WCO Explanatory Notes reproduced for reference. © World Customs Organization. Verify against official WCO publication.
84.15 Air conditioning machines, comprising a motor-driven fan and elements for changing the temperature and humidity, including those machines in which the humidity cannot be separately regulated (+). 8415.10 - Window or wall types, self-contained or "split-system" 8415.20 - Of a kind used for persons, in motor vehicles - Other : 8415.81 - - Incorporating 8415.82 - - Other, incorporating a refrigerating unit 8415.83 - - Not incorporating a refrigerating unit 8415.90 - Parts a refiigeratin unit and a valve for reversal of the cooling/heat cycle (reversible eat pumps) % This heading covers certain apparatus for maintaining required conditions of temperature and humidity in closed spaces. The machines may also comprise elements for the purification of air. They are used for air conditioning offices, homes, public halls, ships, motor vehicles, etc., and also in certain industrial installations requiring special atmospheric conditions (e.g., in the textile, paper, tobacco or food industries). The heading applies only to machines : (1) Equipped with a motor-driven fan or blower, and (2) Designed to chan e both the temperature (a heating or cooling element or both) and the hurmdity (a humi ifying or drying element or both) of air, and d (3) For which the elements mentioned in (1) and (2) are presented together. In these machines the elements for hurnidifylng or drying the air may be separate from those for heating or cooling it. However, certain types incorporate only a single unit which changes both the temperature and, by condensation, the humidity of the air. These air conditioning machines cool and dry (by condensation of water vapour on a cold coil) the air of the room in which they are installed or, if they have an outside air intake (damper), a mixture of fresh air and room air. They are generally provided with drip pans to catch the condensate. The machines may be in the form of single units encom assing all the required elements, such as self-contained window or wall types (referred to as "t E rough-the-wall" units). Alternatively, they may be in the form of "s 11t-systems" which operate when connected to ether, i.e., a condenser unit for external instaillation plus an evaporator unit for internal instal ation. These "split-systems" are ductless and utilize a separate evaporator for each area to be air conditioned (e.g., each room). f' From the structural point of view, the air conditionin machines of this heading must therefore incorporate, in addition to the motor-driven fan or b ower for circulating the air, at least the following elements : An air heating device (operated by hot water, steam or hot air tubes or by electric resistances, etc.) and an air humidifier (generally consisting of a water spray) or an air dehumidifier; or A cold water coil or a refrigerator unit evaporator (either of which changes both the temperature and, by condensahon, the humidity of the a~r); or Some other type of cooling element with a separate device for changing the humidity of the air. In certain cases, the de-humidifier makes use of the hygroscopic properties of absorbent materials. This heading covers, inter alia, reversible heat pumps designed, throu h a single s stem fitted with a valve for reversal of the coolingtheat cycle, to perform the dua function of eating and cooling premises. In the cooling cycle, the reversing valve directs the flow of hot, high pressure vapour to the outdoor coil where the heat released during condensation is fanned rnto the outdoor air and then compressed refrigerant flows into an indoor coil where it vaporizes and absorbs heat and cools the air that is driven around the premises by a fan. In the heating cycle, the shifting of the valve for reversal of the coolingtheat cycle causes the refrigerant flow to reverse so that the heat is released inside the premises. k K Air conditioning machines may be supplied with their means of heating or cooling fiom an external source. They are usually fitted with air cleaners consisting of one or more layers of filterin material, often impregnated with oil (textile material, glass wool, steel or copper wool, expan ed metal, etc.) through which the air is passed to remove suspended dust, etc. They may also be provided with devices for adjusting or automatically controlling the temperature and humidity of the air. d This heading also covers apparatus which, although not fitted with a device for separate1 regulating the humidity of the air, chan e the humidity by condensation. Examples of suc apparatus are the above-mentioned sel -contained units and split-s stems whlch utilize a se arate evaporator for each area to be air conditioned (e.g., each roomy, and also a paratus for co d stores consisting of a combined cooling evaporator and motorized blower. A so included are units for heatingkooling a closed chamber (lorry, trailer or container), consisting of a compressor, a condenser and a motor in a housin mounted on the outside of the goods compartment and of a ventilator and an evaporator wi in the container. Z f P f L However, the headin excludes refigeration units designed to maintain a fixed temperature well below OD C in a closed chamber lony, hailer or container), and fitted with a heating system lo raise the temperature in the chamber, within certain limits, when the outside temperature is very low. Such equipment is classifiable in heading 84.18 as refii erating or hezing e uipment, the heating function being subsidiary to the equipment's essentiaI function, w ~ c is h to keep pensha le products cool during transportation. i "b PARTS In accordance with the provisions of Note 2 (b) to Section XVI, this heading includes separately resented indoor units and outdoor units for split-system air conditioning machines of this teading. Other parts for air-conditionin machines, whether or not designed for buildin into a selfcontained unit, are to be classi led in accordance with the provisions of Note 2 fa) to Section XVI (headings 84.14, 84.18, 84.19, 84.21, 84.79, etc.) or, if Note 2 (a) is not applicable, in accordance with Note 2 (b) or 2 (c) to Section XVI, depending on whether or not they are identifiable as suitable for use solely or principally with the air-conditioning machines of which they are parts. P The heading excludes (a) Air heaters and hot air distributors of heading 73.22 which can also distribute fiesh or conditioned air. (b) Non- reversible heat pumps of heading 84.18 and chillers for air conditioning machines (heading 84.18). (c) Apparatus which, although incorporating a motor-driven fan, has the sole function of changing either the temperature or humid@ of the air (headings 84.79,85.16, etc.).
1.- This Chapter does not cover : (a) Millstones, grindstones or other articles of Chapter 68; (b) Machinery or appliances (for example, pumps) of ceramic material and ceramic parts of machinery or appliances of any material (Chapter 69); (c) Laboratory glassware (heading 70.17); machinery, appliances or other articles for technical uses or parts thereof, of glass (heading 70.19 or 70.20); (d) Articles of heading 73.21 or 73.22 or similar articles of other base metals (Chapters 74 to 76 or 78 to 81); (e) Vacuum cleaners of heading 85.08; (f) Electro-mechanical domestic appliances of heading 85.09; digital cameras of heading 85.25; (g) Radiators for the articles of Section XVII; or (h) Hand-operated mechanical floor sweepers, not motorised (heading 96.03). 2.- Subject to the operation of Note 3 to Section XVI and subject to Note 11 to this Chapter, a machine or appliance which answers to a description in one or more of the headings 84.01 to 84.24, or heading 84.86 and at the same time to a description in one or more of the headings 84.25 to 84.80 is to be classified under the appropriate heading of the former group or under heading 84.86, as the case may be, and not the latter group. (A) Heading 84.19 does not, however, cover : (i) Germination plant, incubators or brooders (heading 84.36); (ii) Grain dampening machines (heading 84.37); (iii) Diffusing apparatus for sugar juice extraction (heading 84.38);