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 INFORMATION 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

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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

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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]

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