G/TBT/N/USA/868
8 November 2013 
(13-6215)  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) [884] 
Name and address (including telephon e 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 :    
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 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):  Residential 
and commercial water heaters, Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters; electric space heating apparatus and soil heating apparatus; electro-
thermic hair-dressing apparatus (for example, hair dryers, hair curlers, curling tong 
heaters) and hand dryers; electric smoothing irons; other electro-thermic appliances of a kind used for domestic purposes; electric heating resistors, other than those of heading 
85.45 (HS 8516). 
Environmental protection (ICS 13.020); Installations in buildings (ICS 91.140); Domestic, 
commercial and industrial heating appliances (ICS 97.100). 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document:  Energy 
Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial and Industrial 
Equipment: Test Procedures for Residential and Commercial Water Heaters (48 pages, in 
English).     
6. Description of content:  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to revise its 
test procedure for residential water heaters and certain commercial water heaters 
established under the Energy Policy and Conser vation Act. This rulemaking will fulfill 
DOE's statutory obligation for residential and certain commercial water heaters to review 
its test procedure for covered products and equipment at least once every seven years. 
In addition, this rulemaking will satisfy DOE's statutory obligation to develop a uniform efficiency descriptor for residential and commercial water heaters. The proposed test 
method would apply the same efficiency descriptor to all residential and certain 
commercial water heaters, and it would extend coverage to eliminate certain gaps in the current residential test procedure, update the simulated-use-test draw pattern, and update the water delivery temperature requirement. DOE is also announcing a public 
meeting to discuss and receive comments on issues presented in this test procedure 
rulemaking.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of the environment G/TBT/N/USA/868 
 
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  8. Relevant documents:   78 Federal Register (FR) 66201, 4 November 2013; Title 10 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 429, 430 and 431. Will appear in the Federal Register when adopted. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   To be determined To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:  21 January 2014 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [  ], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body:  
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2013-11-04/html /2013-26268.htm  
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2013-11-04/pd f/2013-26268.pdf