Proposed Change 1833

1833

Page: Last modified: 2023-10-12

Problem

Effective January 1, 2023, the US Department of Energy (DOE) introduced a series of new energy performance metrics (EER2, SEER2 and HSPF2) in DOE 10 CFR, Part 430-2022, "Energy, Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products," that is applicable to small single-phase air-cooled air conditioners and air-source heat pumps. These metrics are similar to the previous ones (EER, SEER and HSPF), but use different test conditions that are considered to be more realistic. Larger units and three-phase models are not affected by this amendment.

With the publication of the Regulations Amending the Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 (Amendment 17), SOR/2022-265, on December 7, 2022, the Canadian Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 (EER), SOR/2016-311, were aligned with DOE 10 CFR, Part 430-2022 by requiring the minimum performance levels to be expressed with the new metrics. As a result, a discrepancy is caused between Section 9.36. of Division B of the NBC and the EER. If manufacturers provided product labels only using the new metrics, the products available on the market could potentially have issues with conformance to the NBC.

This discrepancy will lead to gaps in the Code, and Code users will be unable to evaluate whether HVAC equipment performance complies with the NBC requirements. This, in turn, will lead to difficulties for enforcement officials when determining compliance.

Justification

This proposed change to Section 9.36. updates the reference to the 2022 amendment of DOE 10 CFR, Part 430 and introduces the new energy performance metrics. To facilitate compliance with the NBC, this proposed change maintains the alignment of the NBC with the Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 (EER), as amended by SOR/2022-265 (Amendment 17).

Amendment 17 generally presents two sets of performance requirements to the EER: the first that came into force on January 1, 2023, and the second that comes into force on January 1, 2025. Considering that the NBC 2025 will be published and adopted after January 1, 2025, these requirements, where applicable, should be included in the 2025 edition of the NBC.

PROPOSED CHANGE

NBC20 Div.B 9.36.3.10. (first printing)

[9.36.3.10.] 9.36.3.10.Equipment Efficiency

[1] 1)HVAC equipment and components shall comply with the performance requirements stated in Table 9.36.3.10. (See Note A-9.36.3.10.(1)PROPOSED CHANGE A-9.36.3.10.(1).)

Table [9.36.3.10.] 9.36.3.10.
HVAC Equipment Performance Requirements
Forming Part of Sentences 9.36.3.9.(2) and [9.36.3.10.] 9.36.3.10.([1] 1)
Type of Equipment	Heating or Cooling Capacity, kW	Performance Testing Standard	Minimum Performance^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (1)}
Air-Cooled Unitary Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps – Electrically Operated
Single-phase air conditioners and heat pumps, split-system	< 19	DOE 10 CFR, Part 430-2022, Subpart B, Appendix M1	SEER2 = 14.3^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (2)}
Single-phase air conditioners and heat pumps, split-system	< 19	DOE 10 CFR, Part 430-2022, Subpart B, Appendix M1	HSPF2 V = 6^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (2)}
Air conditioners and heat pumps, Ssplit-system	< 19	CSA C656	SEER = 14.5
			EER = 11.5
			HSPF V = 7.1
Single-phase air conditioners and heat pumps, single-package system	< 19	DOE 10 CFR, Part 430-2022, Subpart B, Appendix M1	SEER2 = 13.4^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (2)}
	< 19	DOE 10 CFR, Part 430-2022, Subpart B, Appendix M1	HSPF V = 6.0^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (2)}
Air conditioners and heat pumps, Ssingle-package system	< 19	CSA C656	SEER = 14
			EER = 11
			HSPF V = 7.0
Heat pumps, split-system and single-package	≥ 19	See Tables 5.2.12.1.-A to -P of Division B of the NECB
Air conditioners, all electrical phases, split-system and single-package	≥ 19	See Tables 5.2.12.1.-A to -P of Division B of the NECB
Single-Package Vertical Air Conditioners (SPVAC) and Heat Pumps (SPVHP)
SPVAC and SPVHP in cooling mode	< 19	CAN/CSA-C746	EER = 11
SPVAC and SPVHP in heating mode	< 19	CAN/CSA-C746	COP_h ≥ 3.3
SPVAC and SPVHP	≥ 19	See Tables 5.2.12.1.-A to -P of Division B of the NECB
Water-Cooled Unitary Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps – Electrically Operated
Ground-source and water-source heat pumps
open loop	≤ 40	CAN/CSA-C13256-1	COP_c ≥ 4.75, COP_h ≥ 3.6
closed loop	≤ 40	CAN/CSA-C13256-1	COP_c ≥ 3.93, COP_h ≥ 3.1
Water-to-water heat pumps
open loop	≤ 40	CAN/CSA-C13256-2	COP_c ≥ 5.60, COP_h ≥ 3.4
closed loop	≤ 40	CAN/CSA-C13256-2	COP_c ≥ 4.21, COP_h ≥ 2.8
Internal water-loop heat pumps	< 5	CAN/CSA-C13256-1	COP_c ≥ 3.28, COP_h ≥ 4.2
Internal water-loop heat pumps	≥ 5 and ≤ 40	CAN/CSA-C13256-1	COP_c ≥ 3.52, COP_h ≥ 4.2
Water-cooled air conditioners – all types	< 19	ANSI/AHRI 210/240	COP = 3.54, ICOP = 3.60
Water-cooled air conditioners – all types	≥ 19	See Tables 5.2.12.1.-A to -P of Division B of the NECB
Direct-Expansion Ground-Source Heat Pumps – Electrically Operated
Direct-expansion ground-source heat pumps	≤ 21	CSA C748	EER = 13.0
Direct-expansion ground-source heat pumps	≤ 21	CSA C748	COP_h = 3.1
Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC) and Heat Pumps (PTHP)
PTAC – all types and modes	All capacities	See Tables 5.2.12.1.-A to -P of Division B of the NECB
PTHP – all types and modes	All capacities	See Tables 5.2.12.1.-A to -P of Division B of the NECB
Room Air Conditioners and Room Air Conditioner Heat Pumps
Louvered, without reverse cycle	< 2.3	CSA C368.1	CEER ≥ 11.0
	≥ 2.3 and < 4.1		CEER ≥ 10.9
	≥ 4.1 and < 5.9		CEER ≥ 10.7
	≥ 5.9 and < 8.2		CEER ≥ 9.4
	≥ 8.2 and < 10.6		CEER ≥ 9.0
Non-louvered, without reverse cycle	< 2.3		CEER ≥ 10.0
	≥ 2.3 and < 3.2		CEER ≥ 9.6
	≥ 3.2 and < 4.1		CEER ≥ 9.5
	≥ 4.1 and < 5.9		CEER ≥ 9.3
	≥ 5.9 and < 10.6		CEER ≥ 9.4
Louvered, with reverse cycle	< 5.9		CEER ≥ 9.8
Louvered, with reverse cycle	≥ 5.9 and < 10.6		CEER ≥ 9.3
Non-louvered, with reverse cycle	< 4.1		CEER ≥ 9.3
Non-louvered, with reverse cycle	≥ 4.1 and < 10.6		CEER ≥ 8.7
Room air conditioner, casement only	All capacities		CEER ≥ 9.5
Room air conditioner, casement slider	All capacities		CEER ≥ 10.4
Boilers
Electric boilers	< 88	—	Must be equipped with automatic water temperature control^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (3)}
Gas-fired boilers^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (4)}	< 88	CAN/CSA-P.2	AFUE ≥ 90%
	≥ 88 and < 733	ANSI/AHRI 1500 or DOE 10 CFR, Part 431, Subpart E, Appendix A	E_t ≥ 83%
Oil-fired boilers	< 88	CAN/CSA-P.2	AFUE ≥ 86%
Oil-fired boilers	≥ 88 and ≤ 733	ANSI/AHRI 1500 or DOE 10 CFR, Part 431, Subpart E, Appendix A	E_t ≥ 83%
Warm-Air Furnaces, Combination Warm-Air Furnace/Air-conditioning Units, Duct Furnaces and Unit Heaters
Gas-fired warm-air furnaces^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (4)}	≤ 66 using single-phase electric current	CAN/CSA-P.2	AFUE ≥ 95% and must be equipped with a high-efficiency constant torque or constant airflow fan motor
	≤ 66, through-the- wall furnace	CAN/CSA-P.2	E_t ≥ 78.5% AFUE ≥ 90%
	≤ 66 using three-phase electric current	ANSI Z21.47/CSA 2.3	AFUE ≥ 78% or E_t ≥ 80%
	> 66 and ≤ 117.23	ANSI Z21.47/CSA 2.3	E_t ≥ 80%
Commercial gas-fired outdoor packaged furnaces (rooftop units)^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (4)}	> 66 and ≤ 117.23	CAN/CSA-P.8	E_t ≥ 80%
Gas-fired duct furnaces^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (4)}	≤ 117.23	ANSI Z83.8/CSA 2.6	E_t ≥ 81%
Gas-fired unit heaters^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (4)}	≤ 117.23	CAN/CSA-P.11	E_t ≥ 82%
Oil-fired warm-air furnaces	≤ 66	CAN/CSA-P.2	AFUE ≥ 85%
Oil-fired duct furnaces and unit heaters	—	CSA B140.4	E_t ≥ 81%
Combined space- and water-heating systems (combos)	≤ 87.9 if boiler-based	CAN/CSA-P.9,^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (5)}	TPF = 0.80
Combined space- and water-heating systems (combos)	≤ 73.2 if based on service water heater		TPF = 0.80
Integrated mechanical systems	All capacities	CSA P.10	OTPF = 0.85
Electric furnaces	≤ 66	No energy performance test required	Must be equipped with a high-efficiency constant torque or constant airflow fan motor
Other
Gas-fired fireplaces and stoves^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (4)} heating	—	CAN/CSA-P.4.1	FE ≥ 50%, see Sentence (2)
decorative^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (6)}^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (7)}	—	CAN/CSA-P.4.1	See Sentence (2)
Solid-fuel-burning space-heating equipment^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (8)}	< 500 kW output capacity	EPA 40 CFR, Part 60, Subpart AAA, and Subpart QQQQ, CSA B415.1, or EN 303-5,	^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (9)}
Dehumidifiers	≤ 16.6 L/day	CAN/CSA-C749	EF ≥ 1.35
	> 16.6 and ≤ 21.3 L/day		EF ≥ 1.50
	> 21.3 and ≤ 25.5 L/day		EF ≥ 1.60
	> 25.5 and ≤ 35.5 L/day		EF ≥ 1.70
	> 35.5 and ≤ 87.5 L/day		EF ≥ 2.50
Unitary electric resistance space heaters^{PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote (10)}	All capacities	No energy performance test required	—

Notes to Table [9.36.3.10.] 9.36.3.10.:

Footnote 1

The symbols and abbreviations that appear in this column have the following meanings:

AFUE

= annual fuel utilization efficiency

CEER

= combined energy-efficiency ratio, in (Btu/h)/W

COP_c

= coefficient of performance in cooling mode, in W/W

COP_h

= coefficient of performance in heating mode, in W/W

EER

= energy-efficiency ratio, in (Btu/h)/W

= energy factor, in %/h

E_t

= thermal efficiency

= fireplace efficiency

HSPF V

= heating seasonal performance factor for region V (see map in CSA C656), in (Btu/h)/W

HSPF2 V

= heating seasonal performance factor 2 for region V (see map in DOE 10 CFR, Part 430-2022, Subpart B, Appendix M1), in (Btu/h)/W

ICOP

= integrated coefficient of performance, in W/W

OTPF

= overall thermal performance factor

SEER

= seasonal energy-efficiency ratio, in (Btu/h)/W

SEER2

= seasonal energy-efficiency ratio 2, in (Btu/h)/W

TPF

= thermal performance factor

PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote(1) referrer

Footnote 2

The SEER2 and HSPF2 V metrics are similar to the SEER and HSPF V metrics, respectively, but use different test conditions, as specified in DOE 10 CFR, Part 430-2022, “Energy, Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products.” For the purpose of compliance with the Code, either pair of performance metrics may be used.

PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote(2) referrer

Footnote 3

An automatic water temperature control device adjusts the temperature of the water in the boiler so that the heat supplied corresponds more closely to the heat demanded under varying outdoor temperatures.

PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote(3) referrer

Footnote 4

Includes propane.

PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote(4) referrer

Footnote 5

See Sentence (3).

PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote(5) referrer

Footnote 6

Decorative gas-fired fireplaces and stoves are vented decorative gas appliances that are marked as such on their rating plate and that comply with ANSI Z21.50/CSA 2.22, "Vented decorative gas appliances".

PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote(6) referrer

Footnote 7

Decorative gas-fired fireplaces and stoves shall not be used to satisfy heating requirements or as part of the heating system required by Section 9.33.

PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote(7) referrer

Footnote 8

Does not include stoves with an oven whose volume is greater than 0.028 m³.

PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote(8) referrer

Footnote 9

Minimum performance values are omitted from the Table in cases where the referenced standard itself contains such requirements. Equipment tested to the referenced standards provides an acceptable level of energy performance.

PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote(9) referrer

Footnote 10

See Sentence 9.36.3.6.(3).

PROPOSED CHANGE Table 9.36.3.10. Footnote(10) referrer

[2] 2)Natural gas and propane fireplaces shall be

[a] a)direct-vent (sealed), and

[b] b)pilot-on-demand, interrupted or intermittent ignition systems without a standing pilot light.

[3] 3)The heat source component of combined space- and service water heating systems that are not within the scope of CAN/CSA-P.9, "Test method for determining the performance of combined space and water heating systems (combos)", shall meet the performance requirements stated in Table 9.36.3.10. for the applicable equipment type. (See Note A-9.36.3.10.(3)PROPOSED CHANGE A-9.36.3.10.(3).)

Impact analysis

This proposed change would help Code users and authorities having jurisdiction to assess whether equipment conforms to the Code.

This proposed change is expected to be cost neutral because it simply aligns the NBC requirements with the Canadian Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016.

Enforcement implications

This proposed change would facilitate enforcement since the metrics used in the NBC would align with those of the Canadian Energy Efficiency Regulations, 2016 and the US Department of Energy, Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products.

Who is affected

Designers, engineers, architects, manufacturers, builders, specification writers and building officials.

OBJECTIVE-BASED ANALYSIS OF NEW OR CHANGED PROVISIONS

NBC20 Div.B 9.36.3.10. (first printing)

[9.36.3.10.] 9.36.3.10. ([1] 1) [F95,F98,F99-OE1.1]

[9.36.3.10.] 9.36.3.10. ([2] 2) [F95,F98,F99-OE1.1]

[9.36.3.10.] 9.36.3.10. ([3] 3) no attributions

Date modified:: 2023-10-12