GB/T 46738-2025Safe service life of household and similar electrical appliances - Particular requirements for air conditioners (English PDF)

Foreword

This document complies with the provisions of GB/T 1.1-2020 "Standardization Work Guidelines Part

1.Structure and Drafting Rules of Standardization Documents". Drafting. Please note that some content in this document may involve patents. The issuing organization of this document assumes no responsibility for identifying patents. This document was proposed by the China National Light Industry Council. This document is under the jurisdiction of the National Technical Committee on Standardization of Household Appliances (SAC/TC46). This document was drafted by: China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute, Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. (Zhuhai), and Qingdao Haier Air Conditioner Co., Ltd. China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute (Beijing) Testing and Certification Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Panasonic Air Conditioner Co., Ltd., Guangdong Midea Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd., TCL Air Conditioner (Zhongshan) Co., Ltd., Daikin (China) Investment Co., Ltd., Guangdong Meibo Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd., AUX Air Conditioning Co., Ltd., and four Sichuan Changhong Air Conditioning Co., Ltd., Qingdao Hisense Hitachi Air Conditioning Systems Co., Ltd., Daikin Machinery & Equipment (Xi'an) Co., Ltd., Xi'an Qing'an Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Zhongguang Electric Group Co., Ltd., Shenyang Zhonghang Electromechanical Sanyo Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd., Beijing Industrial Universities, Xiaomi Smart Home Appliances (Wuhan) Co., Ltd., Anhui Enbo Electric Co., Ltd., Hisense Air Conditioning Co., Ltd., Guangdong Meizhi Refrigeration Equipment Limited Liability Company, Anhui Zhongren Beijia Technology Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Youao Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Haili Electric Co., Ltd., Weikai Testing Technology Co., Ltd., Zhongren Yingtai Testing Technology Co., Ltd. The main drafters of this document are. Liu Ting, Zhang Hua, Li Liyan, Huang Gang, Hu Wuqiang, Cai Ning, Zheng Chongkai, Xi Tao, Yan Ling, Zhang Jianqiang, and Zhao Haidong. Zhuo Senqing, Liu Fan, Zheng Jiechang, Zhang Wenqiang, Yang Lin, Sun Min, Ling Yongjun, Jiang Huawei, Ma Guoyuan, Zhao Yang, Shan Lianyu, Gu Yanan, Bie Qingfeng, Gao Meng, Wu Duogeng, Li Bo, Lu Defeng, Zhou Yi, Dai Xingxue, Jiang Yinglong. Safe service life of household and similar electrical appliances Special requirements for room air conditioners

1 Scope

GB/T 46738-2025 is the Chinese national standard covering how long a room air conditioner may safely be kept in service - the ageing of the insulation, the compressor and the refrigerant circuit, the evidence a manufacturer must hold for the life it declares, and the marking that tells the owner. First edition, in force from 1 May 2026. Issued on 31 October 2025, it has been in force since 1 May 2026.

This document specifies the safe service life and standard operating conditions for room air conditioners (hereinafter referred to as "air conditioners"). The labeling and instructions requirements describe the relevant content for determining the safe service life of air conditioners. This document applies to air-cooled condensers, fully enclosed electric motor-compressors, and products with a rated cooling capacity of 14000W or less, designed to create comfortable indoor environments. A split-type free-flow room air conditioner designed to adapt to different environments. This document does not apply to the following products and systems.

---Portable air conditioner;

---Duct-type air conditioner;

---Multi-split air conditioner;

---Air conditioners that use absorption refrigeration cycles;

---Individual components cannot form a complete refrigeration system, or can form a complete refrigeration system but are not complete air conditioner products.

2 Normative references

The contents of the following documents, through normative references within the text, constitute essential provisions of this document. Dated citations are not included. For references to documents, only the version corresponding to that date applies to this document; for undated references, the latest version (including all amendments) applies. This document.

GB/T 7725 Room Air Conditioners

GB/T 21097 General Rules for Safe Service Life and Recycling of Household and Similar Electrical Appliances

GB 21455 Minimum Energy Efficiency Values and Energy Efficiency Grades for Room Air Conditioners synopsis

3 Terms and Definitions

The terms and definitions defined in GB/T 7725 and GB/T 21097, as well as the following terms and definitions, apply to this document.

3.1 Safe service life As specified by the manufacturer during design and manufacturing, household appliances should be used normally under standard operating conditions according to the instructions for use. This ensures safe use for a certain period of time.

Note. The unit of safe service life is years. [Source: GB/T 21097-2025, 3.2]

3.2 Parameters such as the air conditioner's operating environment, installation, load conditions, and total annual usage time. [Source: GB/T 21097-2025, 3.5, with modifications]