ALL 375HP, 575HP and 700HP

HEAT SIPHON Z Series & C Series Models
PASS the FLORIDA BLDG CODE
50°F Air Temperature COP Test

(COP = 4.0 at 50°F Air/80°F/63%RH)

Return to SPECIFICATIONS

The graph below shows the INTERTEK LABORATORIES test results for the THREE largest sizes of ANALOG AND DIGITAL SCROLL Heat Siphon models now sold in Florida - All R410A models at or above 60,000 BTUH nameplate rating.

Both Series (Analog and Digital) in ALL models voltage variations are in compliance with the revised Florida Building Code for Pool Heat Pump Low Air Temperature minimum COP 50°F air temperature.

*COP (coefficient of performance) = KW out / KW in; KW in = KW out / COP

CONCLUSION:

Please read the following CLARIFICATION of the FLORIDA BUILDING CODE from FL Dept of Community Affairs

To: sue@heatsiphon.com
Cc: nick.dandrea@tampagov.net, hfg56@miamidade.gov, rlrodriguez@rodriguezquiroga.com, Mo.madani@dca.state.fl.us, christ.sanidas@co.orange.fl.us, dgreiner@co.lake.fl.us, Rick.dixon@dca.state.fl.us

Subject: Re: Fw: 13-412.ABC.3 Equipment Performance standard

Ms. Gianni:

You have asked for a clarification of Sections 13-412.1.ABC.3.1 and 13-612.1.ABC.2.3.4 of the Florida Building Code, Building, concerning test results of ARI 1160 for heat pump pool heaters. Subchapter 13-4 is applicable to commercial buildings of any size and multiple-family residential buildings greater than three stories.

Subchapter 13-6 is applicable to single-family residential buildings and multiple-family buildings of three stories or less.

Section 13-412.1.ABC.3.1, Equipment efficiency, states, in part: "All water heating equipment, hot water supply boilers used solely for heating potable water, pool heaters, and hot water storage tanks shall meet the criteria listed in Table 412.1.ABC.3." Table 13-412.1.ABC.3 requires heat pump pool heaters to meet a 4.0 COP at low air temperature when tested to ARI 1160 with footnote 5. Footnote 5 states: "Test reports from independent laboratories are required to verify procedure compliance." Section 13-612.1.ABC.2.3.4, Pool heater efficiency, states, in part: "... Heat pump pool heaters shall be tested in accordance with ARI 1160, Table 2, Standard Rating Conditions - Low Air Temperature, and shall have a minimum COP of 4.0." Both residential and commercial applications of the code require testing to ARI 1160. However, Section 13-412.1.ABC.3.1 also requires a test report from an independent laboratory to verify procedure compliance. In order to comply with both code sections with nameplate data, the nameplate should also specify the name of the independent laboratory and the report number.

Based on the above code sections, there is NO requirement in Chapter 13 of the Florida Building Code, Building, that tests on heat pump water heaters must be performed by any given laboratory or listed on a specific web site.

However, Section 13-102.2, Alternate materials, allows the building official to accept an industry listing of product efficiencies as demonstration of code compliance provided that such listing has been demonstrated to meet the intent of the code.

Should you have further questions on this or other code issues, I can be reached by return email or by phone at (850) 488-0964.

Ann Stanton
Building Codes Analyst
Florida Department of Community Affairs

Latest Test Results from Intertek

The following table displays the NAMEPLATE Ratings for the Heat Siphon models as specified by paragraph 6.3 of ANSI/AHRI STANDARD 1160-2009 PERFORMANCE RATING OF HEAT PUMP POOL HEATERS which states:

6.3 Tolerances. To comply with this standard, measured test results for Heating Capacity and Coefficient of Performance shall not be less than 95% of Published Ratings. (click on model to view test report supporting these NAMEPLATE RATINGS)

CLARIFICATION of the Code for all Florida Inspection Officers

The email above, from FLORIDA STATE BUILDING CODE ANALYST, Ann Stanton should clear up any confusion as to whether you need to be listed on a specific website or be tested by a specific laboratory to meet the FLORIDA BUILDING CODE concerning swimming pool heat pumps.

As she states the answer is NO, as long as the product has been tested and meets ARI 1160.

As noted above, Heat Siphon has been tested and does meet these requirements except for the Z250HP and C250HP, however because we have chosen not to join the ARI , we are not listed on that particular website.

ATTENTION: Florida Pool Builders/Owners

Recent changes to Florida's Building Codes may require you to meet the following requirements in order to obtain a pool permit:

Table 13-412.1.ABC.3

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER HEATING EQUIPMENT - requires all sizes and categories of Heat Pump Pool Heaters to have a MINIMUM LOW AIR TEMPERATURE PERFORMANCE COP of 4.0 or better when tested according to AHRI standard 1160-2007 for Pool Heater Performance Ratings.

In support of our dealers and installers in Florida, we contracted Intertek ETL Semko, an independent testing Laboratory, to perform AHRI testing on several models to verify that Heat Siphon complies.

The results are in - ALL Heat Siphon's 3.25HP sizes and above meet the requirement. This includes base models (220v 1 ph 60Hz) Z375HP, C375HP, C3.25HP , Z575HP, C575HP and C5HP.

Models Z250HP and C250HP do not.

Here's WHY:

UNFAIR AHRI MINIMUM FLOW REQUIREMENTS Penalize our Smallest Heat Siphon Model

With a swimming pool heat pump, the higher the flow rate, the higher the COP or efficiency.

Since Heat Siphon uses a more efficient FULL FLOW Lower Back-pressure Heat Exchanger, your pool pump will naturally operate at a higher flow rate than most our competitors - especially those who use an internal or external bypass valve.

We designed Heat Siphon that way to minimize pump work and maximize flow rate and thus maximize COP.

Unfortunately AHRI didn't take this into account when creating the test standard.

According to the AHRI Standard the TEST FLOW RATE is DIRECTLY DEPENDENT ON THE BTUH OUTPUT NOT THE PUMP SIZE OR MANUFACTURER"S SPECIFICATIONS OR THE HEATER BACK PRESSURE or the real world flow rate expected for the pool size it is designed to heat.

It simply requires a maximum flow rate of 45% of the Heat Output Rating - for example if your nameplate says 100,000 btu/hr output then you need to test at 45 GPM.

GREAT for Cheaper Smaller HEAT EXCHANGER DESIGNS at the expense of HIGHER PUMP WATTS

This is great for a high back pressure internal bypass heat pump tube in tube heat exchanger design like almost all of our competitors. They increase efficiency by forcing more water at a higher velocity (and Higher back-pressure) through their heat exchnager -

It HIDES the cost of the EXTRA POOL PUMP WATTS required to push water past there restrictive high velocity high back-pres

IT penalizes FULL FLOW NO BYPASS designs like Heat Siphon's - For our smallest units rated at approximately 50,000 btu/hr since that translates to a TEST FLOW RATE of 22 GPM.

EVEN A SMALL 24 foot above ground pool (15,000 gallons) will operate at 40 GPM or more with a 3/4HP pump and a 5 PSI filter back-pressure!

As a result, If your local building codes require compliance to the above changes in the Florida Building Code - you CAN NOT USE OUR smallest models (Z250HP/C250HP and C2.25HP MODELS) ALL LARGER MODELS PASS - any model single or three phase analog or digital - they all pass the FL Bldg Code requirement as demonstrated by the AHRI test results to the left.

AHRI Needs to Change the Test Flow Rate Requirements on Swimming Pool Heat Pump Standard

To be fair all Swimming Pool Heat Pumps should have a TOTAL COP or total efficiency that INCLUDES the EXTRA PUMP WATTS their back pressure causes your pump to use. We call it TCOP.

TCOPT would simply be calculated as KW of heat output divided by KW in TOTAL (KW used by the heat pump plus KW required to overcome the heaters back pressure at the TEST flow rate).

We will be campaigning for this change.

AHRI 1160-2007 Standard

download a copy of this standard