Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) Amendment 15 to Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations has been published in the Canada Gazette, Part II. The changes announced in Amendment 15 will come into force on December 12, 2019.
This amendment to the Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 introduces or updates minimum energy performance (MEP) standards, testing standards, verification and reporting requirements to improve the energy efficiency of 12 heating and ventilation product categories. The Amendment will affect residential and commercial product categories.
Specifically, the Amendment is designed to (a) introduce minimum energy performance standards, testing standards, verification and reporting requirements for seven new product categories; (b) introduce more stringent minimum energy performance standards and update testing standards for four product categories currently regulated federally; and (c) introduce verification requirements, reporting requirements and testing standards for one new product category.
The following is a list of changes that are being made through the Amendment:
(A) Introduce MEPS, testing standards, and verification and reporting requirements for seven new product categories
Electric furnaces
Electric furnaces are those with an input capacity of not more than 65.92 kW (225 000 Btu/h) and use electricity as the primary heat source to provide heated air to a home through a home’s built-in ductwork. For electric furnaces manufactured on or after July 3, 2019, the Amendment sets the MEPS applicable to the electrical consumption of a furnace fan at levels that will apply on that same date in the United States. Performance will be measured in accordance with testing standards aligned with those of the United States.
Commercial gas boilers
Commercial gas boilers are used for space heating in buildings and can either use hot water or steam as the working fluid to distribute heat throughout the space. They use natural gas or propane as the fuel source and have input ratings greater than or equal to 87.92 kW (300 000 Btu/h) and less than or equal to 2 930.71 kW (10 000 000 Btu/h). For commercial gas boilers manufactured on or after January 1, 2025, the Amendment sets the MEPS at the condensing technology level. Performance will be measured in accordance with testing standards aligned with those of the United States.
Household and commercial gas-fired instantaneous water heaters
Household and commercial gas-fired instantaneous water heaters are used in homes and businesses to heat water on demand as it flows for use in cooking, cleaning, and bathing. They use natural gas or propane as the fuel source. For household and commercial instantaneous gas-fired water heaters manufactured on or after January 1, 2020, and July 1, 2023, respectively, the Amendment sets MEPS at condensing technology levels equivalent to current ENERGY STAR performance levels. Performance will be measured in accordance with testing standards aligned with those of the United States.
Commercial oil-fired boilers
Commercial oil-fired boilers are used for space heating in buildings and can use either hot water or steam as the working fluid to distribute heat throughout the space. They have input ratings greater than or equal to 87.92 kW (300 000 Btu/h) and less than or equal to 2 930.71 kW (10 000 000 Btu/h). For commercial oil-fired boilers manufactured on or after January 1, 2025, the Amendment sets the MEPS at levels pre-published in the U.S. DOE final rule on December 28, 2016. Performance will be measured in accordance with testing standards aligned with those of the United States.
Commercial electric water heaters
Commercial electric water heaters heat water for use in cooking, cleaning, and bathing. They use electricity as the source of energy and have input rates of greater than or equal to 12 kW (40 982 Btu/h) and a volume of at least 50 L (13.21 U.S. gal). For commercial electric water heaters manufactured on or after January 1, 2020, the Amendment sets the MEPS at levels that are currently in place in the United States. Performance will be measured in accordance with testing standards aligned with those of the United States.
Commercial gas-fired storage water heaters
Commercial gas-fired storage water heaters heat water for use in cooking, cleaning, and bathing. They use natural gas or propane as the fuel source and have input rates greater than 21.97 kW (75 000 Btu/h). For commercial gas-fired storage water heaters manufactured on or after July 1, 2023, the Amendment sets the MEPS for commercial units, marked as replacement units, at levels that are currently in place in the United States. For all other products, the Amendment sets the MEPS at condensing technology levels. Performance will be measured in accordance with testing standards aligned with those of the United States.
Commercial oil-fired water heaters
Commercial oil-fired water heaters heat water for use in cooking, cleaning, and bathing. They have input rates greater than 30.5 kW (105 000 Btu/h). For commercial oil-fired water heaters manufactured on or after January 1, 2020, the Amendment sets the MEPS at levels that are currently in place in the United States. Performance will be measured in accordance with testing standards aligned with those of the United States.
(B) Introduce more stringent MEPS and update testing for four currently regulated product categories
Household gas boilers
Household gas boilers provide heat to a home and can use either hot water or steam as the working fluid to distribute heat throughout the space. They use propane or natural gas and have an input rate of less than 87.92 kW (300 000 Btu/h). For household gas boilers intended for hot water systems that are manufactured on or after July 1, 2023, the Amendment sets the MEPS at the condensing technology level equivalent to the current ENERGY STAR performance level. For household gas boilers intended for steam systems manufactured on or after January 15, 2021, the Amendment sets the MEPS at levels that will apply on that same date in the United States. Performance will be measured in accordance with an updated testing standard aligned with that of the United States.
Gas fireplaces
Gas fireplaces use propane or natural gas to provide an aesthetically pleasing flame. Decorative gas fireplaces direct minimal heat towards the room and heating gas fireplaces provide a heat source for a room. They are used in people’s homes and commercial establishments such as hotel lobbies and restaurants. Gas fireplaces may be freestanding, recessed, zero clearance or insert units. For heating gas fireplaces manufactured on or after January 1, 2020, the Amendment introduces MEPS and prescriptive requirements for pilots. For decorative gas fireplaces manufactured on or after January 1, 2020, the Amendment introduces prescriptive requirements for pilots and combustion air. The requirements are designed to achieve similar outcomes as those that apply in British Columbia on January 1, 2019, with differences resulting from the use of more prescriptive requirements for decorative gas fireplaces than those in British Columbia, which is the only province currently regulating their fireplace efficiency. The referenced testing standard is not being changed.
Gas furnaces
Gas furnaces use propane or natural gas to provide heated air to a home through the home’s built-in ductwork. They have an input rate of not more than 117.23 kW (400 000 Btu/h), but do not currently include gas furnaces for mobile homes and recreational vehicles. For gas furnaces manufactured on or after July 3, 2019, the Amendment removes the exclusion given to gas furnaces for mobile homes and adds an exclusion for park model trailers. It also increases the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) MEPS to the current ENERGY STAR performance level (95% AFUE) for furnaces, except those that are through the wall, which will remain at 90% AFUE or gas furnaces that are marked for use in a relocatable building or as a replacement furnace in a manufactured home, which will be subject to 80% AFUE. Additionally, for through the wall gas furnaces, the Amendment moves the date on or after which the fan energy rating (FER) requirement published in Amendment 14 will apply, from July 3, 2019, to January 1, 2024. This modification comes into force immediately on registration. Performance will be measured in accordance with an updated testing standard aligned with that of the United States.
Household oil-fired boilers
Household oil-fired boilers provide heat to a home and can use either hot water or steam as the working fluid to distribute heat throughout the space. They have an input rate of less than 87.92 kW (300 000 Btu/h). For household, oil-fired boilers manufactured on or after January 15, 2021, the Amendment sets the MEPS at levels that will apply on that same date in the United States. The existing testing standards are being updated but will remain aligned with those of the United States.
(C) Introduce verification requirements, reporting requirements and testing standards for one new product category
Heat-recovery ventilators and energy-recovery ventilators
Heat-recovery ventilators (HRVs) are mechanical devices that transfer heat from stale indoor air to fresh outdoor air. Energy-recovery ventilators (ERVs) are HRVs designed to also transfer moisture. For HRVs and ERVs manufactured on or after January 1, 2020, the Amendment will require the submission of energy efficiency reports and importation reports. Performance will be measured in accordance with testing standards currently required for ENERGY STAR certification.
The Amendment will come into force on December 12, 2019, six months after the date of publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II, except for subsections 5(4) and (7), 6(1) and (2) and section 7 which are already into force.
Visit Natural Resources Canada’s website for more information.
Contact:
Jamie Hulan
Director, Equipment Division
Office of Energy Efficiency
Natural Resources Canada
930 Carling Ave, Building 3, 1st Floor
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0Y3
Telephone: 613‑996‑4359
Fax: 613‑947‑5286
Email: nrcan.equipment-equipement.rncan@canada.ca