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 Conservation

Act (EPCA), Public Law 94-163, 89 Stat.

917, as amended by the National Energy

Conservation Policy Act (NECPA),

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 60
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 30 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 It 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

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 60
56FR34200

.94202 Federal Register / Vol. 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

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 60