Showerheads

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 showerheads 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 showerheads.

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

Showerheads are not currently defined as an energy-using product in the Regulations.

Although showerheads 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 showerheads would save energy and reduce 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 energy 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, energy 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 showerheads efficiency standards, NRCan is considering aligning showerheads 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 showerhead is a component or set of components that attach to a single water supply fitting and used for spraying water onto a bather, typically from an overhead position. It does not include safety shower showerheads.

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 showerheads are summarized in the table below.

Energy efficiency standard being considered for showerheads

Product type	Maximum water flow rate, when measured at 80 pounds per square inch (L/min)
showerhead	6.8
Note: For showerheads with multiple nozzles, the total flow rate of showerheads with multiple nozzles must be less than or equal to 6.8 L/min when any or all the nozzles are in use at the same time.

Text version

The table title is “Energy efficiency standard being considered for showerheads”. There are two vertical columns, with the left-hand column providing the product type and the right-hand column providing the maximum water flow rate, when measured at 80 pounds per square inch. The maximum water flow rate is labelled as having units of liters per minute.

There is just one row entry in the table, with the product type marked as being “showerhead”. Its maximum water flow rate is 6.8 liters per minute.

The table includes an explanatory note below it that reads, “Note: For showerheads with multiple nozzles, the total flow rate of showerheads with multiple nozzles must be less than or equal to 6.8 liters per minute when any or all the nozzles are in use at the same time “

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 showerheads manufactured on or after January 1, 2025.

Labelling requirements

NRCan is considering labelling requirements for showerheads 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 carry 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 showerheads would include the following information:

• Name of product (i.e., showerheads)
• 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)
• The number of nozzles

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 showerheads.

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 Canada
Office of Energy Efficiency
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E4

E-mail: equipment-equipement@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Email subject heading to be:
Bulletin – Showerheads – Pommes de douche – July 2022 juillet