Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations Notice
March 2005
FLUORESCENT LAMP BALLASTS
The purpose of this notice is to remind you of the upcoming effective date of the Energy Efficiency Regulations for fluorescent lamp ballasts and to inform you of Natural Resources Canada's proposal for a future amendment of the fluorescent lamp ballast regulation.
Effective April 1, 2005 Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations will require that fluorescent lamp ballasts, manufactured on or after this date, meet a prescribed minimum energy performance standard (column "B" below) in order to be imported or shipped interprovincially for sale or lease in Canada, effectively eliminating some current models from the market.
Stakeholders were consulted extensively in preparation for the fluorescent lamp ballast regulation amendment. This amendment was approved and published in the Canada Gazette in April 2003 giving stakeholders almost two years to prepare for the new requirements.
The new regulation will apply to ballasts intended to operate in the following: F32T8, F34T12, F40T10, or F40T12 rapid start; or F96T12IS, F96T12ES, F96T12HO, or F96T12HO ES fluorescent lamps (these ballasts are all currently regulated).
Products excluded from the new standard include ballasts designed for use in ambient temperatures of -17.8E C or lower and "Replacement Ballasts".
Replacement Ballasts shall be:
- shipped in packages containing not more than 10 units;
- the total length of the output leads shall be shorter than the length of the lamps;
- shall be marked "FOR REPLACEMENT USE ONLY".
Note: Replacement Ballast are required to meet the current standard (column "A" below) and will be required to meet the new standard on April 1, 2010.
Energy Performance Test Procedure
The energy performance test procedure prescribed under the Regulations for fluorescent lamp ballasts is the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard, CAN/CSA-C654-M91 (Amended 2001) Fluorescent Lamp Ballast Efficacy Measurements.
Energy Efficiency Standards
The proposed minimum ballast efficacy factor will be as found in the CSA standard CAN/CSA-C654-M91 (Amended 2001) Fluorescent Lamp Ballast Efficacy Measurements section 4.1, Column B
| Application for operation of |
Basic input voltage |
Total nominal lamp watts |
Column A
Ballast efficacy factor
|
Column B
Ballast efficacy factor
|
| One F40T12 lamp1 |
120V |
40 |
1.805 |
2.29 |
| 277V |
40 |
1.805 |
2.29 |
| 347V |
40 |
1.750 |
2.22 |
Two F40T122
lamps |
120V |
80 |
1.060 |
1.17 |
| 277V |
80 |
1.050 |
1.17 |
| 347V |
80 |
1.020 |
1.12 |
Two F96T123
lamps
|
120V |
150 |
0.570 |
0.63 |
| 277V |
150 |
0.570 |
0.63 |
| 347V |
150 |
0.530 |
0.62 |
Two 110w
F96T12HO lamps4
|
120V |
220 |
0.390 |
0.390 |
| 277V |
220 |
0.390 |
0.390 |
| 347V |
220 |
0.380 |
0.380 |
| Two F32T8 lamps |
120V |
64 |
1.250 |
1.250 |
| 277V |
64 |
1.230 |
1.230 |
| 347V |
64 |
1.200 |
1.200 |
1Also for use on 34W/48T12/RS and 40W/48T10/RS lamps
2Also for use on 34W/48T12/RS and 40W/48T10/RS lamps
3Also for use on 60W/96T12/IS lamps
4Also for use on 95W/96T12/HO lamps
Dealers' Responsibilities
It should be noted that the Regulations apply to dealers who, for the purpose of sale or lease in Canada, import into Canada or ship between provinces, regulated products. It is the dealers responsibility to:
- ensure that each model of a regulated product meets the energy efficiency standard set out in Schedule I of the Regulations;
- ensure an energy efficiency report has been filed with Natural Resources Canada for the product being imported or shipped interprovincially;
- provide the necessary information to Canada Border Services Agency, when importing a regulated product;
- ensure the product bears an energy efficiency verification mark *; and
- ensure an EnerGuide label is affixed to the product (if prescribed by the Regulations).
* Models that meet the regulated levels will bear a verification mark from a certification organization accredited by the Standards Council of Canada and recognized by Natural Resources Canada or a verification label issued by a province (providing the province regulates fluorescent lamp ballasts and the energy efficiency level is equivalent to or exceeds the federal requirements).
Proposed Modifications
NRCan intends to continue to improve the availability of energy efficient fluorescent lamp ballasts on the Canadian market. A number of issues have arisen since the publication of the changes in April 2003. NRCan is proposing the following changes that will be effective upon registration of the new amendment; anticipated in August 2005:
- Natural Resources Canada intends to repeal the current effective date of April 1, 2005. This will require all fluorescent lamp ballasts (non-replacement), regardless of the date of manufacture, to meet the new Regulations.
Rationale: Stakeholders have expressed concern with respect to the opportunity to stockpile product manufactured before April 1, 2005 to avoid meeting the new BEF. The intent of establishing April 1 as the date of manufacture is to allow non-compliant product to clear the distribution chain in a reasonable period of time. It is not intended to provide an opportunity to stockpile product to avoid the new efficiency levels.
- To add separate ballast efficacy factors for 34WT12 lamps (they are currently covered under 40WT12).
Rationale: The intent of the new BEF levels was to move the market toward electronic ballasts. There is an opportunity for a ballast for operation with 2, 34WT12 ES lamps to meet the new BEF levels using a magnetic ballast.
- To revise the exclusion for low temperature ballasts to apply only to ballasts for operating 2 x 96WT12 lamps designed for temperatures less than -20F.
Rationale: The CSA standard includes an exclusion for all ballasts designed for use in temperatures lower than -17.8 EC, this was incorporated into the regulations. The US rule limits this exclusion to ballasts for operation of 2, 96WT12 lamps designed for temperatures less than -28.9 EC (-20 EF). The current exclusion in Canada could result in excluded ballasts being used in applications that are intended to be covered by the regulations (34W T12 and 60W Slimline T12 at +15.6C). This change will harmonize with the US Rule and ensure that the predicted energy savings are achieved.
- To add an exclusion for ballasts capable of dimming to less than 50% of their rated capacity.
Rationale: This exclusion is included in the US rule. This would be added to the Canadian regulations for harmonization.
For more information on the regulation for fluorescent lamp ballasts, visit http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/regulations.cfm.
The full legal text for the amendment can be found in the Canada Gazette, Part II, April 23, 2003 (http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2003/20030423/html/sor136-e.html ).
Comments on the proposed changes should be forwarded to:
Office of Energy Efficiency
Housing and Equipment Division
Natural Resources Canada
580 Booth Street, 18th Floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0E4
E-mail: equipment@nrcan.gc.ca
Web site: oee.nrcan.gc.ca/regulations
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