## 56FR32205

Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 135 / Monday, July 15, 1991 / Notices 32205

Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products ; Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver of Furnace Test Procedures From Thermo Products

, Inc. (Case No. F034)

AGENCY: Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.
SUMMARY : Today's notice publishes a letter granting an Interim Waiver to Thermo Products, Inc. (Thermo) from the existing Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures for furnaces regarding blower time delay for the company's GLC and GHC condensing gas furnaces. Today's notice also publishes a
"Petition for Waiver" from Thermo. Thermo's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief from the DOE test procedures relating to the blower time delay specification. Thermo seeks to test using a blower delay time of 30 seconds for its GLC and GHC condensing gas furnaces instead of the specified 1.5- minute delay between burner on-time and blower on-time. DOE is soliciting comments, data, and information respecting the Petition for Waiver.

DATES : DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than August 14,1991.

ADDRESSES : Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department of Energy, Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Case No. F-034, Mail Stop CE-90, room 6B-025, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-
3012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Conservation andRenewable Energy, Mail Station CE43, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127. Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, Mail Station GC-41, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202)
588-9507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program for 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),

### '.32206 Federal Register / Vol. 56,'T?`Monday, July 15, 1991 / Notices

Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3266, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA). Public Law 100-12, and the National Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Public Law 100-357, 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. DOE 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 Conservation and Renewable Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver from test procedure requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned DOE for a 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 the 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 effective, resolving the problem that is the subject of the waiver. The interim waiver provisions, added by the 1986 amendment, allow the Assistant 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 180 days, if necessary. On May 2, and June 4, 1991. Thermo filed an Application for an Interim Waiver regarding blower time delay. Thermo'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 , Thermo requests the allowance to test using a 30-second blower time delay when testing its GLC and GIIC condensing gas furnaces . Thermo states that the 30-second delay is indicative of how these furnaces actually operate. Such a delay results in an energy savings of approximately 1.5 percent. Since current DOE test procedures do not address this variable blower time delay, Thermo asks that the interim waiver be granted. 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, and 55 FR 3253, January 31, 1990; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989, and 55 FR 41589, October 12, 1990; DMO Industries, 55 FR 4004, February 6,1990; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 55 FR 13184, April 9, 1990; Carrier Corporation, 55 FR 13182, April 9, 1990; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 853, January 9, 1991; and Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 56 FR 10553, March 13, 1991. 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 Thermo an Interim Waiver for its GLC and GHC condensing gas furnaces. Pursuant to paragraph (e) of § 430.27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the following letter granting the Application for Interim Waiver to Thermo Products, Inc. was issued. Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR 430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the "Petition for Waiver" in its entirety. The petition contains no confidential information. DOE solicits comments, data, and information respecting the petition.

Issued in Washington, DC, July 9,1991. 1. Michael Davis,
Assistant Secretary, Conservation and Renewable Energy.
May 2._1991. Assistant Secretary, Conservation and Renewable Resources, United States Department of Energy. 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington,
DC 20585. Gentlemen: This is a petition for waiver and application for interim waiver submitted pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27. Waiver is requested from the furnace test procedure found in Appendix N to subpart B of part 430. The test procedure requires a 1.5 minute delay between burner on and blower on. Thermo Products Corporation Is requesting
use of a non -adjustable fan control device which automatically brings the fan on ahead• of the 1.5 minutes specified, which prevents testing the basic models in a manner representative of their true performance thus providing inaccurate comparative data. If this petition Is granted, the fan control would be allowed to operate in its normal
manner and the resultant true blower on time delay would be used in the test procedure
and the calculations. Thermo Products Corporation is using this fan delay device on our GLC and GHC line of condensing furnaces and the average energy savings is 1.5% on our AFUE test results. Thermo Products Corporation is confident that this waiver will be granted and is requesting an interim waiver until the final ruling is made. Proposed ASIIRAE Standard 103-1988 specifically addresses the use of
timed blower devices. Similar waivers have been granted to other furnace manufacturers. Confidential comparative data is available to you upon your request Domestic Manufacturers of similar products have been sent a copy of this correspondence.
Very truly yours,
Thermo Products, Inc.
Everett E. James,
Director of Engineering.

June 4. 1991. .
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Conservation and Renewable Energ}^. Mail Station CE-42, Forrestal Building. 1000 Independence Ave. SI41, Washington, DC 20585.

Attn.: Mr. Cyrus H. Hasseri:

Dear Mr. Hasseri: In follow-up to our phone conversation regarding our May 3. 1991 Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver. This waiver is pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27 requested from the furnace test procedure found in Appendix N to Subpart B. The test procedure requires a 1.5 minute delay between burner on and blower on. Thermo Products Corporation is requesting
use of a non

- adjustable fan control device which automatically brings the fan on at 30
seconds instead of the 1

. 5 minutes. Thermo Products Corporation is using this fan delay device on our GLC and GIIC product line of condensing furnaces and the average energy savings is 1 .5% on our AFUE
test results. The current prescribed test procedures prohibit Thermo Products from taking credit for the saved energy, thus providing inaccurate comparative data. If this petition is granted, the fan control
would be allowed to operate in its normal
manner and the resultant true blower on time delay of 30 seconds would be used in the test procedure and the calculations.
Thermo Products is confident that this waiver will be granted and is requesting an

### 56FR32205 Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 135 / Monday, July 15, 1991 / Notices

interim waiver until the final ruling Is made. Proposed ASHRAE Standard 103--1988 specifically addresses the use of a timed blower operation. The confidential comparative data is available for your review upon request. Very truly yours, THERMO PRODUCTS, INC.
Everett E. James,
Director of Engineering. July 9,1991.

Mr. Everett E. James Director of Engineering Thermo Products, Inc.
P.O. Box 217 North Judson,Indiana 46366.
Dear Mr. James: This is in response to your May 2, and June 4,1991, Application for
Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures for furnaces regarding blower time delay for the Thermo Products, Inc. (Thermo) GLC and GHC condensing gas
furnaces. Previous waivers for 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, and 55 FR 3253, January 31,1990; Trane Company, 54 FR 19228, May 4,1989, and 55 FR 41589, October 12,1990; DMO Industries, 55 FR 4004, February 6,1990; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 55 FR 13184, April 9,1990; Carrier Corporation, 55 FR 13182, April 9, 1990; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 853, January 9, 1991; and Armstrong Air Conditioning Inc., 56 FR 10553, March 13,1991. Thermo's Application for Interim Waiver does not provide sufficient information to evaluate what, if any, economic impact or competitive disadvantage Thermo 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, Themio's Application for an Interim Waiver from the DOE test procedures for its GLC and GHC condensing gas furnaces regarding blower time delay is granted. Thermo shall be permitted to test its line of GLC and GHC condensing gas furnaces on the basis of the test procedures specified in 10 CFR part 430, Subpart B. Appendix N, with the modification set forth below. (1) 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 for oil-fueled furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue pipe
within 10.01 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 revoked 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, 1. Michael Davis,
Assistant Secretary, Conservation and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 91-16787 Filed 7-12-91; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE $450-a1-M 

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