### CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 55 Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 1991 / Notices

Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy [Case No. F-032]
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products; Applications for interim Waiver and Petitions for Waiver of Furnace Test Procedures from Amana Refrigeration, Inc.

AGENCY : Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. SUMMARY : Today's notice publishes a letter granting Interim Waivers to Amana Refrigeration, Inc. (Amana) from the existing Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures for furnaces regarding blower time delay for the company's GUX and GCC models of condensing gas furnaces. Today's notice also publishes "Petitions for Waiver" from Amana. Amana's Petitions for Waiver request DOE to grant relief from the DOE test procedures relating to the blower time delay specification. Amana seeks to test using a blower delay time of 30 seconds for its GUX and GCC models of condensing gas furnaces instead of the specified 1.5 minute delay between burner on-time and blower on-time. DOE is soliciting comments, data, and information respecting the Petitions for Waiver. DATES : DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than July 31. 1991. ADDRESSES : Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department of Energy, Office of Conservation and Renewable l sergy, Case No. F-032, Mail Stop CE-90, room 6B-025, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586- 3012. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Conservation andRenewable Energy, Mail Station CE43, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9127. Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department 

### of Energy, Office of General Counsel, Mail Station GC-41, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products (other than automobiles) was established pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), Public Law. 94-163, 89 Stat. 917, as amended by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECCA), Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3268, the National Application Energy Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Public Law 100-12, and the National 

### 29957

hardship if the Application for Interim Waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the Petition for Waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that it would be desirable for public policy. reasons to grant immediate relief pending a determination on the Petition for Waiver. An Interim Waiver remains in effect for a period of 180-days or until DOE issues its determination on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an additional 180 days, if necessary. 

### On December 12 and December 13, 1990, Amana filed Applications for Interim Waiver regarding blower time

' s Applications seek Appliance Energy Conservation delay. Amana Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Interim Waivers from the DOE test Public Law 100-357, which requires DOE provisions that require a 1.5-minute time to prescribe standardized test procedures to measure the energy consumption of certain consumer products, including furnaces. The intent of the test procedures is to provide a comparable measure of energy consumption that will assist consumers in making purchasing decisions. These test procedures appear at 10•CFR part 430, subpart B. DOE amended the prescribed test procedures by adding 10 CFR 430.27 on September 26, 1980, creating the waiver process . 45 FR 64108. Thereafter DOE further amended the appliance test procedure waiver process to allow the Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Renewable Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver from test procedure requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned DOE for a waiver of such prescribed test procedures. 51 FR 42823, November 26, 1986. The waiver process allows the Assistant Secretary to waiver temporarily test procedures for a particular basic model when a petitioner shows that the basic model contains one or more design characteristics which prevent testing according to the prescribed test procedures or when the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. Waivers generally remain in effect until final test procedure amendments become effective, resolving the problem that is the subject of the waiver. 

### The Interim Waiver provisions, added by the 1986 amendment, allow the delay between the ignition of the burner and starting of the circulating air blower. Instead, Amana requests the allowance to test using a 30-second blower time delay when testing its GUX and GCC models of condensing gas furnaces. Amana states that the 30- second delay is indicative of how these furnaces actually operate. Such a delay results in an energy savings of approximately 1.7 percent. Since current DOE procedures do not address this variable blower time delay, Amana asks that the interim waiver be granted. Previous waivers for this type of timed blower delay control have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18, 1985 ; Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, and 55 FR 3253, January 31, 1990 ; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989 , and 55 FR 41589, October 12,1990; DMO Industries, 55 FR 4004, February 6, 1990; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 55 FR 13184, April 9, 1990, Carrier Corporation, 55 FR 13182, April 9, 1990 ; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 853, January 1991; and Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 58 FR 10553, March 13, 1991. Thus , it appears likely that the Petition for Waiveer will be granted for blower time delay. In those instances where the likely success of the Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated based upon DOE having granted a waiver for a similar product design, it is in the public interest to have similar products tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis. Therefore, based on the above, DOE is granting Amana Interim Waivers for its 

### Assistant Secretary to grant an Interim GUX and GCC models of condensing Waiver when it is determined that the gas furnaces . Pursuant to paragraph (e) applicant will experience economic of 430.27 of the Code of Federal

### 29958 CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 55
Federal Register / Vol. 56, No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 1991 / Notices

Regulations, the following letter granting United States Department of Energy the Applications for Interim Waiver to 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W. Amana Refrigeration

. Inc. was issued. Pursuant to paragrpah (b) of 10 CFR' 430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the

" Petitions for Waiver" in its entirety. The petition contains no confidential information

. DOE solicits comments, data, and information respecting the petition. Issued in Washington

, DC, June 24,1991. J. Michael Davis, Assistant Secretary, C

onservation and Renewable Energy.
December 12. 1990 Assistant Secretary

. Conservation & Renewable Energy United States Department of Energy 1000 Independence Avenue, SW. Washington

, DC 20585 Subject: Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver
Gentleman: This is a Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR 430.27, as amended 14 November 1986

. Waiver is requested from the test procedures for measuring the Energy Consumption of Furnaces found in Appendix N of Subpart B to Part 430

, specifically the section requiring a 1.5 minute delay between-burner ignition and start

-up of the circulating air blower. Amana Refrigeration

, Inc. requests a waiver from the specified 1.5 minute delay, and seeks authorization in its furnace efficiency test procedures and calculations to utilize a fixed timing control that will energize the cirulating air blower 30 seconds after gas valve ignition

. A control of this type with a fixed 30 second blower on

- time will be utilized in our GUX line of high efficiency condensing furnaces. The current test procedure does not credit Amana for additional

. energy savings that occur when
, a shorter blower on

- time is utilized

. Test data for these furnaces with a 30 second delay indicate that the heat-up cycle energy losses will decrease, the amount of condensate generated during the cyclic condensate test will increase

, and the overall furnace AFUE will increase up to 1.7 percentage points. Copies of the confidential teat data confirming these energy savings will be forwarded to you upon request. Amana Refrigeration is confident that this waiver will be granted

, as similar waivers have been granted in the past, to Coleman Company

, Magic Chef Company, Rheem Manufacturing

, and the Trans Company. An identical waiver request for the Amana GUD series furnaces has also been submitted on 15 May 1990

, and is currently pending. Manufacturers that domestically market similar products are being sent a copy of this Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver. Sincerely, Alan F. Kessler, P.E.. Chief Engineer

, Environmental Products, AmanaRefrigeration, Inc.
December 13.1990 Assistant Secretary, Conservation & Renewable Energy Washington

. DC 20505 Subject: Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver
Gentleman: This is a Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR 430.27, as amended 14 November 1986

. Waiver is requested from the test procedures for measuring the Energy Consumption of Furnances found in Appendix N of Subpart B to Part 430

, specifically the section requiring a 1.5 minute delay between burner ignition and start-up of the circulating air blower. Amana Refrigeration

, Inc, requests a waiver from the specified 1.5 minute delay, and seeks authorization in its furnace efficiency test procedures and calculations to utilize a fixed timing control that will energize the circulating air blower 30 seconds after gas valve ignition . A control of this type with a fixed 30 second blower on

- time will be utilized in our GCC line of high efficiency condensing furnaces. The current test procedure does not credit Amana for additional energy savings that occur when a shorter blower on

- time is utilized . Test data for these furnaces with a 30 second delay indicate that the heat-up cycle energy losses will decrease

, the amount of condensate generated during the cyclic condensate test will increase

, and the overall furnace AFUE will increase up to 1.7 percentage points

. Copies of the confidential test data confirming these energy savings will be forwarded to you upon request Amana Refrigeration is confident that this waiver will be granted

. as similar waivers have been granted in the past, to Coleman Company, Magic Chef Company, Rheem Manufacturing

, and the Trane Company. [Identical waiver requests for the Amana GUD and GUX series furnaces have been submitted on 15 May 1990 and 12 December 1990

, and are currently pending.] Manufacturers that domestically market similar products are being sent a copy of this Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver. Sincerely, Alan F. Kessler, P.E., Chief Engineer, Environmental Products, Amana Refrigeration, Inc. June 24,1991 Mr. Alan F. Kessler, P.E. Chief Engineer

, Environmental Products Amana Refrigeration, Inc. Amana, IA 52204
Dear Mr

. Kessler : This is in response to your December 12 and December 13, 1990, Applications for Interim Waiver and Petitions for waiver from the Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures for furnaces regarding below time delay for the Amana Refrigeration

, Inc. (Amana ) GUX and GCC models of condensing gas furnaces. Previous waivers for timed blower delay control have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company , 50 F.R

. 2710, January 18, 1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 F.R . 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 F.R

. 48574

, December 1, 1988 and 55 F.R. 3253, January 31, 1990; Trane Company

, 54 F.R

. 19226

, May 4

, 1989 and 55 F.R. 41589, October 12,1990; DMO Industries, 55 F.R

. 4004

, February 6, 1990; Heil-Quaker Corporation

, 55 F.R

. 13184

, April 9, 1990; Carrier Corporation

, 55 F.R

. 13182

, April 9, 1990 ; Amana Refrigeration

, Inc., 56 F

. R. 853, January 9

, 1991 ; and Armstrong Air Conditioning

, Inc., 56 F

. R. 10553, March 13, 1991. Amana's Applications for Interim Waiver do not provide sufficient information to evaluate what

, if any

, economic impact or competitive disadvantage Amana will likely experience absent a favorable determination on its applications

. However, in those . instances where the likely success of the Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated. based upon DOE having granted a waiver for a similar product design

, it is in the public interest to have similar products tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis. Therefore

, Amana ' s Applications for Interim Waiver from the DOE test procedures for its GUX and GCC models of condensing gas furnaces regarding blower time delay are granted

. Amana shall be permitted to test its line of GUX and GCC condensing gas furnaces on the basis of the test procedures specified in 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix N. with the modification set forth below. (i) Section 3

. 0 in Appendix N is deleted and replaced with the following paragraph: 3.0 Test Procedure

. Testing and measurements shall be as specified in section 9 in ANSI / ASHRAE 103

- 82 with the exception of sections 9.2.2, 9

. 3.1, and 9.3.2, and the inclusion of the following additional procedures: (ii) Add a new paragraph 3.10 in Appendix N as follows: 3.10 Gas- and Oil

-Fueled Central Furnaces

. After equilibrium conditions are achieved following the cool-down test and the required measurements preformed, turn on the furnace and measure the flue gas temperature
, using the thermocouple grid described above

, at 0.5 and 2

. 5 minutes after the main burner ( s) comes on. After the burner start

- up, delay the blower start-up by 1.5 minutes ( t-), unless: ( 1) the furnace employs a single motor to drive the power burner and the indoor air circulation blower, in which case the burner and blower shall be started together, or (2) the furnace Is designed to operate using an unvarying delay time that is other than 1.5 minutes

, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower, or (3) the delay time results in the activation of a temperature safety device which shuts off the burner

, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower. In the latter case

, if the fan control is adjustable, set it to start the blower at the highest temperature

. If the fan control is permitted to start the blower

, measure time delay, (t-), using a stop watch

. Record the measured temperatures

. During the heat

- up test for oilfueled furnaces

, maintain the draft in the flue pipe within ±0.01 inch of water column of the manufacturer's recommended on-period draft. These Interim Waivers are based upon the presumed validity of statements and all

### CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 55 Federal Register / Vol. 58, No. 128 / Monday, July 1, 1991 / Notices

allegations submitted by the company. These Interim Waivers may be revoked or modified at any time upon a determination that the factual basis underlying the application is incorrect. The Interim Waivers shall remain in effect for a period of 180 days or until DOE acts on the Petitions for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an additional 180 day period, if nexessary. Sincerely, J. Michael Davis, P.E., Assistant Secretary, Conservation and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 91-15607 Filed 6-28-91; 8:45 am)

®IWNO CODE 6450-01-4 

### 29959