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20/04/2017

Demand for green air conditioners on the rise in Qatar
20 Apr 2017 - 1:18

By Huda NV / The Peninsula
With temperature soaring and new regulations in place, green air conditioners have hit the Qatari market. Despite being pricey, inquiries for the energy efficient air conditioners have significantly increased, according to market sources.

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) and the Qatar General Organization for Standardization (QS) had banned import and sale of all conventional air conditioners from July 1, 2016.

Meanwhile, AC dealers and retailers were given a grace period until January 1, this year to dispose off their stocks of conventional air-conditioners.

“Last year the AC sales were badly hit, as the new regulations were issued during the summer months when we usually have peak sales. Now we do see a demand with the temperature already reaching 40 degrees Celsius,” Shanavas PM, Regional Manager, Lulu Group told The Peninsula. “The market is now gearing up and we have already started our summer sales. The prices of these green ACs are higher, going up by QR500 to QR1,000 for normal 1 ton AC, while split ones can coast something around QR2000,” he added. However, higher pricing does not deter customers from buying the green ACs.

“Customers are very much aware of the new regulation. They come in enquiring about the star rated ACs and we have noticed that many of them go for higher rated ones as they can save more on electricity bills even if they have to pay more when buying the units.

The prices are higher by 15 to 20 percent for the new ACs,” said Ashraf P, Buying Head, Quality Group.

“The ACs had started moving even before the season began, and we are yet to start our summer sale. We are also getting more requests for quotations from some firms,” he added.

With the market abuzz with summer sales, companies have introduced ACs claiming to have additional perks as anti-microbial action, air purification, special fragrances, baby friendly, ionising and much more. “Wall mounted split units are highest in demand. There is lesser demand for window ACs now. The percentage of sales of window and split ACs would be around 30 and 70 percent,” Ashraf added.

Similar views were aired by some of the major cooling companies and dealers. “Spilt ACs are highest in demand, and yearly we have a huge sale from these units alone,” said Azhar Maqbool Ahmed, Deputy GM, Alrais Group. “New products in line with the Qatari standards are now available here. Currently our products are 5 to 7 star rated. By the end of may we will have 8 start appliances available,” Ahmed added.

“Most in demand is wall mounted split units. The new regulation is mainly targeting domestic AC. Most of the larger projects have been using these star rated or energy efficient coolers since long. The move was mainly environment friendly, countering global warming and ozone depletion among the others,” said Shoukathali, GM, Marine Air Conditioning Company.

Some of the local AC repair and servicing outlets The Peninsula spoke to stressed that they are having lesser works. “We are getting much lesser request for AC maintenance and servicing,” said Sayed, who owns an AC service center in old airport area.

21/03/2016

Only green ACs in market after July 1
March 21, 2016 - 2:16:09 am



By Mohammed Iqbal



DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality and Environment has set a new deadline of July 1 for phasing out all conventional air conditioners from the local market that do not meet Qatari standards and specifications.

Only energy-saving air conditioners (both window and split) will be allowed in the market from that date. Import and sale of all A/Cs that don’t meet Qatari and Gulf standards and specifications have been banned. The Qatar General Organization for standardisation (QS) at the ministry said that the law regulating the import of energy-saving air conditioners will be in force from July 1.

QS had set several early deadlines for the ban that were later extended. The regulation has been enforced in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Industry, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) and the Ministry of Economy and Trade.

Import of only energy-saving air conditioners will be permitted in line with the Qatar Standard QS 2663 and the Gulf Technical Regulation No (BD-142004-01), QS said yesterday, in an announcement posted on its page.

The regulation is intended to protect public health, ensure safety and eliminate inferior and counterfeit products.

The energy efficiency rate must not be 1ess than 8.5 BTU/hr, according to testing condition (T3 & T1). Each manufacturer, or one the manufacturer authorises must register the A/C’s prototype using the QS-approved form and obtain a conformity certificate attesting the AC’s number of stars, at least a month before import.

Voltage and frequency of the

A/Cs must be in accordance with the Qatari regulation i.e. 240 volt (single phase) and 415 volt (three-phase), and the frequency is 50 Hz; no other variety will be accepted.

ACs must have “difficult to remove” metal or plastic energy efficiency cards/labels, approved by QS, indicating the number of stars affixed to the A/C’s front part or attached by the manufacturer.

The manufacturer must submit an original test report from an ISO 17025 certified laboratory and an approved certificate issued in accordance with the IECEE CB Scheme, or a certificate of conformity from an internationally recognised body proving that the air conditioner complies with the requirements mentioned in the Approved Qatari Standard (QS2663) and the Gulf Technical Regulation No. (BD-142004-01).

QS said it is committed to ensuring the quality of electrical products in the local market “for preservation and sustainability of energy in the country, to implement Qatar National Vision 2030 with regard to the optimum utilization of natural resources, protect the environment and ensure health and safety of the individuals and the society.”

It also seeks “to assist importers and traders and facilitate procedures to ensure the flow of goods and products in the local market without technical barriers.”

It has called upon all traders and importers to abide by the content of the announcement.

07/01/2016

BAN ON IMPORT OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES WITHOUT GCC CERTIFICATION

The import of electrical appliances including air conditioners, fans and electric irons without the GCC specification compliance certificate will be banned this year, a senior official from the Ministry of Environment has said.
"The compliance certificate is a guarantee that such electrical appliances are safe to use and will not cause any risk of fire or other harm to the users," Dr Mohamed bin Saif al-Kuwari, assistant undersecretary for laboratories and standardisation, told local Arabic daily Arrayah.
The targeted electric appliances include irons, heaters, water heaters, ovens, fridges, toasters, lamps and electric wires, besides air conditioners, the daily said yesterday.
Dr al-Kuwari pointed out that the experimental launch of a campaign to combat the harmful consequences of inferior electrical appliances has resulted in the withdrawal of large numbers of non-standard products from the local market in co-operation with the Consumer Protection Department of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
"An awareness programme will be launched first to raise public awareness about the required specifications and standards, which are still under discussion. Then, importers and retailers will be given a grace period of six months to modify their situation according to the new requirements. After that the new regulations will be enforced."
Dr al-Kuwari also advised consumers to be careful when buying any electrical appliance to make sure that it complies with the local requirements and is of high quality to avoid any risks during use.

19/02/2015

Conventional air-conditioners to be banned in Qatar
You are hereHome » Forum » News » Conventional air-conditioners to be banned in Qatar
Posted a day ago by Qatar Living in News
Qatar's Ministry of Environment is in the process of banning the commonly used conventional air-conditioners in the country in an effort to become more environmental friendly.

However, people will not be asked to dispose of their air conditioners when the proposed ban on conventional A/Cs is finally imposed, a senior official of the Ministry of Environment has clarified.

Residents can continue to use their old A/Cs, but will not find a conventional product in the market if they want to buy a new one.

Dr Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, assistant undersecretary for standards and specifications at the Ministry, said that his reported statement on Monday about a decision to phase out all conventional air conditioners in six months had created some confusion among the public.

"We have received different types of reactions to the report. Some people went to the extent of saying that the country is going back to the old era when there were no air conditioners. Some expressed fears that we will go and knock at every door to check their air conditioners," Al Kuwari told this daily last evening.

"All these fears are baseless. We will not ask anyone to replace the air conditioners they are using now. They can continue to use them as long as they want. However, if people want to buy new A/Cs after the ban is fully implemented, they will not find the conventional ones in the market," he added.

He said the decision to phase out the conventional A/Cs was taken in September 2013 but was withheld following a request from suppliers and traders. It has been further delayed for another six months.

He said yesterday's was a preliminary announcement about implementation of the ban and a final decision is yet to be taken.

"We have made a detailed study on the issue and the decision will be implemented in a way that does not harm the interests of the people nor disrupt their daily lives," said Al Kuwari.

He said the ministry is going ahead with plans to phase out all conventional A/Cs from the market by September. However, traders will be allowed to dispose of their old stocks, even after the ban comes into force.

"We have taken all the issues into consideration. We in collaboration with Kahramaa have talked to suppliers and manufactures to provide the market with sufficient quantities of air conditions meeting the new specifications. A few stocks are already available," he said.

"A neighbouring GCC country has been using such ACs for a year and they have been found very effective," Al Kuwari added.

He said all other home appliances in the market will also be replaced by energy efficient and environment friendly products in a phased manner.

"This process may take two to three years to complete, but we don't want to put people in a difficult situation," said Al Kuwari.