This message is of interest to manufacturers of large-diameter ceiling fans (LDCF) for sale in the United States and for AMCA members in countries that may regulate these products in the future. The key message is that the cubic-feet-per-minute-per-Watt (cfm/Watt) metric used in ANSI/AMCA Standard 230, Laboratory Methods of Testing Air Circulating Fans for Rating and Certification, to rate the efficiency performance of LDCF has been changed by a U.S. law to ceiling fan energy index (CFEI). This message describes why this law, which is AMCA-supported, was developed and how it will impact AMCA members.
The “omnibus” spending bill signed by President Trump on Dec. 27, 2020, finalized an effort by manufacturers of large-diameter ceiling fans (LDCF) and AMCA to change the efficiency-regulation parameter of cubic feet per minute per Watt (cfm/Watt) to ceiling fan energy index (CFEI). Within the omnibus bill is the Energy Act of 2020, which contains a provision called the Ceiling Fan Improvement Act (the Act), which effects the change in the energy-efficiency metric for LDCF.
The Act will become enforceable when the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) completes a “codification” process that changes the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the language changes specified in the Act and when the DOE updates its online compliance filing system. Meanwhile, manufacturers of LDCF are urged to become familiar with CFEI and to calculate CFEI ratings from existing test data.
LDCF are ceiling fans larger than 7 ft in diameter. Models sold in the United States are covered by a DOE regulation that began being enforced in January 2019. Covered fans sold in Canada eventually may have to comply as well, given that Canadian product-efficiency regulations generally align with U.S. DOE requirements.1
CFEI ratings per the Act are determined in accordance with ANSI/AMCA Standard 208, Calculation of the Fan Energy Index, with the following modifications:
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Use of an airflow constant (Q0) of 26,500 cfm.
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Use of a pressure constant (P0) of 0.0027 in. w.g.
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Use of a fan-efficiency constant (η0) of 42 percent.
AMCA Publication 211, Certified Ratings Program Product Rating Manual for Fan Air Performance, gives the metric equivalents as follows:
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Airflow constant (Q0) = 12.507 cubic meters per second.
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Pressure constant (P0) = 0.6719 Pa.
One benefit of the change in metrics is that the cost for testing will be reduced. CFEI ratings must be calculated at 100-percent speed and 40-percent speed, or as close to 40-percent speed without going below. At 100-percent speed, CFEI must be greater than or equal to 1.00; at 40-percent speed, it must be greater than or equal to 1.31. These requirements reduce the test speeds from five to two, and standby-power losses do not have to be considered. ANSI/AMCA Standard 230-15, Laboratory Methods of Testing Air Circulating Fans for Rating and Certification, which is referenced by the DOE as the test standard for LDCF, will undergo revision to include the CFEI calculation and to require only the two test speeds required by the modified regulation.
Until ANSI/AMCA Standard 230 is revised, the AMCA laboratory in Arlington Heights, Ill., will be revising its LDCF test reports to include CFEI, noting that the calculation is defined by the DOE regulation, not by ANSI/AMCA Standard 230.
In anticipation of the Act being successful, certification of CFEI ratings has been added to a revised AMCA Publication 211 that currently is undergoing balloting. If the balloting is successful, AMCA Publication 211 could be published within two months, allowing for CFEI ratings to be certified. AMCA will not charge a catalog-checking fee for existing LDCF certifications.
Once CFEI goes into effect, cfm/Watt no longer can be reported as a regulatory metric; however, it still may be used in marketing literature. AMCA is researching the best way to handle cfm/Watt ratings for LDCF and will advise members when a definitive approach is determined.
The Act was passed by the House of Representatives on Dec. 9, 2020, following three years of industry action to craft the bill and lobby for it. Following House approval, the bill was sent to the Senate, where it was attached to the Energy Act that then was attached to the omnibus bill, which was passed by the Senate and signed by President Trump.
AMCA member companies that manufacture LDCF and supported the legislation are Big Ass Fans, Entrematic Fans, Envira-North Systems Ltd., Greenheck Fan Corp., Hunter Industrial, and MacroAir Technologies.
Analyses performed by the DOE and AMCA confirmed the cfm/Watt metric is problematic in that it creates a performance barrier for fans with high airflows relative to their size—such fans have difficulty meeting the cfm/Watt thresholds set by the DOE, meaning innovation is being unfairly constrained. The analyses also confirmed that CFEI and thresholds at 100-percent and 40-percent speed would not result in “backsliding” of the existing regulation. Energy-efficiency advocate Appliance Standards Awareness Project also analyzed and supported the Act.
AMCA is developing a white paper and an educational webinar to explain the CFEI calculation and problems with the cfm/Watt metric. Be alert for e-mail invitations from AMCA to register for the webinar once it is scheduled.
Please direct any questions to Michael Ivanovich, senior director, global affairs, at [email protected].
Note
- AMCA recently was alerted that Mexico is developing regulations for circulating fans that could affect residential ceiling fans and tabletop fans. AMCA will update members when more information becomes available.
