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Beyond the DOSAN ENERGY, OXYCOM ANNOUNCE THE DELIVERY OF LARGEST IDEC INSTALLATION IN THE WORLD RHEEM INTRODUCES WAVE SERIES COMMERCIAL INVERTER POOL HEAT PUMPS FOR MEA MARKET September 2026 NEWS AFEC releases English edition of Spain HVAC market report CAREL introduces iJP controller for professional blast chillers EBTRON introduces HTx116 hybrid airflow measurement device PERSPECTIVES Climate-responsive performance metrics Dalip Singh, AHRI IAQ and sensor density Vitalii Matiunin, Airvoice Transformer risk JP Pouttu, Vaisala LICENCE TO CHILL Sustainability, reliability in DCPs Dan Mizesko, LTC expert US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ ccme.news/digital Sontay launches WELLSense Ziehl-Abegg invests EUR 25 million in Shanghai manufacturing and R&D facility COULD A STRONG GRASP OF INDUSTRY STANDARDS HELP PREVENT PROFIT LEAKAGE? EIA: ‘Environmental crime has grown more sophisticated and damaging’ ENGIE provides 21.5 MW of cooling capacity for southern Europe District Cooling project Frascold expands natural refrigeration portfolio with new R-717, CO2 compressor rangesCo-Sponsored by Don’t just keep up — get ahead at AHR Expo.VOL. 21 NO. 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 22 18 16 06 www.ccme.news 3 REGULARS Regional News Global News eDItor'S note Decoding ISO/CASCO Abhishek Chhabra of The Assurance Experts (Gurus of TIC) unpacks key standards shaping trust in the HVACR industry 12PERSPECTIVES Advancing HVAC performance in high-ambient regions Dalip Singh of AHRI elaborates on the evolution towards climate-responsive performance metrics Are we measuring IAQ in the right places? Vitalii Matiunin of Airvoice says the answer is a firm ‘no’, adding that establishing the right sensor density is an iterative process and needs to be respected Transformer risk – unseen consequence of the war The war has impacted a wide variety of supply chains, including the global availability of helium, impacting transformer reliability and, hence, energy security, says JP Pouttu of Vaisala 04 26 30 16220618 LICENCE TO CHILL ‘ISF DCP ticks all the boxes’ Dan Mizesko, LTC expert, calls the Qatar plant a proof that sustainability and reliability can co-exist COVER STORYSeptember 2026 4 I N NOVEMBER 2026, London will be hosting ‘Future of Utilities: Smart Energy 2026’, an event, the organisers say, will draw over 1,000 senior energy and technology professionals and over 100 speakers. The event, the organisers say, will examine how digitalisation, Artificial Intelligence and data can help build a more resilient energy system, with specific topics expected to focus on what it means to plan grids for and with Artificial Intelligence, what it means to move new technology into the mainstream and whether power trading is ready for the data centre boom or not. These are great topics. And I am sure other conferences on energy will be establishing great narratives. At the same time, there is a dire need to examine the very foundations of power production at this point in time, characterised by the disruption caused by the war in the Gulf. It’s not just Hormuz as a chokepoint but the very ability to produce what is needed for resilient energy operations. As JP Pouttu of Vaisala points out in this issue of the magazine (see Page 22), the war, and delays in the Strait of Hormuz, have impacted a wide variety of supply chains, but one of the less-publicised consequences has been a significant reduction in the global availability of helium, which in turn, could impact transformer reliability. He points to how QatarEnergy declared force majeure and halted LNG production and, with it, helium extraction, which has implications for the wellbeing of transformers on the field. Indeed, helium is used for gas chromatography-based Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) of power transformers in laboratory as well as in field settings. The lack of availability, or reduced availability, of the gas, Pouttu argues, can seriously impact time-honoured advance-warning mechanisms that are critical for maintaining resilience of power transformers. “A transformer that sends advance signals – through dissolved gas patterns that DGA captures – is one that gives operators time to act,” he points out. “A transformer that fails silently, or whose monitoring has lapsed, does not.” And that could have significant consequences for power supply needed for operating data centres and HVACR equipment, unless the world adopts other methodologies for testing the condition of transformers, which is the crux of Pouttu’s argument. Do read on! Krishnan Unni Madathil Auditor, Bin Khadim, Radha & Co. Chartered Accountants, carrying out an analysis of the market, writes on business opportunities for the HVACR industry. Dan Mizesko LTC expert, writes on issues relating to chilled water systems, including operation & maintenance. Nabil Shahin Managing Director, AHRI MENA, writes on HVACR- specific regulation issues. Dr Iyad Al-Attar Independent air filtration consultant, writes on specific science and technology issues relating to Indoor Air Quality, including airborne particles. Angela Fandino Director, Energy Sustainability at Engineering Sustainable Futures, writes on engineering approaches, and business and financial models that enable a green urban ecosystem. Editor Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com Associate Editor Karu Suren karu.suren@cpi-industry.com Online & Social Media Abdul Hakeem marketing@cpi-industry.com Design Head Ulysses Galgo design@cpi-industry.com Webmaster Chris Lopez chris@cpi-industry.com Editorial Assistant Arushi Menon features@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com Deep Karani Our representative in North America +1 365 885-6849 deep.karani@cpimediagroup.com Database/Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki purwanti@cpi-industry.com Published by Founder, CPI Media Group Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015) Co-Founder & Commercial Director Frédéric Paillé fred@cpi-industry.com EMPANELLED COLUMNISTS Co-Founder & Editorial Director Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com Head Office PO Box 13700, Dubai, UAE Web: www.cpi-industry.com Printed by: Jaguar Printing Press L.L.C © Copyright 2026 CPI Industry. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein. Visit our website: climatecontrolme.com/digital Also available at Get the next issue of Climate Control Middle Eastearly! Surendar Balakrishnan Editor @BSurendar_HVACR Helium and data centresSeptember 2026 6 F OR MORE than seven decades, the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) standards and certification programmes have served as a credible benchmark for evaluating the performance of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment. Developed through consensus-based, industry-led processes and supported by independent third-party certification, AHRI standards provide a common technical language that enables fair comparison of products across manufacturers, markets and regions. This credibility is particularly evident in high-ambient regions, including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Regulators across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and neighbouring markets routinely reference AHRI standards and certification programmes when developing minimum energy performance requirements, conformity-assessment procedures and market-surveillance frameworks. In many cases, AHRI-certified data is accepted directly for regulatory compliance, significantly reducing duplicative testing and administrative burden. The result has been measurable and sustained benefits: Improved equipment efficiency, substantial electricity cost savings, reduced peak-load stress on national grids and greater confidence that policy objectives are being achieved in real-world operating conditions. As cooling demand continues to rise in hot climates, this reliance on credible, harmonised standards has become increasingly critical. The high-ambient reality: Why climate-responsive standards are necessary While AHRI standards are globally applicable, HVAC equipment does not operate the same in different global climates. In the MENA region, outdoor temperatures routinely exceed standard testing conditions, often for extended periods, and cooling systems operate for a significant portion of the year. These conditions fundamentally affect equipment capacity, efficiency, reliability and energy consumption; and hence, they can’t be considered typical world applications. Historically, most international HVAC standards were developed around moderate ambient reference conditions, typically with outdoor dry- bulb temperatures near 35 degrees C. Although suitable for global comparability, such conditions do not accurately represent the actual operating environment of equipment deployed in high-ambient regions. When these standards are applied without adaptation to the local weather conditions, several challenges arise: Dalip Singh of AHRI writes on global acceptance of AHRI standards and the evolution towards climate-responsive performance metrics Dalip Singh is Senior Technical Analyst, AHRI MENA. He may be reached at DSingh@ahrinet.org. • Energy consumption is severely underestimated • Peak electrical demand impacts are not fully captured • Products optimised for extreme climates may be unfairly penalised • Regulators may lack confidence that rated performance reflects field performance Recognising these challenges, MENA regulators and industry stakeholders increasingly called for climate-aligned performance metrics, not to replace global standards but to tailor them to region-specific adaptations that preserve harmonisation while improving relevance. AHRI’s high-ambient standards: A structured and phased evolution In response to these regional needs and direct requests from GCC region regulatory bodies, AHRI undertook a structured effort to develop high- ambient performance standards across major HVAC product categories. This work was steered by MENA Regional Standards Committee (MENA RSTC), chaired by Burhan Jaber, of SKM Air conditioning, and executed through dedicated working groups (WGs), with participation from top international and regional OEMs, testing laboratories, MEP consultants and regulatory PERSPECTIVEGET YOUR COMPANY SEEN FIRST Be at the TOP of the relevant searched category in the Refrigeration Buyers’ Guide. THE LARGEST DATABASE OF REFRIGERATION PRODUCTS & SUPPLIERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST PRIORITY PLACEMENT Appear at the top of the relevant searched category in the directory. GREATER VISIBILITY Put your company in front of HVACR professionals actively searching for products and suppliers. STAND OUT FROM COMPETITORS Give your company greater prominence than standard listings. SPONSORED LISTING appears at the TOP of the searched category WHY CHOOSE A SPONSORED LISTING www.refrigbuyersguide.com Your reference hub to the refrigeration industry in the Middle East BOOK YOUR SPONSORED LISTING TODAY! FREE ENTRY DEADLINE: OCTOBER 21, 2026 FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES, EMAIL: advertising@cpi-industry.com THE 2027 EDITION WILL BE LAUNCHED AT THESeptember 2026 8 PERSPECTIVE observers. These standards explicitly refer to ASHRAE climate zones 0B and 1B, which are representative of the dominant climatic conditions across the GCC region and surrounding markets. By aligning with globally recognised climate classifications, it is ensured that regional adaptations remain technically defensible and internationally consistent. The following AHRI standards have been tweaked to high-ambient requirements: 1. AHRI Standard 211/241-0B/1B - 2021 (SI) – Performance rating of small unitary air conditioning equipment under high-ambient climate conditions. The standard incorporates high-ambient performance conditions for residential and light- commercial applications through extending internationally recognised seasonal efficiency concepts into hot and very hot climate applications by introducing Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER T3/T4 ) for T3 and / or T4 bin hours. 2. AHRI Standard 341/361-0B/1B - 2025 (SI) – Performance Rating of Commercial and Industrial Unitary Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment. The standard introduces Integrated Energy Efficiency Ratio (IEER HAT ) for high-ambient temperate regions. IEER HAT as a metric integrates energy efficiency across multiple load points specifically relevant to high-ambient conditions and building load characteristics, offering a more representative measure of part-load performance than a single-point EER. 3. AHRI Standard 1231-0B/1B - 2025 (SI) – Performance Rating of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Multi-split Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment. The Standard introduces IEER 0B/1B as a dedicated seasonal efficiency metric for VRF and multi- split systems operating in high- ambient climates. IEER 0B/1B evaluates weighted performance across multiple part-load and building characteristics conditions at elevated outdoor temperatures, providing a more realistic representation of annual energy use than singlepoint ratings, aligning efficiency assessment with actual operating profiles in hot regions. 4. Standalone Appendix H-0B/1B- 202x to AHRI Standard 551/591- 2023 (SI) – IPLV Calculations for High Ambient Climate Zones 0B/1B The Appendix introduces Integrated Part Load Value (IPLV 0B/1B ) as a region-specific part-load efficiency metric tailored for high- ambient climates. IPLV 0B/1B applies revised temperature values and weighting factors derived from regional weather data to better reflect actual chiller operation under elevated ambient conditions. By aligning part-load efficiency evaluation with real GCC region climate profiles, IPLV 0B/1B enables more accurate product comparison and supports robust, climate- appropriate regulatory compliance. Importantly, these standards were developed without fragmenting global markets. Core test methods and definitions remain consistent with international practice, while rating conditions, weighting factors and integrated metrics were adapted to reflect local climatic realities. Significance perspective The introduction of high-ambient standards delivers multifold advantages for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Regulators, Utilities, End Users and the broader ecosystem, as below: Fair and climate-representative performance benchmarking Prior to high-ambient adaptations, many OEMs supplying equipment to the Middle East faced a structural disadvantage: Products engineered for extreme temperatures were often evaluated using rating conditions that did not reflect their intended operating environment. By introducing high-ambient test conditions and integrated performance metrics (such as SEER T3/T4 , IEER HAT , IEER 0B/1B and IPLV 0B/1B ), AHRI standards now ensure that OEM performance claims are evaluated where the equipment operates and prevent selling equipment intended for normal ambient climate conditions. This restores technical fairness and ensures that engineering effort is accurately reflected in certified ratings. Reduced compliance cost and improved market access AHRI’s certification programmes, when aligned with region-specific standards, enable OEMs to rely on a single, globally recognised compliance pathway across multiple MENA markets. This reduces: • Duplicative country-level testing • Re-rating costs for different jurisdictions • Time-to-market delays • Number of units to be tested within a given product family In the long term, this harmonised approach supports regional manufacturing hubs, enables exports within the GCC region and beyond, and improves the global competitiveness of manufacturers operating in high-ambient markets. Policy enabler for regulators For regulators, the adaptation of AHRI standards to high-ambient climates is not merely a technical update it is a policy enabler that strengthens the credibility, effectiveness and enforceability of energy-efficiency regulations. Improved policy accuracy and credibility Energy-efficiency regulations are only as strong as the performance metrics on which they are based. AHRI’s high- ambient standards helps in: • Aligning rating conditions with regional weather profiles • Aligning with the building profiles of the GCC region • Reflecting realistic-load distributions over the cooling seasonGET YOUR COMPANY SEEN FIRST A READY REFERENCE ON HVACR MANUFACTURERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST Be at the TOP of the relevant searched category in the Climate Control Guide & Directory. THE REGION’S COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE DIRECTORY FOR THE HVACR INDUSTRY PRIORITY PLACEMENT Appear at the top of the relevant searched category in the directory. GREATER VISIBILITY Put your company in front of HVACR professionals actively searching for products and suppliers. STAND OUT FROM COMPETITORS Give your company greater prominence than standard listings. SPONSORED LISTING appears at the TOP of the searched category WHY CHOOSE A SPONSORED LISTING www.climatecontroldirectory.com FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES, EMAIL: advertising@cpi-industry.com BOOK YOUR SPONSORED LISTING TODAY! FREE ENTRY* DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 10, 2026 *Limited to 15 product categories THE 2027 EDITION WILL BE LAUNCHED AT THENext >