### 63946 Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 235 / Friday, December 6, 1991 / Notices

Case No. F-037 

### Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products ; Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver of Furnace Test Procedures From Rheem Manufacturing Co.
AGENCY: Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. SUMMARY: Today' s notice publishes a letter granting an Interim Waiver to Rheem Manufacturing Company (Rheem) from the existing Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures for furnaces regarding blower time delay for the company ' s GDG and GLG series of gas furnaces. Today 's notice also publishes a "Petition for Waiver " from Rheem. Rheem ' s Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief from the DOE test procedures relating to the blower time delay specification

. Rheem seeks to test using a blower delay time of 30 seconds for its GDG and GLG series of gas furnaces 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. DATE : DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than January 6,1992. ADDRESS: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department of Energy
, Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Case No

. F-037, Mail Stop CE

-90. Room 8B

-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 CE-41, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 588-9507. 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. 3266, the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Public Law 100-12, and the National Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Public Law 100-357, which requires DOE to prescribe standardized test procedures to measure the energy consumption of certain consumer products, including furnaces. The intent of the test procedures is to provide a comparable measure of energy consumption that will assist consumers in making purchasing decisions. These test procedures appear at 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart. B. DOE amended the prescribed test procedures by adding 10 CFR 430.27 on September 28, 1980, creating the waiver process. 45 CFR 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 1988 amendment, allow the Assistant Secretary to grant an Interim

### Federal Register

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 August 1

. 1991
, Rheem filed an Application for an Interim Waiver regarding blower time delay

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

- second blower time delay when testing its GDG and GLG series of gas furnaces

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

. Such a delay results in an energy savings of approximately 2.0 percent

. Since current DOE test procedures do not address this variable blower time delay
, Rheem asks that the Interim Waiver be granted. Previous waivers for this type of timed blower delay control have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710
, January 18,1985 ; Magic Chef Company
, 50 FR 41553 , October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574
, December 1, 1988
, 55 FR 3253, January 31
, 1990
, and 55 FR 37521, September 12, 1990 ; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226
, May 4
, 1989
, and 55 FR 41589, October 12
, 1990; Lennox Industries, 54 FR 50525
, December 7,1989; DMO Industries
, 55 FR 4004

. February 6. 1990; Heil-Quaker Corporation
, 55 FR 13184, April 9
, 1990 ; Carrier Corporation, 55 FR 13182
, April 9
, 1990 ; Inter-City Products Corporation
, 55 FR 31099
, July 31, 1990, and 56 FR 27959
, June 18
, 1991; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 853
, January 9, 1991
, and 56 FR 29957 , July 1, 1991; Armstrong Air Conditioning
, Inc., 56 FR 10553
, March 13
, 1991, and 56 FR 34200, July 26
, 1991 ; Snyder General Corporation
, 56 FR 14511

. April 10, 1991; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 20421
, May 3
, 1991; and Thermo Products, Inc., 56 FR 32205, July 15, 1991; and the Ducane Company, 56 FR 45958, September 9, 1991 . Thus, it appears likely that the Petition for Waiver will be granted for blower time delay. 

### In those instances where the likely success of the Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated based upon DOE Vol. 56
, No. 235 / Friday, December 6, 1991 / Notices 63947

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 Rheem an Interim Waiver for its CDG and GLG series of gas furnaces. Pursuant to paragraph (e) of § 430.27 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the following letter granting the Application for Interim Waiver to Rheem 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, November 27, 1991. 1. Michael Davis, Assistant Secretary Conservation and Renewable Energy. November 27, 1991. Mr. Daniel J. Canclini, Vice President, Rheem Manufacturing Company, P.O. Box 17010, Fort Smith , AR 72917-7010 Dear Mr. Canclini : This is in response to your August 1, 1991
, Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures for furnaces regarding blower time delay for Rheem Manufacturing Company (Rheem) GDG and GLG series of gas furnaces. Previous waivers for this type of timed blower delay control have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18
, 1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553 , October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 55 FR 3253, January 31, 1990
, and 55 FR 37521
, September 12, 1990: Trane Company, 54 FR 19226. May 4, 1989. and 55 FR 41589 , October 12, 1990; Lennox Industries, 54 FR 50525, December 7,1989: DMO Industries
, 55 FR 4004 , February 6,1990; Heil-Quaker Corporation
, 55 FR 13184, April 9, 1990: Carrier Corporation, 55 FR 13182, April 9, 1990 : Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 FR 31099

. July 31
, 1990
, and 56 FR 27959, June 18, 1991 ; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 853, January 9, 1991
, and 56 FR 29957, July 1, 1991; Armstrong Air Conditioning
, Inc., 56 FR 10553 , March 13,1991. and 56 FR 34200, July 26.1991 ; Snyder General Corporation. 56 FR 14511 , April 10, 1991 ; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation
, 56 FR 20421, May 3, 1991 ; Thermo Products, Inc., 56 FR 32205, July 15,1991 : and The Ducane Company, Inc., 56 FR 45958
, September 9, 1991. Rheem's Application for Interim Waiver does not provide sufficient information to evaluate what
, if any, economic impact or competitive disadvantage Rheem 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
, Rheem's Application for an Interim Waiver from the DOE test procedures for its CDC and GLC series of gas furnaces regarding blower time delay is granted. Rheem shall be permitted to test its line of GDC and GLC series of gas furnaces on the basis of the test procedures specified in 10 CFR Part 430
, Subpart B
, Appendix N, with the modification set forth below. (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 furnace is designed to operate using an unvarying delay time that is other than 1.5 minutes
, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower; or (3) the delay time results in the activation of a temperature safety device which shuts off the burner
, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower. In the latter case, if the fan control is adjustable, set it to start the blowerat 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 oilfueled 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, 1. Michael Davis, RE., Assistant Secretary
, Conservation and Renewable Energy. August 1, 1991. Assistant Secretary , Conservation and Renewable Energy.

### 948 Federal Register j Vol. 56, No. 235 / Friday, December 6, 1991 ( Notices

United States Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, S W, Washington, DC 20585. Gentlemen: This is a petition for waiver and application for interim waiver submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR part 430.27. Waiver is requested from the furnace test procedure as prescribed in Appendix N to subpart B of part 430. The test procedure requires a 1.5- minute delay between burner and blower start-up. Rheem is requesting authorization to use a 30-second delay instead of 1.5 minutes for our Series (-}GDG upflow and (-)GLG downflow/horizontal residential gas-fired furnaces. Rheem will be manufacturing these furnaces with an electronic device that controls the blower operation on a timing sequence as opposed to temperature. Improved energy efficiency is achieved by reducing on cycle losses . Under the Appendix N procedures, the stack temperature is allowed to climb at a faster rate than it would be 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. The current test procedures do not give Rheem credit for the energy savings which average approximately 2%. This improvement is an average reduction of 20% of the normal on cycle energy losses. Rheem is of the opinion that a 20% reduction is a worthwhile energy savings. Rheem has been granted a waiver permitting the 30-second blower on time to be used in the efficiency calculations for our (-)GEB and (-)GKA series condensing furnaces and/or (-)GDE and (-)DLE series furnaces. Several other manufacturers of gas furnaces have also been granted a waive to permit calculations based on timed blower operation. Also, proposed ASHRAE Standard 103-1982R of 9/25/87 paragraph 9.5.1.2.2 specifically addresses the use of timed blower operation. Confidential comparative test data is available to you upon your request, confirming the above energy savings. Manufacturers that domestically market similar products are being sent a copy of this petition for waiver and petition for interim waiver. Sincerely, Daniel J. Canclini, Vice President, Product Development and Research Engineering. (FR Doc. 91-28289 Filed 12-5-91; 8:45 am]
BR.UNG CODE 8450-01-11