SIA and CANASA demand exemption of electronic security systems from energy efficiency requirements

Life safety and security systems do not operate in a no-load or stand-by modes and are not designed to be turned off

Canadian officials should exempt electronic security and life safety devices from energy efficiency requirements that cannot sensibly be applied to them, SIA and CANASA argued in a joint letter to Natural Resources Canada.

Natural Resources Canada is considering efficiency standards that would define energy consumption rules for electronic devices in "stand-by", "no-load" and "off" modes. As the Security Industry Association (SIA) and the Canadian Security Association (CANASA) noted in the letter, however, electronic security and life safety devices must always be on, in order to be effective, so applying these standards to them "would not produce any energy savings because life safety and security equipment is never to be operated in these modes."

"Life safety and security systems do not operate in a no-load or stand-by modes and are not designed to be turned off," the letter stated. "Accordingly, it is not feasible to measure energy consumption of power supplies used to power security systems in stand-by, no-load and off modes."

SIA is seeking a security and life safety exemption from similar regulations in the United States. Legislation that would provide this exemption has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.