GB/T 17981-2025 Economic operation of air conditioning systems English, Anglais, Englisch, Inglés, えいご
This is a draft translation for reference among interesting stakeholders. The finalized translation (passing through draft translation, self-check, revision and verification) will be delivered upon being ordered.
ICS 13.220.10
CCS H 57
National Standard of the People's Republic of China
GB/T 17981-2025
Replaces GB/T 17981-2007
Economic operation of air conditioning systems
空气调节系统经济运行
Issue date: 2025-10-31 Implementation date: 2026-05-01
Issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China
the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China
Contents
Foreword
1 Scope
2 Normative References
3 Terms and Definitions
4 Technical Requirements
5 Evaluation Indicators and Evaluation Methods
6 Operation Management
1 Scope
This document specifies the technical requirements, evaluation indicators, evaluation methods, and operational management for the economical operation of air conditioning systems (hereinafter referred to as "air conditioning systems").
This document applies to centralized air conditioning systems in civil buildings such as public buildings and residential buildings, industrial buildings, and centralized air conditioning systems shared by multiple buildings.
2 Normative References
The contents of the following documents constitute essential provisions of this document through normative references herein. For referenced documents that specify a date, only the version corresponding to that date applies to this document; for referenced documents without a specified date, their latest version (including all amendments) applies.
GB 19577—2024 Minimum allowable values of energy efficiency and energy efficiency grades for heat pumps and water chillers
GB/T 34913 Classification and representation methods of energy consumption for civil buildings
GB 50019 Code for design of heating, ventilation and air conditioning for industrial buildings
GB/T 50155 Standard for terminology of heating, ventilation and air conditioning
GB 50189 Design standard for energy efficiency of public buildings
GB 50352 Unified standard for design of civil buildings
GB/T 51161 Energy consumption standard for civil buildings
GB/T 51245 Unified standard for energy efficiency design of industrial buildings
GB 55015 General code for energy efficiency and renewable energy utilization in buildings
GB 55016 General code for building environment
3 Terms and Definitions
The following terms and definitions apply to this document.
3.1 Public building
A general term for office buildings (including office buildings, government office buildings, etc.), commercial buildings (such as shopping malls, financial buildings, etc.), tourist buildings (such as hotels, entertainment venues, etc.), science, education, culture, and health buildings (including cultural, educational, research, medical, health, and sports buildings), communication buildings (such as post and telecommunications, communication, and broadcasting facilities), and transportation facilities (such as airport and station buildings).
3.2 Industrial building
A general term for production workshops, warehouses, public auxiliary buildings, and living and administrative auxiliary buildings.
3.3 Industrial air conditioning system
An air conditioning system that serves production processes, primarily controlling temperature, relative humidity, air particle count, and pressure. It is used in production workshops, laboratories, animal housing for experiments, and environmental test chambers to create various production-required environments, ensuring normal production operations and product quality.
3.4 Energy consumption per air-conditioned area (ECA)
The ratio of the total energy consumption of an air conditioning system over a certain period to the air-conditioned area.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m²).
3.5 Cooling consumption per unit air-conditioning area (CCA)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system in cooling mode over a certain period to the air-conditioned area.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per square meter (kWh/m²).
3.6 Heating consumption per unit air-conditioning area (HCA)
The ratio of the total heating capacity prepared by an air conditioning system in heating mode over a certain period to the air-conditioned area.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours of heating per square meter (kWh/m²).
3.7 Energy efficiency ratio of air conditioning system in cooling regime (EERS)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the total energy consumption of all equipment in the system during cooling mode.
Note: Includes energy consumption of chillers, chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, cooling tower fans, and fans and pumps of air conditioning terminals. Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.8 Energy efficiency ratio of chiller plant (EERP)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the total energy consumption of all equipment in the chiller plant during cooling mode.
Note: Includes energy consumption of chillers, chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, and cooling tower fans, but excludes energy consumption of fans and pumps of air conditioning terminals. Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.9 Energy efficiency ratio of refrigeration system (EERR)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the total energy consumption of all equipment in the refrigeration system during cooling mode.
Note: Includes energy consumption of chillers, condenser water pumps, and cooling tower fans, but excludes energy consumption of chilled water pumps and fans and pumps of air conditioning terminals. Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.10 Operational coefficient of performance (COP)
The ratio of the cooling capacity prepared by a chiller over the same period to its energy consumption.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.11 Water transport factor of chilled water pumps (WTFCHW)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the total energy consumption of all chilled water pumps.
Note: Includes energy consumption of primary pumps, secondary pumps, booster pumps, and secondary pumps in the chilled water system. Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.12 Air conditioning terminals
Terminal equipment in an air conditioning system, including fresh air units, air handling units, fan coil units, variable air volume boxes, fans used for cooling and heat dissipation, heat recovery units, and local circulating pumps for radiant cooling and heating.
Note: Abbreviated as air conditioning terminals.
3.13 Energy efficiency ratio of air conditioning terminals in cooling regime (EERT)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the energy consumption of various fans and pumps in the air conditioning terminals.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.14 Water transport factor of condensate water pumps (WTFCW)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the energy consumption of condenser water pumps.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.15 Water refilling rate (WRef)
Standard
GB/T 17981-2025 Economic operation of air conditioning systems (English Version)
GB/T 17981-2025 Economic operation of air conditioning systems English, Anglais, Englisch, Inglés, えいご
This is a draft translation for reference among interesting stakeholders. The finalized translation (passing through draft translation, self-check, revision and verification) will be delivered upon being ordered.
ICS 13.220.10
CCS H 57
National Standard of the People's Republic of China
GB/T 17981-2025
Replaces GB/T 17981-2007
Economic operation of air conditioning systems
空气调节系统经济运行
Issue date: 2025-10-31 Implementation date: 2026-05-01
Issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China
the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China
Contents
Foreword
1 Scope
2 Normative References
3 Terms and Definitions
4 Technical Requirements
5 Evaluation Indicators and Evaluation Methods
6 Operation Management
1 Scope
This document specifies the technical requirements, evaluation indicators, evaluation methods, and operational management for the economical operation of air conditioning systems (hereinafter referred to as "air conditioning systems").
This document applies to centralized air conditioning systems in civil buildings such as public buildings and residential buildings, industrial buildings, and centralized air conditioning systems shared by multiple buildings.
2 Normative References
The contents of the following documents constitute essential provisions of this document through normative references herein. For referenced documents that specify a date, only the version corresponding to that date applies to this document; for referenced documents without a specified date, their latest version (including all amendments) applies.
GB 19577—2024 Minimum allowable values of energy efficiency and energy efficiency grades for heat pumps and water chillers
GB/T 34913 Classification and representation methods of energy consumption for civil buildings
GB 50019 Code for design of heating, ventilation and air conditioning for industrial buildings
GB/T 50155 Standard for terminology of heating, ventilation and air conditioning
GB 50189 Design standard for energy efficiency of public buildings
GB 50352 Unified standard for design of civil buildings
GB/T 51161 Energy consumption standard for civil buildings
GB/T 51245 Unified standard for energy efficiency design of industrial buildings
GB 55015 General code for energy efficiency and renewable energy utilization in buildings
GB 55016 General code for building environment
3 Terms and Definitions
The following terms and definitions apply to this document.
3.1 Public building
A general term for office buildings (including office buildings, government office buildings, etc.), commercial buildings (such as shopping malls, financial buildings, etc.), tourist buildings (such as hotels, entertainment venues, etc.), science, education, culture, and health buildings (including cultural, educational, research, medical, health, and sports buildings), communication buildings (such as post and telecommunications, communication, and broadcasting facilities), and transportation facilities (such as airport and station buildings).
3.2 Industrial building
A general term for production workshops, warehouses, public auxiliary buildings, and living and administrative auxiliary buildings.
3.3 Industrial air conditioning system
An air conditioning system that serves production processes, primarily controlling temperature, relative humidity, air particle count, and pressure. It is used in production workshops, laboratories, animal housing for experiments, and environmental test chambers to create various production-required environments, ensuring normal production operations and product quality.
3.4 Energy consumption per air-conditioned area (ECA)
The ratio of the total energy consumption of an air conditioning system over a certain period to the air-conditioned area.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh/m²).
3.5 Cooling consumption per unit air-conditioning area (CCA)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system in cooling mode over a certain period to the air-conditioned area.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per square meter (kWh/m²).
3.6 Heating consumption per unit air-conditioning area (HCA)
The ratio of the total heating capacity prepared by an air conditioning system in heating mode over a certain period to the air-conditioned area.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours of heating per square meter (kWh/m²).
3.7 Energy efficiency ratio of air conditioning system in cooling regime (EERS)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the total energy consumption of all equipment in the system during cooling mode.
Note: Includes energy consumption of chillers, chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, cooling tower fans, and fans and pumps of air conditioning terminals. Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.8 Energy efficiency ratio of chiller plant (EERP)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the total energy consumption of all equipment in the chiller plant during cooling mode.
Note: Includes energy consumption of chillers, chilled water pumps, condenser water pumps, and cooling tower fans, but excludes energy consumption of fans and pumps of air conditioning terminals. Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.9 Energy efficiency ratio of refrigeration system (EERR)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the total energy consumption of all equipment in the refrigeration system during cooling mode.
Note: Includes energy consumption of chillers, condenser water pumps, and cooling tower fans, but excludes energy consumption of chilled water pumps and fans and pumps of air conditioning terminals. Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.10 Operational coefficient of performance (COP)
The ratio of the cooling capacity prepared by a chiller over the same period to its energy consumption.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.11 Water transport factor of chilled water pumps (WTFCHW)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the total energy consumption of all chilled water pumps.
Note: Includes energy consumption of primary pumps, secondary pumps, booster pumps, and secondary pumps in the chilled water system. Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.12 Air conditioning terminals
Terminal equipment in an air conditioning system, including fresh air units, air handling units, fan coil units, variable air volume boxes, fans used for cooling and heat dissipation, heat recovery units, and local circulating pumps for radiant cooling and heating.
Note: Abbreviated as air conditioning terminals.
3.13 Energy efficiency ratio of air conditioning terminals in cooling regime (EERT)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the energy consumption of various fans and pumps in the air conditioning terminals.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.14 Water transport factor of condensate water pumps (WTFCW)
The ratio of the total cooling capacity prepared by an air conditioning system over the same period to the energy consumption of condenser water pumps.
Note: Expressed in kilowatt-hours of cooling per kilowatt-hour of electricity (kWh/kWh).
3.15 Water refilling rate (WRef)
