| 1 | Calculate the Required Cooling Capacity | Heat load, indoor design temperature, outdoor design temperature, operating hours, and safety margin. | Specify capacity in kW or BTU/h. Use the project heat-load calculation rather than room size alone. A common engineering allowance is approximately 5–10%, subject to local design practice. | Group units by capacity class, such as 3.5 kW, 5.0 kW, or 7.0 kW, and verify that the condenser capacity matches the indoor unit and system design. | Critical |
| 2 | Match the Refrigerant and System Type | Refrigerant type, charge requirements, compressor arrangement, and whether the system is fixed-speed or inverter-driven. | Common refrigerants include R-32 and R-410A in many modern comfort-cooling systems. R-32 is mildly flammable and requires equipment designed and certified for A2L refrigerants. | Do not mix refrigerants, lubricants, or incompatible components. Request refrigerant labeling, safety documentation, and installation requirements for every model group. | Critical |
| 3 | Confirm Ambient Operating Conditions | Outdoor temperature range, altitude, humidity, coastal exposure, dust level, and required cooling performance during peak conditions. | Standard comfort-air-conditioning ratings are often based on approximately 35°C outdoor air temperature, while high-ambient equipment may be designed for higher conditions. Always compare the manufacturer's rating conditions. | Specify high-ambient operation, corrosion protection, or enhanced filtration where the installation site is hot, dusty, industrial, or near saltwater. | High |
| 4 | Check Electrical Compatibility | Rated voltage, phase, frequency, maximum running current, starting current, breaker size, and electrical connection method. | Typical commercial supplies include 230 V single-phase or 400 V three-phase at 50 Hz, but electrical standards vary by market. The nameplate must match the installation supply. | Separate the order by voltage, phase, and frequency. Ask for nameplate drawings and electrical data before approving production. | Critical |
| 5 | Evaluate Efficiency and Seasonal Performance | Cooling efficiency, seasonal efficiency, rated capacity, part-load performance, and applicable regional energy requirements. | Compare efficiency using the applicable metric, such as EER, COP, SEER, or SEER2. These metrics use different test methods and should not be compared directly without checking the standard. | Require certified test data, efficiency labels, and compliance documents for the destination market. Avoid relying only on nominal cooling capacity. | High |
| 6 | Verify Physical and Installation Specifications | Unit dimensions, shipping weight, service clearance, pipe diameter, maximum line length, elevation difference, drainage, and mounting method. | Copper line sizes depend on system capacity and design; common residential sizes include approximately 6.35 mm liquid lines and 9.52–12.70 mm suction lines, but the equipment manual is the controlling reference. | Confirm pallet dimensions, container loading quantity, lifting points, service access, and whether brackets, vibration isolators, or other accessories are included. | Medium |
| 7 | Set Quality, Compliance, and Delivery Controls | Applicable safety standards, factory testing, warranty terms, spare parts, packaging, lead time, inspection procedure, and acceptable defect rate. | Request pressure testing, electrical safety testing, leakage inspection, performance records, serial-number traceability, and documentation for the destination market. | Use a pre-shipment inspection plan covering sample size, cosmetic condition, nameplate accuracy, accessories, packaging integrity, and quantity verification before final payment. | High |