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Get in on the Ground Floor with CA Title 24 (proposed rulemaking for inground pools)

Title 24 proposed regulations will establish the minimum acceptable pool design for increased energy efficiency for residential pools built in California while maintaining safety standards. These regulations will state how future residential pools in the state are to be designed and built to be more energy-efficient.

IMPORTANT—The pool design standards adopted in California have a strong likelihood of being adopted in all 50 states. Therefore, APSP builders in all 50 states need to read this draft and determine if they agree with these proposed requirements.

APSP industry inground pool professionals have been meeting with the Title 24 staff to produce a preliminary draft for comment. Examples of topics proposed in the Title 24 rulemaking include a compliance form, pump motor selection, filter size selection, turnover rate, skimmer boxes and design, suction side velocities, flow meters, solar collector vacuum release valves, flow and velocity rates, and pipe design.

Click here to review a copy of the proposed Title 24 draft titled, PG&E Draft Report Residential Swimming Pools, February 19, 2007. The industry has been asked to comment on this draft by July 3. 2007. Please send your comments or questions to Carvin DiGiovanni, APSP staff.

The CEC is looking at October for approval of what they term “45-day language” to lock in a final draft to enter rulemaking. Once there, it will be very difficult for the industry to change this language. Click here for more information on the CEC Title 24 “45-day language” timeline.

Background on California Title 24

The Title 24 project is part of a statewide effort to reduce California’s energy consumption, co-funded by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Sempra Energy. The PG&E Codes and Standards Enhancement (CASE) Initiative Project addresses energy efficiency opportunities through Title 24 standards. This report describes the economic, technical, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility issues associated with a Title 24 energy code requirement that would mandate various design and operational aspects of new California swimming pools. Pools are currently built to meet numerous safety standards, but energy efficiency is rarely considered and cost is usually the overriding concern. The proposed measures will establish the minimum acceptable pool design for increased energy efficiency while maintaining safety standards.

Proposed mandates include pump motor selection, pipe design, and filter size selection. Energy savings are obtained by reducing the pool system total dynamic head, or TDH, through recommended pipe design and filter specifications, and by using a correctly sized pump and motor. Special purpose single-phase motors, such as those used in residential pool pumps, and two-speed motors are not regulated by federal standards, but are included in the 2005 Title 20 appliance standards regulations. The proposed measures herein will enforce the existing appliance standards for new buildings.

With nearly 35,000 new pools constructed annually, total energy savings for the state are estimated as 56.6 gigawatt/hours per year if all the proposed measures are accepted. Electric demand coincident with utility system peak would be reduced by 31.6 megawatt/hours.