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Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee

Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces Working Group

Term Sheet

June 15, 2015

Background

On April 1, 2015, DOE issued a Notice of Intent to Establish the Commercial Package Air 

Conditioners and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces Working Group To Negotiate either a Notice 

of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) or Final Rule for Energy Conservation Standards for 

Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces. 80 FR 17363. This 

working group is established under the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory 

Committee (ASRAC) in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the 

Negotiated Rulemaking Act. The purpose of the working group was to discuss and, if possible, 

reach consensus on a proposed or final rule for the energy efficiency of commercial package air 

conditioners and heat pumps (specifically, air-cooled with rated cooling capacities greater than 

or equal to 65,000 Btu per hour and less than 760,000 Btu per hour split and package AC and 

HP) and commercial warm air furnaces, as authorized by the Energy Policy and Conservation 

Act (EPCA) of 1975, as amended. The scope of this term sheet does not include package 

terminal air conditioners and heat pumps (PTAC/PTHP), single package vertical units (SPVU), 

computer room air conditioners (CRAC), or variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems. The 

working group was to consist of representatives of parties having a defined stake in the outcome 

of the proposed standards, and will consult as appropriate with a range of experts on technical 

issues.

DOE received 17 nominations for membership. Ultimately, the working group consisted of 17

members, including one member from ASRAC and one DOE representative (see Appendix A). 

The working group met six times (five times in-person and once by teleconference). The 

meetings were held on April 28, May 11-12, May 20-21, June 1-2, June 9-10, and June 15, 2015. 

The working group successfully reached consensus on energy conservation standards for 

commercial package air conditioners and commercial warm air furnaces. This document includes 

the working group’s recommendations to ASRAC on the energy conservation standards. The 

group also chose to provide test procedure and metric-related recommendations to the 

committee.

Commercial Warm Air Furnaces

Energy Conservation Standards and their Compliance Dates

Recommendation #1. 

 Gas-fired Commercial Warm Air Furnaces. Gas-fired commercial warm air furnaces 

manufactured on and after January 1, 2023 must have a thermal efficiency at the maximum 

rated capacity (rated maximum input) not less than 81 percent.
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 Oil-fired Commercial Warm Air Furnaces. Oil-fired commercial warm air furnaces 

manufactured on and after January 1, 2023 must have a thermal efficiency at the maximum 

rated capacity (rated maximum input) not less than 82 percent.

Vote results: Consensus1(16 yes - 0 no – 1 abstention) on 6/15/2015

Air-Cooled, Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

Test Procedure

Recommendation #2. 

 A rulemaking to amend the test procedure for air-cooled, commercial package air 

conditioners and heat pumps with rated cooling capacities greater than or equal to 65,000 

Btu/h and less than 760,000 Btu/h, shall be initiated no later than January 1, 2016. DOE 

shall issue a final rule for the amended test procedure no later than January 1, 2019. The 

primary focus of the rulemaking will be to better represent the total fan energy use, including 

considering a) alternative external static pressures and b) operation for other than mechanical 

cooling and heating. The energy consumption from the supply air fan during hours of 

operation when it is used to provide ventilation air and the energy use with the supply fan 

operation when the unit is in heating mode shall be included in an energy efficiency metric as 

a result of this test procedure modification. Working group members will support the use of 

this new test procedure and any resulting revised metric(s) in the ASHRAE 90.1 building 

standards. However, the new test procedure and any resulting revised metric will not be used 

for assessing representations or compliance with the standards described in this term sheet.

Vote results: Consensus (14 yes - 0 no – 1 abstention – 2 absent) on 6/15/2015

Recommendation #3. 

 The Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces Working 

Group recommends to the Fans and Blowers Working Group that supply air fans and outdoor 

coil fans (used for heat rejection from the unit’s refrigeration system during cooling mode) 

which are embedded in air-cooled, commercial air conditioners and heat pumps with rated 

cooling capacities greater than and equal to 65,000 Btu/h and less than 760,000 Btu/h not be 

considered for test procedures, certifications, or standards in the fans and blowers

rulemaking. This recommendation is conditional on finding a way to implement the fans and 

blowers regulation so that it does not create loopholes for fans or blowers that may be used as 

stand-alone equipment or embedded in other non-covered equipment. A fan standard may 

cover fans sold as stand-alone products that are also embedded in equipment covered in this 

term sheet.

Vote results: Consensus (13 yes –0 no – 1 abstention 3 - absent) on 6/15/2015

Energy Conservation Standards and their Compliance Dates

Recommendation #4. 

 

1 There are 17 members of the working group. Consensus has been defined as no more than 2 no votes.
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 Commercial package air conditioners, including heat pumps, but excluding dual-duct air 

conditioners and heat pumps as defined in Recommendation #5 (and to be proposed for 

codification at 10 CFR part 431.92), manufactured starting on January 1, 2018, must 

meet the applicable minimum energy efficiency standard level(s) listed in the tables 

below.

Minimum Cooling Efficiency Standards for Air-Cooled Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

Equipment Category

Rated Cooling

capacity

SubCategory Heating TypeMinimum Energy 

Efficiency Standard

Small Commercial 

Split and Single 

Package AirConditioners and Heat

Pumps (Air-Cooled)

≥65,000 Btu/h and 

<135,000 Btu/h

AC Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 12.9

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 12.7

HP Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 12.2

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 12.0

Large Commercial 

Split and Single 

Package AirConditioners and Heat

Pumps (Air-Cooled)

≥135,000 Btu/h and 

<240,000 Btu/h

AC Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 12.4

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 12.2

HP Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 11.6

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 11.4

Very Large 

Commercial Split and 

Single Package AirConditioners and Heat

Pumps (Air-Cooled)

≥240,000 Btu/h and 

<760,000 Btu/h

AC Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 11.6

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 11.4

HP Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 10.6

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 10.4

Minimum Heating Efficiency Standards for Air-Cooled Heat Pumps

Equipment Category

Rated Cooling 

capacity Heating type

Minimum Energy 

Efficiency Standard

Small Commercial Split and Single 

Package Heat Pumps (Air-Cooled)

≥65,000 Btu/h and

<135,000 Btu/h

Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

COP = 3.3

All Other Types of Heating

Large Commercial Split and Single 

Package Heat Pumps (Air-Cooled)

(Air-Cooled)

≥135,000 Btu/h and

<240,000 Btu/h

Resistance Heating or No 

Heating

COP = 3.2

All Other Types of Heating

Very Large Commercial Split and 

Single Package Heat Pumps (AirCooled)

≥240,000 Btu/h and

<760,000 Btu/h

Resistance Heating or No 

Heating

COP = 3.2

All Other Types of Heating

 Commercial package air conditioners, including heat pumps, but excluding dual-duct air 

conditioners and heat pumps as defined in Recommendation #5 (and to be proposed for 

codification at 10 CFR part 431.92), manufactured starting on January 1, 2023, must 

meet the applicable minimum energy efficiency standard level(s) listed in the tables 

below.
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Minimum Cooling Efficiency Standards for Air-Cooled Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

Equipment Category

Rated Cooling 

capacity

SubCategory Heating TypeMinimum Energy 

Efficiency Standard

Small Commercial 

Split and Single 

Package AirConditioners and Heat

Pumps (Air-Cooled)

≥65,000 Btu/h and 

<135,000 Btu/h

AC Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 14.8

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 14.6

HP Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 14.1

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 13.9

Large Commercial 

Split and Single 

Package AirConditioners and Heat

Pumps (Air-Cooled)

≥135,000 Btu/h and 

<240,000 Btu/h

AC Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 14.2

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 14.0

HP Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 13.5

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 13.3

Very Large 

Commercial Split and 

Single Package AirConditioners and Heat

Pumps (Air-Cooled)

≥240,000 Btu/h and 

<760,000 Btu/h

AC Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 13.2

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 13.0

HP Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

IEER = 12.5

All Other Types of Heating IEER = 12.3

Minimum Heating Efficiency Standards for Air-Cooled Heat Pumps

Equipment Category

Rated Cooling 

capacity Heating type

Minimum Energy 

Efficiency Standard

Small Commercial Split and Single 

Package Heat Pumps (Air-Cooled)

≥65,000 Btu/h and

<135,000 Btu/h

Electric Resistance Heating or 

No Heating

COP = 3.4

All Other Types of Heating

Large Commercial Split and Single 

Package Heat Pumps (Air-Cooled)

≥135,000 Btu/h and

<240,000 Btu/h

Resistance Heating or No 

Heating

COP = 3.3

All Other Types of Heating

Very Large Commercial Split and 

Single Package Heat Pumps (AirCooled)

≥240,000 Btu/h and

<760,000 Btu/h

Resistance Heating or No 

Heating

COP = 3.2

All Other Types of Heating

Vote results: Consensus (14 yes - 0 no – 1abstention - 2 absent) on 6/15/2015

Dual Duct Unit Definition

Recommendation #5. 

 Existing EER standard levels as provided in Table 1 of part 431.97 shall continue to apply to 

dual duct air conditioners and heat pumps.

 Dual duct air conditioner or heat pump means air-cooled commercial package air 

conditioning and heating equipment that

1. is either a horizontal single package or split-system unit; or a vertical unit that consists of 

two components that may be shipped or installed either connected or split;
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2. is intended for indoor installation with ducting of outdoor air from the building exterior to 

and from the unit, where the unit and/or all of its components are non-weatherized and 

are not marked (or listed) as being in compliance with UL 1995 or equivalent 

requirements for outdoor use;

3. (a) if it is a horizontal unit, the complete unit has a maximum height of 35 inches or the 

unit has components that do not exceed a maximum height of 35 inches;

(b) if it is a vertical unit, the complete (split, connected, or assembled) unit has

component that do not exceed maximum depth of 35 inches; and

4. has a rated cooling capacity greater than and equal to 65,000 Btu/h and up to 300,000 

Btu/h.

Vote results: Consensus (15 yes – 0 no – 1 abstention – 1 absent) on 6/15/2015

While the elements described herein may proceed in separate regulatory actions, this term sheet 

has been approved by the ASRAC Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Commercial Warm 

Air Furnaces working group by consensus with the intent that it will be adopted in its entirety.

(13 yes – 0 no – 1 abstention - 3 absent) on 6/15/15.
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Appendix A—Members 

U.S. Department of Energy—ASRAC 

Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces Working 

Group

John Cymbalsky U.S. Department of Energy

Marshall Hunt Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, 

Southern California Edison, and Southern California Gas Company

Andrew deLaski Appliance Standards Awareness Project

Louis Starr Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

Meg Waltner Natural Resources Defense Council

Jill Hootman Trane/Ingersoll Rand

John Hurst Lennox 

Karen Meyers Rheem Manufacturing Company

Charlie McCrudden Air Conditioning Contractors of America

Harvey Sachs American Council for and Energy Efficient Economy

Paul Doppel Mitsubishi Electric

Robert Whitwell United Technologies Corporation

Michael Shows Underwriters Laboratories

Russell Tharp Goodman Manufacturing

Sami Zendah Emerson Climate Technologies

Mark Tezigni Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association, Inc.

Nick Mislak Air-conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute