Pool Heaters

Energy Conservation Standards for Direct Heating Equipment and Pool Heaters

Summary: DOE is initiating a rulemaking to consider amending energy conservation standards for direct heating equipment and pool heaters. Once completed, this rulemaking will fulfill DOE’s statutory obligation to either propose amended energy conservation standards for these products or to determine that the existing standards do not need to be amended. To this end, DOE must determine whether national standards more stringent than those currently in place would result in a significant amount of additional energy savings and whether such amended national standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified.

Type of Regulation: Energy Conservation Standard

Rulemaking Link: Rulemaking Webpage

Docket ID: EERE-2015-BT-STD-0003

UPDATES:

• Posted: October 26, 2015 — Notice of Data Availability (NODA)
• Posted: March 26, 2015 — Notice of proposed rulemaking and announcement of public meeting

Comment Period Close Date: Closed

Where to Comment: EERE-2015-BT-STD-0003

AHRI Comments to Previous Stages of Rulemaking:

• 2015-04-27 — AHRI Comments - Direct Heating and Pool Heaters ECS RFI

N/A

Current Standard

Gas-fired pool heaters manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), on or after January 1, 1990, and before April 16, 2013, must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 430.32(k)(1). They must have a thermal efficiency no less than 78%.

For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this standard, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.

Amended Standard

Gas-fired pool heaters manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291 (16), on or after April 16, 2013, must have a thermal efficiency no less than 82%. The full text of the amended standard is available in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 430.32(k)(2).

• Correction to the Final Rule: Standards, Federal Register, 75 FR 21981 (April 27, 2010)
• Final Rule: Standards, Federal Register, 75 FR 20112 (April 16, 2010)
• Technical Support Document
• Docket No. EE-2006-BT-STD-0129 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 430.23(p) for residential pool heaters. The methods to conduct the test procedure are further specified in 10 CFR Part 430 Subpart B,
Appendix P.

• Final Rule: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 80 FR 792 (January 6, 2015)
• Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-TP-0004 contains notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

AHRI comments to rulemaking:

• AHRI Comment response to the published NOPR (January 07, 2014)

For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this test procedure, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.