## 59FR38591

Federal Register / Vol..59, No. 145 / Friday, July 29, 1994 / Notices 38591

DEPARTME NT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
[Case No. F-074]

Energy Conservation Program for
Consumer Products. Granting of the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for Waiver of DOE Furnace Test Procedures From
The Trane Company

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and RenewableEnergy, Department of Energy.

AcnON: Notice.

SUMMARY : Today's notice publishes a letter granting an Interim Waiver to The Trane Company .(Trane) from the existing Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure regarding blower time delay for the company's YCC, YCX, and DCX convertible package units. Toiiay" s notice also publishes z "Petition for Waiver" from Trane. Trane's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief from the DOE
furnace test procedure relating to the blower time delay specification. Trane seeks to test using a blower delay time of 45 seconds for its YCC, YCX, and DCX convertible package units instead of the specified 1.5-minute delay
between burner on-time and blower ontime. The Department is soliciting comments, data, and information respecttpg the Petition'for Waiver.
DATE- DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than August 29, 1994.
ADDRESSES : Written comments and

statements shall be sent to: Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Case No. F-074, Mail Stop EE-43, Room 5E-066, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue., SW. Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7140.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATI ON CONTACT: Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-431, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585,'(202) '586-
7140. 

### Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy. Office of General Counsel. Mail Station GC 72, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202)
586-9507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program fo'r Consumer Products -(other than automobiles) was established pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), Public Law 94-163, 89 Stat. 917, as amended by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA), Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3266, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Public Law 100-12, the National Appliance Energy Conservation_
Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Public Law 100-359, and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), Public Law 102-486, 106 Slat. 2776. which requires DOE to prescribe standardized test procedures to measure the energy consumption of certain consumer products, including furnaces. The intent of the test procedures is to provide a comparable measure of energy consumption that will assist consumers in making purchasing decisions. These test procedures appear at 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B. The Department amended the prescribed test procedures by adding 10 CFR 430.27 on September 26, 1980, creating -the waiver process. 45 FR 64108. Thereafter, DOE further amended the appliance test procedure waiver process to allow the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an
Interim Waiver from test procedure . requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned DOE fora waiver of such prescribed test procedures. 51 FR 42823.. November 26, 1986. 

### The waiver process allows the Assistant Secretary to waive temporarily, test procedures for a particular basic model when a petitioner shows that the basic model contains one or more design characteristics which prevent testing according to the prescribed test procedures, or when the prescribed test procedures may evaluate tht basic'-model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. Waivers generally remain in effect until final test procedure amendments become

### 59F.R38591

33592 Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 145 / Friday, July 29, 1994 / Notices

effective, resolving the problem that is the subject of the waiver. The Interim Waiver provisions added by the 1986 amendment allow the Secretary to grant an Interim Waiver when it is determined that the applicant will experience economic hardship if the Application for Interim Waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the Petition for Waiver will be granted, and/ or the Assistant Secretary determines that it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate relief pending a determination on the Petition
for Waiver. An Interim Waiver remains in effect for a period of 180 days or until
DOE issues its determination on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an additional 1€30 days, if necessary. On June 9, 1994, Trane filed an Application for Interim Waiver regarding blower time delay. Trane's Application seeks an Interim Waiver from the DOE test provisions that require a 1.5-minute time delay between the ignition of the burner and starting of the circulating air blower. Instead, Trane requests the allowance to test using a 45-second blower time delay when testing its YCC, YCX, and DCX convertible package units. Trane states that the 30-second delay is indicative of how these furnaces actually operate. Such.a delay results in an Average. of 0.3 percent improvement in energy efficiency. Since current DOE test procedures do not address this variable blower time delay, Trane asks that the Interim Waiver be granted. The Department has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on August 23, 1993, (58 FR 44583) to
amend the furnace test procedure,
which addresses the above issue. Previous waivers for this type of time blower delay control have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18, 1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985;.Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 56 FR 2920, January 25, 1991, 57 FR 10166, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 34560, August 5, 1992, and 59 FR 30577, June 14, 1994; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989 , 56 FR 6021, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 1016.7, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 22222, May 27, 1992, and 58 FR
68138

, December 23, 2993; Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5, 1990, 57 FR 49700, November 3, 1992, 58 FR 68136, December 23, 1993, and 58 FR 68137, December 23, 1993; Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 FR 51487,
December 14, 1990, and 56 FR 63945,
December 6, 1991 ; DIM Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5, 1991, and 59 FR 30579, June 14, 1994; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019, February 14, 1991; Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 38830, August 27, 1992, 58 FR 68131, December 23, 1993, 58 FR 68133, December 23, 1993 and 59 FR 14394, March 28, 1994; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958, June 18, 1991, 56 FR 63940, December 6, 1991,'57 FR 23392, June 3, 1992, and 58 FR 68130, December 23, 1993; Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR 54960, September 9, 1991; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 51713, October 15, 1991, 57 FR 27970, June 23, 1992 and 59 FR 12586, March 17, 1994; The Ducane.Company Inc., 56 FR 63943, December 6, 1991, 57 FR 10163, March 24, 1992, and 58 FR 68134, December 23, 1993; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899, January 9, 1992, 57 FR 10160; March 24, 1992, 57 FR 10161, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 39193, August 28, 1992, 57 FR 54230, November 17, 1992, and 59 FR 30575, June 14, 1994; Thermo Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9, 1992; Consolidated'Industries Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27, 1992; Evcon Industries, Inc., 57 FR 47847, October 20, 1992; and Bard Manufacturing Company, 57 FR.53733, November 12, 1992, and 59 FR 30578, June 14, 1994. Thus, it appears likely that the Petition for Waiver will be granted for blower time delay. In those instances where the likely
success of the Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated based upon DOE having granted a waiver for a similar product design, it is in the public interest to have similar products tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis. Therefore, based on the above, DOE is granting Trane an Interim Waiver for its YCC, YCX, and DCX convertible 

### package units. Pursuant to paragraph (e) of Section 430.27 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 430, the following letter granting the Application for Interim Waiver to Trane was issued. Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR Part 430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the "Petition for Waiver" in its entirety. The petition contains no confidential information. The Department solicits comments, data, and information respecting the petition.
Issued in Washington, DC, July 25, 1994.
Christine A. Ervin, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Mr. Gene Hamm, Manager, Product Engineering, The Trane Company, 4811 S. Zero Street, Fort Smith, AR 72903
Dear Mr. Hamm: This is in response to

your June 9, 1994 , Application for Interim
Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure regarding blower time delay for The Trane Company (Trane) YCC, YCX, and DCX convertable package units. Previous waivers for this type of timed blower delay control have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18, 1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 56 FR 2920, January 25, 1991, 57 FR 10166, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 34560, August 5, 1992, and 59 FR 30577, June 14,1994; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989, 56 FR 6021, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 10167, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 22222, May 27, 1992, and 58 FR 68138, December 23, 1993; Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5, 1990, 57 FR 49700, November 3,1992, 58 FR 68136, December 23, 1993,and 58 FR 68137, December 23, 1993; InterCity Products Corporation, 55 FR 51487, December 14, 1990, and 56 FR 63945, December 6, 1991; DMO Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5, 1991, and 59 FR 30579, June 14, 1994; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019, February 14, 1991; Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 38830, August 27, 1992, 58 FR 68131,
December 23, 1993, 58 FR 68133, December 23, 1993 and 59 FR 14394, March 28, 1994; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958, June 18, 1991, 56 FR 63940, December 6, 1991, 57 FR 23392, June 3, 1992; and 58 FR 68130, December 23, 1993; Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR 54960, September 9, 1991; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 51713, October 15,1991, 57 FR 27970, June 23, 1992 and 59 FR 12586, March 17. 1994; The Ducane Company Inc., 56 FR 63943, December 6, 1991 , 57 FR 10163, March 24, 1992, and 58 FR 68134, December 23, 1993; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899, January 9, 1992, 57 FR 10160, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 10161, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 39193, August 28, 1992, 57 FR 54230, November 17, 1992, and 59 FR 30575, June 14, 1994; Thermo Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9, 1992; Consolidated Industries Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27, 1992; Evcon Industries, Inc., 57 FR 47847, October 20, 1992; and Bard Manufacturing Company, 57 FR 53733, November 12, 1992, and 59 FR 30578, June 14, 1994. Thus, it appears likely that the Petition for Waiver will be granted for blower time delay. Trane's Application for Interim Waiver does not provide sufficient information to evaluate what, if any, economic impact or competitive disadvantage Trane will likely .experience absent a favorable determination on its application. However, in those instances where the likely success of the Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated, based upon DOE having granted a waiver for a similar product design, it is in the public interest to have similar products tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis. Therefore, Trane's Application for an IntOrim Waiver from the DOE test procedure for its YCC, YCX, and DCX convertible package units regarding blower time delay is granted. Trane shall be permitted to test its YCC, YCX, and DCX convertible package units on

## 59FR38591

Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 145 / Friday, July 29, 1994 / Notices

the basis of the test procedures specified in 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix N, with the modification set forth below: (i) Section 3.0 in Appendix N is deleted and replaced with the following paragraph: 3.0 Test Procedure. Testing and measurements shall be as specified in
Section 9 in ANSI/ASHRAE 103-82 with the exception of Sections 9.2.2, 9.3.1, and 9.3.2, and the inclusion of the following additional procedures: (ii) Add a new paragraph 3.10 in Appendix
N as follows:
3.10 Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central Furnaces. After equilibrium conditions are achieved following the cool-down test and the required measurements performed, turn on the furnace and measure the flue gas - temperature, using the thermocouple grid described above, at 0.5 and 2.5 minutes after the main burner(s) comes on. After the burner start-up. delay the blower start-up by 1.5 minutes (t-) unless: (1) the furnace employs a single motor to drive the power burner and the indoor air circulation blower,
in which case the burner and blower shall be started together; or (2) the furnace is. designed to operate using an unvarying delay time that is other than 1.5 minutes, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower; or (3) the delay time results in the activation of a temperature safety device which shuts off the burner, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower. In the latter case, if the fan control is adjustable, set it to start the blower at the highest temperature. If the fan control is permitted to start the blower, measure time delay (t-) using a stop watch. Record the measured temperatures. During the heat-up test foi• oil-fueled furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue pipe within ± 0.01 inch of water
column of the manufacturer's recommended on-period draft. This Interim Waiver is based upon the presumed validity of statements and all allegations submitted by the company. This Interim Waiver may be removed or modified at any time upon a determination that the factual basis underlying the application is incorrect. The Interim Waiver shall remain in effect for a period of 180 days or until DOE acts on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an additional 180- day period, if necessary. Sincerely,
Christine A. Ervin, Assistant Secretary. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
,ifs. Christine A. Ervin, Asst. Secretary, Conservation and Renewable Energy, United States Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585. Dear Christine: This petition for waiver and interim waiver is submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR Part 430.27. Waiver is requested from the furnace test procedure found in Appendix N to Subpart B of part 430. The Heat-Up Test Procedure requires 1.5 minute time delay between burner and blower-startup. Trane is requesting authorization to use a .75 minute delay instead of 1.5 minutes. Starting in August, 1993, Trane will be manufacturing a series of furnaces with a
fixed control that activates the blower .75 minutes after burner start-up. This series includes the YCC, YCX, and DCX convertible package units used for residential and light
commercial installations. The fixed timing controls reduce the

energy losses by an average of .3% The current procedures do not recognize such controls causing energy losses to be, overstated. This petition requests that the true delay be used for more accurate representation of efficiency. Confidential supporting test data is available upon request. An interim waiver is requested because it seems likely that our waiver will be granted. Similar waivers have been granted to numerous furnace manufacturers. All central furnace manufacturers known to Trane have been notified by letter of"our application. A copy of the letter and a list of the

manufacturers is attached. Sincerely,
Gene Hamm, Mgr., Product Engineering.

[FR Doc. 94-18547 Filed 7-28-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 0450-01-P 

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