Ceiling fans (air flow) – March 2017
Technical bulletin on developing new standards
On March 4, 2017, Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency issued a Notice of Intent to amend Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations) to align ceiling fans with standards of 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 ceiling fans.
Input received during this stage of the process will inform the development of the Amendment 15 proposal. In addition, the department 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, within approximately two years of this bulletin.
Background
In 2014, the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council committed to align new and updated energy efficiency standards and test standards for energy-using equipment, to the extent practicable and permitted by law.
Ceiling Fans are not currently an energy using product in Canada. Ceiling fans have been regulated in the United States since 2007, with prescriptive requirements (no energy performance levels). On January 19, 2017, the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) issued a final rule, which set Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for ceiling fans.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is considering aligning with the MEPS, testing standards and manufacturing dates of the U.S. DOE.
Product description
A ceiling fan is a household non-portable device that is suspended from the ceiling and circulates air via the rotation of fan blades. The following products are excluded from this definition:
- ceiling fans where the plane of rotation of a ceiling fan's blades is not less than or equal to 45 degrees from horizontal, or cannot be adjusted based on the manufacturer's specifications to be less than or equal to 45 degrees from horizontal;
- centrifugal ceiling fans,
- belt-driven ceiling fans,
- oscillating ceiling fans, and
- highly-decorative ceiling fans.
Energy performance testing standard
NRCan is considering referencing the following energy performance testing standards:
- Appendix U to Subpart B, Part 430 of Title10 to the United States Code of Federal Regulations, entitled Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Ceiling Fans
- CSA C814 - Energy performance of ceiling fans may be considered as an alternative test procedure when the revision is completed.
The CSA testing standard can be ordered from:
CSA Group
Toll Free Phone: 1-800-463-6727
In Toronto, call 416-747-4044
Email: sales@csagroup.org
Website: http://www.shop.csa.ca
Some CSA energy performance testing standards are also available at no cost on their website. To access free standards you will first need to create an account to join the CSA Communities of Interest.
Energy performance standard
NRCan is considering a minimum efficiency (CFM/W) for ceiling fans as found in the U.S. C.F.R. Title 10 Part 430, Subpart C, §430.32(s)(2)(i):
| Proposed MEPS for ceiling fans | |
|---|---|
| Product type | Minimum efficiency (CFM/W)** |
| Very small-diameter (VSD) D* ≤ 12 in | 21 |
| Very small-diameter (VSD) D > 12 in | 3.16 D −17.04 |
| Standard | 0.65 D + 38.03 |
| Hugger | 0.29 D + 34.46 |
| High-speed small-diameter (HSSD) | 4.16 D + 0.02 |
| Large-diameter | 0.91 D − 30.00 |
* D is the ceiling fan's blade span/diameter, in inches
** CFM is cubic feet per minute
Important dates
These regulations would come into force six months after the date of publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.
NRCan is considering that the new standards will apply to ceiling fans that have been manufactured on or after January 21, 2020.
Labelling requirements
NRCan is not considering labelling requirements for ceiling fans at this time.
Verification requirements
NRCan is considering that these products carry a third party verification mark indicating that the product meets the MEPS 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 required for ceiling fans will include the following product specific information:
- name of product (i.e. ceiling fan)
- brand name
- model number
- name of the manufacturer
- name of the certification body whose verification mark will be affixed to the product
- the fan type (i.e., VSD, standard, hugger, HSSD, large-diameter)
- the fan size (diameter/blade span) (inches)
- the total air delivery at high speed (CFM)
- the efficiency (without lights) in (CFM/W)
- type of controls (i.e., remote control, chain, wall switch)
- fan power (W)
- annual standby energy consumption (kWh)
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 must 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 technical detail required to comment on the requirements under consideration for ceiling fans.
Additional information on Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations including a current list of Standards Council of Canada accredited certification bodies can be found in the Department’s website.
We welcome your comments by April 21, 2017. All correspondence should be forwarded to:
Natural Resources Canada
Office of Energy Efficiency
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E4
E-mail: nrcan.equipment.rncan@canada.ca
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