## 57FR23396

23396 Federal Register / Vol. 57, No. 107 / Wednesday, June 3, 1992 / Notices

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products; Granting of the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for Waiver of Furnace Test Procedures From Clare Brothers (Case No . F-047) =

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

SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a letter granting an Interim Waiver to Clare Brothers (Clare) from the existing Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for furnaces regarding blower time delay for the company's MEMO, HEDF, HEHF, HEG, and HEMB lines of gas furnaces. 

### Today's notice also publishes a "Petition for Waiver" from Clare. Clare's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief from the DOE furnace test procedure relating to the blower time delay specification. Clare seeks to test using a blower delay time of e0 seconds for its MEMC. HEDF, HEHF, HEG, and HEMB lines of gas furnaces instead of the specified 1.5-minute delay between burner on-time andblower on-time. DOE is soliciting comments, data, and information respecting the Petition for Waiver. OATas: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than July 6, 1992.

ADDRESSES : Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department of Energy, Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Case No. F-047, Mail Stop CE-90, room 6B-025, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC•20585, (202) 586-
0561.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATI ON CONTACT:

Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Conservation andRenewable Energy, Mail Station CE43, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127. Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, Mail Station GC-41, Forrestal BuiIding,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), :Public Law 95-619,92 Stat. 3286, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Public Law 100-12, and the National Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Public Law 100-357, which requires DOE. to prescribe standardized test procedures to measure the energy .consumption of certain consumer products, including furnaces. The intent of the test procedures is to provide a comparable measure of energy consumption that will assist consumers in making purchasing decisions. These test procedures appear at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B. DOE amended the prescribed test procedures by adding 10 CFR 430.27 on September. 26, 1980, creating the waiver process. 45 FR 64108. Thereafter DOE further amended the appliance test procedure waiver process to allow the Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Renewable Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver from test procedure requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned DOE for a waiver of such prescribed test procedures. 51. FR 42823, November 26,
1986. 

### The waiver process allows the Assistant Secretary to waive temporarily test procedures for a particular basic model when a petitioner shows that the basic model contains one or more design characteristics which prevent testing according to the prescribed test procedures or when the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. Waivers generally remain in effect until final test procedure amendments become effective, resolving the problem that is the subject of the waiver. The Interim Waiver provisions added by the 1986 amendment allow the Assistant Secretary to grant an Interim
Waiver when it is determined that the applicant will experience economic hardship if the Application for Interim Waiver is denied, if it appears likely
that the Petition for Waiver will be granted;-and/or the Assistant Secretary
determines that it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate relief pending a determination on the
Petition for Waiver. An Interim Waiver remains in effect for a period of 180 days
or until DOE issues its determination on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an additional 180 days, if necessary. 

### On January 30,1992, Clare filed an Application for Interim Waiver regarding blower time delay. Clare's Application seeks an Interim Waiver from the DOE test provisions that . require a 1.5-minute time delay between the ignition of the burner and starting of the circulating air blower. Instead, Clare requests the allowance to test using a 80-second blower time delay when testing its MEMC, HEDF, HEHF, HEG, and HEMS lines of gas furnaces. Clare states that the 60-second delay-is indicative of how these furnaces actually operate. Since current DOE test procedures do not address this variable blower time delay. Clare asks that the Interim Waiver be granted.. Previous waivers for this type of timed blower delay control have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18,1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR .48574, December 1. 1988, 55 FR 3253, January 31, 1990, and 56 FR 2920, January 25,1991; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4,1989, and 56 FR 6021, February 14,1991; Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5,1990; DMO

### 57FR23396
Federal Register / biol.'57, No. 107 / Wednesday, June 3

, 1992 / Notices 23397

Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5, 1991; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 58 FR 6019, February 14, 1991; Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991; Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 FR 51487, December 14, 1991, and 56 FR 63945, December 6, 1991; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 58 FR 27958, June 18, 1991, and 56 FR 63940, December 6, 1991; Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR 45960, September 9, 1991; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 51713, October 15, 1991; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899 , January 9, 1992; Thermo Proucts, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9, 1992; and The'Ducane Company, 56 FR 63943, December 6, 1991. Thus, it appears likely that the Petititon for Waiver will be granted for blower time delay. In those instances where the likely
success of the Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated based upon DOE having granted a waiver for a similar product design, it is in the public interest to have similar products tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis. 

### Therefore, based on the above, DOE is granting Clare an Interim Waiver for its MEMC, HEDF, HEHF, HEG, and HEMB lines of gas furnaces. Pursuant to paragraph (e) of § 430.27 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 430, the following letter granting the Application for Interim Waiver to Clare was issued. Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR 430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the "Petition for Waiver" in its entirety. The petition contains no confidential
information. DOE solicits comments, data, and information respecting the petition.

Issued in Washington, DC, May 20, 1992.
J. Michael Davis, Assistant Secretary, Conservation and renewable Energy. Mr. Kenneth R. Maci-ityre, Director of Engineering, Clare Brothers, 223 King Street East, Cambridge, Ontario,
Canada N3H4T5 Dear Mr. Maclntyre; This is in response to your January 30, 1992, Application for Interim
Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure for furnaces regarding blower time delay for Clare Brothers (Clare) MEMC, HEDF, HEHF, HEG, and HEMB lines of gas furnaces. Previous waivers for this type of timed blower delay control have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18, 1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1965; Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 55 FR 3253, January 31. 1390, and 56 FR 2920, January 25, 1991; Trane Coo,mipany, 54 FIR 19226, May 4, 1989, and 56 FF. 8021, February 14, 1991; Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5, 1990; DMO Industries, 56 F 4622, February 5, 1991; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019, February 14, 1991; Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018, February 14,1991; Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 FR 51487, December 14,1991, and 56 FR 63945, December 6, 1991; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958, June 13, 1991, and 56 63940, December 6, 1991; Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR 45960, September 9, 1991; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 51713, October 15, 1991; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899, January 9, 1992; Thermo Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9, 1992; and The Ducane Company, 56 FR 63943, December 6, 1991. Clare's Application for Interim Waiver does not provide sufficient information to evaluate what, if any, economic impact or competitive disadvantage Clare will likely experience absent a favorable determination on its application. However, in those instances where the likely success of the Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated, based upon DOE having granted a waiver for
a similar product design , it is in the public interest to have similar products tested and
rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis. Therefore, Clare's Application for an Interim Waiver from the DOE test procedure for its MEMO, HEDF, HEHF, I G, and HEMI3 lines for gas furnaces regarding blower time delay is granted. Clare shall be permitted to test its MI-MC, HEDF, HEHF, HEG, and HEMB line of gas furnaces on the basis of the test procedures specified in 10 CFR parf 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/ASHRAE 103-82 with the exception of sections 9.2.2, 9 .3.1, and 9.3.2, and the inclusion of the following additional procedures: (ii) Add a new paragraph 3.10 in appendix
N as follows:
3.10 Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central Furnaces. After equilibrium conditions are achieved following the cool-down test and the required measurements performed, turn on the furnace and measure the flue gas temperature, using the thermocouple grid
described above, at 0

.5 and 2.5 minutes after
the main burner(s) comes on . After the burner start-up, delay the blower start-up by 1.5 minutes (t-), unless: (1) The furnace employs a single motor to drive the power burner and the indoor air circulation blower, in which
case the burner and blower shall be started together; or (2) the furaace is designed to operate using an unvarying delay time that is
other than 1.5 minutes

, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower; or (3) the delay time results in the activation of a temperature safety device which shuts off the burner, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower. in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower. In the latter case, if the fan control is adjustable, set it to start the blower at the highest temperature. If the fan control is permitted to start the blower, measure time delay, (t-), using a stop watch. Record the measured temperatures. During the heat-up test for oil-fueled furnaces,
maintain the draft in the flue pipe within ±0.01 inch of water column of the manufacturer's recommended on-period
draft. This Interim Waiver is based upon the presumed validity of statements and all allegations submitted by the company. This Interim Waiver may be revoked or modified at any time upon a determination that the factual basis underlying the application is
incorrect.
The Interim Waiver shall remain in effect for a period of 180 days or until DOE acts on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an additional 180- day period, if necessary.
Sincerely,

J. Michael Davis, P.E.
Assistant Secretary, Conservation and Renewable Energy.
30 January 1992
Assistant Secretary. Conservation and Renewable Energy, United States Department of Energy, WOO Independence A venue, SW, Washington, DC20585, U.S.A.
Gentlemen: This is a petition for waiver and petition for interim waiver submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR Part 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". Clare is requesting authorization to
use a 60 second delay instead of 1.5 minutes. Clare will be manufacturing series of furnace
models with an electronic blower control that controls blower operation on a timing sequence as opposed to temperature. The. Clare models which will incorporate these controls are noncondensing MEMC series upflow, and condensing furnace series HEDF downflow, HEHF horizontal, HEG lowboy and HEMS upflow. Improved energy efficiency on these models is achieved by the fixed timing controls installed in these models that activate the circulating air
blower 60 seconds after the burner is "ON". Under the. Appendix N procedures, the stack temperature is allowed to climb at a faster
rate than it would with a 60 second blower "ON" time, allowing energy to be lost to the vent system. This waste of energy would not occur in normal operation. If this petition is granted the true blower "ON" time delay
would be used in the measurement of AFUE. Proposed ANSI(ASHRAE 103-1988, paragraph 9.6.1 specifically addresses the use of timed blower operation. .Current prescribed test procedures prohibit Clare from taking credit for the saved energy, thus providing inaccurate comparative data. Several other furnace manufactureres have been granted a waiver to permit calculations based on timed blower operation. Confidential comparative test data is available to you on request, confirming that there are energy savings. Manufacturers that market similar products are being sent a copy of this petition for
waiver and interim waiver.

## 57FR23396

23398 Federal Register / Vol. 57, No. 107 / Wednesday, June 3, 1992 / Notices

Yours sincerely, Kenneth R. Macintyre, Director of Engineering.

[FR Doc. 92-12968 Filed 6-2-92; 8:45 am)

LUNG CODE 0450-01-M