Vol. 79 Wednesday, 

No. 98 May 21, 2014 

Part II 

Department of Energy 

10 CFR Parts 429 and 430 

Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Dehumidifiers; 

Proposed Rule 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
29272 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Parts 429 and 430 

[Docket No. EERE–2014–BT–TP–0010] 

RIN 1904–AC80 

Energy Conservation Program: Test 

Procedures for Dehumidifiers 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (DOE) proposes to revise its test 

procedures for dehumidifiers, by adding 

clarifications for equipment setup 

during testing and correcting the 

calculations of active mode energy use 

and an efficiency metric, integrated 

energy factor (IEF). The proposed 

amendments would also create a new 

appendix which would require certain 

active mode testing at a lower ambient 

temperature, add a measure of fan-only 

mode energy consumption in the IEF 

metric, and include testing methodology 

and measures of performance for wholehome dehumidifiers. Finally, DOE 

proposes to add clarifying definitions of 

covered products, amend the 

certification requirements, add 

verification instructions for the capacity 

measurement, and make certain 

editorial corrections. 

DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting 

on Friday, June 13, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 

12 p.m., in Washington, DC. The 

meeting will also be broadcast as a 

webinar. See section V, ‘‘Public 

Participation,’’ for webinar registration 

information, participant instructions, 

and information about the capabilities 

available to webinar participants. 

DOE will accept comments, data, and 

information regarding this notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NOPR) before and 

after the public meeting, but no later 

than August 4, 2014. See section V, 

‘‘Public Participation,’’ for details. 

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be 

held at the U.S. Department of Energy, 

Forrestal Building, Room 8E–089, 1000 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20585. To attend, 

please notify Ms. Brenda Edwards at 

(202) 586–2945. Please note that foreign 

nationals visiting DOE Headquarters are 

subject to advance security screening 

procedures. Any foreign national 

wishing to participate in the meeting 

should advise DOE as soon as possible 

by contacting Ms. Edwards to initiate 

the necessary procedures. Please also 

note that those wishing to bring laptops 

into the Forrestal Building will be 

required to obtain a property pass. 

Visitors should avoid bringing laptops, 

or allow an extra 45 minutes. Persons 

can attend the public meeting via 

webinar. For more information, refer to 

the Public Participation section near the 

end of this document. 

Any comments submitted must 

identify the NOPR for Test Procedures 

for Dehumidifiers, and provide docket 

number EE–2014–BT–TP–0010 and/or 

regulatory information number (RIN) 

number 1904–AC80. Comments may be 

submitted using any of the following 

methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

2. Email: Dehumidifier2014TP0010@

ee.doe.gov. Include the docket number 

and/or RIN in the subject line of the 

message. 

3. Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. 

Department of Energy, Building 

Technologies Program, Mailstop EE–2J, 

1000 Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. If 

possible, please submit all items on a 

CD. It is not necessary to include 

printed copies. 

4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda 

Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 

Building Technologies Program, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 600, 

Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: 

(202) 586–2945. If possible, please 

submit all items on a CD. It is not 

necessary to include printed copies. 

For detailed instructions on 

submitting comments and additional 

information on the rulemaking process, 

see section V of this document (Public 

Participation). 

Docket: The docket, which includes 

Federal Register notices, public meeting 

attendee lists and transcripts, 

comments, and other supporting 

documents/materials, is available for 

review at regulations.gov. All 

documents in the docket are listed in 

the regulations.gov index. However, 

some documents listed in the index, 

such as those containing information 

that is exempt from public disclosure, 

may not be publicly available. 

A link to the docket Web page can be 

found at: http://www.regulations.gov/

#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-TP0010. This Web page contains a link to 

the docket for this document on the 

regulations.gov site. The regulations.gov 

Web page contains instructions on how 

to access all documents, including 

public comments, in the docket. See 

section V for information on how to 

submit comments through 

regulations.gov. 

For further information on how to 

submit a comment, review other public 

comments and the docket, or participate 

in the public meeting, contact Ms. 

Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945 or by 

email: Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mr. Bryan Berringer, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy, Building 

Technologies, EE–5B, 1000 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–0371. Email: 

bryan.berringer@ee.doe.gov. 

Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 

GC–71, 1000 Independence Avenue 

SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–7796. Email: 

elizabeth.kohl@hq.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

I. Authority and Background 

A. General Test Procedure Rulemaking 

Process 

B. Test Procedure for Dehumidifiers 

II. Summary of the Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking 

III. Discussion 

A. Products Covered by This Test 

Procedure Rulemaking 

B. Determination, Classification, and 

Testing Provisions for Dehumidifier 

Active Modes 

1. Dehumidification Mode 

a. Ambient Temperature 

b. Relative Humidity 

c. Ducted Test Installation for Whole-Home 

Dehumidifiers 

d. Psychrometer Requirements 

e. Condensate Collection 

f. Control Settings 

2. Fan-Only Mode 

C. Additional Technical and Editorial 

Corrections 

1. Definition of ‘‘Dehumidifier’’ 

2. Referenced Section in Test Procedures at 

10 CFR 430.23 

3. Integrated Energy Factor Calculation 

4. Number of Annual Inactive Mode and 

Off Mode Hours 

D. Materials Incorporated by Reference 

E. Certification and Verification 

F. Compliance Dates of Amended Test 

Procedures 

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review 

A. Review Under Executive Order 12866 

B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility 

Act 

C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction 

Act of 1995 

D. Review Under the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

E. Review Under Executive Order 13132 

F. Review Under Executive Order 12988 

G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates 

Reform Act of 1995 

H. Review Under the Treasury and General 

Government Appropriations Act, 1999 

I. Review Under Executive Order 12630 

J. Review Under Treasury and General 

Government Appropriations Act, 2001 

K. Review Under Executive Order 13211 

L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal 

Energy Administration Act of 1974 


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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 29273 

1For more information on the ENERGY STAR 

program, please visit www.energystar.gov. 

2 ‘‘Energy Star Program Requirements for 

Dehumidifiers’’, Version 1.0, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, available online at: 

www.energystar.gov/products/specs/system/files/

DehumProgReqV1.0.pdf. 

V. Public Participation 

A. Attendance at Public Meeting 

B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared 

General Statements for Distribution 

C. Conduct of Public Meeting 

D. Submission of Comments 

E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment 

VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary 

I. Authority and Background 

Title III of the Energy Policy and 

Conservation Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 

6291, et seq.; ‘‘EPCA’’ or, ‘‘the Act’’) sets 

forth a variety of provisions designed to 

improve energy efficiency. (All 

references to EPCA refer to the statute 

as amended through the American 

Energy Manufacturing Technical 

Corrections Act (AEMTCA), Public Law 

112–210 (Dec. 18, 2012).) Part B of title 

III, which for editorial reasons was 

redesignated as Part A upon 

incorporation into the U.S. Code (42 

U.S.C. 6291–6309, as codified), 

establishes the ‘‘Energy Conservation 

Program for Consumer Products Other 

Than Automobiles.’’ These include 

dehumidifiers, the subject of this 

proposed rule. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(11)) 

Under EPCA, the energy conservation 

program consists essentially of four 

parts: (1) Testing, (2) labeling, (3) 

Federal energy conservation standards, 

and (4) certification and enforcement 

procedures. The testing requirements 

consist of test procedures that 

manufacturers of covered products must 

use as the basis for (1) certifying to DOE 

that their products comply with the 

applicable energy conservation 

standards adopted under EPCA, and (2) 

making representations about the 

efficiency of those products. Similarly, 

DOE must use these test procedures to 

determine whether the products comply 

with any relevant standards 

promulgated under EPCA. 

A. General Test Procedure Rulemaking 

Process 

Under 42 U.S.C. 6293, EPCA sets forth 

the criteria and procedures DOE must 

follow when prescribing or amending 

test procedures for covered products. 

EPCA provides in relevant part that any 

test procedures prescribed or amended 

under this section shall be reasonably 

designed to produce test results that 

measure energy efficiency, energy use or 

estimated annual operating cost of a 

covered product during a representative 

average use cycle or period of use and 

shall not be unduly burdensome to 

conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) 

In addition, if DOE determines that a 

test procedure amendment is warranted, 

it must publish proposed test 

procedures and offer the public an 

opportunity to present oral and written 

comments on them. (42 U.S.C. 

6293(b)(2)) Finally, in any rulemaking to 

amend a test procedure, DOE must 

determine to what extent, if any, the 

proposed test procedure would alter the 

measured energy efficiency of any 

covered product as determined under 

the existing test procedure. (42 U.S.C. 

6293(e)) 

B. Test Procedure for Dehumidifiers 

EPCA specifies that the dehumidifier 

test criteria used under the ENERGY 

STAR1 program in effect as of January 

1, 2001,2 must serve as the basis for the 

DOE test procedure for dehumidifiers, 

unless revised by DOE. (42 U.S.C. 

6293(b)(13)) The ENERGY STAR test 

criteria required that American National 

Standards Institute (ANSI)/Association 

of Home Appliance Manufacturers 

(AHAM) Standard DH–1, 

‘‘Dehumidifiers,’’ be used to measure 

capacity while the Canadian Standards 

Association (CAN/CSA) standard CAN/ 

CSA–C749–1994 (R2005), ‘‘Performance 

of Dehumidifiers,’’ be used to calculate 

the energy factor (EF). The version of 

AHAM Standard DH–1 in use at the 

time the ENERGY STAR test criteria 

were adopted was AHAM Standard DH– 

1–1992. DOE adopted these test criteria, 

along with related definitions and 

tolerances, as its test procedure for 

dehumidifiers at 10 CFR part 430, 

subpart B, appendix X in 2006. 71 FR 

71340, 71347, 71366, 713667–68 (Dec. 

8, 2006). 

On October 31, 2012, DOE published 

a final rule to establish a new test 

procedure for dehumidifiers that 

references ANSI/AHAM Standard DH– 

1–2008, ‘‘Dehumidifiers,’’ (ANSI/AHAM 

DH–1–2008) for both energy use and 

capacity measurements. 77 FR 65995 

(Oct. 31, 2012). The final rule also 

adopted standby and off mode 

provisions that satisfy the requirement 

in EPCA for DOE to include measures of 

standby mode and off mode energy 

consumption in its test procedures for 

residential products, if technically 

feasible. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) This 

new DOE test procedure, codified at that 

time at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, 

appendix X1 (appendix X1), established 

a new metric, integrated energy factor 

(IEF), which incorporates measures of 

active, standby, and off mode energy 

use. 

DOE subsequently removed the 

existing test procedures at appendix X 

and redesignated the test procedures at 

appendix X1 as appendix X. 79 FR 

7366, Feb. 7, 2014. After August 6, 2014, 

any representations of energy use, 

including standby mode or off mode 

energy consumption, or efficiency of 

portable dehumidifiers must be made in 

accordance with the results of testing 

pursuant to the redesignated appendix 

X. In this NOPR, DOE proposes further 

amendments to the redesignated 

appendix X. 

DOE also initiated a rulemaking to 

consider amending the energy 

conservation standards for 

dehumidifiers. As part of this 

rulemaking, DOE is considering 

standards for whole-home, including 

refrigerant-desiccant, dehumidifiers. 

Any amended standards for both 

portable and whole-home dehumidifiers 

would be based on the efficiency 

metrics as determined from a new DOE 

test procedure at appendix X1 that DOE 

is proposing to establish in this 

document. DOE published a document 

announcing the availability of the 

Energy Conservation Standards 

Rulemaking Framework Document for 

Dehumidifiers on August 17, 2012 (the 

‘‘August 2012 Framework Document’’) 

77 FR 49739 (Aug. 17, 2012). The 

August 2012 Framework Document, also 

published on the DOE Web site, 

discusses the analyses DOE intends to 

conduct throughout the standards 

rulemaking. In response to the August 

2012 Framework Document and at the 

public meeting held on September 24, 

2012, DOE received a number of 

comments related to the dehumidifier 

test procedure. DOE considered these 

comments in its analysis for this NOPR, 

and provides responses in this 

document. 

II. Summary of the Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking 

In this NOPR, DOE proposes to 

establish in 10 CFR 430.2 definitions for 

different categories of residential 

dehumidifiers: Portable dehumidifiers 

and whole-home dehumidifiers. The 

proposal includes a definition for 

whole-home dehumidifiers that 

incorporate moisture removal by means 

of either a refrigeration system and a 

desiccant, which require specific testing 

methodology. The provisions in 

appendix X1 proposed in this NOPR 

would include test equipment and 

methodology for measuring the capacity 

and IEF of whole-home dehumidifiers 

under conditions representative of 

typical ducted installations. 

DOE also proposes amending the 

dehumidifier test procedure to provide 

a more accurate representation of active 

mode performance in new appendix X1. 

The active mode provisions currently in 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
29274 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

3A notation in the form ‘‘California IOUs, No. 11 

at p. 4’’ identifies a written comment: (1) Made by 

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas 

and Electric Company, and Southern California 

Edison (‘‘the California IOUs’’); (2) recorded in 

document number 11 that is filed in the docket of 

the residential dehumidifier energy conservation 

standards rulemaking (Docket No. EERE–2012–BT– 

STD–0027) and available for review at 

www.regulations.gov; and (3) which appears on 

page 4 of document number 11. 

appendix X require testing under 

ambient conditions consisting of a drybulb temperature of 80 degrees 

Fahrenheit (°F) and a wet-bulb ambient 

temperature of 69.6 °F; however, DOE’s 

recent analysis and information from 

interested parties suggest that this set of 

test conditions may not be 

representative of residential installation 

locations, and that dehumidifier 

performance varies according to the 

ambient temperature and humidity. 

Therefore, DOE is proposing 

amendments to be incorporated in the 

new appendix X1 that would reduce the 

required ambient dry-bulb and wet-bulb 

temperatures during the test to better 

reflect the energy use and capacity of 

dehumidifiers in real-world conditions. 

DOE further proposes to incorporate 

into appendix X1 measures of energy 

use in fan-only mode for dehumidifiers 

that operate the fan either continuously 

or cyclically without activating the 

refrigeration system when the ambient 

relative humidity is lower than the 

setpoint, rather than entering off-cycle 

mode. 

Because appendix X does not provide 

instructions regarding the proper 

control settings, including the fan speed 

to be used for testing dehumidifiers 

with multiple fan-speed options and the 

relative humidity control setting, DOE is 

proposing to conduct active mode 

testing in appendix X and appendix X1 

using the setting for continuous 

operation for dehumidifiers equipped 

with such an option. For dehumidifiers 

without a setting for continuous 

operation, DOE proposes to require 

testing at the highest possible fan speed 

and lowest relative humidity setting to 

achieve the maximum possible moisture 

removal rate, which is the primary 

function of the product. DOE also 

proposes in appendix X and appendix 

X1 to define this primary operating 

mode as ‘‘dehumidification mode’’ to 

distinguish it from fan-only mode, 

which is also an active mode, and to 

clarify that the definition of ‘‘product 

capacity’’ is a measure of the moisture 

removed under the specified ambient 

conditions. 

Finally, DOE also is proposing in this 

document to: (1) Add specifications in 

appendix X and appendix X1 for 

psychrometer setup for multiple air 

intakes, which would require the use of 

a separate sampling tree for each intake 

grille, and require that when testing 

multiple portable dehumidifiers at the 

same time, each dehumidifier be 

provided with a separate psychrometer 

centered in front of each of its air intake 

grille(s); (2) specify in appendix X and 

appendix X1 that the condensate must 

be collected in a substantially closed 

vessel placed on the weight-measuring 

instrument if means are provided on the 

dehumidifier for draining condensate 

away from the cabinet; if not, any 

condensate in excess of the amount that 

the internal collection bucket can hold 

should be collected in an overflow pan 

for the condensate weight measurement 

without the use of any internal pump 

(unless the use of such a pump is 

provided by the manufacturer by default 

during dehumidification mode); (3) 

correct the definition of ‘‘dehumidifier’’ 

in 10 CFR 430.2 and clarify that it does 

not cover portable air conditioners or 

room air conditioners; (4) provide a 

technical correction and clarifications 

within the IEF equation in appendix X 

and appendix X1; (5) correct 

typographical errors in the number of 

annual hours for inactive mode and off 

mode in appendix X and appendix X1; 

(6) provide instructions for the dates of 

use of appendix X and appendix X1; 

and (7) add capacity to the sampling 

requirements used for dehumidifier 

certification, along with clarification in 

10 CFR 430.23(z) regarding how 

capacity is measured. 

III. Discussion 

A. Products Covered by This Test 

Procedure Rulemaking 

EPCA defines a dehumidifier as a selfcontained, electrically operated, and 

mechanically encased assembly 

consisting of— 

• A refrigerated surface (evaporator) 

that condenses moisture from the 

atmosphere; 

• A refrigerating system, including an 

electric motor; 

• An air-circulating fan; and 

• Means for collecting or disposing of 

the condensate. 

42 U.S.C. 6291(34); 10 CFR 430.2. 

DOE is aware of two general 

categories of residential dehumidifiers, 

classified according to the primary 

installation configuration: Portable 

dehumidifiers and whole-home 

dehumidifiers. Portable dehumidifiers 

are the most common category of 

dehumidifier sold in the United States, 

representing more than 95 percent of 

residential dehumidifier shipments. 

Consumers typically purchase portable 

dehumidifiers to reduce the relative 

humidity in one room or area of a living 

space less than 2,500 square feet, and 

may move these units from room to 

room to selectively reduce humidity 

where necessary. These units may also 

be located in an unconditioned space 

where moisture control is desired. 

Portable units currently on the market 

have rated capacities ranging from 22 

pints of moisture removed per day 

(pints/day) to more than 120 pints/day. 

Portable units are standalone appliances 

designed to operate independent of any 

other air treatment devices, and do not 

require attachment to ducting, although 

certain models may have optional 

components to do so (i.e., ‘‘convertible 

portable’’ units). 

Whole-home dehumidifiers are 

designed to be attached to ducting that 

supplies dehumidified air to multiple or 

large living spaces in a residence and 

that returns humid air from the same 

spaces to the dehumidifier inlet. Wholehome dehumidifiers are often installed 

in conjunction with an existing heating, 

ventilation, or central air-conditioning 

(HVAC) system, and may utilize certain 

components of the HVAC equipment 

such as the air-handling blower, but can 

operate independently as well. Wholehome dehumidifiers typically use the 

same dehumidification system as 

portable units; however, to effectively 

dehumidify a large area, these units are 

manufactured with larger components 

than portable dehumidifiers, and may 

include additional features, such as precoolers or desiccant wheels, which may 

be difficult to incorporate into portable 

units due to volume and weight 

constraints. Whole-home product 

capacities range from approximately 65 

pints/day to more than 200 pints/day 

when tested without ducting. The lack 

of ducting, however, allows higher 

airflow through the dehumidifier than 

would be experienced in real-world 

installations, which in turn results in 

higher measured values for capacity and 

IEF. 

In the August 2012 Framework 

Document, DOE considered whether 

whole-home dehumidifiers as well as 

portable dehumidifiers should be 

considered covered products for the 

purposes of energy conservation 

standards. In response, Pacific Gas and 

Electric Company (PG&E), San Diego 

Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E), and 

Southern California Edison (SCE), 

(hereafter the ‘‘California InvestorOwned Utilities (IOUs)’’) expressed 

support for DOE’s proposal to cover 

whole-home dehumidifiers and 

recommended that DOE acquire 

additional data on both the performance 

and market saturation of these units. 

(California IOUs, No. 11 at p. 4) 3


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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 29275 

4A notation in the form ‘‘AHAM, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 10 at p. 28’’ identifies an oral 

comment that DOE received during the September 

24, 2012, residential dehumidifier energy 

conservation standards framework public meeting, 

was recorded in the public meeting transcript in the 

docket for the residential dehumidifier energy 

conservation standards rulemaking (Docket No. 

EERE–2012–BT–STD–0027), and is maintained in 

the Resource Room of the Building Technologies 

Program. This particular notation refers to a 

comment (1) made by AHAM during the public 

meeting; (2) recorded in document number 10, 

which is the public meeting transcript that is filed 

in the docket of this energy conservation standards 

rulemaking; and (3) which appears on page 28 of 

document number 10. 

AHAM requested clarification 

regarding coverage and requirements for 

testing with ducted installation, 

particularly with portable products that 

can be optionally ducted as compared to 

dehumidifiers with manufacturer 

instructions that specify ducting. 

(AHAM, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 

10 at p. 28) 4 DOE research of the 

residential dehumidifier market 

revealed models that can be used as 

either a portable dehumidifier or as a 

ducted (i.e., whole-home) dehumidifier. 

Several manufacturers refer to these 

products as ‘‘convertible’’ 

dehumidifiers. These convertible 

products have optional ducting kits that 

can either be installed or removed to 

accommodate free standing portable 

operation or ducted installations. 

Therefore, these products would meet 

the proposed definitions of both 

portable and whole-home 

dehumidifiers. Accordingly, DOE 

proposes in this document that if a 

given model meets both the proposed 

definition of a portable dehumidifier 

and a whole-home dehumidifier, with 

conversion achieved by means of 

optional ducting ducting kits, the 

product must be tested as both product 

categories, must meet both applicable 

standards, and must be certified as 

meeting both standards, if DOE 

ultimately establishes standards for 

whole home units. 

The Southern Company noted that 

dehumidification technologies other 

than those based on refrigeration 

systems, such as desiccant 

dehumidifiers, are available on the 

market, and questioned whether 

products that do not use a refrigeration 

system and do not collect a liquid 

condensate would be covered. 

(Southern Company, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 10 at p. 45) 

Dehumidifiers that remove moisture 

using a desiccant but with no 

refrigeration system would not meet the 

statutory definition set forth by EPCA, 

and thus would not be covered 

products. (42 U.S.C. 6291(34)) However, 

certain whole-home dehumidifiers 

incorporate desiccant technology along 

with refrigeration systems, hereafter 

referred to as refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers. Some of the moisture in 

the ‘‘process’’ air (i.e., the air that is 

supplied from and returned to the 

dehumidified space) is condensed on 

the evaporator as with typical 

dehumidifiers, while additional 

moisture is removed via a porous 

desiccant material that adsorbs moisture 

when damp air passes through or over 

it. The desiccant material is typically 

configured in a circular or wheel 

structure. A portion of the wheel 

adsorbs moisture from the process air 

entering the unit, which is then 

delivered to the dehumidified space. As 

the wheel rotates, the moisture in that 

segment is released into a separate 

heated reactivation air stream and 

exhausted out of the home. In addition 

to removing some moisture from the 

process air directly, the refrigeration 

system boosts the temperature of the 

reactivation air to more effectively 

remove moisture from the desiccant 

wheel, and cools the incoming air to 

improve the adsorptivity of the 

desiccant material. Because refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers have separate 

process and reactivation air streams and 

associated ducting, DOE proposes 

provisions in appendix X1 to test such 

whole-home units. 

In this NOPR, to clarify which 

provisions in the dehumidifier test 

procedure apply to the different 

categories of dehumidifiers, DOE is 

proposing to amend 10 CFR 430.2 to 

include definitions of portable, wholehome, and refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers as follows: 

Portable dehumidifier: A 

dehumidifier designed to operate within 

the dehumidified space without the 

attachment of additional ducting, 

although means may be provided for 

optional duct attachment. 

Whole-home dehumidifier: A 

dehumidifier designed to be installed 

with ducting to deliver return process 

air to its inlet and to supply 

dehumidified process air from its outlet 

to one or more locations in the 

dehumidified space. 

Refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifier: A 

whole-home dehumidifier that removes 

moisture from the process air by means 

of a desiccant material in addition to a 

refrigeration system. 

DOE also proposes in this NOPR to 

adopt the following definition for 

‘‘process air’’ in appendix X1: 

Process air: The air supplied to the 

dehumidifier from the dehumidified 

space and discharged to the 

dehumidified space after moisture has 

been removed by means of the 

refrigeration system. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed definitions for portable, 

whole-home, and refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers, and whether there are 

additional dehumidifier product 

categories that should be considered as 

covered products, consistent with the 

statutory definition of dehumidifier. 

B. Determination, Classification, and 

Testing Provisions for Dehumidifier 

Active Modes 

Appendix X defines ‘‘active mode’’ as 

a mode in which a dehumidifier is 

performing the main functions of 

removing moisture from ambient air by 

drawing moist air over a refrigerated 

coil using a fan, circulating air through 

activation of the fan without activation 

of the refrigeration system, or defrosting 

the refrigerant coil. In the course of 

testing conducted for this proposal, DOE 

observed that dehumidifiers may 

operate in different modes that would 

be classified as part of active mode, 

depending on whether the humidity 

setpoint has been reached. 

When the dehumidifier is operating in 

active mode and the ambient relative 

humidity is higher than the humidity 

setpoint, the unit may perform any of 

the main functions listed under the 

active mode definition. Further, DOE 

observed during its tests that a 

dehumidifier may alternate among these 

main functions, with the unit activating 

a particular main function for a period 

of minutes or hours before switching to 

a different main function. The pattern of 

activation of these functions may vary, 

depending on the programming of the 

particular model and the ambient 

conditions. DOE notes that none of the 

17 portable and 8 whole-home 

dehumidifiers in its test sample 

exhibited such variable behavior under 

the ambient conditions currently 

specified in appendix X, nominally 

80 °F dry-bulb temperature and 69.6 °F 

wet-bulb temperature, and instead 

continuously removed moisture from 

the ambient air. However, when the 

ambient temperature was lower than 

80 °F and the relative ambient humidity 

was higher than the setpoint, certain 

units in the test sample periodically 

operated the fan without activating the 

refrigeration system. This action may 

have been taken to prevent the 

formation of frost or to remove any ice 

build-up from the evaporator to 

continue the main function of moisture 

removal. Therefore, DOE proposes to 

add the following definition of 

‘‘dehumidification mode’’ to appendix 

X and appendix X1 to describe all 

dehumidifier operations during the 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
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5L. Mattison and D. Korn, ‘‘Dehumidifiers: A 

Major Consumer of Residential Electricity,’’ The 

Cadmus Group, Inc., 2012 ACEEE Summer Study 

on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, August 2012, 

Pacific Grove, CA. Available online at: 

www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/2012/data/

papers/0193-000291.pdf. 

6 J. Winkler, D. Christensen, and J. Tomerlin, 

‘‘Laboratory Test Report for Six ENERGY STAR®

Dehumidifiers,’’ National Renewable Energy 

Laboratory, NREL/TP–5500–52791, December 2011. 

Available online at: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/

52791.pdf. 

period when the humidity setpoint is 

lower than the ambient relative 

humidity and the dehumidifier is 

engaged in the main function of 

moisture removal: 

Dehumidification mode: An active 

mode in which a dehumidifier (1) has 

activated the main moisture removal 

function according to the humidistat or 

humidity sensor signal and (2) has 

either activated the refrigeration system 

or activated the fan or blower without 

activation of the refrigeration system. 

The energy use for all main functions, 

including periods of fan operation with 

and without activation of the 

refrigeration system that may occur 

when the ambient relative humidity is 

above the setpoint, would be measured 

according to the proposed provisions for 

dehumidification mode testing in 

appendix X1, as discussed in section 

III.B.1 of this document, and for active 

mode testing in appendix X. 

A dehumidifier fan may also operate 

without activation of the refrigeration 

system after the humidity setpoint has 

been reached or when selected by the 

consumer. Under these conditions, the 

fan may be operated to ensure that air 

is drawn over the humidistat to monitor 

ambient conditions, or for air 

circulation in the dehumidified space. It 

is also possible that immediately 

following a period of dehumidification 

mode, this fan operation may be 

initiated to remove any remaining frost 

from the evaporator. Such functions 

would classify this ‘‘fan-only mode’’ as 

an active mode, and it is distinct from 

any periods of fan-only operation in 

dehumidification mode because the 

setpoint has been reached or the 

product is not being used for the main 

purpose of moisture removal. For this 

reason, DOE proposes to include the 

following definition of ‘‘fan-only mode’’ 

in appendix X1: 

Fan-only mode: An active mode in 

which the dehumidifier (1) has cycled 

off its main moisture removal function 

by humidistat or humidity sensor, (2) 

has activated its fan or blower to operate 

either cyclically or continuously, and 

(3) may reactivate the main moisture 

removal function according to the 

humidistat or humidity sensor signal. 

In this document, DOE also proposes 

in appendix X1 to measure the energy 

consumption during fan-only mode 

according to methodology discussed in 

section III.B.2 of this document. 

1. Dehumidification Mode 

In appendix X, DOE adopted the 

ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008 test procedure 

to determine dehumidifier active mode 

performance while performing its main 

function of removing moisture from 

ambient air. According to this 

methodology, the dehumidifier is 

operated continuously in a test room 

with nominal ambient temperature and 

humidity conditions of 80 ± 2.0 °F drybulb temperature and 69.6 ± 1.0 °F wetbulb temperature. Following a 

stabilization period during which three 

consecutive measurements at 10-minute 

intervals of dry-bulb temperature, wetbulb temperature, and applied voltage 

must remain within allowable 

tolerances, the dehumidifier is operated 

continuously for 6 hours while 

collecting the condensate and recording 

the energy consumption. At the end of 

the test, the condensate is weighed and 

this value is used to calculate the unit’s 

capacity, in pints per day. The 

calculation incorporates equations to 

normalize the results to nominal 

ambient conditions, accounting for 

variability in ambient conditions from 

test to test. The ANSI/AHAM DH–1– 

2008 test procedure includes a 

calculation for EF, expressed in liters 

per kilowatt hour (L/kWh), with 

corrections to normalize the data to 

nominal ambient conditions. Appendix 

X additionally includes the calculation 

of IEF, also expressed in L/kWh, which 

combines active mode energy 

consumption with the combined lowpower mode energy consumption based 

on annual usage estimates for each 

mode. 

a. Ambient Temperature 

As noted previously, the active mode 

provisions in appendix X that measure 

the moisture removal rate and energy 

consumption during dehumidification 

mode specify ambient conditions at a 

nominal 80 °F dry-bulb temperature and 

69.6 °F wet-bulb temperature, which 

correspond to 60-percent relative 

humidity, for the duration of the 6-hour 

test. This section discusses proposed 

ambient temperature options for both 

portable and whole home 

dehumidifiers. The proposals in this 

section are based on ambient and 

ground temperature for specific 

geographical locations that represent the 

majority of national dehumidifier use, 

and testing of a market representative 

sample of dehumidifiers. DOE tested 13 

portable and 14 whole-home 

dehumidifiers according to ANSI/

AHAM DH–1–2008 at varying 

temperatures. 

In response to the August 2012 

Framework Document, AHAM 

commented that, although 

representative values for dehumidifier 

ambient conditions are difficult to 

specify due to variability in factors such 

as geographical locations and locations 

within the living space, the existing 

ambient conditions in the test procedure 

adequately address these differences 

and should not be amended. However, 

AHAM requested that if DOE does 

consider amending the test conditions, 

it should conduct studies on average 

geographical locations and average 

living space locations in which 

dehumidifiers are used and the ambient 

conditions in those spaces. 

Furthermore, AHAM commented that 

DOE would need to consider the effect 

of amended ambient conditions on 

measured energy use and on 

repeatability and reproducibility of the 

test procedure. (AHAM, No. 8 at 

pp. 4–5) 

Appliance Standards Awareness 

Project (ASAP), American Council for 

an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), 

Consumers Union (CU), Natural 

Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and 

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance 

(NEEA), (hereafter the ‘‘Joint 

Commenters’’) and the California IOUs 

commented that the current single 

rating condition specified in ANSI/

AHAM DH–1–2008 is not representative 

of field conditions where dehumidifiers 

are used, and that testing at 80 °F and 

60-percent relative humidity may 

overstate EF compared to operation in 

the field over a range of ambient 

conditions. ASAP and the Joint 

Commenters referenced a study 

conducted by the Cadmus Group 

(hereafter referred to as the Cadmus 

Group Study) 5 that found the measured 

EFs of units in the field to be 

significantly lower than rated, and that 

attributed the difference, in part, to the 

ambient conditions (temperature and 

relative humidity) in the field being 

significantly lower than the current test 

conditions. ASAP and the Joint 

Commenters also referenced a National 

Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 

study 6 that summarized testing on six 

dehumidifiers and showed significant 

decreases in EF as either ambient 

temperature or relative humidity 

decreased. (ASAP, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 10 at pp. 19–21; Joint 

Commenters, No. 9 at pp. 1–5; 

California IOUs, No. 11 at pp. 1–3) 

The Joint Commenters and ASAP 

further stated that the test procedure 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
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7RECS data are available online at: www.eia.gov/ 

consumption/residential/data/2009/. 

8 ‘‘Builder’s Foundation Handbook,’’ Oak Ridge 

National Laboratory. May 1998, page 11. Available 

online at: www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/

foundation/ORNL_CON-295.pdf. 

9www.consumerreports.org/cro/bestdehumidifiers.htm. 

10 ‘‘Dehumidification and Subslab Ventilation in 

Wisconsin Homes,’’ Energy Center of Wisconsin. 

ECW Report Number 258–1, June 2010. Appendix 

B, pp. 29–42. Available online at: www.ecw.org/

ecwresults/258-1.pdf. 

11Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program is a 

voluntary program promoting building practices 

that address combustion safety, building durability, 

occupant comfort, indoor air quality, and energy 

efficiency. According to the ENERGY STAR Web 

site, over 15,000 homes are certified to the program 

to date. Additional information is available online 

at: www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=new_

homes_partners.showStateResults&s_code=WI. 

12 ‘‘AHAM Data on Dehumidifiers for Efficiency 

Standards Rulemaking,’’ Association of Home 

Appliance Manufacturers, August 23, 2006. Docket 

No. EE–2006–STD–0127, Comment Number 17. 

does not capture dehumidifier 

performance under frost conditions (i.e., 

when ice accumulates on the evaporator 

as the dry-bulb temperature drops below 

65 °F, for most units), which a 

dehumidifier operating in a basement is 

likely to experience. ASAP commented 

that data from the Residential Energy 

Consumption Survey (RECS) 7 indicate 

that 75 percent of homes with 

dehumidifiers have basements, where 

temperatures are lower than 80 °F. The 

Joint Commenters referenced the 

‘‘Building Foundations Design 

Handbook’’ to suggest that the typical 

temperatures of unconditioned 

basements range between 55 °F and 

70 °F.8 The Joint Commenters also 

stated that both ANSI/AHAM DH–1– 

2008 and Consumer Reports 9 testing of 

dehumidifiers reflect the importance of 

adequate operation under frost 

conditions. The Joint Commenters noted 

that the ‘‘low temperature test’’ in 

ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008, which 

includes recommended levels of 

performance related to unit operation 

and frost accumulation, is conducted at 

65 °F, and that Consumer Reports 

ratings of dehumidifiers include ‘‘cool 

room performance,’’ which is conducted 

at 50 °F. The Joint Commenters urged 

DOE to amend the test procedures to 

more accurately reflect field conditions 

and performance by including at least 

one low-temperature rating point (e.g., 

60 °F), which is likely to occur in 

basements and at which frost 

accumulation can affect operation. 

(ASAP, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 

10 at pp. 20–22; Joint Commenters, No. 

9 at pp. 2–5) 

In response to these comments and as 

described in the following paragraphs, 

DOE conducted additional research 

regarding the typical ambient conditions 

under which residential portable and 

whole-home dehumidifiers operate. In 

its analysis, DOE investigated regional 

and time-of-year usage patterns as well 

as likely installation locations within 

the home. 

Ambient Operating Conditions 

The ‘‘Builder’s Foundation 

Handbook,’’ published in 1998 by Oak 

Ridge National Laboratory as an update 

to its 1988 ‘‘Building Foundation Design 

Handbook,’’ states that ambient 

temperatures in unconditioned 

basements in most climates in the 

United States typically range between 

55 °F and 70 °F. A field study by the 

Energy Center of Wisconsin (hereafter 

referred to as the Wisconsin Study),10

conducted in various homes across 

Wisconsin in 2010, assessed the net 

electricity savings from sub-slab 

ventilation systems installed in 

ENERGY STAR Homes 11 that use 

basement dehumidifiers. Appendix B of 

this field study presents the basement 

temperature in 49 homes between June 

and November. Based on these data, the 

typical basement temperatures in 

Wisconsin, which is part of the region 

that represents the largest dehumidifier 

market, are between 60 °F and 75 °F for 

these months. 

In addition to considering the 

findings in these studies, DOE 

conducted further analysis based on 

consumer and climate data to determine 

the most representative dehumidifier 

test conditions. DOE reviewed the 2009 

RECS database to identify the 

geographic regions that account for the 

majority of dehumidifier usage. DOE 

found that of the 15 million homes that 

reported using dehumidifiers, 5.1 

million were located in the Northeast 

region and 6.5 million were in the 

Midwest region. RECS includes 

additional dehumidifier usage data for 

two sub-regions within each of these 

regions, but does not disaggregate the 

data by state within the sub-regions. 

DOE noted that, in response to a 

March 27, 2006 framework document 

(71 FR 15059), AHAM submitted 

estimated dehumidifier monthly usage 

data.12 AHAM’s medium estimate 

indicated 1,095 annual active mode 

operating hours from April to October. 

The majority of dehumidifier annual 

operation, 73.5 percent, occurs in the 

summer months between June and 

August, while the other 26.5 percent 

occurs in April, May, September, and 

October. Table III.1 lists the AHAMestimated active mode operation hours 

per month. 

TABLE III.1—AHAM MEDIUM ESTIMATE

OF MONTHLY OPERATING HOURS

Month Operating 

hours 

Jan ............................................ 0 

Feb ............................................ 0 

Mar ............................................ 0 

Apr ............................................ 14 

May ........................................... 86 

Jun ............................................ 231 

Jul ............................................. 288 

Aug ........................................... 288 

Sep ........................................... 130 

Oct ............................................ 58 

Nov ........................................... 0 

Dec ........................................... 0 

Total ................................... 1,095 

The AHAM usage estimates vary as a 

function of the month. DOE therefore 

analyzed available temperature data on 

a monthly basis, and then calculated a 

weighted average based on the monthly 

usage estimates. DOE analyzed 2012 

hourly temperature and relative 

humidity data from the National 

Climatic Data Center (NCDC) of the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA), collected at 

weather stations in each of the states in 

the two regions with significant 

dehumidifier ownership, as identified 

by RECS. 

For the reasons discussed in section 

III.B.1.b of this document, DOE 

estimated that consumers are likely to 

operate dehumidifiers when the 

ambient relative humidity is at or above 

60 percent. From the NCDC data, DOE 

calculated the average ambient 

temperature for each state within the 

regions with significant dehumidifier 

ownership for the hours with at least 60- 

percent relative humidity during the 

months of dehumidifier usage. DOE 

then averaged the individual states’ 

ambient temperatures to determine a 

representation of the average monthly 

ambient temperatures with at least 60- 

percent relative humidity for each subregion represented by the RECS data. 

Using the RECS dehumidifier 

ownership data for each sub-region, 

DOE used a weighted average to 

determine the representative average 

monthly ambient temperature for each 

of the regions (i.e., Northeast and 

Midwest) that represent significant 

dehumidifier use. DOE then combined 

the regional data, using a similar 

weighted-average approach with the 

RECS dehumidifier ownership data, into 

overall monthly average ambient 

temperatures with at least 60-percent 

relative humidity. DOE then combined 

these average monthly temperatures into 

a single weighted-average annual 


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temperature using the AHAM-estimated 

monthly hours of operation. From this 

analysis, DOE determined that the 

average annual ambient temperature, in 

regions where the majority of 

dehumidifiers are used during the 

months of dehumidifier usage and when 

the relative humidity is at least 60 

percent, is 64.1 °F. DOE notes that this 

temperature is close to the dry-bulb 

temperature specified in the lowtemperature test in ANSI/AHAM DH–1– 

2008 (65 °F). ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008 

also states that this ambient condition 

was selected based on manufacturer 

surveys that have shown that for areas 

typically dehumidified (i.e., basements 

or other sub-ground level areas), a 

significant portion of users want to 

operate their dehumidifier at 

temperatures as low as 65 °F. Due to the 

similarity between this temperature and 

the average annual ambient temperature 

determined from DOE’s analysis 

(64.1 °F), DOE tentatively concludes 

that 65 °F is a representative dry-bulb 

temperature at which to conduct 

dehumidification mode testing. 

DOE further investigated whether the 

65 °F ambient temperature is more 

representative of actual conditions than 

80 °F by comparing the number of 

annual hours within the regions with 

significant dehumidifier use that 

experienced at least 60-percent relative 

humidity within the test tolerance of 

80 °F ± 2 °F (78–82 °F) with the number 

of hours within 65 °F ± 2 °F (63–67 °F). 

Using the same region-based weightedaverage approach described above but 

only for the hours within the 

temperatures of interest at which the 

relative humidity is at least 60 percent, 

DOE determined that a total of 112 

hours annually, on average, are at the 

nominal 80 °F conditions, while 433 

hours annually, on average, are spent at 

the nominal 65 °F conditions. Figure 

III.1 presents the entire distribution of 

weighted-average annual hours as a 

function of ambient temperature, and 

shows that the number of annual hours 

when the relative humidity is above the 

60-percent threshold decreases 

significantly at 70 °F and higher. In 

addition, the annual hours decrease at 

ambient temperatures below 60 °F. 

This analysis suggests that 

dehumidifier operation occurs most 

frequently when the ambient 

temperature is in the range of 60–70 °F, 

and that dehumidifiers likely operate 

nearly four times more frequently at a 

65 °F ambient temperature than at 80 °F, 

which further indicates that testing in 

dehumidification mode at 65 °F drybulb temperature is more representative 

of typical dehumidifier use than testing 

at 80 °F. 

As ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008 noted, 

areas that are typically dehumidified 

include basements and other subground level locations. Because the 

ambient conditions in some of these 

locations may be more dependent on the 

ground temperature than the outside air 

temperature, DOE conducted further 

investigation of the representative 

ambient temperature for these cases. As 

a proxy for the typical basement 

temperature, DOE considered the NCDC 

data for the hourly soil temperature, 

measured at a depth of 40 inches (about 

1 meter). DOE conducted an analysis 

similar to the analysis conducted for the 

average outside air temperature, 

calculating the sub-region, region, and 

overall weighted-average monthly soil 

temperatures based on the RECS usage 

data. DOE then calculated the weightedaverage annual soil temperature based 

on the AHAM estimated monthly usage 

patterns. This analysis resulted in a 

weighted-average annual soil 

temperature of 65.2 °F for regions with 

significant dehumidifier use during the 

months in which dehumidifiers are 

operated. This temperature, which may 

be representative of basement and 

crawl-space ambient conditions, closely 

matches the weighted-average annual 

outside air temperature. 


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Based on this analysis and comments 

from interested parties, DOE determined 

that the most appropriate and 

representative dehumidification mode 

testing conditions is likely 65 °F drybulb temperature and 60-percent 

relative humidity. As discussed 

previously, these conditions are 

identical to those specified in the ‘‘Low 

Temperature Test’’ in ANSI/AHAM DH– 

1–2008, which manufacturers may 

already be conducting, thereby reducing 

testing burden because manufacturers 

will not need to conduct tests at a 

temperature other than that specified in 

the industry-accepted low temperature 

test. Accordingly, DOE is proposing to 

require dehumidification mode testing 

in appendix X1 at nominal ambient 

conditions of 65 °F dry-bulb 

temperature and 56.6 °F wet-bulb 

temperature, which corresponds to 60- 

percent relative humidity, for both 

portable and whole-home 

dehumidifiers. 

Although the analysis above identifies 

65 °F as the most representative drybulb temperature during testing, DOE 

acknowledges that a portion of annual 

dehumidifier operation likely occurs at 

a higher ambient temperature. As an 

alternate approach to the proposal for 

testing at 65 °F in appendix X1, testing 

at both 65 °F and 80 °F, with 60-percent 

relative humidity for each, may be 

appropriate. The IEF and capacity 

results from the two test conditions 

would be combined to form single 

values of IEF and capacity by, for 

example, calculating a weighted average 

based on the number of annual hours 

associated with each test condition as 

described above. In this example, the 

weighting factors would be 79 percent 

for the 65 °F test conditions (433 annual 

hours at 65 °F ± 2 °F divided by 545 

total annual hours at nominal both 

conditions) and 21 percent for the 80 °F 

conditions (112 annual hours at 80 °F ± 

2 °F divided by 545 total annual hours 

at both conditions). Other weighting 

factors could be considered as well. 

DOE notes there would be additional 

burden associated with this alternate 

approach of testing at two different 

conditions and then combining results 

into one metric because two 

stabilization periods and two 6-hour test 

periods would be required for each 

dehumidification mode test. 

Whole-Home Dehumidifiers 

The Joint Commenters suggested that 

typical operating conditions for wholehome dehumidifiers are different than 

those for portable units. They stated that 

for whole-home units, the dry-bulb 

temperature of the entering air will be 

close to the thermostat setting in the 

home. (Joint Commenters, No. 9 at p. 5) 

RECS contains information on average 

indoor temperature for three different 

times of the day: (1) during the day 

when the residence is occupied, (2) 

during the day when the residence is 

unoccupied, and (3) during the night. 

Table III.2 below contains the results of 

DOE’s investigation of summer average 

indoor temperatures for 1,735 homes in 

the Northeast and Midwest regions, 

considered by RECS to be the regions 

with the heaviest use of 

dehumidification. 

TABLE III.2—RECS INDOOR TEMPERATURE

Time of day Occupied Season Temperature 

( °F) 

Day .......................................................... Yes .......................................................... Summer ................................................... 72.3 

Day .......................................................... No ............................................................ Summer ................................................... 73.7 

Night ........................................................ Yes .......................................................... Summer ................................................... 72.2 

Average ............................................ .................................................................. .................................................................. 72.7 

Number of Homes ................................... .................................................................. .................................................................. 1,735 

As an alternative to the 65 °F inlet 

condition and the weighted 

combination of the 65 °F and 80 °F inlet 

conditions discussed above for portable 

dehumidifiers, DOE may consider 

requiring in appendix X1 ducted testing 

for whole-home dehumidifiers with the 

inlet air temperature equal to the 

average indoor temperature in the 

regions requiring the most 

dehumidification. To date, the data 

available to DOE suggest that this 

alternative inlet temperature would be 

73 °F. DOE requests any additional 

information on typical indoor 

temperatures and comment on this 

proposed approach. 

Performance Impacts at Reduced 

Temperature 

Similar to other refrigeration-based 

systems, when a dehumidifier operates 

at lower ambient temperatures, the air 

flowing over the evaporator (i.e., intake 

air) does not provide as much heat 

transfer to the refrigerant to evaporate it, 

thereby reducing the compressor power 

and overall dehumidifier capacity. In 

addition, at ambient temperatures of 65 

°F or below, the water condensing on 

the evaporator may freeze, limiting air 

flow and further reducing efficiency and 

capacity. Dehumidifiers often 

incorporate a thermocouple attached to 

the refrigerant tubing in the evaporator 

to determine if icing has occurred. The 

dehumidifier then either shuts down all 

active mode operation to allow the ice 

to passively melt, or ceases compressor 

operation and operates the fan to pass 

ambient air over the evaporator to melt 

the ice. This fan operation is more 

energy consumptive than a passive 

defrost approach, but is more effective 

at removing ice, allowing the 

compressor to be reactivated more 

quickly. DOE considers such fan 

operation to be part of dehumidification 

mode, distinct from fan-only mode 

operation wherein the humidity 

setpoint has been reached. 

To investigate the performance and 

efficiency impacts of varying ambient 

temperature conditions, DOE selected a 

test sample of 13 portable dehumidifiers 

spanning a range of manufacturers, 

capacities, and efficiencies. In addition, 

DOE selected one representative wholehome unit for which to assess initial 

impacts of varying temperature. These 

units are listed in Table III.3. DOE 

performed dehumidification mode 

testing on these 14 dehumidifiers at 

three dry-bulb temperatures: (1) 80 °F, 

the temperature currently specified for 

active mode testing according to 

appendix X; (2) 65 °F, the temperature 

required for the low temperature test in 

ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008; and (3) 55 °F, 

the lowest operating setpoint which 

could be met for all test units per 

manufacturer documentation. The 

relative humidity was set at 60 percent 

for all tests. Because these tests focused 

on determining the effect of reduced 

ambient temperature on active mode 

energy use independent of standby 

power considerations, DOE measured 

EF rather than IEF for this test series. 

After testing this range of 

temperatures on the sample of 14 

dehumidifiers and conducting analysis 

which suggests that 65 °F is a 

representative ambient temperature for 


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dehumidifiers generally, DOE 

conducted additional whole-home 

dehumidifier testing to investigate the 

impact of reducing the test temperature 

from 80 °F to 65 °F. DOE selected 13 

more whole-home models for ambient 

temperature and ducted installation 

testing (discussed in section III.B.1.c of 

this document), of which nine units 

were chosen for unducted testing at 

both 80 °F and 65 °F ambient conditions 

to further understand the effects of 

ambient temperature. For the purposes 

of this testing, DOE included in the 

whole-home test sample those units that 

could be optionally ducted or unducted. 

Table III.3 lists the additional wholehome units tested. 

TABLE III.3—DEHUMIDIFIER INVESTIGATIVE TEST SAMPLE

Initial ambient temperature test sample Additional whole-home dehumidifier test sample 

Test unit 

Reported 

capacity 

(pints/day) 

Test unit 

Reported 

capacity 

(pints/day) 

P1 .................................................................................. 30 W1 ............................................................................... 70 

P2 .................................................................................. 40 W2 ............................................................................... 70 

P3 .................................................................................. 40 W3 a ............................................................................. 90 

P4 .................................................................................. 45 W4 a ............................................................................. 90 

P5 .................................................................................. 50 W5 a ............................................................................. 100 

P6 .................................................................................. 50 W6 ............................................................................... 105 

P7 .................................................................................. 50 W7 a ............................................................................. 120 

P8 .................................................................................. 50 W8 a ............................................................................. 120 

P9 .................................................................................. 60 W9 a ............................................................................. 135 

P10 ................................................................................ 65 W10 a ........................................................................... 155 

P11 ................................................................................ 70 W11 ............................................................................. 155 

P12 ................................................................................ 70 W12 a ........................................................................... 200 

P13 ................................................................................ 110 W13 a ........................................................................... 205 

W14 b ............................................................................. 105 

aTested for ambient temperature investigation as well as ducting configuration. 

bTested only for ambient temperature investigation. 

During ambient temperature testing, 

DOE observed that for all test units at 

80 °F, the compressor and fan operated 

continuously for the entire test period. 

At the lower temperatures, certain 

dehumidifiers in the test sample had 

cyclic or intermittent periods of fanonly operation for defrosting or frost 

prevention, with the duration and 

frequency of such periods increasing at 

the lowest temperature (55 °F). 

All dehumidifiers in DOE’s 

investigative test sample performed at 

lower EFs and capacities during lowtemperature investigative tests 

conducted at the 65 °F and 55 °F drybulb temperatures than at the 80 °F 

condition specified in appendix X. 

Because, as discussed above, the 65 °F 

dry-bulb temperature condition appears 

to more accurately reflect actual 

installations than the current test 

procedure ambient temperature 

requirement, the EF and capacity 

measured at this temperature, while 

lower than the values that would be 

measured under the current appendix X, 

should more accurately represent 

dehumidifier performance in the field. 

Table III.4 shows the impacts on 

capacity and EF that were measured by 

reducing the ambient test temperature 

from 80 °F to 65 °F and 55 °F. 

TABLE III.4—PER-UNIT AND PRODUCT CLASS AVERAGE PERFORMANCE IMPACTS AT REDUCED AMBIENT TEMPERATURES

Product class 

(pints/day) Test unit 

Percent change 

in capacity from 80 °F 

(%) 

Percent change 

in EF from 80 °F 

(%) 

65 °F 55 °F 65 °F 55 °F 

<35.00 ............................................... P1 ..................................................... ¥35 ¥74 ¥26 ¥57 

Class Average .................................. ¥35 ¥74 ¥26 ¥57 

35.01–45.00 ...................................... P2 ..................................................... ¥77 ¥91 ¥61 ¥79 

P3 ..................................................... ¥48 ¥73 ¥32 ¥53 

P4 ..................................................... ¥33 ¥69 ¥15 ¥46 

Class Average .................................. ¥53 ¥78 ¥36 ¥59 

45.01–54.00 ...................................... P5 ..................................................... ¥39 ¥91 ¥25 ¥81 

P6 ..................................................... ¥33 ¥78 ¥21 ¥62 

P7 ..................................................... ¥36 ¥76 ¥21 ¥59 

Class Average .................................. ¥36 ¥82 ¥22 ¥67 

54.01–75.00 ...................................... P8 ..................................................... ¥61 ¥78 ¥39 ¥67 

P9 ..................................................... ¥39 ¥86 ¥32 ¥63 

P10 ................................................... ¥65 ¥83 ¥36 ¥60 

P11 ................................................... ¥59 ¥83 ¥35 ¥64 

P12 ................................................... ¥36 ¥81 ¥14 ¥64 

Class Average .................................. ¥52 ¥82 ¥31 ¥63 

>75.00 ............................................... P13 ................................................... ¥27 ¥96 ¥15 ¥90 

W3 .................................................... ¥35 ........................ ¥21 ........................

W4 .................................................... ¥42 ........................ ¥29 ........................

W5 .................................................... ¥49 ........................ ¥26 ........................

W7 .................................................... ¥27 ........................ ¥15 ........................


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 29281 

TABLE III.4—PER-UNIT AND PRODUCT CLASS AVERAGE PERFORMANCE IMPACTS AT REDUCED AMBIENT TEMPERATURES— 

Continued 

Product class 

(pints/day) Test unit 

Percent change 

in capacity from 80 °F 

(%) 

Percent change 

in EF from 80 °F 

(%) 

65 °F 55 °F 65 °F 55 °F 

W8 .................................................... ¥24 ........................ 5 ........................

W9 .................................................... ¥49 ........................ ¥33 ........................

W10 .................................................. ¥20 ........................ ¥4 ........................

W12 .................................................. ¥42 ........................ ¥35 ........................

W13 .................................................. ¥45 ........................ ¥35 ........................

W14 .................................................. ¥39 ¥94 ¥25 ¥80 

Class Average .................................. ¥36 ¥95 ¥21 ¥85 

As shown in Table III.4, DOE testing 

demonstrates a significant percentage 

reduction in both capacity and EF at 

temperatures lower than 80 °F. At 65 °F, 

capacity drops per product class average 

by as much as 53 percent and EF by up 

to 36 percent. DOE notes that at 55 °F, 

the units in the test sample show an 

even greater reduction in capacity and 

EF as the units approach their lowest 

operating temperature and perform 

frequent defrost functions. 

Under DOE’s alternate approach, 

which would combine results from 

testing at 80 °F and 65 °F using a 

weighted average, there would still be a 

significant reduction in capacity and EF, 

as well as IEF when used, because the 

results of the 65 °F test would receive 

a 79-percent weighting in the combined 

calculation. Therefore, a modification in 

the test procedure conditions for 

appendix X1 would likely result in 

significant reductions in measured 

capacity, EF, and IEF under either the 

proposed approach or alternate 

combined calculation. DOE would 

consider the effects of any reduction to 

capacity and active mode energy use 

resulting from the proposed test 

procedure amendments when 

determining appropriate energy 

conservation standards for 

dehumidifiers. 

DOE also numerically estimated 

whole-home dehumidifier performance 

under the alternative proposal for 

testing these units at 73 °F using data 

measured for whole-home units at 80 °F, 

65 °F, and 55 °F ambient temperatures. 

DOE first developed generalized curves 

relating dehumidifier normalized 

capacity and EF (i.e., capacity at the test 

ambient temperature divided by 

capacity measured at 80 °F, and EF at 

the test ambient temperature divided by 

EF measured at 80 °F) to ambient 

temperature, which will define these 

relationships independent of rated 

capacity. DOE determined that the best 

curve fit for both capacity and EF as a 

function of temperature and relative 

humidity is a biquadratic equation, 

which is typically used for HVAC 

equipment. However, since relative 

humidity was held constant at 60 

percent, the biquadratic equations 

reduce to quadratic equations with 

terms that scale with temperature and 

the square of the temperature, in the 

form of f (temperature) = 

[A×(temperature2) + B×(temperature) 

+C]. Using data for capacity and EF 

measured at the three ambient 

temperatures, DOE calculated the 

coefficients for the normalized capacity 

versus temperature function and the 

normalized EF versus temperature 

function. From these coefficients, DOE 

estimated capacity and EF at the 

proposed alternative ambient 

temperature of 73 °F, as shown in Table 

III.5. 

TABLE III.5—ESTIMATED WHOLE-HOME DEHUMIDIFIER PERFORMANCE IMPACT AT 73 °F AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Test unit Dehumidification 

technology 

Capacity 

change 

(%) 

EF Change 

(%) 

W3 .................................................................................................................................... Refrigerant ................. ¥15 ¥6 

W4 .................................................................................................................................... Refrigerant ................. ¥18 ¥9 

W5 .................................................................................................................................... Refrigerant ................. ¥21 ¥8 

W7 .................................................................................................................................... Refrigerant-Desiccant ¥12 ¥5 

W8 .................................................................................................................................... Refrigerant ................. ¥10 2 

W9 .................................................................................................................................... Refrigerant ................. ¥21 ¥10 

W10 .................................................................................................................................. Refrigerant ................. ¥9 ¥1 

W12 .................................................................................................................................. Refrigerant-Desiccant ¥18 ¥11 

W13 .................................................................................................................................. Refrigerant ................. ¥19 ¥11 

Average ............................................................................................................................ .................................... ¥16 ¥7 

Due to the expected effects on 

capacity at the proposed reduced 

ambient temperature in appendix X1, 

DOE also proposes to amend the 

definition of ‘‘product capacity’’ in 

appendix X1 to clarify that it is a 

measure of the amount of moisture 

removed per 24-hour period under the 

specified ambient conditions. For 

consistency and clarity, DOE also 

proposes to similarly amend the 

definition of product capacity in 

appendix X. 

Summary and Request for Comments 

DOE requests comment on its analysis 

of representative ambient conditions 

and the proposal to require 

dehumidification mode testing in 

appendix X1 at 65 °F dry-bulb 

temperature and 56.6 °F wet-bulb 

temperature (i.e., 60-percent relative 

humidity). DOE welcomes input on the 

reductions to active mode energy use 

and capacity that would occur as a 

result of the proposed modifications to 

the test procedure ambient dry-bulb 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
29282 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

13Further information on thermal comfort may be 

found in Appendix F of ASHRAE Standard 55– 

2013. Available for purchase online at 

www.ashrae.org. 

14 ‘‘OSHA Technical Manual,’’ U.S. Department 

of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration, TED 01–00–015, Section III, 

Chapter 2, January 20, 1999. Available online at: 

www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_iii/otm_iii_

2.html#5. 

15A.F. Rudd, J.W. Lstiburek, P. Eng, and K. Ueno. 

‘‘Residential Dehumidification Systems Research 

for Hot-Humid Climates,’’ Conducted by Building 

Science Corporation for the U.S. Department of 

Energy Building Technologies Program, NREL/SR– 

550–36643, February 2005. 

conditions. DOE also welcomes 

comment on the alternate approach of 

conducting dehumidification mode 

testing at both 65 °F and 80 °F ambient 

temperatures, with IEF and capacity 

calculated from the combined results of 

the two tests. For such a combined 

approach, DOE invites input on 

appropriate weighting factors. DOE 

additionally seeks comment on the 

alternate approach for whole-home 

dehumidifiers, in which 

dehumidification mode testing would 

be conducted at 73 °F ambient 

temperature to be representative of 

average residential thermostat settings. 

DOE also seeks comment on the testing 

burden associated with the proposal for 

testing at 65 °F and the alternate 

approaches. 

b. Relative Humidity 

In response to the August 2012 

Framework Document, DOE received 

comments regarding the applicability 

and appropriateness of the relative 

humidity conditions specified in the 

dehumidifier test procedure. The Joint 

Commenters and California IOUs 

expressed concerns regarding the 

current test procedure relative humidity 

conditions, citing several studies and 

other sources of information. These 

interested parties claimed that: 

(1) Adverse health effects, such as 

respiratory infections and allergies, are 

minimized by maintaining ambient 

relative humidity between 40 percent 

and 60 percent. (Joint Commenters, No. 

9 at p. 3) 

(2) While people generally cannot 

sense fluctuations in relative humidity 

levels between 25 percent and 60 

percent, most people can sense when 

the relative humidity rises above 60 

percent. (Id.) 

(3) Units in the Cadmus Group study 

were being operated at a 50-percent 

relative humidity setpoint, lower than 

the 60-percent relative humidity 

ambient condition required in the test 

procedure. (California IOUs, No. 11 at p. 

2; Joint Commenters, No. 9 at p. 3) 

(4) According to the Wisconsin Study, 

nearly half of the basements monitored 

maintained an average relative humidity 

of less than 50 percent during the 

summer months, and only five 

dehumidifiers were being operated in 

relative humidity levels of at least 60 

percent. (Id.) 

The Joint Commenters, ASAP, and 

California IOUs believe that the current 

rating condition of 60-percent relative 

humidity represents the upper bound of 

both recommended levels and levels 

that consumers are likely to select, and 

that a lower relative humidity level for 

the test procedure would likely 

encourage good performance in the field 

where units have to work harder to 

remove moisture at lower relative 

humidity levels. Therefore, these 

commenters urged DOE to change the 

relative humidity level for the portable 

dehumidifier test from 60 percent to a 

lower value. The Joint Commenters also 

recommended that whole-home 

dehumidifier testing be conducted at a 

lower relative humidity level than 60 

percent. (ASAP, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 10 at p. 20; California 

IOUs, No. 11 at pp. 1–3; Joint 

Commenters, No. 9 at pp. 1–5) The 

California IOUs also stated that 

ENERGY STAR suggests that the 

optimum relative humidity level for a 

building is between 30 percent and 50 

percent, which, according to the 

California IOUs, would suggest that 

dehumidifiers are likely to be less 

efficient in real-world operation than in 

their test results. (California IOUs, No. 

11 at p. 2) 

DOE reviewed the studies cited in the 

above comments, and conducted 

additional research on the appropriate 

level of relative humidity for the 

dehumidification mode testing. 

Regarding potential health impacts 

outside a certain range of relative 

humidity, DOE notes that ANSI/

American Society of Heating, 

Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning 

Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 55–2013, 

‘‘Thermal Environmental Conditions for 

Human Occupancy’’ (ASHRAE 55), 

states that that there is an acceptable 

range of indoor relative humidity for 

thermal comfort, with an upper limit of 

0.012 humidity ratio (pounds of water 

divided by pounds of dry air) at 

standard pressure, which corresponds to 

a relative humidity of approximately 55 

percent at a dry-bulb temperature of 

80 °F. At lower dry-bulb temperatures, 

60-percent relative humidity would 

correspond to a humidity ratio below 

the upper comfort limit.13 DOE further 

notes that the Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration (OSHA) 

Technical Manual recommends that 

employers control humidity and 

maintain a range of 20 to 60 percent.14

This information, in aggregate, 

indicates that 60-percent relative 

humidity is a representative upper 

bound for an ambient humidity 

condition that consumers would find 

acceptable. In addition, among the 21 

sampled homes metered in the Cadmus 

Group study, DOE observes that the 

average consumer-selected setpoint was 

for 50-percent relative humidity, with 

values ranging from 35 percent to 65 

percent. However, the average 

dehumidifier setpoint is not 

representative of the average ambient 

relative humidity during 

dehumidification mode, because 

dehumidifiers operate only when the 

ambient air relative humidity is higher 

than the setpoint and shut off 

dehumidification when the controls 

detect that the target relative humidity 

level has been reached. DOE gathered 

information on the actual ambient 

relative humidity during 

dehumidification mode from a metering 

study conducted in 20 homes in 

Houston, Texas, over approximately a 

year for various categories of 

dehumidifiers, both portable and wholehome.15 During this study, the 

homeowners were not required to set a 

specific relative humidity setpoint; it 

was recommended to them, however, to 

maintain a relative humidity of around 

55 percent. The subsequent metering 

found that, in homes with 

dehumidification separate from cooling, 

on average 5 percent of metered hours 

were spent at relative humidity levels 

greater than 60 percent, although three 

out of the 10 units exceeded 60-percent 

relative humidity 15 to 25 percent of the 

time. The Cadmus Group study, 

referenced by ASAP, the California 

IOUs, and the Joint Commenters, also 

observed varying accuracy of humidity 

controls in maintaining the relative 

humidity at the setpoint. In the 

Wisconsin Study of basement relative 

humidity levels, 11 out of 40 

participating sites had daily averages 

that exceeded 60-percent humidity for 

at least 25 percent of the summer 

season, while 16 sites experienced daily 

averages ranging from 50 to 60 percent 

for at least 25 percent of the summer 

season. 

DOE additionally examined 

manufacturer literature for portable 

dehumidifiers to ascertain what default 

relative humidity settings are provided 

by manufacturers. DOE observed that, 

among manufacturers and brands that 

specified to the consumer what the 

initial default relative humidity level is, 

the most common setting was 60 

percent. However, the majority of 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 29283 

portable dehumidifiers are equipped 

with electronic controls and an 

automatic restart feature, in which the 

previous settings are retained when the 

unit is powered off or disconnected 

from the supply power. If portable 

dehumidifiers operate in 

dehumidification mode largely at a 

consumer-selected relative humidity 

setting, that setting, as seen in the 

Cadmus Group study, would be on 

average approximately 50 percent. 

These data characterize the relative 

humidity levels and dehumidifier 

settings experienced in real-world 

dehumidifier installations. While 

dehumidifiers may operate under a 

range of ambient relative humidity 

levels, the average setpoint observed in 

the Cadmus Group study and the 

recommended relative humidity level 

from ASHRAE 55 suggest that 

consumers use dehumidifiers to achieve 

relative humidity levels from 50 to 55 

percent. For a unit to operate in 

dehumidification mode, the ambient 

relative humidity must be higher than 

the setpoint. Therefore, DOE proposes 

that the ambient relative humidity level 

maintained throughout 

dehumidification mode testing remain 

at 60 percent, as specified in ANSI/

AHAM DH–1–2008. 

DOE also notes that each of the three 

different ambient temperature tests in 

ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008, including the 

test at the 65 °F dry-bulb temperature 

that DOE is proposing for appendix X1, 

is conducted at 60-percent relative 

humidity. Maintaining this 60-percent 

relative humidity test condition would 

minimize manufacturer testing burden, 

as manufacturers may already be 

conducting the low-temperature test in 

ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008. For the above 

reasons, DOE is not proposing to amend 

the ambient relative humidity in 

appendix X1. To achieve 60-percent 

relative humidity at the proposed 65 °F 

dry-bulb temperature, the wet-bulb 

temperature would be specified as 

56.6 °F. DOE requests comment on this 

proposed determination to maintain the 

60-percent ambient relative humidity 

requirement. 

c. Ducted Test Installation for WholeHome Dehumidifiers 

This section discusses proposed 

modifications to the dehumidifier test 

setup and additional required 

instrumentation for whole-home 

dehumidifiers. DOE based its proposals 

on research of current industry practices 

for testing ducted air treatment devices 

and investigative testing of 13 wholehome dehumidifiers under various 

testing configurations. 

As discussed in section III.A of this 

document, whole-home dehumidifiers 

are intended to be installed and 

operated as part of a ducted air-delivery 

system. These units are designed with 

standard-size collars to interface with 

the home’s HVAC ducting, and typically 

require two ducts for the process air 

stream: a supply air intake for return air 

from the dehumidified space and an air 

outlet for delivery of the dehumidified 

air to the same space. Certain wholehome dehumidifiers also provide an 

option to connect an additional fresh air 

duct to the inlet to dilute indoor 

pollutants and maintain high oxygen 

content in the air. The amount of fresh 

air ventilation can be regulated by a 

variety of dampers and controls. In 

addition, some whole-home 

dehumidifiers are designed to operate 

attached to multiple outlet ducts to 

allow for the distribution of dry air to 

multiple rooms or multiple sections in 

a home’s air delivery system. 

The California IOUs expressed 

concern that the existing test procedure 

is not appropriate for measuring the 

efficiency of whole-home units and 

requested that DOE consider a modified 

test procedure for these units. 

(California IOUs, No. 11 at p. 4) 

The test setup currently provided in 

appendix X for dehumidification mode 

testing does not specify the attachment 

of ducting to the inlet or outlet of the 

unit. The ducting in a typical 

installation imposes an external static 

pressure (ESP) which reduces airflow 

and affects the capacity and efficiency. 

To evaluate these impacts as a function 

of ducting configurations, DOE 

conducted investigative 

dehumidification mode testing on a 

sample of 13 whole-home 

dehumidifiers, including the two 

refrigerant-desiccant units. Table III.6 

provides characteristics of the units 

selected for investigative testing. All 

units were first tested according to 

appendix X to establish baseline 

unducted performance. DOE 

subsequently conducted additional 

investigative testing to determine the 

potential impacts of modifying the 

appendix X conditions to measure 

whole-home dehumidifier performance 

in a ducted installation. 

TABLE III.6—DOE WHOLE-HOME DEHUMIDIFIER INVESTIGATIVE TEST SAMPLE

Sample No. Duct collar configuration Dehumidifier technology Rated capacity 

(pint/day) 

Rated EF 

(L/kWh) 

W1 ............................ Single Outlet .............................................. Refrigerant ................................................. 70 2.37 

W2 ............................ Single Outlet .............................................. Refrigerant ................................................. 70 2.37 

W3 ............................ Single Outlet .............................................. Refrigerant ................................................. 90 2.50 

W4 ............................ Single Outlet .............................................. Refrigerant ................................................. 90 2.53 

W5 ............................ Single Outlet .............................................. Refrigerant ................................................. 100 2.60 

W6 ............................ Dual Outlet ................................................ Refrigerant ................................................. 105 4.20 

W7 ............................ Dual Airstreams ......................................... Refrigerant-Desiccant ................................ 120 3.30 

W8 ............................ Single Outlet .............................................. Refrigerant ................................................. 120 2.70 

W9 ............................ Single Outlet .............................................. Refrigerant ................................................. 135 1.80 

W10 .......................... Single Outlet .............................................. Refrigerant ................................................. 155 3.50 

W11 .......................... Dual Outlet ................................................ Refrigerant ................................................. 155 3.50 

W12 .......................... Dual Airstreams ......................................... Refrigerant-Desiccant ................................ 200 2.47 

W13 .......................... Single Outlet .............................................. Refrigerant ................................................. 205 2.70 

Ratings are based on testing according to appendix X. 

Refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers 

also incorporate the supply air intake 

and dehumidified air outlet for the 

process air stream, but have additional 

intake and outlet ducts for the 

reactivation air. The reactivation air is 

drawn from and discharged to a location 

outside of the dehumidified space, 

typically outdoors. 

For clarity, DOE proposes in this 

NOPR to adopt the following definitions 

for ‘‘reactivation air’’ in appendix X1: 

Reactivation air: The air drawn from 

unconditioned space to remove 

moisture from the desiccant wheel of a 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifier and 

discharged to unconditioned space. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
29284 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

16 ‘‘Laboratory Test Report for Six ENERGY STAR 

Dehumidifiers.’’ National Renewable Energy 

Laboratory. NREL/TP–5500–52791, December 2011. 

Available online at www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/

52791.pdf 

Capacity Measurement for RefrigerantDesiccant Dehumidifiers 

Product capacity represents the 

amount of moisture a dehumidifier 

would remove in a 24-hour period of 

operation at the specified ambient 

conditions. Appendix X’s current 

capacity measurement methodology 

involves weighing the amount of water 

collected during the 6-hour 

dehumidification mode test and 

adjusting the recorded weight to 

account for slight variations from 

nominal ambient temperature, relative 

humidity, and barometric pressure. This 

value is then multiplied by 24 and 

divided by the test duration in hours to 

determine the pints of moisture that 

would be removed per day. 

The majority of whole-home 

dehumidifiers rely solely on a 

refrigeration system to remove moisture, 

for which capacity can be accurately 

measured by the current appendix X 

methodology, and thus DOE proposes to 

retain this methodology for whole-home 

dehumidifiers other than refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers. Refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers, however, use 

both a refrigeration system to remove 

some moisture from the process air (in 

liquid form) and a desiccant wheel to 

remove additional moisture from the 

process air by transferring it (in vapor 

form) to the reactivation airstream. 

To address refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers, DOE developed a 

capacity calculation that determines the 

mass of moisture removed from the 

process airstream using the difference in 

psychrometric properties between the 

inlet and outlet air streams. Specifically, 

the measured dry-bulb temperature and 

relative humidity are used to determine 

the absolute humidity at both locations 

in pounds of water per cubic foot of dry 

air. The absolute humidity is then 

multiplied by the volumetric flow rate, 

measured in cubic feet per minute, to 

determine the process air inlet and 

outlet moisture flow rates, measured in 

pounds of water per minute. The 

difference between the inlet and outlet 

moisture flow rates determines the 

amount of moisture the unit under test 

removes from the process air. Unlike the 

current condensate collection capacity 

method, DOE believes that the proposed 

vapor capacity calculation method 

would accurately account for the total 

moisture that refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers remove from the process 

airstream. 

DOE applied the vapor capacity 

calculation method to the whole-home 

dehumidifiers in its investigative 

sample to compare it to the method of 

determining capacity from condensate 

collection, as well as to understand the 

relative contributions of condensation 

and desiccant moisture removal for 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers. 

Nine whole-home units, including two 

refrigerant-desiccant units, were tested 

in this investigation at 65 °F dry-bulb 

ambient temperature, 60-percent 

relative humidity, and 0.5 inches of 

water column (in. w.c.) ESP. Six of the 

seven refrigeration-based samples in 

Table III.7 demonstrate close correlation 

between the vapor and condensate 

methods, validating the vapor capacity 

calculation method. 

TABLE III.7—COMPARISON OF CONDENSATE COLLECTION AND VAPOR CALCULATION CAPACITY METHODS

Test 

unit 

Dehumidification 

technology 

Compressor 

operation 

Capacity (pints/day) Energy factor (L/kWh) 

Condensate 

capacity 

Vapor 

capacity 

Difference 

(%) 

Condensate 

capacity 

Vapor 

capacity 

Difference 

(%) 

W3 ..... Refrigerant ....................... Continuous ......... 53 52 ¥2 1.59 1.57 ¥1 

W4 ..... Refrigerant ....................... Continuous ......... 53 51 ¥4 1.43 1.38 ¥4 

W5 ..... Refrigerant ....................... Cycling ............... 49 68 39 1.89 2.66 40 

W7 ..... Refrigerant-Desiccant ...... Continuous ......... 42 84 100 1.08 2.18 101 

W8 ..... Refrigerant ....................... Continuous ......... 58 55 ¥4 1.44 1.37 ¥4 

W9 ..... Refrigerant ....................... Continuous ......... 71 71 ¥1 1.10 1.09 ¥1 

W10 ... Refrigerant ....................... Continuous ......... 109 113 3 2.82 2.85 1 

W12 ... Refrigerant-Desiccant ...... Continuous ......... 70 99 41 0.75 1.11 48 

W13 ... Refrigerant ....................... Continuous ......... 108 104 ¥4 1.68 1.63 ¥3 

One refrigerant-based unit, W5, 

demonstrates poor correlation between 

capacity calculation methods, but this 

unit was the only whole-home 

dehumidifier in DOE’s sample that 

cycled the compressor during testing 

under these conditions. This may 

indicate accumulation of ice on the 

evaporator over the duration of the test, 

a condition for which the condensate 

collection method does not account. 

The two refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers have capacities measured 

by the vapor method that exceed the 

capacities determined from the 

condensate collection method by 41 

percent and 100 percent, suggesting that 

these refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers remove approximately 

one-third or more of the total moisture 

removed by means of the desiccant. 

Therefore, DOE proposes that appendix 

X1 require that refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers use the vapor calculation 

to determine tested capacity to most 

accurately measure the total amount of 

moisture removed from the process air. 

Duct Configuration 

DOE reviewed research conducted for 

whole-home dehumidifiers to gain 

insight on possible ducting 

configurations, and noted that NREL’s 

research on ENERGY STAR 

dehumidifiers 16 included testing of 

ducted whole-home dehumidifiers 

under inlet air conditions ranging from 

60 °F to 98 °F dry-bulb temperature and 

25-percent to 90-percent relative 

humidity. In its testing, NREL attached 

inlet and outlet ducts to the supply and 

return ducts of its laboratory airhandling system. The ducts 

incorporated laminar flow elements to 

measure volumetric flow rates, chilled 

mirror hygrometers to measure dew 

point temperatures, and thermocouple 

arrays to measure dry bulb 

temperatures. 

To aid in developing detailed 

specifications for instrumented ducts, 

DOE reviewed the test procedure issued 

by the Air Movement and Control 

Association International, Inc. (AMCA), 

in association with ANSI and 

ASHRAE—ANSI/ASHRAE 51–2007/

ANSI/AMCA 210–07, ‘‘Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Fans for Certified 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 29285 

Aerodynamic Performance Rating’’ 

(ANSI/AMCA 210). The duct 

requirements specified in ANSI/AMCA 

210 would allow for the accurate 

measurement of psychrometric and 

volumetric flow properties of the air 

entering and exiting a whole-home 

dehumidifier under test. 

DOE proposes in this document to 

adopt in appendix X1 certain provisions 

regarding fresh air inlets, process air 

inlet and outlet ducts, test duct 

specifications, transition sections, and 

flow straighteners specified in ANSI/

AMCA 210 for testing whole-home 

dehumidifiers. 

1. Fresh Air Inlets 

As discussed previously, fresh air 

from the exterior of a home may be 

directed to a second inlet on some 

whole-home dehumidifiers to improve 

the quality of the dehumidified air. 

However, DOE is not aware of 

information on the percentage of wholehome dehumidifiers equipped with this 

fresh air ducting option. DOE tentatively 

concludes that the added test burden of 

accounting for a second inlet duct with 

air flow that may be at a different 

temperature and humidity than the 

process air inlet temperature would be 

significant. Therefore, DOE proposes to 

require in appendix X1 that any fresh 

air collars be capped closed and sealed 

with tape during testing. 

To investigate performance impacts of 

sealing the fresh air inlet and supplying 

all inlet air through the process air inlet 

duct, DOE tested five whole-home units 

with and without the fresh air inlet 

capped at 65 °F dry-bulb temperature, 

60-percent relative humidity, and an 

ESP of 0.5 inches of water column 

(which, as discussed later in this 

section, was determined to be the most 

representative of whole-home 

dehumidifier installations). Table III.8 

below contains the results of this series 

of testing. 

TABLE III.8—IMPACT OF FRESH AIR CONNECTION ON WHOLE-HOME DEHUMIDIFIER PERFORMANCE AT 65 °F 

Sample number 

Capacity 

(pints/day) 

Energy Factor 

(L/kWh) 

No fresh air With fresh 

air 

Performance 

impact 

(%) 

No fresh air With fresh 

air 

Performance 

impact 

(%) 

3 ............................................................................... 53 54 2 1.59 1.63 3 

5 ............................................................................... 49 49 1 1.89 1.98 5 

8 ............................................................................... 58 60 4 1.44 1.50 5 

10 ............................................................................. 109 114 4 2.82 2.91 3 

13 ............................................................................. 108 113 5 1.68 1.75 4 

Average .................................................................... .................... .................... 3 .................... .................... 4 

Based on these data, DOE tentatively 

determined that using the fresh air inlet 

at the ambient conditions proposed by 

this document has a slight positive 

impact on measured capacity and EF, 

less than or equal to 5 percent for all 

five test units. However, given the lack 

of information regarding consumer use 

of the fresh air ducting, DOE tentatively 

concludes that the impact is not 

significant enough to warrant the added 

test burden of providing separate fresh 

air inlet flow; therefore, DOE maintains 

its proposal that any fresh air inlet on 

a whole-home dehumidifier be capped 

and sealed during testing. DOE 

welcomes comment on this proposal, in 

particular on the burden associated with 

testing whole-home dehumidifiers with 

separate fresh air inlet flow, the 

representative ambient conditions for 

such fresh air supply, and the 

percentage of units in the field that 

incorporate the fresh air supply. 

2. Process Air Inlet and Outlet Ducts 

As a further means of reducing testing 

burden, DOE investigated the effects of 

dehumidification mode testing for 

refrigeration-based whole-home units 

using ducting only on the process air 

outlet, rather than both the inlet and 

outlet of the process airstream. The 

appropriate ESP would be achieved 

through flow restriction in the outlet 

test duct while inlet psychrometric 

conditions would be maintained by 

controlling the test chamber. DOE 

assessed this option by comparing data 

for a representative 70 pints/day unit 

with both inlet and outlet ducts 

attached and with only the outlet duct 

in place. Table III.9 contains the results 

of these tests, along with a numerical 

extrapolation to approximate the 

capacity and EF impacts at the proposed 

ESP of 0.5 in. w.c. 

TABLE III.9—IMPACT OF WHOLE-HOME DEHUMIDIFIER TESTING WITH ONLY AN OUTLET DUCT

ESP ** 

(in. w.c.) 

Capacity (pints/day) Energy Factor (L/kWh) 

Inlet and outlet 

ducts 

Outlet duct 

only 

Percent impact 

(%) 

Inlet and outlet 

ducts 

Outlet duct 

only 

Percent impact 

(%) 

0.01 .......................................................... 75 77 2.7 2.39 2.40 0.3 

0.11 .......................................................... 73 74 1.2 2.25 2.31 2.4 

0.19 .......................................................... 71 73 4.1 2.15 2.26 5.0 

0.50 * ........................................................ 63 66 6.0 1.73 2.01 16.0 

* Results at this ESP are a numerical extrapolation. 

** These tests were conducted at ESPs of up to 0.19 in. w.c. at 80 °F and at 60-percent relative humidity. 

While the data suggest that a 

performance improvement may be 

achieved by removing the inlet test duct 

at an ESP of 0.5 in. w.c. and an ambient 

temperature of 80 °F, DOE notes that 

these data are limited and that there is 

uncertainty associated with these 

extrapolated results. DOE also notes that 

requiring both inlet and outlet test ducts 

would represent a significant burden to 

manufacturers and test laboratories that 

may not have testing facilities large 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
29286 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

enough to accommodate the total length 

of ducting. Therefore, DOE proposes in 

this document that whole-home 

dehumidifiers, other than refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers, would be 

tested under appendix X1 with only 

outlet ducting in place. Refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers would require 

an inlet and outlet duct for the process 

airstream, but may use only an inlet 

duct for the reactivation airstream. The 

inlet and outlet ducts attached to the 

process airstream would contain the 

instrumentation necessary for the 

proposed capacity calculation for 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers 

discussed previously. The inlet duct 

attached to the reactivation airstream 

would provide consistent means for 

measuring the inlet psychrometric 

conditions of both airstreams. DOE 

seeks comment and information on 

these proposed ducting requirements 

and may accordingly consider requiring 

both inlet and outlet ducts for all wholehome dehumidifiers. 

3. Test Duct Specifications 

ANSI/AMCA 210 includes various 

configurations of ducting that may be 

attached to equipment under test for 

measuring air flow characteristics. Upon 

review of these configurations, DOE 

determined that Figures 7A and 16 of 

ANSI/AMCA 210 would be the simplest 

and most relevant to whole-home 

dehumidifier testing. Other duct 

configurations specified in ANSI/AMCA 

210 require chambers or nozzles to 

simulate the conditions a unit may 

experience during operation. However, 

DOE tentatively concluded that the 

equipment specified in Figures 7A and 

16 of ANSI/AMCA 210 provide 

conditions representative of normal 

operation while requiring the fewest 

components. Therefore, DOE proposes 

to determine the lengths of the inlet and 

outlet ducts used for whole-house 

dehumidifier testing according to the 

dimensions provided in these figures, 

which specify duct lengths as a function 

of duct diameter. Because DOE’s review 

of current products indicates that the 

majority of whole-home dehumidifiers 

connect to ducting via circular collars 

with a diameter of 10 inches, DOE 

proposes to require in appendix X1 that 

10-inch diameter inlet and outlet ducts 

be used, with duct lengths and 

instrumentation spacing specified based 

on calculations using this diameter. 

The material used for ducting can 

impact the transfer of heat and moisture 

through duct walls, and may include 

galvanized mild steel, polyurethane 

panels, fiberglass duct board, flexible 

plastics, and fabric ducting. Because 

galvanized mild steel ducts are 

commonly used in HVAC applications 

and are not affected by moisture, DOE 

proposes to require this material for the 

ducting specified in appendix X1. DOE 

further proposes to limit heat transfer by 

requiring that the ducts be insulated 

using insulation with a minimum R 

value of 6, with all seams and edges 

sealed with tape. 

4. Transition Sections 

DOE is aware of whole-home 

dehumidifiers equipped with circular 

collars with diameters other than 10 

inches, such as 8 or 12 inches. DOE’s 

research also determined that at least 

one refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifier 

has rectangular collars. To 

accommodate such designs, DOE 

proposes to require that transition 

pieces be used to connect these collars 

to the test ducts. To minimize 

turbulence caused by transition pieces, 

DOE proposes to require that the pieces 

have a maximum divergent angle of 3.5 

degrees and a maximum convergent 

angle of 7.5 degrees, in accordance with 

the requirements in section 5.2.1.3, 

Transition Pieces, of ANSI/AMCA 210. 

5. Flow Straighteners 

To provide consistent and repeatable 

results, the air flow must be laminar 

upstream of sensors and inlets. DOE 

first examined the length of 10-inch 

diameter ducting that would be required 

to achieve laminar, fully-developed 

flow, based on the Reynolds number 

(Re) of the duct: 

Where: 

D is the diameter of the duct; 

v is the mean velocity of the fluid; 

r is the density of the fluid; and 

m is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid. 

For the units within its test sample, 

DOE used the range of volumetric flow 

rates (approximately 200 to 400 cubic 

feet per minute) in the above equation 

to determine the range of Re. For Re 

greater than 4000, as calculated for units 

within the test sample, the calculation 

for the effective duct length required for 

fully developed flow is: 

Effective Length = 4.4Re1/6

From this equation, DOE determined 

that a minimum duct length of 20 feet 

would be required to ensure fully 

developed laminar flow, a length that 

DOE concludes is burdensome based on 

associated test chamber size 

requirements. Instead, DOE proposes to 

require in appendix X1 the use of celltype air flow straighteners in test ducts. 

The flow straightener dimensions would 

be specified according to section 5.2.1.6, 

Airflow Straightener, of ANSI/AMCA 

210. DOE also proposes that flow 

straighteners be located as specified by 

Figures 7A and 16 of ANSI/AMCA 210. 

Specifically, the downstream face of an 

inlet duct flow straightener would be 

located a distance upstream of the test 

unit’s inlet collar or any transition 

section equal to 6.5 times the diameter 

of the duct and the downstream face of 

an outlet duct flow straightener would 

be located a distance downstream of the 

unit’s outlet collar or any transition 

section equal to 3.5 times the diameter 

of the duct. 

Instrumentation 

The following sections discuss the 

proposed instrumentation for the ducts 

that would be attached to whole-home 

dehumidifiers during testing. 

1. Instrumentation for Measuring DryBulb Temperature 

Appendix X currently requires 

measurement of the dry-bulb and wetbulb temperatures to ensure that the 

appropriate ambient relative humidity is 

maintained in the test chamber near the 

inlet of the dehumidifier under test. 

These provisions do not allow for 

measuring psychrometric conditions 

within the ducting attached to wholehome dehumidifiers. Therefore, DOE 

considered instrumentation 

specifications and installation 

requirements for whole-home 

dehumidifier testing. 

For whole-home dehumidifiers other 

than refrigerant-desiccant units, no inlet 

duct would be attached according to 

this proposal, and therefore DOE 

proposes for these dehumidifiers to 

require the same instrumentation and 

equipment setup for measuring ambient 

conditions near the process air inlet as 

for portable dehumidifiers. 

For dry-bulb temperature sensing 

within the process air inlet and outlet 

ducts and the reactivation air inlet duct 

for refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers, 

DOE proposes in appendix X1 to 

reference section 5.3.5, Centers of 

Segments—Grids, of ASHRAE Standard 

41.1–2013, ‘‘Standard Method for 

Temperature Measurement,’’ which 

DOE considers to be an industryaccepted approach for temperature 

measurements in ducted air flow. These 

provisions would require that 

temperature measurements be made 

using an array of temperature sensors at 

different locations on the same crosssectional plane. The locations of the 

individual sensors at that plane would 

be determined by dividing the plane 

into at least four segments of equal area. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2EP21MY14.001</GPH>
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 29287 

17The cooled surface within chilled mirror 

hygrometers may be achieved thermoelectrically, 

mechanically, or chemically. 

18Center for Energy and Environment Comment 

on Energy Conservation Standards for Residential 

Furnace Fans, July 27, 2010. Docket No. EERE– 

2010–BT–STD–0011, Comment Number 22. 

A sensor would then be placed at the 

center of each of these segments. 

ANSI/AMCA 210 specifies that 

temperature be measured at positions 

that are a distance upstream of the test 

unit’s inlet collar and any transition 

section equal to half the diameter of the 

duct and a distance downstream of the 

unit’s outlet collar and any transition 

section equal to 9.5 times the diameter 

of the duct. Temperature measurements 

at these locations within the ducting 

would provide accurate measurement of 

dry-bulb temperatures. Based on DOE’s 

proposed specification of 10-inch 

diameter ducting, DOE proposes in this 

document to require temperature 

measuring instruments to be located 5 

inches upstream of the inlet collar, 

where such ducting is used, and 95 

inches downstream of the outlet collar. 

2. Instrumentation for Measuring 

Relative Humidity 

As noted previously, testing of wholehome dehumidifiers other than 

refrigerant-desiccant units would 

specify the same provisions for 

measuring ambient conditions near the 

process air inlet as for portable 

dehumidifiers. For refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers, however, the vapor 

calculation method for capacity 

measurement would require 

measurement of the relative humidity in 

the process air inlet and outlet ducts. In 

addition, relative humidity would be 

measured in the reactivation air inlet 

duct for these units. 

For calculating relative humidity, 

DOE considered: (1) A cooled surface 

condensation hygrometer that measures 

dew-point temperature, which can be 

used in conjunction with dry-bulb 

temperature to determine relative 

humidity; and (2) an aspirating 

psychrometer that measures wet-bulb 

temperature. Chilled mirror hygrometers 

incorporate a cooled surface 17 that 

allows moisture to condense on the 

surface. The condensate surface is 

maintained electronically in vapor 

pressure equilibrium with the 

surrounding gas, while surface 

condensation is detected 

optoelectronically. The measured 

surface temperature is the dew-point 

temperature. Typical industrial versions 

of the instrument may be as accurate as 

±0.2 °C (±0.36 °F), corresponding to ±2- 

percent relative humidity at 65 °F drybulb temperature and nominal 60- 

percent relative humidity. However, 

these instruments are costly and require 

a skilled operator, frequent cleaning, 

and regular calibration. 

An aspirating psychrometer consists 

of two electrical or mechanical 

temperature sensors, one of which is dry 

to measure dry-bulb temperature and 

the other of which is wetted via a sock 

or wick to measure wet-bulb 

temperature. Evaporation of the water 

cools the wet-bulb sensor, with the 

evaporation rate dependent on the 

relative humidity of the air. A suction 

fan operating at a low flow rate provides 

ventilation of the sensors. An aspirating 

psychrometer is already required in the 

appendix X test procedure for unducted 

testing. Therefore, the dehumidifier 

industry is already familiar with this 

type of sensor. In addition, their 

simplicity and relatively low cost make 

aspirating psychrometers a favorable 

option for testing. Typical aspirating 

psychrometers have an accuracy of ±2 

percent relative humidity, but higher 

accuracy versions are capable of 

achieving ±1 percent relative humidity. 

DOE concludes that this higheraccuracy aspirating psychrometer would 

provide a means for measuring relative 

humidity at a lower testing burden than 

a chilled mirror hygrometer, and 

therefore proposes to specify in 

appendix X1 that relative humidity be 

measured in the ducting used for wholehome dehumidifier testing using an 

aspirating psychrometer with an 

accuracy of at least ±1 percent relative 

humidity. Such psychrometers are 

likely being used already by testing 

laboratories for dehumidifier testing 

under appendix X, because the 

temperature accuracy requirements in 

ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008 correspond to 

approximately ±1 percent relative 

humidity accuracy at the nominal 

ambient dry-bulb and wet-bulb 

temperatures. Therefore, DOE concludes 

that testing laboratories currently 

conducting dehumidifier testing already 

have the aspirating psychrometers 

proposed to be used for whole-home 

dehumidifier testing in a ducted 

configuration. DOE acknowledges that 

alternating this sensor between the test 

configuration of portable and wholehome dehumidifiers would require 

additional sensor calibration. 

Manufacturers and testing facilities may 

elect to purchase additional aspirating 

psychrometers to eliminate the need to 

recalibrate between switching test 

configurations. DOE proposes to require 

in appendix X1 that the relative 

humidity within test ducts be measured 

using an aspirating psychrometer with 

an accuracy within ±1 percent relative 

humidity. DOE also proposes that the 

aspirating psychrometer be placed at the 

duct’s geometric centerline within 1 

inch of the dry-bulb temperature 

measurement plane. 

3. Instrumentation for Measuring 

External Static Pressure (ESP) 

Frictional forces and head losses due 

to the air flowing in the ducting lead to 

an ESP that is imposed on the wholehome dehumidifier. As duct length and 

the number of elbows and other flow 

restrictions increases, the ESP increases 

as well. In a recent supplemental notice 

of proposed rulemaking for test 

procedures for residential furnace fans, 

DOE has proposed to define ESP as the 

difference in static pressure measured in 

the outlet and return air duct during 

testing. 78 FR 19606, 19618 (Apr. 2, 

2013). For consistency with these 

testing procedures, DOE proposes to 

establish the following analogous 

definition for ESP for whole-home 

dehumidifier testing in appendix X1: 

External static pressure (ESP): The 

process air outlet static pressure minus 

the process air inlet static pressure, 

measured in inches of water column (in. 

w.c.). 

As discussed previously, ESP would 

be calculated by subtracting pressures 

losses between the dehumidifier and 

both static pressure tap locations from 

the measured static pressure 

differential. The blower within a wholehome dehumidifier must overcome this 

ESP to move air throughout a home’s air 

delivery system. As ESP increases, the 

flow rate a blower can achieve at a 

particular rotational speed decreases, 

which also decreases moisture removal 

capacity. Therefore, DOE proposes that 

ducted dehumidifier testing in appendix 

X1 be conducted at an ESP 

representative of typical residential 

installations. DOE reviewed several 

sources of information to determine the 

appropriate ESP. 

DOE’s review of whole-home 

dehumidifier product literature revealed 

that rated volumetric air flow rate in 

cubic feet per minute (CFM) is typically 

provided at ESP values ranging from 0.4 

to 0.8 in. w.c., as well as at zero ESP. 

Manufacturers likely provide the former 

range of values to characterize 

performance under conditions 

representative of actual installations. In 

addition, the Center for Energy and 

Environment (CEE) researched the 

feasibility of a residential furnace fan 

retrofit program, monitoring 81 

Minnesota home air delivery systems 

during the heating season.18 This study 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
29288 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

found that the average ESP of these duct 

systems was 0.55 in. w.c. In addition, 

the median ESP fell between 0.45 and 

0.55 in. w.c. For furnace fans designed 

to be installed in systems with an 

internal evaporator coil, DOE’s analysis 

for the furnace fan test procedure 

indicated that a representative 

weighted-average ESP would be 0.50 in. 

w.c. 78 FR 19606, 19608 (Apr. 2, 2013). 

Based on this information, DOE 

tentatively concluded that an ESP of 0.5 

in. w.c. would, on average, represent the 

static pressure conditions found in a 

ducted whole-home dehumidifier 

installed in a typical home. DOE also 

notes that a test condition tolerance of 

0.02 in. w.c. on ESP is established in 

appendix M to 10 CFR Part 430 subpart 

B for testing the energy consumption of 

central air conditioners and heat pumps. 

DOE proposes to adopt this same 

tolerance for average ESP throughout 

whole-home dehumidifier testing to 

maintain consistency with other 

covered products installed in similar 

ducting and with accepted industry 

requirements. Therefore, DOE proposes 

to require in appendix X1 that an ESP 

of 0.5 ± 0.02 in. w.c. be maintained 

during the dehumidification mode 

testing of whole-home dehumidifiers. 

To obtain the proposed nominal ESP of 

0.5 in. w.c., DOE also proposes in this 

document to require that outlet test 

ducts contain mechanical throttling 

devices to adjust the ESP. 

For nine whole-home units in its 

sample, DOE quantified the impacts of 

variations in ESP on capacity and EF at 

a process air inlet temperature of 65 °F, 

as shown in Table III.10. 

TABLE III.10—IMPACT OF VARYING ESP ON WHOLE-HOME DEHUMIDIFIER PERFORMANCE AT 65 °F 

Test unit 

Capacity (pints/day) Energy Factor (L/kWh) 

0 in. 

w.c. 

0.25 in. 

w.c. 

0.5 in. 

w.c. 

0.75 in. 

w.c. 

1 in. 

w.c. 

0 in. 

w.c. 

0.25 in. 

w.c. 

0.5 in. 

w.c. 

0.75 in. 

w.c. 

1 in. 

w.c. 

W3 .................................................................... 63 ............ 53 ............ ............ 1 .91 ............ 1 .59 ............ ............

W4 .................................................................... 56 54 53 49 23 1 .5 1.48 1 .43 1.31 0 .43 

W5 .................................................................... 66 ............ 49 ............ ............ 2 .31 ............ 1 .89 ............ ............

W8 .................................................................... 82 73 58 0 0 2 .42 2.02 1 .44 ............ ............

W9 .................................................................... 77 75 71 68 68 1 .18 1.13 1 .1 1.05 1 

W7 .................................................................... 107 98 84 ............ ............ 2 .76 2.55 2 .18 ............ ............

W10 .................................................................. 120 ............ 109 ............ ............ 3 .16 ............ 2 .82 ............ ............

W12 .................................................................. 112 105 99 ............ ............ 1 .28 1.18 1 .11 ............ ............

W13 .................................................................. 125 ............ 108 ............ ............ 1 .94 ............ 1 .68 ............ ............

Compared to an ESP of 0 in. w.c., 

DOE’s proposed test condition of 0.5 in. 

w.c. decreased the capacity of the 

models in DOE’s sample by an average 

of 17 percent and decreased the EF by 

an average of 18 percent at 65 °F 

ambient temperature. Impacts for 

individual units ranged from 2 to 33 

percent for capacity and 2 to 42 percent 

for EF. 

DOE proposes to measure ESP as the 

difference between the inlet and outlet 

static pressures. If either inlet or outlet 

ducting is not required by the test 

procedure, the ambient static pressure 

of 0 in. w.c. shall be used to determine 

ESP. When ducting is required, the duct 

locations would be consistent with 

those specified in Figure 7A and Figure 

15 of ANSI/AMCA 210, corrected to 

account for pressure losses between the 

measurement locations and the 

dehumidifier. Specifically, the static 

pressure differential would be measured 

between a location at a distance 

upstream of the test unit’s process air 

inlet port or any transition section equal 

to 1.5 times the diameter of the duct and 

a location at a distance downstream of 

the unit’s process air outlet port or any 

transition section equal to 8.5 times the 

diameter of the duct. DOE also proposes 

to reference in appendix X1 the 

provisions in section 7.5.2, Pressure 

Losses, of ANSI/AMCA 210 that specify 

how duct pressure losses between the 

unit under test and the plane of each 

static pressure measurement would be 

calculated. These duct pressure losses 

would be subtracted from the measured 

static pressure differential at the inlet 

and outlet measurement locations. 

ANSI/AMCA 210 also provides an 

option for measuring static pressure in 

a duct using traverses of pitot-static 

tubes. Accordingly, DOE proposes to 

specify in appendix X1 the pitot-static 

tube construction in accordance with 

section 4.2.2, Pitot-Static Tube, of ANSI/ 

AMCA 210, and the arrangement of 

pitot-static tubes in each traverse across 

the plane of the duct according to 

section 4.3.1, Pitot Traverse, of ANSI/

AMCA 210. DOE further proposes that 

the static pressure at each point in a 

traverse would be measured at the static 

tap of the corresponding pitot-static 

tube, and these measurements would be 

averaged to calculate the static pressure 

at that location in the duct. 

DOE considered the appropriate 

accuracy for the pressure sensing 

instruments used to measure ESP. 

Section 4.2.1, Manometers and Other 

Pressure Indicating Instruments, of 

ANSI/AMCA 210 specifies a pressure 

measurement instrument with a 

maximum allowable uncertainty of 1 

percent of the maximum observed 

reading during the test or 0.005 in. w.c., 

whichever is larger. At the nominal test 

condition of 0.5 in. w.c. ESP, the 

maximum allowable uncertainty would 

be 0.005 in. w.c. DOE also observes that 

section 5.3.2 of the ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 37–2009, ‘‘Methods of Testing 

for Rating Electrically Driven Unitary 

Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump 

Equipment’’ (ANSI/ASHRAE 37), 

specifies that duct static pressures be 

measured with instruments that have an 

accuracy of ±0.01 in. w.c. This accuracy 

is identical to the differential pressure 

instrument accuracy requirements for 

testing central air conditioners and heat 

pumps according to section 2.5.3, 

Indoor Coil Static Pressure Difference 

Measurement, of DOE’s test procedure 

for these products (appendix M to 

subpart B). Section 2.5.3 of appendix M 

also specifies that the differential 

pressure instrument shall have a 

resolution of no more than 0.01 in. w.c. 

DOE tentatively concludes that, for the 

ESP proposed for whole-home 

dehumidifier testing in this document, 

the pressure measurement specifications 

from ANSI/AMCA 210 could present a 

burden for those manufacturers that 

currently test central air conditioners in 

their testing facilities, and that the 

accuracy and resolution specified in 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 37 would both 

be feasible for test facilities and produce 

repeatable and reproducible results. 

Therefore, DOE proposes in appendix 

X1 that the pressure instrument used to 

measure the ESP shall have an accuracy 

within ±0.01 in. w.c. and a resolution of 

no more than 0.01 in. w.c. DOE 

welcomes comment and information on 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 29289 

19 ‘‘Velocity pressure’’ is defined in section 3.1.17 

of ANSI/AMCA 210 as the ‘‘portion of air pressure 

that exists by virtue of the rate of motion of the air.’’ 

20The docket for the rulemaking for the October 

2013 NOPR may be found online at: 

www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE2013-BT-TP-0044. 

the appropriate pressure measuring 

instrument specifications. 

4. Instrumentation for Measuring 

Volumetric Air Flow Rate 

DOE proposes in appendix X1 that the 

volumetric air flow rate in ducts 

attached to the inlet and outlet of the 

process air of a refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifier would be calculated using 

duct diameter, dry-bulb temperature, 

and velocity pressure 19 measurements, 

using the methods for measuring air 

flow rates at test conditions specified in 

section 7.3.1, Velocity Traverse, of 

ANSI/AMCA 210. Average velocity 

pressures would be determined using 

the same traverses of pitot-static tubes 

in the process air inlet and outlet ducts 

as discussed above for measuring ESP. 

In addition, for refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers, average velocity pressure 

for the reactivation air stream would 

also be measured using a traverse in the 

reactivation air inlet duct. This traverse 

would be located at a distance upstream 

of the test unit’s reactivation air inlet 

port or any transition section equal to 

1.5 times the diameter of the duct. The 

velocity pressure at each point in a 

traverse would be calculated as the total 

pressure, measured at the impact tap of 

the pitot-static tube, minus the static 

pressure, measured at the static tap of 

the pitot-static tube. Section 7.3.1 of 

ANSI/AMCA 210 provides instructions 

for averaging these velocity pressures 

and calculating the air flow rate at the 

test conditions within the duct. 

5. Measurement Frequency 

The current test procedure in 

appendix X requires psychrometry 

measurements to be recorded at 10- 

minute intervals or less during 

dehumidification mode testing, which is 

adequate for monitoring ambient 

conditions in a test chamber. However, 

the conditions of air flowing through the 

ducts for whole-home dehumidifiers 

have the potential to vary on time scales 

that are shorter than 10 minutes. As a 

result, DOE proposes in appendix X1 

that whole-home dehumidifiers be 

tested with measurement acquisition 

rates of dry-bulb temperature, velocity 

pressure, and relative humidity equal to 

or more frequently than once per 

minute. DOE’s observation of current 

dehumidifier testing suggests that this 

sampling frequency likely can be met by 

existing data recording equipment in 

most test laboratories. 

d. Psychrometer Requirements 

The proposals discussed in this 

section are based on detailed analysis of 

industry test procedures, test laboratory 

observations, and comparison of 

different psychrometer setup 

configurations for portable 

dehumidifiers. 

Appendix X requires that a 

psychrometer be used to measure drybulb and wet-bulb temperature 

conditions throughout dehumidification 

mode testing. Instructions for placement 

of the psychrometer are provided 

through reference to section 7.1.4, 

Psychrometer Placement, of ANSI/

AHAM DH–1–2008, which specifies 

that the psychrometer shall be placed 1 

foot in front of the intake grill of the test 

unit. In addition, section 5.3, 

Positioning of Test Unit, of ANSI/

AHAM DH–1–2008 specifies that the 

sampling tree for use with the 

psychrometer shall be placed 1 foot 

from the air inlet side of the 

dehumidifier. However, through market 

research, DOE identified certain 

portable dehumidifiers with multiple air 

inlets on different surfaces of the unit. 

For these dehumidifiers, ANSI/AHAM 

DH–1–2008 does not provide specific 

instructions regarding where the 

sampling tree or psychrometer should 

be located. 

DOE has identified two possible 

approaches for psychrometer setup for 

portable dehumidifiers with multiple air 

inlets. The first approach would be to 

place a single psychrometer or sampling 

tree at a location that is as close as 

possible to 1 foot in front of all intake 

grilles. This approach would minimize 

test burden by requiring only one 

psychrometer and possibly one 

sampling tree, but could lead to 

measurements that do not accurately 

reflect the conditions of the air entering 

each inlet and could potentially cause 

confusion regarding the proper sensor 

placement for units with unique air 

inlet locations. The second approach 

would be to place a separate sampling 

tree 1 foot in a perpendicular direction 

from the center of each air inlet grille, 

with the sampled air combined and 

connected to a single psychrometer 

using a minimal length of thermally 

insulated ducting. The thermally 

insulated ducting shall be installed 

along the shortest possible path 

connection between the psychrometer 

and sampling tree(s), minimizing excess 

duct length that may introduce 

variability between the conditions of the 

air when it enters the sampling tree and 

when it reaches the aspirating 

psychrometer. This approach would 

monitor the average conditions of the air 

entering the dehumidifier through each 

inlet, with the added testing burden of 

requiring one or more additional 

sampling trees. Because air sampling 

trees are commonly used for testing 

other products and are readily available, 

if the sampling tree approach is selected 

the additional testing burden is minimal 

and would result in improved 

reproducibility of the test procedure. 

Therefore, DOE proposes in this NOPR 

to clarify in appendix X and appendix 

X1 that for portable dehumidifiers with 

multiple intake grilles, a separate 

sampling tree shall be placed 1 foot 

away in a perpendicular direction from 

the center of each air inlet. DOE also 

proposes to clarify in both appendices 

that for portable dehumidifiers with 

only one intake grille, the psychrometer 

or sampling tree shall be placed 1 foot 

away in a perpendicular direction from 

the center of the air inlet. DOE requests 

comment on these proposed 

clarifications to the psychrometer setup 

and input on the associated test burden 

impacts. 

In response to the October 2013 

NOPR,20 AHAM commented that some 

test facilities use a single psychrometer 

box to monitor inlet conditions for two 

or more test units, and that the DOE 

dehumidifier test procedure does not 

specify whether each test unit requires 

its own individual psychrometer box. 

AHAM proposed that DOE clarify that 

each dehumidifier under test requires 

its own individual psychrometer box 

because the test procedure’s intent is 

that each dehumidifier in the test 

chamber is treated as an individual test 

and the temperatures should be 

measured as such. (AHAM, Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–TP–0044, No. 2 at p. 2) 

DOE notes that section 7.1.4 of ANSI/

AHAM DH–1–2008, which is referenced 

for testing portable dehumidifiers, states 

to ‘‘[p]lace the psychrometer (4.2) 1 ft. 

(0.30 m) in front of the intake grille.’’ 

This instruction could be interpreted to 

mean that the temperature and relative 

humidity would be sampled specifically 

for that location, which in turn would 

require that these properties be 

measured individually for each of 

multiple portable dehumidifiers being 

tested concurrently. DOE also notes that 

using average inlet temperature and 

relative humidity conditions for 

multiple portable dehumidifiers could 

impact the measured capacity, EF, and 

IEF. Therefore, DOE proposes to add 

clarifying text to appendix X and 

appendix X1 that would allow no more 


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than one portable dehumidifier to be 

connected to a single psychrometer 

during testing. DOE believes this 

proposal would ensure consistency 

among test facilities and improve test 

result accuracy. 

e. Condensate Collection 

The proposals discussed in this 

section are based on detailed analysis of 

industry test procedures, test laboratory 

observations, and comparison of 

different condensate collection setup 

configurations. 

The provisions in appendix X for 

measuring capacity and energy 

consumption in dehumidification mode 

require condensate to be collected for a 

period of 6 hours while the 

dehumidifier is operating under the 

specified ambient conditions. According 

to section 5.4, Condensate Collection, of 

ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008, if means for 

collecting the condensate are provided 

as part of the dehumidifier, they are to 

be installed as provided for in normal 

service. In addition, the dehumidifier 

may be placed on the weight-measuring 

instrument for direct reading of 

condensate during the test. If the only 

provision is for draining the condensate 

away from the unit, the condensate 

must be collected in a substantially 

closed vessel to prevent re-evaporation. 

These instructions do not address the 

use of an internal pump, which may be 

provided as a means to drain the 

condensate from the dehumidifier. In 

addition, DOE recognizes that a 

condensate collection bucket may not be 

sufficiently large to hold the entire 

amount of condensate produced during 

the 6-hour dehumidification mode test, 

and that when the bucket is full, the 

unit may turn off the compressor or 

activate a pump to empty the bucket to 

an external drain. 

To ensure that the amount of 

condensate measured during the 

dehumidification mode test is 

representative of the total amount of 

condensate that would be produced 

during the 6-hour test, DOE proposes in 

this document to specify in appendix X 

and appendix X1 that if means are 

provided on the dehumidifier for 

draining condensate away from the 

cabinet, the condensate would be 

collected in a substantially closed vessel 

which would be placed on the weightmeasuring instrument. Such an 

approach would minimize reevaporation of the condensate and 

would isolate the condensate weight 

measurement from the vibration of the 

dehumidifier during operation. DOE 

further proposes that if no means for 

draining condensate away from the 

cabinet are provided, any automatic 

shutoff of dehumidification mode 

operation that would be activated when 

the collection container is full shall be 

disabled and any overflow shall be 

collected in a pan, completely covered 

to prevent re-evaporation except where 

allowing for collection of overflow 

water, that is placed beneath the 

dehumidifier, both of which shall be 

placed on the weight-measuring 

instrument for direct reading of the 

condensate weight during the test. The 

proposal would also clarify in appendix 

X and appendix X1 that any internal 

pump shall not be used to drain the 

condensate into a substantially closed 

vessel unless such pump is provided for 

use by default in dehumidification 

mode. 

f. Control Settings 

The proposal discussed in this section 

is based on an analysis of dehumidifier 

features and implications of varying 

control settings with respect to the 

representativeness of the test procedure, 

as well as test repeatability and 

reproducibility. 

Certain dehumidifiers have controls 

that allow selection of the fan speed 

during dehumidification mode. The 

highest fan speed will produce the most 

rapid rate of moisture removal, while 

the lower fan speeds may be provided 

to reduce noise. Appendix X, however, 

does not specify a particular fan speed 

setting during testing. 

Also, certain dehumidifiers have 

controls that allow consumers to select 

a target relative humidity level, for 

example by setting the desired relative 

humidity percentage or by adjusting a 

dial to a more or less dry setting. 

Appendix X requires test facilities to 

maintain a 60-percent relative humidity 

level during active mode testing, in 

which the unit must operate 

continuously in dehumidification mode. 

While appendix X does not specify a 

particular relative humidity setpoint, 

the test operator must select a control 

setting that corresponds to a relative 

humidity level lower than 60 percent to 

ensure that the test unit does not enter 

off-cycle or fan-only mode. 

In comments submitted in response to 

the October 2013 NOPR, AHAM 

addressed the topic of control settings 

for testing in dehumidification mode by 

proposing that if the unit under test has 

a ‘‘continuous on’’ function, a setting 

that maintains constant 

dehumidification mode operation 

regardless of the ambient relative 

humidity, that such a setting should be 

selected. In the absence of a continuous 

on function, AHAM proposed that the 

unit be tested at the highest fan speed 

and lowest humidity setting. According 

to AHAM, these settings would 

correspond to the highest energy use 

and would be consistent with current 

industry practice. (AHAM, Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–TP–0044, No. 2 at p. 2) 

The control settings suggested by 

AHAM would correspond to the highest 

energy use in dehumidification mode. 

In addition, although DOE is not aware 

of any dehumidifiers that operate 

differently at humidity setpoints below 

60 percent, it is possible that certain 

dehumidifier controls may be 

programmed to do so, thereby no longer 

operating at the highest energy use. For 

this reason, DOE proposes to require in 

appendix X and appendix X1 that, for 

units with a continuous on feature, that 

control setting shall be selected for 

dehumidification mode testing. For 

units without a feature for continuous 

operation, the fan would be set at the 

maximum speed if the fan speed is user 

adjustable, and the relative humidity 

controls would be set to the lowest 

available value during dehumidification 

mode testing. Further, DOE’s 

observations at third-party test facilities 

corroborate AHAM’s comment that 

these fan speed requirements would be 

consistent with industry practice. 

Therefore, DOE concludes that this 

proposal would not impact energy 

consumption or capacity currently 

determined using appendix X. 

2. Fan-Only Mode 

The proposals discussed in this 

section are based on observations of 

units acquired for investigative testing 

and detailed analysis of industry test 

procedures used to determine cyclical 

or continuous power consumption. 

Certain dehumidifier models maintain 

blower operation without activation of 

the compressor after the humidity 

setpoint has been reached, rather than 

entering off-cycle mode. Such fan-only 

mode operation may be intended to 

draw air over the humidistat to monitor 

ambient conditions, or may occur 

immediately following a period of 

dehumidification mode to defrost and 

dry the evaporator coil, which will 

prevent the humidistat from 

prematurely sensing a humidity level 

high enough to reactivate the 

compressor. The blower may operate 

continuously in fan-only mode, or may 

cycle on and off intermittently. In 

addition, some units allow the 

consumer to select operation of the 

blower continuously for air circulation 

purposes. 

In their submission to DOE in 

response to the August 2012 Framework 

Document, the Joint Commenters stated 

that, as of October 17, 2012, there were 

12 models on the ENERGY STAR 


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Dehumidifiers Product List, six of 

which had fans that could operate 

continuously without activation of the 

compressor. The Joint Commenters 

referenced the Wisconsin Study, which 

found that fan-only mode power 

consumption ranged from under 40 

watts (W) to 120 W, suggesting that 

continuous fan operation could 

contribute significantly to dehumidifier 

annual energy consumption. For 

example, the Joint Commenters noted 

that an 80 W fan running in continuous 

fan-only mode for 1,000 hours annually 

would consume 80 kWh. Although the 

Joint Commenters asserted that 

continuous fan operation would 

circulate the air in the space being 

dehumidified, reducing gradients and 

perhaps affecting colder and more 

humid areas (such as adjacent to walls) 

such that dehumidification mode could 

be activated only when necessary, they 

believe that the same actions could be 

accomplished with intermittent fan 

operation controlled by a fixed timer 

initiated after each period of compressor 

operation or a variable timer based on 

past operating patterns. The Joint 

Commenters stated that if the annual 

energy consumption of continuous fan 

operation is not adequately captured 

already in the test procedure, DOE 

should amend it to measure the annual 

energy consumption of fan-only mode. 

(Joint Commenters, No. 9 at pp. 5–6) 

As discussed in section III.B.2 of this 

document, appendix X does not contain 

provisions to measure dehumidifier 

energy use during fan-only mode. The 

existing methodology requires 

measurement of the power consumption 

in off-cycle mode and either inactive 

mode or off mode, depending on which 

mode is available on the unit under test. 

The test procedure then assigns the 

annual operating hours outside of 

dehumidification mode to off-cycle 

mode, inactive mode, or off mode 

according to the following: 1,840.5 

hours to off-cycle mode and 1,840.5 

hours to either inactive mode or off 

mode. These hours are multiplied by the 

corresponding power consumption 

measurements and summed to obtain 

the annual combined low-power mode 

energy consumption. Recognizing that 

some dehumidifiers operate in fan-only 

mode in place of off-cycle mode, 

however, DOE is proposing in this 

document that the 1,840.5 annual hours 

currently attributed to off-cycle mode in 

appendix X be assigned in appendix X1 

to fan-only mode for those 

dehumidifiers. Based on investigative 

testing, and using this proposed 

calculation, DOE determined that fanonly mode may consume more than 300 

times more energy than off-cycle or 

inactive mode. For this reason, this 

proposed provision in appendix X1 

would more accurately reflect the 

typical energy consumption of 

dehumidifiers that operate in fan-only 

mode rather than off-cycle mode. 

The proposed fan-only mode average 

power measurement would require 

adjusting the relative humidity setpoint 

during this testing to a level higher than 

the ambient relative humidity to ensure 

that the refrigeration system does not 

cycle on. To minimize testing burden, 

DOE proposes in appendix X1 that the 

testing may be conducted either under 

the same ambient conditions as for 

dehumidification mode, or under the 

test conditions specified for standby 

mode and off mode testing. DOE 

tentatively concludes that the power 

consumption in fan-only mode does not 

depend on the ambient conditions (i.e., 

fan speed and power consumption do 

not change with ambient conditions) 

and seeks comment on whether the 

results from the two testing options 

would be comparable. To further 

minimize test burden, DOE also 

proposes that the laboratory should not 

perform more than one run-in period for 

all active mode testing. Because the 

term ‘‘run-in’’ is not defined in ANSI/ 

AHAM DH–1–2008, DOE further 

proposes to clarify in appendix X1 that 

the compressor shall operate during the 

run-in period. 

DOE has observed that the fan may 

operate continuously during fan-only 

mode or may cycle on and off 

periodically. In DOE’s testing, the 

period of such cyclic operation was 

observed to be approximately 10 

minutes, and DOE’s research indicates 

that some units may cycle on for a 

period of a few minutes per hour. To 

obtain a representative average measure 

of fan-only mode power consumption in 

appendix X1, DOE proposes that the 

power be measured and averaged over a 

period of 1 hour for fan-only mode in 

which the fan operates continuously. 

For fan-only mode in which the fan 

operates cyclically, the average fan-only 

mode power would be measured over a 

period of 3 or more full cycles for no 

less than 1 hour. DOE also proposes to 

include in the IEF calculation in 

appendix X1 the fan-only mode energy 

use for those dehumidifiers that operate 

in fan-only mode rather than off-cycle 

mode. DOE further proposes to require 

that, for units with adjustable fan speed 

settings, the fan be set at the maximum 

speed during fan-only mode testing 

because the maximum speed is typically 

recommended to consumers as the 

setting that produces the maximum 

moisture removal rate. 

DOE does not have information 

regarding the number of annual hours in 

which the consumer selects fan-only 

mode to circulate air, rather than 

operating the dehumidifier for the 

general purpose of moisture removal. 

For this reason, DOE is not proposing at 

this time to include an additional 

energy use component associated with 

air circulation in the IEF calculation in 

appendix X1. DOE welcomes data and 

input on consumer usage patterns 

related to fan-only mode for air 

circulation. 

C. Additional Technical and Editorial 

Corrections 

1. Definition of ‘‘Dehumidifier’’ 

As discussed in section III.A of this 

document, EPCA defines a dehumidifier 

in relevant part, as a ‘‘mechanically 

encased assembly.’’ (42 U.S.C. 6291(34)) 

The definition of ‘‘dehumidifier’’ 

codified at 10 CFR 430.2, however, 

incorrectly states that the product be a 

‘‘mechanically refrigerated encased 

assembly.’’ In this document, DOE 

proposes to correct the definition in 10 

CFR 430.2. DOE also proposes to add 

clarification that the definition of 

‘‘dehumidifier’’ does not apply to 

portable air conditioners and room air 

conditioners. The primary function of 

an air conditioner is to provide cooling 

by removing both sensible and latent 

heat, while a dehumidifier removes 

moisture (i.e., only latent heat). 

Therefore, DOE proposes to clarify these 

exclusions in the amendments to 10 

CFR 430.2. 

2. Referenced Section in Test 

Procedures at 10 CFR 430.23 

DOE proposes to amend the test 

procedures codified at 10 CFR 430.23(z) 

to reference the correct sections of 

amended appendix X and new appendix 

X1 for measuring capacity, energy factor 

(EF), and IEF. 

3. Integrated Energy Factor Calculation 

The existing IEF equation in section 

5.2 of appendix X incorporates the 

annual combined low-power mode 

energy consumption, ETLP, in kWh per 

year, and the active mode energy 

consumption, Eactive, in kWh as 

measured during the active mode test. 

To sum these components, the equation 

converts ETLP into kWh/day by dividing 

by the number of active mode hours per 

year and multiplying by 24 hours per 

day. However, Eactive represents the 

energy use measured during the course 

of the 6-hour dehumidification mode 

test. To correctly sum the combined 

low-power mode energy consumption 

and dehumidification mode energy 


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consumption on an equivalent basis, the 

equation for IEF should convert ETLP to 

kWh consumed during 6 hours. 

Therefore, DOE proposes in section 5.2 

of appendix X to amend the IEF 

equation to correctly divide ETLP by the 

number of dehumidification mode 

hours per year and multiply by 6 hours 

in accordance with the duration of the 

dehumidification mode test. DOE also 

proposes to: (1) Clarify in section 4.1 of 

appendix X that energy consumption as 

well as EF shall be measured during 

dehumidification mode testing; (2) 

redesignate Eactive as EDM to clarify that 

it is the energy consumption measured 

in dehumidification mode; and (3) 

redesignate Sactive as SDM to clarify that 

it is the annual hours spent in 

dehumidification mode. DOE proposes 

to incorporate these same clarifications 

and corrections in appendix X1, as well 

as sum the annual fan-only mode energy 

consumption, EFM, with ETLP to include 

the measure of fan-only mode energy 

consumption in the calculation of IEF. 

4. Number of Annual Inactive Mode and 

Off Mode Hours 

In section 5.1 of appendix X, the 

number of annual hours for inactive 

mode and off mode each contains a 

typographical error, wherein a comma is 

used in place of a decimal point. DOE 

proposes in this document to correct 

these typographical errors. 

D. Materials Incorporated by Reference 

As discussed in section III.B.1.c of 

this document, DOE is proposing in 

appendix X1 to reference certain 

sections of the following industry test 

methods to determine the product 

capacity and IEF of whole-home 

dehumidifiers in a ducted installation: 

(1) ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 41.1– 

2013, ‘‘Standard Method for 

Temperature Measurement’’; and 

(2) ANSI/ASHRAE 51–2007/ANSI/

AMCA 210–07, ‘‘Laboratory Methods of 

Testing Fans for Certified Aerodynamic 

Performance Rating’’. 

DOE proposes to amend 10 CFR 430.3 

to include these industry test methods. 

E. Certification and Verification 

In 10 CFR 429.36, DOE requires that 

manufacturers include dehumidifier 

capacity, in pints/day, in their 

certification reports; however, 10 CFR 

429.36 does not specify how to 

determine the rated capacity for a basic 

model. The consequence of an 

incorrectly reported capacity may be the 

application of an incorrect standard for 

minimum required EF or, in the future, 

a minimum required IEF. Therefore, 

DOE proposes in this document to 

require that the average of the capacities 

measured for a given sample be used for 

certification puposes. 

For verification purposes, DOE 

proposes to require that the test facility 

measurement of capacity must be within 

5 percent of the rated capacity, or 1.00 

pints/day, whichever is greater. DOE 

notes that this tolerance is the same as 

the tolerance allowed within AHAM’s 

dehumidifier verification program, 

which suggests that manufacturers are 

able to comply with this requirement 

without undue testing burden. If DOE 

determines that a rated capacity is not 

within 5 percent of the measured 

capacity, or 1.00 pints/day, whichever is 

greater, the capacity measured by the 

test facility shall be used to determine 

the energy conservation standard 

applicable to the tested basic model. 

DOE proposes to add a new section 

429.134 of 10 CFR part 429 to address 

this capacity verification protocol. 

To ensure that the minimum EF or 

IEF requirements are accurately applied 

to each dehumidifier model, DOE 

proposes to clarify in the dehumidifier 

test procedures at 10 CFR 430.23(z) that, 

when using appendix X, capacity would 

be measured in accordance with 

paragraph 4.1 of that appendix, and 

when using appendix X1, capacity 

would be measured in accordance with 

paragraph 5.4 of that appendix for 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers and 

in accordance with paragraph 4.1.1.1 for 

all other dehumidifiers. DOE also 

proposes in this document to include 

rounding instructions in appendix X 

and appendix X1 that would clarify that 

the measurement of capacity is to be 

rounded to two decimal points, 

consistent with the number of 

significant digits in the product class 

definitions, and that IEF is to be 

rounded to two decimal places in 

accordance with the existing 

instructions in appendix X for rounding 

EF and IEF. 

F. Compliance Dates of Amended Test 

Procedures 

DOE is proposing amendments to its 

dehumidifier test procedure in 

appendix X that would clarify the 

psychrometer setup for portable 

dehumidifiers, the control settings for 

dehumidification mode testing, the 

provisions for collecting water for the 

capacity measurement, and the dates for 

use of the test procedures. The proposed 

amendments to appendix X would also 

include certain editorial and technical 

corrections. As discussed previously, 

DOE does not expect that these 

clarifications and corrections would 

alter the measured EF, but rather would 

improve the interpretation and use of 

the test procedure. Therefore, the 

proposals for appendix X would not 

affect a manufacturer’s ability to comply 

with current energy conservation 

standards using appendix X. 

Manufacturers would be required to use 

the revised appendix X for 

representations 180 days after the 

publication of any final amended test 

procedures in the Federal Register. 

(Alternatively, manufacturers may 

certify compliance with any amended 

energy conservation standards prior to 

the compliance date of those amended 

energy conservation standards by testing 

in accordance with appendix X1.) 

DOE is also proposing to amend the 

dehumidifier test procedure in 10 CFR 

part 430, subpart B to create a new 

appendix X1 that would include a lower 

ambient temperature for certain active 

mode testing, a new measure of fan-only 

mode energy consumption, and 

provisions for testing whole-home 

dehumidifiers, including ‘‘refrigerantdesiccant’’ dehumidifiers. Appendix X1 

would also incorporate the same 

clarifications and technical corrections 

as proposed for appendix X. 

Manufacturers would be required to use 

the new appendix X1 for determining 

compliance with any amended 

standards adopted in the ongoing energy 

conservation standards rulemaking. 

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory 

Review 

A. Review Under Executive Order 12866 

The Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) has determined that test 

procedure rulemakings do not constitute 

‘‘significant regulatory actions’’ under 

section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, 

Regulatory Planning and Review, 58 FR 

51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly, this 

action was not subject to review under 

the Executive Order by the Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs 

(OIRA) in the Office of Management and 

Budget. 

B. Review Under the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act 

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 

U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires preparation 

of an initial regulatory flexibility 

analysis (IFRA) for any rule that by law 

must be proposed for public comment, 

unless the agency certifies that the rule, 

if promulgated, will not have a 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. As 

required by Executive Order 13272, 

‘‘Proper Consideration of Small Entities 

in Agency Rulemaking,’’ 67 FR 53461 

(August 16, 2002), DOE published 

procedures and policies on February 19, 

2003, to ensure that the potential 

impacts of its rules on small entities are 


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properly considered during the DOE 

rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE 

has made its procedures and policies 

available on the Office of the General 

Counsel’s Web site: http://energy.gov/

gc/office-general-counsel. 

DOE reviewed this proposed rule 

under the provisions of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act and the procedures and 

policies published on February 19, 

2003. DOE’s initial regulatory flexibility 

analysis is set forth below. DOE seeks 

comment on its analysis and the 

economic impacts of the rule on small 

manufacturers. 

A description of the reasons why the 

proposed test procedures are being 

considered, as well as a succinct 

statement of the objectives of, and legal 

basis for, the proposed rule is set forth 

elsewhere in the preamble and not 

repeated here. DOE is also not aware of 

any Federal rules that would duplicate, 

overlap or conflict with the proposed 

rule. 

Description and Estimate of the Number 

of Small Entities to Which the Proposed 

Rule Would Apply 

The Small Business Administration 

(SBA) considers a business entity to be 

small business, if, together with its 

affiliates, it employs less than a 

threshold number of workers specified 

in 13 CFR part 121. These size standards 

and codes are established by the North 

American Industry Classification 

System (NAICS). The threshold number 

for NAICS classification code 335211, 

‘‘Electric Housewares and Household 

Fan Manufacturing,’’ is 750 employees; 

this classification specifically includes 

manufacturers of dehumidifiers. 

DOE surveyed the AHAM member 

directory to identify manufacturers of 

residential dehumidifiers. DOE then 

consulted publicly available data, 

purchased company reports from 

vendors such as Dun and Bradstreet, 

and contacted manufacturers, where 

needed, to determine if they meet the 

SBA’s definition of a ‘‘small business 

manufacturing facility’’ and have their 

manufacturing facilities located within 

the United States. Based on this 

analysis, DOE estimates that there are 

five small businesses that manufacture 

dehumidifiers. 

Description of the Projected Reporting, 

Recordkeeping and Other Compliance 

Requirements 

The proposed rule would establish a 

new test procedure for dehumidifiers 

with a revised testing temperature for 

certain active mode testing and the 

requirement that whole-home 

dehumidifiers be tested in active mode 

with ducting in place. The lower 

temperature test that DOE is proposing 

for dehumidification mode in new 

appendix X1 requires ambient 

temperature and humidity levels 

identical to those contained in section 

8.2, Low Temperature Test, of ANSI/

AHAM DH–1–2008, which some 

manufacturers already may be using. In 

addition, product specifications for 

dehumidifiers from each of the small 

businesses indicate that they produce 

dehumidifiers rated for operation at 

ambient temperatures of 65 °F or below, 

suggesting that these manufacturers 

have conducted lower temperature 

testing already. 

DOE also considered the cost of 

additional ducting and associated 

components and instrumentation that 

would be required for whole-home 

dehumidifier active mode testing. Based 

on its research of retail prices for 

components required to construct the 

instrumented inlet and outlet ducts, as 

well as estimate for the purchase of a 

complete assembly from a third-party 

laboratory, DOE determined that the 

cost of each non-instrumented duct 

would be approximately $1,500, and 

that the cost of an instrumented, 

calibrated duct would not exceed 

$2,700. Therefore, the equipment cost 

for testing a refrigeration-only wholehome dehumidifier with no inlet duct 

and a non-instrumented outlet duct 

would be approximately $1,500, or 

$3,000 for whole-home dehumidifiers 

with two outlets. For refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers, which would 

require instrumented ducts at the inlet 

and outlet of the process airstream and 

the inlet of the reactivation air stream, 

the total equipment cost would be 

approximately $8,100. Costs of test 

ducts could be reduced if existing 

aspirating psychrometers used for 

portable dehumidifiers testing are used 

within test ducts. However, alternating 

aspirating psychrometers between 

portable and whole-home test 

configurations would require additional 

calibration and labor that DOE estimates 

to cost approximately $300 per 

calibration. DOE also tentatively 

concludes that whole-home 

dehumidifier manufacturers already test 

their products in chambers that can 

accommodate comparably-sized 

ducting, since product literature 

indicates that performance has been 

measured at non-zero ESP. 

For dehumidifiers capable of 

operating in fan-only mode, the 

proposed rule would also require in 

appendix X1 measuring power input 

when the product is in fan-only mode. 

These tests could be conducted either in 

the same facilities used for the 

dehumidification mode testing of these 

products, or in facilities in which 

standby mode and off mode testing is 

conducted, so there would be no 

additional facilities costs required by 

the proposed rule. In addition, the 

requirements for the wattmeter specified 

for these tests would be the same as 

used for standby mode and off mode 

testing, so manufacturers would likely 

be able to use the same equipment for 

fan-only mode testing as they would 

already use for standby mode and off 

mode testing. In the event that an 

additional wattmeter would be required 

for testing in the facilities used for the 

current dehumidifier active mode 

testing, the investment required for a 

possible instrumentation upgrade would 

likely be relatively modest. An Internet 

search of equipment that specifically 

meets the proposed requirements 

reveals a cost of approximately $2,000. 

Test facilities that use a single 

psychrometer box to test multiple units 

simultaneously that do not already own 

additional psychrometer boxes would 

need to purchase an additional 

psychrometer box for each additional 

unit that would be tested concurrently. 

Based on DOE research and input from 

test laboratories, DOE estimates that test 

facilities may purchase and calibrate the 

required equipment for approximately 

$1,000 each. 

Additionally, test laboratories with 

only one sampling tree for each 

psychrometer box may be required to 

purchase additional sampling trees to 

account for units with multiple air 

inlets. In this document, DOE proposes 

that a sampling tree be placed in front 

of each air inlet on a test unit. DOE 

expects laboratories may purchase 

additional sampling trees at an 

estimated cost of $300 each to comply 

with the proposed test requirements. 

Alternatives to the Proposed Rule 

As discussed above, DOE considered 

alternate test approaches for both 

portable and whole-home 

dehumidifiers. 

Although DOE proposed modifying 

the dehumidification mode ambient 

temperature conditions from 80 °F drybulb temperature and 69.6 °F wet-bulb 

temperature to 65 °F dry-bulb 

temperature and 55 °F wet-bulb 

temperature, DOE’s alternate proposal 

for dehumidification mode would 

require combining results from testing at 

both of these conditions. This alternate 

proposed approach would increase test 

burden by requiring testing each unit in 

dehumidification mode at two test 

conditions, although only a single runin period, fan-only mode test, and 

combined low-power mode test would 

be required. 


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DOE considered testing at an alternate 

ambient relative humidity if a more 

representative condition was 

determined. However, for the reasons 

discussed in section III.1.b of this 

document, DOE proposes to maintain 

the current ambient relative humidity of 

60 percent. DOE tentatively concludes 

that test laboratories are familiar with 

the overall condition requirements and 

additional humidifying equipment 

would not be required to increase test 

chamber capabilities. 

For the proposed testing methodology 

for whole-home dehumidifiers, DOE 

examined the accuracy and repeatability 

of available relative humidity sensors. 

Although DOE is proposing the use of 

psychrometers to measure dry-bulb and 

wet-bulb temperature conditions, DOE 

also considered chilled mirror 

hygrometers as an alternate instrument 

for measuring relative humidity. For the 

reasons discussed in section 

III.1.dIII.B.1.d of this document, DOE 

decided to propose the use of 

psychrometers to avoid the burden 

associated with chilled mirror 

hygrometers (i.e., the requirements for a 

skilled operator, frequent cleaning, and 

regular calibration). 

In addition, for whole-home 

dehumidifiers, DOE’s proposals specify 

the minimum number of test ducts that, 

according to its investigative testing, 

would produce representative results for 

capacity and integrated energy factor. If 

instrumented test ducts were required 

on all inlet and outlet ports, testing 

facilities could incur an additional 

$3000 cost for the equipment. 

C. Review Under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 

Manufacturers of residential 

dehumidifiers must certify to DOE that 

their products comply with any 

applicable energy conservation 

standards. In certifying compliance, 

manufacturers must test their products 

according to the DOE test procedures for 

dehumidifiers, including any 

amendments adopted for those test 

procedures. DOE has established 

regulations for the certification and 

recordkeeping requirements for all 

covered consumer products and 

commercial equipment, including 

residential dehumidifiers. (76 FR 12422 

(March 7, 2011)). The collection-ofinformation requirement for the 

certification and recordkeeping is 

subject to review and approval by OMB 

under the Paperwork Reduction Act 

(PRA). This requirement has been 

approved by OMB under OMB control 

number 1910–1400. Public reporting 

burden for the certification is estimated 

to average 20 hours per response, 

including the time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data 

sources, gathering and maintaining the 

data needed, and completing and 

reviewing the collection of information. 

Notwithstanding any other provision 

of the law, no person is required to 

respond to, nor shall any person be 

subject to a penalty for failure to comply 

with, a collection of information subject 

to the requirements of the PRA, unless 

that collection of information displays a 

currently valid OMB Control Number. 

D. Review Under the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

In this proposed rule, DOE proposes 

test procedure amendments that it 

expects will be used to develop and 

implement future energy conservation 

standards for residential dehumidifiers. 

DOE has determined that this rule falls 

into a class of actions that are 

categorically excluded from review 

under the National Environmental 

Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 

seq.) and DOE’s implementing 

regulations at 10 CFR part 1021. 

Specifically, this proposed rule would 

amend the existing test procedures 

without affecting the amount, quality or 

distribution of energy usage, and, 

therefore, would not result in any 

environmental impacts. Thus, this 

rulemaking is covered by Categorical 

Exclusion A5 under 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, which applies to any 

rulemaking that interprets or amends an 

existing rule without changing the 

environmental effect of that rule. 

Accordingly, neither an environmental 

assessment nor an environmental 

impact statement is required. 

E. Review Under Executive Order 13132 

Executive Order 13132, ‘‘Federalism,’’ 

64 FR 43255 (August 4, 1999) imposes 

certain requirements on agencies 

formulating and implementing policies 

or regulations that preempt State law or 

that have Federalism implications. The 

Executive Order requires agencies to 

examine the constitutional and statutory 

authority supporting any action that 

would limit the policymaking discretion 

of the States and to carefully assess the 

necessity for such actions. The 

Executive Order also requires agencies 

to have an accountable process to 

ensure meaningful and timely input by 

State and local officials in the 

development of regulatory policies that 

have Federalism implications. On 

March 14, 2000, DOE published a 

statement of policy describing the 

intergovernmental consultation process 

it will follow in the development of 

such regulations. 65 FR 13735. DOE has 

examined this proposed rule and has 

determined that it would not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. EPCA governs and 

prescribes Federal preemption of State 

regulations as to energy conservation for 

the products that are the subject of this 

proposed rule. States can petition DOE 

for exemption from such preemption to 

the extent, and based on criteria, set 

forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) No 

further action is required by Executive 

Order 13132. 

F. Review Under Executive Order 12988 

Regarding the review of existing 

regulations and the promulgation of 

new regulations, section 3(a) of 

Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil Justice 

Reform,’’ 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996), 

imposes on Federal agencies the general 

duty to adhere to the following 

requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting 

errors and ambiguity; (2) write 

regulations to minimize litigation; (3) 

provide a clear legal standard for 

affected conduct rather than a general 

standard; and (4) promote simplification 

and burden reduction. Section 3(b) of 

Executive Order 12988 specifically 

requires that Executive agencies make 

every reasonable effort to ensure that the 

regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the 

preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly 

specifies any effect on existing Federal 

law or regulation; (3) provides a clear 

legal standard for affected conduct 

while promoting simplification and 

burden reduction; (4) specifies the 

retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately 

defines key terms; and (6) addresses 

other important issues affecting clarity 

and general draftsmanship under any 

guidelines issued by the Attorney 

General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order 

12988 requires Executive agencies to 

review regulations in light of applicable 

standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b) to 

determine whether they are met or it is 

unreasonable to meet one or more of 

them. DOE has completed the required 

review and determined that, to the 

extent permitted by law, the proposed 

rule meets the relevant standards of 

Executive Order 12988. 

G. Review Under the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 

Title II of the Unfunded Mandates 

Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) requires 

each Federal agency to assess the effects 

of Federal regulatory actions on State, 

local, and Tribal governments and the 

private sector. Pub. L. 104–4, sec. 201 

(codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531). For a 

proposed regulatory action likely to 


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result in a rule that may cause the 

expenditure by State, local, and Tribal 

governments, in the aggregate, or by the 

private sector of $100 million or more 

in any one year (adjusted annually for 

inflation), section 202 of UMRA requires 

a Federal agency to publish a written 

statement that estimates the resulting 

costs, benefits, and other effects on the 

national economy. (2 U.S.C. 1532(a), (b)) 

The UMRA also requires a Federal 

agency to develop an effective process 

to permit timely input by elected 

officers of State, local, and Tribal 

governments on a proposed ‘‘significant 

intergovernmental mandate,’’ and 

requires an agency plan for giving notice 

and opportunity for timely input to 

potentially affected small governments 

before establishing any requirements 

that might significantly or uniquely 

affect small governments. On March 18, 

1997, DOE published a statement of 

policy on its process for 

intergovernmental consultation under 

UMRA. 62 FR 12820; also available at 

energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel. 

DOE examined this proposed rule 

according to UMRA and its statement of 

policy and determined that the rule 

contains neither an intergovernmental 

mandate, nor a mandate that may result 

in the expenditure of $100 million or 

more in any year, so these requirements 

do not apply. 

H. Review Under the Treasury and 

General Government Appropriations 

Act, 1999 

Section 654 of the Treasury and 

General Government Appropriations 

Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105–277) requires 

Federal agencies to issue a Family 

Policymaking Assessment for any rule 

that may affect family well-being. This 

rule would not have any impact on the 

autonomy or integrity of the family as 

an institution. Accordingly, DOE has 

concluded that it is not necessary to 

prepare a Family Policymaking 

Assessment. 

I. Review Under Executive Order 12630 

DOE has determined, under Executive 

Order 12630, ‘‘Governmental Actions 

and Interference with Constitutionally 

Protected Property Rights’’ 53 FR 8859 

(March 18, 1988), that this regulation 

would not result in any takings that 

might require compensation under the 

Fifth Amendment to the U.S. 

Constitution. 

J. Review Under Treasury and General 

Government Appropriations Act, 2001 

Section 515 of the Treasury and 

General Government Appropriations 

Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides 

for agencies to review most 

disseminations of information to the 

public under guidelines established by 

each agency pursuant to general 

guidelines issued by OMB. OMB’s 

guidelines were published at 67 FR 

8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and DOE’s 

guidelines were published at 67 FR 

62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has reviewed 

this proposed rule under the OMB and 

DOE guidelines and has concluded that 

it is consistent with applicable policies 

in those guidelines. 

K. Review Under Executive Order 13211 

Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions 

Concerning Regulations That 

Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 

Distribution, or Use,’’ 66 FR 28355 (May 

22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to 

prepare and submit to OMB, a 

Statement of Energy Effects for any 

proposed significant energy action. A 

‘‘significant energy action’’ is defined as 

any action by an agency that 

promulgated or is expected to lead to 

promulgation of a final rule, and that: 

(1) Is a significant regulatory action 

under Executive Order 12866, or any 

successor order; and (2) is likely to have 

a significant adverse effect on the 

supply, distribution, or use of energy; or 

(3) is designated by the Administrator of 

OIRA as a significant energy action. For 

any proposed significant energy action, 

the agency must give a detailed 

statement of any adverse effects on 

energy supply, distribution, or use 

should the proposal be implemented, 

and of reasonable alternatives to the 

action and their expected benefits on 

energy supply, distribution, and use. 

This regulatory action to amend the 

test procedure for measuring the energy 

efficiency of residential dehumidifiers is 

not a significant regulatory action under 

Executive Order 12866. Moreover, it 

would not have a significant adverse 

effect on the supply, distribution, or use 

of energy, nor has it been designated as 

a significant energy action by the 

Administrator of OIRA. Therefore, it is 

not a significant energy action, and, 

accordingly, DOE has not prepared a 

Statement of Energy Effects. 

L. Review Under Section 32 of the 

Federal Energy Administration Act of 

1974 

Under section 301 of the Department 

of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95– 

91; 42 U.S.C. 7101), DOE must comply 

with section 32 of the Federal Energy 

Administration Act of 1974, as amended 

by the Federal Energy Administration 

Authorization Act of 1977. (15 U.S.C. 

788; FEAA) Section 32 essentially 

provides in relevant part that, where a 

proposed rule authorizes or requires use 

of commercial standards, the notice of 

proposed rulemaking must inform the 

public of the use and background of 

such standards. In addition, section 

32(c) requires DOE to consult with the 

Attorney General and the Chairman of 

the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 

concerning the impact of the 

commercial or industry standards on 

competition. 

As discussed in section III.1.c of this 

document, the proposed rule 

incorporates testing methods contained 

in the following commercial standards: 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 41.1–2013, 

Standard Method for Temperature 

Measurement; and ANSI/ASHRAE 51– 

2007/ANSI/AMCA 210–07, Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Fans for Certified 

Aerodynamic Performance Rating. 

While this proposed test procedure is 

not exclusively based on these 

standards, one component of the test 

procedure, namely ducted installation 

requirements for testing whole-home 

dehumidifiers, adopts provisions from 

these standards without amendment. 

DOE has evaluated these standards and 

is unable to conclude whether they fully 

comply with the requirements of section 

32(b) of the FEAA, (i.e., that they were 

developed in a manner that fully 

provides for public participation, 

comment, and review). DOE will 

consult with the Attorney General and 

the Chairwoman of the FTC concerning 

the impact of these test procedures on 

competition, prior to prescribing a final 

rule. 

V. Public Participation 

A. Attendance at Public Meeting 

The time, date and location of the 

public meeting are listed in the DATES

and ADDRESSES sections at the beginning 

of this document. If you plan to attend 

the public meeting, please notify Ms. 

Brenda Edwards at (202) 586–2945 or 

Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov. As 

explained in the ADDRESSES section, 

foreign nationals visiting DOE 

Headquarters are subject to advance 

security screening procedures. 

In addition, you can attend the public 

meeting via webinar. Webinar 

registration information, participant 

instructions, and information about the 

capabilities available to webinar 

participants will be published on DOE’s 

Web site http://www1.eere.energy.gov/

buildings/appliance_standards/

product.aspx/productid/55 Participants 

are responsible for ensuring their 

systems are compatible with the 

webinar software. 


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B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared 

General Statements for Distribution 

Any person who has plans to present 

a prepared general statement may 

request that copies of his or her 

statement be made available at the 

public meeting. Such persons may 

submit requests, along with an advance 

electronic copy of their statement in 

PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or 

Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file 

format, to the appropriate address 

shown in the ADDRESSES section at the 

beginning of this document. The request 

and advance copy of statements must be 

received at least one week before the 

public meeting and may be emailed, 

hand-delivered, or sent by mail. DOE 

prefers to receive requests and advance 

copies via email. Please include a 

telephone number to enable DOE staff to 

make a follow-up contact, if needed. 

C. Conduct of Public Meeting 

DOE will designate a DOE official to 

preside at the public meeting and may 

also use a professional facilitator to aid 

discussion. The meeting will not be a 

judicial or evidentiary-type public 

hearing, but DOE will conduct it in 

accordance with section 336 of EPCA 

(42 U.S.C. 6306). A court reporter will 

be present to record the proceedings and 

prepare a transcript. DOE reserves the 

right to schedule the order of 

presentations and to establish the 

procedures governing the conduct of the 

public meeting. After the public meeting 

and until the end of the comment 

period, interested parties may submit 

further comments on the proceedings 

and any aspect of the rulemaking. 

The public meeting will be conducted 

in an informal, conference style. DOE 

will present summaries of comments 

received before the public meeting, 

allow time for prepared general 

statements by participants, and 

encourage all interested parties to share 

their views on issues affecting this 

rulemaking. Each participant will be 

allowed to make a general statement 

(within time limits determined by DOE), 

before the discussion of specific topics. 

DOE will permit, as time permits, other 

participants to comment briefly on any 

general statements. 

At the end of all prepared statements 

on a topic, DOE will permit participants 

to clarify their statements briefly and 

comment on statements made by others. 

Participants should be prepared to 

answer questions by DOE and by other 

participants concerning these issues. 

DOE representatives may also ask 

questions of participants concerning 

other matters relevant to this 

rulemaking. The official conducting the 

public meeting will accept additional 

comments or questions from those 

attending, as time permits. The 

presiding official will announce any 

further procedural rules or modification 

of the above procedures that may be 

needed for the proper conduct of the 

public meeting. 

A transcript of the public meeting will 

be included in the docket, which can be 

viewed as described in the Docket 

section at the beginning of this 

document. In addition, any person may 

buy a copy of the transcript from the 

transcribing reporter. 

D. Submission of Comments 

DOE will accept comments, data, and 

information regarding this proposed 

rule before or after the public meeting, 

but no later than the date provided in 

the DATES section at the beginning of 

this proposed rule. Interested parties 

may submit comments using any of the 

methods described in the ADDRESSES

section at the beginning of this 

document. 

Submitting comments via 

regulations.gov. The regulations.gov 

Web page will require you to provide 

your name and contact information. 

Your contact information will be 

viewable to DOE Building Technologies 

staff only. Your contact information will 

not be publicly viewable except for your 

first and last names, organization name 

(if any), and submitter representative 

name (if any). If your comment is not 

processed properly because of technical 

difficulties, DOE will use this 

information to contact you. If DOE 

cannot read your comment due to 

technical difficulties and cannot contact 

you for clarification, DOE may not be 

able to consider your comment. 

However, your contact information 

will be publicly viewable if you include 

it in the comment or in any documents 

attached to your comment. Any 

information that you do not want to be 

publicly viewable should not be 

included in your comment, nor in any 

document attached to your comment. 

Persons viewing comments will see only 

first and last names, organization 

names, correspondence containing 

comments, and any documents 

submitted with the comments. 

Do not submit to regulations.gov 

information for which disclosure is 

restricted by statute, such as trade 

secrets and commercial or financial 

information (hereinafter referred to as 

Confidential Business Information 

(CBI)). Comments submitted through 

regulations.gov cannot be claimed as 

CBI. Comments received through the 

Web site will waive any CBI claims for 

the information submitted. For 

information on submitting CBI, see the 

Confidential Business Information 

section. 

DOE processes submissions made 

through regulations.gov before posting. 

Normally, comments will be posted 

within a few days of being submitted. 

However, if large volumes of comments 

are being processed simultaneously, 

your comment may not be viewable for 

up to several weeks. Please keep the 

comment tracking number that 

regulations.gov provides after you have 

successfully uploaded your comment. 

Submitting comments via email, hand 

delivery, or mail. Comments and 

documents submitted via email, hand 

delivery, or mail also will be posted to 

regulations.gov. If you do not want your 

personal contact information to be 

publicly viewable, do not include it in 

your comment or any accompanying 

documents. Instead, provide your 

contact information on a cover letter. 

Include your first and last names, email 

address, telephone number, and 

optional mailing address. The cover 

letter will not be publicly viewable as 

long as it does not include any 

comments. 

Include contact information each time 

you submit comments, data, documents, 

and other information to DOE. If you 

submit via mail or hand delivery, please 

provide all items on a CD, if feasible. It 

is not necessary to submit printed 

copies. No facsimiles (faxes) will be 

accepted. 

Comments, data, and other 

information submitted to DOE 

electronically should be provided in 

PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or 

Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file 

format. Provide documents that are not 

secured, written in English and free of 

any defects or viruses. Documents 

should not contain special characters or 

any form of encryption and, if possible, 

they should carry the electronic 

signature of the author. 

Campaign form letters. Please submit 

campaign form letters by the originating 

organization in batches of between 50 to 

500 form letters per PDF or as one form 

letter with a list of supporters’ names 

compiled into one or more PDFs. This 

reduces comment processing and 

posting time. 

Confidential Business Information. 

According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 

person submitting information that he 

or she believes to be confidential and 

exempt by law from public disclosure 

should submit via email, postal mail, or 

hand delivery two well-marked copies: 

one copy of the document marked 

confidential including all the 

information believed to be confidential, 

and one copy of the document marked 


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non-confidential with the information 

believed to be confidential deleted. 

Submit these documents via email or on 

a CD, if feasible. DOE will make its own 

determination about the confidential 

status of the information and treat it 

according to its determination. 

Factors of interest to DOE when 

evaluating requests to treat submitted 

information as confidential include: (1) 

A description of the items; (2) whether 

and why such items are customarily 

treated as confidential within the 

industry; (3) whether the information is 

generally known by or available from 

other sources; (4) whether the 

information has previously been made 

available to others without obligation 

concerning its confidentiality; (5) an 

explanation of the competitive injury to 

the submitting person which would 

result from public disclosure; (6) when 

such information might lose its 

confidential character due to the 

passage of time; and (7) why disclosure 

of the information would be contrary to 

the public interest. 

It is DOE’s policy that all comments 

may be included in the public docket, 

without change and as received, 

including any personal information 

provided in the comments (except 

information deemed to be exempt from 

public disclosure). 

E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment 

Although DOE welcomes comments 

on any aspect of this proposal, DOE is 

particularly interested in receiving 

comments and views of interested 

parties concerning the following issues: 

1. The clarification of whole-home 

dehumidifiers, including refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers, as covered 

products, and the new definitions for 

portable dehumidifiers, whole-home 

dehumidifiers, refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers. (See section III.A.) 

2. The new definitions for 

dehumidification mode and fan-only 

mode. (See section III.B.) 

3. The revision of the ambient drybulb temperature for testing conditions 

from 80 °F to 65 °F in new appendix X1, 

along with the associated impacts to IEF 

and capacity. In addition, DOE 

welcomes input on the alternative 

approach in which dehumidifiers would 

be tested under both the 80 °F and 

65 °F ambient temperature conditions, 

with the IEF and capacity calculated as 

weighted averages of these metrics 

measured at each of the two 

temperatures. For this alternative 

approach, DOE seeks input on 

appropriate weighting factors. DOE also 

seeks further comment on alternatively 

testing whole-home dehumidifiers at 

73 °F ambient dry-bulb temperature to 

represent the average residential 

thermostat setting during dehumidifier 

usage. (See section III.B.1.a.) 

4. The continued specification of 60- 

percent relative humidity for the 

ambient testing conditions for 

dehumidification mode, even at a 

reduced ambient temperature. (See 

section III.B.1.b.) 

5. The test setup and testing 

methodology for whole-home 

dehumidifiers in appendix X1, 

including refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers. In particular, DOE 

welcomes comment on the proposed 

ducting configurations, alternative 

ambient temperature, and ESP, 

including equipment costs and testing 

burden. (See section III.B.1.c.) 

6. The testing burden associated with 

the requirement for multiple 

psychrometer sampling trees for 

portable dehumidifiers with multiple air 

inlets, and for connecting no more than 

one test unit per psychrometer. (See 

section III.B.1.d.) 

7. The condensation collection 

requirements for dehumidifiers with 

and without means for draining the 

condensate, including the use of any 

internal pump only if it is activated by 

default in dehumidification mode. (See 

section III.B.1.e.) 

8. The proposed control settings for 

dehumidification mode testing, which 

would require selecting continuous 

operation for those units with such a 

function. Otherwise the lowest relative 

humidity setting and, for units with 

user-adjustable fan speed, the highest 

fan speed would be selected. (See 

section III.B.1.f.) 

9. The provisions for measuring 

energy consumption in fan-only mode 

in appendix X1, including the use of the 

maximum speed setting for those units 

with adjustable fan speed settings, the 

measurement period specifications, and 

the inclusion of fan-only mode energy 

consumption in the calculation of IEF. 

DOE also seeks comment on whether 

fan-only mode energy consumption is 

independent of ambient conditions. (See 

section III.B.2.) 

VI. Approval of the Office of the 

Secretary 

The Secretary of Energy has approved 

publication of this proposed rule. 

List of Subjects 

10 CFR Part 429 

Confidential business information, 

Energy conservation, Household 

appliances, Imports, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements. 

10 CFR Part 430 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Confidential business 

information, Energy conservation, 

Household appliances, Imports, 

Incorporation by reference, 

Intergovernmental relations, Small 

businesses. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on May 2, 2014. 

Kathleen B. Hogan, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy 

Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy. 

For the reasons stated in the 

preamble, DOE proposes to amend parts 

429 and 430 of Chapter II of Title 10, 

Code of Federal Regulations as set forth 

below: 

PART 429—CERTIFICATION, 

COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT 

FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND 

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL 

EQUIPMENT 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 429 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6317. 

■ 2. Section 429.36 is amended by 

adding paragraph (a)(3) to read as 

follows: 

§ 429.36 Dehumidifiers. 

(a) * * * 

(3) The value of capacity of a basic 

model reported in accordance with 

paragraph (b)(2) of this section shall be 

the mean of the measured capacity for 

each tested unit of the basic model. 

Round the mean capacity value to two 

decimal places as follows: 

(i) A fractional number at or above the 

midpoint between two consecutive 

decimal places shall be rounded up to 

the higher of the two decimal places; or 

(ii) A fractional number below the 

midpoint between two consecutive 

decimal places shall be rounded down 

to the lower of the two decimal places. 

* * * * * 

■ 3. Add § 429.134 to read as follows: 

§ 429.134 Product-specific enforcement 

provisions. 

(a) General. The following provisions 

apply to assessment and enforcement 

testing of the relevant products. 

(b)–(e) [Reserved] 

(f) Dehumidifiers. (1) Verification of 

capacity. The capacity of the basic 

model will be measured pursuant to the 

test requirements of 10 CFR part 430 for 

each unit tested. The results of the 

measurement(s) will be averaged and 

compared to the value of capacity 

certified by the manufacturer. The 

certified capacity will be considered 

valid only if the measurement is within 


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five percent, or 1.00 pint per day, 

whichever is greater, of the certified 

capacity. 

(i) If the certified capacity is found to 

be valid, the certified capacity will be 

used as the basis for determining the 

minimum energy factor allowed for the 

basic model. 

(ii) If the certified capacity is found to 

be invalid, the mean of the measured 

capacity of each unit in the sample will 

be used as the basis for determining the 

minimum energy factor allowed for the 

basic model. 

(2) [Reserved] 

PART 430—ENERGY CONSERVATION 

PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER 

PRODUCTS 

■ 4. The authority citation for part 430 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6309; 28 U.S.C. 

2461 note. 

■ 5. Section 430.2 is amended by 

■ a. Revising the definition of 

‘‘Dehumidifier’’; and 

■ b. Adding the definitions for ‘‘Portable 

dehumidifier’’, ‘‘Refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifier’’, and ‘‘Whole-home 

dehumidifier’’ in alphabetical order; 

The revisions and additions read as 

follows: 

§ 430.2 Definitions. 

* * * * * 

Dehumidifier means a product, other 

than a portable air conditioner or room 

air conditioner, which is a selfcontained, electrically operated, and 

mechanically encased assembly 

consisting of: 

(1) A refrigerated surface (evaporator) 

that condenses moisture from the 

atmosphere; 

(2) A refrigerating system, including 

an electric motor; 

(3) An air-circulating fan; and 

(4) Means for collecting or disposing 

of the condensate. 

* * * * * 

Portable dehumidifier means a 

dehumidifier designed to operate within 

the dehumidified space without the 

attachment of additional ducting, 

although means may be provided for 

optional duct attachment. 

* * * * * 

Refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifier 

means a whole-home dehumidifier that 

removes moisture from the process air 

by means of a desiccant material in 

addition to a refrigeration system. 

* * * * * 

Whole-home dehumidifier means a 

dehumidifier designed to be installed 

with ducting to deliver return process 

air to its inlet and to supply 

dehumidified process air from its outlet 

to one or more locations in the 

dehumidified space. 

■ 6. Section 430.3 is amended by: 

■ a. Redesignating paragraphs (f)(10) 

and (f)(11) as paragraphs (f)(12) and 

(f)(13); 

■ b. Redesignating paragraphs (f)(6) 

through (f)(9) as paragraphs (f)(7) 

through (f)(10); and 

■ c. Adding new paragraphs (f)(6) and 

(f)(11) to read as follows: 

§ 430.3 Materials incorporated by 

reference. 

* * * * * 

(f) * * * 

(6) ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 41.1– 

2013, Standard Method for Temperature 

Measurement, ASHRAE approved 

January 29, 2013, ANSI approved 

January 30, 2013, IBR approved for 

appendix X1 to subpart B. 

* * * * * 

(11) ANSI/ASHRAE 51–07/ANSI/

AMCA 210–07, (‘‘ANSI/AMCA 210’’) 

Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for 

Certified Aerodynamic Performance 

Rating, AMCA approved July 28, 2006, 

ASHRAE approved March 17, 2008, IBR 

approved for appendix X1 to subpart B. 

* * * * * 

■ 7. Section 430.23 is amended by 

revising paragraph (z) to read as follows: 

§ 430.23 Test procedures for the 

measurement of energy and water 

consumption. 

* * * * * 

(z) Dehumidifiers. When using 

appendix X, the capacity, expressed in 

pints per day (pints/day), and the 

energy factor for dehumidifiers, 

expressed in liters per kilowatt hour 

(L/kWh), shall be measured in 

accordance with section 4.1 of appendix 

X of this subpart. When using appendix 

X1, the capacity, expressed in pints/day 

for dehumidifiers other than refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers and the energy 

factor for dehumidifiers, expressed in 

L/kWh, shall be measured in accordance 

with section 4.1.1.1 of appendix X1 of 

this subpart, and the integrated energy 

factor, expressed in L/kWh, shall be 

determined according to section 5.3 of 

appendix X1 to this subpart. When 

using appendix X1, the capacity, 

expressed in pints/day, for refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers shall be 

measured in accordance with section 

5.4 of appendix X1 of this subpart. 

* * * * * 

■ 8. Appendix X to subpart B of part 430 

is amended: 

■ a. By revising the note after the 

heading; 

■ b. In section 2, Definitions, by 

redesignating sections 2.4 through 2.10 

as sections 2.5 through 2.11, adding new 

section 2.4, and revising newly 

redesignated section 2.10; 

■ c. In section 3, Test Apparatus and 

General Instructions, by revising section 

3.1 and adding new sections 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 

3.1.3, and 3.1.4; 

■ d. In section 4, Test Measurement, by 

revising sections 4.1, 4.2.1, and 4.2.2; 

and 

■ e. In section 5, Calculation of Derived 

Results From Test Measurements, by 

revising sections 5.1 and 5.2; 

The additions and revisions read as 

follows: 

Appendix X to Subpart B of Part 430— 

Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 

Energy Consumption of Dehumidifiers 

Note: After November 17, 2014, any 

representations made with respect to the 

energy use or efficiency of portable 

dehumidifiers must be made in accordance 

with the results of testing pursuant to this 

appendix. Alternatively, manufacturers may 

certify compliance with any amended energy 

conservation standards prior to the 

compliance date of those amended energy 

conservation standards by testing in 

accordance with appendix X1. Any 

representations made with respect to the 

energy use or efficiency of such portable 

dehumidifiers must be in accordance with 

whichever version is selected. 

Any representations made on or after the 

compliance date of any amended energy 

conservation standards, with respect to the 

energy use or efficiency of portable or whole 

home dehumidifiers, must be made in 

accordance with the results of testing 

pursuant to appendix X1. 

* * * * * 

2. Definitions 

* * * * * 

2.4 Dehumidification mode means 

an active mode in which a 

dehumidifier: 

(1) Has activated the main moisture 

removal function according to the 

humidistat or humidity sensor signal; 

and 

(2) Has either activated the 

refrigeration system or activated the fan 

or blower without activation of the 

refrigeration system. 

* * * * * 

2.10 Product capacity for 

dehumidifiers means a measure of the 

ability of the dehumidifier to remove 

moisture from its surrounding 

atmosphere, measured in pints collected 

per 24 hours of operation under the 

specified ambient conditions. 

* * * * * 

3. Test Apparatus and General 

Instructions 

3.1 Active mode. The test apparatus 

and instructions for testing 


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dehumidifiers in dehumidification 

mode shall conform to the requirements 

specified in Section 3, ‘‘Definitions,’’ 

Section 4, ‘‘Instrumentation,’’ and 

Section 5, ‘‘Test Procedure,’’ of ANSI/

AHAM DH–1 (incorporated by 

reference, see § 430.3), with the 

following exceptions. 

3.1.1 Psychrometer placement. The 

psychrometer shall be placed 

perpendicular to, and 1 ft. in front of, 

the center of the intake grille. For 

dehumidifiers with multiple intake 

grilles, a separate sampling tree shall be 

placed perpendicular to, and 1 ft. in 

front of, the center of each intake grille, 

with the samples combined and 

connected to a single psychrometer 

using a minimal length of insulated 

ducting. The psychrometer shall be used 

to monitor inlet conditions of one test 

unit only. 

3.1.2 Condensate collection. If 

means are provided on the dehumidifier 

for draining condensate away from the 

cabinet, the condensate shall be 

collected in a substantially closed vessel 

to prevent re-evaporation and shall be 

placed on the weight-measuring 

instrument. If no means for draining 

condensate away from the cabinet are 

provided, any automatic shutoff of 

dehumidification mode operation that is 

activated when the collection container 

is full shall be disabled and any 

overflow shall be collected in a pan, 

covered as much as possible to prevent 

re-evaporation and not impede 

collection of overflow water, that is 

placed beneath the dehumidifier, all of 

the condensate (i.e., the condensate 

collected in the vessel/collection 

container and the overflow pan) shall be 

placed on the weight-measuring 

instrument for direct reading of the 

condensate weight during the test. Any 

internal pump shall not be used to drain 

the condensate into a substantially 

closed vessel unless such pump is 

activated by default in dehumidification 

mode. 

3.1.3 Control settings. If the 

dehumidifier has a control setting for 

continuous operation in 

dehumidification mode, that setting 

shall be selected. Otherwise, the 

controls shall be set to the lowest 

available relative humidity level, and, if 

the dehumidifier has a user-adjustable 

fan speed, the maximum fan speed 

setting shall be selected. 

3.1.4 Recording and rounding. 

Record measurements at the resolution 

of the test instrumentation. Round off 

calculations to the same number of 

significant digits as the previous step. 

Round the final energy factor and 

integrated energy factor values to two 

decimal places as follows: 

(i) A fractional number at or above the 

midpoint between two consecutive 

decimal places shall be rounded up to 

the higher of the two decimal places; or 

(ii) A fractional number below the 

midpoint between two consecutive 

decimal places shall be rounded down 

to the lower of the two decimal places. 

Round the final capacity value to two 

decimal places as follows: 

(i) A fractional number at or above the 

midpoint between two consecutive 

decimal places shall be rounded up to 

the higher of the two decimal places; or 

(ii) A fractional number below the 

midpoint between two consecutive 

decimal places shall be rounded down 

to the lower of the two decimal places. 

* * * * * 

4. Test Measurement 

4.1 Active mode. Measure the energy 

consumption in dehumidification mode, 

EDM, expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh), 

the energy factor, expressed in liters per 

kilowatt-hour (L/kWh), and product 

capacity, expressed in pints per day 

(pints/day), in accordance with the test 

requirements specified in Section 7, 

‘‘Capacity Test and Energy 

Consumption Test,’’ of ANSI/AHAM 

DH–1 (incorporated by reference, see 

§ 430.3). 

* * * * * 

4.2.1 If the dehumidifier has an 

inactive mode, as defined in section 2.7 

of this appendix, but not an off mode, 

as defined in section 2.8 of this 

appendix, measure and record the 

average inactive mode power of the 

dehumidifier, PIA, in watts. Otherwise, 

if the dehumidifier has an off mode, as 

defined in section 2.8 of this appendix, 

measure and record the average off 

mode power of the dehumidifier, POM, 

in watts. 

4.2.2 If the dehumidifier has an offcycle mode, as defined in section 2.9 of 

this appendix, measure and record the 

average off-cycle mode power of the 

dehumidifier, POC, in watts. 

5. Calculation of Derived Results From 

Test Measurements 

5.1 Annual combined low-power 

mode energy consumption. Calculate 

the annual combined low-power mode 

energy consumption for dehumidifiers, 

ETLP, expressed in kilowatt-hours per 

year, according to the following: 

ETLP = [(PIO × SIO) + (POC × SOC)] × K 

Where: 

PIO = PIA, dehumidifier inactive mode power, 

or POM, dehumidifier off mode power, in 

watts, as measured in section 4.2.1 of 

this appendix. 

POC = dehumidifier off-cycle mode power, in 

watts, as measured in section 4.2.2 of 

this appendix. 

SIO = 1,840.5 dehumidifier inactive mode or 

off mode annual hours. 

SOC = 1,840.5 dehumidifier off-cycle mode 

annual hours. 

K = 0.001 kWh/Wh conversion factor for 

watt-hours to kilowatt-hours. 

5.2 Integrated energy factor. 

Calculate the integrated energy factor, 

IEF, expressed in liters per kilowatthour, rounded to two decimal places, 

according to the following: 

IEF = LW/[EDM + ((ETLP × 6)/SDM)] 

Where: 

LW = water removed from the air during the 

6-hour dehumidification mode test, in 

liters, as measured in section 4.1 of this 

appendix. 

EDM = dehumidifier mode test energy 

consumption during the 6-hour 

dehumidification mode test, in kilowatthours, as measured in section 4.1 of this 

appendix. 

ETLP = standby mode and off mode annual 

energy consumption, in kilowatt-hours 

per year, as calculated in section 5.1 of 

this appendix. 

6 = hours per dehumidification mode test, 

used to convert annual standby and off 

mode energy consumption for 

integration with dehumidification mode 

energy consumption. 

SDM = 1,095 dehumidification mode annual 

hours. 

■ 9. Appendix X1 is added to subpart B 

of part 430 to read as follows: 

Appendix X1 to Subpart B of Part 430— 

Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 

Energy Consumption of Dehumidifiers 

Note: After November 17, 2014, any 

representations made with respect to the 

energy use or efficiency of portable 

dehumidifiers must be made in accordance 

with the results of testing pursuant to 

Appendix X. Alternatively, manufacturers 

may certify compliance with any amended 

energy conservation standards prior to the 

compliance date of those amended energy 

conservation standards by testing in 

accordance with this appendix. Any 

representations made with respect to the 

energy use or efficiency of such portable 

dehumidifiers must be in accordance with 

whichever version is selected. 

Any representations made on or after the 

compliance date of any amended energy 

conservation standards, with respect to the 

energy use or efficiency of portable or whole 

home dehumidifiers, must be made in 

accordance with the results of testing 

pursuant to this appendix. 

1. Scope 

This appendix covers the test 

requirements used to measure the 

energy performance of dehumidifiers. 

2. Definitions 

2.1 ANSI/AHAM DH–1 means the 

test standard published by the American 

National Standards Institute and the 

Association of Home Appliance 


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29300 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

Manufacturers, titled ‘‘Dehumidifiers,’’ 

ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008 (incorporated 

by reference; see § 430.3). 

2.2 ANSI/AMCA 210 means the test 

standard published by ANSI, the 

American Society of Heating, 

Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning 

Engineers, and the Air Movement and 

Control Association International, Inc., 

titled ‘‘Laboratory Methods of Testing 

Fans for Aerodynamic Performance 

Rating,’’ ANSI/ASHRAE 51–07/ANSI/

AMCA 210–07 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3). 

2.3 ANSI/ASHRAE 37 means the test 

standard published by ANSI and 

ASHRAE titled ‘‘Methods of Testing for 

Rating Electrically Driven Unitary AirConditioning and Heat Pump 

Equipment’’, ANSI/ASHRAE 37–2009, 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3). 

2.4 ANSI/ASHRAE 41.1 means the 

test standard published by ANSI and 

ASHRAE, titled ‘‘Standard Method for 

Temperature Measurement,’’ ANSI/

ASHRAE 41.1–2013 (incorporated by 

reference; see § 430.3). 

2.5 Active mode means a mode in 

which a dehumidifier is connected to a 

mains power source, has been activated, 

and is performing the main functions of 

removing moisture from air by drawing 

moist air over a refrigerated coil using 

a fan, or circulating air through 

activation of the fan without activation 

of the refrigeration system. 

2.6 Combined low-power mode 

means the aggregate of available modes 

other than active mode. 

2.7 Dehumidification mode means 

an active mode in which a 

dehumidifier: 

(1) Has activated the main moisture 

removal function according to the 

humidistat or humidity sensor signal; 

and 

(2) Has either activated the 

refrigeration system or activated the fan 

or blower without activation of the 

refrigeration system. 

2.8 Energy factor for dehumidifiers 

means a measure of energy efficiency of 

a dehumidifier calculated by dividing 

the water removed from the air by the 

energy consumed, measured in liters per 

kilowatt-hour (L/kWh). 

2.9 External static pressure (ESP) 

means the process air outlet static 

pressure minus the process air inlet 

static pressure, measured in inches of 

water column (in. w.c.). 

2.10 Fan-only mode means an active 

mode in which the dehumidifier: 

(1) Has cycled off its main moisture 

removal function by humidistat or 

humidity sensor; 

(2) Has activated its fan or blower to 

operate either cyclically or 

continuously; and 

(3) May reactivate the main moisture 

removal function according to the 

humidistat or humidity sensor signal. 

2.11 IEC 62301 means the test 

standard published by the International 

Electrotechnical Commission, titled 

‘‘Household electrical appliances– 

Measurement of standby power,’’ 

Publication 62301 (Edition 2.0 2011–01) 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3). 

2.12 Inactive mode means a standby 

mode that facilitates the activation of 

active mode by remote switch 

(including remote control), internal 

sensor, or timer, or that provides 

continuous status display. 

2.13 Off mode means a mode in 

which the dehumidifier is connected to 

a mains power source and is not 

providing any active mode or standby 

mode function, and where the mode 

may persist for an indefinite time. An 

indicator that only shows the user that 

the dehumidifier is in the off position is 

included within the classification of an 

off mode. 

2.14 Off-cycle mode means a 

standby mode in which the 

dehumidifier: 

(1) Has cycled off its main moisture 

removal function by humidistat or 

humidity sensor; 

(2) Does not have its fan or blower 

operating; and 

(3) Will reactivate the main functions 

according to the humidistat or humidity 

sensor signal. 

2.15 Product capacity for 

dehumidifiers means a measure of the 

ability of the dehumidifier to remove 

moisture from its surrounding 

atmosphere, measured in pints collected 

per 24 hours of operation under the 

specified ambient conditions. 

2.16 Process air means the air 

supplied to the dehumidifier from the 

dehumidified space and discharged to 

the dehumidified space after some of 

the moisture has been removed by 

means of the refrigeration system. 

2.17 Reactivation air means the air 

drawn from unconditioned space to 

remove moisture from the desiccant 

wheel of a refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifier and discharged to 

unconditioned space. 

2.18 Standby mode means any 

modes where the dehumidifier is 

connected to a mains power source and 

offers one or more of the following useroriented or protective functions which 

may persist for an indefinite time: 

(1) To facilitate the activation of other 

modes (including activation or 

deactivation of active mode) by remote 

switch (including remote control), 

internal sensor, or timer; 

(2) Continuous functions, including 

information or status displays 

(including clocks) or sensor-based 

functions. A timer is a continuous clock 

function (which may or may not be 

associated with a display) that provides 

regular scheduled tasks (e.g., switching) 

and that operates on a continuous basis. 

3. Test Apparatus and General 

Instructions 

3.1 Active mode. 

3.1.1 Portable dehumidifiers and 

whole-home dehumidifiers other than 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers. The 

test apparatus and instructions for 

testing in dehumidification mode and 

fan-only mode shall conform to the 

requirements specified in Section 3, 

‘‘Definitions,’’ Section 4, 

‘‘Instrumentation,’’ and Section 5, ‘‘Test 

Procedure,’’ of ANSI/AHAM DH–1 

(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3), 

with the following exceptions. Note that 

if a product is able to operate as both a 

portable and whole-home dehumidifier 

by means of installation or removal of 

an optional ducting kit, it shall be tested 

and rated for both configurations. 

3.1.1.1 Testing configuration for 

whole-home dehumidifiers other than 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers. 

Dehumidifiers other than refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers shall be tested 

with ducting attached to the process air 

outlet port. The duct configuration and 

component placement shall conform to 

the requirements specified in section 

3.1.3 of this appendix and Figure 1 or 

Figure 3 in section 3.1.3, except that the 

flow straightener and dry-bulb 

temperature and relative humidity 

instruments shall not be required. 

External static pressure in the process 

air flow shall be measured as specified 

in section 3.1.2.2.3.1 of this appendix. 

3.1.1.2 Psychrometer placement. 

The psychrometer shall be placed 

perpendicular to, and 1 ft. in front of, 

the center of the process air intake 

grille. For dehumidifiers with multiple 

process air intake grilles, a separate 

sampling tree shall be placed 

perpendicular to, and 1 ft. in front of, 

the center of each process air intake 

grille, with the samples combined and 

connected to a single psychrometer 

using a minimal length of insulated 

ducting. The psychrometer shall be used 

to monitor inlet conditions of one test 

unit only. 

3.1.1.3 Condensate collection. If 

means are provided on the dehumidifier 

for draining condensate away from the 

cabinet, the condensate shall be 

collected in a substantially closed vessel 

to prevent re-evaporation and shall be 

placed on the weight-measuring 

instrument. If no means for draining 

condensate away from the cabinet are 

provided, any automatic shutoff of 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 98 / Wednesday, May 21, 2014 / Proposed Rules 29301 

dehumidification mode operation that is 

activated when the collection container 

is full shall be disabled and any 

overflow shall be collected in a pan, 

covered as much as possible to prevent 

re-evaporation and not impede 

collection of overflow water, and that is 

placed beneath the dehumidifier, both 

of which shall be placed on the weightmeasuring instrument for direct reading 

of the condensate weight during the test. 

Any internal pump shall not be used to 

drain the condensate into a substantially 

closed vessel unless such pump is 

provided for use by default in 

dehumidification mode. 

3.1.1.4 Control settings. If the 

dehumidifier has a control setting for 

continuous operation in 

dehumidification mode, that setting 

shall be selected. Otherwise, the 

controls shall be set to the lowest 

available relative humidity level, and if 

the dehumidifier has a user-adjustable 

fan speed, the maximum fan speed 

setting shall be selected. 

3.1.1.4 Run-in period. A single runin period during which the compressor 

operates shall be performed before 

active mode testing. No additional runin period shall be conducted between 

dehumidification mode testing and fanonly mode testing. 

3.1.2 Refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers. The test apparatus and 

instructions for testing refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers in 

dehumidification mode and fan-only 

mode shall conform to the requirements 

specified in Section 3, ‘‘Definitions,’’ 

Section 4, ‘‘Instrumentation,’’ and 

Section 5, ‘‘Test Procedure,’’ of ANSI/

AHAM DH–1 (incorporated by 

reference, see § 430.3), except as 

follows. No weight-measuring 

instruments are required. 

3.1.2.1 Testing configuration. 

Refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers 

shall be tested with ducting attached to 

the process air inlet and outlet ports and 

the reactivation air inlet port. The duct 

configuration and components shall 

conform to the requirements specified 

in section 3.1.3 of this appendix and 

Figure 1 through Figure 3 in section 

3.1.3. A cell-type airflow straightener 

that conforms with the specifications in 

Section 5.2.1.6, ‘‘Airflow straightener’’, 

and Figure 6A, ‘‘Flow Straightener— 

Cell Type’’, of ANSI/AMCA 210 

(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3) 

shall be installed in each duct 

consistent with Figure 1 through Figure 

3 in section 3.1.1 of this appendix. 

3.1.2.2 Instrumentation. 

3.1.2.2.1 Temperature. Dry-bulb 

temperature sensors shall be installed in 

a grid centered in the duct, with the 

plane of the grid perpendicular to the 

axis of the duct. The number and 

locations of the sensors within the grid 

shall be determined according to 

Section 5.3.5, ‘‘Centers of Segments— 

Grids,’’ of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 41.1 

(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3). 

3.1.2.2.2 Relative humidity. Relative 

humidity shall be measured with an 

aspirating psychrometer with an 

accuracy within ±1 percent relative 

humidity. The relative humidity sensor 

shall be placed at the duct centerline 

within 1 inch of the dry-bulb 

temperature grid plane. 

3.1.2.2.3 Pressure. The pressure 

instruments used to measure the 

external static pressure and velocity 

pressures shall have an accuracy within 

±0.01 in. w.c. and a resolution of no 

more than 0.01 in. w.c. 

3.1.2.2.3.1 External static pressure. 

Static pressures in ducts shall be 

measured using pitot-static tube 

traverses that conform with the 

specifications in Section 4.3.1, ‘‘Pitot 

Traverse,’’ of ANSI/AMCA 210 

(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3), 

with pitot-static tubes that conform with 

the specifications in Section 4.2.2, 

‘‘Pitot-Static Tube,’’ of ANSI/AMCA 

210. Static pressures at each pitot-static 

tube in a traverse shall be measured at 

the static pressure tap and averaged. 

Duct pressure losses between the unit 

under test and the plane of each static 

pressure measurement shall be 

calculated in accordance with section 

7.5.2, ‘‘Pressure Losses,’’ of ANSI/

AMCA 210. The external static pressure 

shall be the difference between the 

measured inlet and outlet static pressure 

measurements, minus the sum of the 

inlet and outlet duct pressure losses. For 

any port with no duct attached, a static 

pressure of 0.00 in. w.c. with no duct 

pressure loss shall be used in the 

calculation of external static pressure. 

During dehumidification mode testing, 

the external static pressure shall equal 

0.5 in. w.c. ± 0.02 in. w.c. 

3.1.2.2.3.2 Velocity pressure. 

Velocity pressures shall be measured 

using the same pitot traverses as used 

for measuring external static pressure, 

and which are specified in section 

3.1.2.2.3.1 of this appendix. Velocity 

pressures shall be determined at each 

pitot-static tube in a traverse as the 

difference between the pressure at the 

impact pressure tap and the pressure at 

the static pressure tap. Volumetric flow 

rates in each duct shall be calculated in 

accordance with Section 7.3.1, 

‘‘Velocity Traverse,’’ of ANSI/AMCA 

210 (incorporated by reference, see 

§ 430.3). 

3.1.2.3 Control settings. If the 

dehumidifier has a control setting for 

continuous operation in 

dehumidification mode, that setting 

shall be selected. Otherwise, the 

controls shall be set to the lowest 

available relative humidity level, and if 

the dehumidifier has a user-adjustable 

fan speed, the maximum fan speed 

setting shall be selected. 

3.1.2.4 Run-in period. A single runin period during which the compressor 

operates shall be performed before 

active mode testing. No additional runin period shall be conducted between 

dehumidification mode testing and fanonly mode testing. 

3.1.3 Ducting for whole-home 

dehumidifiers. Any port designed for 

intake of air from outside or 

unconditioned space, other than for 

supplying reactivation air for 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers, 

shall be covered and sealed with tape. 

Ducting shall be constructed of 

galvanized mild steel and shall be 10 

inches in diameter. Inlet and outlet 

ducts shall be positioned either 

horizontally or vertically to 

accommodate the default dehumidifier 

port orientation. All ducts shall be 

installed with the axis of the section 

interfacing with the dehumidifier 

perpendicular to plane of the collar to 

which each is attached. If manufacturerrecommended collars do not measure 10 

inches in diameter, transitional pieces 

shall be used to connect the ducts to the 

collars. The transitional pieces shall not 

contain any converging element that 

forms an angle with the duct axis greater 

than 7.5 degrees or a diverging element 

that forms an angle with the duct axis 

greater than 3.5 degrees. Mechanical 

throttling devices shall be installed in 

each outlet duct consistent with Figure 

1 and Figure 3 of this section to adjust 

the external static pressure. The ducts 

shall be covered with thermal insulation 

having a minimum R value of 6 h-ft2-°F/ 

Btu (1.1 m2-K/W). Seams and edges 

shall be sealed with tape. 

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P 


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BILLING CODE 6450–01–C 

3.1.4 Recording and rounding. 

When testing either a portable 

dehumidifier or a whole-home 

dehumidifier, record measurements at 

the resolution of the test 

instrumentation. Measurements for 

portable dehumidifiers and whole-home 

dehumidifiers other than refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers shall be 

recorded at intervals no greater than 10 

minutes. Measurements for refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers shall be 

recorded at intervals no greater than 1 

minute. Round off calculations to the 

same number of significant digits as the 

previous step. Round the final energy 

factor and integrated energy factor 

values to two decimal places as follows: 

(i) A fractional number at or above the 

midpoint between two consecutive 

decimal places shall be rounded up to 

the higher of the two decimal places; or 

(ii) A fractional number below the 

midpoint between two consecutive 

decimal places shall be rounded down 

to the lower of the two decimal places. 

Round the final capacity value to two 

decimal places as follows: 

(i) A fractional number at or above the 

midpoint between two consecutive 

decimal places shall be rounded up to 

the higher of the two decimal places; or 

(ii) A fractional number below the 

midpoint between two consecutive 

decimal places shall be rounded down 

to the lower of the two decimal places. 

3.2 Standby mode and off mode. 

3.2.1 Installation requirements. For 

the standby mode and off mode testing, 

the dehumidifier shall be installed in 

accordance with Section 5, Paragraph 

5.2 of IEC 62301 (incorporated by 

reference, see § 430.3), disregarding the 

provisions regarding batteries and the 

determination, classification, and 

testing of relevant modes. 

3.2.2 Electrical energy supply. 

3.2.2.1 Electrical supply. For the 

standby mode and off mode testing, 

maintain the electrical supply voltage 

and frequency indicated in Section 

7.1.3, ‘‘Standard Test Voltage,’’ of ANSI/ 

AHAM DH–1 (incorporated by 

reference, see § 430.3). The electrical 

supply frequency shall be maintained 

±1 percent. 

3.2.2.2 Supply voltage waveform. 

For the standby mode and off mode 

testing, maintain the electrical supply 

voltage waveform indicated in Section 

4, Paragraph 4.3.2 of IEC 62301 

(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3). 


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3.2.3 Standby mode and off mode 

wattmeter. The wattmeter used to 

measure standby mode and off mode 

power consumption shall meet the 

requirements specified in Section 4, 

Paragraph 4.4 of IEC 62301 

(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3). 

3.2.4 Standby mode and off mode 

ambient temperature. For standby mode 

and off mode testing, maintain room 

ambient air temperature conditions as 

specified in Section 4, Paragraph 4.2 of 

IEC 62301 (incorporated by reference, 

see § 430.3). 

4. Test Measurement 

4.1 Active mode. 

4.1.1 Dehumidification mode. 

4.1.1.1 Portable dehumidifiers and 

whole-home dehumidifiers other than 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers. 

Establish the testing conditions set forth 

in section 3.1.1 of this appendix. 

Measure the energy consumption in 

dehumidification mode, EDM, expressed 

in kilowatt-hours (kWh), the energy 

factor, expressed in liters per kilowatthour (L/kWh), and product capacity, 

expressed in pints per day (pints/day), 

in accordance with the test 

requirements specified in Section 7, 

‘‘Capacity Test and Energy 

Consumption Test,’’ of ANSI/AHAM 

DH–1 (incorporated by reference, see 

§ 430.3), except that the standard test 

conditions shall be maintained at 65 °F 

± 2.0 °F dry-bulb temperature and 

56.6 °F ± 1.0 °F wet-bulb temperature, 

and psychrometer placement shall be as 

specified in section 3.1.1.2 of this 

appendix. 

4.1.1.2 Refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers. Establish the testing 

conditions set forth in section 3.1.2 of 

this appendix. Measure the energy 

consumption, EDM, expressed in kWh, 

in accordance with the test 

requirements specified in Section 7.1, 

‘‘Capacity Test,’’ of ANSI/AHAM DH–1 

(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3), 

except that (1) the standard test 

conditions at the air entering the 

process air inlet duct and the 

reactivation air inlet shall be maintained 

at 65 °F ± 2.0 °F dry-bulb temperature 

and 56.6 °F ± 1.0 °F wet-bulb 

temperature, (2) the instructions for 

psychrometer placement shall not 

apply, (3) the data recorded shall 

include dry-bulb temperatures, relative 

humidities, static pressures, and 

velocity pressures in each duct, and (4) 

the condensate collected during the test 

need not be weighed. 

4.1.2 Fan-only mode. If the 

dehumidifier operates in fan-only mode, 

as defined in section 2.10 of this 

appendix, establish the testing 

conditions set forth in either section 

4.1.2.1 of this appendix or section 

4.1.2.2 of this appendix. If the 

dehumidifier has a user-adjustable fan 

speed during fan-only mode, the 

maximum fan speed setting shall be 

selected. Measure the average fan-only 

mode power, expressed in watts (W), for 

a period of 1 hour for fan-only mode in 

which the fan operates continuously. 

For fan-only mode in which the fan 

operates cyclically, measure the average 

fan-only mode power over a period of 

three or more full cycles for a minimum 

of 1 hour. 

4.1.2.1 Establish the testing 

conditions set forth in section 3.2 of this 

appendix, with the dehumidifier 

controls set during this testing at a 

setpoint that is higher than the ambient 

relative humidity to ensure that the 

refrigeration system does not cycle on. 

4.1.2.2 Establish the test 

requirements specified in Section 7.1.2, 

‘‘Standard Test Conditions,’’ Section 

7.1.3, ‘‘Standard Test Voltage,’’ Section 

7.1.4, ‘‘Psychrometer Placement,’’ and 

Section 7.1.5, ‘‘Data to be Recorded,’’ of 

ANSI/AHAM DH–1 (incorporated by 

reference, see § 430.3). The 

dehumidifier controls shall be set 

during this testing at a setpoint that is 

higher than 60 percent relative humidity 

to ensure that the refrigeration system 

does not cycle on. 

4.2 Standby mode and off mode. 

Establish the testing conditions set forth 

in section 3.2 of this appendix, ensuring 

that the dehumidifier does not enter 

active mode during the test. For 

dehumidifiers that take some time to 

enter a stable state from a higher power 

state as discussed in Section 5, 

Paragraph 5.1, Note 1 of IEC 62301, 

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3), 

allow sufficient time for the 

dehumidifier to reach the lower power 

state before proceeding with the test 

measurement. Follow the test procedure 

specified in Section 5, Paragraph 5.3.2 

of IEC 62301 for testing in each possible 

mode as described in sections 4.2.1 and 

4.2.2 of this appendix. 

4.2.1 If the dehumidifier has an 

inactive mode, as defined in section 

2.12 of this appendix, but not an off 

mode, as defined in section 2.13 of this 

appendix, measure and record the 

average inactive mode power of the 

dehumidifier, PIA, in watts. Otherwise, 

if the dehumidifier has an off mode, as 

defined in section 2.13 of this appendix, 

measure and record the average off 

mode power of the dehumidifier, POM, 

in watts. 

4.2.2 If the dehumidifier has an offcycle mode, as defined in section 2.14 

of this appendix, measure and record 

the average off-cycle mode power of the 

dehumidifier, POC, in watts. 

5. Calculation of Derived Results From 

Test Measurements 

5.1 Annual combined low-power 

mode energy consumption. Calculate 

the annual combined low-power mode 

energy consumption for dehumidifiers, 

ETLP, expressed in kilowatt-hours per 

year. If the dehumidifier is capable of 

operating in off-cycle mode and not fanonly mode, ETLP shall be calculated as: 

ETLP = [(PIO × SIO) + (POC × SOC)] × K 

If the dehumidifier is capable of 

operating in fan-only mode and not offcycle mode, ETLP shall be calculated as: 

ETLP = (PIO × SIO) × K 

Where: 

PIO = PIA, dehumidifier inactive mode power, 

or POM, dehumidifier off mode power, in 

watts, as measured in section 4.2.1 of 

this appendix. 

POC = dehumidifier off-cycle mode power, in 

watts, as measured in section 4.2.2 of 

this appendix. 

SIO = 1,840.5 dehumidifier inactive mode or 

off mode annual hours. 

SOC = 1,840.5 dehumidifier off-cycle mode 

annual hours. 

K = 0.001 kWh/Wh conversion factor for 

watt-hours to kilowatt-hours. 

5.2 Fan-only mode annual energy 

consumption. If the dehumidifier is 

capable of operating in fan-only mode 

and not off-cycle mode, EFM shall be 

calculated as: 

EFM = (PFM × SFM) × K 

Where: 

PFM = dehumidifier fan-only mode power, in 

watts, as measured in section 4.1.2 of 

this appendix. 

SFM = 1,840.5 dehumidifier fan-only mode 

annual hours. 

K = 0.001 kWh/Wh conversion factor for 

watt-hours to kilowatt-hours. 

5.3 Integrated energy factor. 

Calculate the integrated energy factor, 

IEF, expressed in liters per kilowatthour, rounded to two decimal places, 

according to the following: 

IEF = LW/[EDM + ((ETLP + EFM) × 6/SDM)] 

Where: 

LW = water removed from the air during the 

6-hour dehumidification mode test, in 

liters, as measured in section 4.1.1 of this 

appendix. 

EDM = dehumidification mode test energy 

consumption during the 6-hour 

dehumidification mode test, in kilowatthours, as measured in section 4.1.1 of 

this appendix. 

ETLP = standby mode and off mode annual 

energy consumption, in kilowatt-hours 

per year, as calculated in section 5.1 of 

this appendix. 

EFM = fan-only mode annual energy 

consumption, in kilowatt-hours per year, 

as calculated in section 5.2 of this 

appendix for dehumidifiers that operate 

in fan-only mode and not off-cycle mode; 

otherwise, EFM = 0. 


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6 = hours per dehumidification mode test, 

used to convert annual standby and off 

mode energy consumption for 

integration with dehumidification mode 

energy consumption. 

SDM = 1,095 dehumidification mode annual 

hours. 

5.4 Capacity for RefrigerantDesiccant Dehumidifiers. The weight of 

water removed during the test period, 

expressed in pounds, and capacity, 

expressed in pints/day, shall be 

calculated as: 

Where: 

W = weight of water removed during the test 

period, in pounds; 

n = number of samples during the test period 

in section 4.1.1.2.2 of this appendix; 

AHI,i = absolute humidity of the process air 

on the inlet side of the unit, in pounds 

of water per cubic foot of dry air, 

measured for sample i in section 

4.1.1.2.2 of this appendix; 

XI,i = volumetric flow rate of the process air 

on the inlet side of the unit, in cubic feet 

per minute, measured for sample i in 

section 4.1.1.2.2 of this appendix. The 

volumetric flow rate shall be calculated 

in accordance with Section 7.3, ‘‘Fan 

airflow rate at test conditions,’’ of ANSI/ 

AMCA 210 (incorporated by reference, 

see § 430.3); 

AHO,i = absolute humidity of the process air 

on the outlet side of the unit, in pounds 

of water per cubic foot of dry air, 

measured for sample i in section 

4.1.1.2.2 of this appendix; 

XO,i = volumetric flow rate of the process air 

on the outlet side of the unit, in cubic 

feet per minute, measured for sample i 

in section 4.1.1.2.2 of this appendix. The 

volumetric flow rate shall be calculated 

in accordance with Section 7.3, ‘‘Fan 

airflow rate at test conditions,’’ of ANSI/ 

AMCA 210 (incorporated by reference, 

see § 430.3); 

t = time interval in seconds between samples, 

with a maximum of 60; and 

60 = conversion from minutes to seconds. 

Where: 

C = capacity in pints per day; 

24 = number of hours per day; 

1.04 = conversion from pounds of water to 

pints of water; and 

T = total test period time in hours. 

[FR Doc. 2014–10686 Filed 5–20–14; 8:45 a.m.] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 


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