DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Office of Assistant

Secretary

10 CFR Part 430

Energy Conservation Program for

Consumer Products; Amendments To

Test Procedures for Clothes Dryers

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy

(DOE) hereby prescribes amendments to

its test procedures for clothes dryers.

These test procedures are part of the

energy conservation program for

consumer products established pursuant

to the Energy Policy and Conservation

Act, (Pub. L. 94-163), as amended by the

National Energy Conservation Policy

Act, (Pub. L. 95-619), which requires that

standard methods of testing be

prescribed for covered products.

Manufacturers, when voluntarily making

energy representations, are required to

use DOE test procedures.

The purpose of these amendments is

to clarify sections concerning automatic

termination controls, test cloths, dryer

preconditioning, and to include technical

revisions. These amendments reflect the

fact that energy savings for automatic

temperature sensing controls are equal

to those for automatic moisture sensing

controls. The amendments are designed

to further reduce test variability under

these procedures.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 18, 1981.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James A. Smith, U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Conservation and

Renewable Energy, Consumer

Products Efficiency Branch, Room

GH-065, CS 113.1, 1000 Independence

Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C.

20585, (202) 252-9127

Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department

of Energy, Office of General Counsel,

Room 6B-128, GC-33, 1000

Independence Avenue, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20585, (202) 252-

9510

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

On October 1, 1977, the Department of

Energy (DOE) assumed the authority of

the Federal Energy Administration

[FEA) for the energy consei'vation

program for consumer products,

pursuant to Section 301 of the

Department of Energy Organization Act

(DOE Act) (Pub. L. 95-51). The energy

conservation program for consumer

products was established by FEA,

pursuant to title 1II, Part B of the Energy

Policy and Conservation Act (Act) (Pub.

L. 94-163). 1 Section 323 (42 U.S.C. 6293)

of the Act requires that standard

methods of testing be prescribed for

covered products. Test procedures

appear at 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B.

Test procedures for clothes dryers

were originally proposed by notice

issued April 21, 1977 (42 FR 21589, April

27, 1977). Public hearings on the

proposed test procedures were held on

June 13, 1977. A final rule was

prescribed on September 14, 1977 (42 FR

46145, September 14, 1977).

On December 26, 1978 (44 FR 49,

January 2, 1979), DOE published an

advance notice of proposed rulemaking

which invited interested persons to

present written data, views and

arguments with respect to establishing

energy efficiency standards for nine

types of consumer products, including

clothes dryers. On August 17, 1979 (44

FR 49696, August 24, 1979), DOE issued a

Notice of Opportunity for Further

Comment. Several comments were

received recommending changes to the

clothes dryer test procedure,

On the basis of analyses performed by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS)

and additional information furnished by

the Association of Home Appliance

Manufacturers (AHAM), DOE published

a proposed rule to amend its test

procedures for clothes dryers on July 10,

1980 (45 FR 46762). A hearing was held

on September 4, 1980, and comments

were received. Comments on the clothes

dryer test procedures were also received

during the public comment period for the

proposed rule for energy efficiency

standards for nine types of consumer

products (45 FR 43976, June 30, 1980).

B. Discussion

Comments were received from

industry, trade associations and

members of the public. The major issues

raised are discussed below.

1. Automatic Termination Controls

A "Temperature Sensing Control" is a

system which monitors dryer exhaust

air temperature and automatically

terminates the drying cycle. A "Moisture

Sensing Control" is'a system which

utilizes a moisture sensing element

within the dryer drum that monitors the

amount of moisture in the clothes and

automatically terminates the drying

cycle.

I Subsequently, the Act was amended by the

National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA

(Pub. L 95-619). References in this notice to "the

Act" or to sections of the Act refer to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act is amended by

NECPA.

The field use factor (FU in section 4 of

Appendix D) is a multiplier to modify

laboratory test results for energy use

that approximates actual consumer use.

Commenters stated that'the field use

factor unfairly penalizes temperature

sensing automatic termination control

systems, as opposed to moisture sensing

automatic controls. Data from AHAM

Dryer Energy Field Tests for the years

1977 through'1979 confirm these

comments by indicating that the energy,

savings for clothes dryers, having either

temperature sensing or moisture sensing

automatic termination control systems,

are approximately the same.

An NBS analysis of field test data on

automatic termination controlled dryers

shows that dryers with indicators or

marks on their controls had a 13%

energy savings over dryers without

indicators or marks. This analysis also

showed that the automatic controls,

when available on the dryers, are used

90% of the time. Based on this usage

DOE amends the field use factor to: 1.18

(1-(0.13 X 0.9)) = 1.04 for both

temperature and moisture sensing

automatic controls. The field use factor

for time termination controlled dryers

remains at 1.18.

Section 3.5 in today's notice states

that the field use factor for automatic

termination controls can be used for any

dryer which has an automatic

termination control and an appropriate

mark or detent, where the mark or

detent indicates a preferred automatic

termination setting for reducing energy

consumption. Also, definitions of the

two types of automatic termination

controls-"temperature sensing control"

and "moisture sensing control"-have

been added as sections 1.12 and 1.13.

2. Test Cloth Specification

Today's notice changes the current

test procedure by adding a tolerance to

the weight factor specified for "energy

test cloths" used in testing. A 10 percent

variation in density still allows an

accurate prediction of the resulting

energy factor.

NBS conducted a number of tests on

12 samples of cloth furnished by various

manufacturers and textile suppliers.

Results from these tests indicated that

the conditioned cloth density varied by

more than 10% from 5.75 ounces per

square yard and that the spin time

required to reach the initial moisture

content of between 66.5% and 73.5%

varied from 12 to 150 seconds. Even with

these wide test cloth variations, the

resulting energy factor was within a

spread of h1.5%. Results from the above

tests can be used to modify the existing

test procedures to improve the

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repeatability of the results. In order to

maintain the same density, today's

notice also specifies that for the test

cloths, one energy test cloth can replace

six energy stuffer cloths. (No more than

five energy stuffer cloths can be used in

one test load.).

3. Dryer Preconditioning

Today's notice adds a section to

require the operation of dryers to be

tested in the nonheat mode in order to

bring them to the ambient termperature.

and humidity of the test area.

AHAM and other commenters pointed

out that the temperature of the dryer at

the start of a test run will have a

measurable effect on test to determine

the dryer energy use. NBS has been

following the procedure in section 2.8

and has experienced an extremely small

variation in test results, even for the first

run of the day.

4. End Point Moisture Retention

The majority of the comments

received stated that clothes dryers with

automatic termination controls adjusted

to satisfy the criterion proposed for use

of the field use factor would not

satisfactorily dry a typical household

laundry load. That is, a clothes dryer

which terminated a standard test load at

an end point moisture content greater

than 1.8% would leave a typical

household load of mixed items feeling

wet to the touch. ("Moisture content"

means the ratio of the weight of water

contained by the test load to the bonedry weight of the test load, expressed as

a percent.) With the test cloth used in

the existing test procedure, it would be

necessary to specify an end point

moisture content of less than 1% in order

for mixed household loads, including

collars, cuffs, and waistbands, to be

reliably dried to the point that all items

feel dry. Placing the end point at 1% or

less (defined as bone dry in section 1.2)

would result in an unacceptably high

level of uncertainty in test repeatability.

Therefore, this proposal was rejected.

NBS also-investigated the feasibility

of a test procedure based on the use of a

specifically defined "typical household

load." However, the additional

requirement would increase the

burdensomeness of the test procedure

and considerable effort by both NBS

and the industry has led to no clear

indication of what the content of the

ideal test cloth or test load should be.

Therefore, DOE is not including in

today's notice of final rulemaking the

end point moisture content requirement

of 1.8% which was proposed in section

3.5 of Appendix D of the July 10, 1980

proposed rule.

5. Test Load Preparation

One commenter suggested that the

tolerance for the initial moisture content

of the test cloth load be reduced. On the

basis of NBS tests, the variation in

energy factor resulting from the existing

tolerance and use of the correction

factor for the initial moisture content is

within 0.5%. Further, an experienced

technician can easily obtain an initial

moisture content within the existing

tolerance by following the test

procedure. NBS also determined that a

procedure of over extraction of moisture

by spinning and then rewetting to obtain

the moisture content required by section

2.7 can produce a ±E5% variation in test

results. Rewetting does not disperse the

moisture throughtout the test load as

uniformly as does spinning. Based upon

NBS analysis of the above matters, DOE

concludes that the tolerance for the

initial moisture content of the test load

cannot be reduced without making the

test procedure unduly burdensome.

Therefore, DOE has not changed the

tolerance.

An issue closely related to initial

moisture content retention (after wetting

and spinning) is that of test cloth

preconditioning prior to wetting. NBS

determined, while investigating the

effects of rinse water temperature on

energy use, that the initial moisture

content of the cloth prior to wetting

affects the value of the energy factor

resulting from the test procedure. It is

possible to obtain repeatable results

only when starting from the bone dry

condition. When a bone dry test cloth is

stored overnight or longer, Its moisture

content will come into equilibrium with

that of the surrounding air. It must be

again bone dried immediately preceding

wetting in order to obtain repeatable

results.

6. Laboratory Temperature and Relative

Humidity Levels

Several commenters recommended

that, in order to reduce the

burdensomeness of the test procedure,

larger tolerances for laboratory

temperature and relative humidity be

specified and that the test resultsbe

adjusted by correction factors, as is

currently done for the initial and final

moisture retention.

The NBS test results show that for the

specified test qondition tolerance on

temperature, the uncertainty interval (or

band) is less than ±1% on energy factor,

and for relative humidity the uncertainty

interval on energy factor is less than -

- .5%. However, NBS does not presently

have a data base adequate to develop

universally applicable correction factors

and therefore no change is made in the

test procedure.

7. Overall Test Procedure Uncertainty

One manufacturer supplied data that

indicated that a 9% variation in test

results could result if all of the test

conditions were taken to the extremes.

An NBS uncertainty analysis indicates

that it is highly unlikely that all test

conditions will be in the most adverse

state allowed by the test procedure.

Further, NBS's analysis indicates that

the resulting uncertainty would be

approximately ±E2%. No changes to the

test procedures have been made

regarding this comment.

8. Number of Test Runs on a Single

Machine

Several commenters suggested that

the test procedures be changed to

require three test runs on each machine

and the results averaged. DOE does not

require any more than one test to

characterize to given machine and sees

no reason to change this requirement.

9. Miscellaneous

After careful consideration of all the

comments and further consultation with

NBS, DOE has made some editorial and

minor technical changes (for example,

the insertion of the word "meter" after

the word "Kilowatt-hour" in section

2.4.2 and the deletion in section 2.4.2 of

"for any demand greater than 0.16

kilowatt-hours per hour" and in section

2.4.3 of "for any demand greater than 0.2

cubic feet per hour"-references to

ranges in which the meter accuracy

requirements do not apply), and

incorporated them in the final rule

prescribed today.

C. Regulations Prescribed

1. Test Procedures

The amendments to the test

procedures for clothes dryers prescribed

today are included in Subpart B of Part

430 and are substantially the same as

those proposed, with the exception of

the changes discussed aboVe.

2. Regulatory and Environmental

Review

In accordance with the requirements

of the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et

seq.], DOE has evaluated this

rulemaking amending test procedures

for clothes dryers to determine if an

environmental assessment or an

environmental impact statement is

required. The test procedures will be

used only fo standardize the

measurement of energy usage for clothes

dryers. The action of prescribing these

HeinOnline -- 46 Fed. Reg. 27325 1981
amended test procedures will not result

in any environmental impact. Because it

is clear that the rulemaking is not a

major Federal action significantly

affecting the quality of the human

environment, DOE has determined that

neither an environmental assessment

nor an environmental impact statement

is required.

This rule has been reviewed in

accordance with Executive Order 12291.

It was determined that this rule was not

significant and did not have major

impacts to manufacturers and

consumers imposing annual economic

costs of $100 million or more.

In consideration of the foregoing, Part

430 of Chapter II of Title 10, Code of

Federal Regulations, is amended as set

forth below, effective June 18, 1981.

Issued in Washington, D.C., May 12, 1981.

Frank DeGeorge,

Acting Assistant Secretary Conservation and

Renewable Energy.

Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 430 is

revised to read as follows:

Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 430-

Uniform Test Method for Measuring the

Energy Consumption of Clothes Dryers

1. Definitions

1.1 "AHAM" means the Association of

Home Appliance Manufacturers.

1.2 "Bone dry" means a condition of a load of test clothes which has been dried in a

dryer at maximum temperature for a minimum of 10 minutes, removed and

weighed before cool down, and then dried

again for 10-minute periods until the final

weight change of the load is I percent or less.

1.3 "Compact" or compact size" means a clothes dryer with a drum capacity of less

than 4.4 cubic feet.

1.4 "Cool down" means that portion of

the clothes drying cycle when the added gas or electric heat is terminated and the clothes

continue to tumble and dry within the drum.

1.5 "Cycle" means a sequence of

operation of a clothes dfyer which performs a clothes drying operation, and may include

variations or combinations of the functions of

heating, tumbling and drying.

1.6 "Drum capacity" means the volume of

the drying drum in cubic feet.

1.7 "HLD-1" means the test standard

promulgated by AHAM and titled "AHAM

Performance Evaluation Procedure for

Household Tumble Type Clothes Dryers",

June 1974, and designated as HLD-1.

1.8 "HLD-2EC" means the test standard

promulgated by AHAM and titled 'Test

Method for Measuring Energy Consumption

of Household Tumble Type Clothes Dryers,"

December 1975, and designated as HLD-2EC.

1.9 "Standard size" means a clothes dryer

with a drum capacity of 4.4 cubic feet or greater.

1.10 "Moisture content" means the ratio

of the weight of water contained by the test

load to the bone-dry-weight of the test load,

expressed as a percent.' 1.11 "Automatic termination control"

means a dryer control system with a sensor

which monitors either the dryer load

temperature or its moisture content and with a controller which automatically terminates

the drying process. A mark or detent which

indicates a preferred automatic termination

control setting must be present if the dryer is

to be classified as having an "automatic

termination control." A mark is a visible

single control setting on one or more dryer

controls.

1.12 "Temperature sensing control" means a system which monitors dryer

exhaust air temperature and automatically

terminates the dryer cycle.

1.13 "Moisture sensing control" means a system which utilizes a moisture sensing

element within the dryer drum that monitors

the amount of moisture in the clothes and

automatically terminates the dryer cycle.

2. Testing Conditions

2.1 Installation. Install the clothes dryer

In accordance with manufacturer's

Instructions. The dryer exhaust shall be

restricted by adding the AHAM exhaust

simulator described in 3.3.5 of HLD-1. All

external joints should be taped to avoid air

leakage. Disconnect all console light or other

lighting systems on the clothes dryer which

do not consume more than 10 watts during

the clothes dryer test cycle.

2.2 Ambient temperature ond humidity.

Maintain the room ambient air temperature

at 75 ±t 3 F and the room relative humidity at

50±t10 percent relative humidity.

2.3 Energy supply.

2.3.1 Electrical supply. Maintain the

electrical supply at the clothes dryer terminal

block within I percent of 120/240 or 120/208Y or 120 volts as applicable to the particular

terminal block wiring system and within 1

percent of the nameplate frequency as specified by the manufacturer. If the dryer

has a dual voltage conversion capability,

conduct test at the highest voltage specified

by the manufacturer.

2.3.2 Gas supply.

2.3.2.1 Naturalgas. Maintains the gas

supply to the clothes dryer at a normal inlet

test pressure immediately ahead of all

controls at 7 to 10 inches of water column. If

the clothes dryer is equipped with a gas

appliance pressure regulator, the regulator

outlet pressure at the normal test pressure

shall be approximately that recommended by

the manufacturer. The hourly Btu rating of the

burner shall be maintained within ±5

percent of the rating specified by the

manufacturer. The natural gas supplied

should have a heating value of approximately

1,025 Btu's per standard cubic foot. The

actual heating value, Hn2, in Btu's per

standard cubic foot, for the natural gas to be

used in the test shall be obtained either from

measurements made by the manufacturer

conducting the test using a standard

continuous flow calorimeter as described in

2.4.6 or by the purchase of bottled natural gas

whose Btu rating is certified to be at least as accurate a rating as could be obtained from

measurements with a standard continuous

flow calorimeter as described in 2.4.6.

2.3.2.2 Propane gas. Maintain the gas

supply to the clothes dryer at a normal inlet

test pressure immediately ahead of all

controls at 11 to 13 inches of water column. If

the clothes dryer is equipped with a gas

appliance pressure regulator, the regulator

outlet pressure at the normal test pressure

shall be approximately that recommended by

the manufacturer. The hourly Btu rating of the

burner shall be maintained within ±5

percent of the rating specified by the

manufacturer. The propane gas supplied

should have a heating value of approximately

2,500 Btu's per standard cubic foot. The

actual heating value, Hp, in Btu's per

standard cubic foot, for the propane gas to be

used in the test shall be obtained either from

measurements made by the manufacturer

conducting the test using a standard

continuous flow calorimeter as described in

2.4.6 or by the purchase of bottled gas whose

Btu rating is certified to be at least as

accurate a rating as could be obtained from

measurement with a standard continuous

calorimeter as described in 2.4.6.

2.4 Instrumentation. Perform all test

measurements using the following

instruments as appropriate.

2.4.1 Weighing scale for test cloth. The

scale shall have a range of 0 to a maximum of

30 pounds with a resolution of at least 0.2

ounces and a maximum error no greater than

0.3 percent of any measured value within the'

range of 3 to 15 pounds.

2.4.1.2 Weighing scale for drum capacity

measurements. The scale should have a

range of 0 to a maximum of 500 pounds with

resolution of 0.50 pounds and a maximum

error no greater than 0.5 percent of the

measured value.

2.4.2 Kilowatt-hour meter. The kilowatthour meter shall have a resolution of 0.001

kilowatt-hours and a maximum error no

greater than 0.5 percent of the measured value.

2.4.3 Gas meter. The gas meter shall have

a resolution of 0.001 cubic feet and a

maximum error no greater than 0.5 percent of

the measured value.

2.4.4 Dry and wet bulb psychrometer. The

dry and wet bulb psychrometer shall have an

error no greater than ±1°F.

2.4.5 Temperature. The temperature

sensor shall have an error no greater than

±1OF.

2.4.6 Standard Continuous Flow

Calorimeter. The Calorimeter shall have an

operating range of 750 to 3,500 Btu per cubic

feet. The maximum error of the basic

calorimeter shall be no greater than 0.2

percent of the actual heating value of the gas

used In the test. The indicator readout shall

have a maximum error no greater than 0.5

percent of the measured value within the

operating range and a resolution of 0.2

percent of the full scale reading of the

indicator instrument.

2.5 Lint trap. Clean the lint trap

thoroughly before each test run.

2.6 Test cloths.

2.6.1 Energy test cloth. The energy test

cloth shall be clean and consist of the

following:

(a) Pure finished bleached cloth, made with

a momle or granite weave, which is a

blended fabric of 50 percent cotton and 50

percent polyester and weighs within + 10

percent of 5.75 ounces per square yard after

test cloth preconditioning and has 65 ends on

the warp and 57 picks on the fill. The

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Individual warp and fill yarns are a blend of

60 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester

fibers.

(b) Cloth material that is 24 inches by 36

Inches and has been hemmed to 22 inches by

34 inches before washing. The maximum

shrinkage after five washes shall not be more than four percent on the length and width.

(c) The number of test runs on the same energy test cloth shall not exceed 25 runs.

2.6.2 Energy stuffer cloths. The energy

stuffer cloths shall be made from energy test

cloth material and shall consist of pieces of

material that are 12 inches by 12 inches and

have been hemmed to 10 inches by 10 Inches

before washing. The maximum shrinkage

after five washes shall not be more than four

percent on the length and width. The number

of test runs on the same energy stuffer cloth

shall not exceed 25 runs after test cloth

preconditioning.

2.6.3 Test Cloth Preconditioning.

A new test cloth load and energy stuffer

cloths shall be treated as follows:

(1] Bone dry the load to a weight change of

±_1 percent, or less, as prescribed in Section

1.2.

(2) Place test cloth load in a standard

clothes washer set at the maximum water fill

level. Wash the load for 10 minutes in soft

water (17 parts per million hardness or less),

using 6.0 grams of AHAM Standard Test

Detergent, IIA, per gallon of water. Wash

water temperature is to controlled at

140'±5'F (60'±2.7-C). Rinse water

temperature is to be controlled at 100*±5*F

(37.7±2.7"C.

(3) Rinse the load again at the same water

temperature.

(4) Bone dry the load as prescribed in

Section 1.2 and weigh the load. .

(5) This procedure is repeated until there Is

a weight change of one percent or less.

(6) A final cycle is to be a hot water wash

with no detergent, followed by two warm

water rinses.

2.7 Test loads.

2.7.1 Compact size dryer load. Prepare a

bone-dry test load-of energy cloths which

weighs 3.00 pounds ±.03 pounds.

Adjustments to the test load to achieve the

proper weight can be made by the use of

energy stuffer cloths, with no more than.five

stuffer cloths per load. Dampen the load by

agitating it in water whose temperature is

100°±50 F and consists of 0 to 17 parts per

million hardness for approximately two

minutes in order to saturate the fabric. Then,

extract water from the wet test load by

spinning the load until the moisture content

of the load is between 66.5 percent to 73.5

percent of the bone-dry weight of the test

load.

2.7.2 Standard size dryer load. Prepare a bone-dry test load of energy cloths which

weighs 7.00 pounds ±.07 pounds. , Adjustments to the test load to achieve the,

proper weight can be made by the use of

energy stuffer cloths, with no more than 'five

stuffer cloths per load. Dampen the load by

agitating it in water whose temperature is

100'±5°F and consists of 0 to 17 parts per

million hardness for approximately two

minutes in order to saturate the fabric. Then,

extract water from the wet test load by

spinning the load until the moisture content

of the load is between 65.5 percent to 73.5

percent of the bone-dry weight of the test

load.

2.7.3 Method of loading. Load the energy

teat cloths by grasping them in the center,

shaking them to hang loosely and then

dropping them in the dryer at random.

2.8 Clothes dryer preconditioning. Before

any test cycle, operate the dryer without a

test load in the non-heat mode for 15 minutes

or until the discharge air temperature is

varying less than IF for 10 minutes, which

ever is longer, in the test installation location

with the ambient conditions within the

specified rest condition tolerances of 2.2.

3. Test Procedures and Measurements

3.1 Drum capacity. Measure the drum

capacity by sealing all openings in the drum

except the loading port with a plastic bag,

and ensure that all corners and depressions

are filled and that there are no extrusions of

the plastic bag through the opening in the

drum. Support the dryer's rear drum surface

on a platform scale to prevent deflection of

the dryer, and'record the weight of the empty

dryer. Fill the drum with water to a level

determined by the intersection of the door

plane and the loading port. Record the

temperature of the water and then the weight

of the dryer with the added water and then

determine the mass of the water in pounds.

Add or subtract the appropriate volume

depending on whether or not the plastic bag

protrudes into the drum int~rior. The drum

capacity is calculated as follows:

C=w/d

C=capacity In cubic feet.

w=weight of water in pounds.

d=density of water at the measured

temperature in pounds per cubic feet.

3.2 Dryer loading. Load the dryer as

specified in 2.7.

3.3 Test cycle. Operate the clothes dryer

at the maximum temperature setting and, if

equipped with a timer, at the maximum time

setting and dry the test load until the

moisture content of the test load is between

2.5 percent to 5.0 percent of the bone-dry

weight of the test load, but do not permit the

dryer to advance into cool down. If required,

reset the. timer or automatic dry control.

3.4 Data recording. Record for each test

cycle:

3.4.1 Bone-dry weight of the test load

described in 2.7.

3.4.2 Moisture content of the wet test load

before the test, as described in 2.7.

3.4.3 Moisture content of the dry test load

obtained after the test described in 3.3.

3.4.4 Test room conditions, temperature

and percent relative humidity described in

2.2.

3.4.5 For electric dryers-the total

kilowatt-hours of electric energy, Et,

consumed during the test described in 3.3.

3.4.6 For gas dryers:

3.4.6.1 Total kilowatt-hours of electrical

energy, Et., consumed during the test'

described in 3.3.

3.4.6.2 Cubic feet of gas per cycle, E,,

consumed during the test described in 3.3.

3.4.6.3 'On gas dryers using a continuously

burning pilot light-the cubic feet of gas, E,,,

consumed by the gas pilot light in one hour.

3.4.6.4 Correct the gas heating value, GEF,

as measured in 2.3.2.1 and 2.3.2.2, to standard

pressure and temperature conditions in

accordance with U.S. Bureau of Standards,

circular C417, 1938. A sample calculation is

Illustrated in Appendix E of HLD-1.

3.5 Test for automatic termination filld

use factor credits. Credit for automatic

termination can be claimed for those dryars

which meet the requirements for either

temperature-sensing control; 1.12, or moisture

sensing control, 1.13, and having present the

appropriate mark or detent feed defined in

1.11.

4. Calculation of Derived Results From

Test Measurements

4.1 Total per-cycle electric dryer energy

consumption. Calculate the total electric

dryer energy consumption per cycle, E

expressed in kilowatt-hours per cycle and

defined as:

E.= [66/W. W,d]X E, xFU

&=the energy recorded in 3.4.5.

66= an experimentally established value

for the percent reduction in the moisture

content of the test load during a

laborstory test cycle expressed as a

percent.

FU=Field use factor.

=1.18 for time termination control

systems.

=1.04 for automatic control systems

which meet the requirements of the

definitions for automatic termination

controls In 1.11.1, 1.12 and 1.13.

W,=the moisture content of the wet test

load as recorded in 3.4.2.

Wd=the moisture content of the dry test

load as recorded in 3.4.3.

4.2 Per-cycle gas dryer electrical energy

consumption. Calculate the gas dryer

electrical energy consumption per cycle, E.,

expressed in kilowatt-hours per cycle and

defined as:

g, = [86/(w.- Wd}] x &, x FU

&,= the energy recorded in 3.4.6.1

U, 66, W.. Wd as defined in 4.1

4.3 Per-cycle gas dryer gas energy

consumption. Calculate the gas dryer gas

energy consumption per cycle, E,. expressed

in Btu's per cycle as defined as:

E= [68/(W.- Wd)] xE & x FUx GEF

F,=the energy recorded in 3.4.6.2

GEF= corrected gas heat value (Btu per

cubic feet) as defined in 3.4.6.4

FU, 66, W. Wd as defined in 4.1

4.4 Per-cycle gas dryer continuously

burning pilot light gas energy consumption.

Calculate the gas dryer continuously burning

pilot light gas energy consumption per cycle,

Eup expressed in Btu's per cycle and defined

as:

Eup =Eg X (8760-140/416) X GEF

Ep,=the energy recorded in 3.4.6.3

8760=number of hours in a year

416= representative average number of

clothes dryer cycles in a year

140=estimated number of hours that the

continuously burning pilot light is on

during the operation of the clothes dryer

for the representative average use cycle

for clothes dryers (416 cycles per year)

GEFas defined in 4.3

HeinOnline -- 46 Fed. Reg. 27327 1981
4.5 Total per-cycle gas dryer gas energy consumption expressed in Btu's. Calculate

the total gas dryer energy consumption per cycle, E. expressed in Btu's per cycle and

defined as:

Eg=Egg+Ep

Egg as defined in 4.3

Eup as defined in 4.4

4.6 Total per-cycle gas dryer energy

consumption expressed in kilowatt-hours.

Calculate the total gas dryer energy consumption per cycle, E6. expressed in

kilowatt-hours per cycle and defined as:

E = Ege + (Eg/3412 Btulk Wh)

Ew as defined in 4.2

F as defined in 4.5

[IFR Doc. 81-14778 Filed 5-18-81; 8:45 am]

SILUNG CODE 6450-01-M

PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY

CORPORATION

29 CFR Part 2602

Payment of Premiums

AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty

Corporation.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit

Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") issued a final rule on August 5, 1976 relating to

the payment of premiums by pension plans covered under Title IV of the

Employee Retirement Income Security

Act ("ERISA"). This amendment is

intended to simplify and clarify the

definition of "participant" without

substantively altering its meaning, to

streamline the reporting requirements of

ERISA by changing the filing deadline of

the PBGC premium payment form

(PBGC-1) to conform, where possible,

with the date by which the Form 5500

series (Annual Report) must be

submitted to the Internal Revenue

Service, and to update the rate of

interest for late payment of premiums.

Other minor technical changes are made

to clarify filing requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This regulation is

effective on May 19, 1981.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

David Weingarten, Special Counsel,

Office of the General Counsel, Pension

Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 2020 K

Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20006;

202-254-3010. (This is not a toll-free

number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Employee Retirement Income Security

Act, 29 U.S.C. 1001, et seq., as amended

by the Multiemployer Pension Plan

Amendments Act of 1980, Pub. L. 96-364,

94 Stat. 1208, provides for a

comprehensive pension plan insurance

program in Title IV. Under the statutory

scheme, plans pay a stated dollar

amount per participant in premiums

annually to help finance the program. At

plan termination, the PBGC guarantees

payment of benefits in accordance with

§ § 4022, 4022A and 4022B.

To implement these statutory

requirements, the PBGC published the

Payment of Premiums regulation on

August 5, 1976, 41 FR 32710, which

prescribes the form for payment of

premiums (PBGC-1) and sets forth rules

relating to premium payment and the

penalties and interest for failure to

comply with these requirements. The

regulation was last amended on

December 8. 1980, 45 FR 80822, to reflect

a statutory increase in the rate of

premiums for multiemployer plans.

The definition of "participant" in

§ 2602.2 has been reorganized and

clarified in this amendment, although It

is not substantively changed. It is

rewritten here and in the instructions to

the form prescribed by the regulation,

the PBGC-1 form, to make it easier for

plan administrators to understand. The

number of participants counted under

the amended definition will still be the same as it would have been under the

prior regulation, and, as the instructions

to the PBGC-1 form make clear, the

same as the number recorded on the

Annual Report Form 5500 series, filed

with the Internal Revenue Service for

use by the IRS, the Department of Labor

and the PBGC. We note that the

definition of the term "participant" as defined in this regulation is not

necessarily the same as the definition of "participant" in section 3(7) of ERISA, or

the definition of "participant" under the

Internal Revenue Code.

Another change made in the rule

allows a plan administrator to file the

PBGC-1 form at the same time he or she

makes his or her Form 5500 series filing.

Under the current regulation, the

deadline for filing the PBGC-1 form is

precisely 7 months after the last day of

the prior plan year. The Form 5500 series

filing must be made by the last day of

the seventh month following the close of

the prior plan year. Thus, for example, if a plan year ends on December 15, a plan

currently must file the PBGC-1 form by

July 15 of the following year, and must

make its Form 5500 series filing by July

31 of that year. Because much of the

information needed to complete both

forms is the same, the PIBGC has

determined that to minimize the

administrative burden on plan

administrators, the forms should have

the same filing deadline. Accordingly, § 2602.3 Is amended to permit the forms

o be filed concurrently on the date the orm 5500 series Is due. However, an extension of the due date granted by the

IRS for filing the IRS/DOL/PBGC Form

5500 (Annual Return/Report of

Employee Benefit Plan) will not result in

an extension of the due date for the

PBGC-1 premium filing.

A new provision has been added to

clarify the filing dates for plans which

change plan years. The rule provides

that the filing deadline is the later of

seven months following the close of the

short plan year or 30 days after the date

on which an amendment was adopted to

change the plan year. For example, a plan that changes its plan year from a

calendar year plan year to a plan year

beginning on July 1, must file its PBGC-1

form by the later of seven months after

June 30, the close of the short plan year,

or 30 days after the adoption of the

amendment changing the plan year. In

addition, a new § 2602.5(d) is added to

clarify that plans that change their plan

year must pay an annual premium based

on the number of plan participants on the last day of the short plan year.

Section 2602.3 has also been amended to

make clear that the obligation to pay

premiums continues until a plan's assets are distributed under a termination

procedure or a trustee is appointed

under section 4042 of the Act, whichever

occurs earlier. A technical change has

been made in § 2602.5(c) to clarify the

filing deadline for newly covered plans.

Three changes are made to clarify the

filing deadlines in the regulation. In

§ 2602.10, the current regulation treats

the PBGC-1 form and premium payment

as being filed on the date on which it is

postmarked by the United States Postal

Service or three days prior to the date it

is received by the PBGC if it is not

postmarked. The PBGC has interpreted

the "three days prior to receipt"

standard to apply when the form or payment is either not postmarked or

when the postmark is illegible. This

section of the regulation is amended to

add the circumstance of an illegible

postmark to the three day standard set

forth in the regulation in order to advise

the public of the agency's interpretation.

The other changes are in § 2602.11,

which relates to computation of time for

determining the filing deadline and other

purposes. To conform this regulation to

other PBGC regulations and to clarify

the filing deadline, the section is

amended to specify that: (1) in counting

days, every calendar day is counted,

including federal holidays and

Saturdays and Sundays, but where a due date falls on a federal holiday or Saturday or Sunday, the deadline for

filing is the next business day, and (2)

Saturdays, Sundays and federal

holidays are counted after the due date

HeinOnline -- 46 Fed. Reg. 27328 1981