G/TBT/N/USA/1812  
14 December 2021  
(21-9324) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (OEERE), 
Department of Energy (DOE) [1841]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [X ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Variable 
refrigerant flow (VRF) multi -split air conditioners and heat pumps; Quality (ICS 03.120), 
Test conditions and procedures in general (ICS 19.020), Ventilators. Fans. Air -
conditioners (ICS 23.120), Heat pumps (ICS 27.080)  
5. Title, number of pages  and language(s) of the notified document:  Energy 
Conservation Program: Test Procedure for VRF Multi -Split Systems (44 page(s), in 
English)  
6. Description of content:  Notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comment - The 
U.S. Department of Energy (" DOE") proposes to amend the  test procedure for variable 
refrigerant flow multi -split air  conditioners and heat pumps ("VRF multi -split systems") 
to incorporate by reference the latest version of the industry test  standard. DOE also 
proposes to adopt the in tegrated energy efficiency  ratio metric in its test procedures for 
VRF multi -split systems.  Additionally, DOE proposes to adopt provisions in the updated 
industry  test procedure relevant to certification and enforcement, including a  controls 
verification p rocedure. DOE welcomes written comment from the  public on any subject 
within the scope of this document (including  topics not specifically raised in this proposal), 
as well as the  submission of data and other relevant information.  
7. Objective and rationa le, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Prevention of deceptive practices and consumer protection; Protection of the 
environment; Quality requirements; Harmonization  
8. Relevant documents:  86 Federal Register (FR) 70644, 10 December 2021; Title 10 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 429 and 431:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2021-12-10/html/2021 -26288.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2021-12-10/pdf/2021 -26288.pdf  
This proposed rule is identified by Docket Number EERE -2021-BT-TP-0019.   The Docket 
Folder is availab le on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE -
2021-BT-TP-0019/document  and provides access to primary documents as well as G/TBT/N/USA/1812  
 
- 2 - 
 
  comments received. Do cuments are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching 
the Docket Number. WTO Members and their stakeholders are asked to submit comments 
to the USA TBT Enquiry Point  by or before 4pm Eastern Time on 8 February 
2022.   Comments received by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their 
stakeholders will be shared with the regulator and will also be submitted to the Docket  
on Regulations.gov if received within the comment period.  
G/TBT/N/USA/676/Add.2  - Energy Conservation Program for Certain Industrial 
Equipment: Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Commercial Heating, 
Air-Conditioning, and Water -Heating Equipment; Final Rule   
Energy Conservation Program for Certa in Commercial and Industrial  Equipment: Test 
Procedure for Certain Categories of Commercial Air  Conditioning and Heating 
Equipment; Request for Information, published 25 July 2017 identified by Docket 
Number EERE-2017-BT-TP-0018: 
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2017-07-25/html/2017 -15580.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2017-07-25/pdf/2017 -15580.pdf  
G/TBT/N/USA/1747  - Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Dehumidifying 
Direct Expansion -Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems; Notice of proposed rulemaking and 
request for comment published 7 July 2021, also identified by Docket Number EERE-
2017-BT-TP-0018. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  8 February 2022  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/USA/21_7756_00_e.pdf