R74 – Risk assessment Notice geothermal water heating system.pdf
Product Assessed: Geothermal energy heat pump system for home air conditioning and supplementary potable water heater
Assessment
The WaterMark Administration advises it has reviewed a risk assessment submitted for the above mentioned product. The product is a geothermal system for air conditioning and storing energy in the water contained in a storage tank. During the cooling period, heat extracted from the ambient by the system is stored in water, and the heat transfer is facilitated by a stainless steel heat exchanger. The water is stored in an electric storage water heater. When the temperature in the tank gets to 600C, heat transfer from the refrigerant to the waterside is stopped by de-energizing a pump that transfers water from the storage tank to the heat exchanger and back to the storage tank.
The WaterMark Administration verifies that the risk assessment for this product has identified risks requiring mitigation through the WaterMark Certification Scheme. The Water Mark Certification is only for the components covered under the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA). The WaterMark Certification shall not be used to cover off on components that may lie outside the PCA scope, such as refrigeration equipment.
Outcome
The Risk Assessment identified the overall risk rating being high for the nominated health and safety consequences incidences. In accordance with the Manual for the WaterMark Certification Scheme, Appendix 3, Table D, any product with an overall risk rating of high requires WaterMark Certification.
Approved WaterMark Conformity Assessment Bodies will now need to evaluate these products to the most applicable specification. If the identified risks are unable to be satisfactorily addressed through an existing Specification, then a new, or amended Specification shall be proposed. A submission to the ABCB shall be undertaken in accordance with the Manual for the WaterMark Certification Scheme, Appendix 4, Protocol for Developing Product Specifications.
Upon receipt of the proposed nominated Specification the WaterMark Administration will review and verify the proposed nomination which may include a public consultation period as outlined in clauses 1.7.2 and 2.7.2 of the Protocol for Developing Product Specifications.
Issued
9 June 2021.
