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Thursday June 26, 1980



# Part IV



# Department of Energy

Office .of Conservation and Solar Energy

Test Procedures for Room Air Conditioners as Applied to Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners43362 

### FederalRegister 

## I Vol. 45, No. 125 

## I Thursday, June 26,1980 

## I Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Conservation and Solar Energy

10 CFR Part 430
Energy·Conservation Program for Consumer Products;Test Procedures for Room Air Conditioners as Applied to Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners

AGENCY: Department ofEnergy.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Department ofEnergy amends the general provisions ofthe Department's energy conservation
program for consumerproducts by changing the definition of "room air conditioner" andincluding a definition of "packaged terminal air conditioner." The energy conservationprogram for

consumer products was established pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Among other program elements; the legislation requires that standard methods oftesting be prescribed for coveredproducts

.. These amendments are to clarify the scope of DOE's room air conditioner test procedures.

EFFECTIVE DATE:July 28. 1980.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James A. Smith. U.S. Department of

Energy. Office ofConservation and Solar Energy. Room GH-065. Forrestal Building. 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20545 (202) 252-9143. Eugene Margolis, U.S. Department of

Energy. Office ofGeneral Counsel, Forrestal Building. 1000 Independence Avenue. S.W., Washington. D.C. 20545 (202) 252-9510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background

On October 1. 1977, the Department of Energy (DOE) assumed the authority of the Federal Energy Administration (FEA) for the energy conservation
program for consumer products. pursuant to section 301 ofthe Department ofEnergy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91). The energy conservation
program for consumer products was established by FEA pursuant to Title III. Part Bofthe Energy Policy and Conservation Act (Act) (Pub. L. 94-163).1 Regulations prescribed as part ofthis**pro~ram** are found at 10 CFR Part430.

I Subsequently. the Act was amended by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA) (Pub. L. (95-t119j. References in this notice to "the Act" or sections ofthe Act refer to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended by NECPA. Section 323 (42 U.S.C. 6293) ofthe Act requires that standard methods of testing be prescribed for .room air conditioners. FEA first proposed test procedures for room air conditioners on July 22. 1976 (41 FR 31237. July 27. 1976). Final test procedures for room air

- conditioners were prescribed by FEA 011 May 24. 1977 (42 FR 27896. June 1. 1977). Test procedures appear in Subpart Bof Part 430 and general proviSions, including definitions, appear in Subpart 

### A.On November 3, 1978 the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute submitted a petition for rulemaking requesting DOE to reclassify packaged terminal air conditioners in a subclass underroom airconditioners. OnJanuary 4.1980 (45 FR 2432, January 11, 1980) DOE proposed to amend the definition of "room air conditioner" in § 430.2 of SubpartA, and to add a definition of "packaged terminal air conditioner." A public hearing washeld onFebruary 5, 1980. atwhich the proposed changes

were discussed.

B. Discussion ofComments

Comments were received from manufacturers, trade associations and interested individuals. The major issues raised by the comments are discussed' below.

.

1. Heat availability. Several
commenters requested that the definition ofpackaged terminal air conditioner encompass a heating mode provided by electricity. The proposed definition required the packaged terminal air conditioner to provide heating by steam or hot water supplied by a remote boiler. Commenters pointed
out that packaged terminal air conditioners must include various

means ofheating availability, i.e., elecfricity. hot wateror steam. to be specified by the builder to enable the builder freedom ofchoice to specify the heating system the builder wishes to utilize in the building. Based upon its review ofthe comments. DOE has modified the definition ofpackaged terminal air conditioner to include heating provided by electricity.

2. Test voltage. Several commenters requested clarification ofthe applicability ofthe test procedures to dual voltage units (200/230 volts) andto units designed to operateat voltages other than residential voltages (either 115 or 230 volts). The commenters suggested that room airconditioners designed to operate at dual voltages (208/230) be tested at 230 volts only and: those units designed to operate at voltages other thim 115 or 230 volts be excluded from the program because these voltages are not residential voltages. In the test procedures for other product types, including central air conditioners. DOE requires testing at normal residential voltage and frequency (either 115 or 230 volts and 60 hertz). DOE agrees with the commenter's suggestion that room air conditioners be tested at residential voltages. Accordingly. the definition of "room air conditioner" has been changed to make clear that units are to be tested as residential voltages.

3. Built-in units. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers submitted a petition for rulemaking requesting DOE to amend the test procedures for room air conditioners to include a definition of "built-in model" ofroom air conditioner. The commenters specifically requested that DOE establish a separate category so that the Association ofHome Appliance Manufacturers canpetition the Federal Trade Commission·(FTC) for exemption ofbuilt-in room air conditioners from the FTC labeling requirements. A number ofcomments supported the Association ofHomeAppliance Manufacturers petition thatbuilt-in models are directed at a specialized market which are not seen in retail displays.

One comment stated that precedent has beenestablishedby DOE for multiple classes ofa product type where only one test procedure has been prescribed. The commenter cited the test procedure for clothes washers in which
two categories. standard and compact clothes washers. are specified. This claim is incorrect. because the clothes washer test procedure includes separate testing conditions for standard and compact washers. These categories

were establishedby DOE because test loads are necessary for front loading 'clothes washers in order to get an accurate representation ofthe hot water usage ofthis type ofmachine. Different testing conditions (i.e.• weight oftest load) were established that recognize the different operating characteristics of standard and compact units.

. No comments were received regarding whether the present test procedures for

room air conditioners evaluate built-in models in a manner so unrepresentative

astoprovide materially inaccurate comparative data. Based upon its review ofthe existing test procedures and the industry certification program. DOE believes the current test method, including testing conditions. test measurements, and calculations, provides an accurate method of measuring efficiency and estimated annual operating costs for built-in room air conditioners. Therefore. in theFederal Register 

## I Vol. 45, No. 125 

## I Thursday, June 26, 1980 

## I Rules and Regulations

absence ofany data for built-in room air conditioners that wouldjustify a separate test method, including testing conditions, test**meas~ement** and calculations, this rule does not include a**sep~rate** category for built-in room air conditioners.

C. Regulations Prescribed

1. GeneralProvisions. Prescribed today are definitions of"room air

. conditioner"-and "packagedterminal air conditioner." These defInitions are essentially the same as those previously proposed in SubpartA {45 FR 2632, January 11, 1980}. Comments that were received regarding the definition of "room air conditioner" and "packaged terminal air conditioner" are discussed in today's notice.

Z. RegulatoryandEnvironmental Review. In accordance with the requirements ofthe National Environmental Policy Act of1969 (NEPAl (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), DOE evaluated the proposed establishment of these test procedures-for consumer products to determine ifan environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement was required. These test procedures will be used only to standardize the
measurement ofenergyusage for the subject consumerproducts. The action ofprescribing the testprocedures, by itself, will notresult in any environmental impact. Because itwas clearthat the proposed action was not a majorFederal action Significantly affecting the quality ofthe human environment. DOE determined that neither anenvironmental assessment

nor an environmental impact statement.

was required. The potential environmental impacts thatmight occur from the application ofthe test procedures in connectionwith DOE's
energy efficiency standards program will be evaluatedby the program.

This rule hasbeenreviewed in accordance with Executive Order 12044 and DOE Order2030. Itwas determined that this rule was significant in nature but didnot have major impacts to manufacturers and consumers imposing annual economic costs of$100 million or

more.

In consideration ofthe foregoing. Part 430 ofChapterII ofTitle 10, Code of Federal Regulations, is amended as set forth below, effective July 28, 1980.

Issued in Washington. D.C., June 19. 1980. T. E. Stelson.
AssistantSecretary. ConservationandSolar Energy.

1. Section430.2 is amended by adding the definition of"packaged terminal air conditioner". andby revising the definition of "room air conditioner" to read as follows:

§430.2 Definitions. 

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"Packaged terminal air conditioner"

means a wall sleeve and a separate unencased combination ofheating and cooling assemblies specified by the builder andintended for mounting through the wall. Itincludes a prime

source ofrefrigeration. separable outdoorlouvers. forced ventilation, and heating availability by builder's choice ofhot water, steam or electricity.
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"Room airconditioner" means a

consumerproduct, other than a "packagedterminal air conditioner," which is poweredby a single phase electric current and whichis an encased assembly designed as a unit for mounting in a window orthrough the wall for the purpose ofproviding delivery ofconditioned air to an enclosed space. Itincludes a prime

source ofrefrigeration and may include

a means for ventilating andheating.


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IFR Doc. 80-19326Filed &-26-80: 8:45 am)

BlWNG CODE 6450-01-M 

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