Pool pump motors

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 pump motors as a new energy-using product, including energy efficiency and testing standards requirements to harmonize with 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 pump motors.

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

Pool pump motors use a significant amount of the total residential building energy consumption. The energy efficiency standards for pool pump motors 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 July 29, 2021, the US DOE published a final rule for a test method to evaluate the energy performance of pool pomp motors. On September 28, 2023, the U.S. DOE published a final rule, which introduced energy efficiency standards for electric pool pump motors for the first time and includes both prescriptive and performance requirements. Manufacturers will have to comply with these new requirements beginning in 2025 or 2027, depending on the motor’s size. NRCan is considering amending the Regulations to harmonize with the energy efficiency standards, testing standards and manufacturing dates of the U.S. DOE rule.

Product description

A pool pump motor is defined as an appliance designed specifically for driving a swimming pool pump that can be one of the following pump types:

• self-priming pool filter pumps,
• non-self-priming pool filter pumps
• waterfall pumps
• pressure cleaner booster pumps
• integral sand-filter pool pumps
• integral-cartridge filter pool pumps
• storable electric spa pumps
• rigid electric spa pumps

A variable speed motor is defined as a pool pump motor that meets the definition of “variable-speed control dedicated purpose pool pump motor” as defined by UL 1004-10:2022.

Testing standard

NRCan is considering incorporating by reference one of the following testing standards:

• CSA C747-09 Energy efficiency test methods for small motors (the current testing standard incorporated by reference by the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations);

or

• CSA C747-22 Energy efficiency test methods for small motors, if it is incorporated into the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations before publication of the next amendment to the Regulations.

CSA testing standards can be ordered from the CSA website. Many CSA energy efficiency standards are also available at no cost on their website. To access the standards you will first need to create an account to join the CSA Communities of Interest.

Energy efficiency standard

The intent is to align with the U.S. DOE and incorporate by reference the energy efficiency standards of section 431.485 of Subpart Z to Part 431, Title 10 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations:

• a pool pump motor having a total horsepower of less than 0.5 hp (0.373 kW) must have a full-load efficiency that is not less than 69 percent;
• a pool pump motor having a total horsepower greater than or equal to 0.5 hp (0.373 kW) must be a variable speed control motor; and,

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 pump motors manufactured on or after:

• September 29, 2025, for motors with THP <0.5, or 1.15 ≤ THP ≤ 5
• September 28, 2027, for motors with 0.5 ≤ THP <1.15

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 pump motors.

Verification requirements

NRCan would require that pool pump motors 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 pump motors would include the following information:

• Name of product (i.e. pool pump motor)
• Brand name
• Model number
• Name of the manufacturer
• Pool pump nominal motor power, in kW (hp)
• Pool pump motor service factor
• Total horsepower of the pool pump motor, in kW (hp)
• Its efficiency, in percent, if required
• 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 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 pump motors.

NRCan is specifically interested in getting feedback on:

• Pool pump motor products that are manufactured within Canada; and
• Canada-specific sales or shipment data for pool pump motors and by motor size.

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 pump motors – Moteurs de pompe de piscine – May 2024 mai