DOE Regulations Impacting Pool Pump Motors in September 2025
The DOE has issued new rules for Dedicated Purpose Pool Pump (DPPP) motors
New DOE Dedicated Pool Pump Motor Regulations will soon align the replacement motor market with the existing Pool Pump regulations that have been in effect since 2021.
Under the DOE Dedicated Purpose Pool Pump Motor Rule DPPPM’s must be variable speed. What is a DPPPM? “Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pump Motor” DPPPM means an electric motor that:
- (A) Is single-phase or polyphase;
- (B) Has a dedicated purpose pool pump motor total horsepower of less than or equal to 5 horsepower;
- (C) Includes DPPP motors regardless of how the equipment is sold; i.e., incorporated in a pump or sold separately. The DPPP motors in the scope of this rule are used primarily in residential and light commercial applications, in selfpriming pool filter pumps (typically used in inground pools), non-selfpriming pool filter pumps (typically used in above-ground pools), and pressure cleaner booster pumps (typically used for pressure-side pool cleaner applications).
- (D) And excludes (i) DPPP motors that are polyphase motors capable of operating without a drive and distributed in commerce without a drive that converts single-phase power to polyphase power; (ii) waterfall pump motors; (iii) rigid electric spa pump motors; (iv) storable electric spa pump motors; (v) integral cartridge-filter pool pump motors; and (vi) integral sandfilter pool pump motors.
To sum it up, all replacement DPPP motors with a total horsepower greater than or equal to 0.5 total horsepower and less than or equal to 5 total horsepower must be variable speed.
Learn more about our Century® Pool and Spa motor offering.
Meets state efficiency standards for swimming pool replacement motors
Compliant with California Code of Regulations, Title 20, section 1605.3 (g) (6) and Title 21 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York, Section 509.23
| Motor Total Horsepower (THP) | Performance Standard: Full Load Efficiency (%) | Design Requirement: Speed Capability | Design Requirement: Freeze Protection | Compliance Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THP < 0.5 HP | 69% |
None |
None | September 29, 2025 |
| 1.15 HP ≤ THP < 5 HP | - | Variable Speed Control* | Only for DPPP motors with freeze protection controls** | September 29, 2025 |
| 0.5 HP ≤ THP < 1.15 HP | - | Variable Speed Control* | Only for DPPP motors with freeze protection controls** | September 28, 2027 |
*A variable speed motor is a DPPP motor that meets the definition of “variable-speed control dedicated-purpose pool pump motor” as defined by UL 1004-10:2022.
**DPPP motors with freeze protection controls are to be shipped with the freexe protection feature disabled, or with the following default, user adjustable settings: (a) the default dry-bulb air temperature setting shall be no greater thatn 40 F; (b) the default run time setting shall be no greater than 1 hour (before the temperature is rechecked); and (c) the default motor speed in freeze protection mode shall not be more than half of the maximum operating speed.
