97-10608. Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedures for Furnaces/Boilers, Vented Home Heating Equipment, and Pool Heaters  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 91 (Monday, May 12, 1997)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 26140-26165]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-10608]
    
    
    
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    Part IV
    
    
    
    
    
    Department of Energy
    
    
    
    
    
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    Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
    
    
    
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    10 CFR Part 430
    
    
    
    Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedures for 
    Furnaces/Boilers, Vented Home Heating Equipment, and Pool Heaters; 
    Final Rule
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and 
    Regulations
    
    [[Page 26140]]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    
    Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
    
    10 CFR Part 430
    
    [Docket No. EE-RM-93-501]
    RIN 1904-AA45
    
    
    Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test 
    Procedures for Furnaces/Boilers, Vented Home Heating Equipment, and 
    Pool Heaters
    
    AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
    Energy.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, requires 
    the Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) to administer an 
    energy conservation program for certain major household appliances and 
    commercial equipment. Among other program elements, the Act requires 
    that standard methods of testing be prescribed for each covered 
    product. Today's final rule amends the test procedures for furnaces and 
    boilers, vented home heating equipment, and pool heaters.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective November 10, 1997. The 
    incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the 
    regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of 
    November 10, 1997.
    
    ADDRESSES: The Department is incorporating by reference test standards 
    from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
    Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) and the American National 
    Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI). These standards are listed below:
        American National Standards Institute/American Society of Heating, 
    Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 103-1993, 
    ``Methods of Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of 
    Residential Central Furnaces and Boilers,'' and American National 
    Standards Institute Standard Z21.56-1994, ``Gas-Fired Pool Heaters.''
        Copies of these standards may be viewed at the Department of Energy 
    Freedom of Information Reading Room, Forrestal Building, Room 1E-190, 
    1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-6020 
    between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
    Federal holidays.
        Copies of the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 can be obtained from 
    ASHRAE Publication Sales, 1791 Tullie Circle, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, 
    (1-800-5-ASHRAE). Copies of the ANSI Standard Z21.56-1994 can be 
    obtained from the ANSI, Inc., 11 West 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 
    10036, (212) 642-4936.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    
    Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
    Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station, EE-43, 1000 Independence 
    Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20585-0121, (202) 586-9142, FAX (202) 586-
    4617.
    Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General 
    Counsel, Mail Station, GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 
    D.C. 20585-0103, (202) 586-9507.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. Introduction
        A. Authority
        B. Background
    II. Discussion of Comments
        A. Furnaces
        B. Vented Home Heating Equipment
        C. Pool Heaters
    III. Procedural Requirements
        A. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
        B. Review Under Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and 
    Review''
        C. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
        D. Review Under Executive Order 12612, ``Federalism''
        E. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration 
    Act of 1974
        F. Review Under Executive Order 12630, ``Governmental Actions 
    and Interference With Constitutionally Protected Property Rights''
        G. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980
        H. Review Under Executive Order 12988, ``Civil Justice Reform''
        I. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Review
        J. Review Under Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
    Act of 1996
    
    I. Introduction
    
    A. Authority
    
        Part B of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, Pub. 
    L. 94-163, as amended by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act 
    (NECPA) Pub. L. 95-619, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act 
    (NAECA) of 1987, Pub. L. 100-12, the National Appliance Energy 
    Conservation Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Pub. L. 100-357 and the 
    Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Pub. L. 102-486, created the Energy 
    Conservation Program for Consumer Products other than Automobiles 
    (Program).1 The 13 consumer household products currently 
    subject to this Program (referred to hereinafter as ``covered 
    products'') include furnaces/boilers, vented home heating equipment, 
    and pool heaters, the subjects of today's notice.
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        \ 1\ Part B of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation 
    Act , as amended, is referred to in this final rule as the ``Act'' 
    or EPCA. Part B of Title III is codified at 42 U.S.C. 6291-6309.
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        Under the EPCA, the Program consists essentially of three parts: 
    Testing, labeling, and Federal energy conservation standards. The 
    Department, in consultation with the National Institute of Standards 
    and Technology (NIST), is required to amend or establish new test 
    procedures as appropriate for each of the covered products. EPCA 
    section 323, 42 U.S.C. 6293. Test procedures appear at 10 CFR part 430, 
    subpart B. The purpose of the test procedures is to produce test 
    results that measure energy efficiency, energy use, or estimated annual 
    operating cost of a covered product during a representative average use 
    cycle or period of use. The procedures must not be unduly burdensome to 
    conduct. EPCA section 323(b)(3), 42 U.S.C. 6293 (b)(3). A test 
    procedure is not required if DOE determines by rule that one cannot be 
    developed. EPCA section 323(d)(1), 42 U.S.C. 6293(d)(1).
        One hundred and eighty days after a test procedure for a product is 
    adopted, no manufacturer may represent the energy consumption of, or 
    the cost of energy consumed by, the product, except as reflected in 
    tests conducted according to the DOE procedure. EPCA section 323(c)(2), 
    42 U.S.C. 6293(c)(2). However, the 180-day period referred to in 
    section 323(c)(2) may be extended for up to an additional 180 days if 
    the Secretary determines that the requirements of section 323(c)(2) 
    would impose an undue burden. EPCA section 323(c)(3), 42 U.S.C. 6293 
    (c)(3).
        Section 323(e) of the Act requires DOE to determine to what extent, 
    if any, a proposed test procedure would alter the measured energy 
    efficiency or measured energy use of any covered product as determined 
    under the existing test procedure. If DOE determines that an amended 
    test procedure would alter the measured efficiency or measured energy 
    use of a covered product, DOE is required to amend the related energy 
    conservation standard accordingly. In determining the amended standard, 
    DOE is required to measure the energy efficiency or energy use of 
    representative samples of covered products that minimally comply with 
    the existing standard. The average efficiency of these representative 
    samples, tested using the amended test procedure, constitutes the
    
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    amended standard. EPCA section 323(e)(2), 42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2).
    
    B. Background
    
        On March 28, 1984, the Department published in the Federal Register 
    a final rule, hereinafter referred to as the 1984 Final Rule, amending 
    the test procedures for furnaces, vented home heating equipment, and 
    unvented home heating equipment. 49 FR 12148. For furnaces, the 1984 
    Final Rule referenced the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1982 entitled 
    ``Methods of Testing for Heating Seasonal Efficiency of Central 
    Furnaces and Boilers.'' In addition, it prescribed furnace test 
    procedures for systems and issues that were not adequately covered by 
    the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1982. Those included, for example, 
    provisions for modulating and condensing furnaces and boilers. 
    Particularly impacted were units with thermal stack dampers. Other 
    deviations between the 1984 Final Rule and ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1982 related to oversize factors, furnaces without draft relief or 
    direct exhaust system, hot water boiler minimum return (inlet) water 
    temperature and minimum water temperature rise, pump delay on boiler 
    controls, an improved method for the determination of the S/F factor 
    (the ratio of stack gas mass flow rate to flue gas mass flow rate) for 
    furnaces and boilers, and the option of an assigned jacket loss value 
    instead of actual measurement.
        The Department originally published a test procedure for vented 
    home heating equipment on May 2, 1978. 43 FR 20182. The Department 
    amended this test procedure in the 1984 Final Rule, to include a 
    simplified vented heater test procedure for heaters with modulating 
    controls, manually controlled vented heaters, vented heaters equipped 
    with thermal stack dampers, and floor furnaces. 49 FR 12169.
        The Department published the pool heater test procedure final rule 
    on February 7, 1989, referencing ANSI Standard Z21.56-1986 for gas pool 
    heaters and extending the test procedure to cover oil-fired pool 
    heaters. 54 FR 6076.
        Since 1984, through cooperative efforts with the furnace industry 
    and through the DOE test procedure waiver process, DOE has become aware 
    of several additional issues regarding furnace and vented home heating 
    equipment test procedures. On August 23, 1993, DOE published in the 
    Federal Register a proposed rule and notice of public hearing, 
    hereinafter referred to as the 1993 Proposed Rule, to amend the 
    furnace, vented home heating equipment, and pool heater test procedures 
    to address these issues. 58 FR 44538. A public hearing was held in 
    Washington, DC on January 5, 1994.
        After reviewing the comments presented at the public hearing on 
    January 5, 1994, and additional written comments submitted following 
    the public hearing, the Department decided to reopen the public comment 
    period to solicit additional comments on one subject of particular 
    concern to commenters in the 1993 Proposed Rule--the application of a 
    multiplication factor to the auxiliary electricity consumption of a 
    fossil-fueled appliance. The proposed multiplication factor in the 1993 
    Proposed Rule consisted of the ratio of the electrical ``source 
    energy'' (the amount of energy used in producing the electricity 
    consumed by the appliance) to the electrical ``site energy'' (the 
    amount of electricity consumed by the appliance). The multiplication 
    factor was used in the two proposed new energy descriptors, named 
    Energy Factor (EF) and Annual Efficiency (AE), proposed by the 
    Department to include the auxiliary electrical energy consumption by 
    fossil-fueled appliances.
        On January 20, 1995, the Department published a Federal Register 
    notice, reopening the comment period to seek comments on a revision of 
    the proposed definition of the multiplication factor. The new proposed 
    definition was the ratio of the cost of electricity to the cost of 
    fossil fuel to the consumer. 60 FR 4348. The 30-day public comment 
    period was extended by an additional 30 days at the request of 
    commenters and was closed on March 21, 1995.
        Today's notice amends the test procedures for furnaces and boilers, 
    vented home heating equipment, and pool heaters as follows:
        (1) DOE is amending the test procedure for furnaces and boilers 
    first, to incorporate provisions contained in test procedure waivers 
    granted to different manufacturers from 1985 to 1996 and secondly, to 
    include test procedures for new product designs. To accomplish this, 
    the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 is incorporated by reference into the 
    test procedure, in the place of ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1988 that was 
    referenced in the 1993 proposed rule. (See below at II. a. 23. ``ANSI/
    ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.'') This incorporation establishes revised 
    test procedures for the following furnaces and features: Atmospheric 
    furnaces with burner air inlet dampers or flue dampers; the jacket loss 
    measurement for downflow furnaces; and furnaces and boilers employing 
    electro-mechanical stack dampers with delayed opening and power vented 
    units employing post purge during the off-cycle. In addition, however, 
    today's notice incorporates into DOE's test procedure provisions that 
    are modifications of certain sections of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. 
    Those modifications include the limit on air circulation blower delay 
    time at burner shut-off for furnaces with unvarying control on blower 
    delay time, deletion of the insulation requirement on the internal vent 
    pipe of downflow furnace during the cool-down and heat-up tests, 
    deletion of the requirement for the sealing of cabinet ventilation 
    openings during the jacket loss measurement, longer allowed free post 
    purge time for power vented units employing post purge, and input 
    requirement on interrupted ignition device. In addition, today's final 
    rule provides procedures for the calculation of the annual fossil fuel 
    and auxiliary electrical energy consumptions.
        (2) DOE is amending the test procedure for vented home heating 
    equipment by, first, including modified calculation procedures for the 
    weighted average steady-state efficiency and Annual Fuel Utilization 
    Efficiency (AFUE) for certain manually-controlled heaters, and 
    secondly, adding a procedure for calculating the annual energy 
    consumption of fossil fuel and auxiliary electrical energy for vented 
    home heating equipment.
        (3) DOE is amending the test procedure for pool heaters by updating 
    the referenced ANSI standard for pool heaters from ANSI Z21.56-1986 to 
    ANSI Z21.56-1994. DOE is also adding a procedure for calculating the 
    annual energy consumption of fossil fuel and auxiliary electrical 
    energy for pool heaters and a pool heater heating seasonal efficiency 
    descriptor that takes into account the energy consumption by the pilot 
    light during the standby period of the pool heating season.
    
    II. Discussion of Comments
    
    A. Furnaces
    
        In general, the comments received were supportive of the goals of 
    the proposed amendments to incorporate provisions contained in waivers 
    previously granted, to include test procedures for new product designs, 
    and to capture the electrical consumption of furnaces. However, the 
    comments by various organizations presented disagreements with DOE's 
    proposal on the effect of some of the amendments on the measured AFUE. 
    Additionally, many comments were received on the proposed formulation 
    of energy descriptors to capture electrical
    
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    consumption, on both the 1993 Proposed Rule and the January 20, 1995, 
    Federal Register notice.
        In its testimony and written statement, the Gas Appliance 
    Manufacturers Association (GAMA) classified the proposed revisions to 
    the current test procedure contained in the 1993 Proposed Rule into 
    three categories. (GAMA, No. 8, at 2).2
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        \2\  Written comments on the 1993 Proposed Rule were assigned 
    docket numbers and are numbered consecutively. Comments presented at 
    the January 5, 1994, public hearing are contained in the transcript.
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        The first category comprised changes that GAMA states would not 
    lower the measured AFUE of most existing furnace and boiler models, 
    including changes to bring the test procedures in line with waivers 
    previously granted. GAMA stated its support for the immediate 
    implementation of most of the first category of changes.
        The second category included changes that GAMA states would lower 
    the measured AFUE of most existing furnace and boiler models. Such a 
    change, GAMA claimed, would require the Department to amend the furnace 
    and boiler efficiency standards because of the impact on existing 
    models that marginally meet the standard. According to GAMA, this would 
    cause confusion in the marketplace, accustomed as it is to the current 
    standard, a minimum AFUE of 78 percent for warm air furnaces. 
    Additionally, GAMA asserted that a reduction in the measured AFUE would 
    result in many units no longer qualifying for utility rebate programs 
    that require an AFUE of at least 80 percent. GAMA stated the view that 
    these changes would place a heavy burden on manufacturers and requested 
    a delay in the implementation of the second category of changes until 
    any revised efficiency standards went into effect. GAMA puts the 
    following changes in this category: Revised calculation for the 
    effectiveness of electro-mechanical stack dampers; power vented systems 
    employing post purge after burner shut-off; sealing of cabinet 
    ventilation openings during jacket loss test; insulation of horizontal 
    mounted external draft diverters; insulation of the flue collector box 
    for power vented units; insulation of the internal flue pipe for 
    downflow furnaces during heat-up and cool-down tests; minimum values 
    for the draft factor DP and DF; measurement of 
    water pump energy consumption; and test requirement for modulating 
    boilers.
        The third category was the addition of the proposed AE energy 
    descriptor. GAMA suggested further study on the third category before 
    implementation.
        Consolidated Industries, Carrier Corp., and Lennox Industries 
    supported GAMA's statement. (Consolidated, No. 21, at 1; Carrier, No. 
    12, at 1; and Lennox, Transcript, at 77). Inter-City Products presented 
    the same list of revisions regarding their potential impact on AFUE as 
    GAMA did. Many of the other commenters referred to GAMA's 
    classification of the three categories of proposed revisions to the DOE 
    test procedure in their oral and written statements and these 
    categories are referred to in the discussion of comments below.
        The following discussion addresses the comments received on the 
    proposed rule.
    1. Furnaces and Boilers With Small Air Passage in the Flue
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE proposed to change the limiting 
    value of 10 percent from a flow rate ratio to an area ratio. Both GAMA 
    and Inter-City Products supported the proposed revision. (GAMA, No. 8, 
    at 2; and Inter-City, No. 7, at 4). No other commenters offered comment 
    on this issue. The Department is adopting the change in sections 
    8.2.1.2.2 and 8.3.1.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 in today's final 
    rule.
    2. Air Circulation Blower Delay at Burner Ignition
        The 1993 Proposed Rule specified a minimum blower delay time of 20 
    seconds during the heat-up test for furnaces designed with non-
    adjustable, unvarying delay time that is less than 20 seconds. The 
    current furnace test procedure requires a 1.5-minute delay between the 
    ignition of the burner and the starting of the blower. Manufacturers 
    have requested and been granted waivers from this requirement because 
    of an unvarying time delay designed into their specific models. The 
    designed time delay granted in the waivers varied from 20 seconds to 66 
    seconds among the specific models with 30 seconds as the predominant 
    time delay. The manufacturers claimed increases in the AFUE value of 
    from 0.4 to 2.0 percentage points if the designed time delays were used 
    in the rating test instead of the 1.5 minutes specified in the current 
    test procedure. The Department's granting of the waivers permitted 
    those manufacturers to test units with blowers having unvarying time 
    delay designed into them. In the 1993 Proposed Rule, the Department 
    proposed test procedures to allow testing with an unvarying time delay, 
    but also proposed a minimum blower delay time of 20 seconds during the 
    heat-up test. This is achieved by bypassing the electronic control, if 
    the designed non-adjustable, unvarying delay time is less than 20 
    seconds.
        Both GAMA and Inter-City Products opposed the requirement of a 
    minimum 20-second delay during the heat-up test for furnaces with 
    designed, unvarying blower time delay at burner start-up. Amana 
    Refrigeration, Inc., stated that DOE's reason of avoiding a cold draft 
    in the occupied zone is an issue of comfort, not energy efficiency, and 
    that DOE should let the competitive marketplace design products that 
    fulfill consumers' desires. (Amana, No. 2, at 1). Inter-City Products 
    stated that DOE should not define what occupant comfort is, and as 
    advances in heat exchanger technology come about, low mass heat 
    exchanger with very short heat-up characteristics will evolve allowing 
    short on-time delays. Inter-City Products also stated that mandating 
    time delays as to occupant comfort is to prescribe the design of a 
    furnace and would not necessarily reflect the true operation and 
    efficiency of current or future furnace designs. (Inter-City, No. 7, at 
    2). GAMA and York International Corp. gave similar reasons as Inter-
    City Products for opposing the 20-second requirement, and stated that 
    DOE is acting outside its authority in factoring occupant comfort into 
    the efficiency test procedure. Further they stated that it is for the 
    marketplace, not DOE, to discourage the sale of furnaces that do not 
    provide a reasonable level of occupant comfort. In addition, the 
    complexity of the electronic controls used in today's furnaces makes it 
    very difficult for a field installer or repairer to modify an unvarying 
    blower time delay. (GAMA, No. 8, at 16; and York, No. 10, at 3.) 
    Carrier Corp. and Consolidated Industries both supported GAMA's 
    statement. (Carrier No. 12, at 1; and Consolidated, No. 21, at 1.) Mr. 
    Woodworth stated that comfort should not be the basis for provisions 
    being included in a laboratory test procedure. Further, he suggested 
    that the procedure should be changed to agree with section 9.6.1 of 
    ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, that does not include the 20-second 
    requirement. (Woodworth, No. 20, at 5).
        In the current test procedure for furnaces, the 1.5-minute fan 
    delay at burner ignition was specified on the basis of obtaining a low 
    overall cost of combined fossil fuel and auxiliary electrical energy 
    consumption.3 This
    
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    was balanced with the historically accepted industry practice in 
    furnace operation of providing occupant comfort. In granting the waiver 
    requests, the Department recognized the advances made by manufacturers 
    on lighter weight heat exchanger designs with fan-assisted combustion 
    systems over the past decade. These advances permitted a faster heat-up 
    of the heat exchanger and a shorter fan delay time while still 
    achieving the desired low overall energy consumption. In the 1993 
    proposed rule, the Department believed that there is a limit to 
    reducing the weight of the heat exchanger and, in turn, a limit to the 
    achievable minimum fan delay time. This is evident from the fan delay 
    times in the waiver requests, that were mostly greater than or equal to 
    30 seconds. It is possible, however, that as new material and 
    technology evolve, an even lighter weight heat exchanger with better 
    heat transfer performance will be developed. Such a heat exchanger 
    could result in a faster furnace heat-up and allow a fan delay time of 
    less than 20 seconds. The 20-second minimum fan delay time might become 
    inappropriate for these better-designed furnaces of the future. 
    Nevertheless, for furnaces lacking such designs, the Department 
    believes that without the minimum fan delay requirement used during the 
    test for furnaces with non-adjustable, unvarying fan delay control, a 
    manufacturer could simply modify the furnace's electronic control 
    without any resulting improvement in its heat transfer performance. 
    Thus, the manufacturer would obtain a higher AFUE value. The Department 
    assumes that consideration of consumer satisfaction in the long term 
    will prevent that practice.
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        \3\ Unpublished National Bureau of Standards report, Joseph Chi, 
    ``A Note on Effect of HX Weights on annual performance and cost of 
    Operation of a furnace,'' February, 1978.
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        Based on the above reasons, the Department has decided to drop the 
    proposed requirement of a 20-second minimum fan delay for furnaces 
    designed with a non-adjustable, unvarying blower time delay during the 
    heat-up test. Instead, DOE is adopting the procedure specified in 
    section 9.6.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 in today's final rule.
    3. Air Circulation Blower Delay at Burner Shut-off
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE proposed a modification to the ANSI/
    ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 version of the procedure now specified in 
    section 9.5.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. The modification 
    requires that a furnace, if designed with an unvarying time delay that 
    does not provide the same blower delay time that is specified for units 
    with adjustable blower control, shall be tested with the blower control 
    bypassed, and the blower manually controlled to give the delay time 
    specified during the cool-down test. This delay time is three minutes 
    for non-condensing, or 1.5 minutes for condensing furnaces, or 40 deg.F 
    temperature difference, whichever gives the longer time delay.
        During the cool-down test, the extant test procedure allows a delay 
    in blower shut-off of three minutes (1.5 minutes for condensing 
    furnaces) or until the supply air temperature drops to a value of 
    40 deg.F above the inlet air temperature, whichever gives the longer 
    time delay. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 provided an additional 
    exception (section 9.5.1.2.2) that for a furnace without adjustable fan 
    control, the delay shall be as designed.
        Both GAMA and Inter-City Products, as well as other commenters, 
    expressed opposition to the specified maximum time delays for blowers 
    with unvarying time delay in the proposed test procedure during the 
    cool-down test. Inter-City Products stated that older or heavier mass 
    heat exchangers may require more than three minutes of cool-down time. 
    They gave the same reasons as given in Inter-City Products' comments 
    against blower time delay at burner ignition in opposing the use of 
    occupant comfort as the criterion in determining the maximum allowable 
    time delay. (Inter-City, No. 7, at 2). GAMA gave similar reasons as 
    Inter-City Products in opposing the requirement with respect to high 
    mass heat exchangers. Further, they gave the same reasons as given in 
    GAMA's comments against blower time delay at burner ignition in 
    opposing the use of occupant comfort as a criterion in the test 
    procedure. GAMA also pointed out the difficulty of adjusting an 
    unvarying electronic time delay control in the field. (GAMA, No. 8, at 
    16). York International gave similar reasons as GAMA. (York 
    International, No. 10, at 3). Carrier Corp. and Consolidated Industries 
    both supported GAMA's statement. (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; and 
    Consolidated, No. 21, at 1). The California Energy Commission (CEC) 
    pointed out that the wording in section 8.4 of appendix N in the 1993 
    Proposed Rule is misleading. It stated that the time delay criterion of 
    40 deg.F temperature difference between supply air and return air for 
    units with adjustable fan control can be interpreted as not applying to 
    condensing furnaces. Also, the time to reach the 40 deg.F differential 
    after burner shut-off may be shorter than three minutes, resulting in 
    both a cold draft and a higher rating that fail to achieve a reasonable 
    level of occupant comfort. (CEC, No. 25, at 1).
        In the current test procedure for furnaces, the requirement for 
    maximum fan delay time after burner shut-off was specified on the basis 
    of obtaining an overall low cost of combined fossil fuel and auxiliary 
    electrical energy consumption balanced with the historically accepted 
    industry practice in furnace operation to provide occupant comfort. The 
    after burner shut-off is defined as three minutes, or 1.5 minutes for 
    condensing furnaces, after the burner shuts off, or until the supply 
    air temperature drops to a value of 40 deg.F above the inlet air 
    temperature, whichever gives a longer fan-on time. The Department 
    recognized the heat capacity of a heavier mass heat exchanger in 
    retaining a greater amount of heat energy. This is evidenced by the 
    specification in the existing test procedure of either three minutes 
    (1.5 minutes for condensing furnaces) or 40 deg.F differential in 
    plenum to return air temperature, whichever gives a longer fan-on time. 
    The removal of the maximum fan-on time requirement could encourage some 
    manufacturers to lengthen the fan-on time after burner shut off without 
    an accompanying improvement in furnace design. The manufacturers could 
    do this by simply changing the electronics in the controller. Those 
    furnaces would be able to obtain a slightly higher calculated AFUE by 
    using a lower flue gas temperature measured at nine minutes after 
    burner shut-off when the fan runs longer. Those furnaces however, would 
    actually be consuming greater electrical energy than the savings in 
    fossil fuel. This would be contrary to the intent of EPCA to reduce the 
    nation's overall energy consumption.
        Based on the reasons given above, and the fact that the proposed 
    provision does not affect the rating of any existing furnaces, today's 
    final rule prescribes the maximum blower delay time criterion specified 
    in the 1993 Proposed Rule. This specification is for a furnace designed 
    with an unvarying blower time delay during the cool-down test in 
    today's final rule.
        With respect to the comment by the CEC, the Department agrees that 
    the wording in the 1993 Proposed Rule is misleading. In today's rule, 
    therefore, the wording of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, section 
    9.5.1.2.1, which includes the 40 deg.F temperature difference for 
    condensing furnaces, is adopted instead. CEC also commented that for 
    certain furnaces the 40 deg.F temperature differential could be reached 
    in less than three minutes and
    
    [[Page 26144]]
    
    thus creating a possible cold draft. The blower time delay criterion is 
    prescribed for blowers with adjustable time delay control in the 
    current furnace test procedure. Changing the criterion would require 
    the retesting of many existing furnaces. Also, the criterion was agreed 
    to by consensus of the ASHRAE Standard Project Committee (SPC) 103 and 
    specified in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. The Department sees no 
    reason to change that criterion presently.
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, the Department also specified an 
    exception to the delay time requirement for furnaces that employ a 
    single motor to drive a power burner and the air circulation blower. In 
    that case, the power burner and the blower would be stopped together. 
    The current test procedure includes this exception of simultaneous 
    start/stop operations during both the heat-up and the cool-down tests. 
    ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 specifically includes this exception in 
    the heat-up test but it is not specified in the section for the cool-
    down test. The Department considered it to be only an inadvertent 
    omission in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. There was no comment 
    received on this issue, and the Department is specifying, in today's 
    final rule, the modification to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. The 
    Department specifies that if a single motor drives a power burner and 
    the air circulating blower, the power burner and the blower shall be 
    stopped together during the cool-down test.
    4. Burner Box Inlet Damper and Flue Damper
        Both GAMA and Inter-City Products supported the proposal to include 
    a tracer gas test method for atmospheric furnaces with inlet or flue 
    dampers. (GAMA, No. 8, at 2; and Inter-City, No. 7, at 4). There were 
    no other comments on this issue. The Department has included this 
    provision in today's final rule.
    5. Jacket Loss Test for Downflow Furnaces
        The proposal in the 1993 Proposed Rule to include a jacket loss 
    test for downflow furnaces was supported by both GAMA and Inter-City 
    Products. (GAMA, No. 8, at 2; and Inter-City, No. 7, at 4). These were 
    the only comments on this issue. The Department is adopting the 
    proposed jacket loss test procedure for downflow furnaces as specified 
    in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 referenced in today's final rule.
    6. Blower Compartment Heat Loss During Jacket Loss Test
        Both GAMA and Inter-City Products supported the proposal in the 
    1993 Proposed Rule to exclude the surface area of the blower 
    compartment in the jacket loss test. The CEC believed that the blower 
    compartment should not be considered as part of the duct system and 
    that the heat loss through the blower compartment should be measured in 
    the jacket loss test. It stated that if the blower compartment is 
    considered as the duct system, then the insulation requirement for duct 
    systems in building codes will apply to the compartment. The CEC 
    believed that this is not presently done to the furnace cabinet in the 
    field and, in addition, manufacturers and others may recommend against 
    the insulation of the cabinet. (CEC, No. 25, at 2).
        The Department believes that for most furnaces, the blower 
    compartment is in the return air side of the cabinet. The surface 
    temperature of the blower compartment will be nearly the same as the 
    air temperature around the compartment, and the heat loss from that 
    surface to the test room air will be negligible. The added burden of 
    instrumenting the blower compartment surface with thermocouples is not 
    justified. The Department is therefore not adopting the CEC's 
    suggestion of requiring some mechanism for measuring the heat loss from 
    the blower compartment. The Department is adopting the provision of 
    excluding the surface area of the blower compartment in the jacket loss 
    test as specified in the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 referenced in 
    today's final rule.
    7. Revised Piping Arrangement for Hot Water Boilers
        Both GAMA and Inter-City Products supported the proposal in the 
    1993 Proposed Rule for a revised piping arrangement for hot water 
    boilers. (GAMA, No. 8, at 2; and Inter-City, No. 7, at 4). This was the 
    only comment on this issue. The Department has adopted this provision 
    as specified in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, which is referenced in 
    today's final rule.
    8. Maintaining of Draft During Off-Cycle
        Both GAMA and Inter-City Products supported the proposal to 
    maintain draft during off-cycle for only those oil-fueled or power gas 
    burner furnaces that employ barometric dampers for draft control. 
    (GAMA, No. 8, at 2; and Inter-City, No. 7, at 4). This was the only 
    comment on this issue. The Department has adopted this provision as 
    specified in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, which is referenced in 
    today's final rule.
    9. Tests Requirement for Modulating Units
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE proposed to correct the following 
    discrepancy between the current DOE test procedure and ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1988, which DOE proposed to reference. The current DOE 
    test procedure requires that for step modulating units, the steady-
    state efficiency test shall be conducted at both the maximum and the 
    reduced input rates. The ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 required the 
    above tests at the reduced rate only. The 1993 Proposed Rule made clear 
    that DOE would continue to require testing at both rates.
        Both GAMA and Inter-City Products supported the proposal for 
    testing modulating furnaces. GAMA put the proposed correction to ANSI/
    ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 for testing modulating boilers into the 
    category of proposals on which it asked for delay in implementation 
    until revised efficiency standards are adopted. (GAMA, No. 8, at 4; and 
    Inter-City, No. 7, at 4). Carrier Corp. and Consolidated Industries 
    both supported GAMA's position. (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; and 
    Consolidated, No. 21, at 1). The Department does not agree with the 
    comments that the correction is a revision to the existing DOE test 
    procedure for modulating boilers. Such a test is already included. 
    Specifically, the conditions (at rated input or reduced input) under 
    which heat-up and cool-down tests are to be conducted are already 
    specified in the current DOE test procedure. (See sections 3.1, 3.2, 
    3.4, and 4.5 of appendix N to subpart B of part 430.) The proposed 
    clarification for the optional tracer gas test at rated input or at a 
    reduced input rate is to make certain that the resulting measured draft 
    factor DP value(s) would be consistent with the other 
    measured quantities when they are combined in the calculation procedure 
    for the off-cycle losses. The Department believes that this 
    clarification will have either no effect, or negligible effect on an 
    insignificant number of units.
        Such a requirement was not clearly stated in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 
    103-1988, but in DOE's view it was implicit in that standard. The 
    Department proposed this provision in the 1993 Proposed Rule only to 
    clarify the language in the then-referenced ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1988. The Department has therefore adopted this provision as specified 
    in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, which is referenced in today's final 
    rule.
    
    [[Page 26145]]
    
    10. On-Cycle Time Constant and Off-Cycle Time Constant
        Both GAMA and Inter-City Products supported the proposal for the 
    on-cycle time constant and off-cycle time constant. (GAMA, No. 8, at 2; 
    and Inter-City, No. 7, at 4). The Department has adopted this provision 
    as specified in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, which is referenced in 
    today's final rule.
    11. Multiplication Factor for Jacket Loss for Finned Tube Boilers for 
    Isolated Combustion System (ICS)
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE proposed to use the multiplication 
    factor of Cj=0.50. Both GAMA and Inter-City Products supported the 
    proposal for the value of the multiplication factor for jacket loss for 
    finned tube boilers. (GAMA, No. 8, at 3; and Inter-City, No. 7, at 4). 
    The Department has adopted this provision as specified in ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1993, which is referenced in today's final rule.
    12. Calculation Procedure for Electro-Mechanical Stack Dampers
        GAMA commented that the proposed calculation procedure for 
    evaluating the effectiveness of a stack damper would reduce the 
    measured AFUE of both furnaces and boilers. (GAMA, No. 8, at 3). GAMA 
    believes that the proposed changes would affect the efficiency rating 
    of existing warm air furnaces.
        In the case of warm air furnaces, the Department has considered the 
    comment and disagrees with the statement that the proposed changes 
    would affect the efficiency rating of existing warm air furnaces. 
    Referring to Table 6, System Numbers, and sections 11.2.9.18, 11.2.10.3 
    and 11.2.10.4 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1993, a stack damper's operation has 
    no effect on a warm air furnace installed as an Isolated Combustion 
    System (ICS) No. 9 or 10. Because the existing non-weatherized warm air 
    furnaces are rated as ICS systems, the problems cited by GAMA do not 
    apply to existing furnaces. Also, because any direct vent system is 
    defined as system No. 9 or 10, the problems likewise would not apply to 
    direct vent systems such as those used for most mobile home furnaces.
        In the case of boilers, which are installed indoors and rated as 
    indoor systems, the effect of the revisions on the measured AFUE would 
    be very small. For most existing boilers the stack damper closes within 
    30 seconds after the main burner is shut off, and the effect will be on 
    the order of 0.1 percentage-point change in AFUE. The effect is 
    therefore negligible for any stack damper that is completely closed 
    within the 30-second interval. The effect, however, could be large if 
    the damper closing time delay were to be extended for a long period. 
    Such an extension would take advantage of the deficiency in the current 
    procedure, where the damper is assumed to close instantaneously after 
    the burner shut-off. The Department has therefore, adopted the revision 
    as proposed in the 1993 Proposed Rule (and as included in ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1993) in today's final rule.
    13. Power Vented Systems Employing Post Purge After Burner Shut-Off
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, the maximum free post purge time was 
    specified to be five seconds for both gas-and oil-fired furnaces and 
    boilers. There were seven comments on this proposal. GAMA stated that 
    the proposed maximum free post purge time would significantly reduce 
    the measured AFUE of most existing models, and require DOE to amend the 
    NAECA furnace and boiler efficiency standards for existing models that 
    marginally meet the current minimum standard of 78 percent AFUE for 
    furnaces and 80 percent for boilers. (GAMA, No. 8, at 4). Carrier 
    Corp., Consolidated Industries, and Lennox Industries all supported 
    GAMA's position. (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; Consolidated, No. 21, at 1; 
    and Lennox, Transcript, at 77).
        Inter-City Products requested that the implementation of this and 
    other category 2 revisions be postponed to a future rulemaking, 
    coordinated with implementation of amendments to furnace minimum 
    efficiency standards. To support its request, Inter-City Products 
    commented that DOE needs to lower the minimum standard on marginal 
    units to correspond to changes in test procedure measurements, and 
    address the problem associated with the utility rebate program. Inter-
    City Products further stated that for the manufacturers to modify these 
    models, such that they attain the 80 percent AFUE value, the redesigned 
    equipment may operate in the condensing region that can affect 
    performance, reliability, and life of both the equipment and the 
    associated vent system. (Inter-City, No. 7, at 3).
        Energy Kinetics, Inc. commented that the proposed revision does not 
    cover systems equipped with a power burner and a draft inducer. Energy 
    Kinetics stated that the off-cycle flue gas flow rate with only the 
    inducer on, but not the power burner, is significantly reduced from the 
    on-cycle flow rate. According to Energy Kinetics, since the proposed 
    revision in the 1993 Proposed Rule uses the on-cycle flue gas volume 
    flow rate as a base to compute the flue loss during the post purge 
    period, the loss will be higher than it should be. Energy Kinetics 
    suggests that a tracer gas option be allowed for this type of system. 
    (Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 6).
        The independent commenter, Mr. John Woodworth asserted that, based 
    on research conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory, the post-purge 
    provisions are not accurate for oil-fired furnaces and boilers with 
    relatively long post purge-periods. He reasons that, to reduce the test 
    burden on manufacturers, the provisions assume a linearly decreasing 
    flue gas temperature between the beginning and the end of the post 
    purge period. Thus, measurements at only two points are required in the 
    calculation. According to Mr. Woodworth, this assumption of a linearly 
    varying temperature is valid only for a limited interval, since the 
    temperature will eventually level off to nearly ambient conditions over 
    a long purge period. Mr. Woodworth recommends that DOE adopt the 
    provisions of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 which limit the post purge 
    period during the test to 180 seconds. (Woodworth, No. 20, at 4).
        The Department believes that the use of a post purge in power 
    vented units during the off-cycle, when longer than necessary, is a 
    waste of energy because a forced purge increases the loss of the 
    residue heat in the furnace or boiler through the vent system. A forced 
    purge is the forced combustion air flow through the heat exchanger. 
    Given the deficiencies in the existing test procedure described in the 
    1993 Proposed Rule, DOE is aware that the current procedure could 
    encourage a manufacturer to use a long post purge period to obtain a 
    higher calculated AFUE rating while actually wasting more energy 
    through the vent system. Tests conducted at NIST on a gas furnace with 
    an induced draft combustion blower showed that increasing the post 
    purge interval increased the flue loss, but the calculated AFUE based 
    on current test procedure showed an increase in value. The discrepancy 
    between the AFUE based on the current calculation procedure, and on the 
    proposed calculation procedure, becomes progressively greater with an 
    increasing post purge period. The difference was 0.9 percentage points 
    with 30 seconds post purge and increased to 4.5 percentage points with 
    180 seconds post purge. Yet the calculated AFUE based on the current 
    test procedure showed a gain (from the condition of no post purge) of 
    about 0.2 percentage points at 30 seconds post purge to nearly 1.0
    
    [[Page 26146]]
    
    percentage point at 180 seconds post purge.
        Data gathered indicated that the six major control manufacturers 
    surveyed all have post purge timing of 30 seconds or less on their post 
    purge control equipment. The data was gathered by the Lawrence Berkeley 
    National Laboratory (LBNL) for DOE regarding the current practice of 
    the furnace industry. The survey showed that if the free post purge 
    time is extended from five seconds, as proposed in the 1993 Proposed 
    Rule, to 30 seconds before the post purge calculation method is 
    required, most of the existing furnace and boiler models that employ 
    post purge will be treated as if there is no post purge. With post 
    purge timing of 30 seconds, no retesting or re-rating will be required 
    and no reduction in AFUE will result for those existing furnaces and 
    boiler models.
        Based on the above reasons, DOE is changing the maximum free post 
    purge time of five seconds in the 1993 Proposed Rule to 30 seconds. 
    That is, only units with post purge time longer than 30 seconds shall 
    be tested by the prescribed post purge test procedure. Further, units 
    with post purge periods of less than or equal to 30 seconds shall be 
    tested without the post purge test procedure. The Department agrees 
    with the commenters that if the maximum free post purge time is limited 
    to the proposed five seconds, some existing furnace and boiler models 
    that employ post purge time between five and thirty seconds would have 
    to be retested. The Department acts today to limit the burden on the 
    manufacturers of retesting those models and the possibility of lower 
    AFUE ratings. The Department is prescribing, in today's final rule, the 
    modified free post purge period of 30 seconds as the criterion for 
    applying the revised test and calculation procedures for units that 
    employ post purge after burner shut off.
        DOE believes, however, that with this exception, where the maximum 
    free post purge time is thirty seconds, additional energy is being lost 
    through the venting system by the combustion blower. The Department 
    will continue to examine this subject and may consider later 
    implementation of the original five second criterion, which is based on 
    the technical judgement of the ASHRAE Standard Project Committee (SPC) 
    that developed ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.
        Secondly, on the issue of oil-fired furnaces and boilers that have 
    purge periods greater than three minutes, the Department acts to limit 
    the post purge time to 180 seconds during the rating test as suggested 
    by commenter Mr. John Woodworth. If the designed post purge time is 
    longer than 180 seconds, the blower control is to be bypassed and the 
    blower manually turned off during the cool-down test. This provision is 
    specified in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, which is referenced in 
    today's final rule.
        The comment by Energy Kinetics on the difference in the flue gas 
    flow rate between the on-cycle (power burner and inducer on) and off-
    cycle (only inducer on during post purge) on oil-fired boilers, if the 
    draft inducer is an integral part of the boiler supplied by the 
    manufacturer, would require additional study. Therefore, this type of 
    boiler is not covered by today's final rule. The Department will 
    continue to solicit additional data on the on-cycle and off-cycle 
    operations of this type of boilers, and will issue a revision to the 
    test procedure at a future time.
    14. Sealing of Ventilation Openings During Jacket Loss Test
        The 1993 Proposed Rule would require conducting the jacket loss 
    test with the ventilation openings sealed. There were six comments on 
    this issue. GAMA provided data from tests recently conducted at the ETL 
    Testing Laboratories of the Inchcape Testing Services (ETL). This data 
    showed that for four furnace models tested for sealing the ventilation 
    openings in jacket loss test, the percentage point reductions in AFUE 
    were 1.0, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.1 for models currently rated at AFUE of 78.7 
    percent, 80.0 percent, 80.0 percent and 78.0 percent, respectively. 
    Thus, two models would be below the 78 percent minimum and two models 
    would be below the 80 percent rebate criteria if tested pursuant to the 
    proposed revision. (GAMA, No. 8, at 4 and A-1). Carrier Corp., 
    Consolidated Industries, and Lennox Industries all supported GAMA's 
    position (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; Consolidated, No. 21, at 1; and 
    Lennox, Transcript, at 77). Inter-City Products made several assertions 
    on this issue. First, it stated that sealing ventilation openings could 
    potentially reduce AFUE by 0.3-0.5 percent. Second, it stated that an 
    attempt to determine which louver openings are for ventilation air 
    egress and which are for intake cooling air would be a time-consuming 
    and subjective test procedure. Third, the company claimed that a louver 
    acting as ventilation air intake in one operating mode may be an 
    exhaust louver in another. Fourth, it asserted that additional test 
    time in development, agency certification, and independent efficiency 
    audits (by ETL) would increase manufacturers' costs substantially. 
    Finally, according to Inter-City, the revised procedure would lower the 
    baseline efficiencies of equipment currently at 78 percent. (Inter-
    City, No.7, at 2). The CEC suggested that air leakage during the jacket 
    loss test from any part of the furnace cabinet should represent the 
    performance of the product as installed in the field. Any joints, 
    holes, or other openings should remain as shipped by the manufacturer 
    and should not be taped or sealed for the test. (CEC, No. 25, at 2).
        Today's final rule does not include the sealing of furnace cabinet 
    ventilation openings during the jacket loss test, and the sealing 
    requirement specified in section 8.6.1.1 of the referenced ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1993 has not been included in today's rule. Upon review, 
    the Department considers that sealing of the ventilation openings will 
    result in a more accurate measure of the combined effects of conduction 
    and radiation heat loss. This is the heat loss from the cabinet surface 
    to the test room surroundings and the convective cooling of the airflow 
    into and out of the spaces adjacent to the inside surfaces of the 
    jacket. The Department, however, has decided not to incorporate this 
    provision into today's final rule. This is because the Department sees 
    some merit in the objections offered by commenters with respect to test 
    time, retesting and re-rating all the currently rated furnace units and 
    the associated costs, reduction in currently marginal AFUE ratings, and 
    the difficulty in objectively determining the most effective openings 
    to seal. DOE will continue to examine this subject and may consider 
    implementation of the provision at a later date.
    15. Insulation Requirement for Units With Draft Diverter
        The 1993 Proposed Rule would require insulation for units with a 
    draft diverter, when testing furnaces with exposed diverters. There 
    were three comments on this issue. GAMA objected to its immediate 
    implementation. In addition, GAMA provided data from tests recently 
    conducted at ETL. This data showed that, for two furnace models with 
    integral draft diverters tested with insulation added to the draft 
    diverter, the percentage point reductions in AFUE were 0.3 and 0.4 for 
    the two models currently rated at AFUE of 78.0 percent. They would be 
    below the 78 percent minimum standard if tested in accordance with the 
    proposed revision. (GAMA, No. 8, at 4 and A-2). Carrier Corp. and 
    Consolidated Industries both supported GAMA's position. (Carrier, No. 
    12, at 1; Consolidated, No. 21, at 1).
    
    [[Page 26147]]
    
        As described in the 1993 Proposed Rule on this issue, the ETL 
    stated that it insulates the exposed diverters (in horizontal furnaces) 
    when testing furnaces with exposed diverters. (April 30, 1991, letter 
    from ETL to NIST). Therefore, the rated AFUE values for horizontal 
    furnaces with exposed integral draft diverters in GAMA's Efficiency 
    Certification Directory were tested with the proposed insulation in 
    place. This means that the existing furnaces have already been tested 
    according to the proposed provision and found to meet the minimum 
    efficiency standard. Thus, no retesting or re-rating is required.
        The Department therefore is not accepting GAMA's request that this 
    provision be omitted from the final rule, and instead has adopted this 
    provision as specified in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, which is 
    referenced in today's final rule.
    16. Insulation Requirement for Flue Collector Box
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE called for the insulation of the 
    flue collector box. Numerous comments were received on this issue. 
    Specifically, Inter-City Products requested that the implementation of 
    this provision be postponed to a later date. Inter-City Products cited 
    the reduced AFUE of existing marginal units, that would require DOE to 
    reduce the minimum standard, and the criterion of the 80 percent AFUE 
    by the utility rebate program in support of the request. (Inter-City, 
    No.7, at 1). Inter-City Products suggested that the flue collector box 
    on equipment with draft inducers is significantly smaller in area than 
    the sheet metal involved in an integral draft diverter, so losses are 
    consequently less. Inter-City Products estimated that this provision 
    would have an impact of lowering the efficiency by 0.3-0.4 percent in 
    AFUE. Inter-City Products also believed that the requirement of 
    insulating the collector box during the cool-down and heat-up tests, 
    but not during the jacket loss test, constitutes ``double dipping.'' 
    This is because any loss in heat from the collector box would be 
    accounted for twice--first, as a reduced efficiency from a higher flue 
    gas temperature during the cool-down and heat-up tests (cyclic test) 
    due to the insulation requirement, and second, as a larger measured 
    jacket loss because the insulation is not applied during the steady-
    state jacket loss test.
        GAMA put this issue in its second category of proposed changes in 
    the 1993 Proposed Rule and objected to its immediate implementation. In 
    addition, GAMA provided data from tests recently conducted at ETL to 
    show that for eleven furnace models tested for insulation of the 
    exposed flue collector box, the percentage point reductions in AFUE 
    ranged from 0.5 to 2.8 for models currently rated at AFUE of 78.0 
    percent to 80.2 percent. Seven models will be below the 78 percent 
    minimum and five models will be below the 80 percent rebate criterion, 
    if tested in accordance with the proposed revision. (GAMA, No. 8, at 4 
    and A-2). Carrier Corp., Consolidated Industries, and Lennox Industries 
    all supported GAMA's position (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; Consolidated, No. 
    21, at 1; and Lennox, Transcript, at 77).
        Energy Kinetics, Inc. commented that in addition to the cool-down 
    and heat-up tests, the flue collector box should be insulated for the 
    steady-state portion of the test also. It believed that without the 
    insulation, the measured steady state efficiency is higher due to a 
    lower measured flue gas temperature than that measured with the 
    insulation. (Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 6).
        The commenters are not correct in classifying the proposed 
    requirement of insulating the flue collector box on induced draft or 
    forced draft units as a revision of the furnace test procedure. This 
    requirement is already specified in the current test procedure, and has 
    been in the DOE test procedure since 1980. Compliance with this 
    requirement is demonstrated by a waiver request that was denied by DOE. 
    This request was from the Carrier Corporation in 1980 for an exemption 
    from the requirement of insulating the ``flue collector and inducer 
    housing'' on its induced draft gas furnace. 76 FR 22799, April 21, 
    1981. The current test procedure cited at section 3.0--Test procedure, 
    of appendix N to subpart B of part 430, 56 FR 12159, March 28, 1984 
    references section 9 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1982 as the pertinent 
    test procedure. In ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1982, the requirement of 
    section 9.1.1.6 specifies ``*  * * cover the draft diverter and flue 
    gas collector box (on a power vented unit) with insulation having an R 
    value no less than 7. * * *'' Therefore, the provision is not a new 
    requirement and should require no retesting or re-rating of any 
    existing gas-fired, power vented units. The specification in the 1993 
    Proposed Rule was to: (1) Combine the requirement with the language in 
    section 9.1.4 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 that does not 
    specifically include the language for a power vented unit in the 
    insulation requirement, as was done in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1982, 
    and (2) include any units that employ a power burner. The requirement 
    is now specifically included in sections 7.2.2.2, 7.3.2.2, and 9.1.4, 
    ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.
        DOE has reviewed the comments by Inter-City Products on ``double 
    dipping,'' and by Energy Kinetics on the steady state efficiency being 
    overstated due to an un-insulated flue gas collector box. The jacket 
    loss and the steady state efficiency are measured without the 
    insulation on the flue gas collector box because these conditions exist 
    in practice. The reason for insulating the flue gas collector box 
    during the transient cool-down and heat-up tests is to obtain a 
    measured flue gas temperature as close as possible to its true value 
    when the flue gas first exits from the heat exchanger. This allows a 
    better calculation of the off-cycle flow through the heat exchanger. In 
    the original development of the flue loss methodology, an assumption 
    was made on the flue gas temperature variation during the transient 
    condition of cool-down and heat-up. This assumption was based on the 
    value of a flue gas temperature exiting the heat exchanger, not on a 
    lowered value measured some distance away. This transient gas 
    temperature variation has never been used in the calculation for jacket 
    loss and steady state efficiency.
        DOE has adopted this provision as specified in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 
    103-1993, which is referenced in today's final rule. This action is 
    taken for the reasons described above, and because this is not a new 
    requirement for gas-fired units and no comments were received opposing 
    the requirement for insulation of the flue gas collector box on oil-
    fired units.
    17. Insulation Requirement for Downflow Furnaces
        DOE proposed an insulation provision that specifies that during the 
    cool-down and heat-up tests, the internal section of the vent pipe is 
    to be insulated to an R value of not less than 7 ft \2\-h- deg.F/Btu. 
    GAMA and Inter-City Products both expressed their opposition to the 
    insulation requirement. They claim that the insulation requirement will 
    reduce the AFUE value of currently rated units, requiring the possible 
    lowering of the minimum standard on marginal units and affecting the 
    utility rebate program. GAMA provided data from tests recently 
    conducted at ETL to show that for twelve furnace models tested with 
    insulation of the internal vent pipe on downflow furnaces, the 
    percentage point reductions in AFUE range from 0.2 to 1.1 for models 
    currently rated at AFUE of from 78 percent to 80.2 percent. Eight of 
    the models will be
    
    [[Page 26148]]
    
    below the 78 percent minimum, and three will be below the 80 percent 
    rebate criterion, if tested pursuant to the proposed revision. (GAMA, 
    No. 8, at 2,4 and A-1; and Inter-City, No. 7, at 4). Carrier Corp., 
    Consolidated Industries, and Lennox Industries all supported GAMA's 
    position. (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; Consolidated, No. 21, at 1; and 
    Lennox, Transcript, at 77).
        The purpose of the proposal to require insulation of the flue pipe 
    is to obtain as nearly as possible the true flue gas temperature 
    required in the calculation of the flue loss. The assumption made in 
    the calculation procedure is that the flue gas temperature is the 
    temperature at the exit plane from the heat exchanger. Since this is 
    sometimes impossible to measure in practice, provisions are made in the 
    test procedure to measure the flue gas temperature in a more convenient 
    and accessible location such as in the flue pipe or stack. Insulation 
    of the sections of the flue gas passage between the heat exchanger exit 
    plane and the flue gas temperature measuring plane in the stack is not 
    for the purpose of reducing the heat loss through the jacket but to 
    obtain a more accurate flue gas temperature.
        Today's final rule does not include the insulation of the internal 
    flue pipe during the cool-down and heat-up tests. Also, the insulation 
    requirement specified in section 7.2.2.5 of the referenced ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1993 has not been included in today's final rule. This 
    action is justified by the fact that for the downflow furnace, there is 
    no existing specification in the current DOE test procedure that covers 
    the internal flue pipe. The Department considers the insulation of the 
    internal flue pipe during the heat-up and cool-down tests as a 
    desirable procedure in obtaining a more accurate measure of the flue 
    gas temperatures. Commenters objected to immediate implementation, 
    however, because of the test time, retesting and re-rating of all the 
    currently rated downflow furnace units with the associated costs, and 
    the reduction in AFUE. The Department decided that the objections 
    offered by commenters warrant a delay in the implementation of this 
    provision. DOE will continue to examine this subject and may consider 
    the implementation of the insulation requirement at a later date.
    18. Revised Minimum Value for the Draft Factor DP and 
    DF
        DOE proposed that a value of 0.05 for the draft factor 
    DP be assigned for any units whose DP value, when 
    measured by the optional tracer gas method, is less than 0.10. This 
    action was based on the following circumstances. The current test 
    procedure allows the minimum value for the draft factor DP 
    and DF to equal 0.0 on units where absolutely no air flows 
    through the combustion chamber and heat exchanger when the burner is 
    off (section 9.4.4 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1982 as referenced in 
    section 3.0 of appendix N to subpart B of part 430, 56 FR 12159, March 
    28, 1984). However, it is very difficult to verify an ``absolutely no 
    air-flow'' condition by current flow measurement technology.
        Only two comments were received. GAMA objected to the immediate 
    implementation of these changes. (GAMA, No. 8, at 4). Carrier Corp. and 
    Consolidated Industries both supported GAMA's position. (Carrier, No. 
    12, at 1; and Consolidated, No. 21, at 1). Energy Kinetics, Inc. 
    commented that the values are too small to have any significant effect. 
    (Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 6).
        The Department does not agree with GAMA's position and has adopted 
    this provision as specified in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, which is 
    referenced in today's final rule. This action is founded upon the 
    following observations. The measurement of very low flow rates of flue 
    gas is very difficult, and replicating the measurement would be a 
    problem at the low flow rate encountered. The Department considers the 
    value of 0.05 to be reasonable. The Department believes that only pulse 
    combustion furnaces meet the requirement of no air flow during the off-
    cycle. The effect of this change will be that more units can use a 
    lower draft factor DF (with a very slight increase in AFUE), 
    but it will not result in a lower AFUE for the set of units that are 
    minimally compliant with this provision, and will negate the necessity 
    of repeatedly conducting the tracer gas test to confirm the accuracy of 
    a measured value varying below the 0.1 range.
    19. Water Pump Energy Consumption
        DOE proposed the measurement of the electrical energy consumption 
    of the water pump for hot water boilers in the 1993 Proposed Rule. GAMA 
    put this requirement in its second category (GAMA, No. 8, at 4). 
    Carrier Corp. and Consolidated both supported GAMA's position. 
    (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; and Consolidated, No. 21, at 1). Hydronics 
    Institute (HI) stated that not all boilers are supplied with pumps. 
    Instead of measuring the pump power, HI suggested adopting the 
    requirement in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. This requirement 
    specifies the use of the nameplate wattage if the pump is supplied by 
    the manufacturers and a default value of 0.13 kW if no pump is 
    supplied. (HI, No. 15, at 3). Energy Kinetics stated that the value of 
    0.13 kW is too high and that the standard pumps shipped with 
    residential systems today consume no more than 60 watts (W). (Energy 
    Kinetics, No. 16, at 7). Mr. John Woodworth, independent commenter, 
    stated that the requirement would create a hardship and the results 
    would have an insignificant effect on the annual efficiency descriptor. 
    He stated that boilers are seldom tested with the ``standard pump'' in 
    the laboratory. Instead, test rigs in most laboratories include pumps 
    and mixing valves to test all sizes of boilers. When sold, a model 
    boiler may be equipped with as many as three different brands of pumps, 
    or shipped without a pump. Mr. Woodworth recommended that DOE adopt the 
    requirement of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 instead of the proposed 
    measurement requirement. (J. Woodworth, No. 20, at 3).
        The Department, in today's final rule, adopts the requirement of 
    ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 for pump power consumption. The 
    requirement states that if a pump is supplied with the boiler (as cited 
    by Energy Kinetics), then BE (electrical power to water pump) is the 
    nameplate wattage rating, and if no pump is supplied, then the current 
    default value of BE is 0.13 kW in calculation of annual electrical 
    energy consumption. By referencing the revised ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 
    103-1993, this is included in today's final rule. The Department does 
    not agree with GAMA's inclusion of this issue in its second category, 
    since pump power consumption is not involved with the calculation of 
    AFUE. DOE does agree that the 1993 Proposed Rule, by requiring an 
    additional measurement of pump power consumption, would impose a burden 
    that does not significantly improve the calculation of annual 
    electrical energy consumption. Hence, DOE adopts instead the ANSI/
    ASHRAE provision.
    20. Energy Factor and Annual Efficiency Descriptors
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, the Department proposed two energy 
    descriptors, the energy factor and annual efficiency, for both fossil-
    fueled furnaces and boilers. The proposed energy factor includes the 
    auxiliary electrical energy consumption of the appliance, and is 
    identical to the energy factor term as defined in appendix B of ANSI/
    ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, except that DOE proposed a different ``F-
    factor.'' Appendix B defined ``energy
    
    [[Page 26149]]
    
    factor'' as the ratio of the annual output of heat energy provided to 
    the space to the total annual energy input required to operate the 
    appliance. The annual output of heat energy includes the contribution 
    from a portion of the auxiliary electrical energy that is recovered as 
    useful heat. The total annual energy input required includes both the 
    fossil fuel and the auxiliary electric energy. The F-factor, however, 
    equal to 3.0 in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, was 3.37 in the DOE 
    proposal. The modified F-factor then approximated the ratio of the 
    energy required to generate and transmit the auxiliary electricity 
    consumed by the appliance to the amount of such electrical energy. The 
    F-factor was applied to the auxiliary electrical consumption to reflect 
    the efficiency in the use of all energy used to run the appliance.
        The purpose of the Department's proposal to establish the new 
    efficiency descriptor and the energy factor was to account for the 
    auxiliary electric energy in the operation of fossil-fueled furnaces 
    and boilers. The proposed descriptors would combine the consumption of 
    fossil fuel and auxiliary electricity into a single value that would 
    reflect the overall energy cost of a fossil-fueled appliance. The 
    current energy descriptor, AFUE, deals only with the primary type of 
    energy consumed by an appliance. Therefore, it does not give the 
    consumer a complete account of the overall energy and cost performance 
    of the appliance. On the basis of AFUE alone, a consumer would not be 
    able to compare the overall cost of operation of two or more different 
    models of fossil-fueled furnaces or boilers of comparable output 
    capacity with blowers of different motor efficiencies or on/off 
    controller timings. The proposed energy descriptors were intended to 
    give the consumer the necessary information for a more informed 
    decision. Another purpose for the proposed energy descriptors was to 
    provide an evaluation procedure for different design options for 
    fossil-fueled furnaces and boilers that involves auxiliary electric 
    energy consumption. This information would be considered in the 
    determination of energy efficiency standard levels.
        At the public hearing and during the public comment period 
    following the publication of the 1993 Proposed Rule, twenty-one 
    commenters offered views on this issue. The comments ranged from 
    support for an energy descriptor that included both the fossil fuel and 
    the auxiliary electric energy consumption, to complete disagreement 
    with that concept. Nearly all commenters however, expressed 
    reservations on the source-based multiplication factor (the F-factor to 
    be applied to the auxiliary electrical energy consumption of fossil-
    fueled appliances). A summary of the commenters' reasons for objection 
    include: (1) The use of source energy in determining the energy 
    efficiency, through the proposed F-factor, is not permitted by EPCA and 
    NAECA, which specify that efficiency must be determined by energy 
    consumption at the point of use (site) of the covered products; (2) the 
    application of the F-factor to the auxiliary electrical energy consumed 
    by fossil-fueled appliances, but not to all-electric furnaces, is 
    biased against fossil-fueled appliances; (3) a national average source 
    to site energy ratio ignores the variation in the value of the F-factor 
    due to different methods of power generation; (4) the value of the 
    proposed energy descriptor would be lower than the AFUE, creating 
    confusion for AFUE based rebate/incentive programs by utility 
    companies; (5) combination furnace/air-conditioning systems with a 
    single heating capacity may require different size blowers depending on 
    cooling load requirements; and (6) fuel switching and marketplace 
    distortion could result. A detailed summary of comments on the F-factor 
    and the proposed energy descriptor is found in the Federal Register 
    notice. 60 FR 4348 ( January 20, 1995).
        In 1995 the Department reopened the comment period on the 1993 
    Proposed Rule, solely to address this issue, and the Department 
    proposed a revision of its 1993 proposal. In place of the 1993 Proposed 
    Rule's definition of the F-factor as a source-to-site based energy 
    ratio, the Department proposed a cost-based electricity-to-fossil fuel 
    price ratio with a value of 3.36 at the point of use. The proposed 
    revision was published in the Federal Register on January 20, 1995. 60 
    FR 4348.
        Seventy comments were received concerning this proposed revision to 
    the F-factor. Many comments were similar to those received in response 
    to the original 1993 proposal, and disregarded the change to an F-
    factor based on cost of energy. Most commenters considered the proposal 
    as violating the intent and language of EPCA and NAECA, asserting that 
    these statutes define energy efficiency with reference to energy 
    consumption at the point of use (site energy). Because comments were 
    similar or identical to those submitted following the 1993 proposal, a 
    commenter-by-commenter description of the comments is not presented 
    here. Virtually all of the commenters urged DOE to either withdraw or 
    modify the F-factor proposal.
        One of the principal issues raised by the commenters is the 
    authority of DOE to establish an energy efficiency standard for 
    furnaces on the basis of either energy cost or source energy, as 
    opposed to site energy consumption in units of energy. Upon further 
    examination, it is the view of the Department of Energy that EPCA 
    requires the energy efficiency of a furnace to be based on consumption 
    of energy at the site of the furnace, and that the statute does not 
    permit the promulgation of an energy efficiency standard that is 
    expressed in terms of annual operating costs of the furnace.
        EPCA defines the energy conservation standard of a covered 
    appliance as ``a performance standard which prescribes a minimum level 
    of energy efficiency or a maximum quantity of energy use.'' EPCA 
    section 321(6), 42 U.S.C. 6291(6). EPCA defines ``energy efficiency'' 
    as the ratio of a product's useful output of services to its ``energy 
    use.'' EPCA section 321(5), 42 U.S.C. 6291(5). Thus, ``energy use'' is 
    a basis for any standard for furnaces and boilers. ``Energy use'' in 
    turn is defined in section 321(4), 42 U.S.C. 6291(4), as ``the quantity 
    of energy directly consumed by a consumer product at point of use.'' 
    Therefore, furnace energy conservation standards must be based on 
    consumption of energy at the site of the appliance. The Department 
    believes that this conclusion is further supported by terminology used 
    in section 325(f) of EPCA, 42 U.S.C. 6295(f), which concerns standards 
    for furnaces. Section 325(f)(1)(B), for example, requires the 
    promulgation of an ``energy conservation standard'' for small furnaces, 
    and, as just discussed, such a standard must be based on energy 
    consumption at the site of the application.
        Based on the above analysis, the Department is withdrawing the 
    proposed energy descriptor and energy factor in today's final rule. The 
    current procedures of determining AFUE from the energy efficiency 
    descriptor, and of calculating of the annual energy consumption of 
    fossil fuel and electrical energy for furnaces/boilers, therefore will 
    remain unchanged. In the meantime, the Department will continue to 
    explore and to solicit input from interested parties on various options 
    for the development of a descriptor that would take into account 
    separately both a new energy factor for fossil fueled furnaces and the 
    auxiliary electrical energy consumption of an appliance.
    
    [[Page 26150]]
    
    21. Measurement of Electric Energy Consumption for Interrupted Ignition 
    Device
        The 1993 Proposed Rule required measurement of the energy 
    consumption by the interrupted ignition device. Both GAMA and Inter-
    City Products argued that the electrical energy consumption of the 
    interrupted ignition device constitutes an extremely small amount of 
    all electrical consumption of a furnace. To include the measurement of 
    the energy consumption of the device is burdensome in time and effort. 
    Carrier Corp. and Consolidated Industries both supported GAMA's 
    position. (Inter-City, No. 7, at 3; GAMA, No. 8, at 18; Carrier, No. 
    12, at 1; and Consolidated, No. 21, at 1). HI and independent commenter 
    Mr. John Woodworth both stated that the energy consumption of these 
    ignition devices is small and will not affect the energy descriptors. 
    Additionally, according to HI and Mr. Woodworth, a separate test would 
    be required since the ignition devices are off during the steady state 
    test, and they are difficult to measure because the time duration and 
    power draw are not constant during ignition. Therefore, HI recommended 
    the deletion of the device in the proposed measurement requirement and 
    the calculation procedures. (HI, No. 15, at 3; and J. Woodworth, No. 
    20, at 4).
        To assess the merits of these comments, and to determine the amount 
    of energy consumption of an interrupted ignition device, NIST measured 
    the power input, on-time duration and energy consumption of an electric 
    hot surface ignition device on a 90,000 Btu/h input gas-fired furnace. 
    It was found that the power input varied from 515 W to 470 W during the 
    40 seconds the device was on. Except for the first few seconds, the 
    power draw was approximately 470 W. This translated into an energy 
    consumption of approximately 18 Btu per burner on-cycle, or 63 Btu/h 
    for the assumed average 3.5 burner on-cycles per hour (3.87 minutes on 
    and 13.3 minutes off) for a single stage furnace. While this compares 
    favorably with the average 400 Btu/h energy consumption of a pilot 
    light, DOE does not agree that the energy consumption of the 
    interrupted ignition device should be completely ignored. DOE agrees, 
    however, that the energy consumption is small enough to justify the 
    deletion of the measurement requirement in the proposed test procedure. 
    Therefore, DOE is specifying in today's final rule that the on-time of 
    an interrupted ignition device, as specified in a furnace's nameplate, 
    should be used as the actual on-time. Further, the nameplate power 
    input rating, or 0.4 kW if none is specified on the nameplate, should 
    be used as the average power draw in the electrical energy calculation. 
    The device on-time will be measured with a stop watch if not specified 
    on the nameplate. The device on-time will be set to equal zero if the 
    nameplate or measured value is less than or equal to five seconds.
    22. Measurement of Energy Consumption of Combustion Blower During Post 
    Purge
        The test procedure of the proposed rule and ASHRAE 103-93 requires 
    the measurement of the energy consumption of combustion blowers during 
    a post purge. Commenters GAMA and Inter-City Products both argued that 
    the electrical energy consumption of the combustion blower during post 
    purge constitutes an extremely small amount of all electrical 
    consumption of a furnace, and that to include the measurement of the 
    energy consumption of the combustion blower is overly burdensome in 
    time and effort. Carrier Corp. and Consolidated Industries both 
    supported GAMA's position. (Inter-City, No. 7, at 3; GAMA, No. 8, at 
    18; Carrier, No. 12, at 1; and Consolidated, No. 21, at 1). Energy 
    Kinetics, while not commenting on the power consumption of the draft 
    inducer during post purge, pointed out that the power burner is off for 
    some oil-fired units during post purge and thus, only the draft inducer 
    is on. As a result, the auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
    measured during steady state may not be equal to the electrical energy 
    consumption during the post purge period. (Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 
    6).
        The 1989 ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals states that the power 
    consumption of motors with rated horsepowers of \1/20\ hp and \1/12\ 
    hp, which would be typical for combustion blowers, are approximately 
    360 Btu/h and 580 Btu/h, respectively. For a post purge period of 30 
    seconds, the energy consumptions would be 3-5 Btu per off-cycle for the 
    two sizes of motors, and for a post purge period of 180 seconds, the 
    motor energy consumptions would be 18-29 Btu per off-cycle. For an 
    average 3.5 on-cycles per hour of furnace operation, the energy 
    consumption would be 10 Btu/h to 17 Btu/h for the 30-second post purge 
    and 60 Btu/h to 100 Btu/h for the 180-second post purge. For boilers 
    with an average of 1.3 on-cycles per hour, the values would be 
    approximately \1/3\ the above.
        DOE does not agree that the energy consumption should be completely 
    ignored. Therefore, DOE is specifying in today's final rule that the 
    nameplate power rating of the combustion blower be used as the power 
    consumption in the calculation for the electrical energy consumption. 
    DOE agrees that the energy consumption is small enough to justify the 
    deletion of the electric power measurement requirement for the 
    combustion blower. But measurement of the full length of the post purge 
    period, easily determined with a stop watch, is still required as set 
    forth in the proposed rule.
    23. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
        The 1993 Proposed Rule referenced ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 and 
    added additional amendments to cover the changes, revisions and 
    advances in technology between the years when the Standard was 
    published (1988) and the Proposed Rule was published (1993). Those 
    additional amendments included a revised calculation procedure for 
    units with stack dampers; revised test procedures for atmospheric 
    burner units with a burner inlet damper or flue damper; revised test 
    procedures for power burner units employing post purge during the off-
    cycle; insulation requirements during heat-up and cool-down tests for 
    downflow furnaces; a jacket loss test for units with ventilation 
    openings on their cabinets; and other technical corrections.
        Subsequent to the publication of the 1993 Proposed Rule, ASHRAE 
    published in October 1993 ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 which 
    supersedes ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1988. The revised ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1993 incorporated most of the revisions and additions to 
    ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 that were included in the 1993 Proposed 
    Rule, with the following exceptions: (1) The requirement of a minimum 
    on-time delay for the blower at burner ignition and a maximum off-time 
    delay after burner shut-off for units with an unvarying blower timing 
    control; (2) the actual measurement of power input to hot water boiler 
    pumps; (3) the measurement of ignition energy input to interrupted 
    ignition devices; and (4) the measurement of combustion blower time 
    delay during post purge after burner shut-off in power vented units. 
    With the above exceptions, the revised ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 
    and the 1993 Proposed Rule are nearly identical in content.
        Commenters including GAMA stated that ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 
    should be incorporated in the Department's test procedure rather than 
    ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1988 as proposed in the 1993 Proposed Rule. (GAMA, 
    Transcript, at 8). HI stated that since
    
    [[Page 26151]]
    
    ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1988 is no longer the current standard and will no 
    longer be published by ASHRAE, it would be difficult for manufacturers 
    to obtain additional copies for reference; therefore, the 1993 version 
    should be referenced. (HI, Transcript, at 74). Mr. John Woodworth, who 
    was Chairman of the SPC that developed ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1993, Secretary 
    of the SPC for ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1988 and Vice-Chairman of the SPC for 
    ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1982, suggested that DOE should reference the ANSI/
    ASHRAE 103-1993 rather than ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1988. He asserts that, with 
    few exceptions, the requirements in ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1993 are the same 
    as the requirements in the 1993 Proposed Rule. In addition, ANSI/ASHRAE 
    103-1988 will no longer be available from ASHRAE. (John Woodworth, No. 
    20, at 2). The CEC stated that it supports the use of ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1993 with DOE-specified changes. (CEC, No. 25, at 3). It 
    was suggested by Lennox (Lennox Transcript, at 78) that the test 
    procedure be published in its entirety.
        The Department agrees with the commenters on this issue and is 
    referencing the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 instead of the 1988 
    version in today's final rule. DOE decided not to publish the above 
    standard in its entirety, since it is the practice of the Department to 
    incorporate by reference any industry consensus standards, and the test 
    procedures adopted in today's final rule are nearly identical to ANSI/
    ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.
    24. Other Minor Modifications to ANSI/ASHRAE Standards 103-1988 and 
    103-1993
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE also proposed to adopt corrections 
    and clarifications of several typographical errors and inconsistencies 
    identified by ASHRAE SPC 103 following publication of ASHRAE Standard 
    103-1988.
        No commenter expressed objection to those specific revisions with 
    the exception of Mr. Woodworth on revision to section 9.7.3 of the 
    Standard. Therein, Mr. Woodworth stated that, since TF,OFF 
    is not needed in the calculation of off-period flue gas mass flow rate 
    if the draft is maintained during cool-down, the TF,OFF 
    reading is not necessary. The draft is maintained during cool-down for 
    units with barometric draft regulators. Therefore, the phrase ``if 
    draft is not maintained during cool-down'' should not be deleted. (J. 
    Woodworth, No. 20, at 4). DOE agrees with Mr. Woodworth's comment, and 
    the proposed revision is dropped from today's final rule.
        DOE, by referencing ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 today, has 
    included all the other minor revisions and corrections to ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1988 in today's final rule. With the exception of the item 
    commented on by Mr. Woodworth above, the revised ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 
    103-1993 incorporated all the other minor revisions and corrections to 
    ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 described in the 1993 Proposed Rule.
        After the publication of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, a few 
    typographical errors were identified. On October 24, 1996, ASHRAE 
    issued an Errata Sheet for ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, that listed the 
    typographical errors to be corrected in ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1993. This 
    ASHRAE Errata is incorporated by reference in today's final rule.
    25. Other Issues
        The following is a discussion of comments DOE received on issues 
    not raised by the proposed test procedure for furnaces and boilers. As 
    discussed below, however, in the 1993 Proposed Rule DOE had requested 
    comments on certain of these issues.
        (1) Distribution System Efficiency.--First, commenters including 
    Dr. M. A. Habegger of Boulder, Colorado, remarked that in the field 
    installation, the air flow rate through the distribution system has a 
    large effect on the overall system efficiency. Further, the value of 
    AFUE obtained through the current test procedure is usually much higher 
    than the overall system efficiency. (M. A. Habegger, No. 22 at 1). The 
    Department agrees that a reduced air flow rate will reduce the overall 
    efficiency of the heating system due to a higher flue gas temperature 
    and duct air leakage.
        Dr. Habegger further comments that the circulation air flow rate is 
    not considered in the current test procedure and that testing the 
    efficiency of equipment without considering the overall installed 
    system effect is meaningless. The Department disagrees. The rate of 
    circulation air flow is addressed in the test procedure by the limits 
    set on both the minimum external static pressure and the air 
    temperature rise between the supply and return air. This assures that 
    the circulation air blower will deliver the appropriate amount of air 
    flow at the required design conditions.
        As the Department specifically pointed out in the preamble to the 
    1984 Final Rule for furnaces, boilers, and vented and unvented home 
    heaters, the test procedures cannot predict the energy performance of a 
    furnace in every installation. 49 FR 12153 (March 28, 1984). Rather, 
    their use is for comparison purposes and thus installation variables 
    are only representatively accounted for. That preamble continues to 
    state the Department's position on this issue.
        (2) Input/Output Method.--Two commenters, Energy Kinetics and the 
    CEC, responded to the Department's request to comment on the 
    appropriateness of a test procedure for furnaces and boilers based on 
    an input/output method. Both suggested the development or adoption of 
    the input/output method as a more accurate method for rating furnaces 
    and boilers in place of the present flue loss method. (Energy Kinetics, 
    No. 16, at 7; and CEC, No. 25, at 3). GAMA, in response to questions 
    during the public hearing, stated that ETL researchers working on an 
    input/output method for GAMA experienced a great deal of difficulty in 
    repeating the test results and in correlating the resulting efficiency 
    rating with the current method. GAMA felt that more time is needed for 
    work in the input/output method. (GAMA, Transcript, at 35).
        An analysis by Dr. D. R. Tree of Purdue University with data 
    supplied by NIST on the errors associated with the input/output method 
    showed that for warm air furnaces, the uncertainties in duct air flow 
    measurement and non-uniform temperature distribution in the duct, 
    during steady state and cyclic conditions, would result in an error 
    estimate of 12 percent for the AFUE value. This made the 
    input/output method unacceptable as a test procedure for warm air 
    furnaces.4 The problem of flow and temperature measurements 
    for hot water boilers would not be as severe. A detailed method, 
    however, on the transient performance of hot water boilers, both during 
    the on-cycle (energy delivered) and the off-cycle (heat loss) needs to 
    be developed and a consensus on the procedure agreed upon. The problems 
    of testing according to two different test procedures, one for warm air 
    furnaces and one for hydronic heating systems, also require further 
    discussion. The Department is, therefore, reserving action on the 
    possible adoption of an input/output method for hydronic heating 
    systems to a future rulemaking.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        \4\ David R. Tree, ``Error Analysis of Testing for Annual Fuel 
    Utilization Efficiency of Residential Central Furnace Boilers, 
    Report Number 4, Executive Summary,'' Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, 
    Purdue University.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        (3) Test Procedure for Combined Space/Water Heating Appliances.--
    Only Energy Kinetics raised this issue, and questioned the 
    appropriateness of the current ASHRAE Standard 124-
    
    [[Page 26152]]
    
    1991 that covers the testing and rating of combination appliances. 
    (Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 8).
        The Department is preparing to propose a test procedure for 
    combined space/water heating appliances in the future. DOE welcomes any 
    comments and input from industry and interested individuals and 
    organizations.
        (4) Off-Cycle Draft Setting.--Only Energy Kinetics commented that 
    the operation and off-cycle draft conditions at the flue connection to 
    a unit affect the ratings of the unit, and suggested that the draft 
    value should not be left to be at the manufacturer's recommendation. 
    Energy Kinetics suggested a standard draft level of 0.05'' water column 
    to be maintained at both the on-cycle and off-cycle periods during the 
    test. (Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 5).
        DOE believes that this specification is not necessary as the draft 
    produced during the operation of the unit cannot be arbitrarily set by 
    the manufacturer if proper operation, such as smoke number, 
    CO2 concentration, and flame stability, of the unit is to be 
    maintained. DOE reasons that if the manufacturers do not require or 
    recommend the maintenance of a specific draft level during the off-
    cycle for the normal operation of their unit, it should not be required 
    during the off-period test.
        (5) Supply and Return Water Temperature Settings for Hot Water 
    Boilers.--Energy Kinetics stated that the hot water boiler temperature 
    settings of 120 deg.F return water temperature and 140 deg.F supply 
    water temperature during the tests, as prescribed in the current test 
    procedure, are too low. They are not the normal temperatures of 
    160 deg.F and 180 deg.F encountered in a home installation. (Energy 
    Kinetics, No. 16, at 4).
        The Department prescribed the test conditions for hot water boilers 
    (boiler return water of at least 120 deg.F and a 20 deg.F temperature 
    rise) during the 1983 proposed rulemaking (48 FR 28014, June 17, 1983) 
    before the publication of the final rule for the current furnace test 
    procedure (49 FR 12148, March 24, 1984). In so doing, the Department 
    stated its belief that all non-condensing hot water boilers, including 
    finned tube boilers and low thermal mass boilers, generally operated at 
    these conditions, and the specifications would eliminate the need for 
    future test procedure waivers for specific types of hot water boilers 
    from a uniform test condition. At that time the boiler industry had 
    also indicated its desire to have these test conditions included. The 
    Department sees no fundamental change in the application of hot water 
    boilers to warrant revision to the current test procedure. In addition, 
    changing the test conditions to those suggested by Energy Kinetics 
    would result in a reduction of the AFUE for existing hot water boilers 
    as the flue loss would be slightly higher due to a higher flue gas 
    temperature. This would require the retesting and re-rating of most 
    existing hot water boilers.
        For the reasons discussed above, today's final rule does not 
    include any changes to the test conditions with respect to the boiler 
    water return temperature and temperature rise for hot water boilers as 
    specified in the current test procedure.
        (6) Energy Lost at Appliance Location (Boilers in Unheated 
    Space).--Energy Kinetics disagreed with the requirement that boilers be 
    tested as indoor installation. It claimed that most boilers are 
    installed in un-conditioned space. (Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 4).
        Since the minimum standard for boilers is based on a statutory 
    definition of AFUE which explicitly assumes that non-weatherized 
    boilers are located indoors, DOE will not consider any change in the 
    installation location for boilers at the present time.
        (7) Setting Throughput Air Temperature Rise for Furnaces.--In the 
    current DOE test procedure and ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1988, the 
    adjustment to the air throughput for warm air furnaces at steady state 
    operation is specified under the following conditions: a temperature 
    rise, across the heat exchanger, shall be the higher of (1) 15 deg.F 
    below the maximum temperature rise, or (2) 15 deg.F above the minimum 
    temperature rise, as specified by the manufacturer.
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule and in the 1993 revision of ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103 (as 103-1993), a provision was added to the test setting 
    of the air temperature rise. The provision requires that, for furnaces 
    whose design does not permit a temperature rise range of 30 deg.F, the 
    furnace shall be tested at the midpoint of the rise range specified by 
    the manufacturer if the rise is less than 30 deg.F. Commenters GAMA and 
    Inter-City mentioned this provision for condensing furnaces whose 
    temperature rise range may be less than 30 deg.F, and listed this 
    provision in GAMA's first category of revisions for immediate 
    implementation. (GAMA, No. 8 at 3; Inter-City, No. 7 at 4).
        DOE has adopted this provision as specified in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 
    103-1993 referenced in today's final rule.
    
    B. Vented Home Heating Equipment
    
        The Department originally published the test procedure for vented 
    home heating equipment on May 2, 1978. 43 FR 20182. The Department 
    amended this test procedure on March 28, 1984, to include a simplified 
    vented heater test procedure for heaters with modulating controls, 
    manually controlled vented heaters, vented heaters equipped with 
    thermal stack dampers, and floor furnaces. 49 FR 12169.
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE proposed the following amendments to 
    the vented home heating equipment test procedure: (1) To establish an 
    annual efficiency descriptor to account for the auxiliary electrical 
    energy consumed by the fan or blowers in addition to the fossil fuel 
    consumed; (2) to revise the calculation procedure for AFUE for manually 
    controlled heaters; and (3) to revise the calculation procedure for 
    weighted average steady-state efficiency for manually controlled 
    heaters with various input rates.
        The following discussion addresses the comments received on the 
    proposed rule.
    1. Annual Efficiency Descriptor
        The Department proposed in the 1993 Proposed Rule to adopt the 
    energy factor as defined in appendix B of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 
    as the new energy descriptor for vented home heating equipment, and 
    renamed it the annual efficiency descriptor.
        The Department's current test procedure for vented home heating 
    equipment prescribes the calculation of AFUE based on the energy 
    consumption of fossil fuel only. Since auxiliary electrical energy can 
    be consumed by these appliances such as for the operation of a blower, 
    DOE considered that a more appropriate energy descriptor was needed to 
    account for both fossil fuel and auxiliary electrical energy 
    consumption of the appliances. This energy descriptor would also be 
    used to address the electrical energy used by some of the design 
    options considered for energy standard level evaluation.
        Seventeen commenters, directly or in support of another commenter, 
    have commented on this issue. The comments from each individual or 
    organization were discussed in the Federal Register notice of January 
    20, 1995. 60 FR 4348. This was described previously in the section for 
    the proposed energy factor and annual efficiency descriptors for 
    central furnaces and boilers. (See II.A. 20 above, ``Annual Efficiency 
    Descriptor and Energy Factor.'')
        As concluded in the discussion above, DOE has decided to withdraw 
    the proposed energy descriptor from today's final rule. Since the 
    commenters
    
    [[Page 26153]]
    
    combined their comments on this proposed energy descriptor with those 
    for the central furnaces/boilers, readers are referred to that section 
    for a discussion of this issue. Therefore, the current procedures of 
    determining AFUE as the energy efficiency descriptor will remain 
    unchanged. However, the proposed procedure for the calculation of the 
    annual energy consumption of fossil fuel and electrical energy for the 
    vented home heating equipment is included in today's final rule. This 
    added procedure does not involve any additional testing beyond that 
    required by the current test procedure. The added calculation procedure 
    is intended to allow for the adequate and fair cost ranking of the 
    different design options that may be considered in future evaluations 
    of possible revisions of energy standard levels.
    2. Pilot Light Energy Consumption for Manually Controlled Heaters
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, for manually controlled heaters, under 
    certain conditions, the measurement of pilot light energy is not 
    needed. Two comments on this issue were received. GAMA supported the 
    provision of not requiring the measurement of the pilot energy 
    consumption for manually controlled heaters equipped with a piezo 
    igniter. (GAMA, No. 8, at 20). The CEC stated that the language in the 
    provision should be more explicit in defining what is meant by the 
    phrase ``when the heater is not in use and instruction to do so is 
    given,'' in section 3.5.2 of appendix O to subpart B of part 430. The 
    CEC further stated that the manufacturer should only be allowed to 
    ignore the pilot energy use if the pilot extinguishes whenever the 
    burner is off. (CEC, No. 25, at 3).
        The Department agrees with the suggestion of the CEC to clarify 
    when the proposed provision is applicable. This provision applies to a 
    heater that provides manually controlled settings for the control knob 
    in the operation of the appliance, and a clearly marked knob setting 
    such as the ``OFF'' knob setting shuts off the appliance completely 
    including the pilot light. DOE is today revising the section in 
    question to read as follows:
        ``3.5.2 For manually controlled heaters where the pilot light is 
    designed to be turned off by the user when the heater is not in use, 
    that is, turning the control to the OFF position will shut off the gas 
    supply to the burner(s) and to the pilot light, the measurement of 
    QP is not needed. This provision applies only if an 
    instruction to turn off the unit is provided on the heater near the gas 
    control valve (e.g., by label) by the manufacturer.''
    3. Weighted Average Steady-State Efficiency
        In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE proposed that for manually 
    controlled vented home heaters with multiple input rates whose design 
    is such that the specified minimum firing rate cannot be set at 
    505 percent of the unit's maximum firing rate, the test 
    will be conducted at the unit's minimum fuel input rate, provided that 
    the minimum input shall be no higher than \2/3\ of the maximum fuel 
    input rate of the heater.
        GAMA supported this provision. (GAMA, No. 8, at 20). DOE is 
    adopting the provision in today's final rule.
    
    C. Pool Heaters
    
        The Department published the pool heater test procedure on February 
    7, 1989, referencing ANSI Standard Z21.56-1986 for gas-fired pool 
    heaters. 54 FR 6076. In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE proposed to amend 
    the pool heater test procedure, first, to include an annual efficiency 
    descriptor that accounts for the fossil fuel and the auxiliary 
    electrical energy consumed by any fan or pump and, second, to replace 
    the reference to ANSI Standard Z21.56-1986 with references to the then 
    updated version of ANSI Standard Z21.56.
        Standard Z21.56 was updated again in 1994. But no substantive 
    changes were made in the portions of that Standard which DOE had 
    proposed, in the 1993 Proposed Rule, to incorporate into its pool 
    heater test procedure. DOE is therefore referencing ANSI Standard 
    Z21.56-1994 in the pool heater test procedure it adopts today.
        All of the comments received on the proposed amendment to this test 
    procedure concerned the proposed annual efficiency descriptor. The 
    following discussion addresses those comments.
    1. Annual Efficiency Descriptor
        The Department proposed in the 1993 Proposed Rule a new energy 
    descriptor, the Annual Efficiency (AE), for pool heaters. The proposed 
    AE descriptor, was defined as the ratio of the annual output of energy 
    delivered to the heated pool water by fossil fuel to the total annual 
    energy input to the heater including auxiliary electrical energy. The 
    latter term, auxiliary electrical energy, was multiplied by a factor F 
    which represents the ratio of the heat energy required to generate and 
    transmit the electricity to the electrical energy delivered at the pool 
    heater. This was for the purpose of reflecting the efficiency of total 
    energy used to run the appliance.
        The Department's current test procedure for pool heaters prescribes 
    the calculation of the thermal efficiency under steady state condition 
    only. The thermal efficiency is defined as the ratio of the useful 
    output of heated water to the sum of the input of fossil fuel energy 
    and auxiliary electric energy during the steady state test period. DOE 
    considered that a more appropriate energy descriptor was needed in 
    order to account for the energy consumption during the burner-off 
    periods of a pool heating season. DOE based this view on the fact that 
    a significant quantity of energy can be consumed by a continuous pilot 
    light and the auxiliary electrical energy consumption during the 
    burner-off periods of the pool heating season. The proposed energy 
    descriptor could also be used to address the energy savings by some of 
    the design options that might be considered in future evaluation of 
    possible revisions of energy standard levels. For example, to consider 
    electronic ignition, the evaluation would have to account for the 
    savings in gas consumption resulting from elimination of a continuous 
    burning pilot.
        Seventeen commenters, directly or in support of another commenter, 
    have commented on this issue. The comments from each individual or 
    organization concerning the proposed multiplication factor F applied to 
    the auxiliary electric energy consumption are discussed in the Federal 
    Register notice of January 20, 1995 (60 FR 4348). This was described 
    previously in subsection 20 of section II.A of this notice, which 
    discusses the proposed energy factor and annual efficiency descriptors 
    for central furnaces and boilers. Readers are referred to that section 
    for the discussion of the F-factor issue.
        GAMA also commented on the proposed annual efficiency descriptor 
    concerning pool heaters. GAMA stated that the use of a recirculating 
    pump should be factored into the AE descriptor only if the pump is used 
    during the thermal efficiency test under section 2.8.1 of ANSI Z21.56-
    1990 standard. Further, GAMA claims, the pump or the pump/filter system 
    used in any given installation in the field that is not supplied by the 
    manufacturer should not be considered as part of the heater's auxiliary 
    components. GAMA commented that DOE should focus on addressing a pool 
    heater's primary electrical energy consumption rather than auxiliary 
    losses.
    
    [[Page 26154]]
    
        The Department believes that the above concerns expressed by GAMA 
    are unfounded. As shown in section 4 of appendix P of the 1993 Proposed 
    Rule, the determination of the auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
    of the pool heater is as specified in ANSI Z21.56-1990 standard, and 
    was not modified in the 1993 Proposed Rule. As proposed in section 4.4 
    of appendix P, the calculation of the annual auxiliary electrical 
    energy consumption is based on heater on-time only.
        GAMA first stated that, since DOE defined the average number of 
    burner operating hours as 104 hours independent of pool and heater 
    size, then ``100,000 Btu/hr and 400,000 Btu/hr pool heaters can have 
    the same AE value, and would give the impression that a 400,000 Btu/hr 
    pool heater is an effective choice for heating a 500 gallon hot tub.'' 
    GAMA then stated that during pool ``off-season'' hours, the continuous 
    pilot is usually shut off.
        DOE disagrees with the first statement. If the output capacity of 
    the pool heater is properly selected by the contractor or installer 
    based on the size or load requirement of a particular pool, then the 
    burner operating time would be neither excessively long nor unduly 
    short. Moreover, although the selection of a particular pool heater 
    among models of similar capacity for a specific pool size may be based 
    on its energy efficiency, the selection of a correct capacity heater is 
    based on the pool size or load requirement. As to GAMA's statement 
    about the pilot light being off during the ``off season,'' the 1993 
    proposal already assumed that the continuous pilot light, if used, will 
    be off during non-heating season hours. (See section 4.2 of appendix P 
    to subpart B of part 430, on the definition of the average number of 
    seasonal pool operating hours (POH).)
        In its statement, GAMA also suggested that, instead of the AE 
    descriptor, DOE should develop a methodology to calculate total annual 
    energy consumption, based on thermal efficiency, electrical energy 
    consumption, and continuous pilot light consumption. Thus, consumers 
    could use this information to estimate annual energy consumption and 
    operating costs for a specific pool size and season of operation.
        DOE agrees with this suggestion. The calculation procedure in 
    today's final rule includes the calculation of the average annual 
    fossil fuel and auxiliary electric energy consumption.
        The Department has decided to withdraw the proposed energy 
    descriptor with the proposed F-factor multiplier from today's final 
    rule, for the reasons discussed in subsection 20 of section II.A of 
    this notice. The current procedure for determining the energy 
    efficiency descriptor for pool heaters, the steady state thermal 
    efficiency, shall remain unchanged. A procedure, however, for the 
    calculation of the pool heater seasonal efficiency and the annual 
    energy consumption of fossil fuel and auxiliary electricity for the 
    pool heater is included in today's final rule. The pool heater seasonal 
    efficiency is defined as the ratio (in percent) of the useful output of 
    the heater in terms of heated pool water during the pool heating season 
    to the sum of the total energy input when the burner is on and the 
    energy consumption of the pilot light when the burner is off during the 
    pool heating season. The total burner-on hours and the length of the 
    pool heating season are assumed to be 104 hours and 4464 hours per 
    year, respectively. The heater is assumed to be in steady state 
    operation whenever the burner is on. The pilot light is assumed to be 
    off during the non-heating season hours (4296 hours) and on during the 
    pool heating season hours (4464 hours). The auxiliary electrical energy 
    consumption is assumed to be negligible when the burner is off. For 
    heaters which do not employ a continuous pilot light during the pool 
    heating season, the seasonal efficiency will be the same as the steady 
    state thermal efficiency. This procedure will account for the energy 
    consumption of those pool heaters that employ a continuous pilot light 
    during the pool heating season. As stated previously, the procedure 
    also provides a calculation procedure for the average annual fossil 
    fuel and auxiliary electric energy consumption. These calculations are 
    simply arithmetic exercises with no additional testing required. Since 
    these calculations could be used to address the energy savings by some 
    design options that might be considered in future evaluations of energy 
    standard levels, DOE believes it is justified to include these 
    additional calculations.
    
    III. Procedural Requirements
    
    A. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
    
        The Department has concluded that this final rule falls into a 
    class of actions (categorical exclusion A5) that are categorically 
    excluded from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) 
    review because they would not individually or cumulatively have a 
    significant impact on the human environment, as determined by DOE's 
    regulations (10 CFR part 1021, appendix A to subpart D) implementing 
    the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321, 4331-35, 4341-47). Therefore this final rule 
    does not require an environmental impact statement or an environmental 
    assessment pursuant to NEPA.
    
    B. Review Under Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and 
    Review''
    
        Today's regulatory action has been determined not to be a 
    ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, 
    ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' 58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993. 
    Accordingly, today's action was not subject to review under the 
    Executive Order by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
    
    C. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 603, requires the 
    preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis for every 
    rule which by law must be proposed for public comment, unless the 
    agency certifies that the rule, if promulgated, will not have a 
    significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
    A regulatory flexibility analysis examines the impact of the rule on 
    small entities and considers alternate ways of reducing negative 
    impacts.
        The Department believes the final rule will not have a significant 
    impact on either small or large manufacturers of furnaces and boilers, 
    vented home heating equipment, and pool heaters under the provisions of 
    the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The final rule amends DOE's test 
    procedures, primarily to incorporate (1) test procedures already in use 
    by manufacturers pursuant to waivers that DOE previously granted to 
    those manufacturers, and (2) revisions to standard industry testing 
    methods, contained in American Society of Heating, Air-Conditioning and 
    Refrigerating Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 103-1993, ``Methods of 
    Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of Residential Central 
    Furnaces and Boilers,'' and American National Standards Institute 
    Standard Z21.56-1994, ``Gas-Fired Pool Heaters.'' Examples of 
    amendments are:
         The 90-second delay from burner ignition to activation of 
    the warm air circulation fan designed with an unvarying time delay in a 
    central furnace has been shortened to accommodate current manufacturers 
    designs.
         There is no requirement to calculate the energy 
    consumption of a gas pilot light on manually controlled vented home 
    heaters provided that there is instruction for the user to turn the 
    pilot light off and restart it.
    
    [[Page 26155]]
    
         The test procedure for modulated, vented home heating 
    equipment allows testing at 100 percent and sixty six percent rated 
    input power, instead of 100 percent and fifty percent power, to 
    accommodate new designs.
        Such requirements presented in the final rule incorporate 
    improvements in the current testing technology for furnaces and 
    boilers, vented home heating equipment, and pool heaters utilized by 
    industry. But they would not have a significant economic impact, since 
    they are methods already in use by manufacturers, and will not cause 
    manufacturers to purchase equipment, consume testing time, nor employ 
    technical staff beyond what is required by existing DOE test 
    procedures.
        In addition, in some respects the test procedures in the final rule 
    are less burdensome than the current procedures. For example:
         The formula to calculate the time delay and energy loss of 
    a stack damper traversing from fully open to fully closed has been 
    adjusted for greater accuracy. The revised formula has been 
    incorporated into the existing computer program for the calculation of 
    the AFUE and will require no additional hand calculations.
        Therefore, DOE certifies that the final rule, if promulgated, would 
    not have a ``significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
    small entities'' and that the preparation of a regulatory flexibility 
    analysis is not warranted.
    
    D. Review Under Executive Order 12612, ``Federalism'
    
        Executive Order 12612 (52 FR 41685, October 30, 1987) requires that 
    regulations or rules be reviewed for any substantial direct effects on 
    States, on the relationship between the Federal Government and the 
    States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among 
    various levels of government. If there are sufficient substantial 
    direct effects, then Executive Order 12612 requires preparation of a 
    Federalism assessment to be used in all decisions involved in 
    promulgating and implementing a regulation or a rule.
        The final rule published today would not alter the distribution of 
    authority and responsibility to regulate in this area. The final rule 
    would only revise a currently applicable DOE test procedure to improve 
    existing testing methods, and to add provisions that DOE might use in 
    future standard setting. Accordingly, DOE has determined that 
    preparation of a federation assessment is unnecessary.
    
    E. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 
    1974
    
        The test procedures in this final rule incorporate commercial 
    standards to measure the efficiency and capacity of furnaces and/
    boilers, vented home heating equipment, and pool heaters. The 
    commercial standards are ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, ``Method of 
    Testing for Annual Fuel utilization Efficiency of Residential Central 
    Furnaces and Boilers,'' and ANSI Standard Z21.56-1994, ``Gas Fired Pool 
    Heaters.''
        Pursuant to section 301 of the Department of Energy Organization 
    Act (Pub. L. 95-91), DOE is required to comply with section 32 of the 
    Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, as amended by section 9 of 
    the Federal Energy Administration Authorization Act of 1977 (FEAA) Pub. 
    L. 95-70, which imposes certain requirements where a proposed rule 
    contains commercial standards or authorizes or requires the use of such 
    standards. The findings required of DOE by section 32 serve to alert 
    the public and DOE regarding the use and background of commercial 
    standards in a proposal and through the rulemaking process. They allow 
    interested persons to make known their views regarding the 
    appropriateness of the use of any particular commercial standard in a 
    proposed rulemaking.
        The Department has evaluated ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 and ANSI 
    Standard Z21.56-1994 with regard to compliance with section 32(b) of 
    the FEAA. The Department is unable to conclude whether these standards 
    fully complied with the requirements of section 32(b), i.e., that they 
    are developed in a manner which fully provided for public 
    participation, comment, and review.
        In addition, section 32(c) of the FEAA precludes the Department 
    from incorporating any commercial standard into a rule unless it has 
    consulted with the Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal 
    Trade Commission (FTC) as to the impact of such standard on 
    competition, and neither individual recommends against its 
    incorporation. Pursuant to section 32(c), the Department advised these 
    individuals of its intention to incorporate Standards 103-1993 and 
    Z21.56-1991 into its final test procedure rules for furnaces/boilers 
    and pool heaters, respectively. Neither recommended against such 
    incorporation.
        The Department notes that it is incorporating into today's rule the 
    method for testing pool heaters that is set forth in ANSI Standard 
    Z21.56-1994. Standard Z21.56-1994 was not specifically identified in 
    the aforementioned communications with the FTC and Department of 
    Justice. It is, however, a revised and updated version of Standard 
    Z21.56-1991, which was mentioned in those communications, and the 
    provisions DOE is incorporating from Z21.56-1994 are identical in 
    substance to the corresponding provisions in Z21.56-1991.5
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        \5\ The Department has informally advised the Department of 
    Justice and the Federal Trade Commission of its intention to 
    incorporate the updated version of Standard Z21.56 into the final 
    rule.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    F. Review Under Executive Order 12630, ``Governmental Actions and 
    Interference With Constitutionally Protected Property Rights''
    
        It has been determined pursuant to Executive Order 12630 (52 FR 
    8859, March 18, 1988) that this final rule would not result in any 
    takings which might require compensation under the Fifth Amendment to 
    the United States Constitution.
        The Department believes that test procedures implementing a long-
    established statutory mandate in a manner calculated to minimize 
    adverse economic impacts does not constitute a ``taking'' of private 
    property. Thus, testing under the appliance standards program does not 
    invoke the provisions of E.O. 12630.
    
    G. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980
    
        No new information or record keeping requirements are imposed by 
    this rulemaking. Accordingly, no OMB clearance is required under the 
    Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
    
    H. Review Under Executive Order 12988, ``Civil Justice Reform''
    
        With respect to the review of existing regulations and the 
    promulgation of new regulations, section 3(a) of Executive Order 12988, 
    ``Civil Justice Reform,'' 61 FR 4729 (February 7, 1996), imposes on 
    Executive agencies the general duty to adhere to the following 
    requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity; (2) write 
    regulations to minimize litigation; and (3) provide a clear legal 
    standard for affected conduct rather than a general standard and 
    promote simplification and burden reduction. With regard to the review 
    required by section 3(a), section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988 
    specifically requires that Executive agencies make every reasonable 
    effort to ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly
    
    [[Page 26156]]
    
    specifies the preemptive effect , if any; (2) clearly specifies any 
    effect on existing Federal law or regulation; (3) provides a clear 
    legal standard for affected conduct while promoting simplification and 
    burden reduction; (4) specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5) 
    adequately defines key terms; and (6) addresses other important issues 
    affecting clarity and general draftsmanship under any guidelines issued 
    by the Attorney General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order 12988 requires 
    Executive agencies to review regulations in light of applicable 
    standards in section 3(a) and section 3(b) to determine whether they 
    are met or it is unreasonable to meet one or more of them. DOE has 
    completed the required review and determined that, to the extent 
    permitted by law, the final regulations meet the relevant standards of 
    Executive Order 12988.
    
    I. Review Under Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    
        If any proposed or final rule includes a Federal mandate that may 
    result in expenditure by state, local, and tribal governments, in the 
    aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any one 
    year, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, signed into law on 
    March 22, 1995, requires an agency (prior to promulgation) to prepare a 
    budgetary impact statement and select the least costly, most cost 
    effective and least burdensome alternative that achieve the objectives 
    of the rule and is consistent with statutory requirements.
        DOE has determined that the action promulgated today does not 
    include such a Federal mandate. Therefore, the requirements of the 
    Unfunded Mandates Act do not apply to this action.
    
    J. Review Under Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
    1996
    
        As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will report to Congress 
    promulgation of the rule prior to its effective date. 5 U.S.C. 801. The 
    report will state that it has been determined that the rule is not a 
    ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(3).
    
    List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 430
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Energy conservation, 
    Household appliances, Incorporation by reference.
    
        Issued in Washington, DC, on February 28, 1997.
    Christine A. Ervin,
    Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
    
        For the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 430 of chapter II 
    of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, is amended as set forth 
    below.
    
    PART 430--ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS
    
        1. The authority citation for part 430 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291-6309
    
        2. Section 430.2 is amended by adding a definition for the term 
    ``Mobile home furnace'' in alphabetical order, to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 430.2  Definitions.
    
    * * * * *
        Mobile home furnace means a direct vent furnace that is designed 
    for use only in mobile homes.
    * * * * *
        3. Section 430.22 is amended by adding paragraph (a)(3)(iv) and 
    adding item numbers 13 and 14 to paragraph (a)(4) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 430.22  Reference sources.
    
        (a) * * *
        (3) * * *
        (iv) American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-
    Conditioning Engineers, Inc., Publication Sales, 1791 Tullie Circle, 
    NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, (1-800-5-ASHRAE).
        (4) * * *
        13. American National Standards Institute/American Society of 
    Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 103-
    1993, ``Methods of Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of 
    Residential Central Furnaces and Boilers,'' (with Errata of October 
    24, 1996) except for sections 3.0, 7.2.2.5, 8.6.1.1, 9.1.2.2, 
    9.5.1.1, 9.5.1.2.1, 9.5.1.2.2, 9.5.2.1, 9.7.1, 10.0, 11.2.12, 
    11.3.12, 11.4.12, 11.5.12 and appendices B and C.
        14. American National Standards Institute Standard Z21.56-1994, 
    ``Gas-Fired Pool Heaters,'' section 2.9.
     * * * * *
        4. Section 430.23 is amended as follows:
        A. In paragraph (n)(1)(i), the words ``section 4.8 or 4.10'' are 
    revised to read ``section 10.2.2 or 10.3'' and in paragraph (n)(1)(ii), 
    the words ``section 4.9'' are revised to read ``section 10.2.3'' and, 
    in the parenthetical phase, the words ``section 4'' are revised to read 
    ``section 10.''
        B. In paragraph (n)(2), the words ``section 4.6'' are revised to 
    read ``section 10.1'' and the words ``section 4.1 of appendix N of this 
    subpart'' are revised to read ``section 11.1 of American National 
    Standards Institute/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and 
    Air-Conditioning Engineers (ANSI/ASHRAE) Standard 103-1993.''
        C. In paragraph (n)(3)(i), the words ``section 4.11 or 4.13'' are 
    revised to read ``section 10.5.1 or 10.5.3'' and in paragraph 
    (n)(3)(ii), the words ``section 4.12'' are revised to read ``section 
    10.5.2.''
        D. In paragraph (n)(4), the words ``section 4.14'' are revised to 
    read ``section 10.4.''
        E. Revise paragraphs (o)(2), and (p)(1) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 430.23  Test procedures for measures of energy consumption.
    
    * * * * *
        (o) Vented home heating equipment. * * *
        (2) The estimated annual operating cost for vented home heating 
    equipment is the sum of:
        (i) The product of the average annual fuel energy consumption, in 
    Btu's per year for natural gas, propane, or oil fueled vented home 
    heating equipment, determined according to section 4.6.2 of appendix O 
    of this subpart, and the representative average unit cost in dollars 
    per Btu for natural gas, propane, or oil, as appropriate, as provided 
    pursuant to section 323(b)(2) of the Act; plus
        (ii) The product of the average annual auxiliary electric energy 
    consumption in kilowatt-hours per year determined according to section 
    4.6.3 of appendix O of this subpart, and the representative average 
    unit cost in dollars per kilowatt-hours as provided pursuant to section 
    323(b)(2) of the Act, the resulting sum then being rounded off to the 
    nearest dollar per year.
    * * * * *
        (p) Pool heaters. (1) The estimated annual operating cost for pool 
    heaters is the sum of: (i) The product of the average annual fuel 
    energy consumption, in Btu's per year, of natural gas or oil fueled 
    pool heaters, determined according to section 4.2 of appendix P of this 
    subpart, and the representative average unit cost in dollars per Btu 
    for natural gas or oil, as appropriate, as provided pursuant to section 
    323(b)(2) of the Act; plus (ii) the product of the average annual 
    auxiliary electric energy consumption in kilowatt-hours per year 
    determined according to section 4.3 of appendix P of this subpart, and 
    the representative average unit cost in dollars per kilowatt-hours as 
    provided pursuant to section 323(b)(2) of the Act, the resulting sum 
    then being
    
    [[Page 26157]]
    
    rounded off to the nearest dollar per year.
    * * * * *
        5. Appendix N to subpart B of part 430 is revised to read as 
    follows:
    
    Appendix N to Subpart B of Part 430--Uniform Test Method for Measuring 
    the Energy Consumption of Furnaces and Boilers
    
        1.0  Scope. The scope of this appendix is as specified in 
    section 2.0 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.
        2.0  Definitions. Definitions include the definitions specified 
    in section 3 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 and the following 
    additional and modified definitions:
        2.1  ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 means the test standard 
    published in 1993 by ASHRAE, approved by the American National 
    Standards Institute (ANSI) on October 4, 1993, and entitled ``Method 
    of Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of Residential 
    Central Furnaces and Boilers'' (with errata of October 24, 1996).
        2.2  ASHRAE means the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating 
    and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
        2.3  Thermal stack damper means a type of stack damper which is 
    dependent for operation exclusively upon the direct conversion of 
    thermal energy of the stack gases to open the damper.
        2.4  Isolated combustion system. The definition of isolation 
    combustion system in section 3 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 is 
    incorporated with the addition of the following: ``The unit is 
    installed in an un-conditioned indoor space isolated from the heated 
    space.''
        3.0  Classifications. Classifications are as specified in 
    section 4 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.
        4.0  Requirements. Requirements are as specified in section 5 of 
    ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.
        5.0  Instruments. Instruments must be as specified in section 6 
    of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.
        6.0  Apparatus. The apparatus used in conjunction with the 
    furnace or boiler during the testing must be as specified in section 
    7 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 except for section 7.2.2.5; and 
    as specified in section 6.1 of this appendix:
        6.1  Downflow furnaces. Install the internal section of vent 
    pipe the same size as the flue collar for connecting the flue collar 
    to the top of the unit, if not supplied by the manufacturer. Do not 
    insulate the internal vent pipe during the jacket loss test (if 
    conducted) described in section 8.6 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 
    or the steady-state test described in section 9.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1993. Do not insulate the internal vent pipe before the 
    cool-down and heat-up tests described in sections 9.5 and 9.6, 
    respectively, of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. If the vent pipe is 
    surrounded by a metal jacket, do not insulate the metal jacket. 
    Install a 5-ft test stack of the same cross sectional area or 
    perimeter as the vent pipe above the top of the furnace. Tape or 
    seal around the junction connecting the vent pipe and the 5-ft test 
    stack. Insulate the 5-ft test stack with insulation having an R-
    value not less than 7 and an outer layer of aluminum foil. (See 
    Figure 3-E of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.)
        7.0  Testing conditions. The testing conditions shall be as 
    specified in section 8 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 with errata 
    of October 24, 1996, except for section 8.6.1.1; and as specified in 
    section 7.1 of this appendix.
        7.1  Measurement of jacket surface temperature. The jacket of 
    the furnace or boiler shall be subdivided into 6-inch squares when 
    practical, and otherwise into 36-square-inch regions comprising 4 
    in. x 9 in. or 3 in. x 12 in. sections, and the surface temperature 
    at the center of each square or section shall be determined with a 
    surface thermocouple. The 36-square-inch areas shall be recorded in 
    groups where the temperature differential of the 36-square-inch area 
    is less than 10 deg.F for temperature up to 100 deg.F above room 
    temperature and less than 20 deg.F for temperature more than 
    100 deg.F above room temperature. For forced air central furnaces, 
    the circulating air blower compartment is considered as part of the 
    duct system and no surface temperature measurement of the blower 
    compartment needs to be recorded for the purpose of this test. For 
    downflow furnaces, measure all cabinet surface temperatures of the 
    heat exchanger and combustion section, including the bottom around 
    the outlet duct, and the burner door, using the 36 square-inch 
    thermocouple grid. The cabinet surface temperatures around the 
    blower section do not need to be measured (See figure 3-E of ANSI/
    ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.)
        8.0  Test procedure. Testing and measurements shall be as 
    specified in section 9 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 except for 
    sections 9.5.1.1, 9.5.1.2.1, 9.5.1.2.2, 9.5.2.1, and section 9.7.1. 
    ; and as specified in sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5, of this 
    appendix.
        8.1  Input to interrupted ignition device. For burners equipped 
    with an interrupted ignition device, record the nameplate electric 
    power used by the ignition device, PEIG, or use 
    PEIG=0.4 kW if no nameplate power input is provided. 
    Record the nameplate ignition device on-time interval, 
    tIG, or measure the on-time period at the beginning of 
    the test at the time the burner is turned on with a stop watch, if 
    no nameplate value is given. Set tIG=0 and 
    PEIG=0 if the device on-time is less than or equal to 5 
    seconds after the burner is on.
        8.2  Gas- and oil-fueled gravity and forced air central furnaces 
    without stack dampers cool-down test. Turn off the main burner after 
    steady-state testing is completed, and measure the flue gas 
    temperature by means of the thermocouple grid described in section 
    7.6 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1993 at 1.5 minutes 
    (TF,OFF(t3)) and 9 minutes 
    (TF,OFF(t4)) after the burner shuts off. An 
    integral draft diverter shall remain blocked and insulated, and the 
    stack restriction shall remain in place. On atmospheric systems with 
    an integral draft diverter or draft hood, equipped with either an 
    electromechanical inlet damper or an electro-mechanical flue damper 
    that closes within 10 seconds after the burner shuts off to restrict 
    the flow through the heat exchanger in the off-cycle, bypass or 
    adjust the control for the electromechanical damper so that the 
    damper remains open during the cool-down test. For furnaces that 
    employ post purge, measure the length of the post-purge period with 
    a stopwatch. The time from burner OFF to combustion blower OFF 
    (electrically de-energized) shall be recorded as tp. For 
    the case where tp is intended to be greater than 180 
    seconds, stop the combustion blower at 180 seconds and use that 
    value for tp. Measure the flue gas temperature by means 
    of the thermocouple grid described in section 7.6 of ANSI/ASHRAE 
    103-1993 at the end of post-purge period, tp 
    (TF,OFF(tp)), and at the time (1.5 + 
    tp) minutes (TF,OFF(t3)) and (9.0 + 
    tp) minutes (TF,OFF(t4)) after the 
    main burner shuts off. For the case where the measured tp is less 
    than or equal to 30 seconds, it shall be tested as if there is no 
    post purge and tp shall be set equal to 0.
        8.3  Gas- and oil-fueled gravity and forced air central furnaces 
    without stack dampers with adjustable fan control--cool-down test. 
    For a furnace with adjustable fan control, this time delay will be 
    3.0 minutes for non-condensing furnaces or 1.5 minutes for 
    condensing furnaces or until the supply air temperature drops to a 
    value of 40 deg.F above the inlet air temperature, whichever results 
    in the longest fan on-time. For a furnace without adjustable fan 
    control or with the type of adjustable fan control whose range of 
    adjustment does not allow for the delay time specified above, the 
    control shall be bypassed and the fan manually controlled to give 
    the delay times specified above. For a furnace which employs a 
    single motor to drive the power burner and the indoor air 
    circulating blower, the power burner and indoor air circulating 
    blower shall be stopped together.
        8.4  Gas-and oil-fueled boilers without stack dampers cool-down 
    test. After steady-state testing has been completed, turn the main 
    burner(s) OFF and measure the flue gas temperature at 3.75 
    (TF,OFF(t3)) and 22.5 
    (TF,OFF(t4)) minutes after the burner shut 
    off, using the thermocouple grid described in section 7.6 of ANSI/
    ASHRAE 103-1993. During this off-period, for units that do not have 
    pump delay after shutoff, no water shall be allowed to circulate 
    through the hot water boilers. For units that have pump delay on 
    shutoff, except those having pump controls sensing water 
    temperature, the pump shall be stopped by the unit control and the 
    time t+, between burner shutoff and pump shutoff shall be 
    measured within one-second accuracy. For units having pump delay 
    controls that sense water temperature, the pump shall be operated 
    for 15 minutes and t+ shall be 15 minutes. While the pump 
    is operating, the inlet water temperature and flow rate shall be 
    maintained at the same values as used during the steady-state test 
    as specified in sections 9.1 and 8.4.2.3 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1993.
        For boilers that employ post purge, measure the length of the 
    post-purge period with a stopwatch. The time from burner OFF to 
    combustion blower OFF (electrically de-energized) shall be recorded 
    as tP. For the case where tP is intended to be 
    greater than
    
    [[Page 26158]]
    
    180 seconds, stop the combustion blower at 180 seconds and use that 
    value for tP. Measure the flue gas temperature by means 
    of the thermocouple grid described in section 7.6 of ANSI/ASHRAE 
    103-1993 at the end of the post purge period 
    tP(TF,OFF(tP)) and at the time 
    (3.75 + tP) minutes (TF,OFF(t3)) 
    and (22.5 + tP) minutes 
    (TF,OFF(t4)) after the main burner shuts off. 
    For the case where the measured tP is less or equal to 30 
    seconds, it shall be tested as if there is no post purge and 
    tP shall be set to equal 0.
        8.5  Direct measurement of off-cycle losses testing method. 
    [Reserved.]
        9.0  Nomenclature. Nomenclature shall include the nomenclature 
    specified in section 10 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 and the 
    following additional variables:
    
    Effmotor=Efficiency of power burner motor
    PEIG=Electrical power to the interrupted ignition device, 
    kW
    RT,a=RT,F if flue gas is measured
        =RT,S if stack gas is measured
    RT,F=Ratio of combustion air mass flow rate to 
    stoichiometric air mass flow rate
    RT,S=Ratio of the sum of combustion air and relief air 
    mass flow rate to stoichiometric air mass flow rate
    tIG=Electrical interrupted ignition device on-time, min.
    Ta,SS,X=TF,SS,X if flue gas temperature is 
    measured,  deg.F
        =TS,SS,X if stack gas temperature is measured,  deg.F
    yIG=ratio of electrical interrupted ignition device on-
    time to average burner on-time
    yP=ratio of power burner combustion blower on-time to 
    average burner on-time
    
        10.0  Calculation of derived results from test measurements. 
    Calculations shall be as specified in section 11 of ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1993 and the October 24, 1996, Errata Sheet for ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1993, except for appendices B and C; and as specified 
    in sections 10.1 through 10.8 and Figure 1 of this appendix.
        10.1  Annual fuel utilization efficiency. The annual fuel 
    utilization efficiency (AFUE) is as defined in sections 11.2.12 
    (non-condensing systems), 11.3.12 (condensing systems), 11.4.12 
    (non-condensing modulating systems) and 11.5.12 (condensing 
    modulating systems) of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, except for the 
    definition for the term EffyHS in the defining equation 
    for AFUE. EffyHS is defined as:
    
    EffyHS=heating seasonal efficiency as defined in sections 
    11.2.11 (non-condensing systems), 11.3.11 (condensing systems), 
    11.4.11 (non-condensing modulating systems) and 11.5.11 (condensing 
    modulating systems) of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 and is based on 
    the assumptions that all weatherized warm air furnaces or boilers 
    are located out-of-doors, that warm air furnaces which are not 
    weatherized are installed as isolated combustion systems, and that 
    boilers which are not weatherized are installed indoors.
    
        10.2  National average burner operating hours, average annual 
    fuel energy consumption and average annual auxiliary electrical 
    energy consumption for gas or oil furnaces and boilers.
        10.2.1  National average number of burner operating hours. For 
    furnaces and boilers equipped with single stage controls, the 
    national average number of burner operating hours is defined as:
    
    BOHSS=2,080 (0.77) A DHR-2,080 B
    
    where:
    
    2,080=national average heating load hours
    0.77=adjustment factor to adjust the calculated design heating 
    requirement and heating load hours to the actual heating load 
    experienced by the heating system
    DHR=typical design heating requirements as listed in Table 8 (in 
    unit of kBtu/h) of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, using the proper 
    value of QOUT defined in 11.2.8.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 
    103-1993
    A=100,000 / 
    [341,300(yPPE+yIGPEIG+yBE)+(QIN
    -QP)EffyHS], for forced draft unit, indoors
        =100,000 / [341,300(yPPE 
    Effmotor+yIGPEIG+y 
    BE)+(QIN-QP)EffyHS], for forced 
    draft unit, ICS,
        =100,000 / [341,300(yPPE(1-
    Effmotor)+yIGPEIG+y 
    BE)+(QIN-QP)EffyHS], for induced 
    draft unit, indoors, and
        =100,000 / 
    [341,300(yIGPEIG+yBE)+(QIN-
    QP)EffyHS], for induced draft unit, ICS
    B=2 QP(EffyHS)(A) / 100,000
    
    where:
    
    Effmotor=Power burner motor efficiency provided by 
    manufacturer,
        =0.50, an assumed default power burner efficiency if not 
    provided by manufacturer.
    100,000=factor that accounts for percent and kBtu
    PE=burner electrical power input at full-load steady-state 
    operation, including electrical ignition device if energized, as 
    defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    yP=ratio of induced or forced draft blower on-time to 
    average burner on-time, as follows:
        1 for units without post purge;
        1+(tP/3.87) for single stage furnaces with post 
    purge;
        1+(tP/10) for two-stage and step modulating furnaces 
    with post purge;
        1+(tP/9.68) for single stage boilers with post purge; 
    or
        1+(tP/15) for two stage and step modulating boilers 
    with post purge.
    PEIG=electrical input rate to the interrupted ignition 
    device on burner (if employed), as defined in 8.1 of this appendix
    yIG=ratio of burner interrupted ignition device on-time 
    to average burner on-time, as follows:
        0 for burners not equipped with interrupted ignition device;
        (tIG/3.87) for single stage furnaces;
        (tIG/10) for two-stage and step modulating furnaces;
        (tIG/9.68) for single stage boilers; or
        (tIG/15) for two stage and step modulating boilers.
    tIG=on-time of the burner interrupted ignition device, as 
    defined in 8.1 of this appendix
    tP=post purge time as defined in 8.2 (furnace) or 8.4 
    (boiler) of this appendix
        =0 if tP is equal to or less than 30 second.
    y=ratio of blower or pump on-time to average burner on-time, as 
    follows:
        1 for furnaces without fan delay;
        1 for boilers without a pump delay;
        1+(t+--t-)/3.87 for single stage furnaces 
    with fan delay;
        1+(t+--t-)/10 for two-stage and step 
    modulating furnaces with fan delay;
        1+(t+/9.68) for single stage boilers with pump delay; 
    or
        1+(t+/15) for two stage and step modulating boilers 
    with pump delay.
    BE=circulating air fan or water pump electrical energy input rate at 
    full load steady-state operation, as defined in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 
    103-1993
    QIN=as defined in 11.2.8.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993
    QP=as defined in 11.2.11 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    EffyHS=as defined in 11.2.11 (non-condensing systems) or 
    11.3.11.3 (condensing systems) of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, 
    percent, and calculated on the basis of:
        ICS installation, for non-weatherized warm air furnaces;
        indoor installation, for non-weatherized boilers; or
        outdoor installation, for furnaces and boilers that are 
    weatherized.
    2=ratio of the average length of the heating season in hours to the 
    average heating load hours
    t+=as defined in 9.5.1.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 
    or 8.4 of this appendix
    t-=as defined in 9.6.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    
        10.2.1.1  For furnaces and boilers equipped with two stage or 
    step modulating controls the average annual energy used during the 
    heating season, EM, is defined as:
    
    EM=(QIN-QP) 
    BOHSS+(8,760-4,600)QP
    
    where:
    
    QIN=as defined in 11.4.8.1.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993
    QP=as defined in 11.4.12 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    BOHSS=as defined in section 10.2.1 of this appendix, in 
    which the weighted EffyHS as defined in 11.4.11.3 or 
    11.5.11.3 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 is used for calculating 
    the values of A and B, the term DHR is based on the value of 
    QOUT defined in 11.4.8.1.1 or 11.5.8.1.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 
    Standard 103-1993, and the term 
    (yPPE+yIGPEIG+yBE) in the factor A 
    is increased by the factor R, which is defined as:
    R=2.3 for two stage controls
        =2.3 for step modulating controls when the ratio of minimum-to-
    maximum output is greater than or equal to 0.5
        =3.0 for step modulating controls when the ratio of minimum-to-
    maximum output is less than 0.5
    A=100,000/[341,300(yPPE+yIGPEIG+y 
    BE) R+(QIN-QP) EffyHS], for forced 
    draft unit, indoors
        =100,000/[341,300(yPPE 
    Effmotor+yIGPEIG+y BE) 
    R+(QIN-QP)EffyHS], for forced draft 
    unit, ICS,
    
    [[Page 26159]]
    
        =100,000/[341,300(yPPE(1-
    Effmotor)+yIGPEIG+y BE) 
    R+(QIN-QP) EffyHS], for induced 
    draft unit, indoors, and
        =100,000/[341,300(yIGPEIG+y BE) 
    R+(QIN-QP) EffyHS], for induced 
    draft unit, ICS
    
    where:
    
    Effmotor=Power burner motor efficiency provided by 
    manufacturer,
        =0.50, an assumed default power burner efficiency if none 
    provided by manufacturer.
    EffyHS=as defined in 11.4.11.3 or 11.5.11.3 of ANSI/
    ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, and calculated on the basis of:
        --ICS installation, for non-weatherized warm air furnaces
        --indoor installation, for non-weatherized boilers
        --outdoor installation, for furnaces and boilers that are 
    weatherized
    8,760=total number of hours per year
    4,600=as specified in 11.4.12 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    
        10.2.1.2  For furnaces and boilers equipped with two stage or 
    step modulating controls the national average number of burner 
    operating hours at the reduced operating mode is defined as:
    
    BOHR=XREM/QIN,R
    
    where:
    
    XR=as defined in 11.4.8.7 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993
    EM=as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this appendix
    QIN,R=as defined in 11.4.8.1.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 
    103-1993
    
        10.2.1.3  For furnaces and boilers equipped with two stage 
    controls the national average number of burner operating hours at 
    the maximum operating mode (BOHH) is defined as:
    
    BOHH=XHEM/QIN
    
    where:
    
    XH=as defined in 11.4.8.6 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993
    EM=as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this appendix
    QIN=as defined in 11.4.8.1.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993
    
        10.2.1.4  For furnaces and boilers equipped with step modulating 
    controls the national average number of burner operating hours at 
    the modulating operating mode (BOHM) is defined as:
    
    BOHM=XHEM/QIN,M
    
    where:
    
    XH=as defined in 11.4.8.6 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993
    EM=as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this appendix
    QIN,M=QOUT,M/(EffySS,M/100)
    QOUT,M=as defined in 11.4.8.10 or 11.5.8.10 of ANSI/
    ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, as appropriate
    EffySS,M=as defined in 11.4.8.8 or 11.5.8.8 of ANSI/
    ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, as appropriate, in percent
    100=factor that accounts for percent
    
        10.2.2  Average annual fuel energy consumption for gas or oil 
    fueled furnaces or boilers. For furnaces or boilers equipped with 
    single stage controls the average annual fuel energy consumption 
    (EF) is expressed in Btu per year and defined as:
    
    EF=BOHSS(QIN-QP)+8,760 
    QP
    
    where:
    
    BOHSS=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    QIN=as defined in 11.2.8.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993
    QP=as defined in 11.2.11 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    8,760=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    
        10.2.2.1  For furnaces or boilers equipped with either two stage 
    or step modulating controls EF is defined as:
    
    EF=EM + 4,600QP
    
    where:
    
    EM=as defined in 10.2.1.1 of this appendix
    4,600=as specified in 11.4.12 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    QP=as defined in 11.2.11 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    
        10.2.3  Average annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
    for gas or oil fueled furnaces or boilers. For furnaces or boilers 
    equipped with single stage controls the average annual auxiliary 
    electrical consumption (EAE) is expressed in kilowatt-
    hours and defined as:
    
    EAE=BOHSS(yPPE 
    +yIGPEIG+yBE)
    
     where:
    
    BOHSS=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    PE=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    yP=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    yIG=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    PEIG=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    y=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    BE=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    
        10.2.3.1  For furnaces or boilers equipped with two stage 
    controls EAE is defined as:
    
    EAE=BOHR(yPPER+yIG
    PEIG+yBER) + 
    BOHH(yPPEH+yIGPEIG
    +y BEH)
    
    where:
    
    BOHR=as defined in 10.2.1.2 of this appendix
    yP=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    PER=as defined in 9.1.2.2 and measured at the reduced 
    fuel input rate, of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    yIG=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    PEIG=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    y=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    BER=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993, measured at the reduced fuel input rate
    BOHH=as defined in 10.2.1.3 of this appendix
    PEH=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993, measured at the maximum fuel input rate
    BEH=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993, measured at the maximum fuel input rate
    
        10.2.3.2  For furnaces or boilers equipped with step modulating 
    controls EAE is defined as:
    
    EAE=BOHR(yP 
    PER+yIGPEIG+y 
    BER)+BOHM(yPPEH+yIG
    PEIG+y BEH)
    
    where:
    
    BOHR=as defined in 10.2.1.2 of this appendix
    yP=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    PER=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993, measured at the reduced fuel input rate
    yIG=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    PEIG=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    y=as defined in 10.2.1. of this appendix
    BER=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993, measured at the reduced fuel input rate
    BOHM=as defined in 10.2.1.4 of this appendix
    PEH=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993, measured at the maximum fuel input rate
    BEH=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993, measured at the maximum fuel inputs rate
    
        10.3  Average annual electric energy consumption for electric 
    furnaces or boilers. For electric furnaces and boilers the average 
    annual energy consumption (EE) is expressed in kilowatt-
    hours and defined as:
    
    EE=100(2,080)(0.77)DHR/(3.412 AFUE)
    
    where:
    
    100=to express a percent as a decimal
    2,080=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    0.77=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    DHR=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    3.412=conversion to express energy in terms of watt-hours instead of 
    Btu
    AFUE=as defined in 11.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, in 
    percent, and calculated on the basis of:
        ICS installation, for non-weatherized warm air furnaces;
        indoor installation, for non-weatherized boilers; or
        outdoor installation, for furnaces and boilers that are 
    weatherized.
    
        10.4  Energy factor.
        10.4.1   Energy factor for gas or oil furnaces and boilers. 
    Calculate the energy factor, EF, for gas or oil furnaces and boilers 
    defined as, in percent:
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR12MY97.038
    
    where:
    
    EF=average annual fuel consumption as defined in 10.2.2 
    of this appendix.
    EAE=as defined in 10.2.3 of this appendix.
    EffyHS=Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency as defined in 
    11.2.11, 11.3.11, 11.4.11 or 11.5.11 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-
    1993, in percent, and calculated on the basis of:
        ICS installation, for non-weatherized warm air furnaces;
        indoor installation, for non-weatherized boilers; or
        outdoor installation, for furnaces and boilers that are 
    weatherized.
    3,412=conversion factor from kilowatt to Btu/h
    
        10.4.2  Energy factor for electric furnaces and boilers. The 
    energy factor, EF, for electric furnaces and boilers is defined as:
    
    EF=AFUE
    
    where:
    
    AFUE=Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency as defined in section 10.3 
    of this appendix, in percent
    
        10.5  Average annual energy consumption for furnaces and boilers 
    located in a different geographic region of the United States and in
    
    [[Page 26160]]
    
    buildings with different design heating requirements.
        10.5.1  Average annual fuel energy consumption for gas or oil-
    fueled furnaces and boilers located in a different geographic region 
    of the United States and in buildings with different design heating 
    requirements. For gas or oil-fueled furnaces and boilers the average 
    annual fuel energy consumption for a specific geographic region and 
    a specific typical design heating requirement (EFR) is 
    expressed in Btu per year and defined as:
    
    EFR=(EF-8,760 QP)(HLH/2,080)+8,760 
    QP
    
    where:
    
    EF=as defined in 10.2.2 of this appendix
    8,760=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    QP=as defined in 11.2.11 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    HLH=heating load hours for a specific geographic region determined 
    from the heating load hour map in Figure 1 of this appendix
    2,080=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    
        10.5.2   Average annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
    for gas or oil-fueled furnaces and boilers located in a different 
    geographic region of the United States and in buildings with 
    different design heating requirements. For gas or oil-fueled 
    furnaces and boilers the average annual auxiliary electrical energy 
    consumption for a specific geographic region and a specific typical 
    design heating requirement (EAER) is expressed in 
    kilowatt-hours and defined as:
    
    EAER=EAE (HLH/2,080)
    
    where:
    
    EAE=as defined in 10.2.3 of this appendix
    HLH=as defined in 10.5.1 of this appendix
    2,080=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    
        10.5.3  Average annual electric energy consumption for electric 
    furnaces and boilers located in a different geographic region of the 
    United States and in buildings with different design heating 
    requirements. For electric furnaces and boilers the average annual 
    electric energy consumption for a specific geographic region and a 
    specific typical design heating requirement (EER) is 
    expressed in kilowatt-hours and defined as:
    
    EER=100 (0.77) DHR HLH/(3.412 AFUE)
    
    where:
    
    100=as specified in 10.3 of this appendix
    0.77=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    DHR=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    HLH=as defined in 10.5.1 of this appendix
    3.412=as specified in 10.3 of this appendix
    AFUE=as defined in 10.3 of this appendix, in percent
    
        10.6  Annual energy consumption for mobile home furnaces
        10.6.1   National average number of burner operating hours for 
    mobile home furnaces (BOHSS). BOHSS is the 
    same as in 10.2.1 of this appendix, except that the value of 
    EffyHS in the calculation of the burner operating hours, 
    BOHSS, is calculated on the basis of a direct vent unit 
    with system number 9 or 10.
        10.6.2  Average annual fuel energy for mobile home furnaces 
    (EF). EF is same as in 10.2.2 of this appendix 
    except that the burner operating hours, BOHSS, is 
    calculated as specified in 10.6.1 of this appendix.
        10.6.3  Average annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
    for mobile home furnaces (EAE). EAE is the 
    same as in 10.2.3 of this appendix, except that the burner operating 
    hours, BOHSS, is calculated as specified in 10.6.1 of 
    this appendix.
        10.7  Calculation of sales weighted average annual energy 
    consumption for mobile home furnaces. In order to reflect the 
    distribution of mobile homes to geographical regions with average 
    HLHMHF value different from 2,080, adjust the annual 
    fossil fuel and auxiliary electrical energy consumption values for 
    mobile home furnaces using the following adjustment calculations.
        10.7.1  For mobile home furnaces the sales weighted average 
    annual fossil fuel energy consumption is expressed in Btu per year 
    and defined as:
    
    EF,MHF=(EF-8,760 
    QP)HLHMHF/2,080+8,760 QP
    
    where:
    
    EF=as defined in 10.6.2 of this appendix
    8,760=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    QP=as defined in 11.2.11 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993
    HLHMHF=1880, sales weighted average heating load hours 
    for mobile home furnaces
    2,080=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    
        10.7.2  For mobile home furnaces the sales weighted average 
    annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption is expressed in 
    kilowatt-hours and defined as:
    
    EAE,MHF=EAEHLHMHF/2,080
    
    where:
    
    EAE=as defined in 10.6.3 of this appendix
    HLHMHF=as defined in 10.7.1 of this appendix
    2,080=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix
    
        10.8  Direct determination of off-cycle losses for furnaces and 
    boilers equipped with thermal stack dampers. [Reserved.]
    
    BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
    
    [[Page 26161]]
    
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR12MY97.039
    
    
    
    BILLING CODE 6450-01-C
    
    [[Page 26162]]
    
        6. Appendix O to subpart B of part 430 is amended as follows:
    
    Appendix O to Subpart B of Part 430--Uniform Test Method for Measuring 
    the Energy Consumption of Vented Home Heating Equipment
    
        a. Section 3.5 is revised to read as follows:
    
        3.5  Pilot light measurement.
        3.5.1  Measure the energy input rate to the pilot light 
    (QP) with an error no greater than 3 percent for vented 
    heaters so equipped.
        3.5.2  For manually controlled heaters where the pilot light is 
    designed to be turned off by the user when the heater is not in use, 
    that is, turning the control to the OFF position will shut off the 
    gas supply to the burner(s) and to the pilot light, the measurement 
    of QP is not needed. This provision applies only if an 
    instruction to turn off the unit is provided on the heater near the 
    gas control valve (e.g. by label) by the manufacturer.
    
        b. Section 4.2.4 is revised to read as follows:
    
        4.2.4  Weighted-average steady-state efficiency.
        4.2.4.1  For manually controlled heaters with various input 
    rates the weighted average steady-state efficiency 
    (SS-WT), is determined as follows:
        (1) at 50 percent of the maximum fuel input rate as measured in 
    either section 3.1.1 of this appendix for manually controlled gas 
    vented heaters or section 3.1.2 of this appendix for manually 
    controlled oil vented heaters, or
        (2) at the minimum fuel input rate as measured in either section 
    3.1.1 to this appendix for manually controlled gas vented heaters or 
    section 3.1.2 to this appendix for manually controlled oil vented 
    heaters if the design of the heater is such that the  5 
    percent of 50 percent of the maximum fuel input rate cannot be set, 
    provided this minimum rate is no greater than \2/3\ of maximum input 
    rate of the heater.
        4.2.4.2  For manually controlled heater with one single firing 
    rate the weighted average steady-state efficiency is the steady-
    state efficiency measured at the single firing rate.
    
        c. Section 4.2.6 is revised to read as follows:
    
        4.2.6  Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.
        4.2.6.1  For manually controlled vented heaters, calculate the 
    AFUE expressed as a percent and defined as:
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR12MY97.040
    
    where:
    
    2,950=average number of heating degree days
    SS=as defined as SS-WT in 
    4.2.4 of this appendix
    u=as defined in 4.2.5 of this appendix
    Qin-max=as defined as Qin at the maximum fuel 
    input rate, as defined in 3.1 of this appendix
    4,600=average number of non-heating season hours per year
    QP=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix
    2.083=(65-15)/24=50/24
    65=degree day base temperature,  deg.F
    15=national average outdoor design temperature for vented heaters as 
    defined in section 4.1.10 of this appendix
    24=number of hours in a day
    
        4.2.6.2  For manually controlled vented heaters where the pilot 
    light can be turned off by the user when the heater is not in use as 
    described in section 3.5.2, calculate the AFUE expressed as a 
    percent and defined as:
    
    AFUE=u
    
    where:
    
    u=as defined in section 4.2.5 of this appendix
    
        d. Section 4.3.7 is revised to read as follows:
    
        4.3.7  Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.
        Calculate the AFUE expressed as a percent and defined as:
        [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR12MY97.041
        
    where:
    
    2,950=average number of heating degree days
    SS-WT=as defined in 4.1.16 of this appendix
    u=as defined in 4.3.6 of this appendix
    Qin-max=as defined in 4.2.6 of this appendix
    4,600=as specified in 4.2.6 of this appendix
    QP=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix
    2.083=as specified in 4.2.6 of this appendix
    
        e. Add section 4.6 after section 4.5.3 and before the table 1 to 
    read as follows:
    
        4.6  Annual energy consumption.
        4.6.1  National average number of burner operating hours. For 
    vented heaters equipped with single stage controls or manual 
    controls, the national average number of burner operating hours 
    (BOH) is defined as:
    
    BOHSS=1,416AFA DHR-1,416 B
    
    where:
    
    1,416=national average heating load hours for vented heaters based 
    on 2,950 degree days and 15 deg.F outdoor design temperature
    AF=0.7067, adjustment factor to adjust the calculated 
    design heating requirement and heating load hours to the actual 
    heating load experienced by the heating system
    DHR=typical design heating requirements based on QOUT, 
    from Table 4 of this appendix.
    QOUT=[(SS/100)-Cj 
    (Lj/100)] Qin
    Lj=jacket loss as defined in 4.1.5 of this appendix
    Cj=2.8, adjustment factor as defined in 4.3.6 of this 
    appendix
    SS=steady-state efficiency as defined in 4.1.10 
    of this appendix, percent
    Qin=as defined in 3.1 of this appendix at the maximum 
    fuel input rate
    A=100,000/
    [341,300PE+(Qin-QP)u
    ]
    B=2.938(QP) u A/100,000
    100,000=factor that accounts for percent and kBtu
    PE=as defined in 3.1.3 of this appendix
    QP=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix
    u=as defined in 4.3.6 of this appendix for 
    vented heaters using the tracer gas method, percent
        =as defined in 4.2.5 of this appendix for manually controlled 
    vented heaters, percent
        =2,950 AFUESS Qin/[2,950 
    SS Qin--
    AFUE(2.083)(4,600)QP], for vented heaters equipped 
    without manual controls and without thermal stack dampers and not 
    using the optional tracer gas method, where:
    AFUE=as defined in 4.1.17 of this appendix, percent
    2,950=average number of heating degree days as defined in 4.2.6 of 
    this appendix
    4,600=average number of non-heating season hours per year as defined 
    in 4.2.6 of this appendix
    
    [[Page 26163]]
    
    2.938=(4,160/1,416)=ratio of the average length of the heating 
    season in hours to the average heating load hours
    2.083=as specified in 4.2.6 of this appendix
    
        4.6.1.1  For vented heaters equipped with two stage or step 
    modulating controls the national average number of burner operating 
    hours at the reduced operating mode is defined as:
    
    BOHR=X1EM/Qred-in
    
    where:
    
    X1=as defined in 4.1.14 of this appendix
    Qred-in=as defined in 4.1.11 of this appendix
    EM=average annual energy used during the heating season
        =(Qin-QP)BOHSS+(8,760-4,600)QP
    
    Qin=as defined in 3.1 of this appendix at the maximum 
    fuel input rate
    QP=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix
    BOHSS=as defined in 4.6.1 of this appendix, in which the 
    term PE in the factor A is increased by the factor R, 
    which is defined in 3.1.3 of this appendix as:
    R=1.3 for two stage controls
        =1.4 for step modulating controls when the ratio of minimum-to-
    maximum fuel input is greater than or equal to 0.7
        =1.7 for step modulating controls when the ratio of minimum-to-
    maximum fuel input is less than 0.7 and greater than or equal to 0.5
        =2.2 for step modulating controls when the ratio of minimum-to-
    maximum fuel input is less than 0.5
    A=100,000/[341,300 PE 
    R+(Qin-QP)u]
    8,760=total number of hours per year
    4,600=as specified in 4.2.6 of this appendix
    
        4.6.1.2  For vented heaters equipped with two stage or step 
    modulating controls the national average number of burner operating 
    hours at the maximum operating mode (BOHH) is defined as:
    
    BOHH=X2EM/Qin
    
    where:
    
    X2=as defined in 4.1.15 of this appendix
    EM=average annual energy used during the heating season
        =(Qin-QP)BOHSS+(8,760-4,600)QP
    
    Qin=as defined in 3.1 of this appendix at the maximum 
    fuel input rate
    
        4.6.2  Average annual fuel energy for gas or oil fueled vented 
    heaters. For vented heaters equipped with single stage controls or 
    manual controls, the average annual fuel energy consumption 
    (EF) is expressed in Btu per year and defined as:
    
    EF=BOHSS (Qin-QP)+8,760 
    QP
    
    where:
    
    BOHSS=as defined in 4.6.1 of this appendix
    Qin=as defined in 3.1 of this appendix
    QP=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix
    8,760=as specified in 4.6.1 of this appendix
    
        4.6.2.1  For vented heaters equipped with either two stage or 
    step modulating controls EF is defined as:
    
    EF=EM+4,600QP
    
    where:
    
    EM=as defined in 4.6.1.2 of this appendix
    4,600=as specified 4.2.6 of this appendix
    QP=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix
    
        4.6.3  Average annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
    for vented heaters. For vented heaters with single stage controls or 
    manual controls the average annual auxiliary electrical consumption 
    (EAE) is expressed in kilowatt-hours and defined as:
    
    EAE=BOHSSPE
    
    where:
    
    BOHSS=as defined in 4.6.1 of this appendix
    PE=as defined in 3.1.3 of this appendix
    
        4.6.3.1  For vented heaters equipped with two stage or 
    modulating controls EAE is defined as:
    
    EAE=(BOHR+BOHH)PE
    
    where:
    
    BOHR=as defined in 4.6.1 of this appendix
    BOHH=as defined in 4.6.1 of this appendix
    PE=as defined in 3.1.3 of this appendix
    
        4.6.4  Average annual energy consumption for vented heaters 
    located in a different geographic region of the United States and in 
    buildings with different design heating requirements.
        4.6.4.1  Average annual fuel energy consumption for gas or oil 
    fueled vented home heaters located in a different geographic region 
    of the United States and in buildings with different design heating 
    requirements. For gas or oil fueled vented heaters the average 
    annual fuel energy consumption for a specific geographic region and 
    a specific typical design heating requirement (EFR) is 
    expressed in Btu per year and defined as:
    
    EFR=(EF-8,760 QP)(HLH/
    1,416)+8,760QP
    
    where:
    
    EF=as defined in 4.6.2 of this appendix
    8,760=as specified in 4.6.1 of this appendix
    QP=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix
    HLH=heating load hours for a specific geographic region determined 
    from the heating load hour map in Figure 3 of this appendix
    1,416=as specified in 4.6.1 of this appendix
    
        4.6.4.2  Average annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
    for gas or oil fueled vented home heaters located in a different 
    geographic region of the United States and in buildings with 
    different design heating requirements. For gas or oil fueled vented 
    home heaters the average annual auxiliary electrical energy 
    consumption for a specific geographic region and a specific typical 
    design heating requirement (EAER) is expressed in 
    kilowatt-hours and defined as:
    
    EAER=EAE HLH/1,416
    
    where:
    
    EAE=as defined in 4.6.3 of this appendix
    HLH=as defined in 4.6.4.1 of this appendix
    1,416=as specified in 4.6.1 of this appendix
        f. Table 4 and Figure 3 are added to the end of appendix O to 
    subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 to read as follows:
    
      Table 4.--Average Design Heating Requirements for Vented Heaters With 
                           Different Output Capacities                      
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Average  
                                                                   design   
           Vented heaters output capacity Qout--(Btu/hr)           heating  
                                                                requirements
                                                                  (kBtu/hr) 
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    5,000-7,499...............................................           5.0
    7,500-10,499..............................................           7.5
    10,500-13,499.............................................          10.0
    13,500-16,499.............................................          12.5
    16,500-19,499.............................................          15.0
    19,500-22,499.............................................          17.5
    22,500-26,499.............................................          20.5
    26,500-30,499.............................................          23.5
    30,500-34,499.............................................          26.5
    34,500-38,499.............................................          30.0
    38,500-42,499.............................................          33.5
    42,500-46,499.............................................          36.5
    46,500-51,499.............................................          40.0
    51,500-56,499.............................................          44.0
    56,500-61,499.............................................          48.0
    61,500-66,499.............................................          52.0
    66,500-71,499.............................................          56.0
    71,500-76,500.............................................          60.0
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
    
    [[Page 26164]]
    
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR12MY97.042
    
    
    BILLING CODE 6450-01-C
    
    [[Page 26165]]
    
        7. Appendix P to Subpart B of Part 430 is revised to read as 
    follows:
    
    Appendix P to Subpart B of Part 430--Uniform Test Method for Measuring 
    the Energy Consumption of Pool Heaters
    
        1. Test method. The test method for testing pool heaters is as 
    specified in American National Standards Institute Standard for Gas-
    Fired Pool Heaters, Z21.56-1994.
        2. Test conditions. Establish the test conditions specified in 
    section 2.9 of ANSI Z21.56-1994.
        3. Measurements. Measure the quantities delineated in section 
    2.9 of ANSI Z21.56-1994. The measurement of energy consumption for 
    oil-fired pool heaters in Btu is to be carried out in appropriate 
    units, e.g., gallons.
        4. Calculations.
        4.1  Thermal efficiency. Calculate the thermal efficiency, 
    Et (expressed as a percent), as specified in section 2.9 
    of ANSI Z21.56-1994. The expression of fuel consumption for oil-
    fired pool heaters shall be in Btu.
        4.2  Average annual fossil fuel energy for pool heaters. The 
    average annual fuel energy for pool heater, EF, is 
    defined as:
    
    EF=BOH QIN+(POH-BOH)QP
    
    where:
    
    BOH=average number of burner operating hours=104 h
    POH=average number of pool operating hours=4464 h
    QIN=rated fuel energy input as defined according to 2.9.1 
    or 2.9.2 of ANSI Z21.56-1994, as appropriate
    QP=energy consumption of continuously operating pilot 
    light if employed, in Btu/h.
    
        4.3  Average annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption for 
    pool heaters. The average annual auxiliary electrical energy 
    consumption for pool heaters, EAE, is expressed in Btu 
    and defined as:
    
    EAE=BOH PE
    
    where:
    
    PE=2Ec if heater tested according to 2.9.1 of ANSI 
    Z21.56-1994
        =3.412 PErated if heater tested according to 2.9.2 of 
    ANSI Z21.56-1994, in Btu/h
    Ec=Electrical consumption of the heater (converted to 
    equivalent unit of Btu), including the electrical energy to the 
    recirculating pump if used, during the 30-minute thermal efficiency 
    test, as defined in 2.9.1 of ANSI Z21.56-1994, in Btu per 30 min.
    2=Conversion factor to convert unit from per 30 min. to per h.
    PErated=nameplate rating of auxiliary electrical 
    equipment of heater, in Watts
    BOH=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix
    
        4.4  Heating seasonal efficiency.
        4.4.1  Calculate the seasonal useful output of the pool heater 
    as:
    
    EOUT=BOH [(Et/100)(QIN+PE)]
    
    where:
    
    BOH=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix
    Et=thermal efficiency as defined in 4.1 of this appendix
    QIN=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix
    PE=as defined in 4.3 of this appendix
    100=conversion factor, from percent to fraction
    
        4.4.2  Calculate the seasonal input to the pool heater as:
    
    EIN=BOH (QIN+PE)+(POH-BOH) QP
    
    where:
    
    BOH=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix
    QIN=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix
    PE=as defined in 4.3 of this appendix
    POH=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix
    QP=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix
    
        4.4.3  Calculate the pool heater heating seasonal efficiency (in 
    percent).
        4.4.3.1  For pool heaters employing a continuous pilot light:
    
    EFFYHS=100(EOUT/EIN)
    
    where:
    
    EOUT=as defined in 4.4.1 of this appendix
    EIN=as defined in 4.4.2 of this appendix
    100=to convert a fraction to percent
    
        4.4.3.2  For pool heaters without a continuous pilot light:
    
    EFFYHS=Et
    
    where:
    
    Et=as defined in 4.1 of this appendix.
    [FR Doc. 97-10608 Filed 5-9-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Effective Date:
11/10/1997
Published:
05/12/1997
Department:
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
97-10608
Dates:
This rule is effective November 10, 1997. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of November 10, 1997.
Pages:
26140-26165 (26 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. EE-RM-93-501
RINs:
1904-AA45: Test Procedures for Furnaces/Boilers, Vented Home Heating Equipment, and Pool Heaters -- Amendment
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1904-AA45/test-procedures-for-furnaces-boilers-vented-home-heating-equipment-and-pool-heaters-amendment
PDF File:
97-10608.pdf
CFR: (3)
10 CFR 430.2
10 CFR 430.22
10 CFR 430.23