[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 199 (Friday, October 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53366-53367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26162]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
[Case No. DH-007]
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of
the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for
Waiver of HEAT-N-GLO Fireplace Products, Inc. From the DOE Vented Home
Heating Equipment Test Procedure
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Today's notice grants an Interim Waiver to HEAT-N-GLO
Fireplace Products, Inc. (HEAT-N-GLO) from the existing Department of
Energy (DOE or Department) test procedure regarding pilot light energy
consumption for its model AT-SUPREME, BAY-GDV, BAY-STOVE, DVT-INSERT,
DVT-STOVE, R5500RH, SL-3000, SL-32S, TOWNSEND I, TOWNSEND II, and
6000XLS vented heaters.
Today's notice also publishes a ``Petition for Waiver'' from HEAT-
N-GLO. HEAT-N- GLO's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief
from the DOE vented home heating equipment test procedure relating to
the use of pilot light energy consumption in calculating the Annual
Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). Specifically, HEAT-N-GLO seeks to
delete the required pilot light measurement (QP) in the
calculation of AFUE when the pilot is off. The Department is soliciting
comments, data, and information respecting the Petition for Waiver.
DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than
November 12, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Case No.
DH-007, Mail Stop EE-43, Room 1J-018, Forrestal Building, 1000
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-7140.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William W. Hui, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-431, Forrestal Building, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-9145
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General
Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0103, (202) 586-9507
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program for Consumer
Products (other than automobiles) was established pursuant to the
Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA), which requires
DOE to prescribe standardized test procedures to measure the energy
consumption of certain consumer products, including vented home heating
equipment. The intent of the test procedures is to provide a comparable
measure of energy consumption that will assist consumers in making
informed purchasing decisions. These test procedures appear at Title 10
CFR Part 430, Subpart B.
The Department amended the test procedure rules to provide for a
waiver process by adding Sec. 430.27 to Title 10 CFR Part 430. 45 FR
64108, September 26, 1980. Subsequently, DOE amended the waiver process
to allow the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver from test
procedure requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned DOE for a
waiver of such prescribed test procedures. Title 10 CFR Part 430,
Sec. 430.27(a)(2).
The waiver process allows the Assistant Secretary to waive
temporarily test procedures for a particular basic model when a
petitioner shows that the basic model contains one or more design
characteristics which prevent testing according to the prescribed test
procedures, or when the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the
basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy
consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data.
Waivers generally remain in effect until final test procedure
amendments become effective, resolving the problem that is the subject
of the waiver.
An Interim Waiver will be granted if it is determined that the
applicant will experience economic hardship if the Application for
Interim Waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the Petition for
Waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that
it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate
relief pending a determination on the Petition for Waiver. Title 10 CFR
Part 430, Sec. 430.27(g). An Interim Waiver remains in effect for a
period of 180 days, or until DOE issues a determination on the Petition
for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an additional
180 days, if necessary.
On August 13, 1996, HEAT-N-GLO filed an Application for Interim
Waiver and a Petition for Waiver regarding pilot light energy
consumption.
HEAT-N-GLO seeks an Interim Waiver from the DOE test provisions in
section 3.5 of Title 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix O, that
requires measurement of energy input rate of the pilot light (QP),
and the use of this data in section 4.2.6 for the calculation of AFUE,
where:
AFUE = (4400SSuQin-max)/
(4400SSQin-max+ 2.5(4600)u QP)
Instead, HEAT-N-GLO requests that it be allowed to delete QP and
accordingly, the (2.5(4600)u QP) term in the
calculation of AFUE. HEAT-N-GLO states that instructions to turn off
the transient pilot by the user when the heater is not in use are in
the User Instruction Manual and on a label adjacent to the gas control
valve. Therefore, the additional energy savings that result when the
pilot is turned off (QP = 0) should be credited. Since the current
DOE test procedure does not address pilot light energy savings, HEAT-N-
GLO asks that the Interim Waiver be granted.
Previous Petitions for Waiver to exclude the pilot light energy
input term in the calculation of AFUE for home heating equipment with a
manual transient pilot control have been granted by DOE to Appalachian
Stove and Fabricators, Inc., 56 FR 51711, October 15, 1991; Valor
Incorporated, 56 FR 51714, October 15, 1991; CFM International Inc., 61
FR 17287, April 19, 1996; Vermont Castings, Inc., 61 FR 17290, April
19, 1996; and Superior Fireplace Company, 61 FR 17885, April 23, 1996.
Thus, it appears likely that HEAT-N-GLO's Petition for Waiver for
pilot light for home heating equipment will be granted. In those
instances where the likely success of the Petition for Waiver has been
demonstrated based upon DOE having granted a waiver for a similar
product design, it is in the public interest to have similar products
tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis.
Therefore, based on the above, DOE is granting HEAT-N-GLO an
Interim
[[Page 53367]]
Waiver for its model AT-SUPREME, BAY-GDV, BAY-STOVE, DVT-INSERT, DVT-
STOVE, R5500RH, SL-3000, SL-32S, TOWNSEND I, TOWNSEND II, and 6000XLS
vented heaters. HEAT-N-GLO shall be permitted to test its model AT-
SUPREME, BAY-GDV, BAY-STOVE, DVT-INSERT, DVT-STOVE, R5500RH, SL-3000,
SL-32S, TOWNSEND I, TOWNSEND II, and 6000XLS vented heaters on the
basis of the test procedures specified in Title 10 CFR Part 430,
Subpart B, Appendix O, with the modifications set forth below:
(i) Delete paragraph 3.5 of Appendix O.
(ii) Delete paragraph 4.2.6 of Appendix O and replace with the
following paragraph:
4.2.6 Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. For manually controlled
vented heaters, calculate the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)
as a percent and defined as:
AFUE = u
where:
u = as defined in section 4.2.5 of this appendix.
(iii) With the exception of the modification set forth above, HEAT-
N-GLO shall comply in all respects with the procedures specified in
Appendix O of Title 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B.
This Interim Waiver is based upon the presumed validity of
statements and all allegations submitted by the company. This Interim
Waiver may be removed or modified at any time upon a determination that
the factual basis underlying the Application is incorrect.
This Interim Waiver is effective on the date of issuance by the
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy. The Interim Waiver shall remain in effect for a period of 180
days or until DOE acts on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner,
and may be extended for an additional 180-day period, if necessary.
HEAT-N-GLO's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief from
the DOE vented home heating equipment relating to the pilot light.
Specifically, HEAT-N-GLO seeks to exclude the pilot light energy
consumption in the calculation of AFUE.
Pursuant to paragraph (b) of Title 10 CFR Part 430.27, the
Department is hereby publishing the ``Petition for Waiver.'' in its
entirety. The petition contains no confidential information. The
Department solicits comments, data, and information respecting the
Petition.
Issued in Washington, DC October 7, 1996.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Heat-N-Glo Quality Fireplace Products Since 1975
August 13, 1996.
The Honorable Christine Ervin,
Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, United
States Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585
Subject: Petition for Waiver to Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations
430.27
Dear Secretary Ervin: This is a Petition for Waiver from test
procedures appearing in 10 CFR, part 430, subpart B, Appendix O--
Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Vented
Home Heating Equipment. The sections for which this waiver is
requested are detailed in section 3.5--Pilot Light Measurement; and
section 4.2.6--Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). These
sections require the measurement of energy input to the pilot light
and the inclusion of this data in the calculation of AFUE for the
appliance even when the pilot light is turned off and not consuming
any energy.
We are requesting this Waiver for our appliance models: AT-
SUPREME, BAY-GDV, BAY-STOVE, DVT-INSERT, DVT-STOVE, R5500RH, SL-
3000, SL-32S, TOWNSEND I, TOWNSEND II, AND 6000XLS.
The combination gas control valves used on these appliances can
be manually turned off when the heater is not in use. In the ``OFF''
position, both the main burner and the pilot light are extinguished.
When the gas control is set to the ``ON'' position, the main burner
and the pilot light are operating. The appliance Instruction Manual
and a label adjacent to the gas control valve will require the user
to turn the gas control valve to the ``OFF'' position when the
heater is not in use.
Requiring the inclusion of pilot energy input in the AFUE
calculations does not allow for the additional energy savings
realized when the pilot light is turned off. We request that the
requirement of including the term involving the pilot energy
consumption be waived from the AFUE calculation for our heaters
noted above. These models meet the conditions described in the
previous paragraph.
Waivers for deleting pilot energy consumption in AFUE
calculations have previously been granted by U.S.D.o.E. to other
manufacturers. We are requesting U.S.D.o.E. grant Heat-N-Glo
Fireplace Products, Inc. this same waiver.
Please contact us with any questions, comments, and requirements
for additional information we can provide. Thank you for your help
in this matter.
Sincerely,
Chuck Hansen,
Tech. Services--Engineering.
Gregg Achman,
Manager, Design Engineering.
[FR Doc. 96-26162 Filed 10-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
