[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22538]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 13, 1994]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Public Buildings Service
41 CFR Part 101-20
RIN 3090-AF50
Energy Conservation
AGENCY: Public Buildings Service, General Services Administration.
ACTION: Proposed Rule.
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SUMMARY: Since the mid-1970's, the General Services Administration has
imposed rigid building temperature and air circulation standards in the
buildings it owns and manages. These standards were established to
promote energy conservation without appropriate attention to occupant
comfort and productivity. The results of a recent survey of GSA's
building occupants showed a low customer satisfaction in the areas of
building temperatures and indoor air quality. These results, plus the
introduction of new building energy technologies which provide energy
conservation without diminution of comfort and service to building
occupants, allow GSA to eliminate rigid temperature standards.
This proposed rule will eliminate operating standards and allow for
building temperatures to be maintained in a manner satisfactory to
users and consistent with local commercial practices. In addition, it
will delete the minimum ventilation rate and replace it with the
ventilation standards specified by the American Society of Heating,
Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE Standard 62
Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality). This will improve
temperature comfort levels, ventilation, and the indoor air quality of
buildings. This will, in turn, improve customer satisfaction and
productivity.
DATES: Comments are due on or before November 14, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: General Services
Administration, Public Buildings Service, Office of Real Property
Management and Safety, Washington, DC 20405.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jim Carelock, Office of Real Property Management and Safety,
Washington, DC 20405, (202) 501-1563.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 12862--Setting Customer
Service Standards. Executive Order 12862 states that in order to carry
out the principles of the National Performance Review, the Federal
Government must be customer-driven. GSA, in an effort to become more
customer driven, seeks to improve customer satisfaction, by changing
regulations that have a direct effect on three areas of low customer
satisfaction. GSA's customers, building tenants, have indicated by
their responses to customer surveys that they have very low
satisfaction levels for the following: ventilation, 42 percent
satisfied; indoor air quality, 44 percent satisfied; summer
temperature, 53 percent satisfied; and winter temperature, 56 percent
satisfied.
The two sections of the Federal Property Management Regulations
(FPMR) addressed in this proposal mandate space temperatures and
ventilation rates that contribute to low customer satisfaction. These
changes will permit the Buildings Managers to control building
temperatures and mandate adherence to the latest air ventilation
guidelines. On April 11, 1994 the Administrator of GSA granted a class
deviation for the two sections of the FPMR. This action made the
changes recommended in this proposed rule effective immediately for GSA
buildings.
Executive Order 12866
The General Services Administration (GSA) has determined that this
rule is not a significant regulatory action for the purposes of
Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
GSA has determined that this rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
List of Subjects in 41 CFR Part 101-20
Blind, Safety, Concessions, Crime, Federal buildings and
facilities, Fire Prevention, Government property management, Security
measures.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, it is proposed to amend 41
CFR Part 101-20 as follows:
PART 101-20--MANAGEMENT OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
1. The authority citation for Part 101-20 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: Sec. 205(c), 63 Stat. 390; 40 U.S.C. 486(c).
SUBPART 101-20.1--BUILDING OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, PROTECTION, AND
ALTERATIONS
2. Section 101-20.107 is amended by revising paragraph (c) (1) and
paragraph (e) to read as follows:
Sec. 101-20.107 Energy conservation.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(1) To the maximum extent practicable, temperatures will be
maintained to maximize customer satisfaction by conforming to local
commercial equivalent temperature levels and operating practices. GSA
will seek to minimize energy use while operating its buildings in this
manner. During non-working hours, heating temperatures shall be set no
higher than 55 degrees Fahrenheit and air-conditioning will not be
provided except as necessary to return space temperatures to a suitable
level for the beginning of working hours.
* * * * *
(e) During working hours in periods of heating and cooling, provide
ventilation in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 62, Ventilation for
Acceptable Indoor Air Quality where practical in light of building
structure, system capacity or other factors relevant to individual
facilities. Where compliance with this ASHRAE standard is not
practical, provide the maximum practicable amount of ventilation during
periods of heating and cooling and pursue opportunities to increase
ventilation up to the applicable ASHRAE standard.
* * * * *
Dated: June 2, 1994.
David L. Bibb,
Assistant Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 94-22538 Filed 9-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-23-M
