How does BEE star rate air compressors?
BEE rates fixed speed screw and reciprocating compressors of 0.37 to 500 kW on isentropic efficiency at full load. In the 2020 schedule, an air-cooled 11 to 30 kW unit needed 54 percent for 1 star and 78 percent for 5 stars. Labelling is voluntary.
What it covers
Schedule 27 covers electrically driven, fixed speed, oil-lubricated rotary and reciprocating compressors, air or water cooled, at 5 bar(g) or more, rated 0.37 to 500 kW. The rating is isentropic efficiency: the ideal compression power divided by the measured packaged input power, tested to IS/ISO 1217.
Air-cooled bands in the 2020 schedule (isentropic efficiency)
- 0.37 to under 11 kW: 1 star 44 to 50 percent; 5 star 68 or more.
- 11 to 30 kW: 1 star 54 to 60; 5 star 78 or more.
- 37 to 55 kW: 1 star 66 to 70; 5 star 82 or more.
- 75 to 185 kW: 1 star 71 to 75; 5 star 87 or more.
- 200 to 500 kW: 1 star 73 to 77; 5 star 89 or more.
Before you rely on the bands
The schedule BEE publishes marks these as voluntary phase tables valid to 31 December 2022. Check the current table on BEE's star label portal before using a band in a tender. Your site saving still depends on pressure, leaks and controls more than on the label.
What Senseible does here
Senseible tracks compressor house electricity through your bills, so the effect of a new machine or a leak fix shows up in monthly kWh.
Sources: BEE Schedule 27, positive displacement air compressors (29 May 2020), BEE, Standards and Labelling programme overview
Last reviewed 2026-10-23.