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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref : EIC 111/2

31 October 2013

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 874/2013

US : Energy Conservation Test Procedures and Standards for Various Products

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) published in the Federal Register (FR) of 23 October 2013 and 25 October 2013 three final rules on energy conservation test procedures and standards for various products.

DETAILS

2. The relevant information is tabulated as follows for easy reference:

Products
Concerned		 FR date Hyperlink Summary of Final Rule
Test procedures for showerheads, faucets, water closets, urinals, and commercial prerinse spray valves
 
 23 October 2013 http://www.gpo.gov/
fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-10-23/pdf/2013-24347.pdf		 -
This final rule incorporates by reference the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard A112.18.1-2012 test procedure for faucets and showerheads, ASME A112.19.2-2008 test procedure for water closets and urinals, and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F2324-09 test procedure for prerinse spray valves. In addition, the final rule adds rounding instructions for certification reporting requirements for measures of water use for these products.
- The effective date of this rule is 22 November 2013.
Energy conservation standards for certain consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment 23 October 2013 http://www.gpo.gov/
fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-10-23/pdf/2013-24353.pdf		 - This final rule is a technical amendment.
-
The applicable insulation requirement for walk-in coolers and freezers will not apply to any walk-in component if its manufacturer demonstrates to the satisfaction of the DOE that the component reduces energy consumption at least as much as if the insulation requirement were to apply.
-
The rule adopts a new standard and definition for service over the counter, self-contained, medium temperature commercial refrigerators.
-
The rule adopts a new standard and amended definition for small duct high velocity systems, which are residential central air conditioners and heat pumps with distinct physical characteristics that are used for specialised applications, as well as a revised definition for through-the-wall central air conditioners and heat pumps.
-
The rule retroactively modifies the regulatory definition of general service incandescent lamp.
-
The rule retroactively eliminates a provision that required that a lamp be sold at retail in order to be considered an "appliance lamp" and adds language stating that the packaging and marketing criteria for appliance lamps apply only to lamps sold at retail.
-
The rule retroactively clarifies that the exclusion from current energy conservation standards of certain types of fluorescent lamp ballasts is intended to cover ballasts designed for use at ambient temperatures of negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
- The effective date of this rule is 23 October 2013.
Test procedures for television sets 25 October 2013 http://www.gpo.gov/
fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-10-25/pdf/2013-24346.pdf		 -
This rule resolves issues with the October 1979 television test procedure, repealed by DOE on 20 October 2009, by allowing for accurate measurement of the energy consumption of modern TVs.
-
This test procedure adopts tests for active (on mode), standby mode, off mode, and screen luminance measurements.
-
The effective date of this final rule is 25 November 2013.

ENQUIRIES

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

Yours faithfully,

(Ms Linda Ng)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry



Note: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.