They used to be and some of the older SEER 13 systems used R22.
Air conditioning systems are now available with ratings up to SEER 16 , although a lot will depend on the installation to see if that efficiency is realized .
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
Thanks Berkshire, actually I found there are alredy higher seers than 20, the matter here is that the contract I am supervising requires "high efficiency" A/C and I can`t find a standard that states which ones acomplish this requirement. All I found is that SEER 13 is the lowest range built nowadays in the US but some manufacturers offer SEER 13 as the lowest of their high efficiency models like: American Standard
Legally you can't require anything as the specs are not clear. It doesn't say "higher than legally required US efficiency", nor does it say a value. the designer should have specified a specific model with SEER 16 and R410A or whatever was desired. All you can get now is the code-required minimum.... I hops the specs state somewhere that all equipment needs to meet code?
You should go back to the "designer"and collect his design fee as that person clearly didn't design anything. Every housewife nowadays will know they want "high efficiency".
Yo are right thanks, shamely the designer will not help us anymore. He didn`t even mentioned the requirement to meet the code! so we will have to negotiate with the contractor
I would recommend looking at ASHRAE 90.1, Table 6.8. A SEER of 13 would satisfy energy code. That would not be considered high efficiency, that would be minimal standard. Energy Star might be of use if you have rebates in your area.
There is no correlation or relation between SEER and refrigerant. I presume you mean R410a, as there is no R410. R410a is the most common refrigerant used for residential applications currently. It's unlikely you would get equipment designed to use something else.
SEER 13 is apparently the minimum to get "Energy Star" label, and as noted by others above, the minimum allowed by law.
Since you seem to be working in the owner's interest your position should be "SEER 13 is the lowest allowed and there is much better available on the market. The lowest you can get is clearly not "high efficiency"".
My initial question was what´s the minimun SEER to consider an A/C system to be of high efficiency and I got the answer this morning from CEE´s
℠Commercial Unitary AC and HP Specification
Effective January 6, 2012
UNITARY AIR CONDITIONING SPECIFICATION"
Which states SEER 14 for comercial equipments below 6500 BTU with air colled units.
I apreciate all comments given, thank you
This only applies if CEE is referenced in your specs. CEE isn't code. I think if you get code-minimum you can be lucky. if you are unlucky he digs out some cheap SEER 10 units and you need to pay to upgrade because building inspector will stop you.
How do you guys interprete this: "If you are replacing the air conditioner, look to buy high efficiency equipment. The most generally known efficiency rating is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). SEER 13 is the minimum efficiency you should consider, but higher efficiencies are likely to be quite cost effective." from
This language is useless in a contract. If you used it in specs, it tells the contractor to "look at" high efficiency equipment, not install it. He always can prove he "looked at it" as specified. and cost effective would be for him to install the cheapest. If you want SEER 16, just say SEER 16. that is legally defensible.
and it doesn't say to use SEER rating should be used, it says SEER exists, which contractually doesn't mean anything, it is like an informational note.
Contract language like that explains why the US is paradise for lawyers and the US has the largest ratio of attorneys in any country.
Yes it´s a legal matter, and as the contractor stataed ASHRAE as the base for his design and I could not find ASHRAE to specify what is high efficiency, I emailed ASHRAE asking for it... I will let you know their answer
if the contract says ASHRAE as basis of design, are you indicating the contractor was to design (design-build)? You mentioned you had an engineer, what did he do if this is design-build? If it was design-bid-build (as in you had an engineer designing and then bid it out) this would be the owner/engineer responsibility to clearly state a SEER number. The contractor can't be asked to design in such situation.
Just look for what the contractor proposes to use on his own. Maybe it is SEER 13 and you are good. No need to argue with them before you know what they intend.
Code has to be followed by a law even though the designer didn't mention it, project has to be reviewed by the city hall, in your case you can ask the contractor to bring a letter from the equipment manufacturer saying that their product meet all the current regulations requirements, and I don't think the manufacturer will sell equipment do not meet any bylaw requirements, if you go now to a manufacturer and ask them to buy a R22 equipment they will tell you sorry we can't sell it to you.
