DOCKETED  
Docket Number:  22-AAER -01 
Project Title:  Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers  
TN #:  241949  
Document Title:  Notice of Proposed Action (NOPA)  
Description:  Notice of Proposed Action for Commercial and Industrial Fans 
and Blowers  
Filer:  Alex Galdamez  
Organization:  California Energy Alliance  
Submitter Role:  Commission Staff   
Submission Date:  2/24/2022 10:55:06 AM  
Docketed Date:  2/24/2022  
 STATE OF CALIFORNIA — NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY  Gavin Newsom, Governor  
 
CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION   
715 P  Street  
Sacramento, California 95814  
 
energy.ca.gov  
 
CEC -057 (Revised 1/ 21)
NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTION  
2022 Appliance Efficiency Rulemaking for Commercial and Indust rial Fans and 
Blowers  
Docket No. 22-AAER -01 
Notice Published on February 25, 2022  
INTRODUCTION  
Notice is hereby given that t he California Energy Commission (CEC) proposes to 
adopt regulations for commercial and industrial fans and blower s into the California 
Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 20 (“the Proposed Action”) , after considering all 
comments, objections, and recommendations, regarding the Proposed Action.   
 
PUBLIC HEARING  
The CEC staff will hold a public hearing for the proposed regulations at the date and 
time listed below. Interested persons, or their authoriz ed representative, may present 
statements, arguments, or contentions relevant to the proposed regulations at the 
public hearing. The record for this hearing will be kept open until every person has had 
an opportunity to provide comment.  
Tuesday April 1 2, 2022 
10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time)  
 
BUSINESS MEETING  
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the CEC will consider and possibly adopt the proposed 
regulations at a CEC Business Meeting at the date and time listed below. Interested 
persons, or their authorized representative, may present statements, arguments, or 
contentions relevant to the proposed regulations at the Business Meeting. If the date, 
time, place, or nature of the proposed adoption changes, the CEC will provide updated 
information in the rulemaking docket.  
   
Wednesday, June 8, 2022  
     10:00 a.m. (Pacific Time)  
 
 
The public hea ring will be held remotely, consistent with AB 361 (Rivas, Stats. 2021, 
ch. 165, §2) and Executive Order  N-1-22 to improve and enhance public access to 
state and local agency meetings during the COVID -19 pandemic by allowing broader  
2 access through teleconferencing options . Instructions for remote participation for the 
public hearing are below.  
REMOTE ATTENDANCE  
The public hearing may be accessed by clicking the Zoom link below or visiting 
Zoom  at https://join.zoom.us   and entering the ID and password below. If you experience 
difficulties joining, you may contact Zoom at (888) 799 -9666 ext. 2, or the Office  of the 
Public Advisor, Energy Equity and Tribal Affairs at  publicadvisor@energy.ca.gov  or by 
phone at (916) 654- 4489 or toll free at (800) 822- 6228.    
 
Link: https://energy.zoom.us/j/92683364288?pwd=cGprWHZiMnpnMkhJVFZyMk1Ua0
9QQT09  
Webinar ID: 926 8336 4288  
Passcode: 290779  
  
To participate by telephone dial (213) 338 -8477 or ( 888) 475-4499 (toll free). When 
prompted, enter the Webinar ID and password listed above. To comment or ask a 
question over the telephone, dial *9 to “raise your hand” and *6 to mute/unmute your 
phone line.  
PUBLIC ADVISOR  
The CEC’s Office of the Public Advisor , Energy Equity and Tribal Affairs  provides the 
public assistance in participating in CEC proceedings. For information on participation or to request interpreting services or reasonable accommodations, reach out via email 
at publicadvisor@energy.ca.gov
, by phone at (916) 654- 4489, or toll free at (800) 822-
6228. Requests for interpreting services and reasonable accommodations should be made at least f ive days in advance. The CEC will work diligently to accommodate all 
requests.  
Zoom: If you experience difficulties with the Zoom platform, please contact the Office 
of the Public Advisor , Energy Equity and Tribal Affairs  via email or phone.  
NEWS MEDIA IN QUIRIES  
Direct media inquiries to the Media and Public Communications Office to (916) 654-
4989 or mediaoffice@energy.ca.gov . 
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD  
The written public comment period for the commercial and industrial fans and blowers 
proposed regulations will be held from February 25, 2022,  through  April 1 1, 2022. Any 
interested person, or their authorized representative, may submit written comments to the CEC for consideration on or prior to April 1 1, 2022 . The CEC  appreciates  receiving 
written comments at the earliest possible date.  Comments submitted outside this 
comment period are considered untimely. CEC may, but is not required to, respond to 
untimely comments, including those raising significant environmental issues.   3  
Written and oral comments, attachments, and associated contact information 
(including addr ess, phone number, and email address) will become part of the public 
record of this proceeding with access available via any internet search engine.  
The CEC encourages use of its electronic commenting system. Visit the e- commenting 
page at https://www.energy.ca.gov/rules -and-regulations/appliance -efficiency -
regulations -title-20/appliance- efficiency -proceedings -11 which links to the comment 
page for this docket. Enter your contact information and a comment title describing the 
subject of your comment(s). Comments may be included in the “Comment Text” box or 
attached as a downloadable, searchable document consistent with Title 20, California 
Code of Regulations , Section 1208.1. The maximum files size allowed is 10 MB.  
Written comments may also be submitted by email. Include docket number 22- AAER -
01 in the subject line and email to docket@energy.ca.gov .  
 
A paper copy may be sent to:  
 
California Energy Commission  
Docket Unit  
Docket No. 22-AAER -01 
715 P  Street, MS -4 
Sacramento, CA 95814  
 
Pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 20 , Section 1104(e), any person may 
make oral comment on any agenda item at the June 8, 2022, Business Meeting.  Please consult the public agenda, which will be posted ten days before the June 8, 
2022,  Business Meeting, for important details.  
 
To ensure you rec eive notice of any changes to the proposed regulations in this 
proceeding, please follow the instructions provided at the end of this notice to join the 
proceeding list serve or provide a valid email or mailing address with your comments.  
STATUTORY AUTHORI TY AND REFERENCE  
Public Resources Code Sections 25213, 25218(e) , and 25402(a) - (c) authorize the 
CEC to adopt rules or regulations, as necessary, to implement Public Resources Code Section 25402(c).  
INFORMATIVE DIGEST/POLICY STATEMENT OVERVIEW  
The Warren- Alquist Act establishes the CEC as California’s primary energy policy and 
planning agency. Sections 25213, 25218(e), and 25402(c) of the Public Resources Code mandate and/or authorize that the CEC adopt rules and regulations, as 
necessary, to reduce the inefficient consumption of energy and water by prescribing 
efficiency standards and other cost -effective measures for appliances whose use 
requires a significant amount of energy or water statewide.  4 One of the ways the CEC satisfies this requirement i s through the Appliance Efficiency 
Regulations, Title 20, Sections 1601- 1609, which contain definitions, test procedures, 
efficiency standards, and marking and certification requirements for state and federally 
regulated appliances. Further, the regulations require that appliance manufacturers 
certify to the CEC that their products meet all applicable state and federal appliance 
efficiency regulations before their products can be included in the CEC’s Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDbS)  of appliances approved to be sold 
or offered for sale within California.  
The CEC is proposing regulations  for new commercial and industrial fans and blowers.  
There are an estimated 2 million commercial and industrial fans and blowers in California  used in a wide variety of applications including commercial building 
ventilation, commercial kitchen exhaust systems, industrial processes, and agricultural 
ventilation. The CEC analyzed available market data and concluded that the 
regulations  for commercial and industrial fans and blowers would significantly reduce 
energy consumption.  
Therefore, the CEC has prepared the proposed regulations to provide definitions, test 
procedures, and reporting requirements, for commercial and industrial fans and 
blowers used in building applications. The regulations  would apply to all commercial 
and industrial fans and blowers greater than or equal to 1 horsepower, or for fans 
without a rated shaft input power, an electrical input power greater than or equal t o 
1kW, but no more than 150 air horsepower.  
The CEC proposes to explicitly exclude the following types of fans from these 
regulations:  
• safety fans as defined in Section 1602(d) of this Article.  
• ceiling fans as defined in 10 CFR § 430.2.  
• circulating fans . 
• induced -flow fans . 
• jet fans . 
• crossflow  fans. 
• embedded fans as defined in ANSI/AMCA 214- 21.  
• fans mounted in or on motor vehicles or other mobile equipment . 
• fans that create a vacuum of 30 in. water gauge or greater; and  
• air curtain unit as defined in Section 1602(d) of this Article.  
Difference from existing comparable federal regulation or statute  
The CEC has determined that there are no existing comparable federal regulations or 
statutes.  
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice of proposed determination June 28, 2011, proposing that commercial and industrial fans, blowers, and fume 
hoods meet the criteria for covered equipment under the Energy Policy and 5 Conservation Act (EPCA).  On December 10, 2014, DOE issued a Notice of Data 
Availability (NODA), followed by a second NODA on May 1, 2015. The Appliance 
Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee ( ASRAC ) formed a working 
group to negotiate potential efficiency standards and test procedures for fans. The 
negotiations resulted in a term sheet that included scope, test procedures, and 
standards for fans. The DOE released a third NODA to support the recommendations 
in the term sheet on November 1, 2016. However, DOE suspended its rulemaking for 
commercial and industrial fans and blowers in January 2017.  
 
On August 19, 2021, DOE published a final coverage determination for specified fans 
and blowers.  In February 2022, DOE issued a Request for Information, soliciting 
information from stakeholders regarding standards for fans and blowers. However,  As 
of the publication of this document, DOE has not proposed test procedures, labeling 
requirements, or energy conservation standards for commercial and industrial fans 
and blowers . 
Broad  objectives of the regulations and the specific benefits anticipated by the 
proposed amendments  
The broad objective of the regulations is to carry out the CEC’s statutory mandate to 
reduce the wasteful, uneconomic, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy 
by providing definitions, test procedures, and reporting requirements for commercial  
and industrial fans and blowers used in building applications in the appliance efficienc y 
regulations.  
The specific benefits of the proposed regulations are utility cost savings to the 
consumer, and lower statewide energy use. The proposed regulations  cover 
commercial and industrial fans and blowers used in building applications. The estimat ed net benefit for end users of commercial and industrial fans and blowers is 
between $407 to $6,117 per unit, depending on fan type. The first year the requirements  take effect, California will save around 61 gigawatt -hours (GWh) and 
about 1,755 GWh per y ear after full stock turnover in 2052. These savings equate to 
about $303 million in savings per year after full stock turnover for an approximate total 
appliance life-cycle net benefit of over $5 billion for California businesses and 
industries.   
Determin ation of inconsistency or incompatibility with existing state regulations  
California does not have appliance efficiency regulations under Title 20 of the California Code of Regulations for commercial and industrial fans and blowers.  
The California Buildin g Code has requirements under Title 24, Part 6, Section 110.2 of 
the California Code of Regulations for some equipment that has an embedded 
commercial or industrial fan or blower or a combination. These requirements are for 
efficiency related to space conditioning, including requirements for minimum energy efficiency ratio, integrated energy efficiency ratio, coefficient of performance, 
integrated part -load value, or kilowatt -per-ton of refrigeration.  
In addition, there are direct fan requirements in the building code under Title 24, Part 6, Section 140.4(c) of the California Code of Regulations, but these requirements are 6 applicable only to new buildings and not every installation. The Title 24 requirements 
apply  to fan systems used for space conditioning and do not conflict with the 
requirements of the proposed regulation.   
Therefore,  the CEC has determined that the proposed regulations would not prevent 
compliance with existing state regulations and are neither inconsistent nor incompatible with any other existing state regulations.  
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE   
The CEC proposes to incorporate the following document by reference:  
ANSI/AMCA Standard 214- 21 – Test Procedure for Calculating Fan Energy Index 
(FEI) for Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers.  
All documents are available for review at the CEC located at 715 P  Street, 
Sacramento, California 95814 or, on the CEC’s website found at 
https://www.energy.ca.gov/rules -and-regulations/appliance -efficiency -regulations -title-
20/appliance -efficiency -proceedings -11 
MANDATED BY FEDERAL LAW OR REGULATIONS  
None 
OTHER STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS  
None FISCAL IMPACTS   
The CEC has made the following initial determinations:  
• Mandate on local agencies and school districts: None  
• Cost to any local agency or school district requiring reimbursement pursuant to 
17500 et seq.: No ne  
• Cost or savings to any state agency: None   
• Non-discretionary cost or savings imposed upon local agencies: None  
• Cost or savings in F ederal funding to the state: None  
SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON HOUSING COSTS  
None  
SIGNIFICANT STATEWIDE ADVERSE ECONOMIC IMPACT DIRECTLY AFFECTING BUSINESS, INCLUDING ABILITY OF CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES TO COMPETE WITH BUSINESSES IN OTHER STATES 
The CEC has made an initial determination that the proposed regulations  will not  have a 
statewide adverse economic impact directly affecting business, including the ability of 
California b usinesses to compete with businesses in other states.  7 The CEC proposes to test fans using ANSI/AMCA 214- 21 test procedure to test 
and calculate the fan energy index (FEI) for standalone commercial and 
industrial fans and blower s. The fan categories covered by this proposal include 
a wide variety of common commercial and industrial applications. In contrast, the excluded fan categories are fan types that are primarily used in specialty 
applications including those embedded in equipment with a main function other 
than the movement of air.  
The proposed regulations will require manufacturers to include certain information, and 
prohibit other specified information, on the labeling  of commercial and industrial fans 
and blowers. Business may  be im pacted if they purchase regulated commercial and 
industrial fans and blowers . The CEC assumes that manufacturers will pass the 
incremental cost to meet the requirements  onto the businesses involved in the 
distribution and sales, which in turn will then pas s the cost on to the consumers. The 
CEC assumes that commercial and industrial fans and blowers are typically purchased 
by businesses not individuals. The proposed regulations for commercial and industrial 
fans and blowers may have an initial increased inc remental cost to businesses but  will 
result in lower utility bills to those businesses through reduced electricity consumption. 
The savings from the lower utility bills over the lifetime of the more efficient appliance 
exceeds the incremental costs.   
Retailers are responsible for ensuring that the regulated products they sell are certified 
to the CEC and appear in the CEC Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System  
(MAEDbS)  before they are sold or offered for sale in California. Because commercial 
and industrial fans and blowers are newly covered products, the CEC assumes that 
retailers will experience some additional costs associated with checking MAEDbS to 
ensure that the appliance(s) they sell are certified to the CEC and appear in the 
MAEDbS and are therefore compliant and lawful to sell in the state.  
RESULTS OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS/ASSESSMENT  
The CEC concludes that: (1) the proposal will not create jobs within California, (2) the 
proposal will not eliminate jobs within California, (3) the proposal will not create new 
businesses in California, (4)  the proposal will not eliminate existing businesses within 
California, and (5)  the proposal will  not result in the expansion of businesses currently 
doing business within the state.  
The benefits of the proposed regulations are utility cost savings to the consumer and 
lower statewide energy use. The proposed regulations  cover  commercial and industrial 
fans and blowers used in building applications. The first year the regulations  take 
effec t, California will save around 61 gigawatt -hours (GWh)  of electricity  and about 
1,755 GWh per year after full stock turnover in 2052. These savings equate to about $5 billion for California businesses and industries  over the lifetime of these appliances .  
The proposed regulation will not adversely impact the health and welfare of California 
residents, worker safety, or the state’s environment.  8 COST IMPACTS ON REPRESENTATIVE PERSON OR BUSINESS  
The CEC is not aware of any  cost impacts that a representative person or business 
would necessarily incur in reasonable compliance with the Proposed Action.  
The CEC assumes that commercial and industrial fans and blowers are typically 
purchased by businesses not individuals , so no c ost impacts are anticipated for 
individuals . 
The CEC proposes using ANSI/AMCA 214 test procedure to test and calculate 
the fan energy index (FEI) for standalone commercial and industrial fans and 
blower s. The fan categories covered by this proposal include a wide variety of 
common commercial and industrial applications. In contrast, the excluded fan categories are fan types that are primarily used in specialty applications 
including those embedded in equipment with a main function other than the 
movement of  air. 
The proposed regulation will require manufacturers to include certain information, and 
prohibit other specified information, on the labeling of  commercial and industrial fans 
and blowers. Business may be impacted if they purchase regulated fans and blowers. The CEC assumes that manufacturers will pass the incremental cost to meet the 
requirements  onto the businesses involved in the distribution and sales, which in turn 
will then pass the cost on to the consumers.  While there is an initial increased 
incremental cost to businesses , the reduced energy consumption will result in lower 
utility bills to those businesses . The savings from the lower utility bills over the lifetime 
of the more efficient appliance exceeds the incremental costs . 
BUSINESS REPORT  
The regulations impose a new reporting requirement for manufacturers of commercial and industrial fans and blowers.  
State law (Public Resources Code Section 25402(c)(1)) requires manufacturers to certify to the CEC that their appliances comply with the applicable labeling  
requirements before they are sold or offered for sale in the state. The Appliance 
Efficiency Regulations require manufacturers to provide specified information for this 
purpose to the CEC Modernized Appliance Efficiency Databas e System (MAEDbS) . 
MAEDbS is used by manufacturers and maintained by the CEC to list the appliances authorized to be sold or offered for sale in California. This is necessary to help the 
CEC and consumers verify compliance with applicable federal and state efficiency 
standards  and requirements . Some retailers may choose to act as a manufacturer 
when they rebrand a product and assume the certification obligation for that model.  
It is necessary for the health, safety, or welfare of the people of the state, that these 
regulations, which require a report, apply to businesses . 
EFFECT ON SMALL BUSINESS  
The proposed regulations may affect small business. However, the CEC is not aware 
of any significant cost impacts that a s mall business would incur in reas onable 
compliance with the Proposed Action.  9 CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES  
In accordance with Government Code Section 11346.5, subdivision (a)(13), the CEC 
must determine that no reasonable alternative considered by the agency, or that has 
otherwise been identified and brought to the attention of the agency, would be more 
effective in carrying out the purpose for which the action is proposed; would be as 
effective and less burdensome to affected private persons than the Proposed Action ; 
or would be more cost -effective to affected private persons and equally effective in 
implementing the statutory policy or other provision of law.  
CONTACT PERSON  
Questions should be addressed to:  
Corrine Fishman,  Regulations Manager  
Efficiency Division  
715 P  Street  
Sacramento, CA 95814  
(916) 805-7452  
corrine.fishman@energy.ca.gov  
 
Or:  
Alejandro Galdamez, P.E.  
Efficiency Division  
(916)  237-2550  
alejandro.galdamez@energy.ca.gov  
 
COPIES OF THE INITIAL STATEMENT OF REASONS (ISOR) , THE EXPRESS 
TERMS, AND RULEMAKING FILE  
The CEC will have the entire rulemaking file available for inspection and copying 
throughout the rulemaking process at the above address. As of the date this notice is 
published in the Notice Register, the rulemaking file consists of this notice, the express 
terms, and the ISOR. Copies may be obtained by contacting Corrine Fishman at the 
email or phone number above or accessed through the CEC’s website at  
https://www.energy.ca.gov/rules -and-regulations/appliance -efficiency -regulations -title-
20/appliance -efficiency -proceedings -11   
AVAILABILITY OF CHANGES TO ORIGINAL PROPOSAL FOR AT LEAST 15 
DAYS PRIOR TO AGENCY ADOP TION/REPEAL/AMENDMENT OF RESULTING 
REGULATIONS  
Participants should be aware that any of the proposed regulations could be changed as a result of public comment, staff recommendation, or recommendations from 
Commissioners. Moreover, changes to the proposed regulations not indicated in the 
express terms could be considered if they improve the clarity or effectiveness of the regulations. If the CEC considers changes to the proposed regulations pursuant to 
Government Code Section 11346.8, a full copy of the text will be available for review 10 at least 15 days prior to the date on which the CEC adopts or amends the resulting 
regulations.  
COPY OF THE FINAL STATEMENT OF REASONS  
At the conclusion of the rulemaking, persons may obtain a copy of the Final Statement 
of Reasons (FSOR), once it has been prepared, by  contacting the person above or by  
visiting the CEC’s website at https://www.energy.ca.gov/rules -and-
regulations/appliance- efficiency -regulations -title-20/appliance- efficiency -proceedings -
11. 
AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS ON THE INTERNET  
The CEC maintains a website to facilitate public access to documents prepared and 
considered as part of this rulemaking proceeding. Documents prepared by the CEC for 
this rulemaking have been posted at https://www.energy.ca.gov/rules -and-
regulations/appliance- efficiency -regulations -title-20/appliance- efficiency -proceedings -
11. 
 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECEIVING NOTICES AND DOCUMENTS IN THIS 
PROCEEDING  
 
To stay informed about this project and receive documents and notices of upcoming 
workshops and hearings as they are filed please subscribe to the Appliance  list 
serve, which can be accessed here: https://www.energy.ca.gov/rules -and-
regulations/appliance- efficiency -regulations -title-20/appliance -efficiency -proceedings  
The list serve sends out email notifications and direct links when documents and notices are filed in the proceeding docket. If you are unable or do not wish to sign up 
for the listserve but still would like to receive documents and notices, please contact 
the contact person listed in this notice.