Pool heaters

May 2024

Technical bulletin on developing the standards

Webinar – Thursday, May 30, 2024, 1:00-2:15 pm EDT

In April 2024, the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) updated its Forward Regulatory Plan which identifies its intention to amend Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations) to introduce pool heaters as a new energy-using product, including energy efficiency and testing standards requirements to harmonize with the United States.

This technical bulletin has been released to initiate the consultation process and to collect stakeholder views on the requirements being considered for pool heaters.

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 2025.

Background

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

Pool heaters use a significant amount of energy. Energy efficiency standards for pool heaters could save energy and reduce energy costs for Canadians. Efficiency standards could also reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and help encourage manufacturers to adopt efficient product designs.

In 2021, NRCan and the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) signed the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Department of Natural Resources of Canada and the Department of Energy of the United States of America Concerning Cooperation on Energy, which acknowledges that both countries will collaborate on new and updated energy efficiency and testing standards where feasible and appropriate.

On May 30, 2023, the U.S. DOE published a final rule, which introduced energy efficiency standards for electric pool heaters for the first time. It also increased the stringency of standards for gas fired pool heaters from a prescriptive requirement (no continuous burning pilot light) to include performance requirements.

On January 6, 2015 the US DOE published a final rule for a testing standard to evaluate the energy performance of pool heaters.

NRCan is considering amending the Regulations to harmonize with the scope, energy efficiency standards, testing standards and manufacturing dates of the U.S. DOE rule.

Product description

A pool heater is defined as an appliance designed for heating the water contained in a swimming pool.

Testing standard

NRCan is considering referencing a technical standards document that would reproduce the following testing standard of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations:

• Appendix P to subpart B, Part 430 of Title 10 to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, entitled Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Pool Heaters

Energy efficiency standard

NRCan is considering referencing a technical standards document that would reproduce the energy efficiency standards of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations:

• For gas-fired pool heaters, the minimum integrated thermal efficiency, in percent, is 84(Q_IN+491)/(Q_IN+2536)
  • where Q_IN is the certified input capacity of a gas-fired pool heater basic model, in Btu/h;
• For electric pool heaters, the minimum integrated thermal efficiency, in percent, is 600PE/(PE+1619)
  • where PE is the certified active electrical power of an electric pool heater, in Btu/h.

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 pool heaters manufactured on or after May 30, 2028.

Regulatory pathway

NRCan is considering amending the Regulations through a Governor in Council amendment.

The considered changes would be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, followed by a public comment period. The exact date for final publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II will depend on the number and nature of comments received during the public comment period. Final publications are typically within a year of their initial public comment period. These changes and the timing of publication are subject to decision-making authorities under the Energy Efficiency Act.

Labelling requirements

NRCan is not considering labelling requirements for pool heaters.

Verification requirements

NRCan would require that pool heaters 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 pool heaters would include the following information:

• Name of product (i.e. pool heater)
• 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
• Type of pool heater, namely natural gas fired, propane fired, electric resistance, or heat pump
• Its heating capacity, in kW (btu/h)
• Its Integrated Thermal Efficiency, in percent

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 pool heaters.

NRCan is specifically interested in getting feedback on:

• Pool heating products that are manufactured within Canada
• Canada specific sales or shipment numbers of pool heaters and by type
• Quantity of pools installed in Canada and pools that have heaters installed in Canada

It is important to NRCan that we engage the public and stakeholders on amendments to the Regulations. If you are aware of any 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 their representative this bulletin. Please click here to register to our mailing list which is used to notify stakeholders of upcoming amendments, technical bulletins, webinar registrations, official publication in the Canada Gazette, etc.

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 13, 2024. All correspondence should be forwarded to:

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

E-mail: EEregulations-reglementEE@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Email subject heading to be:
Bulletin – Pool heaters – Chauffe-eau de piscine – May 2024 mai