New Jersey Bill Addresses Energy Efficiency
A New Jersey bill, modeled on the California Energy Commission's Title 20, has been introduced that requires new minimum energy-efficiency standards for portable electric hot tubs and residential pool pumps. The timeline for consideration is not yet known, according to the APSP.
New Jersey S.B. 2360, filed Nov. 13, 2006, establishes new energy-efficiency standards for equipment sold or installed in New Jersey, based on recent energy-efficiency guidelines adopted by various states and the U.S. government's Energy Star program.
The bill says "portable electric spas shall not have a standby power greater than 5(V 2/3) watts where "V" equals the total volume in gallons, as measured using the test method for portable electric spas contained in Section 1604 of Title 20, California Code of Regulations." Regarding pool-pump motors, the bill states that "residential pool-pump motors may not be splitphase or capacitor start-induction-runtype motors. Pool-pump motors with a capacity of 1 horsepower or more shall be capable of operating at two or more speeds, with the low speed having a rotation rate no more than one-half of the motor's maximum rate. Pumpmotor controls must be capable of operating the pool pump at least at two speeds. The default circulation speed shall be the lowest speed, with a temporary high-speed override capability not to exceed one normal cycle."
According to the bill, no new portable electric spas may be sold in New Jersey after Jan. 1, 2009, unless their efficiency meets or exceeds this standard. Residential pool pumps that do not meet the standard may be sold or installed until Jan. 1, 2010.
FSPA Works To Get ANSI/ APSP-7 Adopted
The Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) presented 24 proposed modifications to the Florida Building Commission's (FBC) Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), six of them incorporating the ANSI/APSP-7 standard into the 2007 Florida Building Code, at a hearing in St. Augustine on March 13.
The Plumbing TAC voted 10 to 1 to recommend to the FBC to accept all six modifications that incorporate the ANSI/APSP-7 standard into the code and to remove the current code language on suction entrapment.
Jennifer Hatfield, FSPA director of government and public affairs, provided a description of the proposal, which would remove the current entrapment language in the code requiring either an SVRS device or a vent line, in addition to dual drains, and replace this language with the ANSI/APSP-7 standard.
The next step for inclusion of the standard into the 2007 Florida Building Code will be a vote by the FBC in late June. Upon approval by the FBC, the ANSI/APSP-7 standard would go into effect in Florida on Oct. 1, 2008.
"FSPA is encouraged by the results and thanks all those who worked hard to make it such a great success," says Hatfield. "FSPA hopes that Florida can lead the way in suction entrapment safety measures and is optimistic that a successful outcome at the June commission meeting will mark a starting point for an effort nationwide to get states to adopt the ANSI/APSP-7 standard."
