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EPACT

ENERGYNERGYPOLICY ACTOLICY ACT

OF 1992:F 1992:THE SCOPE OF

ELECTRIC MOTORS

SUBJECT TO

EFFICIENCY

STANDARDS

ON OCTOBER 24, 1997

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T

he Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) cover-

ing efficiency levels of general purpose

industrial motors is effective October 24,1997. The basic intent of the law is to reduce the rate

of energy consumption in the U.S. by requiring the use

of energy efficient products. In an attempt to accom-

plish this goal, EPAct mandates that most industrial AC

motors imported or produced for sale in the United

States must meet energy-efficient requirements as

defined by Table 12-10 from NEMA Standard MG 1.

As expected, a sweeping government mandate such

as EPAct has raised many questions. And even after all

this time, many remain unanswered. The answer to the

most basic question, What products are actually covered

by EPAct?, is the subject of this NEMA brochure. As

you will see, some motors are clearly covered; some are

clearly not, and some will receive a two-year delay inenforcement.

Which motors are covered? is the primary

concern of both motor manufacturers and consumers

since product redesigns are required to raise many

existing standard motor types to the new efficiencystandards.

The information presented here is based on the

U.S. Department of Energys interpretations of the law

and DOEs position on the scope of products covered

and non-covered (exempt) by the legislation. Motorusers and OEMs can refer to the enclosed information

to determine whether the motors they purchase will be

covered by EPAct and therefore must meet the standard

energy-efficiency levels.

Which Efficiency Standards?The efficiency levels which general purpose

industrial motors covered by EPAct must meet by

October 24,1997, are the same as those listed in NEMA

MG 1, Table 12-10 for 3600, 1800 and 1200 RPM (2-

pole; 4-pole, 6-pole) motors operating on 230/460 V,

60 Hz constant line power. In other words, a motor

currently described as energy-efficient in accordance

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with NEMA guidelines already meets the EPAct

requirements. All efficiency measurements are to be

performed in accordance with IEEE Standard 112, TestMethod B. EPAct required full-load efficiencies are

listed in the following table.

Whats Covered?EPAct begins by declaring that all general pur-

pose motors are covered by the new efficiency require-

ments. EPAct defines general purpose as those motors

meeting the following conditions:

Single-speed, polyphase T frame

1 through 200 HP 3600, 1800 or 1200 RPM

Foot-mounted

Squirrel-cage induction motors, NEMA Design A

and B

Continuous rated

Operating on 230/460 volts, constant 60 Hertz line

power as defined in NEMA Standard MG 1

Table 12-10: NOMINAL FULL-LOAD EFFICIENCIES

OPEN MOTORS ENCLOSED MOTORS

Hp 2 POLE 4 POLE 6 POLE 2 POLE 4 POLE 6 POLE

1.0 ... 82.5 80.0 75.5 82.5 80.0

1.5 82.5 84.0 84.0 82.5 84.0 85.5

2.0 84.0 84.0 85.5 84.0 84.0 86.5

3.0 84.0 86.5 86.5 85.5 87.5 87.5

5.0 85.5 87.5 87.5 87.5 87.5 87.5

7.5 87.5 88.5 88.5 88.5 89.5 89.5

10.0 88.5 89.5 90.2 89.5 89.5 89.5

15.0 89.5 91.0 90.2 90.2 91.0 90.2

20.0 90.2 91.0 91.0 90.2 91.0 90.2

25.0 91.0 91.7 91.7 91.0 92.4 91.7

30.0 91.0 92.4 92.4 91.0 92.4 91.7

40.0 91.7 93.0 93.0 91.7 93.0 93.0

50.0 92.4 93.0 93.0 92.4 93.0 93.0

60.0 93.0 93.6 93.6 93.0 93.6 93.6

75.0 93.0 94.1 93.6 93.0 94.1 93.6

100.0 93.0 94.1 94.1 93.6 94.5 94.1

125.0 93.6 94.5 94.1 94.5 94.5 94.1

150.0 93.6 95.0 94.5 94.5 95.0 95.0

200.0 94.5 95.0 94.5 95.0 95.0 95.0

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N E M A s P r o d u c t MCovered Not Covere

Motor/Modification 10/24/97 Covered 10/24/9A: ELECTRICAL MODIFICATIONS

Altitude XAmbient XMultispeed XSpecial leads XSpecial Insulation XEncapsulation XHigh service factor XSpace heaters XWye delta start XPart winding start XTemperature rise XThermally protected XThermostat/thermistor XSpecial voltages X

Intermediate horsepowers XFrequency XFungus/trop. insulation X

B: MECHANICAL MODIFICATIONSSpecial balance XBearing temp. detector XSpecial base/feet XSpecial conduit box XAuxiliary conduit box XSpecial paint/coating XDrains XDrip cover XGround. lug/hole XScreens on ODP enclosure XMounting F1,F2; W1-4; C1,2 X

C: BEARINGSBearing caps X

Roller bearings XShielded bearings XSealed beardings XThrust bearings XClamped bearings XSleeve bearings X

D: SPECIAL ENDSHIELDSC face X

D flange XCustomer defined XE: SEALS

Contact seals XNon-contact seal X

F: SHAFTSStandard shafts/NEMA MG 1 XNon-standard material X

G: FANS

Special material XQuiet design X

H: OTHER MOTORSWashdown XClose-coupled pump XIntegral gear motor X

Vertical-normal Thrust X

Saw arbor XTENV XTEAO XFire pump XNon-continuous XIEC-equivalent XBrake X

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t r i x

EXPLANATION

General purpose up to a frame series change largerGeneral purpose up to a frame series change largerEPCA applies to single speed only

Due to special constructionGeneral purpose up to a frame series change larger

General purpose up to a frame series change largerRequire retesting and third-party agency approval

EPCA applies to motors operating on 230/460 voltages at 60 Hertz.

Round HP according to 10 CFR 431.42 for efficiencyEPCA applies to motors operating on 230/460 voltages at 60 Hertz.

Does not meet definition of T-frame

Foot-mounting, rigid base, and resilient base

Test with a standard bearing

Test with a standard bearingSpecial mechanical construction

Special mechanical construction

As defined in NEMA MG 1

As defined in NEMA MG 1Special design for a particular application

Includes lip seals and taconite seals-test with seals removedIncludes labyrinth and slinger seals-test with seals installed

Includes single and double, cylindrical, tapered, and short shafts.

Test with seals removed.JM and JP frame assignments.Special mechanical design

-not a T-frame. Motor and gearbox inseparable

and operate as one system.EPCA covers foot-mounting

Special electrical/mechanical designTotally-enclosed non-ventilated not equipped for cooling (IP54, IC410)Totally-enclosed air-over requires airflow from external source (IP54, IC417)When safety certification is not required. See EPCA section 342 (b) (2)EPAct covers continuous ratingsIEC Standard 72-1, annex D.5., preferred rated output valuesIntegral brake design factory built within the motor

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NEMAs Product MatrixUsing these general guidelines in conjunction with

definitions from EPAct, NEMA developed a matrix to

illustrate whether many common features or motor

variations fall within the motors covered by EPAct. This

matrix is not intended to be all-inclusive. Rather, it is a set

of examples demonstrating how the definitions and

guidelines would be applied to various motor types. Byextension of these examples, a motor currently in produc-

tion, or to be designed in the future, can be classified.

This summary categorizes the features and options into

three categories:

1) general purpose covered as of October 24, 1997

2) definite purpose, special purpose, or falling outside the

scope of EPAct.

3) general purpose covered as of October 24, 1999

DOE has established a temporary exemption for

motors that go into UL-listed products. This would behandled on a case-by-case basis.

NEMA Design A or B motors that meet all other

criteria under the definitions in EPAct for covered

products and are also suitable for inverter use as an

additional feature still are covered products under EPAct.

In other words, being suitable for use on an inverter, by

itself, does not exempt a motor from EPAct.

Exclusions from EPAct

RequirementsThis definition immediately excludes a specific set

of motor types from the EPAct requirements. Those types

excluded are listed below. This is not an all-inclusive list.

(1) footless designs

(2) horsepower sizes below 1 and above 200(3) 900 rpm and slower speeds

(4) two-speed versions

(5) 50 Hertz

(6) 200/400, and 575 volt

(7) Design C and D

(8) U Frame(9) inverter duty motors (Note: Being suitable for use on

an inverter, by itself, does not exempt a motor from

EPAct.)

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(10) single phase motors

(11) frame sizes 56 and smaller

While lawmakers attempted to follow the general,

special, and definite purpose definitions from NEMAs

MG 1, there were some distinctive changes in the defini-

tion for definite-purpose motors that have resulted in

considerable confusion within the motor community.

The law defines definite purpose motors as follows:any motor designed in standard ratings with

standard operating characteristics or standard

mechanical construction for use under service

conditions other than usual or for use on a

particular type of applicationand which cannot

be used in most general purpose applications.

The last phrase, ...and which cannot be used in

most general-purpose applications, is the key to under-

standing whether a particular motor must meet the EPAct

energy standards.

DOEs Enforcement PolicyThese guidelines clarify the above definition as to

whether a motor is classified as a covered product or an

exempt product.

Motors with features or characteristics that do not meet

the definition of a general-purpose motor as defined in

EPAct are non-covered products and are exempt from

EPAct.

Motors designed for use on a particular type of applica-tion that are in a frame size that is one or more frame

series larger than the frame size assigned to that rating by

Tables 2 and 3 from NEMA Standard MG 13, should not

be considered usable in most general purpose applica-

tions and would therefore be exempt from EPAct.

Motors built in frame series or sizes smaller than that

called out by MG 13 should still be considered as usable

in most general-purpose applications and covered by

EPAct.

Examples: Consider a 3 hp 1800 RPM T frame motor.

The assigned frame size for this motor is 182T.If a motor manufacturer produced that same rating in a

184T frame, it is considered to be within the same

frame series (180 T frame series includes the 182T

and 184T frames) and is covered by EPAct.

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What if a 3 hp 1800 rpm motor was available in a 145T

frame? This motor would also be covered under EPAct

since it is in a smaller frame series (the 140 series).

The same 3 hp 1800 rpm rating in a 215T frame is not

covered by EPAct because it is in a large frame series (the

210 series).

Contact seals can be removed from the motor when perfor-

mance is determined for compliance and enforcement.

(Contact seal drag reduces motor efficiency.) Thenameplated efficiency for these motors would reflect their

performance without these devices installed.

Electrical modifications are categorized according to their

conformity with NEMA (or metric equivalent) performance

standards. For example, modified torque characteristics that

still meet the NEMA Design A or B performance require-

ments are considered covered product. If the characteristics

meet NEMA Design C or D requirements, the motor is

exempt. In order for a motor to be classified as Design C or

D, the motor must meet all performance standards for the

stated Design type.

NEMA will continue to work with DOE to further

clarify the implementation of EPAct. As additional informa-

tion is obtained, NEMA will distribute additional information

via brochures and through NEMAs website.

DOE will permit a temporary extension of time forcompliance for motors that go into products that require

redesign to accomodate the more efficient motor or that

require listing or certification by a third party agency such as

UL or CSA. This would be handled on a case-by-case basis

based on submittal of a joint request for the extension by theOEM and the motor manufacturer.

This brochure is based on information received from

the U.S. Department of Energy in September 1997. DOE

may choose to revise their existing guidance. To obtain a

copy of DOE's motor enforcement policy guidance either

contact NEMA or DOE at their website: www.eren.doe.gov

NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION1300 NORTH 17TH STREET, SUITE 1847

ROSSLYN, VIRGINIA 22209-3801

(703) 841-3200 FAX: (703) 841-5900 WWW.NEMA.ORG9/97