Swimming Pool Pumps

Latest news

Requirements for swimming pool pumps are changing from
1 October 2022

Regulation requirements
Brochure - Helping make Australian pools more energy efficient - Are you aware of the new energy efficiency regulations?
Brochure - Registration requirements - An introduction to registering products under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Act 2012
Fact sheets - See Publications for several that have been published for swimming pool pumps
Webinar - See YouTube for our webinar with SPASA members. Topics include: Overview of the program and the Regulator, Working together, Regulatory requirements, Voluntary label, Transition arrangements, Approach to compliance and a QnA session.

Overview

Swimming pool pumps make up approximately 18% of a pool owners electricity bill. From 1 October 2022 owners will be able to make purchase decisions based on the swimming pool pump energy rating label. This will assist owners to achieve lower electricity costs, reduce electricity consumption and achieve other operating benefits.

Selecting the right pump for your needs is important. An 8 star model could save you $125.25 per year as compared to a 3 star model based on the estimated example below.

Comparing an 8 star and 3 star model
Electricity	8 star model	3 star model
Kilowatt hour (kWh) consumed per year	346	824
Example price per kWh Tariff price found on your electricity bill	$0.2683	$0.2683
Annual cost	$92.83 (346 kWh multiplied by $0.2683)	$221.08 (824 kWh multiplied by $0.2683)
Save	$128.25 per year (221.08 less 92.83)	No saving

About the label

Before purchasing a new pump obtain quotes and compare types to get the one that’s right for you and your pool.

For information about the Energy Rating Label

Reading the label

The energy rating label includes the star arch, which provides a visual representation of how energy efficient a pump is, compared to other similar sized pumps. It also includes the energy consumption figure in kilowatt hours per year based on standardised testing, if the pump is running the filtration system for a 50,000 litre pool. It shows the Australian Standard that the pump was tested against to determine the level of efficiency.

The cost of running a pump is not given on the label, because the price a household pays for electricity varies depending on the offer from the household’s electricity retailer. If you know the size of your pool, your electricity tariff, and how often you use your pump, you can estimate how much money it will cost you to run your pool pump.

Alternatively you could estimate the running cost by dividing the energy consumption figure by four.

Key considerations when purchasing or comparing models
Topic	Detail
More stars equals greater efficiency	The rating scale for pool pumps is from 1 to 10. Each star represents an improvement in efficiency, so a 7 star pump will be more energy efficient than a 6 star pump, and an 8 star pump will be more efficient than a 7 star pump. Remember the higher the star the lower your electricity cost will be for the pump.
Noise levels	A quiet pump has benefits to you and others, especially if you run your pump at night taking advantage of off-peak electricity tariffs.
Energy consumption figure	This shows the energy consumed to pump 50,000 litres of water per day for a year. This figure is determined under test conditions in accordance with the Australian Standard AS 5102.1:2019.

Regulation requirements

On 1 October 2022, registrants (typically manufacturers, importers or suppliers of pumps for spa or pool systems) need to register pumps with a defined power range sold in Australia. From this date, pumps that do not meet the new minimum energy performance standard cannot be sold or supplied in Australia.

At a glance...

These regulations replace the Voluntary Energy Rating Label Program.

MEPS	Energy Rating Label	Australia¹	New Zealand	Registration fee²
Yes	Yes	Yes Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Swimming Pool Pump-units) Determination 2021 From 1 October 2022	No	$440

MEPS

Energy Rating Label

Australia¹

New Zealand

Registration fee²

Yes

Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Swimming Pool Pump-units) Determination 2021

From 1 October 2022

No

$440

¹The Determination was developed in consultation with State and Territory jurisdictions under the E3 program and the exposure draft of the determination was published for public comment and submissions in 2020.

²The registration fee covers one model or a family of up to 10.

Technical considerations

Single phase pump units for spas or pool systems within a defined power range that are capable of a flow rate equal to or greater than 120 litres per minute must:

be registered by 1 October 2022
meet minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) against testing requirements specified in Australian Standard AS 51021.2019
display an energy rating label, and
may display an icon that can be used for online or digital advertising.

A pump unit is a combination of electric motor, pump, hair and lint pot, controller and all plumbing fittings/filters supplied with the pump unit.

A pump is designed for use in connection with a spa or pool system for the circulation of water through pool filters, sanitisation devices, cleaning devices, water heaters (including solar) or through spa or jet outlets or other features forming part of the pool.

See the product Determination and the Australian Standard AS 5102.1.2019 for more technical details.

See Registration for help on registering your products.

See the Energy Rating Product Registration system to register your pool pumps by 1 October 2022.

To verify if your pump needs to be registered review the technical topics below.

If you require any assistance to you meet legislation requirements like testing and labelling concerns Contact us.

Defined power range

The defined power range is designed to include pump models that run for a significant period annually (such as filter pumps) and contribute to electricity usage and greenhouse gas emissions. It does not cover every pump manufactured or sold in Australia. It does cover:

single speed pumps with a nameplate input power between 600 and 1700 watts (or nameplate input current of 2.6 – 7.4 amps), and
two speed, dual, multi or variable speed pumps with nameplate input power between 600 and 3450 watts (or nameplate input current between 2.6 and 15 amps).

Nameplate input power

Spa and pool system

Spa and pool systems covered by the Determination include:

swimming pools
swimming pools and spa pools that share a water circulation system, and
spa pools.

Each type of spa and pool system has its own attributes as indicated in the below table.

System	Attributes
Spa bath	A structure which holds 680 litres of water or less, and incorporates or is connected to equipment capable of filtering and/or heating the water and causing water turbulence.
Spa pool	A structure which holds more than 680 litres of water, and incorporates or is connected to equipment capable of filtering and/or heating that water and causing water turbulence.
Swimming pool	A structure which holds more than 680 litres of water and which incorporates or is connected to equipment capable of filtering and/or heating the water, and includes any waterslide, wave pool, hydrotherapy pool or other similar structures, but does not include a: spa pool spa bath (unless part of the pool system), or tidal pool or other similar structure where water flows in and out of the structure according to the operation of natural forces.

What you need to consider before applying

Before applying registrants need to ensure they have the correct information to support their applications.

Below you can find help topics to ensure your application is complete.

If you require any assistance to meet your legislation requirements, including any testing and labelling concerns Contact us.

Testing under AS 5102.1:2019 – minimum energy performance standards

Testing differences between AS5102.1:2009 and 2019

If your model was previously tested against AS 5102.1:2009, you need to ensure it meets the 2019 requirements, because there have been significant changes. You need to complete a detailed assessment of the original test equipment and measurements to determine if you need to re-test to the 2019 standard. It is likely that your product will need to be re-tested against the 2019 standard.

Testing laboratories

You can test in any test laboratory, even an in-house laboratory in Australia or internationally if the laboratory has the required instrumentation. Any electrical, plumbing or water heater laboratory could test your model if they have the appropriate instruments.

You are responsible for ensuring that the test results you use when registering your product are correct.

The GEMS Regulator may check test your product to determine whether the test results provided with your registration are correct. The GEMS Regulator check tests in an accredited National Association of Testing Authorities laboratory.

Test report

One test report can cover one pump where it is rebranded for other suppliers.

Test reports submitted with your application will be assessed for registration by an assessor.

The requirements for a test report are established in clause 7.7 of AS 5102.1:2019, and there is a sample test report in Appendix A of the standard which includes all of the requirements for a test report.

The information required to register the product is available in the Test Results section of the PDF version of the Energy Rating Product Registration system form.

Format of the label and icon

Schedule 1 of the Determination describes how to format labels for pumps.

Schedule 2 of the Determination describes how to format icons for pumps.

You can choose to:

provide your own label in line with the specified requirements, or
use the Energy Rating Product Registration system to auto-generate labels for your pump.

See Label for general information about the energy rating label.

See Understanding the label for an example of the label.

See Energy rating icons for examples of the icons.

Registration application form

You must apply online using the Energy Rating Product Registration system.

Before registering your model or family of models check to see if they are already registered using the Energy Rating Registration Database. This functionality is currently under development, so you may wish to create a registration status list of your products.

You may like to preview a PDF version of the application form.

Registration of a product lasts for 5 years.

Registering a family of models

The registration fee covers one model or a family of up to 10. Pumps within a family must have the same energy performance characteristics relevant to complying with the GEMS level requirements including motor type, nameplate rating, and pump unit classification. All of these requirements must be included on a single test report. You need to include all the names the pump is sold under so that the Regulator is aware which pumps form the family of models.

My model cannot be registered

After product registration

Your product has now been registered.

View the topics below to help you manage labelling requirements, supply chain and stock issues.

If you require any assistance to meet your legislation requirements, including testing and labelling concerns Contact us.

Use and display the label and icon

Labelling must be included in the packaging for each unit. When a product is supplied or being offered for supply, the product must:

include a label in the packaging for each unit
clearly display the label
attach a label to any display units that are not in a package.

Products manufactured or imported prior to 1 October 2022 are not required to display the label. Following registration of a product, a label will be available and we encourage suppliers to use the new label where possible.

Part 3, Division 2, subdivision 1 of the Determination relates to energy rating labels and icons.

See Label for general information about the energy rating label.

See Understanding the label for an example of the label.

See Energy rating icons for examples of the icons.

HINT: to avoid consumer confusion remove the voluntary label when your product is registered with the new label.

Products manufactured before 1 October 2022

Supply chain considerations and commencement

Compliance considerations

The GEMS Regulator utilises compliance functions under the Greenhouse Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012. We conduct a range of activities under the compliance policy and framework. This includes education, monitoring, investigation and response.

Below are key topics relevant to the commencement of pumps as a regulated product.

See Compliance for information about our compliance activities.

Risk-based approach

We recognise the product is new to the program but products that meet the requirements of the Determination are required to be registered from 1 October 2022, regardless of when they were imported or manufactured.

We take a risk-based approach to compliance.

Where businesses are attempting to comply, we will provide education and support in the first assistance, to assist them to meet their requirements.

Where intentional non-compliance is identified, we will consider using the full force of responses available. For example, where you have not attempted to register your product or are consistently not displaying the energy rating label.

Supply or offer to supply products

The supply of a product includes the sale, exchange, gift, lease, loan, hire or hire-purchase of that product under section 14 of the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 (the Act). It does not matter whether the supply is for consideration, a wholesale, or retailer supply. The supply of a product does not include second hand products.

The offer to supply a product includes to make available, expose, display or advertise the product for supply.

To ensure you comply with the legislation refer to Part 3 of the GEMS Act — Requirements for suppliers and commercial users of GEMS products.

This applies to the whole product (i.e. the complete pump unit). It does not apply to parts or components of the product, unless they are covered by another GEMS determination. It is not illegal to own a non-complying pump.

Voluntary program

A Voluntary Energy Rating Labelling Program (VERLP) for pumps operated from April 2010 to December 2018. It enabled suppliers of pumps to register an energy rating label to display the relative energy efficiency of their pump.

Registered VERLP products can display the voluntary label up to six months after the Determination commenced.

Voluntary labels must not be displayed after 31 March 2023.

Some pumps registered under the VERLP will not be eligible for registration under the Determination.

Register products to the new Determination

Products covered by the voluntary program that meet the defined power range of the Determination need to register by 1 October 2022.

If a pump is within the defined power range of the Determination but cannot meet the new requirements, it can no longer be registered or sold in Australia unless it was imported or manufactured before 1 October 2022. In this case, stock can be sold until exhausted.

Why two energy labels

Products registered under the Determination will have a new label, which must be displayed on registration.

The new label and voluntary label display star ratings based on their different requirements.

Products that are registered under the Determination may have a different energy rating because the measurement and calculation methodologies have been changed, following a consultative process with industry and experts. In particular, for two, multi- and variable-speed pumps, the pump’s performance must be measured at low and high speeds, and these results are included in the energy consumption and efficiency calculations. The baseline efficiency is dependent on nameplate input power, and has increased significantly for smaller pumps. This means that some products could receive an energy rating that is lower by 2 or more stars.