Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 111/2

6 May 2011

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 265/2011

US : Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedures for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

The US Department of Energy (DoE) issued in the Federal Register (FR) of 4 May 2011 a final rule amending the existing test procedures for fluorescent lamp ballasts and establishing a new test procedure. The final rule will be effective on 3 June 2011. The FR notice is available at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-10704.pdf.

DETAILS

2.The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve energy efficiency. The "Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products other than Automobiles" established under the EPCA consists essentially of four parts: (1) testing; (2) labeling; (3) establishment of Federal energy conservation standards; and (4) certification and enforcement procedures covering most major household appliances. While the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for labeling, the DoE implements the other three aspects of the program. The testing requirements consist of test procedures that, pursuant to the EPCA, manufacturers of covered products must use as the basis for certifying to DoE that their products comply with applicable energy conservation standards adopted.

Test Procedures for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

3.The DoE has recently issued a final rule to make a minor update to the existing test procedures for fluorescent lamp ballasts that appear at 10 CFR part 430, Subpart B, Appendix Q. The reference to the American National Standards Institute standard ANSI C82.2-1984 is amended to ANSI C82.2-2002. The amendment to Appendix Q will be effective on 3 June 2011 and manufacturers may not make any representation regarding fluorescent lamp ballast efficiency unless such ballast has been tested in accordance with the final rule provisions in Appendix Q after 31 October 2011. 

4.The final rule also establishes a new test procedure for fluorescent lamp ballasts to reduce measurement variation and testing burden. These changes eliminate photometric measurements and prescribe the use of electrical measurements of a lamp-and-ballast system. In addition, this test procedure measures a new metric, ballast luminous efficiency (BLE), which more directly assesses the electrical losses in a ballast compared to the existing efficacy factor (BEF) metric. This new test procedure is published as 10 CFR part 430, Subpart B, Appendix Q1. The use of the new test procedure at Appendix Q1 will be required concurrent with the compliance date of the amended fluorescent lamp ballast standards, which will be issued by 30 June 2011. Until the use of Appendix Q1 is required, manufacturers must use the procedures at Appendix Q to certify compliance.

5.Traders are advised to refer to the above-mentioned FR notice for the details of the test procedures. Traders are also strongly advised to seek clarifications with their importers in the US in order to comply with the necessary requirements.

6.Separately, the DoE maintains a website on the Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Program, which develops test procedures and minimum efficiency standards for residential appliances and commercial equipment. Traders are advised to visit the website at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/index.html for latest information on the test procedures and energy conservation standards.

ENQUIRIES

7.For enquiries concerning this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5682.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Carmen CHAN)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry