## 56FR45958

Federat Register / V ol. 56 ,, No. 1.4 / Marrday, September 9, 2991 / Notice

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 The Duran Company, Inc. (Case No. FF
IN-L AGENCY : Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. SUMMARY : Today's notice publishes a letter granting an Interim Waiver to The Ducane •Company, Inc. (Ducane) from the existing Department of Energy (DOSE) test procedures for furnaces regarding btwwer time delay for the company' s FPAA series of gas furnaces. 

### Today' s notice also publishes a "Petition for Waiver" from Docane. Ducane ' s Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief from the DOE test procedures relating to the blower time delay specification

. Ducane seeks to test using a blower delay time of 30 seconds for its FPAA series of gas fiumaces instead of the specified 1.5-minute delay between -burner on-time and blower ontime. DOE is soliciting comments, data, and information respecting , the Petition for Waiver. DATES : DOE will accept comments, data, and information not bates than October 9, 1981. ADDRESSES Written can=en+s and ' statements shall be sent to: Department ofEnergy , O€fcce of Conservation and Renewable

. Einergy

, Case No. F-4138, Mail Stop CE-S0 , Room 68-0¢5, Forrestal Building, loft Independence Avenue, SW., Washingtrsa, DC. 29685 (2M) 586- 3012. FOR RTH NKORMATPON CO iTAC-T`

. Cyrus H. Nasseri , U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Conservation and Renewable Eamergy

, Mail Station} CE43. Forrestal Building, TWO 

### Independence Avenue. SW., Waal tom,;, DC 20585

, (2 IZ15 -9t27. Eugene Margolis, Esq:, U.S. Depart sent of Energy, Office of General Counsel, Mail Station GC-41. Forrestal Building , 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (2021 586-950?.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFOROtAT1OM:-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), 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 an September 26, 1980, creating the waiver process. 45 FR 6410& 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 paaticnlarbesic 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 wanner so unrelweseatative of its trine 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.. R it appears likely that the Petition for Waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that it would be desirable for pubfic policy reasons to grant immediate relief pending a determination on the Petition for Waiver. An hrterinr Waiver remains in effect for a period of 180 days

### 56FR45958 Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 174 / Monday, September 9, 1991 / Notices

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 July 1. 1991

, Ducane filed an Application for an Interim Waiver regarding blower time delay

. Ducane'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, Ducane requests the allowance to test using a 30

-second blower time delay when testing its FPAA series of gas furnaces

. Ducane states that the 30- second delay is indicative of how these furnaces actually operate

. Such a delay results in an energy savings of approximately 1.0 percent

. Since current DOE test procedures do not address this variable blower time delay

, Ducane 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

, 55 FR 3253, January 31

. 1990

, and 55 FR 37521, September 12,1990 ; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226

, May 4

, 1989

, and 55 FR 41589, October 12,1990 ; Lennox Industries, 54 FR 50525

, December 7, 1989; 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 ; Inter-City Products Corporation

, 55 FR 31099

. July 31, 1990, and 56 FR 27959

, June 18

, 1991; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 853

, January 9, 1991. and 56 FR 29957

, July 1, 1991; Armstrong Air Conditioning

, Inc., 56 FR 10553, March 13

, 1991

, and 56 FR 34200, July 26, 1991 ; Snyder General Corporation

, 56 FR 14511 , April 10. 1991; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 20421

, May 3

, 1991 ; and Thermo Products, Inc., 56 FR 32205 , July 15, 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 Ducane an Interim Waiver for its FPAA series of 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 the Ducane Company, 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, August 28, 1991. Michael Davis, Assistant Secretary, Conservation and Renewable Energy.
Department of Energy Washington, DC 20585 August 28, 1991. Mr. Charles W. Adams, V. P. Research and Development The Ducane Company, Inc., 118 West Main Street. Blackville. South Carolina 29817- 1199 Dear Mr. Adams : This is in response to your July 1.1991. Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures for furnaces regarding blower time delay for The Ducane Company, Inc. (Ducane) FPAA series of gas furnaces. 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, 5o FR 41553, October 11,1985; Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1,1988, 55 FR 3253, January 31. 1990, and 55 FR 37521. September 12, 1990; Trane Company

, 54 FR 19226

, May 4. 1989, and 55 FR 41589, October 12. 1990; Lennox Industries

. 54 FR 50525 , December 7,1989; 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; Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 FR 31099, July 31, 1990, and 56 FR 27959. June 18, 1991; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 853. January 9, 1991, and 56 FR 29957, July 1. 1991; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 56 FR 10553, March 13, 1991, and 56 FR 34200. July 26.1991; Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR 14511, April 10, 1991; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 20421, May 3, 1991: and Thermo Products, Inc., 56 FR 32205, July 15, 1991. Ducane's Application for Interim Waiver does not provide sufficient tnformation to evaluate what, if any, economic impact or competitive disadvantage Ducane 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, Ducane's Application for an Interim Waiver from the DOE test procedures for its FPAA series of gas furnaces regarding blower time delay is granted. Ducane shall be permitted to test its line of FPAA series of 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. 

### 45959

(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/ASI-IRAE 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, maintan 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 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. j. Michael Davis, P.E., Assistant Secretary. Conservation and Renewable Energy.

Ducane
DUCANE HEATING DIVISION July 1, 1991. Assistant Secretary, Conservation and Renewable Energy, United States Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., Washington. DC 20585. Gentlemen: Please consider this Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver pursuant to Title 10 CFR 430.27. Waiver is requested from the test procedures covering gas furnaces found at appendix N to subpart B of 10 CFR Part 430. The current Heat-Up Test procedure requires a 1.5 minute time delay between burner and blower startup. The Ducane Company is

### 45960 Federal Register

requesting to use 30 seconds instead of 1.5 minutes for Series "FPAA" Cas• Furnaces. These models will employ an electronic blower time control dart starts the blower in approximately Sit seconds Our testing indicates an iacsease of one percent imAFUE using the 30 secaad time delay. The Ducane Company seeks an interim waiver because it is likely that oar waiver will be granted. Similar waivers have been granted to o ther manufacturers in the past. A copy of this Petition Jar Waiver and Application far Interim Waiver will be seat to other manufacturers of similar type products. RespectfuBg yours,
THE DUCAR£ COlld AKY. 941C.
Charles W. Adams. U.P. Researci: and Devetopmen4 Ducane Heating Division.
[FR Doc 91-21527 Filed 9-&-91; 8:45 am].

BIWNG coos 645e44-M 

### 56FR45958
Vol. 56,. No. 174 / Monday, September 9, 1991 / Notices