94-18547. Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for Waiver of DOE Furnace Test Procedures From The Trane Company  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-18547]
    
    
    [[Page Unknown]]
    
    [Federal Register: July 29, 1994]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    
    Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
    [Case No. F-074]
    
     
    
    Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of 
    the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for 
    Waiver of DOE Furnace Test Procedures From The Trane Company
    
    AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
    Energy.
    
    ACTION: Notice.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a letter granting an Interim Waiver 
    to The Trane Company (Trane) from the existing Department of Energy 
    (DOE) test procedure regarding blower time delay for the company's YCC, 
    YCX, and DCX convertible package units.
    
        Today's notice also publishes a ``Petition for Waiver'' from Trane. 
    Trane's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief from the DOE 
    furnace test procedure relating to the blower time delay specification. 
    Trane seeks to test using a blower delay time of 45 seconds for its 
    YCC, YCX, and DCX convertible package units instead of the specified 
    1.5-minute delay between burner on-time and blower on-time. The 
    Department is soliciting comments, data, and information respecting the 
    Petition for Waiver.
    
    DATE: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than 
    August 29, 1994.
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department 
    of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Case No. 
    F-074, Mail Stop EE-43, Room 5E-066, Forrestal Building, 1000 
    Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7140.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Cyrus H. Nasseri, 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, (202) 
    586-7140.
    
    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, (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 (EPCA), Public Law 94-163, 89 Stat. 
    917, as amended by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA), 
    Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3266, the National Appliance Energy 
    Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Public Law 100-12, the National 
    Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Public 
    Law 100-357, and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), Public Law 102-
    486, 106 Stat. 2776, which requires DOE to prescribe standardized test 
    procedures to measure the energy consumption of certain consumer 
    products, including furnaces. The intent of the test procedures is to 
    provide a comparable measure of energy consumption that will assist 
    consumers in making purchasing decisions. These test procedures appear 
    at 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B.
        The Department amended the prescribed test procedures by adding 10 
    CFR 430.27 on September 26, 1980, creating the waiver process. 45 FR 
    64108. Thereafter, DOE further amended the appliance test procedure 
    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. 51 FR 42823, 
    November 26, 1986.
        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.
        The Interim Waiver provisions added by the 1986 amendment allow the 
    Secretary to grant an Interim Waiver when 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. An Interim 
    Waiver remains in effect for a period of 180 days or until DOE issues 
    its determination on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and 
    may be extended for an additional 180 days, if necessary.
        On June 9, 1994, Trane filed an Application for Interim Waiver 
    regarding blower time delay. Trane's Application seeks an Interim 
    Waiver from the DOE test provisions that require a 1.5-minute time 
    delay between the ignition of the burner and starting of the 
    circulating air blower. Instead, Trane requests the allowance to test 
    using a 45-second blower time delay when testing its YCC, YCX, and DCX 
    convertible package units. Trane states that the 30-second delay is 
    indicative of how these furnaces actually operate. Such a delay results 
    in an Average of 0.3 percent improvement in energy efficiency. Since 
    current DOE test procedures do not address this variable blower time 
    delay, Trane asks that the Interim Waiver be granted.
        The Department has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on 
    August 23, 1993, (58 FR 44583) to amend the furnace test procedure, 
    which addresses the above issue.
        Previous waivers for this type of time blower delay control have 
    been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18, 1985; 
    Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing 
    Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 56 FR 2920, January 25, 1991, 
    57 FR 10166, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 34560, August 5, 1992, and 59 FR 
    30577, June 14,
     1994; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989, 56 FR 6021, February 
    14, 1991, 57 FR 10167, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 22222, May 27, 1992, and 
    58 FR 68138, December 23, 1993; Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224, 
    December 5, 1990, 57 FR 49700, November 3, 1992, 58 FR 68136, December 
    23, 1993, and 58 FR 68137, December 23, 1993; Inter-City Products 
    Corporation, 55 FR 51487, December 14, 1990, and 56 FR 63945, December 
    6, 1991; DMO Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5, 1991, and 59 FR 30579, 
    June 14, 1994; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019, February 14, 1991; 
    Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 38830, August 
    27, 1992, 58 FR 68131, December 23, 1993, 58 FR 68133, December 23, 
    1993 and 59 FR 14394, March 28, 1994; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 
    27958, June 18, 1991, 56 FR 63940, December 6, 1991, 57 FR 23392, June 
    3, 1992, and 58 FR 68130, December 23, 1993; Snyder General 
    Corporation, 56 FR 54960, September 9, 1991; Goodman Manufacturing 
    Corporation, 56 FR 51713, October 15, 1991, 57 FR 27970, June 23, 1992 
    and 59 FR 12586, March 17, 1994; The Ducane Company Inc., 56 FR 63943, 
    December 6, 1991, 57 FR 10163, March 24, 1992, and 58 FR 68134, 
    December 23, 1993; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899, January 
    9, 1992, 57 FR 10160, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 10161, March 24, 1992, 57 
    FR 39193, August 28, 1992, 57 FR 54230, November 17, 1992, and 59 FR 
    30575, June 14, 1994; Thermo Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9, 
    1992; Consolidated Industries Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27, 1992; 
    Evcon Industries, Inc., 57 FR 47847, October 20, 1992; and Bard 
    Manufacturing Company, 57 FR 53733, November 12, 1992, and 59 FR 30578, 
    June 14, 1994. Thus, it appears likely that the Petition for Waiver 
    will be granted for blower time delay.
        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 Trane an Interim 
    Waiver for its YCC, YCX, and DCX convertible package units. Pursuant to 
    paragraph (e) of Section 430.27 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 
    430, the following letter granting the Application for Interim Waiver 
    to Trane was issued.
        Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR Part 430.27, DOE 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, July 25, 1994.
    Christine A. Ervin,
    Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
    Mr. Gene Hamm, Manager, Product Engineering, The Trane Company, 4811 
    S. Zero Street, Fort Smith, AR 72903
    
        Dear Mr. Hamm: This is in response to your June 9, 1994, 
    Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the 
    Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure regarding blower time 
    delay for The Trane Company (Trane) YCC, YCX, and DCX convertable 
    package units.
        Previous waivers for this type of timed blower delay control 
    have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18, 
    1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem 
    Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 56 FR 2920, 
    January 25, 1991, 57 FR 10166, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 34560, August 
    5, 1992, and 59 FR 30577, June 14, 1994; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, 
    May 4, 1989, 56 FR 6021, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 10167, March 24, 
    1992, 57 FR 22222, May 27, 1992, and 58 FR 68138, December 23, 1993; 
    Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5, 1990, 57 FR 49700, 
    November 3, 1992, 58 FR 68136, December 23, 1993, and 58 FR 68137, 
    December 23, 1993; Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 FR 51487, 
    December 14, 1990, and 56 FR 63945, December 6, 1991; DMO 
    Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5, 1991, and 59 FR 30579, June 14, 
    1994; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019, February 14, 1991; 
    Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 38830, 
    August 27, 1992, 58 FR 68131, December 23, 1993, 58 FR 68133, 
    December 23, 1993 and 59 FR 14394, March 28, 1994; Amana 
    Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958, June 18, 1991, 56 FR 63940, 
    December 6, 1991, 57 FR 23392, June 3, 1992, and 58 FR 68130, 
    December 23, 1993; Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR 54960, 
    September 9, 1991; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 51713, 
    October 15, 1991, 57 FR 27970, June 23, 1992 and 59 FR 12586, March 
    17, 1994; The Ducane Company Inc., 56 FR 63943, December 6, 1991, 57 
    FR 10163, March 24, 1992, and 58 FR 68134, December 23, 1993; 
    Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899, January 9, 1992, 57 FR 
    10160, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 10161, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 39193, 
    August 28, 1992, 57 FR 54230, November 17, 1992, and 59 FR 30575, 
    June 14, 1994; Thermo Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9, 1992; 
    Consolidated Industries Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27, 1992; 
    Evcon Industries, Inc., 57 FR 47847, October 20, 1992; and Bard 
    Manufacturing Company, 57 FR 53733, November 12, 1992, and 59 FR 
    30578, June 14, 1994. Thus, it appears likely that the Petition for 
    Waiver will be granted for blower time delay.
        Trane's Application for Interim Waiver does not provide 
    sufficient information to evaluate what, if any, economic impact or 
    competitive disadvantage Trane will likely experience absent a 
    favorable determination on its application.
        However, 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, Trane's Application for an Interim Waiver from the 
    DOE test procedure for its YCC, YCX, and DCX convertible package 
    units regarding blower time delay is granted.
        Trane shall be permitted to test its YCC, YCX, and DCX 
    convertible package units on the basis of the test procedures 
    specified in 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix N, with the 
    modification set forth below:
        (i) Section 3.0 in Appendix N is deleted and replaced with the 
    following paragraph:
        3.0 Test Procedure. Testing and measurements shall be as 
    specified in Section 9 in ANSI/ASHRAE 103-82 with the exception of 
    Sections 9.2.2, 9.3.1, and 9.3.2, and the inclusion of the following 
    additional procedures:
        (ii) Add a new paragraph 3.10 in Appendix N as follows:
        3.10 Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central Furnaces. After equilibrium 
    conditions are achieved following the cool-down test and the 
    required measurements performed, turn on the furnace and measure the 
    flue gas temperature, using the thermocouple grid described above, 
    at 0.5 and 2.5 minutes after the main burner(s) comes on. After the 
    burner start-up, delay the blower start-up by 1.5 minutes (t-) 
    unless: (1) the furnace employs a single motor to drive the power 
    burner and the indoor air circulation blower, in which case the 
    burner and blower shall be started together; or (2) the furnace is 
    designed to operate using an unvarying delay time that is other than 
    1.5 minutes, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to 
    start the blower; or (3) the delay time results in the activation of 
    a temperature safety device which shuts off the burner, in which 
    case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower. In the 
    latter case, if the fan control is adjustable, set it to start the 
    blower at the highest temperature. If the fan control is permitted 
    to start the blower, measure time delay (t-) using a stop watch. 
    Record the measured temperatures. During the heat-up test for oil-
    fueled furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue pipe within 
     0.01 inch of water column of the manufacturer's 
    recommended on-period draft.
        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.
        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.
          Sincerely,
    Christine A. Ervin,
    Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
    Ms. Christine A. Ervin, Asst. Secretary, Conservation and Renewable 
    Energy, United States Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
    Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585.
    
        Dear Christine: This petition for waiver and interim waiver is 
    submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR Part 430.27. Waiver is requested 
    from the furnace test procedure found in Appendix N to Subpart B of 
    part 430.
        The Heat-Up Test Procedure requires 1.5 minute time delay 
    between burner and blower-startup. Trane is requesting authorization 
    to use a .75 minute delay instead of 1.5 minutes.
        Starting in August, 1993, Trane will be manufacturing a series 
    of furnaces with a fixed control that activates the blower .75 
    minutes after burner start-up. This series includes the YCC, YCX, 
    and DCX convertible package units used for residential and light 
    commercial installations.
        The fixed timing controls reduce the energy losses by an average 
    of .3% The current procedures do not recognize such controls causing 
    energy losses to be overstated. This petition requests that the true 
    delay be used for more accurate representation of efficiency. 
    Confidential supporting test data is available upon request.
        An interim waiver is requested because it seems likely that our 
    waiver will be granted. Similar waivers have been granted to 
    numerous furnace manufacturers. All central furnace manufacturers 
    known to Trane have been notified by letter of our application. A 
    copy of the letter and a list of the manufacturers is attached.
          Sincerely,
    Gene Hamm,
    Mgr., Product Engineering.
    [FR Doc. 94-18547 Filed 7-28-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
07/29/1994
Department:
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
94-18547
Dates:
DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than August 29, 1994.
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: July 29, 1994, Case No. F-074