Replacement Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pump Motors Frequently Asked Questions

July 19, 2021

Yes. Models that were certified as compliant to the standard before July 19, 2021, can still be sold in California after the compliance date, and will be displayed in the archived section of the Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDbS).

Replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors means an electric motor that:​ 

1. Is single-phase or polyphase. 

2. Has a dedicated-purpose pool pump motor total horsepower of less than or equal to five horsepower. 

3. Is marketed for use as a replacement motor in self-priming pool filter pump, non-self-priming pool filter pump, or pressure cleaner booster pump applications. 

4. Excludes polyphase replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors capable of operating without a drive and is sold or offered for sale without a drive that converts single-phase power to polyphase power. 

• Docket (19-AAER-02) for information pertaining to the rulemaking.
• The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 20, Section 1605.3(g)(6) for new standards.
• The CCR, Title 20, Section 1604(g)(3)(C) for new test procedure.

The definitions are located in the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 20, section 1602(g). Some important definitions include: 

• "Replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motor" means an electric motor that: 
  (A) Is single-phase or polyphase. 
  (B) Has a dedicated-purpose pool pump motor total horsepower of less than or equal to 5 horsepower. 
  (C) Is marketed for use as a replacement motor in self-priming pool filter pump, non-self-priming pool filter pump, or pressure cleaner booster pump applications. 
  (D) Excludes polyphase replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors capable of operating without a drive and is sold or offered for sale without a drive that converts single-phase power to polyphase power. 

• “Dedicated-purpose pool pump service factor” means a multiplier applied to the rated horsepower of a pump motor to indicate the percent above nameplate horsepower at which the motor can operate continuously without exceeding its allowable insulation class temperature limit. 

• “Dedicated-purpose pool pump motor total horsepower” means the product of the dedicated-purpose pool pump nominal motor horsepower and the dedicated-purpose pool pump service factor of a motor used on a dedicated-purpose pool pump based on the maximum continuous duty motor power output rating allowable for the motor’s nameplate ambient rating and insulation class. 

• “Freeze protection control” means a pool pump or replacement motor control that, at a certain ambient temperature, turns on the dedicated-purpose pool pump or replacement motor to circulate water for a period of time to prevent the pool and water in plumbing from freezing. 

• "Maximum operating speed" means the rated full-load speed of a motor powered by a 60 Hertz alternating current source. Speed is expressed in revolutions per minute. 

• “Non-self-priming pool filter pump” means a pool filter pump that is not certified under NSF/ANSI 50–2015, “Equipment for Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs and Other Recreational Water Facilities", to be self-priming and is not capable of re-priming to a vertical lift of at least 5.0 feet with a true priming time less than or equal to 10.0 minutes, when tested in accordance with section 1604(g)(4)(B) of this Article, and is not a waterfall pump. 

• “Pressure cleaner booster pump” means an end suction dry rotor pump designed and marketed for pressure-side pool cleaner applications, and which may be Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed under UL 1081–2016. 

• “Self-priming pool filter pump” means a pool filter pump that is certified under NSF/ANSI 50–2015, to be self-priming or is capable of re-priming to a vertical lift of at least 5.0 feet with a true priming time less than or equal to 10.0 minutes, when tested with section 1604(g)(4)(B) of this Article and is not a waterfall pump. 

• "Variable-speed replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motor” means a replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motor that is capable of operating at a variety of user determined speeds, where all the speeds are separated by at most 100 revolutions per minute increments over the operating range and the lowest operating speed is less than or equal to one-third of the maximum operating speed and is greater than zero. Such a motor must include a variable-speed drive and be sold or offered for sale either: 

  1. With a user interface that changes the speed in response to preprogrammed user preferences and allows the user to select the duration of each speed, the operational times, or both. 

  2. Without a user interface that changes the speed in response to preprogrammed user preferences and allows the user to select the duration of each speed, the operational times, or both, but is unable to operate without the presence of such a user interface. 

• “Waterfall pump” means a pool filter pump with a certified maximum head less than or equal to 30.0 feet, and a maximum speed less than or equal to 1,800 revolutions per minute. 

A replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motor manufactured on or after July 19, 2021, shall be tested in accordance with CSA-C747-09 (Reaffirmed 2014), “Energy Efficiency Test Methods for Small Motors” at full load and maximum operating speed. If drive is sold or offered for sale with the replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motor, the input power of the drive while the drive is connected to the motor shall be used to determine nominal efficiency and power factor per the test procedure. 

Motor torque shall be recorded in lb-ft, motor speed in rotations per minute, and input power shall be recorded in watts.

Single phase motors:  
Power Factor (%) = 100 x Input Power (W)/(Voltage(V) x Amps (A))  

Three phase motors:  
Power Factor (%) = 100 x Input Power (W)/(Voltage(V) x Amps(A) x 1.73) where Voltage and Amps are the measured root mean square (rms) voltage and current. 

The new standards are located in the CCR, Title 20, Section 1605.3(g)(6). All replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors manufactured on or after July 19, 2021, shall meet a nominal efficiency at full-load and maximum operating speed of no less than the value shown in this table.

• Replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors with a dedicated-purpose pool pump motor total horsepower greater than or equal to 0.5 hp manufactured on or after July 19, 2021, shall be variable-speed replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors.

• Freeze Protection. All replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors manufactured on or after July 19, 2021 with freeze protection controls, shall be shipped with freeze protection disabled or with all of the following default, user-adjustable settings:

  1. The default dry-bulb air temperature setting shall not be greater than 40° Fahrenheit (F).
  2. The default run time setting shall be no greater than 1 hour (before the temperature is rechecked).
  3. The default motor speed shall not be more than one half of the maximum operating speed of the motor.
• Replacement Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pump Motor Drive. A pool pump motor drive manufactured on or after July 19, 2021, that is sold with a variable-speed replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motor shall have the default speed setting of the control set at no more than 55 percent of the maximum operating speed of the motor. Any high-speed override capability shall be for a temporary period not to exceed one 24-hour cycle before automatically resetting to default settings.

Yes, a manufacturer must certify replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors to sell or offer for sale in California.

The CEC requires certain test information to verify replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors meet the appliance standard. Required data is shown in CCR, section 1606, Table X part G.

In addition to the marking requirements in Section 1607(b), requiring products to be physically marked with manufacturer name, brand name, or trademark; model number; and date of manufacture replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors will also have additional marking requirements in Section 1607(d)(15): 

Each replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motors manufactured on or after July 19, 2021, shall be marked, permanently, and legibly with the following:

1. Dedicated-purpose pool pump motor total horsepower.
2. Nominal efficiency at full load and maximum operating speed.