Challenging chillers

Proving performance for the most extreme projects

By Mustafa Dilsen, Head of Thermodynamics Commercial & Industrial Department and Loris Seganfreddo, Programme Manager and Auditor at Eurovent Certification.

In data centre applications where cooling is crucial, or in projects situated in extreme climates, accurate performance data is not just a nice to have, it is mission critical. Without verified, proven performance data, the information used to specify, design, install, commission, and maintain systems can be inaccurate, leading to product underperformance.

Underperforming systems can struggle to provide optimum temperatures or humidity levels, use more energy, miss sustainability targets, be more prone to faults and breakdown, or risk non-compliance with regulations. While in some projects, a small underperformance may only harm the end users bank balance in terms of running costs, in more specialist applications the impact can be disastrous. In data centres, underperforming cooling systems risk IT infrastructure. In the Middle East, extreme temperatures can kill. In both scenarios, underperformance causes big problems.

This is why third-party product performance certifier, Eurovent Certification, has adapted its chiller programme to include Very High Temperature Process Chillers and has introduced the Desert Certification option.

Why do we need chiller certification?

Product certification provides independently verified performance data that ensures chillers meet stringent European and international standards, guaranteeing the reliability, efficiency, and transparency necessary for critical cooling applications.

The Eurovent Certified Performance programme for Chillers and Heat Pumps involves rigorous third-party laboratory testing, factory audits, software audits, full analysis and validation of all supplied data (including marketing materials) and a surveillance process to ensure continued conformity. This comprehensive procedure verifies that claimed performance metrics reflect actual operational results, and that the data provided by the manufacturer at all touch points (selection software, brochures, websites, technical specs) is accurate.

Eurovent Certification’s standardised protocols ensure all products within the programme undergo an identical process. This creates a level playing field for manufacturers and provides results which are directly comparable, as all products are evaluated in the same way using the same units of measurements. This allows specifiers and buyers to directly compare chiller products using certified data, helping them make informed decisions guided by proven results rather than marketing claims alone. This reduces the risk associated with underperforming or inefficient equipment.

Certification also supports compliance with environmental design regulations (such as Ecodesign) and sustainable building standards (e.g., DGNB, LEED, BREEAM), fostering sustainability goals by attesting that chillers operate efficiently and minimise carbon footprint. For end users and HVACR professionals, Eurovent Certified Performance provides peace of mind by ensuring only thoroughly evaluated products are installed. The safeguarding function of certification ensures chillers will operate according to specification, which is crucial for business continuity in sectors like IT and telecommunications, or in harsh climates like the Middle East.

Demanding data centre applications

The requirements of data centre cooling are changing. Modern servers and IT hardware are designed to operate at higher ambient temperatures, which helps to lower the overall cooling demand. Very High Temperature Process Chillers have found an ideal place in the market to help improve data centre energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and support sustainability goals.

As the name suggests, Very High Temperature Process Chillers operate at higher temperatures, reducing the compressor load and power consumption. This in turn reduces CO2 emissions and reduces wear and tear on compressors. Higher supply temperatures also allow greater use of free cooling, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling. In cooler climates, Very High Temperature Process Chillers can reduce compressor operation for most of the year. As data centres push toward higher efficiency and lower carbon footprints, Very High Temperature Process Chillers play a crucial role in modern cooling strategies.

With this type of chiller growing in popularity, and projects demanding precision in temperature and humidity control, decision makers needed a route to verified data. In response Eurovent Certification developed an option for Very High Temperature Process Chillers - with or without free cooling function – within its chillers programme. On 1^st April 2025 the first certified unit equipped with free cooling was announced.

The Very High Temperature Process Chillers within the Eurovent Certified Performance programme are evaluated under all operational modes (free cooling, mechanical cooling, mixed cooling), ensuring resilience under varying conditions. Crucially for data centres, the certification validates the unit’s Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Seasonal Energy Performance Ratio (SEPR), key metrics that measure efficiency over time and across various operating conditions, rather than just peak performance.

Certification standards are based on Eurovent Association Recommendation 18/2 2024 “SEPR for Very High Temperature Process Chillers.” This recommendation presents the proposal for a dedicated index for Very High Temperature Process Chillers in the context of the revision of the Regulation (EU) 2016/2281. More information on the recommendation can be found at www.eurovent.eu. 

Very High Temperature Process Chillers represent a significant advancement in data centre cooling, helping to reduce energy consumption, lower emissions, and extend equipment lifespan, while enabling greater use of free cooling in suitable climates. With Eurovent Certification now providing verified performance data across all operating modes, decision makers can confidently integrate these systems into modern data centres.

Desert certification

After work with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments and Eurovent Middle East, the Desert Certification option was launched in October 2025 with the first certified chillers announced in November. The new certification option aims to help harmonise certified data to the extreme conditions in the Gulf. Chillers, Air Conditioners, VRF units, Rooftop units and IT Cooling units can now be certified for desert environments at T3 conditions and higher.

Cooling is one of the biggest consumers of building energy in the Middle East, accounting for up to 80% of building energy use and more than half of national demand. In addition, system underperformance or failure can be a serious issue as summer temperatures rise - in this region, cooling is not just a luxury, it is essential to survival. Yet, equipment used in the Gulf is often certified under T1 conditions (35°C), while real summer temperatures regularly exceed 45-50°C.

While European and International Standards at T1 provide accurate and trusted benchmarks for temperate climates, additional testing is required for Gulf conditions. Designed specifically for Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, the Desert Certification option tests products at T1 (35°C), T3 (46°C), and operability at 52°C, with even harsher conditions for Kuwait. It also introduces the Desert Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (DSEER), a metric that reflects real-world, part-load conditions, providing more accurate data for specifiers, developers, and end users.

By aligning the certification of chillers with the realities of Gulf climates, the Desert Certification option helps decision makes choose effective, resilient, efficient, and sustainable systems in one of the world’s hottest regions.

To conclude

Eurovent Certification’s chiller programme is a prime example of how certification evolves with the needs of the market. In specialist projects or harsh environments, product purchase decisions cannot be made on installation costs alone – products must perform. Decision makers need access to accurate data to ensure products reliably provide the cooling capacity required, meet sustainability goals, and to estimate the total cost of ownership, which is vital in regions or applications where energy use can be high. With chiller certification now available for Very High Temperature Process Chillers and desert conditions, decision makers can rest assured that products will perform in the most critical projects and extreme environments.

More information about chiller certification can be found at www.eurovent-certification.com or by contacting Programme Manager, Loris Seganfreddo at l.seganfreddo@eurovent-certification.com