This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

5994 

Vol. 80, No. 23 

Wednesday, February 4, 2015 

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: Supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (DOE) proposes to amend the 

test procedure proposals presented in a 

notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), 

published on May 21, 2014. The 

proposed revisions include 

modifications to the whole-home 

dehumidifier test setup and conduct, 

and revisions to the measurement of 

energy use in fan-only operation first 

proposed in the May 2014 NOPR. DOE 

also introduces a methodology to 

determine whole-home dehumidifier 

case volume, clarifies the equations 

used to calculate corrected relative 

humidity and capacity for portable and 

whole-home dehumidifiers, and 

provides additional technical 

corrections and clarifications. The 

additional proposals are to be combined 

with the initial proposals from May 

2014. 

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, 

and information regarding this 

supplemental notice of proposed 

rulemaking (SNOPR) submitted no later 

than March 6, 2015. See Section V, 

‘‘Public Participation,’’ for details. 

ADDRESSES: Any comments submitted 

must identify the SNOPR 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 Office, Mailstop EE–5B, 

1000 Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. If 

possible, please submit all items on a 

CD, in which case it is not necessary to 

include printed copies. 

4. Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda 

Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 

Building Technologies Office, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza SW., Suite 600, 

Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: 

(202) 586–2945. If possible, please 

submit all items on a CD, in which case 

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 www.regulations.gov. All 

documents in the docket are listed in 

the www.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://www1.eere.

energy.gov/buildings/appliance_

standards/rulemaking.aspx?ruleid=95. 

This Web page contains a link to the 

docket for this notice on the 

www.regulations.gov site. The 

www.regulations.gov Web page contains 

instructions on how to access all 

documents, including public comments, 

in the docket. See Section V, ‘‘Public 

Participation,’’ for information on how 

to submit comments through 

www.regulations.gov. 

For further information on how to 

submit a comment or review other 

public comments and the docket, 

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. 

Mr. Peter Cochran, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 

GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue 

SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–9496. Email: 

peter.cochran@hq.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Incorporated by Reference 

DOE intends to incorporate by 

reference the following industry 

standards into 10 CFR part 430: 

(1) Standard Method for Temperature 

Measurement, American National 

Standards Institute (ANSI)/American 

Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and 

Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 

Standard 41.1–2013 and Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Fans for Certified 

Aerodynamic Performance Rating, 

ANSI/Air Movement and Control 

Association (AMCA) 210–07. 

Copies of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 

41.1–2013 can be obtained from the 

American National Standards Institute 

25 W 43rd Street 4th Floor, New York, 

NY 10036, or by going to http://

webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?

sku=ANSI%2FASHRAE+Standard+

41.1-2013. 

(2) Laboratory Methods of Testing 

Fans for Certified Aerodynamic 

Performance Rating, ANSI/Air 

Movement and Control Association 

(AMCA) 210–07. 

Copies of ANSI/AMCA 210–07 can be 

obtained from the Air Movement and 

Control Association International, Inc. 

30 West University Drive, Arlington 

Heights, IL 60004, or by going to 

http://www.amca.org/store/item.aspx

?ItemId=81. 

Table of Contents 

I. Authority and Background 

II. Summary of the Supplemental Notice of 

Proposed Rulemaking 

III. Discussion 

A. Whole-Home Dehumidifier Test Setup 

and Testing Conditions 

1. Inlet Temperature 

2. External Static Pressure 

3. Test Duct Length 

4. Relative Humidity Instrumentation 

5. External Static Pressure Instrumentation 

B. Whole-Home Dehumidifier Case Volume 

Measurement 

C. Off-Cycle Mode 


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1All references to EPCA refer to the statute as 

amended through the American Energy 

Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act 

(AEMTCA), Pub. L. 112–210 (Dec. 18, 2012). 

2For editorial reasons, Part B was redesignated as 

Part A upon incorporation into the U.S. Code. 

3 Dry-bulb temperature is an indicator of the heat 

content in air and can be measured using a 

thermometer or thermocouple exposed to air, but 

shielded from radiation and moisture. Wet-bulb 

temperature is the temperature of adiabatic 

saturation and is measured using a moistened 

thermometer or thermocouple exposed to the air 

flow. The adiabatic evaporation of water from the 

thermometer or thermocouple has a cooling effect 

Continued 

D. Additional Technical Corrections and 

Clarifications 

1. Average Relative Humidity 

2. Refrigerant-Desiccant Dehumidifier 

Calculations 

a. Absolute Humidity 

b. Capacity 

3. Corrected Capacity and Corrected 

Relative Humidity Equations 

a. Corrected Capacity 

b. Corrected Relative Humidity 

4. Integrated Energy Factor Calculation 

5. Compressor Run-In 

6. Definition of ‘‘Dehumidifier’’ 

7. Additional Operating Mode Definitions 

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review 

V. Public Participation 

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.1 Part B of 

title III establishes the ‘‘Energy 

Conservation Program for Consumer 

Products Other Than Automobiles.’’ 2

These consumer products include 

dehumidifiers, the subject of this 

supplemental proposed rule. (42 U.S.C. 

6295(cc)) 

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. 

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)) 

DOE’s test procedure for 

dehumidifiers is found at 10 CFR part 

430, subpart B, appendix X (appendix 

X). For background on the establishment 

of the first test procedure for 

dehumidifiers, subsequent amendments 

to that procedure, and the rulemaking 

history for this supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (SNOPR), please 

see the May 2014 NOPR. 79 FR 29271. 

II. Summary of the Supplemental 

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

Upon further analysis and review of 

the public comments received in 

response to the May 2014 NOPR, DOE 

proposes in this SNOPR the following 

additions and clarifications to its 

proposed dehumidifier test procedure: 

(1) various adjustments and 

clarifications to the whole-home 

dehumidifier test setup and conduct; (2) 

a method to determine whole-home 

dehumidifier case volume; (3) a revision 

to the method for measuring energy use 

in fan-only operation; (4) a clarification 

to the relative humidity and capacity 

equations incorporated from American 

National Standards Institute (ANSI)/

Association of Home Appliance 

Manufacturers (AHAM) DH–1–2008, 

‘‘Dehumidifiers’’ (ANSI/AHAM DH–1– 

2008); and (5) additional technical 

corrections and clarifications. 

Other than the specific amendments 

newly proposed in the SNOPR, DOE 

continues to propose the test procedure 

amendments originally included in the 

May 2014 NOPR. For the reader’s 

convenience, DOE has reproduced in 

this SNOPR the entire body of proposed 

regulatory text from the May 2014 

NOPR, amended as appropriate 

according to these proposals. DOE’s 

supporting analysis and discussion for 

the portions of the proposed regulatory 

text not affected by this SNOPR may be 

found in the May 2014 NOPR. 79 FR 

29271. 

III. Discussion 

A. Whole-Home Dehumidifier Test 

Setup and Testing Conditions 

As discussed in the May 2014 NOPR, 

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 

ducting, and typically require two ducts 

for the process air stream: a supply air 

intake from the dehumidified space and 

an air outlet for delivery of the 

dehumidified air to the same space. 

Refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers 

incorporate intake and outlet ducts for 

reactivation air in addition to the 

process stream supply air intake and 

dehumidified air outlet. Reactivation 

air, as defined in the May 2014 NOPR, 

is air drawn from unconditioned space 

(e.g., outdoors, attic, or crawlspace) to 

remove moisture from the desiccant 

wheel of a refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifier and discharged to 

unconditioned space. 79 FR 29271, 

29283. 

Based on the unique installation and 

operation of whole-home dehumidifiers, 

DOE proposed in the May 2014 NOPR 

to adopt a new test procedure at 10 CFR 

part 430, subpart B, appendix X1 

(appendix X1) that would contain, in 

part, a method for testing whole-home 

dehumidifiers. 

Upon review of the public comments 

received in response to the May 2014 

NOPR and comments received during 

the June 2014 public meeting, DOE 

determined that further clarifications 

and modifications were necessary to 

ensure the whole-home dehumidifier 

test procedure is repeatable and 

representative of actual use, while 

limiting test burden. In the SNOPR, 

DOE proposes the following additions 

and modifications to the proposals 

described in the May 2014 NOPR for 

whole-home dehumidifiers. 

1. Inlet Temperature 

As discussed in the May 2014 NOPR, 

DOE’s analysis of weather data in 

regions associated with predominant 

dehumidifier usage and at times when 

dehumidification was necessary 

identified 65 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as 

the most representative ambient drybulb temperature.3 Therefore, DOE 


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that causes wet-bulb temperature to be less than or 

equal to dry-bulb temperature. Relative humidity is 

the ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor to 

the equilibrium vapor pressure of water at the same 

temperature, and is therefore dependent upon 

temperature and pressure. Relative humidity is also 

related to the difference between the dry-bulb and 

wet-bulb temperatures by means of psychrometric 

functions. 

4A notation in the form ‘‘Aprilaire, No. 5 at pp. 

3–4’’ identifies a written comment: (1) made by 

Aprilaire, Inc.; (2) recorded in document number 5 

that is filed in the docket of this test procedure 

rulemaking (Docket No. EERE–2014–BT–TP–0010) 

and available for review at www.regulations.gov; 

and (3) which appears on pages 3–4 of document 

number 5. A notation in the form ‘‘Aprilaire, Public 

Meeting Transcript, No. 10 at pp. 41–44, 46–47’’ 

identifies an oral comment that DOE received on 

June 13, 2014 during the NOPR public meeting, was 

recorded in the public meeting transcript in the 

docket for this test procedure rulemaking (Docket 

No. EERE–2014–BT–TP–0010), and is maintained 

in the Resource Room of the Building Technologies 

Program. This particular notation refers to a 

comment (1) made by Aprilaire, Inc. during the 

public meeting; (2) recorded in document number 

10, which is the public meeting transcript that is 

filed in the docket of this test procedure 

rulemaking; and (3) which appears on pages 41–44 

and 46–47 of document number 10. 

5 In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE considered testing 

provisions for fresh air inlets, and proposed that 

any fresh air inlet be capped and sealed during 

testing because the impact of a fresh air connection 

was not significant enough to warrant the added 

test burden of providing separate fresh air inlet 

flow. 79 FR 29272, 29285. DOE maintains the same 

proposal in this SNOPR, and again invites comment 

on it from interested parties. 

6T. Burke, et al., Whole-Home Dehumidifiers: 

Field-Monitoring Study, Lawrence Berkeley 

National Laboratory, Report No. LBNL–6777E 

(September 2014). Available at https://isswprod.lbl.

gov/library/view-docs/public/output/rpt83520.PDF 

proposed in the May 2014 NOPR that all 

dehumidifier testing be conducted with 

an inlet dry-bulb temperature of 65 °F. 

However, DOE acknowledged that 

whole-home dehumidifiers may have 

inlet air dry-bulb temperatures 

consistent with the thermostat setting in 

homes. Based on an analysis of average 

indoor temperature data from the 2009 

Residential Energy Consumption Survey 

(RECS), DOE proposed in the May 2014 

NOPR a potential alternative inlet air 

dry-bulb temperature of 73 °F for testing 

whole-home dehumidifiers. 79 FR 

29271, 29279. 

In response to the May 2014 NOPR, 

Aprilaire, Inc. (Aprilaire) commented 

that the test procedure ambient 

conditions must represent the as-used 

conditions, and that the 80 °F dry-bulb 

temperature and 60-percent relative 

humidity requirements of the current 

test procedure are not representative of 

actual use conditions. Aprilaire stated 

that, although it tests its products at 

ambient dry-bulb temperatures as low as 

60 °F, the alternate proposed dry-bulb 

temperature test condition of 73 °F is 

closer to the intended application for 

whole-home dehumidifiers and would 

be better than the current test condition 

because it better represents the normal 

use condition, allows for better 

comparison between whole-home 

dehumidifiers and portable 

dehumidifiers, and would allow 

building designers to better monitor and 

estimate home energy use. Aprilaire also 

noted that the American Society of 

Heating, Refrigeration and AirConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has 

been trying to specify a design 

condition, and 73 °F is close to the 

temperature that the organization has 

agreed upon. Therefore, Aprilaire stated 

that it supports DOE’s proposal to test 

whole-home dehumidifiers at 73 °F drybulb temperature and 60-percent 

relative humidity. However, Aprilaire 

further suggested that DOE consider an 

ambient dry-bulb temperature of 75 °F, 

which is halfway between the proposed 

73 °F and the ENERGY STARrecommended air conditioner cooling 

setpoint of 78 °F. Aprilaire believes that 

a proper cooling setpoint for a home 

should be 78 °F but that the average 

setpoint may be closer to 73 °F because 

consumers tend to over-cool to remove 

humidity. Nonetheless, Aprilaire noted 

that with proper humidity control, 

higher cooling setpoints can be used 

while still maintaining comfort. 

(Aprilaire, No. 5 at pp. 3–4; Aprilaire, 

Public Meeting Transcript, No. 10 at pp. 

41–44, 46–47) 4

Therma-Stor LLC (Therma-Stor) 

commented that the 65 °F test condition 

proposed in the May 2014 NOPR is 

more representative of a basement 

application than the current 80 °F, but 

it is not representative of above-grade 

conditioned spaces. Therma-Stor stated 

that consumers in the Southeast, Gulf 

Coast, and Pacific Northwest regions 

may be using portable and whole-home 

dehumidifiers in above-grade 

applications, which are better 

represented by an 80 °F test condition. 

Therma-Stor stated that whole-home 

dehumidifiers typically receive return 

air from the conditioned space, and the 

proposed 65 °F dry-bulb temperature is 

too low. Therma-Stor suggested that a 

73 °F dry-bulb temperature test 

condition may represent some wholehome dehumidifier applications, but the 

test temperature should be even higher 

to correspond to real-world 

applications. According to Therma-Stor, 

whole-home dehumidifiers maintain 

adequate humidity control at higher 

indoor temperatures, and some wholehome dehumidifiers use fresh air 

inlets,5 leading to a return air 

temperature that is higher than the 

indoor temperature. Therefore, ThermaStor supports a standard rating test 

condition of 80 °F dry-bulb temperature 

for whole-home dehumidifiers. 

(Therma-Stor, No. 6 at pp. 3–4) 

Appliance Standards Awareness 

Project (ASAP), Alliance to Save Energy 

(ASE), American Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy (ACEEE), Consumers 

Union (CU), National Consumer Law 

Center (NCLC), and Natural Resources 

Defense Council (NRDC) (hereinafter the 

‘‘Joint Commenters’’) recommended that 

DOE prescribe separate ambient test 

conditions for portable and whole-home 

dehumidifiers because the temperature 

of the intake air for whole-home 

dehumidifiers is likely to be close to the 

thermostat setting instead of the outdoor 

conditions. The Joint Commenters, 

ASAP, and NRDC agree with DOE’s 

alternate proposal in the May 2014 

NOPR that 73 °F is a representative test 

condition to determine whole-home 

dehumidifier performance, although 

NRDC expressed concern that it would 

be difficult to then compare wholehome and portable dehumidifier 

performance. (Joint Commenters, No. 8 

at p. 4; ASAP, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 10 at p. 46; NRDC, 

Public Meeting Transcript, No. 10 at p. 

45) The Joint Commenters also noted 

that because moisture removal is more 

difficult at lower dry-bulb temperatures 

for a given relative humidity, 

dehumidifiers that have good 

performance at 65 °F would also 

perform well at 73 °F. (Joint 

Commenters, No. 8 at p. 4) 

In a recent field study conducted by 

Burke, et al., (hereinafter referred to as 

the Burke Study), whole-home 

dehumidifiers were metered at four 

different field locations in Wisconsin 

and Florida.6 At each location, inlet air 

temperatures and additional setup and 

performance characteristics were 

monitored. The Burke Study found that 

the average inlet dry-bulb temperatures 

during compressor operation in 

dehumidification mode for each of the 

four whole-home dehumidifiers ranged 

from 70.4 °F to 75.1 °F, with an average 

among all four sites of 73.2 °F. 

Although this sample was very 

limited, DOE notes that it encompasses 

homes in two geographical regions with 

substantially different climates, with 

different dehumidifier locations within 

the home. After considering the 

comments received and this new field 

data, DOE tentatively determined that 

the alternative proposal of 73 °F inlet air 

dry-bulb temperature is most 

representative for whole-home 

dehumidifiers. DOE proposes in this 

document that whole-home 

dehumidifiers be tested with all ducted 

intake air at 73 °F dry-bulb temperature 

and 63.6 °F wet-bulb temperature to 


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7Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

for Test Procedures for Residential Furnace Fans, 78 

FR 19606, 19618 (Apr. 2, 2013). 

8Center for Energy and Environment Comment 

on Energy Conservation Standards for Residential 

Furnace Fans, Docket No. EERE–2010–BT–STD– 

0011, Comment Number 22 (July 27, 2010). 

maintain a 60-percent relative humidity. 

DOE recognizes that the results for 

portable and whole-home dehumidifiers 

will thus not be directly comparable, 

but points out that the application, 

installation, and ambient conditions of 

the two product types are inherently 

different, and therefore it is reasonable 

that representative performance should 

also differ. 

2. External Static Pressure 

Frictional forces and head losses due 

to the air flowing in the ducting impose 

an external static pressure (ESP) on a 

whole-home dehumidifier. As duct 

length and the number of flow 

restrictions in the air system increase, 

ESP increases as well. Therefore, DOE 

proposed in the May 2014 NOPR that 

whole-home dehumidifier testing be 

conducted at an ESP representative of 

typical residential installations. 79 FR 

29271, 29287. DOE reviewed several 

sources of information to determine the 

appropriate ESP, including the 

residential furnace fan rulemaking,7

whole-home dehumidifier product 

literature, and data from a residential 

furnace fan monitoring study conducted 

by the Center for Energy and 

Environment,8 in addition to DOE’s own 

testing and analysis. DOE tentatively 

concluded that an ESP of 0.5 inches of 

water column (in. w.c.) would, on 

average, represent the ESP for a wholehome dehumidifier installed in a typical 

home. Therefore, DOE proposed in the 

May 2014 NOPR that whole-home 

dehumidifier testing in 

dehumidification mode be conducted 

with an ESP of 0.5 ± 0.02 in. w.c. for the 

process air stream of all units and for 

the reactivation air stream of refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers. 79 FR 29271, 

29287–88. 

The Joint Commenters agreed that 

whole-home dehumidifiers should be 

tested at an ESP of 0.5 in. w.c., aligning 

with the ESP in the furnace fans test 

procedure for furnace fans designed to 

be installed in systems with an internal 

evaporator coil. (Joint Commenters, No. 

8 at pp. 4–5) 

Aprilaire stated that residential 

heating, ventilation, and air 

conditioning (HVAC) systems operate at 

up to 0.8 in. w.c. ESP, and that 0.5 in. 

w.c. on average is likely representative 

of such systems. For whole-home 

dehumidifiers, however, Aprilaire 

commented that ESP varies due to the 

different potential configurations by 

which the products are integrated into 

the HVAC return and supply ducting. In 

addition, Aprilaire and Therma-Stor 

commented that whole-home 

dehumidifiers that utilize the higher 

flow rate HVAC blower will have a 

higher ESP than those dehumidifiers 

that operate with a lower flow rate 

internal fan. Aprilaire stated that an ESP 

of 0.5 in. w.c. would represent an 

extreme and unrealistic condition for 

whole-home dehumidifiers, and that 

testing them at this condition would 

require designs that would be 

inappropriate for typical installations. 

According to Therma-Stor, 

manufacturers would be forced to 

incorporate higher power, noisier fans. 

Therma-Stor further commented that it 

recommends its products be installed in 

a configuration that creates ESP much 

lower than 0.5 in. w.c., although the 

ESP in the field varies depending on the 

actual installation. Therma-Stor’s 

whole-home dehumidifiers have duct 

connections that are designed to provide 

less than 0.15 in. w.c. ESP per 100 feet 

of duct. (Aprilaire, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 10 at pp. 72–74; 

Aprilaire, No. 5 at p. 4; Therma-Stor, 

No. 6 at p. 4) 

The Burke Study monitored the ESP 

during unit operation for the three units 

installed in Florida sites. Static pressure 

probes were placed in the entry and exit 

ducts to the unit, with no more than one 

duct elbow between the probe and the 

dehumidifier. The ESP was initially 

measured with the air handler both off 

and on (at low and high speed), with the 

dehumidifier operational. The ESP was 

subsequently measured at 1-second 

intervals throughout the 7-month 

metering period, and data were 

analyzed to determine average ESP 

during those periods when the 

dehumidifier compressor and blower 

were activated regardless of HVAC 

blower activation. A summary of these 

measurements is presented in Table 

III.1. 

TABLE III.1—WHOLE-HOME DEHUMIDIFIER AVERAGE EXTERNAL STATIC PRESSURE

Site designation 

Average external static pressure with dehumidifier blower on (in. w.c.) 

Air handler off Air handler on 

at low speed 

Air handler on 

at high speed 

Average in 

dehumidification 

mode during 

metering period 

WHD-SiteB01 ........................................................................................... 0.14–0.16 0.085–0.090 — 0.117 

WHD-SiteB02 ........................................................................................... 0.32 0.26–0.27 0.22–0.23 0.283 

WHD-SiteB03 ........................................................................................... 0.23 0.18–0.19 0.11 0.205

Average * .......................................................................................... 0.23 0.18 0.17 0.20 

* Calculated using the midpoint of each range 

As previously noted, this sample is 

very small, but the results suggest that 

the comments characterizing 0.5 in. w.c. 

as an unrealistic upper bound for ESP 

may be valid. To further validate this 

matter, DOE considered the equation in 

the recent NOPR for the residential 

furnace fan test procedure that 

calculated ESP from the product of the 

square of the volumetric air flow rate (in 

cubic feet per minute, CFM) and a 

reference system constant (a value that 

represents the losses within the average 

duct system). 77 FR 28673, 28684 (May 

15, 2012). Based on the average furnace 

fan ESP of 0.5 in. w.c. and air flow rate 

of 1,200 CFM, DOE calculated a 

reference system constant of 3.47 × 10¥7

in in. w.c. per CFM. Through its review 

of product literature, DOE found that 

the typical volumetric air flow rate for 

whole-home dehumidifiers is 

approximately 300 CFM, which is 

significantly less than that for a furnace 

fan. Inserting this air flow rate value 

into the equation results in an ESP of 

0.03 in. w.c., exclusive of the additional 

losses associated with ducting a wholehome dehumidifier to the home 

ventilation system. Based on a typical 


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installation with 10-inch diameter 

dehumidifier ducts, 2 elbows, and 

connections to the larger ventilation 

ducts for the home, DOE estimated a 

total ESP of 0.22 in. w.c. for a typical 

whole-home dehumidifier setup, which 

corresponds closely with the data 

gathered for the Burke Study. 

In sum, DOE’s analysis for this 

SNOPR supports testing conditions for 

whole-home dehumidifiers at an ESP 

higher than 0.2 in. w.c. (the average in 

dehumidification mode from the Burke 

Study) but substantially less than the 

0.5 in. w.c. proposed in the May 2014 

NOPR. Due to the limited data available 

to more precisely define this value, DOE 

proposes in the SNOPR to specify ESP 

at 0.25 in. w.c., the nearest value in 

quarter inch increments, as an 

appropriate test condition for wholehome dehumidifiers. 

3. Test Duct Length 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE 

proposed a whole-home dehumidifier 

ducted test setup with certain duct 

lengths and cell-type flow straighteners 

to achieve laminar air flow, and 

specified the placement of 

instrumentation based on numbers of 

duct diameters upstream of and 

downstream from the test unit. For a 

refrigerant-only whole-home 

dehumidifier, one duct would be 

attached to the process air exhaust to 

maintain the necessary ESP and would 

include a pitot-static traverse and 

throttling device. For a refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifier, three test ducts 

would be required (two for the process 

air inlet and exhaust and one for the 

reactivation air inlet), each with a flow 

straightener, pitot-static traverse, air 

sampling instrumentation, and 

throttling device. 79 FR 29271, 29286. 

Aprilaire commented that it would be 

difficult to accommodate the full length 

of ducting proposed in the May 2014 

NOPR in existing test chambers, and 

estimated a cost of $30,000 to construct 

a new test chamber with air 

conditioning equipment or to move 

existing test chamber walls, which 

would be burdensome to whole-home 

dehumidifier manufacturers. Aprilaire 

further stated that unit performance 

would not vary greatly if a shorter 

length of duct were used, and noted that 

in its internal testing, it has used a 5- 

foot duct length that produces an even 

distribution of inlet air over the internal 

coils. (Aprilaire, No. 5 at p. 4; Aprilaire, 

Public Meeting Transcript, No. 10 at pp. 

63–64, 79–80, 91–93) 

Therma-Stor stated that requiring 

whole-home dehumidifiers to be tested 

with ducts would impose an unfair 

testing burden on whole-home 

dehumidifier manufacturers. ThermaStor noted that substantially larger test 

chambers are required for whole-home 

dehumidifiers compared with portable 

dehumidifiers, and the additional duct 

instruments, measurements, and 1- 

minute recording interval would require 

more capable data acquisition systems. 

Therma-Stor commented that preparing 

and performing the test would be much 

more involved than for the current test, 

and although the cost of the proposed 

ducts and accessories may be relatively 

low, the secondary costs of a test facility 

and staff to support the proposed test 

would be substantial. (Therma-Stor, No. 

6 at p. 5) 

In light of these comments, DOE 

acknowledges the test burden associated 

with specifying a minimum length of 10 

duct diameters for the instrumented 

ducts and considered whether this 

length could be reduced without 

impacting test results. DOE first 

calculated the duct lengths that would 

be necessary to ensure fully developed 

flow in the ducts after a component 

such as an inlet or elbow. For a 10-inch 

diameter duct and the expected range of 

air flow rates for whole-home 

dehumidifiers, DOE calculated that duct 

lengths of approximately 8.5–9.5 duct 

diameters would be necessary, which is 

close to the requirement of 10 duct 

diameters proposed in the May 2014 

NOPR. However, due to comments 

indicating that 10 duct diameters may 

be overly burdensome, following the 

publication of the May 2014 NOPR, 

DOE consulted with whole-home 

dehumidifier manufacturers regarding 

their internal performance testing and 

with whole-home dehumidifier 

installation specialists to determine an 

appropriate yet low-burden duct length 

for testing. These sources suggested that 

3 diameters of duct length typically 

allows for adequately uniform air flow 

within the duct to ensure proper 

dehumidifier operation. With the 

inclusion of a flow straightener 

upstream in the duct, as proposed in the 

May 2014 NOPR, DOE expects that the 

air flow would be sufficiently uniform 

with a length of 3 duct diameters 

upstream of the instrumentation to 

allow for repeatable measurements. 

According to discussion with 

manufacturers and installers, the flow 

does not need to be fully developed to 

achieve representative measurements. 

Additionally, with the information 

provided by manufacturers about the 

dimensions of available test chambers, 

DOE expects that the longer ducts 

proposed in the May 2014 NOPR would 

likely be located near the walls of the 

test chamber, potentially inhibiting air 

flow into or out of the duct. A shorter 

duct length would allow for a larger 

distance between the test ducts and the 

test chamber walls, allowing for 

unrestricted air flow into or out of the 

test duct. 

Therefore, DOE proposes to reduce 

the required minimum duct lengths by 

placing the flow straightener at the 

entrance to the inlet ducting and 

reducing the total minimum length for 

all test ducts from 10 diameters to 4.5 

diameters. Under DOE’s modified 

proposal, a minimum of 3 duct 

diameters would be provided between 

any throttling device or transition 

section and any instrumentation 

measuring the air flow properties. See 

Figures 1, 2, and 3 in proposed Section 

3.1.3 of appendix X1 of this document 

for specific placement of all test 

components (including the flow 

straightener, pitot-static traverse, drybulb temperature and relative humidity 

measurement devices, and throttling 

device) and illustrations of these 

configurations. 

4. Relative Humidity Instrumentation 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE 

considered two types of instruments to 

measure the water vapor content in the 

air: (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. DOE 

proposed in the May 2014 NOPR that 

relative humidity be measured using an 

aspirating psychrometer because of its 

simplicity, accuracy of ±1 percent, and 

relatively low cost. 79 FR 29271, 29287. 

Aprilaire noted that the ±1 percent 

and ±0.1 °F accuracy of the relative 

humidity measurement (as determined 

by the psychrometer) and temperature 

sensors, respectively, are inconsistent 

because a ±0.1 °F accuracy for the wetbulb temperature sensor correlates with 

a ±0.44 percent accuracy in relative 

humidity. Aprilaire noted that 

temperature is less expensive to control 

and measure than relative humidity. 

(Aprilaire, Public Meeting Transcript, 

No. 10 at pp. 67–68; Aprilaire, No. 5 at 

p. 3) 

Therma-Stor recommended that the 

whole-home dehumidifier test 

procedure use relative humidity 

measuring devices other than aspirating 

psychrometers that achieve similar 

accuracy and directly output relative 

humidity. According to Therma-Stor, 

these instruments may reduce the 

burden of placing the psychrometer 

within the duct and would require less 

frequent calibration than large 


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aspirating psychrometers. (Therma-Stor, 

No. 6 at p. 2) 

DOE notes that the different 

accuracies in relative humidity 

measurement arise because the 

aspirating psychrometers utilize 

thermocouples to measure both dry-bulb 

and wet-bulb temperatures, which leads 

the instrument to have a cumulative 

accuracy for relative humidity that is 

lower than the accuracy of the wet-bulb 

temperature measurement alone. 

However, DOE considered stakeholder 

input that certain relative humidity 

sensors may provide similar accuracy in 

relative humidity measurements as 

aspirating psychrometers, but would be 

less burdensome to implement. In a 

review of product specifications, DOE 

identified several solid-state relative 

humidity sensors currently available 

with accuracies of ±1 percent at prices 

similar to or less than the price of a 

calibrated aspirating psychrometer, 

which DOE estimated at $1,000 in the 

May 2014 NOPR. 79 FR 29271, 29293. 

DOE notes that these relative humidity 

sensors are specifically designed to be 

mounted and used in a duct, whereas 

aspirating psychrometers may be 

difficult to install, calibrate, and 

maintain in a duct. DOE is also aware 

that certain laboratories may already be 

using these relative humidity sensors, so 

it does not expect that switching the 

relative humidity instrumentation from 

an aspirating psychrometer to a relative 

humidity sensor for in-duct 

measurements would significantly 

increase test burden, and may in fact 

reduce test burden. Based on the two 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers in 

DOE’s test sample, which is the only 

type of dehumidifier that would require 

measuring relative humidity in the 

ducts, duct air velocity ranges from 500 

to 650 feet per minute, which is similar 

to the minimum air velocity of 700 feet 

per minute specified in ANSI/AHAM 

DH–1–2008 for the aspirating 

psychrometer. Therefore DOE 

tentatively concludes that there is 

sufficient air flow in the duct to 

properly monitor the relative humidity 

conditions of the air for these units. 

Therefore, DOE proposes that 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifier 

testing be conducted with a relative 

humidity sensor accurate to within ±1 

percent relative humidity. DOE is aware 

that some test laboratories are currently 

using this instrumentation, and 

tentatively concludes that, for other 

laboratories, the proposal to use a 

relative humidity sensor instead of an 

aspirating psychrometer would not add 

significant test burden because of the 

sensor’s simplicity and relatively low 

cost. DOE expects that this proposal will 

likely reduce test burden associated 

with maintenance and calibration 

compared to the test setup proposed in 

the May 2014 NOPR. 

DOE notes that refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifier testing requires in-duct 

relative humidity sensors to allow for 

capacity calculations. Because moisture 

is removed by the desiccant wheel and 

the refrigeration system, the typical 

condensate weighing approach for 

measuring capacity is not feasible for 

these dehumidifiers and instead, the 

psychrometrics in the process air inlet 

and outlet ducts must be measured. 

However, portable and refrigerant-only 

whole-home dehumidifiers would 

continue to use an aspirating 

psychrometer to measure inlet air 

relative humidity, as proposed in the 

May 2014 NOPR. Based on the extensive 

industry experience in using these 

instruments, along with sampling trees, 

to measure ambient conditions in the 

absence of inlet ducting, DOE 

determined that an aspirating 

psychrometer most reliably measures 

representative dry-bulb and wet-bulb 

temperatures in these conditions by 

inducing controlled air flow over the 

sensing elements. DOE also expects that 

when testing these units, there are 

typically no space constraints in test 

chambers that would preclude the 

installation and maintenance of an 

aspirating psychrometer. DOE also notes 

that dehumidifiers and other similar 

products are currently tested with 

aspirating psychrometers and typically 

with sampling trees, and because 

relative humidity sensors provide 

neither better accuracy nor significant 

cost savings, DOE proposes to maintain 

the current approach for portable and 

refrigerant-only whole-home 

dehumidifiers to minimize burden. 

5. External Static Pressure 

Instrumentation 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE 

proposed that ESP would be measured 

using pitot-static tubes and pitot-static 

tube traverses that conform with the 

specifications in Sections 4.2.2 and 

4.3.1, respectively, of ANSI/ASHRAE 

51–07/Air Movement and Control 

Association International, Inc. (AMCA) 

210–07, ‘‘Laboratory Methods of Testing 

Fans for Certified Aerodynamic 

Performance Rating’’ (hereinafter 

‘‘ANSI/AMCA 210’’). 79 FR 29271, 

29288. 

Upon further review of ANSI/AMCA 

210, DOE determined that Figure 3 

referenced in Section 4.2.2.3 shows 

three rows of pressure taps, each 

crossing in the center of the duct. DOE 

performed a search of the market and 

was unable to locate any commercially 

available pitot-static tube traverses that 

comply with the requirements of ANSI/ 

AMCA 210. DOE also consulted with 

the test laboratory that conducted 

whole-home dehumidifier testing in 

support of the May 2014 NOPR, and was 

informed that an instrument with two 

perpendicular rows of pressure taps that 

cross at the center of the duct would 

likely be sufficient to accurately 

measure the average ESP in the duct. 

Therefore, DOE proposes in the SNOPR 

that two intersecting and perpendicular 

rows of pitot-static tube traverses be 

used for whole-home dehumidifier 

testing. 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE also 

proposed that static pressures at each 

pitot-static tube in a traverse would be 

measured at the static pressure tap and 

averaged. 79 FR 29271, 29288. Upon 

further consideration, DOE determined 

that this requirement could be 

interpreted to mean that the individual 

static pressures must be measured and 

recorded at each tap, and then averaged 

following testing. However, DOE’s 

proposed methodology only requires 

that the average static pressure among 

all of the taps be recorded. DOE notes 

that commercially available pitot-static 

tube traverses have the individual tubes 

manifolded, with a single pressure tap 

that would measure a static pressure 

that is the average of the static pressures 

at each tube location, facilitating 

measurements according to DOE’s 

proposal. Accordingly, DOE proposes to 

clarify the pressure measurement as 

follows: ‘‘The static pressure within the 

test duct shall be recorded as measured 

at the pressure tap in the manifold of 

the traverses that averages the 

individual static pressures at each pitotstatic tube.’’ 

B. Whole-Home Dehumidifier Case 

Volume Measurement 

On May 22, 2014, DOE published in 

the Federal Register a notice of public 

meeting that also announced the 

availability of the preliminary technical 

support document (79 FR 29380), which 

contained DOE’s preliminary analysis 

for considering amended energy 

conservation standards for residential 

dehumidifiers. DOE proposed 

establishing product classes for wholehome dehumidifiers based on case 

volume: one for units with case volume 

less than or equal to 8 cubic feet, and 

another for units with case volume 

greater than 8 cubic feet. Therefore, in 

the SNOPR, DOE proposes methodology 

in appendix X1 to determine case 

volume for whole-home dehumidifiers. 

In particular, DOE proposes that wholehome dehumidifier case volume be 

determined based on the maximum 


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length of each dimension of the wholehome dehumidifier case, exclusive of 

any duct collar attachments or other 

external components. DOE proposes the 

following equation to determine wholehome dehumidifier case volume, in 

cubic feet: 

Where: 

DL is the product case length, in inches; 

DW is the product case width, in inches; 

DH is the product case height, in inches; and 

1,728 converts cubic inches to cubic feet. 

DOE proposes to amend 10 CFR 

429.36 to require that manufacturers 

include whole-home dehumidifier case 

volume, in cubic feet, in their 

certification reports. DOE also proposes 

to require that the average of the 

measured case volumes for a given basic 

model sample size be used for 

compliance purposes. 

For verification purposes, DOE 

proposes to require that the test facility 

measurement of case volume must be 

within 2 percent of the rated volume, or 

0.2 cubic feet, whichever is greater. DOE 

notes that this tolerance is the same as 

for compact refrigerators, refrigeratorfreezers, and freezers, which have 

volumes similar to whole-home 

dehumidifiers, under 10 CFR 429.134. If 

DOE determines that a rated case 

volume is not within 2 percent of the 

measured case volume, or 0.2 cubic feet, 

whichever is greater, the volume 

measured by the test facility shall be 

used to determine the energy 

conservation standard applicable to the 

tested model. DOE proposes to include 

the case volume verification 

requirements in 10 CFR 429.134, along 

with the proposed capacity verification 

protocol. 

C. Off-Cycle Mode 

As discussed in the May 2014 NOPR, 

DOE is aware that certain dehumidifier 

models maintain blower operation 

without activation of the compressor 

after the humidity setpoint has been 

reached. DOE proposed defining this fan 

operation without activation of the 

compressor as ‘‘fan-only’’ mode, and 

proposed a test procedure to measure 

the average power in this mode. Because 

DOE observed that the blower may 

operate continuously in fan-only mode, 

or may cycle on and off intermittently, 

DOE proposed monitoring the power 

consumption in fan-only mode for a 

minimum of 1 hour for units with 

continuous fan operation, or, for units 

with cyclical fan operation, for 3 or 

more full fan cycles for no less than 1 

hour. This proposal was based on DOE’s 

observation that fan cycle duration, 

although variable for certain units, was 

approximately 10 minutes. 79 FR 29271, 

29290–29291. 

AHAM requested clarification on 

whether fan-only mode would include 

fans that operate to facilitate active 

defrost. AHAM was concerned that if 

the test procedure includes active 

defrost in fan-only mode, manufacturers 

would not be able to provide active 

defrost capabilities, and dehumidifiers 

would have to wait for ice to fall off 

passively or melt, which would reduce 

consumer utility. AHAM also expressed 

concern that DOE’s proposal would 

effectively remove fan operation with 

the compressor off, such that the 

consumer would no longer be able to 

control humidity as accurately and there 

would be a higher fluctuation of 

humidity in the room, impacting 

consumer utility. AHAM noted that for 

cyclic fan-only mode operation, the 

proposed method may work for 

products that cycle three or more times, 

but there are products that may stop 

cycling after only one or two cycles. For 

these products, AHAM stated that the 

proposed method may overstate the fanonly mode energy use and such 

products would also be impossible to 

test. (AHAM, No. 7 at p. 4) 

Pacific Gas and Electric Company 

(PG&E), Southern California Gas 

Company (SCG), San Diego Gas and 

Electric Company (SDG&E), and 

Southern California Edison (SCE) 

(hereinafter the ‘‘California InvestorOwned Utilities (IOUs)’’) commented 

that fan-only mode is used when the 

relative humidity setpoint has been 

reached to blow air to ensure the 

humidistat is monitoring changes in 

relative humidity or to keep air 

circulating in the room. However, the 

California IOUs suggested that fan-only 

mode can result in re-evaporation, 

thereby re-humidifying the space and 

reducing efficiency. They believe that 

improved control of fan-only mode is an 

energy saving measure that is currently 

not captured by the existing test 

procedure. (California IOUs, No. 9 at p. 

2) 

DOE notes that the proposal in the 

May 2014 NOPR would not preclude 

manufacturers from implementing fanonly mode operation, but would include 

the energy consumption in fan-only 

mode in the overall performance metric 

as a measure of representative energy 

use. However, to clarify measurement of 

energy consumption in periods when 

the refrigeration system has cycled off 

due to the humidistat, DOE proposes to 

withdraw the fan-only mode definition 

included in the May 2014 NOPR and 

instead modify the proposed off-cycle 

mode definition to encompass all 

operation when dehumidification mode 

has cycled off, including any 

intermittent, cyclic, or continuous fan 

operation. Therefore, in the SNOPR, 

DOE proposes to define off-cycle mode 

as a mode in which the dehumidifier: 

(1) Has cycled off its main moisture 

removal function by humidistat or 

humidity sensor; 

(2) May or may not operate its fan or 

blower; and 

(3) Will reactivate the main moisture 

removal function according to the 

humidistat or humidity sensor signal. 

Under this proposed definition, when 

the refrigeration system has cycled off 

because the ambient relative humidity 

has fallen below the relative humidity 

setpoint (but is in a condition to cycle 

on when the ambient relative humidity 

has risen above the relative humidity 

setpoint), the dehumidifier is in offcycle mode. The fan or blower may 

continue to operate in off-cycle mode. 

Conversely, when the refrigeration 

system has cycled on because the 

ambient relative humidity has risen 

above the relative humidity setpoint 

(but will cycle off when the ambient 

relative humidity falls below the 

relative humidity setpoint), the 

dehumidifier is in dehumidification 

mode. 

In addition, although the lower 

ambient temperature test conditions 

may increase the likelihood of ice 

formation on the evaporator, operating 

the fan without the refrigeration system 

for purposes of defrosting the coil 

would not be considered off-cycle mode 

as long as the humidity setpoint has not 

been reached. Any defrost events when 

the ambient relative humidity is above 

the relative humidity setpoint would be 

considered part of dehumidification 

mode. 

DOE intends for the definitions of 

dehumidification and off-cycle mode to 

capture all energy used by the 

dehumidifier, whether the ambient 

relative humidity is either above or 

below the relative humidity setpoint, 

when the dehumidifier is not in inactive 

or off mode. DOE requests comments as 

to whether the proposed definitions of 

dehumidification mode and off-cycle 

mode clearly reflect this intent. In 

response to comments received, DOE 

may modify these definitions in the 

final rule. 

The test procedure proposed in the 

May 2014 NOPR did not require a 

specific test sequence between the end 

of dehumidification mode and the start 

of fan-only mode to minimize test 

burden and provide flexibility in testing 

facilities. However, commenters raised 

questions about which type of fan 


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operation should be measured and 

when the fan-only mode testing should 

be conducted in relation to 

dehumidification mode testing. To 

ensure there is sufficient condensation 

on the evaporator to initiate fan 

operation for any units that dry the 

evaporator after compressor operation, 

DOE proposes that the off-cycle mode 

measurement begin immediately 

following compressor operation for the 

dehumidification mode test. This would 

be achieved by performing the 6-hour 

dehumidification mode test, and then 

adjusting the unit set point above the 

ambient relative humidity to begin the 

off-cycle mode test immediately after 

the compressor cycles off. DOE asserts 

that conducting the off-cycle mode test 

subsequent to the dehumidification 

mode test would capture all energy use 

of the dehumidifier under conditions 

that meet the newly proposed off-cycle 

mode definition, including fan 

operation intended to dry the evaporator 

coil, sample the air, or circulate the air. 

By capturing these types of fan 

operation in the off-cycle mode, DOE 

expects the proposed test method to 

reflect typical dehumidifier operation in 

the field while limiting potential 

confusion over what operations should 

be measured during testing. 

Section 4.2 of Appendix X specifies 

that off-cycle mode testing be performed 

in accordance with ‘‘Household 

electrical appliances—Measurement of 

standby power,’’ published by the 

International Electrotechnical 

Commission (IEC), publication 62301 

(Edition 2.0 2011–01) (hereinafter ‘‘IEC 

Standard 62301’’). However, due to the 

possibility for periods of fan operation 

and thus varying power levels during a 

dehumidifier’s off-cycle mode, as 

tentatively defined in this SNOPR, the 

test method in IEC Standard 62301 may 

not be applicable for power 

consumption measurements in off-cycle 

mode. In particular, DOE notes that IEC 

Standard 62301 states that its methods 

are intended to measure power 

consumption of low-power modes, and 

not the power of products in active 

mode. In this case, dehumidifier fan 

power consumption would be 

considered consistent with an active 

mode power level instead of a lowpower mode level. Therefore, DOE 

proposes that off-cycle mode testing be 

conducted in accordance with the 

general instrumentation and data 

recording requirements for 

dehumidification mode. With the 

proposed modification to the off-cycle 

mode test procedure to begin 

immediately following 

dehumidification mode testing, the test 

setup would not need to be modified, 

and the same instrumentation would be 

utilized for testing in both modes. 

DOE notes that although the IEC 

Standard 62301 test method would not 

be applicable due to fan operation, the 

power meter accuracy specified in IEC 

Standard 62301 would still be necessary 

to accurately measure power 

consumption at lower power levels in 

off-cycle mode associated with periods 

of no fan operation. DOE proposes that 

the power metering instrumentation 

during dehumidification mode comply 

with the requirements of ANSI/AHAM 

DH–1–2008 and during off-cycle mode 

with IEC Standard 63201. DOE is aware 

that power meters meeting the accuracy 

requirements of both test standards are 

readily available and currently in use in 

certain test laboratories. Therefore, DOE 

does not believe that these proposals 

would significantly increase testing 

burden associated with instrumentation. 

DOE requests comment on the potential 

burden associated with maintaining the 

accuracy requirements of both ANSI/

AHAM DH–1–2008 and IEC Standard 

62301 when performing off-cycle mode 

testing immediately following 

dehumidification mode. 

To determine a representative test 

duration for off-cycle mode, DOE 

monitored power, ambient relative 

humidity, and ambient dry-bulb 

temperature of several portable 

dehumidifiers in residential 

installations. The data encompassed 

multiple days of continuous operation. 

Based on this data, DOE estimates an 

average off-cycle duration of 

approximately 2 hours. 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE stated 

that cyclic fan operation in off-cycle 

mode is typically about 10 minutes in 

duration. 79 FR 29291. DOE notes that 

even if a fan were to operate for only 10 

minutes during the off-cycle to dry the 

evaporator coil, it would still represent 

a significant percentage of the energy 

consumption during that off-cycle mode 

based on the typical duration identified 

in DOE’s limited test data. In response 

to the California IOU’s comment, DOE 

notes that the proposed off-cycle mode 

test procedure would incorporate fan 

operation, thereby capturing energy 

savings associated with improved 

control schemes. 

In sum, DOE proposes that the offcycle mode testing be conducted over a 

duration representative of the typical 

off-cycle. Based on the metered off-cycle 

duration, DOE proposes an off-cycle 

mode test beginning immediately after 

completion of the dehumidification 

mode test and ending after a period of 

2 hours. The average power 

measurement for the 2-hour period 

would then be applied to the 1,850 

annual hours associated with off-cycle 

mode in the final IEF calculation. 

D. Additional Technical Corrections 

and Clarifications 

1. Average Relative Humidity 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE 

proposed that ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008 

be the basis in the proposed updated 

test procedure for the measurement of 

dehumidification mode energy use in 

dehumidifiers but with lower ambient 

temperatures (65 °F dry-bulb and 

56.6 °F wet-bulb temperature) that 

correspond to 60-percent relative 

humidity. 79 FR 29271, 29276–29283. 

AHAM commented that these proposed 

ambient temperatures are not within the 

range of Table II in ANSI/AHAM DH– 

1–2008 that is used to determine 

relative humidity under the actual 

testing conditions. AHAM also 

requested that DOE clarify the 

calculations used to determine the 

corrected relative humidity for use in 

the capacity calculation. (AHAM, No. 7 

at pp. 7) 

DOE agrees that the data in Table II 

in ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008 do not 

cover the range of dry-bulb and wetbulb temperatures that would be 

necessary to determine relative 

humidity at the proposed ambient test 

conditions. Therefore, DOE proposes to 

include in appendix X1 the following 

tables that present the relative humidity 

at dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures 

within the test tolerances at the 65 °F 

and 73 °F dry-bulb temperature inlet air 

test conditions for portable and wholehome dehumidifiers, respectively. 


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2. Refrigerant-Desiccant Dehumidifier 

Calculations 

a. Absolute Humidity 

Upon further review of the test 

procedure proposed for refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers in the May 

2014 NOPR, DOE determined that 

clarification is needed to calculate the 

absolute humidity of the process air, 

which is used to calculate the amount 

of water removed from the process air 

stream. The proposed provisions for 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers 

would specify recording the dry-bulb 

temperature and relative humidity in 

the ducts, and ambient barometric 

pressure. Based on these data, DOE 

proposes the following equations to 

calculate the absolute humidity of the 

process air in the inlet and exhaust 

ducts. The equations proposed are based 

on those presented in Section 7.3 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 41.6–1994 (RA 

2006), ‘‘Standard Method for 

Measurement of Moist Air Properties.’’ 

First, the measured dry-bulb 

temperature of the air at each sampling 

time is converted from °F to Kelvin (K) 

according to the following equation: 

Where: 

TK is the calculated air dry-bulb temperature 

in K; and 

TF is the measured dry-bulb temperature of 

the air in °F. 

The water saturation pressure is then 

calculated at each sampling time as 

follows: 

Where: 

Pws is the water vapor saturation pressure in 

kilopascals (kPa); and 

TK is the dry-bulb temperature of the air in 

K. 

The water vapor pressure (Pw) under 

the specific ambient barometric pressure 

at each sampling time is calculated as 

follows: 

Where: 

Pw is the water vapor pressure in kPa; 

RH is the percent relative humidity; and 

Pws is the water vapor saturation pressure in 

kPa. 

The mixing humidity ratio (HR) at 

each sampling time is then calculated as 

follows: 

Where: 

HR is the mixing humidity ratio, the mass of 

water per mass of dry air; 

Pw is the water vapor pressure in kPa; 

P is the ambient barometric pressure in in. 

Hg; 

3.386 converts from in. Hg to kPa; and 

0.62198 is the ratio of the molecular weight 

of water to the molecular weight of dry 

air. 

The specific volume (v), in cubic feet 

per pound of dry air, is used to calculate 

the absolute humidity. The specific 

volume is calculated at each sampling 

time as follows: 


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Where: 

v is the specific volume in cubic feet per 

pound of dry air; 

TK is the dry-bulb temperature of the air in 

K; 

P is the ambient barometric pressure in in. 

Hg; and 

Pw is the water vapor pressure in kPa; 

0.287055 is the specific gas constant for dry 

air in kPa times cubic meter per kg per 

K; 

3.386 converts from in. Hg to kPa; and 

16.016 converts from cubic meters per 

kilogram to cubic feet per pound. 

The absolute humidity (AH), in units 

of pounds of water per cubic foot of air, 

at each sampling time is then calculated 

as follows: 

Where: 

AH is the absolute humidity in pounds of 

water per cubic foot of air; 

HR is the mixing humidity ratio, the mass of 

water per mass of dry air; and 

n is the specific volume in cubic feet per 

pound of dry air. 

b. Capacity 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE 

proposed that the capacity of 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers be 

calculated by measuring the total 

amount of moisture removed from the 

process air. Specifically, the measured 

dry-bulb temperature and relative 

humidity would be used to determine 

the absolute humidity in pounds of 

water per cubic foot of dry air at both 

the process air inlet and process air 

outlet. The absolute humidity would 

then be multiplied by the process air 

volumetric flow rate, measured in CFM, 

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 would equal the 

amount of moisture the unit removes 

from the process air. 79 FR 29271, 

29284. 

As part of the proposed vapor analysis 

approach, DOE proposed that the weight 

of water removed during the test period 

be calculated for each data point, 

collected at intervals no greater than 1 

minute. The calculated water weights 

for each air stream at each of these data 

points would be summed for the entire 

test period and the total weight would 

then be used to calculate the capacity. 

DOE recognizes that this approach 

would require calculating the absolute 

humidity using the equations described 

in the previous section for each data 

point to ultimately calculate the total 

weight of moisture removed during the 

test period. To consider means to reduce 

this testing burden, DOE compared test 

results obtained by using individual 

data points to calculate absolute 

humidity to those obtained by using the 

average temperature, average relative 

humidity, and average barometric 

pressure to calculate average absolute 

humidity during the test period. DOE 

found that the results from both 

methods produced overall capacities 

that agreed within 1 percent. In addition 

to reducing test burden, the average data 

approach may also mitigate the 

opportunity for potential calculation 

errors by requiring only one calculation 

of absolute humidity per test. Thus, 

although DOE continues to propose the 

summation method as proposed in the 

May 2014 Test Procedure NOPR because 

it is the most precise, DOE seeks 

comment from interested parties on the 

alternative approach that would use the 

average temperature, average relative 

humidity, and average barometric 

pressure to calculate the average 

absolute humidity during the entire test 

period. Under this alternative approach, 

the weight of water collected during the 

test would be calculated from the 

average absolute humidity and average 

volumetric flow rate as follows: 

W=((AHI,a × XI,a) ¥ (AH0,a × X0,a)) × 360 

Where: 

W is the weight of water removed during the 

test period in pounds; 

AHI,a is the average absolute humidity of the 

process air on the inlet side of the unit 

in pounds of water per cubic foot of dry 

air; 

XI,a is the average volumetric flow rate of the 

process air on the inlet side of the unit 

in CFM; 

AHO,a is the average absolute humidity of the 

process air on the outlet side of the unit 

in pounds of water per cubic foot of dry 

air; 

XO,a is the average volumetric flow rate of the 

process air on the outlet side of the unit 

in CFM; and 

360 is the number of minutes in the 6-hour 

test. 

DOE requests comment on whether 

the proposed method from the May 

2014 Test Procedure NOPR represents a 

significant burden over the averaging 

approach, and whether the averaging 

approach would accurately reflect 

potential variations in the air stream 

conditions throughout the test period. 

3. Corrected Capacity and Corrected 

Relative Humidity Equations 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE 

proposed that product capacity be 

calculated in accordance with the test 

requirements specified in Section 7, 

‘‘Capacity Test and Energy 

Consumption Test,’’ of ANSI/AHAM 

DH–1–2008, except that the standard 

test conditions would be maintained at 

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

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

79 FR 29271, 29305. The calculations in 

Section 7 include adjustments for 

variations during the rating test period 

in the ambient temperature, relative 

humidity, and barometric pressure from 

the standard rating conditions. 

AHAM stated that it was not clear if 

and how DOE adjusted the capacity 

equation to account for the 65 °F drybulb temperature condition. AHAM 

stated that the product capacity 

equation in ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008 is 

based on 80 °F and 60-percent relative 

humidity, and would require 

adjustment for a different nominal 

temperature or relative humidity. 

AHAM asked DOE to clarify whether 

and how it was proposing to adjust the 

capacity calculations. (AHAM, Public 

Meeting Transcript, No. 10 at p. 94; 

AHAM, No. 7 at p. 5; AHAM Std, No. 

22 at p. 3) 

DOE confirms that for the May 2014 

NOPR, it revised the adjusted capacity 

equation in its analysis to include the 

lower nominal dry-bulb temperature (65 

°F versus the current 80 °F). Upon closer 

examination, however, DOE concludes 

that the coefficients in the corrected 

capacity equation (adjusted for 

variations in temperature and relative 

humidity) and the corrected relative 

humidity equation (adjusted for 

variations in barometric pressure) also 

should be revised as follows to be 

representative of the proposed dry-bulb 

temperature test conditions. 

a. Corrected Capacity 

To determine the appropriate 

coefficients for the corrected capacity 

equation, DOE calculated the percent 

change in humidity ratio from the 

standard rating conditions of 65 °F drybulb (for portable dehumidifiers) or 73 

°F dry-bulb (for whole-home 

dehumidifiers) and 60-percent relative 

humidity for small perturbations in 

either dry-bulb temperature or relative 

humidity. For the temperature 

adjustment coefficient, the dry-bulb 

temperature was varied within test 

tolerance while holding the relative 

humidity fixed. For the relative 

humidity adjustment coefficient, the 

wet-bulb temperature was varied within 

test tolerance while holding the drybulb temperature fixed, and the 

resulting variation in relative humidity 

was calculated. The coefficients 

themselves were calculated from linear 

curve fits of the changes in humidity 

ratio. From this analysis, DOE proposes 

that corrected capacity be calculated for 

portable and whole-home dehumidifiers 


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at the 65 °F and 73 °F dry-bulb 

temperature rating conditions, 

respectively, by substituting the 

equation included in Section 7.1.7 of 

ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008 with: 

Cr,p = Ct + 0.0352 × (65 ¥ Tt) + 0.0169 

× Ct × (60 ¥ HC,p) 

Cr,wh = Ct + 0.0344 × Ct × (73 ¥ Tt) + 

0.017 × Ct × (60 ¥ HC,wh) 

Where: 

Cr,p is the portable dehumidifier product 

capacity in pints/day, corrected to standard 

rating conditions of 65 °F dry-bulb 

temperature and 60 percent relative 

humidity; 

Cr,wh is the whole-home dehumidifier 

product capacity in pints/day, corrected to 

standard rating conditions of 73 °F dry-bulb 

temperature and 60 percent relative 

humidity; 

Ct is the product capacity determined from 

test data in pints/day; 

Tt is the average dry-bulb temperature 

during the test period in °F; 

HC,p is the portable dehumidifier corrected 

relative humidity, in percent, as discussed 

below; and 

HC,wh is the whole-home dehumidifier 

corrected relative humidity, in percent, as 

also discussed below; 

0.0352 and 0.0344 are the capacity 

correction factors for variations in 

temperature for portable and whole-home 

dehumidifiers, respectively, in (°F)¥1; and 

0.0169 and 0.017 are the capacity 

correction factors for variations in relative 

humidity for portable and whole-home 

dehumidifiers, respectively. 

b. Corrected Relative Humidity 

DOE used a similar approach to that 

for corrected product capacity to 

determine the appropriate coefficients 

for the corrected relative humidity 

equation in Section 7.1.7 of ANSI/

AHAM DH–1–2008. DOE calculated the 

linear percent change in relative 

humidity from the standard rating 

condition (60-percent relative humidity) 

for small perturbations in the barometric 

pressure. DOE proposes, therefore, that 

corrected relative humidity be 

calculated for portable and whole-home 

dehumidifiers at the 65 °F and 73 °F 

dry-bulb temperature rating conditions, 

respectively, by substituting the 

following equations for the corrected 

relative humidity equation in Section 

7.1.7 of ANSI/AHAM DH–1–2008: 

Hc,p = Ht × [1 + 0.0083 × (29.921 ¥ B)] 

Hc,wh = Ht × [1 + 0.0072 × (29.921 ¥ B)] 

Where: 

Hc,p is the portable dehumidifier average 

relative humidity from the test data, in 

percent, corrected to the standard barometric 

pressure of 29.921 in. mercury (Hg); 

Hc,wh is the whole-home dehumidifier 

average relative humidity from the test data, 

in percent, corrected to the standard 

barometric pressure of 29.921 in. Hg; 

Ht is the average relative humidity from the 

test data, in percent; 

B is the average barometric pressure during 

the test period in in. Hg; and 

0.0083 and 0.0072 are the relative 

humidity correction factors for variations in 

barometric pressure for portable and wholehome dehumidifiers, respectively, in (in. 

Hg)¥1. 

4. Integrated Energy Factor Calculation 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE 

proposed to modify the existing IEF 

equation in Section 5.2 of appendix X 

to incorporate the annual combined 

low-power mode energy consumption, 

ETLP, in kWh per year, and the fan-only 

mode energy consumption, EFM, in kWh 

per year, with the dehumidification 

mode energy consumption, EDM, in kWh 

as measured during the 

dehumidification mode test. The 

proposed IEF equation used the 

measured condensate collected during 

the dehumidification mode test, with no 

adjustments for variations in the 

ambient test conditions. 79 FR 29271, 

29291–92. 

In response to the May 2014 NOPR, 

AHAM suggested that instead of using 

the amount of condensate measured 

during the test, DOE’s IEF calculation 

should use a corrected capacity to 

account for variation in temperature and 

relative humidity. AHAM stated that the 

IEF equation, as proposed in the May 

2014 NOPR, is not an accurate 

representation of the real-time test 

conditions in the chamber, which affect 

the amount of moisture that is removed 

from the air. (AHAM, No. 7 at pp. 9–10) 

DOE agrees that use of the corrected 

capacity would account for variations in 

test chamber temperature and relative 

humidity; therefore, DOE proposes a 

modified IEF equation that utilizes the 

corrected capacity. 

Because DOE proposes to remove fanonly mode and to consider operation in 

off-cycle mode, DOE also proposes to 

modify the IEF equation to remove fanonly mode annual energy consumption. 

DOE proposes an update to the 

definition of combined low-power mode 

in both appendix X and appendix X1 to 

clarify that it is the aggregate of 

available modes other than 

dehumidification mode. The proposed 

combined low-power mode would 

include contributions from off-cycle 

mode and inactive mode or off mode. 

Based on these updates, DOE 

proposes the following IEF calculation. 

Where: 

IEF is the integrated energy factor in liters 

per kWh; 

Cr is the corrected product capacity in pints 

per day; 

t is the test duration in hours; 

EDM is the dehumidification mode test energy 

consumption during the 6-hour 

dehumidification mode test in kWh; 

ETLP is the annual combined low-power 

mode energy consumption in kWh per 

year; 

6 is the hours per dehumidification mode 

test; 

1,095 is the number of dehumidification 

mode annual hours; 

1.04 is the density of water in pounds per 

pint; and 

24 is the number of hours per day. 

5. Compressor Run-In 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE noted 

that Section 5.5 of ANSI/AHAM DH–1– 

2008 does not define the term ‘‘run-in’’ 

when requiring a run-in period be 

conducted prior to testing to ensure all 

components work properly. Therefore, 

DOE proposed in appendix X1 that a 

single run-in period during which the 

compressor operates would be 

performed before active mode testing, 

and no additional run-in period would 

be conducted between dehumidification 

mode testing and fan-only mode testing. 

79 FR 29271, 29291. 

In response to the proposal in the May 

2014 NOPR, AHAM commented that for 

run-in, the compressor must run for 24 

hours; otherwise the unit may not 

perform as it would in a consumer 

setting. AHAM stated that if the run-in 

is performed in a dry environment, the 

unit may not run in dehumidification 

mode and the compressor will not 

engage. Therefore, AHAM proposed to 

require that the run-in period be 

conducted inside the test chamber for a 

complete 24 hours for units without a 

continuous compressor on function. 

(AHAM, No. 7 at p. 11) 

To minimize test burden, DOE is not 

proposing to require that the 24 hours 

run-in period be conducted in the test 

chamber. However, DOE proposes to 

clarify in appendix X1 that the run-in 

period must contain 24 hours of 

continuous compressor operation. This 

may be achieved by running the test 

unit outside of the test chamber with the 

control setpoint below the ambient 

relative humidity. If the conditions 

outside of the test chamber are too dry, 

then the unit would need to be run-in 

in a more humid environment, which 

may include the test chamber. 

6. Definition of ‘‘Dehumidifier’’ 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE 

proposed to add clarification to 10 CFR 

430.2 that the definition of 

‘‘dehumidifier’’ does not apply to 

portable air conditioners and room air 

conditioners. The primary function of 


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an air conditioner is to provide cooling 

by removing both sensible and latent 

heat, while a dehumidifier removes 

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

notes that packaged terminal air 

conditioners (PTACs) are currently 

excluded from the room air conditioner 

definition. Because PTACs provide a 

primary function similar to the other 

products proposed to be excluded in the 

dehumidifier definition, DOE 

additionally proposes that PTACs be 

excluded in the dehumidifier definition 

codified at 10 CFR 430.2. 

7. Additional Operating Mode 

Definitions 

Inactive mode currently 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. 

Because, unlike off-cycle mode, inactive 

mode does not initiate dehumidification 

mode when the humidity setpoint has 

been exceeded, DOE proposes to 

exclude the humidistat and humidity 

sensor from the ‘‘internal sensor’’ 

mentioned in the inactive mode 

definition. 

Because DOE is aware that some 

dehumidifiers may be operated 

continuously in dehumidification mode 

by means of a user-selected option, DOE 

also proposes to add ‘‘by control 

setting’’ to the dehumidification mode 

definition as a means to activate the 

main moisture removal function. 

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory 

Review 

DOE has concluded that the 

determinations made pursuant to the 

various procedural requirements 

applicable to the May 2014 NOPR, set 

forth at 79 FR 29271, 29292–95, remain 

unchanged for this SNOPR, except for 

the following additional analysis and 

determination DOE conducted in 

accordance with the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). 

The Regulatory Flexibility Act 

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 (Aug. 16, 2002), DOE published 

procedures and policies on February 19, 

2003, to ensure that the potential 

impacts of its rules on small entities are 

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 the supplemental 

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 

in the May 2014 NOPR, with additional 

analysis below based on the proposals 

in this SNOPR. DOE seeks comment on 

its analysis and the economic impacts of 

the rule on small manufacturers. In the 

May 2014 NOPR, DOE estimated that 

there are five small businesses that 

manufacture dehumidifiers. 

This SNOPR proposes modifications 

to the proposals included in the May 

2014 NOPR. DOE believes that the 

proposed modifications to whole-home 

dehumidifier testing would not increase 

test burden and, in some cases, may 

even reduce test burden with respect to 

the proposals in the May 2014 NOPR 

and would therefore not increase the 

burden on small businesses. DOE 

investigated the following proposed 

modifications to determine the impact 

on small businesses. 

In the May 2014 NOPR, DOE 

estimated that a non-instrumented duct 

with a length of 10 duct diameters 

would cost approximately $1,500. In 

this SNOPR, DOE proposes to reduce 

the duct length from 10 duct diameters 

to 4.5 duct diameters. DOE estimates 

that the associated cost of the noninstrumented duct would decrease to 

about $1,000. The reduction in duct 

length provides an immediate savings in 

the cost of the test duct setup and 

allows manufacturers to test in 

significantly smaller test chambers, 

thereby reducing the overall test burden. 

As discussed in Section III.A.3 of this 

notice, one manufacturer estimated that 

testing in an existing chamber would 

avoid a cost of $30,000 for a new or 

expanded chamber. 

In this rulemaking, DOE proposes to 

require that ducted refrigerant-desiccant 

whole-home dehumidifier testing be 

conducted with relative humidity 

sensors instead of aspirating 

psychrometers. Based on preliminary 

market research and a review of product 

specifications, DOE identified several 

solid-state relative humidity sensors 

currently available with accuracies of ±1 

percent at prices similar to or less than 

the price of a calibrated aspirating 

psychrometer, which DOE estimated at 

$1,000 in the May 2014 NOPR. DOE is 

also aware that many laboratories 

already use relative humidity sensors, 

so DOE expects little or no change in 

test burden with the proposal to require 

relative humidity sensors be used for 

refrigerant-desiccant whole-home 

dehumidifier testing. The proposed 

switch to relative humidity sensors may 

actually reduce test burden because the 

sensors are relatively simple and require 

less maintenance compared to 

aspirating psychrometers. 

V. Public Participation 

Submission of Comments 

DOE will accept comments, data, and 

information regarding this SNOPR no 

later than the date provided in the DATES

section at the beginning of this notice. 

Interested parties may submit comments 

using any of the methods described in 

the ADDRESSES section at the beginning 

of this SNOPR. 

Submitting comments via 

www.regulations.gov. The 

www.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 www.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 

www.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 www.regulations.gov before 

posting. Normally, comments will be 


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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 

www.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/

courier, please provide all items on a 

CD, if feasible, in which case 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/courier 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 

‘‘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). 

VI. Approval of the Office of the 

Secretary 

The Secretary of Energy has approved 

publication of this supplemental notice 

of proposed rulemaking. 

List of Subjects 

10 CFR Part 429 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Buildings and facilities, 

Business and industry, Energy 

conservation, Grant programs-energy, 

Housing, Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements, Technical assistance. 

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 January 27, 

2015. 

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: 

■ a. Adding paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4); 

and 

■ b. Revising paragraph (b)(2). 

The additions and revision 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 capacities for 

each tested unit of the basic model. 

Round the mean capacity value to two 

decimal places. 

(4) For whole-home dehumidifiers, 

the value of case volume of a basic 

model reported in accordance with 

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

the mean of the measured case volumes 

for each tested unit of the basic model. 

Round the mean case volume value to 

one decimal place. 

(b) * * * 

(2) Pursuant to § 429.12(b)(13), a 

certification report shall include the 

following public product-specific 

information: The energy factor in liters 

per kilowatt hour (liters/kWh), capacity 

in pints per day, and for whole-home 

dehumidifiers, case volume in cubic 

feet. 

■ 3. Section 429.134 is amended by: 

■ a. Reserving paragraph (e); and 

■ b. Adding paragraph (f) to read as 

follows: 

§ 429.134 Product-specific enforcement 

provisions. 

* * * * * 

(e) [Reserved] 

(f) Dehumidifiers. (1) Verification of 

capacity. The capacity of the basic 

model will be measured pursuant to the 

test requirements of 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 

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. 


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(ii) If the certified capacity is found to 

be invalid, the average measured 

capacity of the units in the sample will 

be used as the basis for determining the 

minimum energy factor allowed for the 

basic model. 

(2) Verification of whole-home 

dehumidifier case volume. The case 

volume of the basic model will be 

measured pursuant to the test 

requirements of part 430 for each unit 

tested. The results of the 

measurement(s) will be averaged and 

compared to the value of case volume 

certified by the manufacturer. The 

certified case volume will be considered 

valid only if the measurement is within 

two percent, or 0.2 cubic feet, 

whichever is greater, of the certified 

case volume. 

(i) If the certified case volume is 

found to be valid, the certified case 

volume will be used as the basis for 

determining the minimum energy factor 

allowed for the basic model. 

(ii) If the certified case volume is 

found to be invalid, the average 

measured case volume of the units in 

the sample will be used as the basis for 

determining the minimum energy factor 

allowed for the basic model. 

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, room air 

conditioner, or packaged terminal air 

conditioner, that is a self-contained, 

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) A 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) 

through (f)(12) as paragraphs (f)(12) 

through (f)(14), respectively; 

■ 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); 

The additions 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, Laboratory Methods of 

Testing Fans for Certified Aerodynamic 

Performance Rating, AMCA approved 

July 28, 2006, ANSI approved August 

17, 2007, 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, 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, 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 and 

the case volume, expressed in cubic 

feet, for whole-home dehumidifiers 

shall be measured in accordance with 

section 5.5 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 revising 

section 2.3, redesignating sections 2.4 

through 2.10 as sections 2.5 through 

2.11, adding new section 2.4, and 

revising newly redesignated sections 2.7 

and 2.10; 

■ c. In section 3, Test Apparatus and 

General Instructions, by revising section 

3.1 and adding sections 3.1.1 through 

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 (date 180 days after the date of 

publication of the final rule in the Federal 

Register), 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. 

Until (date 180 days after the publication 

of the final rule in the Federal Register), 

manufacturers must either test portable 

dehumidifiers in accordance with this 

appendix, or the previous version of this 

appendix as it appeared in the Code of 

Federal Regulations on January 1, 2015. Any 

representations made with respect to the 

energy use or efficiency of such 

dehumidifiers must be in accordance with 

whichever version is selected. DOE notes 

that, because testing under this appendix X 

must be completed as of (date 180 days after 

publication of the final rule in the Federal 

Register), manufacturers may wish to begin 

using this test procedure immediately. 

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 


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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 wholehome dehumidifiers, must be made in 

accordance with the results of testing 

pursuant to appendix X1. 

* * * * * 

2. Definitions 

* * * * * 

2.3 Combined low-power mode means the 

aggregate of available modes other than 

dehumidification mode. 

2.4 Dehumidification mode means an 

active mode in which a dehumidifier: 

(1) Has activated the main moisture 

removal function according to the 

humidistat, humidity sensor signal, or 

control setting; and 

(2) Has either activated the refrigeration 

system or activated the fan or blower without 

activation of the refrigeration system. 

* * * * * 

2.7 Inactive mode means a standby mode 

that facilitates the activation of active mode 

by remote switch (including remote control), 

internal sensor other than humidistat or 

humidity sensor, or timer, or that provides 

continuous status display. 

* * * * * 

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 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 reevaporation 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. The pan shall be 

covered as much as possible to prevent reevaporation without impeding the collection 

of overflow water. Both the dehumidifier 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 operation is 

provided for 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 useradjustable 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 calculated values to 

the same number of significant digits as the 

previous step. Round the final capacity, 

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; and 

(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 off-cycle 

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 kilowatt-hour, rounded to two 

decimal places, according to the following: 

IEF = LW/[EDM + ((ETLP/1095) × 6)] 

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 = energy consumption during the 6-hour 

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

appendix. 

ETLP = annual combined low-power mode 

energy consumption in kilowatt-hours 

per year, as calculated in section 5.1 of 

this appendix. 

1,095 = dehumidification mode annual 

hours, used to convert ETLP to combined 

low-power mode energy consumption 

per hour of dehumidification mode. 

6 = hours per dehumidification mode test, 

used to convert combined low-power 

mode energy consumption per hour of 

dehumidification mode for integration 

with dehumidification mode energy 

consumption. 

■ 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: 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 wholehome 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 Manufacturers, titled 

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

(incorporated by reference; see § 430.3). 


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2.2 ANSI/AMCA 210 means the test 

standard published by ANSI, the American 

Society of Heating, Refrigeration and AirConditioning 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 Air-Conditioning 

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 

dehumidification 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, humidity sensor signal, or 

control setting; 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 kilowatthour (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 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). 

2.11 Inactive mode means a standby 

mode that facilitates the activation of active 

mode by remote switch (including remote 

control), internal sensor other than 

humidistat or humidity sensor, or timer, or 

that provides continuous status display. 

2.12 Off-cycle mode means a mode in 

which the dehumidifier: 

(1) Has cycled off its main moisture 

removal function by humidistat or humidity 

sensor; 

(2) May or may not operate its fan or 

blower; and 

(3) Will reactivate the main moisture 

removal function according to the humidistat 

or humidity sensor signal. 

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 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. 

2.15 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 Product case volume for wholehome dehumidifiers means a measure of the 

rectangular volume that the product case 

occupies, exclusive of any duct attachment 

collars or other external components. 

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 user-oriented 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 wholehome dehumidifiers other than refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers. The test apparatus 

and instructions for testing in 

dehumidification mode and off-cycle 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 wholehome dehumidifiers other than refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers. Test dehumidifiers, 

other than refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers, with ducting attached to the 

process air outlet port. The duct 

configuration and component placement 

must conform to the requirements specified 

in section 3.1.3 of this appendix and Figure 

1 or Figure 3, except that the flow 

straightener and dry-bulb temperature and 

relative humidity instruments are not 

required. Maintain the external static 

pressure in the process air flow and measure 

the external static pressure as specified in 

section 3.1.2.2.3.1 of this appendix. 

3.1.1.2 Psychrometer placement. Place 

the psychrometer perpendicular to, and 1 ft. 

in front of, the center of the process air intake 

grille. For dehumidifiers with multiple 

process air intake grilles, place a separate 

sampling tree 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, 

collect the condensate in a substantially 

closed vessel to prevent re-evaporation and 

place the vessel on the weight-measuring 

instrument. If no means for draining 

condensate away from the cabinet are 

provided, disable any automatic shutoff of 

dehumidification mode operation that is 

activated when the collection container is 

full and collect any overflow in a pan. Cover 

the pan as much as possible to prevent reevaporation without impeding the collection 

of overflow water. Place both the 

dehumidifier and the overflow pan on the 

weight-measuring instrument for direct 

reading of the condensate weight collected 

during the rating test. Do not use any internal 

pump to drain the condensate into a 

substantially closed vessel unless such pump 

operation is provided for by default in 

dehumidification mode. 

3.1.1.4 Control settings. If the 

dehumidifier has a control setting for 

continuous operation in dehumidification 

mode, select that control setting. Otherwise, 

set the controls to the lowest available 

relative humidity level, and if the 

dehumidifier has a user-adjustable fan speed, 

select the maximum fan speed setting. 

3.1.1.5 Run-in period. Perform a single 

run-in period during which the compressor 

operates continuously for at least 24 hours 

prior to dehumidification mode testing. 

3.1.2 Refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers. The test apparatus and 

instructions for testing refrigerant-desiccant 

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), 

except as follows. 

3.1.2.1 Testing configuration. Test 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifiers 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. Install a cell-type airflow 

straightener that conforms to 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) 


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in each duct consistent with Figure 1 through 

Figure 3. 

3.1.2.2 Instrumentation. 

3.1.2.2.1 Temperature. Install dry-bulb 

temperature sensors in a grid centered in the 

duct, with the plane of the grid 

perpendicular to the axis of the duct. 

Determine the number and locations of the 

sensors within the grid 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. Measure 

relative humidity with a duct-mounted, 

relative humidity sensor with an accuracy 

within ±1 percent relative humidity. Place 

the relative humidity sensor 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 must 

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. 

Measure static pressures in each duct 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, except that only two intersecting 

and perpendicular rows of pitot-static tube 

traverses shall be used. Record the static 

pressure within the test duct as measured at 

the pressure tap in the manifold of the 

traverses that averages the individual static 

pressures at each pitot-static tube. Calculate 

duct pressure losses between the unit under 

test and the plane of each static pressure 

measurement in accordance with section 

7.5.2, ‘‘Pressure Losses,’’ of ANSI/AMCA 

210. The external static pressure is 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, 

use a static pressure of 0.00 in. w.c. with no 

duct pressure loss in the calculation of 

external static pressure. During 

dehumidification mode testing, the external 

static pressure must equal 0.25 in. w.c. ± 0.02 

in. w.c. 

3.1.2.2.3.2 Velocity pressure. Measure 

velocity pressures 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. 

Determine velocity pressures at each pitotstatic tube in a traverse as the difference 

between the pressure at the impact pressure 

tap and the pressure at the static pressure 

tap. Calculate volumetric flow rates in each 

duct in accordance with Section 7.3.1, 

‘‘Velocity Traverse,’’ of ANSI/AMCA 210 

(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3). 

3.1.2.2.4 Weight. No weight-measuring 

instruments are required. 

3.1.2.3 Control settings. If the 

dehumidifier has a control setting for 

continuous operation in dehumidification 

mode, select that control setting. Otherwise, 

set the controls to the lowest available 

relative humidity level, and if the 

dehumidifier has a user-adjustable fan speed, 

select the maximum fan speed setting. 

3.1.2.4 Run-in period. Perform a single 

run-in period during which the compressor 

operates continuously for at least 24 hours 

before dehumidification mode testing. 

3.1.3 Ducting for whole-home 

dehumidifiers. Cover and seal with tape any 

port designed for intake of air from outside 

or unconditioned space, other than for 

supplying reactivation air for refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers. Use only ducting 

constructed of galvanized mild steel and with 

a 10-inch diameter. Position inlet and outlet 

ducts either horizontally or vertically to 

accommodate the default dehumidifier port 

orientation. Install all ducts 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, use transitional pieces to 

connect the ducts to the collars. The 

transitional pieces must 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. Install 

mechanical throttling devices in each outlet 

duct consistent with Figure 1 and Figure 3 

to adjust the external static pressure and in 

the inlet reactivation air duct for a 

refrigerant-desiccant dehumidifier. Cover the 

ducts with thermal insulation having a 

minimum R value of 6 h-ft 2¥°F/Btu (1.1 

m 2¥K/W). Seal seams and edges with tape. 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 


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Inlet 

Under 

Outlet Ducting 

Figure 1. Inlet and Outlet Horizontal Duct Configurations and Instrumentation Placement 
6012 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 23 / Wednesday, February 4, 2015 / Proposed Rules 


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Figure 2: Inlet Vertical Duct Configuration and Instrumentation Placement 
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 23 / Wednesday, February 4, 2015 / Proposed Rules 6013 

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. Record measurements for 

portable dehumidifiers and whole-home 

dehumidifiers other than refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers at intervals no 

greater than 10 minutes. Record 

measurements for refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifiers at intervals no greater than 1 

minute. Round off calculations to the same 

number of significant digits as the previous 

step. Round the final product capacity, 

energy factor and integrated energy factor 

values to two decimal places, and for wholehome dehumidifiers, round the final product 

case volume to one decimal place, 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; and 

(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 Inactive mode and off mode. 

3.2.1 Installation requirements. For the 

inactive mode and off mode testing, install 

the dehumidifier 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 inactive 

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 

inactive 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). 

3.2.3 Inactive mode, off mode, and offcycle mode wattmeter. The wattmeter used to 

measure inactive mode, off mode, and offcycle mode power consumption must meet 

the requirements specified in Section 4, 

Paragraph 4.4 of IEC 62301 (incorporated by 

reference, see § 430.3). 

3.2.4 Inactive mode and off mode 

ambient temperature. For inactive 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). 


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3.3 Case dimensions for whole-home 

dehumidifiers. Measure case dimensions 

using equipment with a resolution of no 

more than 0.1 in. 

4. Test Measurement 

4.1 Dehumidification mode. 

4.1.1 Portable dehumidifiers and wholehome dehumidifiers other than refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers. Establish the testing 

conditions set forth in section 3.1.1 of this 

appendix and measure the energy 

consumption in dehumidification mode, 

EDM, expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh), the 

average relative humidity, Ht, using the tables 

provided below, and the product capacity, Ct, 

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 for portable dehumidifiers must 

be maintained at 65 °F ± 2.0 °F dry-bulb 

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

temperature, and for whole-home 

dehumidifiers must be maintained at 73 °F ± 

2.0 °F dry-bulb temperature and 63.6 °F ± 1.0 

°F wet-bulb temperature. Position the 

psychrometer as specified in section 3.1.1.2 

of this appendix. 

4.1.2 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, 

‘‘Capacity Test and Energy Consumption 

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 must be maintained at 73 °F ± 2.0 

°F dry-bulb temperature and 63.6 °F ± 1.0 °F 

wet-bulb temperature; (2) the instructions for 

psychrometer placement do not apply; (3) the 

data recorded must include dry-bulb 

temperatures, relative humidities, static 

pressures, velocity pressures in each duct, 

volumetric air flow rates, and the number of 

samples in the test period; (4) the condensate 

collected during the test need not be 

weighed; and (5) the calculations in Section 

7.2.2, ‘‘Energy Factor Calculation,’’ of ANSI/ 

AHAM DH–1 need not be performed. To 

perform the calculations in Section 7.1.7, 

‘‘Calculation of Test Results,’’ of ANSI/

AHAM DH–1: (1) Replace ‘‘Condensate 

collected (lb)’’ and ‘‘mlb’’, with the weight of 

condensate removed, W, as calculated in 

section 5.6 of this appendix; and (2) use the 

tables in section 4.1.1 of this appendix for 

determining average relative humidity. 

4.2 Off-cycle mode. Establish the test 

conditions specified in section 3.1.1 of this 

appendix, but use the wattmeter specified in 

section 3.2.3 of this appendix. Begin the offcycle mode test period immediately 

following the dehumidification mode test 

period. Adjust the setpoint higher than the 

ambient relative humidity to ensure the 

product will not enter dehumidification 

mode and begin the test when the 

compressor cycles off due to the change in 

setpoint. The off-cycle mode test period shall 

be 2 hours in duration, during which the 

power consumption is recorded at the same 

intervals as recorded for dehumidification 

mode testing. Measure and record the average 

off-cycle mode power of the dehumidifier, 

POC, in watts. 

4.3 Inactive 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 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 of this 

appendix. 

4.3.1 If the dehumidifier has an inactive 

mode, as defined in section 2.11 of this 

appendix, but not an off mode, as defined in 

section 2.12 of this appendix, measure and 

record the average inactive mode power of 

the dehumidifier, PIA, in watts. 

4.3.2 If the dehumidifier has an off mode, 

as defined in section 2.12 of this appendix, 

measure and record the average off mode 

power of the dehumidifier, POM, in watts. 

4.4 Product case volume for whole-home 

dehumidifiers. Measure the maximum case 

length, DL, in inches, the maximum case 

width, DW, in inches, and the maximum 

height, DH, in inches, exclusive of any duct 

collar attachments or other external 

components. 

5. Calculation of Derived Results From Test 

Measurements 

5.1 Corrected relative humidity. Calculate 

the average relative humidity, for portable 

and whole-home dehumidifiers, corrected for 

barometric pressure variations as: 

Hc,p = Ht × [1 + 0.0083 × (29.921 ¥ B)] 

Hc,wh = Ht × [1 + 0.0072 × (29.921 ¥B)] 

Where: 

Hc,p = portable dehumidifier average relative 

humidity from the test data in percent, 

corrected to the standard barometric 

pressure of 29.921 in. mercury (Hg); 

Hc,wh = whole-home dehumidifier average 

relative humidity from the test data in 

percent, corrected to the standard 

barometric pressure of 29.921 in. Hg; 

Ht = average relative humidity from the test 

data in percent; and 

B = average barometric pressure during the 

test period in in. Hg. 

5.2 Corrected product capacity. Calculate 

the product capacity, for portable and wholehome dehumidifiers, corrected for variations 

in temperature and relative humidity as: 


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Cr,p = Ct + 0.0352 × Ct × (65 ¥ Tt) + 0.0169 

× Ct (60 ¥ Hc,p) 

Cr,wh = Ct + 0.0034 × Ct × (73 ¥ Tt) + 0.017 

× Ct × (60 ¥ Hc,wh

Where: 

Cr,p = portable dehumidifiers product 

capacity in pints/day, corrected to 

standard rating conditions of 65 °F drybulb temperature and 60 percent relative 

humidity; 

Cr,wh = whole-home dehumidifier product 

capacity in pints/day, corrected to 

standard rating conditions of 73 °F drybulb temperature and 60 percent relative 

humidity; 

Ct = product capacity determined from test 

data in pints/day; 

Tt = average dry-bulb temperature during the 

test period in °F; 

HC,p = portable dehumidifier corrected 

relative humidity in percent, as 

determined in section 5.1 of this 

appendix; and 

HC,wh = whole-home dehumidifier corrected 

relative humidity in percent, as 

determined in section 5.1 of this 

appendix. 

5.3 Annual combined low-power mode 

energy consumption. Calculate the annual 

combined low-power mode energy 

consumption for dehumidifiers, ETLP, 

expressed in kWh per year: 

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 4.3 of this 

appendix; 

POC = dehumidifier off-cycle mode power in 

watts, as measured in section 4.2 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; and 

K = 0.001 kWh/Wh conversion factor for 

watt-hours to kWh. 

5.4 Integrated energy factor. Calculate the 

integrated energy factor, IEF, expressed in 

L/kWh, rounded to two decimal places, 

according to the following: 

Where: 

Cr = corrected product capacity in pints per 

day, as determined in section 5.2 of this 

appendix; 

t = test duration in hours; 

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 = energy consumption during the 6-hour 

dehumidification mode test in kWh, as 

measured in section 4.1.1 of this 

appendix; 

ETLP = annual combined low-power mode 

energy consumption in kWh per year, as 

calculated in section 5.3 of this 

appendix; 

1,095 = dehumidification mode annual 

hours, used to convert ETLP to combined 

low-power mode energy consumption 

per hour of dehumidification mode; 

6 = hours per dehumidification mode test, 

used to convert annual combined lowpower mode energy consumption per 

hour of dehumidification mode for 

integration with dehumidification mode 

energy consumption; 

1.04 = the density of water in pounds per 

pint; and 

24 = the number of hours per day. 

5.5 Absolute humidity for refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers. Calculate the 

absolute humidity of the air entering and 

leaving the refrigerant-desiccant 

dehumidifier in the process air stream, 

expressed in pounds of water per cubic foot 

of air, according to the following set of 

equations. 

5.5.1 Temperature in Kelvin. The air drybulb temperature, in Kelvin, is: 

Where: 

TF = the measured dry-bulb temperature of 

the air in °F. 

5.5.2 Water saturation pressure. The water 

saturation pressure, expressed in kilopascals 

(kPa), is: 

Where: 

TK = the calculated dry-bulb temperature 

of the air in K, calculated in section 5.5.1 of 

this appendix. 

5.5.3 Vapor pressure. The water vapor 

pressure, expressed in kilopascals (kPa), is: 

Where: 

RH = percent relative humidity during the 

rating test period; and 

Pws = water vapor saturation pressure in kPa, 

calculated in section 5.5.2 of this 

appendix. 

5.5.4 Mixing humidity ratio. The mixing 

humidity ratio, the mass of water per mass 

of dry air, is: 

Where: 

Pw = water vapor pressure in kPa, calculated 

in section 5.5.3 of this appendix; 

P = measured ambient barometric pressure in 

in. Hg; 

3.386 = the conversion factor from in. Hg to 

kPa; and 

0.62198 = the ratio of the molecular weight 

of water to the molecular weight of dry 

air. 

5.5.5 Specific volume. The specific 

volume, expressed in feet cubed per pounds 

of dry air, is: 

Where: 

TK = dry-bulb temperature of the air in K, as 

calculated in section 5.5.1 of this 

appendix; 

P = measured ambient barometric pressure in 

in. Hg; 

Pw = water vapor pressure in kPa, calculated 

in section 5.5.3 of this appendix; 

0.287055 = the specific gas constant for dry 

air in kPa times cubic meter per kg per 

K; 

3.386 = the conversion factor from in. Hg to 

kPa; and 

16.016 = the conversion factor from cubic 

meters per kilogram to cubic feet per 

pound. 

5.5.6 Absolute humidity. The absolute 

humidity, expressed in pounds of water per 

cubic foot of air, is: 

Where: 

HR = the mixing humidity ratio, the mass of 

water per mass of dry air, as calculated 

in section 5.5.4 of this appendix; and 

v = the specific volume in cubic feet per 

pound of dry air, as calculated in section 

5.5.5 of this appendix. 

5.6 Product capacity for refrigerantdesiccant dehumidifiers. The weight of water 

removed during the test period, W, expressed 

in pounds, and capacity, Ct, expressed in 

pints/day, is: 


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6016 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 23 / Wednesday, February 4, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

Where: 

n = number of samples during the test period 

in section 4.1.1.2 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, as 

calculated for sample i in section 5.5.6 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 of this appendix. 

Calculate the volumetric flow rate 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, as 

calculated for sample i in section 5.5.6 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 of this appendix. 

Calculate the volumetric flow rate in 

accordance with Section 7.3, ‘‘Fan 

airflow rate at test conditions,’’ of ANSI/ 

AMCA 210; and 

t = time interval in seconds between samples, 

with a maximum of 60; and 

60 = conversion from minutes to seconds. 

Where: 

24 = number of hours per day; 

1.04 = density of water in pounds per pint; 

and 

T = total test period time in hours. 

Then correct the product capacity, Cr,wh, 

according to section 5.2 of this appendix. 

5.7 Product case volume for whole-home 

dehumidifiers. The product case volume, V, 

in cubic feet, is: 

Where: 

DL = product case length in inches, measured 

in section 4.4 of this appendix; 

DW = product case width in inches, measured 

in section 4.4 of this appendix; 

DH = product case height in inches, measured 

in section 4.4 of this appendix; and 

1,728 = conversion from cubic inches to 

cubic feet. 

[FR Doc. 2015–02204 Filed 2–3–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Part 431 

[Docket No. EERE–2010–BT–STD–0043] 

RIN 1904–AC36 

Energy Conservation Program: Energy 

Conservation Standards for HighIntensity Discharge Lamps 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Reopening of public comment 

period. 

SUMMARY: On October 21, 2014, the U.S. 

Department of Energy (DOE) published 

a notice of proposed determination 

(NOPD) regarding energy conservation 

standards for high-intensity discharge 

(HID) lamps in the Federal Register. 

This notice tentatively determined that 

potential standards for three 

subcategories of HID lamps are either 

not technologically feasible or not 

economically justified. On December 22, 

2014, DOE received a joint comment 

from the Appliance Standards 

Awareness Project (ASAP), Northwest 

Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), the 

American Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy (ACEEE), and the 

Natural Resources Defense Council 

(NRDC) (Joint Comment), opposing 

DOE’s proposed determination. This 

document announces a reopening of the 

public comment period for submitting 

comments and data in response to the 

Joint Comment. The comment period is 

extended to March 6, 2015. 

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, 

and information in response to the Joint 

Comment received no later than March 

6, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may 

submit comments, identified by docket 

number EERE–2010–BT–STD–0043 

and/or Regulation Identification 

Number (RIN) 1904–AC36, by any of the 

following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Email: HIDLamps-2010-STD-0043@

ee.doe.gov. Include the docket number 

EERE–2010–BT–STD–0043 and/or RIN 

1904–AC36 in the subject line of the 

message. 

• 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 

compact disc (CD), in which case it is 

not necessary to include printed copies. 

[Please note that comments and CDs 

sent by mail are often delayed and may 

be damaged by mail screening 

processes.] 

• 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 CD, in which case it is not 

necessary to include printed copies. 

Docket: The docket is available for 

review at www.regulations.gov, 

including Federal Register notices, 

framework documents, public meeting 

attendee lists and transcripts, 

comments, and other supporting 

documents/materials. All documents in 

the docket are listed in the 

www.regulations.gov index. However, 

not all documents listed in the index 

may be publicly available, such as 

information that is exempt from public 

disclosure. 

The rulemaking Web page can be 

found at: www1.eere.energy.gov/

buildings/appliance_standards/

rulemaking.aspx/ruleid/23. This Web 

page contains a link to the docket for 

this notice on the www.regulations.gov 

site. The www.regulations.gov Web page 

contains instructions on how to access 

all documents in the docket, including 

public comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Lucy deButts, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Building 

Technologies, EE–5J, 1000 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 287–1604. Email: 

high_intensity_discharge@ee.doe.gov. 

Ms. Jennifer Tiedeman, U.S. 

Department of Energy, Office of the 

General Counsel, GC–33, 1000 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 287–6111. Email: 

Jennifer.Tiedeman@hq.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

October 21, 2014, DOE published a 

NOPD in the Federal Register that 

tentatively determined that potential 

standards for HID lamps are either not 

technologically feasible or not 

economically justified. 79 FR 62910. 


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