## 56FR34200

Federal' Regi.ste VOL ' 66 ;1 Noi 1:44- 

### /' Friday, "juy 213, 1991 1 Notices

Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy

[Case No. F-0331


### Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products ; Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver of Furnace Test Procedures From Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

SUMMARY : Today's notice publishes a letter granting an Interim Waiver to Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc. (Armstrong) from the existing . Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures for furnaces regarding blower time delay for the company's EG8G gas furnace. Today's notice also publishes a. "Petition for Waiver" from Armstrong. Armstrong's Petition for Waiver . requests DOE to grant relief from the DOE test procedures relating to the blower time delay specification. Armstrong seeks to test using a blower delay time of 30 seconds for its EGBG• gas furnace instead of the specified 1.5- minute delay between burner on time and blower on-time. DOE is soliciting comments, data, and information respecting the Petition for Waiver.
DATES : DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than August 26,1991.
ADDRESSES : Written comments and statements shall. be sent to: Department of Energy, Office of Conservation and . Renewable Energy, Case No. .F-033, Mail Stop CE-90, room 6B-025, Forrestal Building; 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586- 3012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Mail Station CE43, Forrestal Building, 1000 

### Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127. Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, Mail Station GC-41, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products (other than . automobiles) was established pursuant to the Energy Policy and C onservation Act (EPCA), Public Law 94-163, 89 Stat. 917, as amended by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA),

## 56FR34200

Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 144- / Friday, July 26, 1991 / Notices

Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3266, the Armstrong's Application seeks an National Appliance Energy Interim Waiver from the DOE test Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), provisions that require a 1.5-minute time Public Law 100-12, and the National delay between the ignition of the burner Appliance Energy Conservation and starting of the circulating air Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), blower. Instead, Armstrong requests Public 100-357, which requires DOE to that allowance to test using a 30-second prescribe standardized test procedures blower time delay when testing its to measure the energy consumption of EGBG gas furnace. Armstrong states that certain consumer products, including the 30-second delay is indicative of how furnaces. The intent of the test these furnaces actually operate. Such a procedures is to provide a comparable delay results in an energy savings of measure of energy consumption that will approximately 0.6 percent. Since current assist the consumer in making DOE test procedures do not address this purchasing decisions. These test variable blower time delay, Armstrong procedures appear at 10 CFR part 430, asks that the Interim Waiver be granted. subpart B. Previous waivers for this type of DOE amended the prescribed test timed blower delay control have been procedures by adding 10 CFR 430.27 on granted by DOE to Coleman Company, September 26, 1980, creating the waiver 50 FR 2710, January 18, 1985; Magic Chef process. 45 FR 64108. Thereafter DOE Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; further amended the appliance test Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR procedure waiver process to allow the 48574, December 1, 1988, and 55 FR 3253, Assistant Secretary for Conservation January 31,1990; Trane Company, 54 FR and Renewable Energy (Assistant 19226, May 4,1989, and 55 FR 41589, Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver October 12,1990; DMO Industries, 55 FR from test procedure requirements to 4004, February 8,1990; Heil-Quaker manufacturers that have petitioned DOE Corporation, 55 FR 13184, April 9, 1990; for a waiver of such prescribed test Carrier Corporation, 55 FR 13182,.April procedures. 51 FR 42823, November 26, g, 1990; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 1986. 853, January 9, 1991; Armstrong Air The waiver process allows the Conditioning, Inc., 56 FR 10553, March Assistant Secretary to waive 13, 1991; and Snyder General • temporarily test procedures for a Corporation, 56 FR 14511, April 10, 1991. particular basic model when a petitioner Thus, it appears likely that the Petition shows that the basic model contains one for Waiver will be granted for blower.



### . or more design characteristics which time delay. prevent testing according to the In those instances where. the likely prescribed test procedures or when the success of the Petition for Waiver has prescribed test procedures may evaluate been demo•istrated based upon DOE the.basic model in a manner so having granted -a waiver for a similar unrepresentative of its true energy _ product design, it is in the public interest consumption as to provide materially to have similar products tested and inaccurate comparative data. Waivers rated for energy consumption on a generally remain in effect until final test comparable basis. procedure amendments become Therefore, based on the above, DOE is effective, resolving the problem that is granting Armstrong an Interim Waiver the subject of the waiver. for its EG8G series of gas furnaces. The interim waiver provisions added Pursuant to paragraph (e) of § 430.27 of by the 1986 amendment allow the the Code of Federal Regulations, the Assistant Secretary to grant an Interim following letter granting the Application Waiver when it is determined that the for Interim Waiver to Armstrong Air' applicant will experience economic Conditioning Inc., was issued. hardship if the Application for Interim Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR Waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the Petition for Waiver will be 430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the
granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary Petitioncfor Waiver" ' in its entirely. The
determines that it would be desirable for petition contains no confidential public policy reasons to grant immediate information. DOE solicits comments, relief pending a determination on the data, and information respecting the Petition for Waiver. An Interim Waiver petition. remains in effect for a period of 180 days ' Issued in Washington, DC, July 22, 19M. or until DOE issues its determination on I. Michael Davis, the Petition for Waiver, whichever is Assistant Secretary. Conservation and sooner, and may be extended for an Renewable Energy. additional 180 days, if necessary. December.14,1990 On December 14,1990, Armstrong United States Department of Energy, 1000 filed an Application for an Interim Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, 

### Waiver regarding blower time delay. D.C. 20585 34201

Gentlemen: This is a petition for waiver and petition for interim waiver submitted pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27. Waiver is requested from the Furnace test procedure found at appendix N to, subpart B of part 430. The test procedure requires a 1.5 minute delay between burner on and blower on. Armstrong is requesting authorization to use a 30 second delay instead of 1.5 minutes. Armstrong is manufacturing a series of induced draft furnaces which include the EG8G Horizontal Gas furnaces used for residential installations. Maximum energy 'efficiency is achieved by fixed timing controls installed in the EG8G series that activate the circulating air blower 30 seconds after the burner is on. Under the appendix N procedures, the vent gas temperature climbs at a faster rate than it
would with a 3 0 second blower on time, allowing energy to be lost out the vent system. This waste of energy would not occur in actual operation

. If this petition is granted, the true blower on time delay would be used in the calculations

. Proposed ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 paragraph 9.5.1.2.2. specifically advances the use of timed blower operation. The current test procedures does not give Armstrong credit for the energy savings which average' approximately

. 6'percentage points on our A.F.U.E. test results. Current prescribed test procedures prohibit Armstrong from taking credit for the saved
energy, thus providing inaccurate comparative data. Armstrong has been granted a waiver permitting the'20 second blower on time to be used in efficiency calculations for our Ultra series furnaces (Case Number-F-014)-dated
October 1985. Several other manufacturers of furnaces have been granted a waiver to permit calculations based on timed blower operation. Confidential comparative test data is available to you upon your request. Sincerely, ARMSTRONG AIR CONDITIONING INC.,

Bruce I t Maike, Vice President Product Engineering.

JULY 2,2, 19%.
Mr. Bruce R. Maike ' Vice President Product Engineering, Armstrong Air-Conditioning, Inc.. 421 Monroe Street, Bellevue, Ohio 44811

Dear Mr

. Macke : This is in response to your December 14,1990

, Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures for furnaces regarding blower time delay for the Armstrong Air Conditioning Inc. (Armstrong) EG8G gas furnace.' Previous waivers for timed blower delay control have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company

, 50 F.R

. 2710

, January 18,
1985 ; Magic Chef Company, 50 F.R

. 41553. October 11, 1985 ; Rheem Manufacturing

. Company

,. 53 F.R

. 48574

. December 1, 1988,,
and 55 F

.R. 3253

. January 31

, 1990; Trane Company

, 54 F.R,19226

, May 4

, 1989, and 55 F.R. 41589 ; October 12; 199O ; DMO'Industries.
55 F.R

. 4004

, February 8

, 1990 ; Heil-Quaker

## 56FR34200

.94202 Federal Register / V ol. 56, No. 144 f Friday, July 26, 1991 f Notices

Corporation, 55 F.It..13184, April 9, 1990; Carrier Corporation, 55 F.R.13182, April 9, 1990; Amans Refrigeration Inc., 56 F.R. 853, January 9, 1991; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 56 F.R. 10553, March 13, 1991; and Snyder General Corporation, 58 F.R. 14511, April 10, 1991. A=-msirong'a Application for Interim Waiver does not provide sufficient information to evaluate what, if any economic impact or competitive disadvantage Armstrong will likely experience absent a favorable determination on its application. however, in those instances where the lively success of the Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated, based upon DOE having agreed a waiver for a similar product design, it is in the public interest to have similar products tested and rated for energy consumption on the comparable basis. Therefore, Armstrong's Application for an Interim Wavier from the DOE test procedures for its EGBG gas furnace regarding blower time delay is granted. Armstrong shall be permitted to test its line of EGSG gas furnace on the basis of the test procedures specified in 10 CFR part 430, Subpart B. Appendix N, with the modification set forth below. (i) Section 3.0 in Appendix N is deleted and replaced with the following paragraph: 3.0 Test Procedure. Testing and measurements shall be as specified in section 9 in ANSI/ASH AE 103-82 with the exception of sections 9.2.2, 9.3.1, and 9.3.2, and the inclusion of the following additional procedures: (ii) Add a new paragraph 3.10 in Appendix N as follows: 3.10 Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central Furnaces. After equilibrium conditions are achieved . following the cool-down test and the required measurements performed, turn on the furnace and measure the flue gas temperature, using the thermocouple grid described above, at 0.5 and 2.5-minutes after the main burner(s) comes on. After the burner start-up, delay the blower start-up by 1.5-minutes (t-), unless: (1) the furnace employs a single motor to drive the power burner and the indoor air circulation blower, in which case the burner and blower shall be started together; or (2) the furnace is designed to operate using an unvarying delay time that is other than 1.5- minutes, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower, or (3) the delay time results it the activation of a temperature safety device which shuts off the burner, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower. In the latter case, if the fan control is adjustable, set it to start the blower at the highest temperature. If the fan control is permitted to start the blower, measure time delay, ( t-), using a stop watch. Record the measured temperatures. During the heat-up test for oil-fueled furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue pipe with t 0.01 inch of water gauge of the manufacturer's recommended on-period draft. This Interim Waiver is based upon the presumed validity of statements and all allegations submitted by the company. This Interim Wavier may be revoked or modified at any time upon a determination that the factual basis underlying the application is

correct. The Interim Waiver shall remain in effect for a period of 180 days or until DOE acts on the Petition for Wavier, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an additional 180- day period. if necessary. Sincerely, j. Michael Davis. Assistant Secretary, Conservation and: Renewable Energy. (FR Doc. 91-17803 Filed 7-25-91; 8:45 am]

84Litttn conE 645a-03-M