorporate a microprocessor-based Official and published manufacturer’s technical data sheet, or brochure, that
controller that is pre-programmed to automatically demonstrates compliance with the requirements of the condition
control the rate of flow of refrigerant through,
and/or operating temperature of, at least one of
the following types of refrigeration equipment:
a) Evaporators
b) Condensers
c) Compressors

System management package specific Eligibility Criteria

(To be met in addition to the general eligibility criteria)

No. Condition Supporting Documentation Requirement

4 Must automatically adjust the system operating set points in a manner that Official and published manufacturer’s technical data
minimises the refrigeration system’s energy consumption under different sheet, or brochure, that demonstrates compliance with
operating loads, weather conditions and surrounding air temperatures the requirements of the condition

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No. Condition Supporting Documentation Requirement

5 Is pre-programmed to undertake one or more of the following: Official and published manufacturer’s technical data
i. Monitor temperatures and/or pressures around the refrigeration sheet, or brochure, that demonstrates compliance with
system, and automatically initiate defrost cycles, or inhibit (or the requirements of the condition
delay) scheduled defrost cycles, within individual parts of the
refrigeration system, as required, to optimise the overall
performance of the refrigeration system
ii. Monitor refrigeration system energy input (kWh) and generate a
visual or audible alarm when system power consumption exceeds
a pre-defined limit, or when system efficiency degradation is
preventing automatic adjustment
iii. Automatically, in accordance with a pre-defined weekly time
schedule, turn off, or turn down, ancillary power loads around the
refrigeration system (such as lighting in display cabinets, trim
heaters or fans), or activate night blinds, in order to reduce system
energy consumption

6 Must provide facilities that enable system managers to define the default set Official and published manufacturer’s technical data
points, and alarm limits, for each item of refrigeration equipment controlled. sheet, or brochure, that demonstrates compliance with
the requirements of the condition

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Add-on Controllers – specific eligibility criteria

(to be met in addition to the general eligibility criteria)

No. Condition Supporting Documentation Requirement

7 Must automatically accept instructions from the system manager to change Official and published manufacturer’s technical data
its operating set points or alarm limits, or to initiate or inhibit a defrost cycle. sheet, or brochure, that demonstrates compliance with
the requirements of the condition

8 Must automatically transmits data on operating temperatures, pressures, or Official and published manufacturer’s technical data
flow rates to the system manager at intervals not exceeding 10 minutes. sheet, or brochure, that demonstrates compliance with
the requirements of the condition

Component List
The component list contains details and part numbers of any ancillary equipment that may be supplied to a customer as an additional component to the overall
submitted system. It must be formatted according to the ACA component list template.

When components are detailed in a component list, reference must be made to official and published brochures or data sheets where these components are described.
These brochures/datasheets must then be supplied in addition to the component list.

Any equipment listed in a component list that is subject to separate eligibility conditions requires that the appropriate documentation for that piece of equipment is
supplied when submitting documentation for the specific condition(s).

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Important notes for product providers

General
There should be a clear link between the product submitted and all supporting
documentation. This will typically take the form of a product code or product name that can
be cross-referenced between the submitted product and the relevant supporting
documentation.
If product codes/names have been changed since publication of the supporting
documentation, then you must provide official evidence of this with the supporting
documentation supplied.
If there is any deviation from these requirements, the supporting documentation will not be
considered adequate for the purposes of demonstrating compliance with the criteria
conditions. This will in turn delay the submission and/or result in the product not being
considered eligible.
Where the ACA criteria or help documentation makes reference to compliance with
appropriate rather than specific standards, the onus is on the product provider to ensure
that the supporting documentation supplied references recognised standards that apply to
the submitted product, i.e. the product must be covered under the scope of a recognised
standard.
If it is subsequently found that any product submitted does not meet the performance or
specification criteria, it will cease to be considered eligible for the ACA.
Note: When supplying the supporting documentation through the online process, you must
ensure, when demonstrating compliance with the relevant condition, that the correct page
number(s) of the document is referenced. When referencing more than one page number,
add an explanatory note.

Test report
A test report must include an outline of the complete test, including:
√ Introduction
√ Details on test conditions
√ The specific model details of the product tested
√ The steps taken in the test
√ The results
√ Graphical representations
√ Conclusion
All documents should be on headed paper and the document should be officially signed off.
All documentation must be in English, or include adequate translation.

Certification
Where certificates are provided, all tests must be carried out by an organisation that is
accredited by a national accreditation body, recognised via the European Cooperation for
Accreditation (preferred) or the International Accreditation Forum. All documentation
must be in English, or include adequate translation.

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Scientific equivalence
Some ACA criteria conditions allow for scientifically equivalent tests and/or standards to be
used.
If a product has not been designed, manufactured or tested to the specific standard named,
then documentation relating to an equivalent internationally recognised standard may be
used, where the phrase ‘or scientific equivalent’ is included in the ACA condition or help
documentation.
In such applications, the onus is on the product submitter to demonstrate satisfactory
equivalence of the standards. Submissions which reference such supporting documentation
may take longer to process. If the product provider does not provide satisfactory evidence of
equivalence, then the product will not be considered eligible for the ACA. All
documentation must be in English, or include adequate translation.
Note: Where specific standards are cited in a condition or in the ACA help documentation,
then documentation demonstrating that the relevant products have been designed,
manufactured or tested to these specific standards is preferred. Scientific equivalence is
considered the exception rather than the norm.

Representative testing
Where test information is required for a range of technically similar products (e.g.
configurations of one base product), then – in exceptional instances – a form of
representative testing may be used once agreed in advance with SEAI.
Such testing is where only representative products are tested from a technically similar
group or range of products. Representative testing may form an acceptable basis for
supporting documentation if:
• A clear correlation can be demonstrated between the tested product and a
technically similar non-tested product
and
• Such a correlation clearly demonstrates the compliance of the non-tested product
Note: Where representative testing is used for a group or range of products, if the tested or
representative product is removed from the list of eligible products then all related products
are also removed.

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