Brand Findings
Islandaire EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA are Illegal and Non-Compliant
Failure to meet DOE Minimum Efficiency Requirements
Islandaire EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA both have a nominal cooling capacity of 10,000 BTU. Under federal law (10 C.F.R. Part 430 + AHRI 210/240), any 10,000 BTU heat pump in this class must meet a 13.4 SEER2 minimum to be legally sold, installed, or used in the United States. Islandaire does not publish a SEER2 value because the unit cannot meet the required 13.4 SEER2 when tested in a certified lab. This alone renders the units illegal.
Illegal Rating
Islandaire uses the wrong rating metric: EER2 instead of SEER2, COP2 instead of HSPF2. Islandaire publishes only an EER2 for cooling and a COP2 for heating. Neither EER2 nor COP2 is a legal rating for this product category. For a heat pump, federal law requires:
- SEER2 and HSPF2
- Rated under AHRI 210/240
Islandaire deliberately avoids publishing SEER2 because the unit would fail. This alone renders the units illegal.
Illegal Misclassification
By using an EER instead of SEER2, Islandaire is classifying EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA as PTHP, but EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA do not meet the PTHP definition under 10 C.F.R. § 430.2, a lawful PTHP must have:
- a wall sleeve
- a separate unencased chassis
- through-the-wall mounting
The Islandaire EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA units have none of these traits.
Misclassifying the EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA as PTHP by using EER is a direct violation of DOE rules and is illegal.
Even though it is illegally classified as PTHP, it fails the PTHP Efficiency.
Federal minimum PTHP EER for this size class is 11 EER2 (10 C.F.R. Part 431, Table 7)—Islandaire claims: 9.9 EER. So even if the PTHP label were legal (it is not), the unit would still fail DOE minimum standards and be illegal.
Miscalculated Performance Numbers
Islandaire misrepresents even the numbers it publishes for EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA in both heating and cooling.
In Cooling:
For EZMB10L5A1S95AA 115V model:
- Cooling Capacity: 10,000 BTU
- Power Input: 1,050 W
Using their own watt input: 10,000 ÷ 1,050 = EER 9.52. Yet, Islandaire publishes 9.9 EER.
For EZMB9L5A1S95AA 230V model:
- Cooling Capacity: 10,000 BTU
- Power Input: 1,020 W
Using their own watt input: 10,000 ÷ 1,020 = EER 9.8. Yet Islandaire publishes an EER of 9.9 for both models.
Fraudulently lists the cooling capacity at 10,000 BTU with 9.9 EER for both the 115V and 230V. When calculating the numbers, the EER is really 9.52 for 115V and 9.8 for 230V, which is illegal.
In Heating:
For EZMB10L5A1S95AA 115V model:
- Heating Capacity: 9,000 BTU
- Power Input: 930 W
Using their own watt input: 9,000 ÷ 3.412 (BTU to W) ÷ 930 = 2.84 COP. Yet Islandaire fraudulently publishes 11.6 COP2, which, if calculated correctly, would be 3.4 COP.
For EZMB9L5A1S95AA 230V model:
- Heating Capacity: 9,000 BTU
- Power Input: 850 W
Using their own watt input: 9,000 ÷ 3.412 (BTU to W) ÷ 850 = COP2 3.10. Yet Islandaire fraudulently publishes 11.6 COP2, which, when calculated with the correct formula, would be 3.4 COP2.
Neither 2.84 COP2 (for the 115V version) nor 3.10 COP2 (for the 230V option) is the 3.4 COP2 Islandaire published (they publish a COP of 11.6, which, if you use the correct formula of dividing by 3.412, is 3.4) for both models. Additionally, Islandaire incorrectly shows COP2 in EER format as BTU ÷ input W. COP is always BTU ÷ 3.412 and then ÷ input W.
Fraudulent and Fake Numbers
The 10,000 BTU capacity they claim, along with the 9.9 EER rating, is fraudulent. When tested in a lab, this unit will not produce 10,000 BTU and an EER of 9.9. So, even ignoring the misclassification and wrong ratings, the actual numbers they claim are fake.
Regulatory Violation Summary: Islandaire — EZMB10L5A1S95AA & EZMB9L5A1S95AA
These products are illegal to distribute, specify, install, or use in the United States and Canada. Islandaire's published efficiency numbers are fabricated and do not meet DOE and NRCan's minimum efficiency requirements. The EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA do not meet the legally required SEER2 or HSPF2 thresholds at their rated capacities.
Minimum Efficiency Requirements Not Met | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Classification | Metric | Legal Minimum Required | Islandaire's Status | Result |
Heat Pump (cooling) | SEER2 | ≥ 13.4 | Numbers fabricated — no valid rating exists | ❌ Fails |
Heat Pump (9,000 BTU heating / US) | HSPF2 | ≥ 6.7 | Numbers fabricated — no valid rating exists | ❌ Fails |
Heat Pump (9,000 BTU heating / Canada) | HSPF2 | ≥ 5.4 | Numbers fabricated — no valid rating exists | ❌ Fails |
Heat Pump / Room Air Conditioner (Canada) | CEER | NRCan minimum | Not listed on the NRCan database | ❌ Fails |
These ratings cannot simply be invented. They must be established through testing in a genuine laboratory under correct DOE and NRCan test procedures. Islandaire has not done this, and the data it publishes makes clear why.
Faking Test Results | ||
|---|---|---|
Violation | US Law Violated | Canadian Law Violated |
Islandaire fabricated EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA laboratory test data rather than conducting legitimate testing under the required industry methods AHRI 210/240 and ASHRAE 37 | 10 CFR Part 429 | Energy Efficiency Act; Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 |
Published cooling efficiency numbers are fabricated and mathematically impossible, and could not result from any legitimate test | 10 CFR Part 430 | Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 |
Published heating efficiency numbers are fabricated and mathematically impossible, and could not result from any legitimate test | 10 CFR Part 430 | Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 |
Islandaire derived published performance ratings from non-compliant test conditions and failed to use the correct AHRI 210/240 and ASHRAE 37 test methods, rendering every efficiency rating ever published legally invalid | 10 CFR Part 429/430 | Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 |
Selling Products That Should Not Be on the Market | ||
|---|---|---|
Violation | US Law Violated | Canadian Law Violated |
EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA do not meet minimum efficiency standards, exposing every distributor and dealer carrying the products to joint legal liability | 10 CFR Part 430 | MEPS under Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 |
Products fail mandatory SEER2 minimum cooling efficiency thresholds at 10,000 BTU because published numbers are falsified | SEER2 under 10 CFR Part 430 | CEER under Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 |
Products fail mandatory HSPF2 minimum heating efficiency thresholds at 9,000 BTU because published numbers are falsified | HSPF2 under 10 CFR Part 430 | Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 |
Islandaire never registered the EZMB10L5A1S95AA or EZMB9L5A1S95AA in the DOE's Compliance Certification Management System (CCMS) or filed required certification reports before distribution | DOE CCMS — fines up to $575/model/day under 10 C.F.R. § 429.120 | — |
Islandaire never listed the EZMB10L5A1S95AA or EZMB9L5A1S95AA on NRCan's searchable product database, meaning neither product was ever legally cleared for import or interprovincial sale in Canada. | — | NRCan Searchable Product Database; Energy Efficiency Act |
Neither product was ever certified by an accredited certification body, and neither carries the mandatory compliance mark | DOE Certification under 10 CFR Part 429 | Standards Council of Canada Energy Efficiency Verification Mark |
Lying to Customers and Regulators | ||
|---|---|---|
Violation | US Law Violated | Canadian Law Violated |
EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA efficiency and capacity ratings directly conflict with what government-certified testing would produce, and false information was filed with regulators | 10 CFR Part 429.12; 18 U.S.C. § 1001 — federal criminal offence | Energy Efficiency Act — fines up to $10,000 per violation |
Nameplates, product literature, and marketing materials display efficiency ratings unsupported by any legitimate test data | FTC Energy Labeling Rule, 16 CFR Part 305; DOE Labeling Requirements under 10 CFR Part 430 | NRCan EnerGuide Labeling Requirements under Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 |
Islandaire misrepresented the EZMB10L5A1S95AA and EZMB9L5A1S95AA certification and compliance status to customers, dealers, regulators, and certification bodies | 18 U.S.C. § 1001 — federal criminal offense | Energy Efficiency Act offense |
Breaking Consumer Protection and Competition Laws | ||
|---|---|---|
Violation | US Law Violated | Canadian Law Violated |
False efficiency claims and misleading energy performance advertising constitute deceptive trade practices, exposing Islandaire to regulatory action and civil lawsuits from competitors, including claims for damages | FTC Act Section 5, 15 U.S.C. § 45; Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) | Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34 |
Maximum penalties for serious violations or refusal to take corrective action | FTC civil penalties up to $53,088 per violation | Energy Efficiency Act fines $10,000–$200,000 |