Fan Energy Index

Advocacy Position

AMCA International strongly supports the adoption of Fan Energy Index (FEI) in place of Fan Efficiency Grade (FEG) in U.S. codes, standards, and regulations. The latest editions of the U.S. model energy codes and standards have already made the transition to FEI, and it will be implemented as they are adopted. For jurisdictions that adopt earlier editions of model codes, AMCA requests that they replace FEG provisions with FEI provisions, as Florida did with its 2019 energy code.

We have prepared templates for making these changes, with permission from ASHRAE and ICC. AMCA recommends that AMCA-certified FEI ratings be specified whenever possible. An AMCA Advocacy Brief provides further details on why and how to transition from FEG to FEI. Templates for making changes to energy codes based on ASHRAE 90.1 and IECC are provided below.

AMCA Advocacy Brief (PDF)

ASHRAE 90.1 Template (PDF)

IECC Template (PDF)

AMCA-certified FEI ratings

Standards and Codes

ANSI/AMCA Standard 208-18, Calculating Fan Energy Index

ANSI/AMCA Standard 207-17, Fan System Efficiency and Fan System Input Power Calculation

AMCA Publication 211-13 (Rev. 10-18), Certified Ratings Program Product Rating Manual for Fan Air Performance

ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rose Residential Buildings

2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

Appliance and Equipment Standards Program - Buildings

All published material and comments from Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers

Regulations

U.S. Department of Energy

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy began a rulemaking process with the intent to develop test/labeling and energy-efficiency standards for commercial and industrial fans, an initiative that was put on hold in 2017. Useful materials from the initiative are the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee Term Sheet, which documents consensus-voted recommendations toward the development of regulations, and the third Notice of Data Availability, a provisional analysis of economic impacts and energy savings that could result from promulgating a regulatory energy conservation standard for commercial and industrial fans and blowers.

California Energy Commission

California Title 20 is part of the Appliance Efficiency Regulation and California Code of Regulations. It is administered by the California Energy Commission (CEC). The CEC initiated a Title 20 rulemaking for commercial and industrial fans and blowers in 2017. The public docket has all documents published by the CEC relating to the regulation, and all comments, proposals, and supplemental materials posted by stakeholders.

CEC Title 20 Regulation – current (though not final) draft of regulatory language. Compliance date is Nov. 1, 2023.

State Energy Codes:

AMCA encourages state energy code departments to adopt FEI language as found in ASHRAE 90.1-2019 and the 2021 IECC. When states seek to adopt earlier versions of ASHRAE 90.1 or the IECC that contain FEG language, AMCA advocates for replacement of the FEG language with the FEI language as found in these newest editions. An example of this is the 2020 Florida Building Code, which in adopting the 2018 IECC, adopted the FEI provision in the 2021 IECC in place of the FEG provision in the 2018 IECC.

Florida - 2020 Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, 7th edition - Section C403.2.12.3 Fan Efficiency.
Oregon: 2021 Oregon Efficiency Specialty Code (OEESC): The 2021 OEESC, based on ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019, became effective on April 1, 2021, and becomes mandatory on Oct. 1, 2021.