Faucets
July 2022
Technical bulletin on developing the standards
On April 1, 2022, the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) updated its Forward Regulatory Plan which identified its intention to amend Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations) to introduce faucets as a new energy-using product, including energy efficiency and testing standards. The intent is to align the test procedure with that of the United States and to align the efficiency standards with those of the State of California.
This technical bulletin has been released to initiate the consultation process and to collect stakeholder views on the requirements being considered for faucets.
Input received during this stage of the process will inform the development of the next amendments considered. In addition, NRCan will undertake a cost-benefit analysis using the best available Canadian market data to assess the economic and environmental impacts of these new standards and to ensure Canadian consumers and businesses benefit from their implementation.
The Government of Canada intends to pre-publish a regulatory proposal in the Canada Gazette, Part I, in 2023.
Background
Faucets are not currently defined as an energy-using product in the Regulations.
Although faucets do not directly use energy for their operation, they are responsible for significant energy use in Canada according to an internal analysis. Efficiency standards for faucets would save energy and reduce energy costs for Canadians. The efficiency standards would also reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and help encourage manufacturers to adopt more efficient product designs.
The Government of Canada is committed to improving efficiency standards for consumer, commercial, and industrial products to reduce energy consumption and support the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. In this context, where feasible and appropriate, efficiency standards for some products could, for climatic and market reasons, exceed the stringency of those in the United States.
Given that in the United States, California and other states exceed the national faucets efficiency standards, NRCan is considering aligning faucets with the efficiency standards of California and with the testing standards and the scope of the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE).
Product description
A faucet means a lavatory faucet, kitchen faucet, metering faucet, or replacement aerator for a lavatory or kitchen faucet. It is a device by which the flow of water in a dwelling or building can be controlled.
A replacement aerator is an aerator sold as a replacement, separate from the faucet to which it is intended to be attached.
Testing standard
NRCan is considering referencing the following testing standard, using an ambulatory incorporation by reference:
- Appendix S to Subpart B, Part 430 of Title 10 to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, entitled Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Water Consumption of Faucets and Showerheads.
Energy efficiency standard
The efficiency standards under consideration for faucets are summarized in the table below.
| Product type | Maximum water flow rate, when measured at 60 pounds per square inch (L/min) |
|---|---|
| Private lavatory faucets and private lavatory faucet replacement aerators |
4.5 |
| Public lavatory faucets and public lavatory faucet replacement aerators |
1.9 |
| Kitchen faucets and Kitchen faucet replacement aerators |
6.8, with optional temporary flow of 8.3 |
| Metering faucet | 1.0 L per cycle |
Text version
The table title is “Energy efficiency standard being considered for faucets”. There are two vertical columns, with the left-hand column providing product type and the right-hand column providing the maximum water flow rate, when measured at 60 pounds per square inch. The maximum water flow rate is labelled as having units of liters per minute.
There are four products listed. In the first row the product type is “private lavatory faucets and private lavatory faucet replacement aerators”. Its maximum water flow rate is 4.5 liters per minute.
In the second row the product type is “public lavatory faucets and public lavatory faucet replacement aerators”. Its maximum water flow rate is 1.9 liters per minute.
In the third row the product type is “kitchen faucets and kitchen faucet replacement aerators”. Its maximum water flow rate is 6.8 liters per minute, with optional temporary flow of 8.3 liters per minute.
In the fourth row the product type is “metering faucet”. Its maximum water flow rate is 1.0 liters per cycle.
Important dates
These modifications to the Regulations would come into force six months after the date of publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.
NRCan is considering applying the new standards to faucets manufactured on or after January 1, 2025.
Labelling requirements
NRCan is considering labelling requirements for faucets that will generally align with those of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in Title 16 PART 305 - Energy and Water Use Labeling for Consumer Products Under the Energy Policy And Conservation Act, but with Canadian deviations for the metric system.
Verification requirements
NRCan would require that the product bear a third party verification mark indicating that the product meets the energy efficiency standards and that information to be reported has been verified.
The verification mark is the mark of a Standards Council of Canada accredited certification body that operates an energy efficiency certification program for the product.
Reporting requirements
Energy efficiency report
The energy efficiency report for faucets would include the following information:
- Name of product (i.e. faucets)
- Brand name
- Model number
- Name of the manufacturer
- Name of the certification body whose verification mark would be affixed to the product
- Whether a mathematical model was used to generate any of the product specific information
- The maximum water flow rate, in litres per minute (gallons per minute), for metered products the maximum flow rate in litres per cycle (gallons per cycle)
- The fitting type, namely, lavatory faucet, kitchen faucet, lavatory replacement aerator, kitchen replacement aerator or metering faucet
- For kitchen faucets, whether or not it has the capacity for temporary flow rate increase
The Regulations apply to products imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada. This report must be submitted, by the dealer, to NRCan before the product is imported into Canada or traded inter-provincially for the first time.
Import report
A dealer who imports these products into Canada would include the following information on the customs release document:
- Name of product
- Model number
- Brand name
- Address of the dealer importing the product
- Purpose for which the product is being imported (i.e. for sale or lease in Canada without modification; for sale or lease in Canada after modification to comply with energy efficiency standards; or for use as a component in a product being exported from Canada)
Comments invited
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide stakeholders with the technical detail required to comment on the requirements under consideration for faucets.
NRCan is specifically interested in getting feedback on:
- To what extent faucets are not sold individually but as part of a package or contained within a product?
It is important to NRCan that we engage the public and stakeholders on amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations. If you are aware of any dealer, manufacturer, importer, retailer, utility provider, small business, consumer group, organization, or representative of a specific group(s) of the population (including, but not limited to, women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, socio-economic status, residency, housing status, etc.), Indigenous peoples/communities, and/or other person or group that may be interested in participating in the amendment discussion and/or may be negatively impacted by this proposal, please forward them or the representative this bulletin. Please email equipment-equipement@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca to be added to the email distribution list (emails are used to notify stakeholders of upcoming amendments, technical bulletins, webinar registrations, and official publication in the Canada Gazette).
Additional information on Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations including a current list of Standards Council of Canada accredited certification bodies can be found on the Department’s website.
We welcome your comments by September 15, 2022. All correspondence should be forwarded to:
Natural Resources CanadaOffice of Energy Efficiency
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E4
E-mail: equipment-equipement@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Email subject heading to be: Bulletin – Faucets – Robinets – July 2022 juillet
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