EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115 , 

Monday 

May 12, 1997 

Part IV 

Department of 

Energy 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

10 CFR Part 430 

Energy Conservation Program for 

Consumer Products: Test Procedures for 

Furnaces/Boilers, Vented Home Heating 

Equipment, and Pool Heaters; Final Rule 

26139 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26140 Federal Register / Vol. 62. No. 91 / Monday. May 12. 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy 

10 CFR Part 430 

[Docket No. EE-RM-93-501] 

RIN 1904-AA45 

Energy Conservation Program for 

Consumer Products: Test Procedures 

for Furnaces/Boilers, Vented Home 

Heating Equipment, and Pool Heaters 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and 

Conservation Act. as amended. requires 

the Department of Energy (DOE or the 

Department) to administer an energy 

conservation program for certain major 

household appliances and commercial 

equipment. Among other program 

elements. the Act requires that standard 

methods of testing be prescribed for 

each covered product. Today's final rule 

amends the test procedures for furnaces 

and boilers. vented home heating 

equipment. and pool heaters. 

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective 

November 10. 1997. The incorporation 

by reference of certain publications 

listed in the regulations is approved by 

the Director of the Federal Register as of 

November 10. 1997. 

ADDRESSES: The Department is 

incorporating by reference test 

standards from the American SOciety of 

Heating. Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers. Inc. (ASHRAE) 

and the American National Standards 

Institute. Inc. (ANSI). These standards 

are listed below: 

American National Standards 

Institute/American SOCiety of Heating. 

Refrigerating. and Air-Conditioning 

Engineers Standard 103-1993. 

"Methods of Testing for Annual Fuel 

Utilization Efficiency of Residential 

Central Furnaces and Boilers." and 

American National Standards Institute 

Standard Z21.56-1994. "Gas-Fired Pool 

Heaters." 

Copies of these standards may be 

viewed at the Department of Energy 

Freedom of Information Reading Room. 

Forrestal Building. Room 1E-190. 1000 

Independence Avenue. SW .. 

Washington. DC 20585. (202) 586-6020 

between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m .. 

Monday through Friday. except Federal 

holidays. 

Copies of the ANSI! ASH RAE 

Standard 103-1993 can be obtained 

from ASHRAE Publication Sales. 1791 

Tullie Circle. NE. Atlanta. GA 30329. 

(l-800-5-ASHRAE). Copies of the ANSI 

Standard Z21.56-1994 can be obtained 

from the ANSI. Inc .. 11 West 42nd 

Street. New York. N.Y. 10036. (212) 

642-4936. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Cyrus H. Nasseri. U.S. Department of 

Energy. Office of Energy EffiCiency 

and Renewable Energy. Mail Station. 

EE-43. 1000 Independence Avenue. 

SW. Washington. D.C. 20585-0121. 

(202) 586-9142. FAX (202) 586-4617. 

Eugene Margolis. Esq .. U.S. Department 

of Energy. Office of General Counsel. 

Mail Station. GCe-72. 1000 

Independence Avenue. SW. 

Washington. D.C. 20585-0103. (202) 

586-9507. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction 

A. Authority 

B. Background 

II. Discussion of Comments 

A. Furnaces 

B. Vented Home Heating Equipment 

C. Pool Heaters 

III. Procedural Requirements 

A. Review Under the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

B. Review Under Executive Order 12866. 

"Regulatory Planning and Review" 

C. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility 

Act 

D. Review Under Executive Order 12612. 

"Federalism" 

E. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal 

Energy Administration Act of 1974 

F. Review Under Executive Order 12630. 

"Governmental Actions and Interference 

With Constitutionally Protected Property 

Rights" 

G. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction 

Act of 1980 

H. Review Under Executive Order 12988. 

"Civil Justice Reform" 

I. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Review 

J. Review Under Small Business Regulatory 

Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 

I. Introduction 

A. Authority 

Part B of Title III of the Energy Policy 

and Conservation Act. Pub. L. 94-163. 

as amended by the National Energy 

Conservation Policy Act (NECP A) 

Pub. L. 95-619. the National Appliance 

Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) of 

1987. Pub. L. 100-12. the National 

Appliance Energy Conservation 

Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988). 

Pub. L. 100-357 and the Energy Policy 

Act of 1992 (EPACT). Pub. L. 102-486. 

created the Energy Conservation 

Program for Consumer Products other 

than Automobiles (Program).! The 13 

1 Part B of Title III of the Energy Policy and 

Conservation Act. as amended. is referred to in this 

consumer household products currently 

subject to this Program (referred to 

hereinafter as "covered products") 

include furnaces/boilers. vented home 

heating eqUipment. and pool heaters. 

the subjects of today's notice. 

Under the EPCA. the Program consists 

essentially of three parts: Testing. 

labeling. and Federal energy 

. conservation standards. The 

Department. in consultation with the 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST). is reqUired to 

amend or establish new test procedures 

as appropriate for each of the covered 

products. EPCA section 323. 42 U.s.C. 

6293. Test procedures appear at 10 CFR 

part 430. subpart B. The purpose of the 

test procedures is 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. The procedures must not 

be unduly burdensome to conduct. 

EPCA section 323(b)(3). 42 U.s.C. 6293 

(b)(3). A test procedure is not required 

if DOE determines by rule that one 

cannot be developed. EPCA section 

323(d)(l). 42 U.S.C. 6293(d)(l). 

One hundred and eighty days after a 

test procedure for a product is adopted. 

no manufacturer may represent the 

energy consumption of. or the cost of 

energy consumed by. the product. 

except as reflected in tests conducted 

according to the DOE procedure. EPCA 

section 323(c)(2). 42 U.s.C. 6293(c)(2). 

However. the 180-day period referred to 

in section 323(c)(2) may be extended for 

up to an additional 180 days if the 

Secretary determines that the 

requirements of section 323(c) (2) would 

impose an undue burden. EPCA section 

323(c)(3). 42 U.s.C. 6293 (c)(3). 

Section 323(e) of the Act reqUires 

DOE to determine to what extent. if any. 

a proposed test procedure would alter 

the measured energy efficiency or 

measured energy use of any covered 

product as determined under the 

existing test procedure. If DOE 

determines that an amended test 

procedure would alter the measured 

efficiency or measured energy use of a 

covered product. DOE is required to 

amend the related energy conservation 

standard accordingly. In determining 

the amended standard. DOE is required 

to measure the energy effiCiency or 

energy use of representative samples of 

covered products that minimally 

comply with the existing standard. The 

average effiCiency of these 

representative samples. tested using the 

amended test procedure. constitutes the 

final rule as the "Act" or EPCA. Part B of Title III 

is codified at 42 USc. 6291-6309. 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 26141 

amended standard. EPCA section 

323(e)(2), 42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2). 

B. Background 

On March 28, 1984, the Department 

published in the Federal Register a final 

rule, hereinafter referred to as the 1984 

Final Rule, amending the test 

procedures for furnaces, vented home 

heating equipment, and unvented home 

heating equipment. 49 FR 12148. For 

furnaces, the 1984 Final Rule referenced 

the ANSII ASHRAE Standard 103-1982 

entitled "Methods of Testing for Heating 

Seasonal Efficiency of Central Furnaces 

and Boilers." In addition, it prescribed 

furnace test procedures for systems and 

issues that were not adequately covered 

by the ANSI!ASHRAE Standard 103-

1982. Those included, for example, 

provisions for modulating and 

condensing furnaces and boilers. 

Particularly impacted were units with 

thermal stack dampers. Other deviations 

between the 1984 Final Rule and ANSII 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1982 related to 

oversize factors, furnaces without draft 

relief or direct exhaust system, hot 

water boiler minimum return (inlet) 

water temperature and minimum water 

temperature rise, pump delay on boiler 

controls, an improved method for the 

determination of the S/F factor (the ratio 

of stack gas mass flow rate to flue gas 

mass flow rate) for furnaces and boilers, 

and the option of an assigned jacket loss 

value instead of actual measurement. 

The Department originally published 

a test procedure for vented home 

heating eqUipment on May 2, 1978.43 

FR 20182. The Department amended 

this test procedure in the 1984 Final 

Rule, to include a simplified vented 

heater test procedure for heaters with 

modulating controls, manually 

controlled vented heaters, vented 

heaters eqUipped with thermal stack 

dampers, and floor furnaces. 49 FR 

12169. 

The Department published the pool 

heater test procedure final rule on 

February 7, 1989, referencing ANSI 

Standard Z21.56-1986 for gas pool 

heaters and extending the test procedure 

to cover oil-fired pool heaters. 54 FR 

6076. 

Since 1984, through cooperative 

efforts with the furnace industry and 

through the DOE test procedure waiver 

process, DOE has become aware of 

several additional issues regarding 

furnace and vented home heating 

eqUipment test procedures. On August 

23, 1993, DOE published in the Federal 

Register a proposed rule and notice of 

public hearing, hereinafter referred to as 

the 1993 Proposed Rule, to amend the 

furnace, vented home heating 

eqUipment, and pool heater test 

procedures to address these issues. 58 

FR 44538. A public hearing was held in 

Washington, DC on January 5,1994. 

After reviewing the comments 

presented at the public hearing on 

January 5, 1994, and additional written 

comments submitted follOWing the 

public hearing, the Department decided 

to reopen the public comment period to 

solicit additional comments on one 

subject of particular concern to 

commenters in the 1993 Proposed 

Rule-the application of a 

multiplication factor to the auxiliary 

electricity consumption of a fossilfueled appliance. The proposed 

multiplication factor in the 1993 

Proposed Rule consisted of the ratio of 

the electrical "source energy" (the 

amount of energy used in producing the 

electricity consumed by the appliance) 

to the electrical "site energy" (the 

amount of electricity consumed by the 

appliance). The multiplication factor 

was used in the two proposed new 

energy descriptors, named Energy 

Factor (EF) and Annual Efficiency (AE) , 

proposed by the Department to include 

the auxiliary electrical energy 

consumption by fossil-fueled 

appliances. 

On January 20, 1995, the Department 

published a Federal Register notice, 

reopening the comment period to seek 

comments on a revision of the proposed 

definition of the multiplication factor. 

The new proposed definition was the 

ratio of the cost of electricity to the cost 

of fossil fuel to the consumer. 60 FR 

4348. The 30-day public comment 

period was extended by an additional 

30 days at the request of commenters 

and was closed on March 21,1995. 

Today's notice amends the test 

procedures for furnaces and boilers, 

vented home heating eqUipment, and 

pool heaters as follows: 

(1) DOE is amending the test 

procedure for furnaces and boilers first, 

to incorporate provisions contained in 

test procedure waivers granted to 

different manufacturers from 1985 to 

1996 and secondly, to include test 

procedures for new product designs. To 

accomplish this, the ANSII ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 is incorporated by 

reference into the test procedure, in the 

place of ANSII ASHRAE 103-1988 that 

was referenced in the 1993 proposed 

rule. (See below at II. a. 23. "ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. ") This 

incorporation establishes revised test 

procedures for the follOWing furnaces 

and features: Atmospheric furnaces with 

burner air inlet dampers or flue 

dampers; the jacket loss measurement 

for downflow furnaces; and furnaces 

and boilers employing electromechanical stack dampers with delayed 

opening and power vented units 

employing post purge during the offcycle. In addition, however, today's 

notice incorporates into DOE's test 

procedure provisions that are 

modifications of certain sections of 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. 

Those modifications include the limit 

on air circulation blower delay time at 

burner shut-offfor furnaces with 

unvarying control on blower delay time, 

deletion of the insulation requirement 

on the internal vent pipe of downflow 

furnace during the cool-down and heatup tests, deletion of the requirement for 

the sealing of cabinet ventilation 

openings during the jacket loss 

measurement, longer allowed free post 

purge time for power vented units 

employing post purge, and input 

requirement on interrupted ignition 

device. In addition, today's final rule 

provides procedures for the calculation 

ofthe annual fossil fuel and auxiliary 

electrical energy consumptions. 

(2) DOE is amending the test 

procedure for vented home heating 

eqUipment by, first, including modified 

calculation procedures for the weighted 

average steady-state efficiency and 

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency 

(AFUE) for certain manually-controlled 

heaters, and secondly, adding a 

procedure for calculating the annual 

energy consumption of fossil fuel and 

auxiliary electrical energy for vented 

home heating equipment. 

(3) DOE is amending the test 

procedure for pool heaters by updating 

the referenced ANSI standard for pool 

heaters from ANSI Z21.56-1986 to ANSI 

Z21.56-1994. DOE is also adding a 

procedure for calculating the annual 

energy consumption of fossil fuel and 

auxiliary electrical energy for pool 

heaters and a pool heater heating 

seasonal efficiency descriptor that takes 

into account the energy consumption by 

the pilot light during the standby period 

of the pool heating season. 

II. Discussion of Comments 

A. Furnaces 

In general, the comments received 

were supportive of the goals of the 

proposed amendments to incorporate 

provisions contained in waivers 

previously granted, to include test 

procedures for new product designs, 

and to capture the electrical 

consumption of furnaces. However, the 

comments by various organizations 

presented disagreements with DOE's 

proposal on the effect of some of the 

amendments on the measured AFUE. 

Additionally, many comments were 

received on the proposed formulation of 

energy descriptors to capture electrical 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26142 Federal Register I Vol. 62, No. 91 I Monday, May 12, 1997 I Rules and Regulations 

consumption, on both the 1993 

Proposed Rule and the January 20, 1995, 

Federal Register notice. 

In its testimony and written 

statement, the Gas Appliance 

Manufacturers Association (GAMA) 

classified the proposed revisions to the 

current test procedure contained in the 

1993 Proposed Rule into three 

categories. (GAMA, No.8, at 2),2 

The first category comprised changes 

that GAMA states would not lower the 

measured AFUE of most existing 

furnace and boiler models, including 

changes to bring the test procedures in 

line with waivers previously granted. 

GAMA stated its support for the 

immediate implementation of most of 

the first category of changes. 

The second category included 

changes that GAMA states would lower 

the measured AFUE of most existing 

furnace and boiler models. Such a 

change, GAMA claimed, would require 

the Department to amend the furnace 

and boiler efficiency standards because 

of the impact on existing models that 

marginally meet the standard. 

According to GAMA, this would cause 

confusion in the marketplace, 

accustomed as it is to the current 

standard, a minimum AFUE of 78 

percent for warm air furnaces. 

Additionally, GAMA asserted that a 

reduction in the measured AFUE would 

result in many units no longer 

qualifying for utility rebate programs 

that reqUire an AFUE of at least 80 

percent. GAMA stated the view that 

these changes would place a heavy 

burden on manufacturers and requested 

a delay in the implementation of the 

second category of changes until any 

revised efficiency standards went into 

effect. GAMA puts the following 

changes in this category: Revised 

calculation for the effectiveness of 

electro-mechanical stack dampers; 

power vented systems employing post 

purge after burner shut-off; sealing of 

cabinet ventilation openings during 

jacket loss test; insulation of horizontal 

mounted external draft diverters; 

insulation of the flue collector box for 

power vented units; insulation of the 

internal flue pipe for downflow furnaces 

during heat-up and cool-down tests; 

minimum values for the draft factor Dp 

and DF; measurement of water pump 

energy consumption; and test 

requirement for modulating boilers. 

The third category was the addition of 

the proposed AE energy descriptor. 

2 Written comments on the 1993 Proposed Rule 

were assigned docket numbers and are numbered 

consecutively. Comments presented at the January 

5, 1994, public hearing are contained in the 

transcript, 

GAMA suggested further study on the 

third category before implementation. 

Consolidated Industries, Carrier 

Corp., and Lennox Industries supported 

GAMA's statement. (Consolidated, No. 

21, at 1; Carrier, No. 12, at 1; and 

Lennox, Transcript, at 77). Inter-City 

Products presented the same list of 

revisions regarding their potential 

impact on AFUE as GAMA did. Many 

of the other commenters referred to 

GAMA's classification of the three 

categories of proposed revisions to the 

DOE test procedure in their oral and 

written statements and these categories 

are referred to in the discussion of 

comments below. 

The following discussion addresses 

the comments received on the proposed 

rule. 

1. Furnaces and Boilers With Small Air 

Passage in the Flue 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE 

proposed to change the limiting value of 

10 percent from a flow rate ratio to an 

area ratio. Both GAMA and Inter-City 

Products supported the proposed 

revision, (GAMA, No.8, at 2; and InterCity, No.7, at 4). No other commenters 

offered comment on this issue. The 

Department is adopting the change in 

sections 8.2.1.2.2 and 8.3.1.2 of ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 in today's 

final rule. 

2. Air Circulation Blower Delay at 

Burner Ignition 

The 1993 Proposed Rule specified a 

minimum blower delay time of 20 

seconds during the heat-up test for 

furnaces designed with non-adjustable, 

unvarying delay time that is less than 20 

seconds. The current furnace test 

procedure reqUires a 1.5-minute delay 

between the ignition of the burner and 

the starting of the blower. 

Manufacturers have requested and been 

granted waivers from this reqUirement 

because of an unvarying time delay 

designed into their specific models. The 

designed time delay granted in the 

waivers varied from 20 seconds to 66 

seconds among the specific models with 

30 seconds as the predominant time 

delay. The manufacturers claimed 

increases in the AFUE value of from 0.4 

to 2.0 percentage points if the designed 

time delays were used in the rating test 

instead of the 1.5 minutes specified in 

the current test procedure. The 

Department's granting of the waivers 

permitted those manufacturers to test 

units with blowers having unvarying 

time delay designed into them. In the 

1993 Proposed Rule, the Department 

proposed test procedures to allow 

testing with an unvarying time delay, 

but also proposed a minimum blower 

delay time of 20 seconds during the 

heat-up test. This is achieved by 

bypassing the electronic control, if the 

designed non-adjustable, unvaryiqg 

delay time is less than 20 seconds. 

Both GAMA and Inter-City Products 

opposed the 'requirement of a minimum 

20-second delay during the heat-up test 

for furnaces with deSigned, unvarying 

blower time delay at burner start-up. 

Amana Refrigeration, Inc., stated that 

DOE's reason of avoiding a cold draft in 

the occupied zone is an issue of 

comfort, not energy efficiency, and that 

DOE should let the competitive 

marketplace design products that fulfill 

consumers' desires. (Amana, No.2, at 

1). Inter-City Products stated that DOE 

should not define what occupant 

comfort is, and as advances in heat 

exchanger technology come about, low 

mass heat exchanger with very short 

heat-up characteristics will evolve 

allowing short on-time delays. Inter-City 

Products also stated that mandating 

time delays as to occupant comfort is to 

prescribe the design of a furnace and 

would not necessarily reflect the true 

operation and efficiency of current or 

future furnace designs. (Inter-City, No. 

7, at 2), GAMA and York International 

Corp. gave similar reasons as Inter-City 

Products for opposing the 20-second 

requirement, and stated that DOE is 

acting outside its authority in factoring 

occupant comfort into the efficiency test 

procedure. Further they stated that it is 

for the marketplace, not DOE, to 

discourage the sale of furnaces that do 

not provide a reasonable level of 

occupant comfort. In addition, the 

complexity of the electronic controls 

used in today's furnaces makes it very 

difficult for a field installer or repairer 

to modify an unvarying blower time 

delay. (GAMA, No.8, at 16; and York, 

No. 10, at 3.) Carrier Corp. and 

Consolidated Industries both supported 

GAMA's statement. (Carrier No. 12, at I; 

and Consolidated, No.2!' at 1.) Mr. 

Woodworth stated that comfort should 

not be the basis for provisions being 

included in a laboratory test procedure. 

Further, he suggested that the procedure 

should be changed to agree with section 

9.6.1 of ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 103-

1993, that does not include the 20-

second requirement. (Woodworth, No. 

20, at 5). 

In the current test procedure for 

furnaces, the 1.5-minute fan delay at 

burner ignition was specified on the 

basis of obtaining a low overall cost of 

combined fossil fuel and auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption.3 This 

3 Unpublished National Bureau of Standards 

report, Joseph Chi. "A Note on Effect of HX Weights 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 26143 

was balanced with the historically 

accepted industry practice in furnace 

operation of providing occupant 

comfort. In granting the waiver requests, 

the Department recognized the advances 

made by manufacturers on lighter 

weight heat exchanger designs with fanassisted combustion systems over the 

past decade. These advances permitted 

a faster heat-up of the heat exchanger 

and a shorter fan delay time while still 

achieving the desired low overall energy 

consumption. In the 1993 proposed 

rule, the Department believed that there 

is a limit to reducing the weight of the 

heat exchanger and, in turn, a limit to 

the achievable minimum fan delay time. 

This is evident from the fan delay times 

in the waiver requests, that were mostly 

greater than or equal to 30 seconds. It 

is possible, however, that as new 

material and technology evolve, an even 

lighter weight heat exchanger with 

better heat transfer performance will be 

developed. Such a heat exchanger could 

result in a faster furnace heat-up and 

allow a fan delay time of less than 20 

seconds. The 20-second minimum fan 

delay time might become inappropriate 

for these better-designed furnaces of the 

future. Nevertheless, for furnaces 

lacking such designs, the Department 

believes that without the minimum fan 

delay reqUirement used during the test 

for furnaces with non-adjustable, 

unvarying fan delay control, a 

manufacturer could simply modify the 

furnace's electronic control without any 

resulting improvement in its heat 

transfer performance. Thus, the 

manufacturer would obtain a higher 

AFUE value. The Department assumes 

that consideration of consumer 

satisfaction in the long term will 

prevent that practice. 

Based on the above reasons, the 

Department has decided to drop the 

proposed requirement of a 20-second 

minimum fan delay for furnaces 

designed with a non-adjustable, 

unvarying blower time delay during the 

heat-up test. Instead, DOE is adopting 

the procedure speCified in section 9.6.1 

of ANSII ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 in 

today's final rule. 

3. Air Circulation Blower Delay at 

Burner Shut-off 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE 

proposed a modification to the ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 version of 

the procedure now speCified in section 

9.5.l.2.2 of ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993. The modification reqUires 

that a furnace, if designed with an 

unvarying time delay that does not 

on annual performance and cost of Operation of a furnace," February, 1978. 

provide the same blower delay time that 

is specified for units with adjustable 

blower control, shall be tested with the 

blower control bypassed, and the blower 

manually controlled to give the delay 

time specified during the cool-down 

test. This delay time is three minutes for 

non-condensing, or l.5 minutes for 

condensing furnaces, or 40°F 

temperature difference, whichever gives 

the longer time delay. 

During the cool-down test, the extant 

test procedure allows a delay in blower 

shut-off of three minutes (l.5 minutes 

for condensing furnaces) or until the 

supply air temperature drops to a value 

of 40°F above the inlet air temperature, 

whichever gives the longer time delay. 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

provided an additional exception 

(section 9.5, l.2.2) that for a furnace 

without adjustable fan control, the delay 

shall be as designed. 

Both GAMA and Inter-City Products, 

as well as other commenters, expressed 

opposition to the specified maximum 

time delays for blowers with unvarying 

time delay in the proposed test 

procedure during the cool-down test. 

Inter-City Products stated that older or 

heavier mass heat exchangers may 

reqUire more than three minutes of cooldown time. They gave the same reasons 

as given in Inter-City Products' 

comments against blower time delay at 

burner ignition in opposing the use of 

occupant comfort as the criterion in 

determining the maximum allowable 

time delay. (Inter-City, No.7, at 2). 

GAMA gave similar reasons as Inter-City 

Products in opposing the requirement 

with respect to high mass heat 

exchangers. Further, they gave the same 

reasons as given in GAMA's comments 

against blower time delay at burner 

ignition in opposing the use of occupant 

comfort as a criterion in the test 

procedure. GAMA also pointed out the 

difficulty of adjusting an unvarying 

electronic time delay control in the 

field. (GAMA, No.8, at 16). York 

International gave similar reasons as 

GAMA. (York International, No. 10, at 

3). Carrier Corp. and Consolidated 

Industries both supported GAMA's 

statement. (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; and 

Consolidated, No. 21, at 1). The 

California Energy Commission (CEC) 

pointed out that the wording in section 

8.4 of appendiX N in the 1993 Proposed 

Rule is misleading. It stated that the 

time delay criterion of 40°F temperature 

difference between supply air and 

return air for units with adjustable fan 

control can be interpreted as not 

applying to condensing furnaces. Also, 

the time to reach the 40°F differential 

after burner shut-off may be shorter than 

three minutes, resulting in both a cold 

draft and a higher rating that fail to 

achieve a reasonable level of occupant 

comfort. (CEC, No. 25, at 1), 

In the current test procedure for 

furnaces, the reqUirement for maximum 

fan delay time after burner shut-off was 

specified on the basis of obtaining an 

overall low cost of combined fossil fuel 

and auxiliary electrical energy 

consumption balanced with the 

historically accepted industry practice 

in furnace operation to provide 

occupant comfort. The after burner shutoff is defined as three minutes, or l.5 

minutes for condensing furnaces, after 

the burner shuts off, or until the supply 

air temperature drops to a value of 40°F 

above the inlet air temperature, 

whichever gives a longer fan-on time. 

The Department recognized the heat 

capacity of a heavier mass heat 

exchanger in retaining a greater amount 

of heat energy. This is evidenced by the 

specification in the existing test 

procedure of either three minutes (1.5 

minutes for condensing furnaces) or 

40°F differential in plenum to return air 

temperature, whichever gives a longer 

fan-on time. The removal of the 

maximum fan-on time reqUirement 

could encourage some manufacturers to 

lengthen the fan-on time after burner 

shut off without an accompanying 

improvement in furnace design. The 

manufacturers could do this by simply 

changing the electronics in the 

controller. Those furnaces would be 

able to obtain a slightly higher 

calculated AFUE by using a lower flue 

gas temperature measured at nine 

minutes after burner shut-off when the 

fan runs longer. Those furnaces 

however, would actually be consuming 

greater electrical energy than the savings 

in fossil fuel. This would be contrary to 

the intent of EPCA to reduce the 

nation's overall energy consumption. 

Based on the reasons given above, and 

the fact that the proposed provision 

does not affect the rating of any existing 

furnaces, today's final rule prescribes 

the maximum blower delay time 

criterion specified in the 1993 Proposed 

Rule. This specification is for a furnace 

designed with an unvarying blower time 

delay during the cool-down test in 

today's final rule. 

With respect to the comment by the 

CEC, the Department agrees that the 

wording in the 1993 Proposed Rule is 

misleading. In today's rule, therefore, 

the wording of ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993, section 9.5.l.2.1, which 

includes the 40°F temperature 

difference for condensing furnaces, is 

adopted instead. CEC also commented 

that for certain furnaces the 40°F 

temperature differential could be 

reached in less than three minutes and 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26144 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

thus creating a possible cold draft. The 

blower time delay criterion is prescribed 

for blowers with adjustable time delay 

control in the current furnace test 

procedure. Changing the criterion 

would reqUire the retesting of many 

existing furnaces. Also, the criterion 

was agreed to by consensus of the 

ASHRAE Standard Project Committee 

(SPC) 103 and specified in ANSII 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. The 

Department sees no reason to change 

that criterion presently. 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, the 

Department also speCified an exception 

to the delay time reqUirement for 

furnaces that employ a single motor to 

drive a power burner and the air 

circulation blower. In that case, the 

power burner and the blower would be 

stopped together. The current test 

procedure includes this exception of 

simultaneous startlstop operations 

during both the heat-up and the cooldown tests. ANSII ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993 speCifically includes this 

exception in the heat-up test but it is not 

specified in the section for the cooldown test. The Department considered 

it to be only an inadvertent omission in 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. 

There was no comment received on this 

issue, and the Department is specifying, 

in today's final rule, the modification to 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. The 

Department specifies that if a single 

motor drives a power burner and the air 

circulating blower, the power burner 

and the blower shall be stopped together 

during the cool-down test. 

4. Burner Box Inlet Damper and Flue 

Damper 

Both GAMA and Inter-City Products 

supported the proposal to include a 

tracer gas test method for atmospheric 

furnaces with inlet or flue dampers. 

(GAMA, No.8, at 2; and Inter-City, No. 

7, at 4). There were no other comments 

on this issue. The Department has 

included this provision in today's final 

rule. 

5. Jacket Loss Test for Downflow 

Furnaces 

The proposal in the 1993 Proposed 

Rule to include a jacket loss test for 

downflow furnaces was supported by 

both GAMA and Inter-City Products. 

(GAMA, No.8, at 2; and Inter-City, No. 

7, at 4). These were the only comments 

on this issue. The Department is 

adopting the proposed jacket loss test 

procedure for downflow furnaces as 

speCified in ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993 referenced in today's final 

rule. 

6. Blower Compartment Heat Loss 

During Jacket Loss Test 

Both GAMA and Inter-City Products 

supported the proposal in the 1993 

Proposed Rule to exclude the surface 

area of the blower compartment in the 

jacket loss test. The CEC believed that 

the blower compartment should not be 

considered as part of the duct system 

and that the heat loss through the 

blower compartment should be 

measured in the jacket loss test. It stated 

that if the blower compartment is 

considered as the duct system, then the 

insulation reqUirement for duct systems 

in building codes will apply to the 

compartment. The CEC believed that 

this is not presently done to the furnace 

cabinet in the field and, in addition, 

manufacturers and others may 

recommend against the insulation of the 

cabinet. (CEC, No. 25, at 2). 

The Department believes that for most 

furnaces, the blower compartment is in 

the return air side of the cabinet. The 

surface temperature of the blower 

compartment will be nearly the same as 

the air temperature around the 

compartment, and the heat loss from 

that surface to the test room air will be 

negligible. The added burden of 

instrumenting the blower compartment 

surface with thermocouples is not 

justified. The Department is therefore 

not adopting the CEC's suggestion of 

requiring some mechanism for 

measuring the heat loss from the blower 

compartment. The Department is 

adopting the proVision of excluding the 

surface area of the blower compartment 

in the jacket loss test as specified in the 

ANSII ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

referenced in today's final rule. 

7. Revised Piping Arrangement for Hot 

Water Boilers 

Both GAMA and Inter-City Products 

supported the proposal in the 1993 

Proposed Rule for a revised piping 

arrangement for hot water boilers. 

(GAMA, No.8, at 2; and Inter-City, No. 

7, at 4). This was the only comment on 

this issue. The Department has adopted 

this provision as specified in ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, which is 

referenced in today's final rule. 

8. Maintaining of Draft During Off-Cycle 

Both GAMA and Inter-City Products 

supported the proposal to maintain draft 

during off-cycle for only those oil-fueled 

or power gas burner furnaces that 

employ barometric dampers for draft 

control. (GAMA, No.8, at 2; and InterCity, No.7, at 4). This was the only 

comment on this issue. The Department 

has adopted this provision as specified 

in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, 

which is referenced in today's final rule. 

9. Tests Requirement for Modulating 

Units 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE 

proposed to correct the following 

discrepancy between the current DOE 

test procedure and ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1988, which DOE 

proposed to reference. The current DOE 

test procedure requires that for step 

modulating units, the steady-state 

efficiency test shall be conducted at 

both the maximum and the reduced 

input rates. The ANSII ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1988 reqUired the above 

tests at the reduced rate only. The 1993 

Proposed Rule made clear that DOE 

would continue to require testing at 

both rates. 

Both GAMA and Inter-City Products 

supported the proposal for testing 

modulating furnaces. GAMA put the 

proposed correction to ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1988 for testing 

modulating boilers into the category of 

proposals on which it asked for delay in 

implementation until revised efficiency 

standards are adopted. (GAMA, No.8, at 

4; and Inter-City, No.7, at 4). Carrier 

Corp. and Consolidated Industries both 

supported GAMA's position. (Carrier, 

No. 12, at 1; and Consolidated, No.2!' 

at 1). The Department does not agree 

with the comments that the correction is 

a revision to the existing DOE test 

procedure for modulating boilers. Such 

a test is already included. Specifically, 

the conditions (at rated input or reduced 

input) under which heat-up and cooldown tests are to be conducted are 

already specified in the current DOE test 

procedure. (See sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 

and 4.5 of appendix N to subpart B of 

part 430.) The proposed clarification for 

the optional tracer gas test at rated input 

or at a reduced input rate is to make 

certain that the resulting measured draft 

factor Dp value(s) would be consistent 

with the other measured quantities 

when they are combined in the 

calculation procedure for the off-cycle 

losses. The Department believes that 

this clarification will have either no 

effect, or negligible effect on an 

insignificant number of units. 

Such a requirement was not clearly 

stated in ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 103-

1988, but in DOE's view it was implicit 

in that standard. The Department 

proposed this provision in the 1993 

Proposed Rule only to clarify the 

language in the then-referenced ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1988. The 

Department has therefore adopted this 

provision as specified in ANSII ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993; which is referenced 

in today's final rule. 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register I Vol. 62, No. 91 I Monday, May 12, 1997 I Rules and Regulations 26145 

10. On-Cycle Time Constant and OffCycle Time Constant 

Both GAMA and Inter-City Products 

supported the proposal for the on-cycle 

time constant and off-cycle time 

constant. (GAMA, No.8, at 2; and InterCity, No.7, at 4). The Department has 

adopted this provision as specified in 

ANSI!ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, 

which is referenced in today's final rule. 

11. Multiplication Factor for Jacket Loss 

for Finned Tube Boilers for Isolated 

Combustion System (ICS) 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE 

proposed to use the multiplication 

factor of Cj=0.50. Both GAMA and InterCity Products supported the proposal 

for the value of the multiplication factor 

for jacket loss for finned tube boilers. 

(GAMA, No.8, at 3; and Inter-City, No. 

7, at 4). The Department has adopted 

this provision as specified in ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, which is 

referenced in today's final rule. 

12. Calculation Procedure for ElectroMechanical Stack Dampers 

GAMA commented that the proposed 

calculation procedure for evaluating the 

effectiveness of a stack damper would 

reduce the measured AFUE of both 

furnaces and boilers. (GAMA, No.8, at 

3). GAMA believes that the proposed 

changes would affect the efficiency 

rating of existing warm air furnaces. 

In the case of warm air furnaces, the 

Department has considered the 

comment and disagrees with the 

statement that the proposed changes 

would affect the efficiency rating of 

existing warm air furnaces. Referring to 

Table 6, System Numbers, and sections 

11.2.9.18, 11.2.10.3 and 11.2.10.4 of 

ANSI! ASHRAE 103-1993, a stack 

damper's operation has no effect on a 

warm air furnace installed as an Isolated 

Combustion System (ICS) No.9 or 10. 

Because the existing non-weatherized 

warm air furnaces are rated as ICS 

systems, the problems cited by GAMA 

do not apply to existing furnaces. Also, 

because any direct vent system is 

defined as system No.9 or 10, the 

problems likewise would not apply to 

direct vent systems such as those used 

for most mobile home furnaces. 

In the case of boilers, which are 

installed indoors and rated as indoor 

systems, the effect of the revisions on 

the measured AFUE would be very 

small. For most existing boilers the 

stack damper closes within 30 seconds 

after the main burner is shut off, and the 

effect will be on the order of 0.1 

percentage-point change in AFUE. The 

effect is therefore negligible for any 

stack damper that is completely closed 

within the 30-second interval. The 

effect, however, could be large if the 

damper closing time delay were to be 

extended for a long period. Such an 

extension would take advantage of the 

deficiency in the current procedure, 

where the damper is assumed to close 

instantaneously after the burner shutoff. The Department has therefore, 

adopted the revision as proposed in the 

1993 Proposed Rule (and as included in 

ANSI!ASHRAE Standard 103-1993) in 

today's final rule. 

13. Power Vented Systems Employing 

Post Purge After Burner Shut-Off 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, the 

maximum free post purge time was 

specified to be five seconds for both gasand oil-fired furnaces and boilers. There 

were seven comments on this proposal. 

GAMA stated that the proposed 

maximum free post purge time would 

significantly reduce the measured AFUE 

of most existing models, and require 

DOE to amend the NAECA furnace and 

boiler efficiency standards for existing 

models that marginally meet the current 

minimum standard of 78 percent AFUE 

for furnaces and 80 percent for boilers. 

(GAMA, No.8, at 4). Carrier Corp., 

Consolidated Industries, and Lennox 

Industries all supported GAMA's 

position. (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; 

Consolidated, No. 21. at 1; and Lennox, 

Transcript, at 77). 

Inter-City Products requested that the 

implementation of this and other 

category 2 revisions be postponed to a 

future rulemaking, coordinated with 

implementation of amendments to 

furnace minimum efficiency standards. 

To support its request, Inter-City 

Products commented that DOE needs to 

lower the minimum standard on 

marginal units to correspond to changes 

in test procedure measurements, and 

address the problem associated with the 

utility rebate program. Inter-City 

Products further stated that for the 

manufacturers to modify these models, 

such that they attain the 80 percent 

AFUE value, the redesigned equipment 

may operate in the condensing region 

that can affect performance, reliability, 

and life of both the equipment and the 

associated vent system. (Inter-City, No. 

7, at 3). 

Energy Kinetics, Inc. commented that 

the proposed revision does not cover 

systems eqUipped with a power burner 

and a draft inducer. Energy Kinetics 

stated that the off-cycle flue gas flow 

rate with only the inducer on, but not 

the power burner, is significantly 

reduced from the on-cycle flow rate. 

According to Energy Kinetics, since the 

proposed revision in the 1993 Proposed 

Rule uses the on-cycle flue gas volume 

flow rate as a base to compute the flue 

loss during the post purge period, the 

loss will be higher than it should be. 

Energy Kinetics suggests that a tracer 

gas option be allowed for this type of 

system. (Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 6). 

The independent commenter, Mr. 

John Woodworth asserted that, based on 

research conducted at Brookhaven 

National Laboratory, the post-purge 

provisions are not accurate for oil-fired 

furnaces and boilers with relatively long 

post purge-periods. He reasons that, to 

reduce the test burden on 

manufacturers, the provisions assume a 

linearly decreasing flue gas temperature 

between the beginning and the end of 

the post purge period. Thus, 

measurements at only two points are 

reqUired in the calculation. According 

to Mr. Woodworth, this assumption of a 

linearly varying temperature is valid 

only for a limited interval, since the 

temperature will eventually level off to 

nearly ambient conditions over a long 

purge period. Mr. Woodworth 

recommends that DOE adopt the 

provisions of ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993 which limit the post purge 

period during the test to 180 seconds. 

(Woodworth, No. 20, at 4). 

The Department believes that the use 

of a post purge in power vented units 

during the off-cycle, when longer than 

necessary, is a waste of energy because 

a forced purge increases the loss of the 

residue heat in the furnace or boiler 

through the vent system. A forced purge 

is the forced combustion air flow 

through the heat exchanger. Given the 

deficiencies in the existing test 

procedure described in the 1993 

Proposed Rule, DOE is aware that the 

current procedure could encourage a 

manufacturer to use a long post purge 

period to obtain a higher calculated 

AFUE rating while actually wasting 

more energy through the vent system. 

Tests conducted at NIST on a gas 

furnace with an induced draft 

combustion blower showed that 

increasing the post purge interval 

increased the flue loss, but the 

calculated AFUE based on current test 

procedure showed an increase in value. 

The discrepancy between the AFUE 

based on the current calculation 

procedure, and on the proposed 

calculation procedure, becomes 

progressively greater with an increasing 

post purge period. The difference was 

0.9 percentage points with 30 seconds 

post purge and increased to 4.5 

percentage points with 180 seconds post 

purge. Yet the calculated AFUE based 

on the current test procedure showed a 

gain (from the condition of no post 

purge) of about 0.2 percentage points at 

30 seconds post purge to nearly 1.0 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26146 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

percentage point at 180 seconds post 

purge. 

Data gathered indicated that the six 

major control manufacturers surveyed 

all have post purge timing of 30 seconds 

or less on their post purge control 

equipment. The data was gathered by 

the Lawrence Berkeley National 

Laboratory (LBNL) for DOE regarding 

the current practice of the furnace 

industry. The survey showed that if the 

free post purge time is extended from 

five seconds, as proposed in the 1993 

Proposed Rule, to 30 seconds before the 

post purge calculation method is 

required, most of the existing furnace 

and boiler models that employ post 

purge will be treated as if there is no 

post purge. With post purge timing of 30 

seconds, no retesting or re-rating will be 

required and no reduction in AFUE will 

result for those existing furnaces and 

boiler models. 

Based on the above reasons, DOE is 

changing the maximum free post purge 

time of five seconds in the 1993 

Proposed Rule to 30 seconds. That is, 

only units with post purge time longer 

than 30 seconds shall be tested by the 

prescribed post purge test procedure. 

Further, units with post purge periods 

of less than or equal to 30 seconds shall 

be tested without the post purge test 

procedure. The Department agrees with 

the commenters that if the maximum 

free post purge time is limited to the 

proposed five seconds, some existing 

furnace and boiler models that employ 

post purge time between five and thirty 

seconds would have to be retested. The 

Department acts today to limit the 

burden on the manufacturers of 

retesting those models and the 

possibility of lower AFUE ratings. The 

Department is prescribing, in today's 

final rule, the modified free post purge 

period of 30 seconds as the criterion for 

applying the revised test and calculation 

procedures for units that employ post 

purge after burner shut off. 

DOE believes, however, that with this 

exception, where the maximum free 

post purge time is thirty seconds, 

additional energy is being lost through 

the venting system by the combustion 

blower. The Department will continue 

to examine this subject and may 

consider later implementation of the 

original five second criterion, which is 

based on the technical judgement of the 

ASHRAE Standard Project Committee 

(SPC) that developed ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993. 

Secondly, on the issue of oil-fired 

furnaces and boilers that have purge 

periods greater than three minutes, the 

Department acts to limit the post purge 

time to 180 seconds during the rating 

test as suggested by commenter Mr. John 

Woodworth. If the designed post purge 

time is longer than 180 seconds, the 

blower control is to be bypassed and the 

blower manually turned off during the 

cool-down test. This provision is 

specified in ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993, which is referenced in 

today's final rule. 

The comment by Energy Kinetics on 

the difference in the flue gas flow rate 

between the on-cycle (power burner and 

inducer on) and off-cycle (only inducer 

on during post purge) on oil-fired 

boilers, if the draft inducer is an integral 

part of the boiler supplied by the 

manufacturer, would reqUire additional 

study. Therefore, this type of boiler is 

not covered by today's final rule. The 

Department will continue to solicit 

additional data on the on-cycle and offcycle operations of this type of boilers, 

and will issue a revision to the test 

procedure at a future time. 

14. Sealing of Ventilation Openings 

During Jacket Loss Test 

The 1993 Proposed Rule would 

reqUire conducting the jacket loss test 

with the ventilation openings sealed. 

There were six comments on this issue. 

GAMA provided data from tests recently 

conducted at the ETL Testing 

Laboratories of the Inchcape Testing 

Services (ETL). This data showed that 

for four furnace models tested for 

sealing the ventilation openings in 

jacket loss test, the percentage point 

reductions in AFUE were 1.0,0.5,0.7 

and 0.1 for models currently rated at 

AFUE of 78.7 percent, 80.0 percent, 80.0 

percent and 78.0 percent, respectively. 

Thus, two models would be below the 

78 percent minimum and two models 

would be below the 80 percent rebate 

criteria if tested pursuant to the 

proposed revision. (GAMA, No.8, at 4 

and A-I). Carrier Corp., Consolidated 

Industries, and Lennox Industries all 

supported GAMA's pOSition (Carrier, 

No. 12, at 1; Consolidated, No. 21, at 1; 

and Lennox, Transcript, at 77). InterCity Products made several assertions 

on this issue. First, it stated that sealing 

ventilation openings could potentially 

reduce AFUE by 0.3-0.5 percent. 

Second, it stated that an attempt to 

determine which louver openings are 

for ventilation air egress and which are 

for intake cooling air would be a timeconsuming and subjective test 

procedure. Third, the company claimed 

that a louver acting as ventilation air 

intake in one operating mode may be an 

exhaust louver in another. Fourth, it 

asserted that additional test time in 

development, agency certification, and 

independent effiCiency audits (by ETL) 

would increase manufacturers' costs 

substantially. Finally, according to 

Inter-City, the revised procedure would 

lower the baseline efficiencies of 

equipment currently at 78 percent. 

(Inter-City, No.7, at 2). The CEC 

suggested that air leakage during the 

jacket loss test from any part of the 

furnace cabinet should represent the 

performance of the product as installed 

in the field. Any joints, holes, or other 

openings should remain as shipped by 

the manufacturer and should not be 

taped or sealed for the test. (CEC, No. 

25, at 2). 

Today's final rule does not include 

the sealing of furnace cabinet 

ventilation openings during the jacket 

loss test, and the sealing reqUirement 

specified in section 8.6.1.1 of the 

referenced ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993 has not been included in 

today's rule. Upon review, the 

Department considers that sealing of the 

ventilation openings will result in a 

more accurate measure of the combined 

effects of conduction and radiation heat 

loss. This is the heat loss from the 

cabinet surface to the test room 

surroundings and the convective 

cooling of the airflow into and out of the 

spaces adjacent to the inside surfaces of 

the jacket. The Department, however, 

has decided not to incorporate this 

provision into today's final rule. This is 

because the Department sees some merit 

in the objections offered by commenters 

with respect to test time, retesting and 

re-rating all the currently rated furnace 

units and the associated costs, reduction 

in currently marginal AFUE ratings, and 

the difficulty in objectively determining 

the most effective openings to seal. DOE 

will continue to examine this subject 

and may consider implementation of the 

provision at a later date. 

15. Insulation Requirement for Units 

With Draft Diverter 

The 1993 Proposed Rule would 

require insulation for units with a draft 

diverter, when testing furnaces with 

exposed diverters. There were three 

comments on this issue. GAMA objected 

to its immediate implementation. In 

addition, GAMA provided data from 

tests recently conducted at ETL. This 

data showed that, for two furnace 

models with integral draft diverters 

tested with insulation added to the draft 

diverter, the percentage point 

reductions in AFUE were 0.3 and 0.4 for 

the two models currently rated at AFUE 

of 78.0 percent. They would be below 

the 78 percent minimum standard if 

tested in accordance with the proposed 

revision. (GAMA. No.8, at 4 and A-2). 

Carrier Corp. and Consolidated 

Industries both supported GAMA's 

position. (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; 

Consolidated, No. 21, at 1). 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 I Rules and Regulations 26147 

As described in the 1993 Proposed 

Rule on this issue, the ETL stated that 

it insulates the exposed diverters (in 

horizontal furnaces) when testing 

furnaces with exposed diverters. (April 

30, 1991, letter from ETL to NIST). 

Therefore, the rated AFUE values for 

horizontal furnaces with exposed 

integral draft diverters in GAMA's 

Efficiency Certification Directory were 

tested with the proposed insulation in 

place. This means that the existing 

furnaces have already been tested 

according to the proposed provision and 

found to meet the minimum efficiency 

standard. Thus, no retesting or re-rating 

is required. 

The Department therefore is not 

accepting GAMA's request that this 

provision be omitted from the final rule, 

and instead has adopted this provision 

as specified in ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993, which is referenced in 

today's final rule. 

16. Insulation Requirement for Flue 

Collector Box 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE 

called for the insulation of the flue 

collector box. Numerous comments 

were received on this issue. 

Specifically, Inter-City Products 

requested that the implementation of 

this provision be postponed to a later 

date. Inter-City Products cited the 

reduced AFUE of existing marginal 

units, that would require DOE to reduce 

the minimum standard, and the 

criterion of the 80 percent AFUE by the 

utility rebate program in support of the 

request. (Inter-City, No.7, at 1). InterCity Products suggested that the flue 

collector box on eqUipment with draft 

inducers is significantly smaller in area 

than the sheet metal involved in an 

integral draft diverter, so losses are 

consequently less. Inter-City Products 

estimated that this provision would 

have an impact of lowering the 

efficiency by 0.3-0.4 percent in AFUE. 

Inter-City Products also believed that 

the requirement of insulating the 

collector box during the cool-down and 

heat-up tests, but not during the jacket 

loss test, constitutes "double dipping." 

This is because any loss in heat from the 

collector box would be accounted for 

twice-first, as a reduced efficiency 

from a higher flue gas temperature 

during the cool-down and heat-up tests 

(cyclic test) due to the insulation 

requirement, and second, as a larger 

measured jacket loss because the 

insulation is not applied during the 

steady-state jacket loss test. 

GAMA put this issue in its second 

category of proposed changes in the 

1993 Proposed Rule and objected to its 

immediate implementation. In addition, 

GAMA provided data from tests recently 

conducted at ETL to show that for 

eleven furnace models tested for 

insulation of the exposed flue collector 

box, the percentage point reductions in 

AFUE ranged from 0.5 to 2.8 for models 

currently rated at AFUE of 78.0 percent 

to 80.2 percent. Seven models will be 

below the 78 percent minimum and five 

models will be below the 80 percent 

rebate criterion, if tested in accordance 

with the proposed revision. (GAMA, No. 

8, at 4 and A-2). Carrier Corp., 

Consolidated Industries, and Lennox 

Industries all supported GAMA's 

position (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; 

Consolidated, No. 21, at 1; and Lennox, 

Transcript, at 77). 

Energy Kinetics, Inc. commented that 

in addition to the cool-down and heatup tests, the flue collector box should be 

insulated for the steady-state portion of 

the test also. It believed that without the 

insulation, the measured steady state 

effiCiency is higher due to a lower 

measured flue gas temperature than that 

measured with the insulation. (Energy 

Kinetics, No. 16, at 6). 

The commenters are not correct in 

classifying the proposed reqUirement of 

insulating the flue collector box on 

induced draft or forced draft units as a 

revision of the furnace test procedure. 

This reqUirement is already specified in 

the current test procedure, and has been 

in the DOE test procedure since 1980. 

Compliance with this requirement is 

demonstrated by a waiver request that 

was denied by DOE. This request was 

from the Carrier Corporation in 1980 for 

an exemption from the requirement of 

insulating the "flue collector and 

inducer housing" on its induced draft 

gas furnace. 76 FR 22799, April 21, 

1981. The current test procedure cited at 

section 3.0-Test procedure, of 

appendix N to subpart B of part 430, 56 

FR 12159, March 28, 1984 references 

section 9 of ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1982 as the pertinent test 

procedure. In ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1982, the requirement of section 

9 .l.1. 6 specifies ,,* * * cover the draft 

diverter and flue gas collector box (on 

a power vented unit) with insulation 

having an R value no less than 7. 

* * *" Therefore, the provision is not a 

new reqUirement and should reqUire no 

retesting or re-rating of any existing gasfired, power vented units. The 

specification in the 1993 Proposed Rule 

was to: (1) Combine the reqUirement 

with the language in section 9.l.4 of 

ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 that 

does not specifically include the 

language for a power vented unit in the 

insulation reqUirement, as was done in 

ANSI!ASHRAE Standard 103-1982, and 

(2) include any units that employ a 

power burner. The reqUirement is now 

specifically included in sections 7.2.2.2, 

7.3.2.2, and 9.1.4, ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993. 

DOE has reviewed the comments by 

Inter-City Products on "double 

dipping," and by Energy Kinetics on the 

steady state effiCiency being overstated 

due to an un-insulated flue gas collector 

box. The jacket loss and the steady state 

efficiency are measured without the 

insulation on the flue gas collector box 

because these conditions exist in 

practice. The reason for insulating the 

flue gas collector box during the 

transient cool-down and heat-up tests is 

to obtain a measured flue gas 

temperature as close as possible to its 

true value when the flue gas first exits 

from the heat exchanger. This allows a 

better calculation of the off-cycle flow 

through the heat exchanger. In the 

original development of the flue loss 

methodology, an assumption was made 

on the flue gas temperature variation 

during the transient condition of cooldown and heat-up. This assumption was 

based on the value of a flue gas 

temperature exiting the heat exchanger, 

not on a lowered value measured some 

distance away. This transient gas 

temperature variation has never been 

used in the calculation for jacket loss 

and steady state efficiency. 

DOE has adopted this provision as 

specified in ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993, which is referenced in 

today's final rule. This action is taken 

for the reasons described above, and 

because this is not a new reqUirement 

for gas-fired units and no comments 

were received opposing the requirement 

for insulation of the flue gas collector 

box on oil-fired units. 

17. Insulation Requirement for 

Downflow Furnaces 

DOE proposed an insulation provision 

that specifies that during the cool-down 

and heat-up tests, the internal section of 

the vent pipe is to be insulated to an R 

value of not less than 7 ft Lh-oF !Btu. 

GAMA and Inter-City Products both 

expressed their opposition to the 

insulation reqUirement. They claim that 

the insulation reqUirement will reduce 

the AFUE value of currently rated units, 

requiring the possible lowering of the 

minimum standard on marginal units 

and affecting the utility rebate program. 

GAMA provided data from tests recently 

conducted at ETL to show that for 

twelve furnace models tested with 

insulation of the internal vent pipe on 

downflow furnaces, the percentage 

point reductions in AFUE range from 

0.2 to l.1 for models currently rated at 

AFUE of from 78 percent to 80.2 

percent. Eight of the models will be 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26148 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No, 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

below the 78 percent minimum, and 

three will be below the 80 percent 

rebate criterion, if tested pursuant to the 

proposed revision. (GAMA, No.8, at 2.4 

and A-I; and Inter-City, No.7, at 4). 

Carrier Corp., Consolidated Industries, 

and Lennox Industries all supported 

GAMA's position. (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; 

Consolidated, No. 21, at 1; and Lennox, 

Transcript, at 77). 

The purpose of the proposal to require 

insulation of the flue pipe is to obtain 

as nearly as possible the true flue gas 

temperature required in the calculation 

of the flue loss. The assumption made 

in the calculation procedure is that the 

flue gas temperature is the temperature 

at the exit plane from the heat 

exchanger. Since this is sometimes 

impossible to measure in practice, 

provisions are made in the test 

procedure to measure the flue gas 

temperature in a more co'nvenient and 

accessible location such as in the flue 

pipe or stack. Insulation of the sections 

of the flue gas passage between the heat 

exchanger exit plane and the flue gas 

temperature measuring plane in the 

stack is not for the purpose of reducing 

the heat loss through the jacket but to 

obtain a more accurate flue gas 

temperature. 

Today's final rule does not include 

the insulation of the internal flue pipe 

during the cool-down and heat-up tests. 

Also, the insulation reqUirement 

specified in section 7.2.2.5 of the 

referenced ANSI/ ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993 has not been included in 

today's final rule. This action is justified 

by the fact that for the downflow 

furnace, there is no existing 

speCification in the current DOE test 

procedure that covers the internal flue 

pipe. The Department considers the 

insulation of the internal flue pipe 

during the heat-up and cool-down tests 

as a desirable procedure in obtaining a 

more accurate measure of the flue gas 

temperatures. Commenters objected to 

immediate implementation, however, 

because of the test time, retesting and 

re-rating of all the currently rated 

downflow furnace units with the 

associated costs, and the reduction in 

AFUE. The Department decided that the 

objections offered by commenters 

warrant a delay in the implementation 

of this provision. DOE will continue to 

examine this subject and may consider 

the implementation of the insulation 

reqUirement at a later date. 

18. Revised Minimum Value for the 

Draft Factor Dp and DF 

DOE proposed that a value of 0.05 for 

the draft factor Dp be assigned for any 

units whose Dp value, when measured 

by the optional tracer gas method, is less 

than 0.10. This action was based on the 

following circumstances. The current 

test procedure allows the minimum 

value for the draft factor Dp and DF to 

equal 0.0 on units where absolutely no 

air flows through the combustion 

chamber and heat exchanger when the 

burner is off (section 9.4.4 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1982 as 

referenced in section 3.0 of appendix N 

to subpart B of part 430,56 FR 12159, 

March 28, 1984). However, it is very 

difficult to verify an "absolutely no airflow" condition by current flow 

measurement technology. 

Only two comments were received. 

GAMA objected to the immediate 

implementation of these changes. 

(GAMA, No.8, at 4). Carrier Corp. and 

Consolidated Industries both supported 

GAMA's position. (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; 

and Consolidated, No. 21. at 1). Energy 

Kinetics, Inc. commented that the 

values are too small to have any 

Significant effect. (Energy Kinetics, No. 

16, at 6). 

The Department does not agree with 

GAMA's position and has adopted this 

provision as speCified in ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993, which is referenced 

in today's final rule. This action is 

founded upon the following 

observations. The measurement of very 

low flow rates of flue gas is very 

difficult. and replicating the 

measurement would be a problem at the 

low flow rate encountered. The 

Department considers the value of 0.05 

to be reasonable. The Department 

believes that only pulse combustion 

furnaces meet the reqUirement of no air 

flow during the off-cycle. The effect of 

this change will be that more units can 

use a lower draft factor DF (with a very 

slight increase in AFUE) , but it will not 

result in a lower AFUE for the set of 

units that are minimally compliant with 

this provision, and will negate the 

necessity of repeatedly conducting the 

tracer gas test to confirm the accuracy of 

a measured value varying below the 0.1 

range. 

19. Water Pump Energy Consumption 

DOE proposed the measurement of 

the electrical energy consumption of the 

water pump for hot water boilers in the 

1993 Proposed Rule. GAMA put this 

reqUirement in its second category 

(GAMA, No.8, at 4). Carrier Corp. and 

Consolidated both supported GAMA's 

position. (Carrier, No. 12, at 1; and 

Consolidated, No. 21. at 1). Hydronics 

Institute (HI) stated that not all boilers 

are supplied with pumps. Instead of 

measuring the pump power, HI 

suggested adopting the requirement in 

ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. 

This requirement specifies the use of the 

nameplate wattage if the pump is 

supplied by the manufacturers and a 

default value of O. 13 k W if no pump is 

supplied. (HI, No. 15, at 3). Energy 

Kinetics stated that the value of 0.13 kW 

is too high and that the standard pumps 

shipped with residential systems today 

consume no more than 60 watts (W). 

(Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 7). Mr. John 

Woodworth, independent commenter, 

stated that the reqUirement would create 

a hardship and the results would have 

an insignificant effect on the annual 

efficiency descriptor. He stated that 

boilers are seldom tested with the 

"standard pump" in the laboratory. 

Instead, test rigs in most laboratories 

include pumps and mixing valves to test 

all sizes of boilers. When sold, a model 

boiler may be equipped with as many as 

three different brands of pumps, or 

shipped without a pump. Mr. 

Woodworth recommended that DOE 

adopt the requirement of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 instead of 

the proposed measurement reqUirement. 

O. Woodworth, No. 20, at 3). 

The Department, in today's final rule, 

adopts the requirement of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 for pump 

power consumption. The requirement 

states that if a pump is supplied with 

the boiler (as cited by Energy Kinetics), 

then BE (electrical power to water 

pump) is the nameplate wattage rating, 

and if no pump is supplied, then the 

current default value of BE is 0.13 kW 

in calculation of annual electrical 

energy consumption. By referencing the 

revised ANSI/ ASHRAE Standard 103-

1993, this is included in today's final 

rule. The Department does not agree 

with GAMA's inclusion of this issue in 

its second category, since pump power 

consumption is not involved with the 

calculation of AFUE. DOE does agree 

that the 1993 Proposed Rule, by 

requiring an additional measurement of 

pump power consumption, would 

impose a burden that does not 

significantly improve the calculation of 

annual electrical energy consumption. 

Hence, DOE adopts instead the ANSI/ 

ASHRAE provision. 

20. Energy Factor and Annual Efficiency 

Descriptors 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, the 

Department proposed two energy 

descriptors, the energy factor and 

annual effiCiency, for both fossil-fueled 

furnaces and boilers. The proposed 

energy factor includes the auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption of the 

appliance, and is identical to the energy 

factor term as defined in appendiX B of 

ANSI!ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, 

except that DOE proposed a different 

"F-factor." Appendix B defined "energy 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 26149 

factor" as the ratio of the annual output 

of heat energy provided to the space to 

the total annual energy input required to 

operate the appliance. The annual 

output of heat energy includes the 

contribution from a portion of the 

auxiliary electrical energy that is 

recovered as useful heat. The total 

annual energy input required includes 

both the fossil fuel and the auxiliary 

electric energy. The F-factor, however, 

equal to 3.0 in ANSI/ ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993, was 3.37 in the DOE 

proposal. The modified F-factor then 

approximated the ratio of the energy 

required to generate and transmit the 

auxiliary electricity consumed by the 

appliance to the amount of such 

electrical energy. The F-factor was 

applied to the auxiliary electrical 

consumption to reflect the efficiency in 

the use of all energy used to run the 

appliance. 

The purpose of the Department's 

proposal to establish the new efficiency 

descriptor and the energy factor was to 

account for the auxiliary electric energy 

in the operation of fossil-fueled furnaces 

and boilers. The proposed descriptors 

would combine the consumption of 

fossil fuel and auxiliary electricity into 

a single value that would reflect the 

overall energy cost of a fossil-fueled 

appliance. The current energy 

descriptor, AFUE, deals only with the 

primary type of energy consumed by an 

appliance. Therefore, it does not give 

the consumer a complete account of the 

overall energy and cost performance of 

the appliance. On the basis of AFUE 

alone, a consumer would not be able to 

compare the overall cost of operation of 

two or more different models of fossilfueled furnaces or boilers of comparable 

output capacity with blowers of 

different motor efficiencies or on/off 

controller timings. The proposed energy 

descriptors were intended to give the 

consumer the necessary information for 

a more informed decision. Another 

purpose for the proposed energy 

descriptors was to provide an evaluation 

procedure for different design options 

for fossil-fueled furnaces and boilers 

that involves auxiliary electric energy 

consumption. This information would 

be considered in the determination of 

energy efficiency standard levels. 

At the public hearing and during the 

public comment period following the 

publication of the 1993 Proposed Rule, 

twenty-one commenters offered views 

on this issue. The comments ranged 

from support for an energy descriptor 

that included both the fossil fuel and 

the auxiliary electric energy 

consumption, to complete disagreement 

with that concept. Nearly all 

commenters however, expressed 

reservations on the source-based 

multiplication factor (the F-factor to be 

applied to the auxiliary electrical energy 

consumption of fossil-fueled 

appliances). A summary of the 

commenters' reasons for objection 

include: (1) The use of source energy in 

determining the energy efficiency, 

through the proposed F-factor, is not 

permitted by EPCA and NAECA. which 

specify that efficiency must be 

determined by energy consumption at 

the point of use (site) of the covered 

products; (2) the application of the Ffactor to the auxiliary electrical energy 

consumed by fossil-fueled appliances, 

but not to all-electric furnaces, is biased 

against fossil-fueled appliances; (3) a 

national average source to site energy 

ratio ignores the variation in the value 

of the F-factor due to different methods 

of power generation; (4) the value of the 

proposed energy descriptor would be 

lower than the AFUE, creating 

confusion for AFUE based rebate/ 

incentive programs by utility 

companies; (5) combination furnace/airconditioning systems with a Single 

heating capacity may reqUire different 

size blowers depending on cooling load 

requirements; and (6) fuel switching and 

marketplace distortion could result. A 

detailed summary of comments on the 

F-factor and the proposed energy 

descriptor is found in the Federal 

Register notice. 60 FR 4348 (January 20, 

1995). 

In 1995 the Department reopened the 

comment period on the 1993 Proposed 

Rule, solely to address this issue, and 

the Department proposed a revision of 

its 1993 proposal. In place of the 1993 

Proposed Rule's definition of the Ffactor as a source-to-site based energy 

ratio, the Department proposed a costbased e1ectricity-to-fossil fuel price ratio 

with a value of 3.36 at the point of use. 

The proposed revision was published in 

the Federal Register on January 20, 

1995. 60 FR 4348. 

Seventy comments were received 

concerning this proposed revision to the 

F-factor. Many comments were similar 

to those received in response to the 

original 1993 proposal, and disregarded 

the change to an F-factor based on cost 

of energy. Most commenters considered 

the proposal as violating the intent and 

language of EPCA and NAECA. asserting 

that these statutes define energy 

efficiency with reference to energy 

consumption at the point of use (site 

energy). Because comments were similar 

or identical to those submitted 

following the 1993 proposal, a 

commenter-by-commenter description 

of the comments is not presented here. 

Virtually all of the commenters urged 

DOE to either withdraw or modify the 

F-factor proposal. 

One of the principal issues raised by 

the commenters is the authority of DOE 

to establish an energy efficiency 

standard for furnaces on the basis of 

either energy cost or source energy, as 

opposed to site energy consumption in 

units of energy. Upon further 

examination, it is the view of the 

Department of Energy that EPCA 

requires the energy efficiency of a 

furnace to be based on consumption of 

energy at the site of the furnace, and 

that the statute does not permit the 

promulgation of an energy efficiency 

standard that is expressed in terms of 

annual operating costs of the furnace. 

EPCA defines the energy conservation 

standard of a covered appliance as "a 

performance standard which prescribes 

a minimum level of energy efficiency or 

a maximum quantity of energy use." 

EPCA section 321(6),42 U.s.C. 6291(6). 

EPCA defines "energy efficiency" as the 

ratio of a product's useful output of 

services to its "energy use." EPCA 

section 321(5), 42 U.S.C. 6291(5). Thus, 

"energy use" is a basis for any standard 

for furnaces and boilers. "Energy use" 

in turn is defined in section 321(4), 42 

U.s.C. 6291(4), as "the quantity of 

energy directly consumed by a 

consumer product at pOint of use." 

Therefore, furnace energy conservation 

standards must be based on 

consumption of energy at the site of the 

appliance. The Department believes that 

this conclusion is further supported by 

terminology used in section 325(t) of 

EPCA. 42 U.s.C. 6295(t), which 

concerns standards for furnaces. Section 

325(t)(1)(B), for example, requires the 

promulgation of an "energy 

conservation standard" for small 

furnaces, and, as just discussed, such a 

standard must be based on energy 

consumption at the site ofthe 

application. 

Based on the above analysis, the 

Department is withdrawing the 

proposed energy descriptor and energy 

factor in today's final rule. The current 

procedures of determining AFUE from 

the energy effiCiency descriptor, and of 

calculating of the annual energy 

consumption of fossil fuel and electrical 

energy for furnaces/boilers, therefore 

will remain unchanged. In the 

meantime, the Department will continue 

to explore and to solicit input from 

interested parties on various options for 

the development of a descriptor that 

would take into account separately both 

a new energy factor for fossil fueled 

furnaces and the auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption of an appliance. 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26150 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

21. Measurement of Electric Energy 

Consumption for Interrupted Ignition 

Device 

The 1993 Proposed Rule required 

measurement of the energy 

consumption by the interrupted ignition 

device. Both GAMA and Inter-City 

Products argued that the electrical 

energy consumption of the interrupted 

ignition device constitutes an extremely 

small amount of all electrical 

consumption of a furnace. To include 

the measurement of the energy 

consumption of the device is 

burdensome in time and effort. Carrier 

Corp. and Consolidated Industries both 

supported GAMA's position. (Inter-City, 

No.7, at 3; GAMA. No.8, at 18; Carrier, 

No. 12, at 1; and Consolidated, No. 21, 

at 1). HI and independent commenter 

Mr. John Woodworth both stated that 

the energy consumption of these 

ignition devices is small and will not 

affect the energy descriptors. 

Additionally, according to HI and Mr. 

Woodworth, a separate test would be 

required since the ignition devices are 

off during the steady state test, and they 

are difficult to measure because the time 

duration and power draw are not 

constant during ignition. Therefore, HI 

recommended the deletion of the device 

in the proposed measurement 

requirement and the calculation 

procedures. (HI, No. 15, at 3; and J. 

Woodworth, No. 20, at 4). 

To assess the merits of these 

comments, and to determine the amount 

of energy consumption of an interrupted 

ignition device, NIST measured the 

power input, on-time duration and 

energy consumption of an electric hot 

surface ignition device on a 90,000 

Btu/h input gas-fired furnace. It was 

found that the power input varied from 

515 W to 470 W during the 40 seconds 

the device was on. Except for the first 

few seconds, the power draw was 

approximately 470 W. This translated 

into an energy consumption of 

apprOXimately 18 Btu per burner oncycle, or 63 Btu/h for the assumed 

average 3.5 burner on-cycles per hour 

(3.87 minutes on and 13.3 minutes oft) 

for a single stage furnace. While this 

compares favorably with the average 

400 Btu/h energy consumption of a pilot 

light, DOE does not agree that the 

energy consumption of the interrupted 

ignition device should be completely 

ignored. DOE agrees, however, that the 

energy consumption is small enough to 

justify the deletion of the measurement 

requirement in the proposed test 

procedure. Therefore, DOE is specifying 

in today's final rule that the on-time of 

an interrupted ignition device, as 

specified in a furnace's nameplate, 

should be used as the actual on-time. 

Further, the nameplate power input 

rating, or 0.4 kW if none is specified on 

the nameplate, should be used as the 

average power draw in the electrical 

energy calculation. The device on-time 

will be measured with a stop watch if 

not specified on the nameplate. The 

device on-time will be set to equal zero 

if the nameplate or measured value is 

less than or equal to five seconds. 

22. Measurement of Energy 

Consumption of Combustion Blower 

During Post Purge 

The test procedure of the proposed 

rule and ASHRAE 103-93 requires the 

measurement of the energy 

consumption of combustion blowers 

during a post purge. Comrnenters 

GAMA and Inter-City Products both 

argued that the electrical energy 

consumption of the combustion blower 

during post purge constitutes an 

extremely small amount of all electrical 

consumption of a furnace, and that to 

include the measurement of the energy 

consumption of the combustion blower 

is overly burdensome in time and effort. 

Carrier Corp. and Consolidated 

Industries both supported GAMA's 

position. (Inter-City, No.7, at 3; GAMA, 

No.8, at 18; Carrier, No. 12, at 1; and 

Consolidated, No.2!' at 1). Energy 

Kinetics, while not commenting on the 

power consumption of the draft inducer 

during post purge, pointed out that the 

power burner is off for some oil-fired 

units during post purge and thus, only 

the draft inducer is on. As a result, the 

auxiliary electrical energy consumption 

measured during steady state may not 

be equal to the electrical energy 

consumption during the post purge 

period .. (Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 6). 

The 1989 ASHRAE Handbook of 

Fundamentals states that the power 

consumption of motors with rated 

horsepowers of Ilzo hp and 1/12 hp, 

which would be typical for combustion 

blowers, are approximately 360 Btu/h 

and 580 Btu/h, respectively. For a post 

purge period of 30 seconds, the energy 

consumptions would be 3-5 Btu per offcycle for the two sizes of motors, and for 

a post purge period of 180 seconds, the 

motor energy consumptions would be 

18-29 Btu per off-cycle. For an average 

3.5 on-cycles per hour offurnace 

operation, the energy consumption 

would be 10 Btu/h to 17 Btu/h for the 

30-second post purge and 60 Btu/h to 

100 Btu/h for the 180-second post 

purge. For boilers with an average of l.3 

on-cycles per hour, the values would be 

approximately Ih the above. 

DOE does not agree that the energy 

consumption should be completely 

ignored. Therefore, DOE is specifying in 

today's final rule that the nameplate 

power rating of the combustion blower 

be used as the power consumption in 

the calculation for the electrical energy 

consumption. DOE agrees that the 

energy consumption is small enough to 

justify the deletion ofthe electric power 

measurement reqUirement for the 

combustion blower. But measurement of 

the fulliength of the post purge period, 

easily determined with a stop watch, is 

still reqUired as set forth in the 

proposed rule. 

23. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

The 1993 Proposed Rule referenced 

ANSI/ ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 and 

added additional amendments to cover 

the changes, revisions and advances in 

technology between the years when the 

Standard was published (1988) and the 

Proposed Rule was published (1993). 

Those additional amendments included 

a revised calculation procedure for units 

with stack dampers; revised test 

procedures for atmospheric burner units 

with a burner inlet damper or flue 

damper; revised test procedures for 

power burner units employing post 

purge during the off-cycle; insulation 

requirements during heat-up and cooldown tests for downflow furnaces; a 

jacket loss test for units with ventilation 

openings on their cabinets; and other 

technical corrections. 

Subsequent to the publication of the 

1993 Proposed Rule, ASHRAE 

published in October 1993 ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 which 

supersedes ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1988. The revised ANSI/ ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 incorporated most 

of the revisions and additions to ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 that were 

included in the 1993 Proposed Rule, 

with the following exceptions: (1) The 

requirement of a minimum on-time 

delay for the blower at burner ignition 

and a maximum off-time delay after 

burner shut-off for units with an 

unvarying blower timing control; (2) the 

actual measurement of power input to 

hot water boiler pumps; (3) the 

measurement of ignition energy input to 

interrupted ignition devices; and (4) the 

measurement of combustion blower 

time delay during post purge after 

burner shut-off in power vented units. 

With the above exceptions, the revised 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 and 

the 1993 Proposed Rule are nearly 

identical in content. 

Commenters including GAMA stated 

that ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

should be incorporated in the 

Department's test procedure rather than 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1988 as proposed 

in the 1993 Proposed Rule. (GAMA. 

Transcript, at 8). HI stated that since 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 26151 

ANSI!ASHRAE 103-1988 is no longer 

the current standard and will no longer 

be published by ASHRAE, it would be 

difficult for manufacturers to obtain 

additional copies for reference; 

therefore, the 1993 version should be 

referenced. (HI, Transcript, at 74). Mr. 

John Woodworth, who was Chairman of 

the SPC that developed ANSI! ASHRAE 

103-1993, Secretary of the SPC for 

ANSI! ASHRAE 103-1988 and ViceChairman of the SPC for ANSI! ASHRAE 

103-1982, suggested that DOE should 

reference the ANSI!ASHRAE 103-1993 

rather than ANSI! ASHRAE 103-1988. 

He asserts that, with few exceptions, the 

requirements in ANSI!ASHRAE 103-

1993 are the same as the reqUirements 

in the 1993 Proposed Rule. In addition, 

ANSI! ASHRAE 103-1988 will no longer 

be available from ASHRAE. Oohn 

Woodworth, No. 20, at 2). The CEC 

stated that it supports the use of ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 with DOEspecified changes. (CEC, No. 25, at 3). It 

was suggested by Lennox (Lennox 

Transcript, at 78) that the test procedure 

be published in its entirety. 

The Department agrees with the 

commenters on this issue and is 

referencing the ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 instead of the 1988 

version in today's final rule. DOE 

decided not to publish the above 

standard in its entirety, since it is the 

practice of the Department to 

incorporate by reference any industry 

consensus standards, and the test 

procedures adopted in today's final rule 

are nearly identical to ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993. 

24. Other Minor Modifications to ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standards 103-1988 and 103-

1993 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE also 

proposed to adopt corrections and 

clarifications of several typographical 

errors and inconsistencies identified by 

ASHRAE SPC 103 following publication 

of ASHRAE Standard 103-1988. 

No commenter expressed objection to 

those specific revisions with the 

exception of Mr. Woodworth on 

revision to section 9.7.3 of the Standard. 

Therein, Mr. Woodworth stated that, 

since T F.OFF is not needed in the 

calculation of off-period flue gas mass 

flow rate if the draft is maintained 

during cool-down, the T F.OFF reading is 

not necessary. The draft is maintained 

during cool-down for units with 

barometric draft regulators. Therefore, 

the phrase .. if draft is not maintained 

during cool-down" should not be 

deleted. O. Woodworth, No. 20, at 4). 

DOE agrees with Mr. Woodworth's 

comment, and the proposed revision is 

dropped from today's final rule. 

DOE, by referencing ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 today, has included 

all the other minor revisions and 

corrections to ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1988 in today's final rule. With the 

exception of the item commented on by 

Mr. Woodworth above, the revised 

ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

incorporated all the other minor 

revisions and corrections to ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1988 described 

in the 1993 Proposed Rule. 

After the publication of ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, a few 

typographical errors were identified. On 

October 24,1996, ASH RAE issued an 

Errata Sheet for ASHRAE Standard 103-

1993, that listed the typographical errors 

to be corrected in ANSI! ASHRAE 103-

1993. This ASHRAE Errata is 

incorporated by reference in today's 

final rule. 

25. Other Issues 

The following is a discussion of 

comments DOE received on issues not 

raised by the proposed test procedure 

for furnaces and boilers. As discussed 

below, however, in the 1993 Proposed 

Rule DOE had requested comments on 

certain of these issues. 

(1) Distribution System Efficiency.-

First, commenters including Dr. M. A. 

Habegger of Boulder, Colorado, 

remarked that in the field installation, 

the air flow rate through the distribution 

system has a large effect on the overall 

system efficiency. Further, the value of 

AFUE obtained through the current test 

procedure is usually much higher than 

the overall system efficiency. (M. A. 

Habegger, No. 22 at 1). The Department 

agrees that a reduced air flow rate will 

reduce the overall effiCiency of the 

heating system due to a higher flue gas 

temperature and duct air leakage. 

Dr. Habegger further comments that 

the circulation air flow rate is not 

considered in the current test procedure 

and that testing the efficiency of 

equipment without considering the 

overall installed system effect is 

meaningless. The Department disagrees. 

The rate of circulation air flow is 

addressed in the test procedure by the 

limits set on both the minimum external 

static pressure and the air temperature 

rise between the supply and return air. 

This assures that the circulation air 

blower will deliver the appropriate 

amount of air flow at the required 

design conditions. 

As the Department specifically 

pointed out in the preamble to the 1984 

Final Rule for furnaces, boilers, and 

vented and unvented home heaters, the 

test procedures cannot predict the 

energy performance of a furnace in 

every installation. 49 FR 12153 (March 

28, 1984). Rather, their use is for 

comparison purposes and thus 

installation variables are only 

representatively accounted for. That 

preamble continues to state the 

Department's position on this issue. 

(2) Input/Output Method.-Two 

commenters, Energy Kinetics and the 

CEC, responded to the Department's 

request to comment on the 

appropriateness of a test procedure for 

furnaces and boilers based on an input! 

output method. Both suggested the 

development or adoption of the input! 

output method as a more accurate 

method for rating furnaces and boilers 

in place of the present flue loss method. 

(Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 7; and CEC, 

No. 25, at 3). GAMA, in response to 

questions during the public hearing, 

stated that ETL researchers working on 

an input!output method for GAMA 

experienced a great deal of difficulty in 

repeating the test results and in 

correlating the resulting efficiency 

rating with the current method. GAMA 

felt that more time is needed for work 

in the input!output method. (GAMA, 

Transcript, at 35). 

An analysis by Dr. D. R. Tree of 

Purdue University with data supplied 

by NIST on the errors associated with 

the input!output method showed that 

for warm air furnaces, the uncertainties 

in duct air flow measurement and nonuniform temperature distribution in the 

duct, during steady state and cyclic 

conditions, would result in an error 

estimate of ±12 percent for the AFUE 

value. This made the input/output 

method unacceptable as a test procedure 

for warm air furnaces. 4 The problem of 

flow and temperature measurements for 

hot water boilers would not be as 

severe. A detailed method, however, on 

the transient performance of hot water 

boilers, both during the on-cycle (energy 

delivered) and the off-cycle (heat loss) 

needs to be developed and a consensus 

on the procedure agreed upon. The 

problems of testing according to two 

different test procedures, one for warm 

air furnaces and one for hydronic 

heating systems, also require further 

discussion. The Department is, 

therefore, reserving action on the 

possible adoption of an input!output 

method for hydronic heating systems to 

a future rulemaking. 

(3) Test Procedure for Combined 

SpacelWater Heating Appliances.-

Only Energy Kinetics raised this issue, 

and questioned the appropriateness of 

the current ASHRAE Standard 124-

4 David R. Tree. "Error Analysis of Testing for 

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of Residential 

Central Furnace Boilers. Report Number 4. 

Executive Summary." Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, 

Purdue University. 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26152 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

1991 that covers the testing and rating 

of combination appliances. (Energy 

Kinetics, No. 16, at 8). 

The Department is preparing to 

propose a test procedure for combined 

space/water heating appliances in the 

future. DOE welcomes any comments 

and input from industry and interested 

individuals and organizations. 

(4) Off-Cycle Draft Setting.-Only 

Energy Kinetics commented that the 

operation and off-cycle draft conditions 

at the flue connection to a unit affect the 

ratings of the unit, and suggested that 

the draft value should not be left to be 

at the manufacturer's recommendation. 

Energy Kinetics suggested a standard 

draft level of 0.05" water column to be 

maintained at both the on-cycle and offcycle periods during the test. (Energy 

Kinetics, No. 16, at 5). 

DOE believes that this specification is 

not necessary as the draft produced 

during the operation of the unit cannot 

be arbitrarily set by the manufacturer if 

proper operation, such as smoke 

number, C02 concentration, and flame 

stability, of the unit is to be maintained. 

DOE reasons that if the manufacturers 

do not require or recommend the 

maintenance of a specific draft level 

during the off-cycle for the normal 

operation of their unit, it should not be 

required during the off-period test. 

(5) Supply and Return Water 

Temperature Settings for Hot Water 

Boilers.-Energy Kinetics stated that the 

hot water boiler temperature settings of 

120°F return water temperature and 

140°F supply water temperature during 

the tests, as prescribed in the current 

test procedure, are too low. They are not 

the normal temperatures of 160°F and 

180°F encountered in a home 

installation. (Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 

4). 

The Department prescribed the test 

conditions for hot water boilers (boiler 

return water of at least 120°F and a 20°F 

temperature rise) during the 1983 

proposed rulemaking (48 FR 28014, 

June 17, 1983) before the publication of 

the final rule for the current furnace test 

procedure (49 FR 12148, March 24, 

1984). In so doing, the Department 

stated its belief that all non-condensing 

hot water boilers, including finned tube 

boilers and low thermal mass boilers, 

generally operated at these conditions, 

and the specifications would eliminate 

the need for future test procedure 

waivers for specific types of hot water 

boilers from a uniform test condition. At 

that time the boiler industry had also 

indicated its desire to have these test 

conditions included. The Department 

sees no fundamental change in the 

application of hot water boilers to 

warrant revision to the current test 

procedure. In addition, changing the test 

conditions to those suggested by Energy 

Kinetics would result in a reduction of 

the AFUE for existing hot water boilers 

as the flue loss would be slightly higher 

due to a higher flue gas temperature. 

This would require the retesting and rerating of most existing hot water boilers. 

For the reasons discussed above, 

today's final rule does not include any 

changes to the test conditions with 

respect to the boiler water return 

temperature and temperature rise for hot 

water boilers as specified in the current 

test procedure. 

(6) Energy Lost at Appliance Location 

(Boilers in Unheated Space).-Energy 

Kinetics disagreed with the reqUirement 

that boilers be tested as indoor 

installation. It claimed that most boilers 

are installed in un-conditioned space. 

(Energy Kinetics, No. 16, at 4). 

Since the minimum standard for 

boilers is based on a statutory definition 

of AFUE which explicitly assumes that 

non-weatherized boilers are located 

indoors, DOE will not consider any 

change in the installation location for 

boilers at the present time. 

(7) Setting Throughput Air 

Temperature Rise for Furnaces.-In the 

current DOE test procedure and ANSII 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1988, the 

adjustment to the air throughput for 

warm air furnaces at steady state 

operation is specified under the 

following conditions: a temperature rise, 

across the heat exchanger, shall be the 

higher of (1) 15°F below the maximum 

temperature rise, or (2) 15°F above the 

minimum temperature rise, as specified 

by the manufacturer. 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule and in the 

1993 revision of ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 103 (as 103-1993), a provision 

was added to the test setting of the air 

temperature rise. The provision requires 

that, for furnaces whose design does not 

permit a temperature rise range of 30°F, 

the furnace shall be tested at the 

midpoint of the rise range specified by 

the manufacturer if the rise is less than 

30°F. Commenters GAMA and Inter-City 

mentioned this provision for 

condensing furnaces whose temperature 

rise range may be less than 30°F, and 

listed this provision in GAMA's first 

category of revisions for immediate 

implementation. (GAMA No.8 at 3; 

Inter-City, No.7 at 4). 

DOE has adopted this provision as 

specified in ANSII ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993 referenced in today's final 

rule. 

B. Vented Home Heating Equipment 

The Department originally published 

the test procedure for vented home 

heating equipment on May 2, 1978.43 

FR 20182. The Department amended 

this test procedure on March 28, 1984, 

to include a simplified vented heater 

test procedure for heaters with 

modulating controls, manually 

controlled vented heaters, vented 

heaters equipped with thermal stack 

dampers, and floor furnaces. 49 FR 

12169. 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE 

proposed the following amendments to 

the vented home heating eqUipment test 

procedure: (1) To establish an annual 

efficiency descriptor to account for the 

auxiliary electrical energy consumed by 

the fan or blowers in addition to the 

fossil fuel consumed; (2) to revise the 

calculation procedure for AFUE for 

manually controlled heaters; and (3) to 

revise the calculation procedure for 

weighted average steady-state efficiency 

for manually controlled heaters with 

various input rates. 

The following discussion addresses 

the comments received on the proposed 

rule. 

1. Annual EffiCiency Descriptor 

The Department proposed in the 1993 

Proposed Rule to adopt the energy factor 

as defined in appendix B of ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 as the new 

energy descriptor for vented home 

heating eqUipment, and renamed it the 

annual efficiency descriptor. 

The Department's current test 

procedure for vented home heating 

equipment prescribes the calculation of 

AFUE based on the energy consumption 

of fossil fuel only. Since auxiliary 

electrical energy can be consumed by 

these appliances such as for the 

operation of a blower, DOE considered 

that a more appropriate energy 

descriptor was needed to account for 

both fossil fuel and auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption of the appliances. 

This energy descriptor would also be 

used to address the electrical energy 

used by some of the design options 

considered for energy standard level 

evaluation. 

Seventeen commenters, directly or in 

support of another commenter, have 

commented on this issue. The 

comments from each individual or 

organization were discussed in the 

Federal Register notice of January 20, 

1995.60 FR 4348. This was described 

previously in the section for the 

proposed energy factor and annual 

efficiency descriptors for central 

furnaces and boilers. (See ILA 20 above, 

"Annual Efficiency Descriptor and 

Energy Factor.") 

As concluded in the discussion above, 

DOE has decided to withdraw the 

proposed energy descriptor from today's 

final rule. Since the commenters 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 26153 

combined their comments on this 

proposed energy descriptor with those 

for the central furnaces/boilers, readers 

are referred to that section for a 

discussion of this issue. Therefore, the 

current procedures of determining 

AFUE as the energy efficiency 

descriptor will remain unchanged. 

However, the proposed procedure for 

the calculation of the annual energy 

consumption of fossil fuel and electrical 

energy for the vented home heating 

equipment is included in today's final 

rule. This added procedure does not 

involve any additional testing beyond 

that required by the current test 

procedure. The added calculation 

procedure is intended to allow for the 

adequate and fair cost ranking of the 

different design options that may be 

considered in future evaluations of 

possible revisions of energy standard 

levels. 

2. Pilot Light Energy Consumption for 

Manually Controlled Heaters 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, for 

manually controlled heaters, under 

certain conditions, the measurement of 

pilot light energy is not needed. Two 

comments on this issue were received. 

GAMA supported the provision of not 

requiring the measurement of the pilot 

energy consumption for manually 

controlled heaters equipped with a 

piezo igniter. (GAMA, No.8, at 20). The 

CEC stated that the language in the 

provision should be more explicit in 

defining what is meant by the phrase 

"when the heater is not in use and 

instruction to do so is given," in section 

3.5.2 of appendix 0 to subpart B of part 

430. The CEC further stated that the 

manufacturer should only be allowed to 

ignore the pilot energy use if the pilot 

extinguishes whenever the burner is off. 

(CEC, No. 25, at 3). 

The Department agrees with the 

suggestion of the CEC to clarify when 

the proposed provision is applicable. 

This provision applies to a heater that 

provides manually controlled settings 

for the control knob in the operation of 

the appliance, and a clearly marked 

knob setting such as the "OFF" knob 

setting shuts off the appliance 

completely including the pilot light. 

DOE is today revising the section in 

question to read as follows: 

"3.5.2 For manually controlled 

heaters where the pilot light is designed 

to be turned off by the user when the 

heater is not in use, that is, turning the 

control to the OFF position will shut off 

the gas supply to the burner(s) and to 

the pilot light, the measurement of Qp is 

not needed. This provision applies only 

if an instruction to turn off the unit is 

provided on the heater near the gas 

control valve (e.g., by label) by the 

manufacturer. " 

3. Weighted Average Steady-State 

Efficiency 

In the 1993 Proposed Rule, DOE 

proposed that for manually controlled 

vented home heaters with multiple 

input rates whose design is such that 

the specified minimum firing rate 

cannot be set at 50±5 percent of the 

unit's maximum firing rate, the test will 

be conducted at the unit's minimum 

fuel input rate, provided that the 

minimum input shall be no higher than 

2/3 of the maximum fuel input rate of the 

heater. 

GAMA supported this provision. 

(GAMA, No.8, at 20). DOE is adopting 

the provision in today's final rule. 

C. Pool Heaters 

The Department published the pool 

heater test procedure on February 7, 

1989, referencing ANSI Standard 

Z21.56-1986 for gas-fired pool heaters. 

54 FR 6076. In the 1993 Proposed Rule, 

DOE proposed to amend the pool heater 

test procedure, first, to include an 

annual efficiency descriptor that 

accounts for the fossil fuel and the 

auxiliary electrical energy consumed by 

any fan or pump and, second, to replace 

the reference to ANSI Standard Z21.56-

1986 with references to the then 

updated version of ANSI Standard 

Z21.56. 

Standard Z21.56 was updated again in 

1994. But no substantive changes were 

made in the portions of that Standard 

which DOE had proposed, in the 1993 

Proposed Rule, to incorporate into its 

pool heater test procedure. DOE is 

therefore referencing ANSI Standard 

Z21.56-1994 in the pool heater test 

procedure it adopts today. 

All of the comments received on the 

proposed amendment to this test 

procedure concerned the proposed 

annual efficiency descriptor. The 

following discussion addresses those 

comments. 

1. Annual Efficiency Descriptor 

The Department proposed in the 1993 

Proposed Rule a new energy descriptor, 

the Annual Efficiency (AE), for pool 

heaters. The proposed AE descriptor, 

was defined as the ratio of the annual 

output of energy delivered to the heated 

pool water by fossil fuel to the total 

annual energy input to the heater 

including auxiliary electrical energy. 

The latter term, auxiliary electrical 

energy, was multiplied by a factor F 

which represents the ratio of the heat 

energy reqUired to generate and transmit 

the electricity to the electrical energy 

delivered at the pool heater. This was 

for the purpose of reflecting the 

efficiency oftotal energy used to run the 

appliance. 

The Department's current test 

procedure for pool heaters prescribes 

the calculation of the thermal efficiency 

under steady state condition only. The 

thermal effiCiency is defined as the ratio 

of the useful output of heated water to 

the sum of the input of fossil fuel energy 

and auxiliary electric energy during the 

steady state test period. DOE considered 

that a more appropriate energy 

descriptor was needed in order to 

account for the energy consumption 

during the burner-off periods of a pool 

heating season. DOE based this view on 

the fact that a Significant quantity of 

energy can be consumed by a 

continuous pilot light and the auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption during 

the burner-off periods of the pool 

heating season. The proposed energy 

descriptor could also be used to address 

the energy savings by some of the design 

options that might be considered in 

future evaluation of possible revisions 

of energy standard levels. For example, 

to consider electronic ignition, the 

evaluation would have to account for 

the savings in gas consumption 

resulting from elimination of a 

continuous burning pilot. 

Seventeen commenters, directly or in 

support of another commenter, have 

commented on this issue. The 

comments from each individual or 

organization concerning the proposed 

multiplication factor F applied to the 

auxiliary electric energy consumption 

are discussed in the Federal Register 

notice of January 20, 1995 (60 FR 4348). 

This was described preViously in 

subsection 20 of section ILA of this 

notice, which discusses the proposed 

energy factor and annual efficiency 

descriptors for central furnaces and 

boilers. Readers are referred to that 

section for the discussion of the F -factor 

issue. 

GAMA also commented on the 

proposed annual efficiency descriptor 

concerning pool heaters. GAMA stated 

that the use of a recirculating pump 

should be factored into the AE 

descriptor only if the pump is used 

during the thermal effiCiency test under 

section 2.8.1 of ANSI Z21.56-1990 

standard. Further, GAMA claims, the 

pump or the pump/filter system used in 

any given installation in the field that is 

not supplied by the manufacturer 

should not be considered as part of the 

heater's auxiliary components. GAMA 

commented that DOE should focus on 

addressing a pool heater's primary 

electrical energy consumption rather 

than auxiliary losses. 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26154 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

The Department believes that the 

above concerns expressed by GAMA are 

unfounded. As shown in section 4 of 

appendix P of the 1993 Proposed Rule, 

the determination of the auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption of the 

pool heater is as specified in ANSI 

221.56-1990 standard, and was not 

modified in the 1993 Proposed Rule. As 

proposed in section 4.4 of appendix p, 

the calculation of the annual auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption is based 

on heater on-time only. 

GAMA first stated that, since DOE 

defined the average number of burner 

operating hours as 104 hours 

independent of pool and heater size, 

then "100,000 Btu/hr and 400,000 Btul 

hr pool heaters can have the same AE 

value, and would give the impression 

that a 400.000 Btu/hr pool heater is an 

effective choice for heating a 500 gallon 

hot tub." GAMA then stated that during 

pool "off-season" hours. the continuous 

pilot is usually shut off. 

DOE disagrees with the first 

statement. If the output capacity of the 

pool heater is properly selected by the 

contractor or installer based on the size 

or load requirement of a particular pool. 

then the burner operating time would be 

neither excessively long nor unduly 

short. Moreover. although the selection 

of a particular pool heater among 

models of similar capacity for a specific 

pool size may be based on its energy 

efficiency. the selection of a correct 

capaCity heater is based on the pool size 

or load requirement. As to GAMA's 

statement about the pilot light being off 

during the" off season." the 1993 

proposal already assumed that the 

continuous pilot light. if used. will be 

off during non-heating season hours. 

(See section 4.2 of appendix P to 

subpart B of part 430. on the definition 

of the average number of seasonal pool 

operating hours (POH).) 

In its statement. GAMA also suggested 

that. instead of the AE descriptor. DOE 

should develop a methodology to 

calculate total annual energy 

consumption. based on thermal 

efficiency. electrical energy 

consumption. and continuous pilot light 

consumption. Thus. consumers could 

use this information to estimate annual 

energy consumption and operating costs 

for a specific pool size and season of 

operation. 

DOE agrees with this suggestion. The 

calculation procedure in today's final 

rule includes the calculation of the 

average annual fossil fuel and auxiliary 

electric energy consumption. 

The Department has decided to 

withdraw the proposed energy 

descriptor with the proposed F-factor 

multiplier from today's final rule. for 

the reasons discussed in subsection 20 

of section II.A of this notice. The current 

procedure for determining the energy 

efficiency descriptor for pool heaters. 

the steady state thermal efficiency. shall 

remain unchanged. A procedure. 

however. for the calculation of the pool 

heater seasonal efficiency and the 

annual energy consumption of fossil 

fuel and auxiliary electricity for the pool 

heater is included in today's final rule. 

The pool heater seasonal efficiency is 

defined as the ratio (in percent) of the 

useful output of the heater in terms of 

heated pool water during the pool 

heating season to the sum of the total 

energy input when the burner is on and 

the energy consumption ofthe pilot 

light when the burner is off during the 

pool heating season. The total burner-on 

hours and the length of the pool heating 

season are assumed to be 104 hours and 

4464 hours per year. respectively. The 

heater is assumed to be in steady state 

operation whenever the burner is on. 

The pilot light is assumed to be off 

during the non-heating season hours 

(4296 hours) and on during the pool 

heating season hours (4464 hours). The 

auxiliary electrical energy consumption 

is assumed to be negligible when the 

burner is off. For heaters which do not 

employ a continuous pilot light during 

the pool heating season. the seasonal 

efficiency will be the same as the steady 

state thermal effiCiency. This procedure 

will account for the energy consumption 

of those pool heaters that employ a 

continuous pilot light during the pool 

heating season. As stated previously. the 

procedure also provides a calculation 

procedure for the average annual fossil 

fuel and auxiliary electric energy 

consumption. These calculations are 

simply arithmetic exercises with no 

additional testing required. Since these 

calculations could be used to address 

the energy savings by some design 

options that might be considered in 

future evaluations of energy standard 

levels. DOE believes it is justified to 

include these additional calculations. 

III. Procedural Requirements 

A. Review Under the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

The Department has concluded that 

this final rule falls into a class of actions 

(categorical exclusion A5) that are 

categorically excluded from the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969 (NEP A) review because they 

would not individually or cumulatively 

have a significant impact on the human 

environment. as determined by DOE's 

regulations (10 CFR part 1021. appendiX 

A to subpart D) implementing the NEPA 

(42 U.s.C. 4321. 4331-35. 4341-47). 

Therefore this final rule does not reqUire 

an environmental impact statement or 

an environmental assessment pursuant 

to NEPA. 

B. Review Under Executive Order 12866. 

"Regulatory Planning and Review" 

Today's regulatory action has been 

determined not to be a "significant 

regulatory action" under Executive 

Order 12866. "Regulatory Planning and 

Review." 58 FR 51735. October 4. 1993. 

Accordingly. today's action was not 

subject to review under the Executive 

Order by the Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs. 

C. Review Under the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act 

The Regulatory Flexibility Act. 5 

U.s.C. 603. reqUires the preparation of 

an initial regulatory flexibility analysis 

for every rule which 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. A regulatory 

flexibility analysis examines the impact 

of the rule on small entities and 

considers alternate ways of reducing 

negative impacts. 

The Department believes the final rule 

will not have a significant impact on 

either small or large manufacturers of 

furnaces and boilers. vented home 

heating eqUipment. and pool heaters 

under the provisions of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. The final rule amends 

DOE's test procedures. primarily to 

incorporate (1) test procedures already 

in use by manufacturers pursuant to 

waivers that DOE preViously granted to 

those manufacturers. and (2) revisions 

to standard industry testing methods. 

contained in American SOCiety of 

Heating. Air-Conditioning and 

Refrigerating Engineers (ASHRAE) 

Standard 103-1993. "Methods of 

Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization 

Efficiency of Residential Central 

Furnaces and Boilers." and American 

National Standards Institute Standard 

221.56-1994. "Gas-Fired Pool Heaters." 

Examples of amendments are: 

• The 90-second delay from burner 

ignition to activation of the warm air 

circulation fan designed with an 

unvarying time delay in a central 

furnace has been shortened to 

accommodate current manufacturers 

designs. 

• There is no reqUirement to calculate 

the energy consumption of a gas pilot 

light on manually controlled vented 

home heaters provided that there is 

instruction for the user to turn the pilot 

light off and restart it. 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register I Vol. 62, No. 91 I Monday, May 12, 1997 I Rules and Regulations 26155 

• The test procedure for modulated, 

vented home heating equipment allows 

testing at 100 percent and sixty six 

percent rated input power. instead of 

100 percent and fifty percent power, to 

accommodate new designs. 

Such reqUirements presented in the 

final rule incorporate improvements in 

the current testing technology for 

furnaces and boilers. vented home 

heating eqUipment, and pool heaters 

utilized by industry. But they would not 

have a significant economic impact. 

since they are methods already in use by 

manufacturers. and will not cause 

manufacturers to purchase eqUipment, 

consume testing time, nor employ 

technical staff beyond what is reqUired 

by existing DOE test procedures. 

In addition. in some respects the test 

procedures in the final rule are less 

burdensome than the current 

procedures. For example: 

• The formula to calculate the time 

delay and energy loss of a stack damper 

traversing from fully open to fully 

closed has been adjusted for greater 

accuracy. The revised formula has been 

incorporated into the existing computer 

program for the calculation of the AFUE 

and will reqUire no additional hand 

calculations. 

Therefore, DOE certifies that the final 

rule, if promulgated, would not have a 

"significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities" 

and that the preparation of a regulatory 

flexibility analysis is not warranted. 

D. Review Under Executive Order 

12612, "Federalism' 

Executive Order 12612 (52 FR 41685, 

October 30, 1987) reqUires that 

regulations or rules be reviewed for any 

substantial direct effects on States, on 

the relationship between the Federal 

Government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among various levels of 

government. If there are sufficient 

substantial direct effects, then Executive 

Order 12612 requires preparation of a 

Federalism assessment to be used in all 

decisions involved in promulgating and 

implementing a regulation or a rule. 

The final rule published today would 

not alter the distribution of authority 

and responsibility to regulate in this 

area. The final rule would only revise a 

currently applicable DOE test procedure 

to improve existing testing methods, 

and to add provisions that DOE might 

use in future standard setting. 

Accordingly, DOE has determined that 

preparation of a federation assessment is 

unnecessary. 

E. Review Under Section 32 of the 

Federal Energy Administration Act of 

1974 

The test procedures in this final rule 

incorporate commercial standards to 

measure the efficiency and capacity of 

furnaces and/boilers, vented home 

heating eqUipment, and pool heaters. 

The commercial standards are ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, "Method 

of Testing for Annual Fuel utilization 

Efficiency of Residential Central 

Furnaces and Boilers," and ANSI 

Standard Z21.56-1994, "Gas Fired Pool 

Heaters." 

Pursuant to section 301 of the 

Department of Energy Organization Act 

(Pub. L. 95-91), DOE is reqUired to 

comply with section 32 of the Federal 

Energy Administration Act of 1974, as 

amended by section 9 of the Federal 

Energy Administration Authorization 

Act of 1977 (FEAA) Pub. L. 95-70, 

which imposes certain requirements 

where a proposed rule contains 

commercial standards or authorizes or 

reqUires the use of such standards. The 

findings required of DOE by section 32 

serve to alert the public and DOE 

regarding the use and background of 

commercial standards in a proposal and 

through the rulemaking process. They 

allow interested persons to make known 

their views regarding the 

appropriateness of the use of any 

particular commercial standard in a 

proposed rulemaking. 

The Department has evaluated ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 and ANSI 

Standard Z21.56-1994 with regard to 

compliance with section 32(b) of the 

FEAA. The Department is unable to 

conclude whether these standards fully 

complied with the requirements of 

section 32(b), i.e., that they are 

developed in a manner which fully 

provided for public participation, 

comment, and review. 

In addition, section 32(c) of the FEAA 

precludes the Department from 

incorporating any commercial standard 

into a rule unless it has consulted with 

the Attorney General and the Chairman 

of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 

as to the impact of such standard on 

competition, and neither individual 

recommends against its incorporation. 

Pursuant to section 32(c), the 

Department advised these individuals of 

its intention to incorporate Standards 

103-1993 and Z21.56-1991 into its final 

test procedure rules for furnaces/boilers 

and pool heaters, respectively. Neither 

recommended against such 

incorporation. 

The Department notes that it is 

incorporating into today's rule the 

method for testing pool heaters that is 

set forth in ANSI Standard Z21.56-

1994. Standard Z21.56-1994 was not 

specifically identified in the 

aforementioned communications with 

the FTC and Department of Justice. It is, 

however, a revised and updated version 

of Standard Z21.56-1991, which was 

mentioned in those communications, 

and the provisions DOE is incorporating 

from Z21.56-1994 are identical in 

substance to the corresponding 

provisions in Z21.56-1991. 5 

F. Review Under Executive Order 12630, 

"Governmental Actions and 

Interference With Constitutionally 

Protected Property Rights" 

It has been determined pursuant to 

Executive Order 12630 (52 FR 8859, 

March 18, 1988) that this final rule 

would not result in any takings which 

might require compensation under the 

Fifth Amendment to the United States 

Constitution, 

The Department believes that test 

procedures implementing a longestablished statutory mandate in a 

manner calculated to minimize adverse 

economic impacts does not constitute a 

"taking" of private property. Thus, 

testing under the appliance standards 

program does not invoke the provisions 

ofE.O. 12630. 

G. Review Under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1980 

No new information or record keeping 

reqUirements are imposed by this 

rulemaking. Accordingly, no OMB 

clearance is reqUired under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 

3501 et seq.). 

H. Review Under Executive Order 

12988, "Civil Justice Reform" 

With respect to the review of existing 

regulations and the promulgation of 

new regulations, section 3(a) of 

Executive Order 12988, "Civil Justice 

Reform," 61 FR 4729 (February 7, 1996), 

imposes on Executive agenCies the 

general duty to adhere to the following 

reqUirements: (1) Eliminate drafting 

errors and ambiguity; (2) write 

regulations to minimize litigation; and 

(3) provide a clear legal standard for 

affected conduct rather than a general 

standard and promote simplification 

and burden reduction. With regard to 

the review required by section 3(a), 

section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988 

specifically requires that Executive 

agencies make every reasonable effort to 

ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly 

5 The Department has informally advised the 

Department of Justice and the Federai Trade 

Commission of its intention to incorporate the 

updated version of Standard Z21.56 into the finai 

rule. 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26156 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

specifies the preemptive effect, if any; 

(2) clearly specifies any effect on 

existing Federal law or regulation; (3) 

provides a clear legal standard for 

affected conduct while promoting 

Simplification and burden reduction; (4) 

specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5) 

adequately defines key terms; and (6) 

addresses other important issues 

affecting clarity and general 

draftsmanship under any guidelines 

issued by the Attorney General. Section 

3(c) of Executive Order 12988 requires 

Executive agencies to review regulations 

in light of applicable standards in 

section 3(a) and section 3(b) to 

determine whether they are met or it is 

unreasonable to meet one or more of 

them. DOE has completed the required 

review and determined that, to the 

extent permitted by law, the final 

regulations meet the relevant standards 

of Executive Order 12988. 

1. Review Under Unfunded Mandates 

Reform Act of 1995 

If any proposed or final rule includes 

a Federal mandate that may result in 

expenditure by state, local, and tribal 

governments, in the aggregate, or by the 

private sector, of $100 million or more 

in anyone year, the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act of 1995, signed 

into law on March 22, 1995, requires an 

agency (prior to promulgation) to 

prepare a budgetary impact statement 

and select the least costly, most cost 

effective and least burdensome 

alternative that achieve the objectives of 

the rule and is consistent with statutory 

requirements. 

DOE has determined that the action 

promulgated today does not include 

such a Federal mandate. Therefore, the 

reqUirements of the Unfunded Mandates 

Act do not apply to this action. 

]. Review Under Small Business 

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 

1996 

As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will 

report to Congress promulgation of the 

rule prior to its effective date. 5 U.S.c. 

801. The report will state that it has 

been determined that the rule is not a 

"major rule" as defined by 5 U.S.C. 

804(3). 

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 430 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Energy conservation, 

Household appliances, Incorporation by 

reference. 

Issued in Washington, DC. on February 28, 

1997. 

Christine A. Ervin, 

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy. 

For the reasons set forth in the 

preamble, part 430 of chapter II of Title 

10, Code of Federal Regulations, is 

amended as set forth below. 

PART 430-ENERGY CONSERVATION 

PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER 

PRODUCTS 

1. The authority citation for part 430 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 42 U.S.c. 6291-6309 

2. Section 430.2 is amended by 

adding a definition for the term "Mobile 

home furnace" in alphabetical order, to 

read as follows: 

§ 430.2 Definitions. 

* * * * * 

Mobile home furnace means a direct 

vent furnace that is designed for use 

only in mobile homes. 

* * * * * 

3. Section 430.22 is amended by 

adding paragraph (a) (3) (iv) and adding 

item numbers 13 and 14 to paragraph 

(a)(4) to read as follows: 

§ 430.22 Reference sources. 

(a) * * * 

(3) * * * 

(iv) American Society of Heating, 

Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning 

Engineers, Inc., Publication Sales, 1791 

Tullie Circle, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, 

(1-800-5-ASHRAE) . 

(4) * * * 

13. American National Standards Institute/ 

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, 

and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 

103-1993, "Methods of Testing for Annual 

Fuel Utilization Efficiency of Residential 

Central Furnaces and Boilers," (with Errata of 

October 24, 1996) except for sections 3.0, 

7.2.2.5,8.6.1.1,9.1.2.2,9.5.1.1,9.5.1.2.1, 

9.5.1.2.2,9.5.2.1, 9.7.1, 10.0, 11.2.12, 11.3.12, 

11.4.12, 11.5.12 and appendices Band C. 

14. American National Standards Institute 

Standard Z21.56-1994, "Gas-Fired Pool 

Heaters," section 2.9. 

* * * * * 

4. Section 430.23 is amended as 

follows: 

A. In paragraph (n)(1)(i), the words 

"section 4.8 or 4.10" are revised to read 

"section 10.2.2 or 10.3" and in 

paragraph (n)(l)(ii), the words "section 

4.9" are revised to read "section 10.2.3" 

and, in the parenthetical phase, the 

words "section 4" are revised to read 

"section 10." 

B. In paragraph (n)(2) , the words 

"section 4.6" are revised to read 

"section 10.1" and the words "section 

4.1 of appendix N of this subpart" are 

revised to read "section 11.1 of 

American National Standards Institute/ 

American Society of Heating, 

Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning 

Engineers (ANSI! ASHRAE) Standard 

103-1993." 

C. In paragraph (n) (3) (i), the words 

"section 4.11 or 4.13" are revised to 

read "section 10.5.1 or 10.5.3" and in 

paragraph (n)(3)(ii), the words "section 

4. 12" are revised to read "section 

10.5.2." 

D. In paragraph (n)(4) , the words 

"section 4. 14" are revised to read 

"section 10.4." 

E. Revise paragraphs (0)(2), and (p)(I) 

to read as follows: 

§430.23 Test procedures for measures of 

energy consumption. 

* * * * * 

(0) Vented home heating equipment. 

* * * 

(2) The estimated annual operating 

cost for vented home heating equipment 

is the sum of: 

(i) The product of the average annual 

fuel energy consumption, in Btu's per 

year for natural gas, propane, or oil 

fueled vented home heating eqUipment, 

determined according to section 4.6.2 of 

appendiX 0 of this subpart, and the 

representative average unit cost in 

dollars per Btu for natural gas, propane, 

or oil, as appropriate, as provided 

pursuant to section 323(b)(2) of the Act; 

plus 

(ii) The product of the average annual 

auxiliary electric energy consumption in 

kilowatt-hours per year determined 

according to section 4.6.3 of appendix 0 

of this subpart, and the representative 

average unit cost in dollars per kilowatthours as provided pursuant to section 

323(b)(2) of the Act, the resulting sum 

then being rounded off to the nearest 

dollar per year. 

* * * * * 

(p) Pool heaters. (1) The estimated 

annual operating cost for pool heaters is 

the sum of: (i) The product of the 

average annual fuel energy 

consumption, in Btu's per year, of 

natural gas or oil fueled pool heaters, 

determined according to section 4.2 of 

appendix P of this subpart, and the 

representative average unit cost in 

dollars per Btu for natural gas or oil, as 

appropriate, as provided pursuant to 

section 323(b)(2) ofthe Act; plus (ii) the 

product of the average annual auxiliary 

electric energy consumption in kilowatthours per year determined according to 

section 4.3 of appendiX P of this 

subpart, and the representative average 

unit cost in dollars per kilowatt-hours as 

provided pursuant to section 323(b)(2) 

of the Act, the resulting sum then being 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 26157 

rounded off to the nearest dollar per 

year. 

* * * * * 

5. Appendix N to subpart B of part 

430 is revised to read as follows: 

Appendix N to Subpart B of Part 430-

Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 

Energy Consumption of Furnaces and 

Boilers 

1.0 Scope. The scope of this appendix is 

as specified in section 2.0 of ANSI!ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993. 

2.0 Definitions. Definitions include the 

definitions specified in section 3 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 and the 

following additional and modified 

definitions: 

2.1 ANSIIASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

means the test standard published in 1993 by 

ASHRAE. approved by the American 

National Standards Institute (ANSI) on 

October 4. 1993. and entitled "Method of 

Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization 

Efficiency of Residential Central Furnaces 

and Boilers" (with errata of October 24. 

1996). 

2.2 ASHRAE means the American Society 

of Heating. Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers. Inc. 

2.3 Thermal stack damper means a type 

of stack damper which is dependent for 

operation exclusively upon the direct 

conversion of thermal energy of the stack 

gases to open the damper. 

2.4 Isolated combustion system. The 

definition of isolation combustion system in 

section 3 of ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 103-

1993 is incorporated with the addition of the 

follOWing: "The unit is installed in an unconditioned indoor space isolated from the 

heated space." 

3.0 Classifications. Classifications are as 

speCified in section 4 of ANSI/ ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993. 

4.0 Requirements. Requirements are as 

specified in section 5 of ANSI/ ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993. 

5.0 Instruments. Instruments must be as 

specified in section 6 of ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993. 

6.0 Apparatus. The apparatus used in 

conjunction with the furnace or boiler during 

the testing must be as specified in section 7 

of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 except 

for section 7.2.2.5: and as specified in section 

6.1 of this appendix: 

6.1 Downflow furnaces. Install the 

internal section of vent pipe the same size as 

the flue collar for connecting the flue collar 

to the top of the unit. if not supplied by the 

manufacturer. Do not insulate the internal 

vent pipe during the jacket loss test (if 

conducted) described in section 8.6 of ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 or the steadystate test described in section 9.1 of ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993. Do not insulate 

the internal vent pipe before the cool-down 

and heat-up tests described in sections 9.5 

and 9.6. respectively. of ANSI/ ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993. If the vent pipe is 

surrounded by a metal jacket. do not insulate 

the metal jacket. Install a 5-ft test stack of the 

same cross sectional area or perimeter as the 

vent pipe above the top of the furnace. Tape 

or seal around the junction connecting the 

vent pipe and the 5-ft test stack. Insulate the 

5-ft test stack with insulation having an Rvalue not less than 7 and an outer layer of 

aluminum foil. (See Figure 3-E of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993.) 

7.0 Testing conditions. The testing 

conditions shall be as specified in section 8 

of ANSI!ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 with 

errata of October 24. 1996. except for section 

8.6.1.1: and as specified in section 7.1 of this 

appendix. 

7.1 Measurement of jacket surface 

temperature. The jacket of the furnace or 

boiler shall be subdivided into 6-inch squares 

when practical. and otherwise into 36-

square-inch regions comprising 4 in. x 9 in. 

or 3 in. x 12 in. sections. and the surface 

temperature at the center of each square or 

section shall be determined with a surface 

thermocouple. The 36-square-inch areas shall 

be recorded in groups where the temperature 

differential of the 36-square-inch area is less 

than 10°F for temperature up to 100°F above 

room temperature and less than 20°F for 

temperature more than 100°F above room 

temperature. For forced air central furnaces. 

the circulating air blower compartment is 

considered as part of the duct system and no 

surface temperature measurement of the 

blower compartment needs to be recorded for 

the purpose of this test. For downflow 

furnaces. measure all cabinet surface 

temperatures of the heat exchanger and 

combustion section. including the bottom 

around the outlet duct. and the burner door. 

using the 36 square-inch thermocouple grid. 

The cabinet surface temperatures around the 

blower section do not need to be measured 

(See figure 3-E of ANSI/ ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993.) 

8.0 Test procedure. Testing and 

measurements shall be as specified in section 

9 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

except for sections 9.5.1.1.9.5.1.2.1. 

9.5.1.2.2. 9.5.2.1. and section 9.7.1. : and as 

specified in sections 8.1. 8.2. 8.3. 8.4. and 

8.5. of this appendix. 

8.1 Input to interrupted ignition device. 

For burners equipped with an interrupted 

ignition device. record the nameplate electric 

power used by the ignition device. PEIG. or 

use PE1G=0.4 kW if no nameplate power 

input is provided. Record the nameplate 

ignition device on-time interval. tIG. or 

measure the on-time period at the beginning 

of the test at the time the burner is turned 

on with a stop watch. if no nameplate value 

is given. Set tIG=O and PEIG=O if the device 

on-time is less than or equal to 5 seconds 

after the burner is on. 

8.2 Gas- and oil-fueled gravity and forced 

air central furnaces without stack dampers 

cool-down test. Turn off the main burner after 

steady-state testing is completed. and 

measure the flue gas temperature by means 

of the thermocouple grid described in section 

7.6 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1993 at 1.5 

minutes (TF.OFF(t3)) and 9 minutes (TF.OFF(tt)) 

after the burner shuts off. An integral draft 

diverter shall remain blocked and insulated. 

and the stack restriction shall remain in 

place. On atmospheric systems with an 

integral draft diverter or draft hood. equipped 

with either an electromechanical inlet 

damper or an electro-mechanical flue damper 

that closes within 10 seconds after the burner 

shuts off to restrict the flow through the heat 

exchanger in the off-cycle. bypass or adjust 

the control for the electromechanical damper 

so that the damper remains open during the 

cool-down test. For furnaces that employ 

post purge. measure the length of the postpurge period with a stopwatch. The time 

from burner OFF to combustion blower OFF 

(electrically de-energized) shall be recorded 

as tp. For the case where tp is intended to be 

greater than 180 seconds. stop the 

combustion blower at 180 seconds and use 

that value for tp. Measure the flue gas 

temperature by means of the thermocouple 

grid described in section 7.6 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103-1993 at the end of post-purge 

period. tp (TF.oFF(tp)). and at the time (1.5 + 

tp) minutes (TF.oFF(t3)) and (9.0 + tp) minutes 

(T F.OFF(t4)) after the main burner shuts off. 

For the case where the measured tp is less 

than or equal to 30 seconds. it shall be tested 

as if there is no post purge and tp shall be 

set equal to O. 

8.3 Gas- and oil-fueled gravity and forced 

air central furnaces without stack dampers 

with adjustable fan control-coal-down test. 

For a furnace with adjustable fan control. this 

time delay will be 3.0 minutes for noncondensing furnaces or 1.5 minutes for 

condensing furnaces or until the supply air 

temperature drops to a value of 40°F above 

the inlet air temperature. whichever results 

in the longest fan on-time. For a furnace 

without adjustable fan control or with the 

type of adjustable fan control whose range of 

adjustment does not allow for the delay time 

specified above. the control shall be bypassed 

and the fan manually controlled to give the 

delay times specified above. For a furnace 

which employs a single motor to drive the 

power burner and the indoor air circulating 

blower. the power burner and indoor air 

circulating blower shall be stopped together. 

8.4 Gas-and oil-fueled boilers without 

stack dampers cool-down test. After steadystate testing has been completed. turn the 

main burner(s) OFF and measure the flue gas 

temperature at 3.75 (TF.oFF(t3)) and 22.5 

(TF.oFF(tt)) minutes after the burner shut off. 

using the thermocouple grid described in 

section 7.6 of ANSI!ASHRAE 103-1993. 

During this off-period. for units that do not 

have pump delay after shutoff. no water shall 

be allowed to circulate through the hot water 

boilers. For units that have pump delay on 

shutoff. except those having pump controls 

sensing water temperature. the pump shall be 

stopped by the unit control and the time t+ . 

between burner shutoff and pump shutoff 

shall be measured within one-second 

accuracy. For units having pump delay 

controls that sense water temperature. the 

pump shall be operated for 15 minutes and 

t+ shall be 15 minutes. While the pump is 

operating. the inlet water temperature and 

flow rate shall be maintained at the same 

values as used during the steady-state test as 

specified in sections 9.1 and 8.4.2.3 of ANSI! 

ASHRAE 103-1993. 

For boilers that employ post purge. 

measure the length of the post-purge period 

with a stopwatch. The time from burner OFF 

to combustion blower OFF (electrically deenergized) shall be recorded as tp. For the 

case where tp is intended to be greater than 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26158 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No, 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

180 seconds, stop the combustion blower at 

180 seconds and use that value for tp. 

Measure the flue gas temperature by means 

of the thermocouple grid described in section 

7.6 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103-1993 at the end of 

the post purge period tp(T F.OFF(tP)) and at the 

tirre (3.75 + tp) minutes (TF,OFF(t3» and (22.5 

+ tp) minutes (TF.oFF(14» after the main 

burner shuts off. For the case where the 

measured tp is less or equal to 30 seconds, 

it shall be tested as if there is no post purge 

and tp shall be set to equal O. 

8.5 Direct measurement of off-cycle losses 

testing method. [Reserved.] 

9.0 Nomenclature. Nomenclature shall 

include the nomenclature specified in 

section 10 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-

1993 and the following additional variables: 

Effmotor=Efficiency of power burner motor 

PE1o=Electrical power to the interrupted 

ignition device, kW 

RT,a=RT,F if flue gas is measured 

=RT,s if stack gas is measured 

RT,FRatio of combustion air mass flow rate 

to stoichiometric air mass flow rate 

RT,s=Ratio of the sum of combustion air and 

relief air mass flow rate to stoichiometric 

air mass flow rate 

tlO=Electrical interrupted ignition device ontime, min. 

Ta,ss,x=TF,SS,X if flue gas temperature is 

measured, of 

= T s,ss,x if stack gas temperature is 

measured, of 

YlO=ratio of electrical interrupted ignition 

device on-time to average burner on-time 

yp=ratio of power burner combustion blower 

on-time to average burner on-time 

10.0 Calculation of derived results from 

test measurements. Calculations shall be as 

specified in section 11 of ANSII ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 and the October 24,1996, 

Errata Sheet for ASHRAE Standard 103-

1993, except for appendices Band C; and as 

specified in sections 10.1 through 10.8 and 

Figure 1 of this appendix. 

10.1 Annual fuel utilization efficiency. 

The annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) 

is as defined in sections 11.2.12 (noncondensing systems), 11.3.12 (condensing 

systems), 11.4.12 (non-condensing 

modulating systems) and 11.5.12 (condensing 

modulating systems) of ANSII ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993. except for the definition 

for the term EffYHs in the defining equation 

for AFUE, EffYHs is defined as: 

EffyHs=heating seasonal efficiency as defined 

in sections 11.2.11 (non-condensing 

systems), 11.3.11 (condensing systems), 

11.4.11 (non-condensing modulating 

systems) and 11.5.11 (condensing 

modulating systems) of ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 and is based on the 

assumptions that all weatherized warm 

air furnaces or boilers are located out-ofdoors, that warm air furnaces which are 

not weatherized are installed as isolated 

combustion systems, and that boilers 

which are not weatherized are installed 

indoors. 

10.2 National average burner operating 

hours, average annual fuel energy 

consumption and average annual auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption for gas or oil 

furnaces and boilers. 

10.2.1 National average number of burner 

operating hours. For furnaces and boilers 

equipped with single stage controls, the 

national average number of burner operating 

hours is defined as: 

BOHss=2,080 (0.77) A DHR-2,080 B 

where: 

2,080=national average heating load hours 

0.77 =adjustment factor to adjust the 

calculated design heating requirement 

and heating load hours to the actual 

heating load experienced by the heating 

system 

DHR=typical design heating requirements as 

listed in Table 8 (in unit of kBtu/h) of 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, 

using the proper value of QOUT defined 

in 11.2.8.1 of ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993 

A=100,000 I 

[34l,300(ypPE+ylOPElO+yBE)+(QIW 

Qp)EffyHsl. for forced draft unit, indoors 

=100,000 I [341,300(ypPE 

Effmotor+YloPElo+y BE)+(QIN-Qp)EffYHs]' 

for forced draft unit, ICS, 

=100,000 I [341,300(ypPE(1-

Effmotor)+YloPElo+y BE)+(QIN-Qp)EffyHs], 

for induced draft unit, indoors, and 

=100,000 I [341,300(yloPElO+yBE)+(QINQp)EffyHs], for induced draft unit, ICS 

B=2 Qp(EffyHs)(A) I 100,000 

where: 

Effmotor=Power burner motor efficiency 

prOVided by manufacturer, 

=0.50, an assumed default power burner 

efficiency if not provided by 

manufacturer. 

100,000=factor that accounts for percent and 

kBtu 

PE=burner electrical power input at full-load 

steady-state operation, including 

electrical ignition device if energized, as 

defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

yp=ratio of induced or forced draft blower ontime to average burner on-time, as 

follows: 

1 for units without post purge; 

1+(tp/3.87) for single stage furnaces with 

post purge; 

l+(tp/lO) for two-stage and step modulating 

furnaces with post purge; 

1 + (tp /9.68) for single stage boilers with 

post purge; or 

1+(tp/15) for two stage and step modulating 

boilers with post purge. 

PElO=e1ectrical input rate to the interrupted 

ignition device on burner (if employed), 

as defined in 8.1 of this appendix 

Ylo=ratio of burner interrupted ignition 

device on-time to average burner ontime, as follows: 

o for burners not equipped with 

interrupted ignition device; 

(tlo/3.87) for single stage furnaces; 

(tloIlO) for two-stage and step modulating 

furnaces; 

(t1o/9.68) for single stage boilers; or 

(tlO/15) for two stage and step modulating 

boilers. 

t1o=on-time of the burner interrupted ignition 

device, as defined in 8.1 of this appendix 

tp=post purge time as defined in 8.2 (furnace) 

or 8.4 (boiler) of this appendix 

=0 if tp is equal to or less than 30 second. 

y=ratio of blower or pump on-time to average 

burner on-time, as follows: 

1 for furnaces without fan delay; 

1 for boilers without a pump delay; 

1+(t+-t-)/3.87 for single stage furnaces 

with fan delay; 

1+(t+-t-)/10 for two-stage and step 

modulating furnaces with fan delay; 

l+(t+ 19.68) for single stage boilers with 

pump delay; or 

1 +(t + I 15) for two stage and step 

modulating boilers with pump delay. 

BE=circulating air fan or water pump 

electrical energy input rate at full load 

steady-state operation, as defined in 

ANSI!ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

QIN=as defined in 11.2.8.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

Qp=as defined in 11.2.11 of ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

EffYHs=as defined in 11.2.11 (non-condensing 

systems) or 11.3.11.3 (condensing 

systems) of ANSII ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993, percent, and calculated on the 

basis of: 

ICS installation, for non-weatherized warm 

air furnaces; 

indoor installation, for non-weatherized 

boilers; or 

outdoor installation, for furnaces and 

boilers that are weatherized. 

2=ratio of the average length of the heating 

season in hours to the average heating 

load hours 

t+=as defined in 9.5.1.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 or 8.4 of this 

appendix 

t-=as defined in 9.6.1 of ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

10.2.1.1 For furnaces and boilers 

equipped with two stage or step modulating 

controls the average annual energy used 

during the heating season, EM, is defined as: 

EM=(QIN- Qp) BOHss+(8,760 - 4,600)Qp 

where: 

QIN=as defined in 11.4.8.1.1 of ANSII 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

Qp=as defined in 11.4.12 of ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

BOHss=as defined in section 10.2.1 of this 

appendix, in which the weighted EffyHs 

as defined in 11.4.11.3 or 11.5.11.3 of 

ANSII ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 is 

used for calculating the values of A and 

B, the term DHR is based on the value 

of QOUT defined in 11.4.8.1.1 or 

11.5.8.1.1 of ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 

103-1993, and the term 

(ypPE+Y1oPE10+yBE) in the factor A is 

increased by the factor R, which is 

defined as: 

R=2.3 for two stage controls 

=2.3 for step modulating controls when the 

ratio of minimum-to-maximum output is 

greater than or equal to 0.5 

=3.0 for step modulating controls when the 

ratio of minimum-to-maximum output is 

less than 0.5 

A= 100,000/[341,300(ypPE+YloPElo+y BE) 

R+(Q1N-Qp) EffYHs], for forced draft 

unit, indoors 

= 1 00,000/[341 ,300(ypPE Effmolor+YlOPElo+y 

BE) R+(QIN-Qp)EffYHsl. for forced draft 

unit, ICS, 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 26159 

= 100.000/[341 ,300(ypPE(IEffmotor)+YIGPEIG+Y BE) R+(QIN - Qp) 

EffYHsJ. for induced draft unit, indoors, 

and 

= 100,000/[341.300(yIGPEIG+Y BE) 

R+(QIN-Qp) EffyHsJ. for induced draft 

unit. ICS 

where: 

Effmotor=Power burner motor efficiency 

provided by manufacturer, 

=0.50, an assumed default power burner 

efficiency if none provided by 

manufacturer. 

EffYHs=as defined in 11.4.11.3 or 11.5.11.3 of 

ANSIIASHRAE Standard 103-1993, and 

calculated on the basis of: 

-ICS installation, for non-weatherized 

warm air furnaces 

-indoor installation, for non-weatherized 

boilers 

-outdoor installation, for furnaces and 

boilers that are weatherized 

S,760=total number of hours per year 

4,600=as specified in 11.4.12 of ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

10.2.1.2 For furnaces and boilers 

equipped with two stage or step modulating 

controls the national average number of 

burner operating hours at the reduced 

operating mode is defined as: 

BOHR=XREM/QIN,R 

where: 

XR=as defined in 11.4.S.7 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

EM=as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QIN,R=as defined in 11.4.S.1.2 of ANSI! 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

10.2.1.3 For furnaces and boilers 

equipped with two stage controls the 

national average number of burner operating 

hours at the maximum operating mode 

(BOHH) is defined as: 

BOHH=XHEM/QIN 

where: 

XH=as defined in 11.4.S.6 of ANSII ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

EM=as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QIN=as defined in 11.4.S.1.1 of ANSII 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

10.2.1.4 For furnaces and boilers 

equipped with step modulating controls the 

national average number of burner operating 

hours at the modulating operating mode 

(BOHM) is defined as: 

BOHM=XHEM/QIN,M 

where: 

XH=as defined in 11.4.S.6 of ANSII ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

EM=as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QIN,M=QOUT,MI (EffYss,MI I 00) 

QOUT,M=as defined in 11.4.S.10 or 11.5.S.1O 

of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, as 

appropriate 

Effyss,M=as defined in 11.4.S.S or 11.5.S.S of 

ANSIIASHRAE Standard 103-1993, as 

appropriate, in percent 

100=factor that accounts for percent 

10.2.2 Average annual fuel energy 

consumption for gas or oil fueled furnaces or 

boilers. For furnaces or boilers equipped with 

single stage controls the average annual fuel 

energy consumption (EF) is expressed in Btu 

per year and defined as: 

Ep=BOHss(QIN-Qp)+S,760 Qp 

where: 

BOHss=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

QIN=as defined in 11.2.S.1 of ANSII ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

Qp=as defined in 11.2.11 of ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

S,760=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

10.2.2.1 For furnaces or boilers equipped 

with either two stage or step modulating 

controls EF is defined as: 

Ep=EM + 4,600Qp 

where: 

EM=as defined in 10.2.1.1 of this appendix 

4,600=as specified in 11.4.12 of ANSII 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

Qp=as defined in 11.2.11 of ANSII ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

10.2.3 Average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption for gas or oil fueled 

furnaces or boilers. For furnaces or boilers 

equipped with single stage controls the 

average annual auxiliary electrical 

consumption (EAE) is expressed in kilowatthours and defined as: 

EAE=BOHss(ypPE +yIGPE1G+yBE) 

where: 

BOHss=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

PE=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

yp=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

YIG=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

PEIG=as defined in 10.2.1 ofthis appendix 

y=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

BE=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

10.2.3.1 For furnaces or boilers equipped 

with two stage controls EAE is defined as: 

EAE=BOHR(yPPER+YIGPEIG+yBERl + 

BOHH(ypPEH+yIGPEIG+Y BERJ 

where: 

BOHR=as defined in 10.2.1.2 of this appendix 

yp=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

PER=as defined in 9.1.2.2 and measured at 

the reduced fuel input rate, of ANSII 

ASHRAE Standard 103-1993 

YIG=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

PE1G=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

y=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

BER=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSIIASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993, measured at the 

reduced fuel input rate 

BOHH=as defined in 10.2.1.3 ofthis appendix 

PEH=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSIIASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993, measured at the 

maximum fuel input rate 

BEH=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSIIASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993, measured at the 

maximum fuel input rate 

10.2.3.2 For furnaces or boilers eqUipped 

with step modulating controls EAE is defined 

as: 

EAE=BOHR(yp PER+yIGPEIG+y 

BERl+BOHM(yPPEH+YIGPEIG+Y BEH) 

where: 

BOHR=as defined in 10.2.1.2 of this appendix 

yp=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

PER=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993, measured at the 

reduced fuel input rate 

YIG=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

PE1G=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

y=as defined in 10.2.1. of this appendix 

BER=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993, measured at the 

reduced fuel input rate 

BOHM=as defined in 10.2.1.4 of this 

appendix 

PEH=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993, measured at the 

maximum fuel input rate 

BEH=as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993, measured at the 

maximum fuel inputs rate 

10.3 Average annual electric energy 

consumption for electric furnaces or boilers. 

For electric furnaces and boilers the average 

annual energy consumption (EEl is expressed 

in kilowatt-hours and defined as: 

EE=100(2,OSO)(0.77)DHRI(3.412 AFUE) 

where: 

100=to express a percent as a decimal 

2,OSO=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

O.77=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

DHR=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

3.412=conversion to express energy in terms 

of watt-hours instead of Btu 

AFUE=as defined in 11.1 of ANSII ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993, in percent, and 

calculated on the basis of: 

ICS installation, for non-weatherized warm 

air furnaces; 

indoor installation, for non-weatherized 

boilers; or 

outdoor installation, for furnaces and 

boilers that are weatherized. 

10.4 Energy factor. 

10.4.1 Energy factor for gas or oil 

furnaces and boilers. Calculate the energy 

factor, EF, for gas or oil furnaces and boilers 

defined as, in percent: 

(EF -4,600 Qp) EffyHS EF=~--~~~--~ 

EF +3,412 EAE 

where: 

EF=average annual fuel consumption as 

defined in 10.2.2 of this appendix. 

EAE=as defined in 10.2.3 of this appendix. 

EffYHs=Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency as 

defined in 11.2.11, 11.3.11, 11.4.11 or 

11.5.11 of ANSII ASHRAE Standard 103-

1993, in percent, and calculated on the 

basis of: 

rcs installation, for non-weatherized warm 

air furnaces; 

indoor installation, for nonweatherized boilers; or outdoor installation, for furnaces and 

boilers that are weatherized. 

3,412=conversion factor from kilowatt to Btul 

h 

10.4.2 Energy factor for electric furnaces 

and boilers. The energy factor, EF, for electric 

furnaces and boilers is defined as: 

EF=AFUE 

where: 

AFUE=Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency as 

defined in section 10.3 of this appendix, 

in percent 

10.5 Average annual energy consumption 

for furnaces and boilers located in a different 

geographic region of the United States and in 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26160 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

buildings with different design heating 

requirements. 

10.5.1 Average annual fuel energy 

consumption for gas or oil-fueled furnaces 

and boilers located in a different geographic 

region of the United States and in buildings 

with different design heating requirements. 

For gas or oil-fueled furnaces and boilers the 

average annual fuel energy consumption for 

a specific geographic region and a specific 

typical design heating requirement (EFR) is 

expressed in Btu per year and defined as: 

EFR=(EF - 8,760 Qp) (HLH/2,080)+8, 760 Qp 

where: 

EF=as defined in 10.2.2 of this appendix 

8,760=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

Qp=as defined in 11.2.11 of ANSl/ ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

HLH=heating load hours for a specific 

geographic region determined from the 

heating load hour map in Figure 1 of this 

appendix 

2,080=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

10.5.2 Average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption for gas or oil-fueled 

furnaces and boilers located in a different 

geographic region of the United States and in 

buildings with different design heating 

requirements. For gas or oil-fueled furnaces 

and boilers the average annual auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption for a specific 

geographic region and a specific typical 

design heating requirement (EAERJ is 

expressed in kilowatt-hours and defined as: 

EAER=EAE (HLH/2,080) 

where: 

EAE=as defined in 10.2.3 of this appendix 

HLH=as defined in 10.5.1 of this appendix 

2,080=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

10.5.3 Average annual electric energy 

consumption for electric furnaces and boilers 

located in a different geographic region of the 

United States and in buildings with different 

design heating requirements. For electric 

furnaces and boilers the average annual 

electric energy consumption for a specific 

geographic region and a specific typical 

design heating requirement (EERJ is expressed 

in kilowatt-hours and defined as: 

EER=100 (0.77) DHR HLH!(3.412 AFUE) 

where: 

100=as specified in 10.3 of this appendix 

0.77 =as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

DHR=as defined in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

HLH=as defined in 10.5.1 of this appendix 

3.412=as specified in 10.3 ofthis appendix 

AFUE=as defined in 10.3 ofthis appendix, in 

percent 

10.6 Annual energy consumption for 

mobile home furnaces 

10.6.1 National average number of burner 

operating hours for mobile home furnaces 

(BOHss). BOHss is the same as in 10.2.1 of 

this appendix, except that the value of EffYHs 

in the calculation of the burner operating 

hours, BOHss, is calculated on the basis of a 

direct vent unit with system number 9 or 10. 

10.6.2 Average annual fuel energy for 

mobile home furnaces (EF). EF is same as in 

10.2.2 of this appendix except that the burner 

operating hours, BOHss, is calculated as 

specified in 10.6.1 of this appendix. 

10.6.3 Average annual aUXiliary electrical 

energy consumption for mobile home 

furnaces (EAE). EAE is the same as in 10.2.3 

of this appendix, except that the burner 

operating hours, BOHss, is calculated as 

specified in 10.6.1 of this appendix. 

10.7 Calculation of sales weighted 

average annual energy consumption for 

mobile home furnaces. In order to reflect the 

distribution of mobile homes to geographical 

regions with average HLHMHF value different 

from 2,080, adjust the annual fossil fuel and 

auxiliary electrical energy consumption 

values for mobile home furnaces using the 

following adjustment calculations. 

10.7.1 For mobile home furnaces the sales 

weighted average annual fossil fuel energy 

consumption is expressed in Btu per year 

and defined as: 

EF,MHF=(EF - 8,760 Qp)HLHMHF!2,080+8,760 

Qp 

where: 

EF=as defined in 10.6.2 of this appendix 

8,760=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

Qp=as defined in 11.2.11 of ANSI! ASHRAE 

Standard 103-1993 

HLHMHF= 1880, sales weighted average 

heating load hours for mobile home 

furnaces 

2,080=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

10.7.2 For mobile home furnaces the sales 

weighted average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption is expressed in kilowatthours and defined as: 

EAE,MHF=EAEHLHMHF!2,080 

where: 

EAE=as defined in 10.6.3 of this appendix 

HLHMHF=as defined in 10.7.1 of this 

appendix 

2,080=as specified in 10.2.1 of this appendix 

10.8 Direct determination of off-cycle 

losses for furnaces and boilers equipped with 

thermal stack dampers. [Reserved.] 

BILLING COOE 6450-01-P 
til 

i 

n 

o 

o 

m 

! 

b 

EE·RM·93·501 COMMENT 115 

Federal Register / VoL 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 I Rules and Regulations 26161 

3,000 2,500 

Alaska: 3,500 

Hawaii and territories: 0 

This map is reasonably accurate for most parts of the United States but is necessarily 

generalized, and consequently not too accurate in mountainous regions, particularly 

in the rockies. 

FIGURE 1- HEATING LOAD HOURS (HLH) FOR THE UNITED STATES 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

26162 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

6. Appendix 0 to subpart B of part 

430 is amended as follows: 

Appendix 0 to Subpart B of Part 430-

Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 

Energy Consumption of Vented Home 

Heating Equipment 

a. Section 3.5 is revised to read as 

follows: 

3.5 Pilot light measurement. 

3.5.1 Measure the energy input rate to the 

pilot light (Qp) with an error no greater than 

3 percent for vented heaters so equipped. 

3.5.2 For manually controlled heaters 

where the pilot light is designed to be turned 

off by the user when the heater is not in use. 

that is. turning the control to the OFF 

position will shut off the gas supply to the 

burner(s} and to the pilot light. the 

measurement of Qp is not needed. This 

provision applies only if an instruction to 

turn off the unit is provided on the heater 

near the gas control valve (e.g. by label) by 

the manufacturer. 

b. Section 4.2.4 is revised to read as 

follows: 

4.2.4 Weighted-average steady-state 

efficiency. 

4.2.4.1 For manually controlled heaters 

with various input rates the weighted average 

steady-state efficiency (T\ss - WT). is 

determined as follows: 

(1) at 50 percent ofthe maximum fuel 

input rate as measured in either section 3.1.1 

of this appendix for manually controlled gas 

vented heaters or section 3.1.2 of this 

appendix for manually controlled oil vented 

heaters. or 

(2) at the minimum fuel input rate as 

measured in either section 3.1.1 to this 

AFUE = 2,950 11ss 11u Qin-max 

appendix for manually controlled gas vented 

heaters or section 3.1.2 to this appendix for 

manually controlled oil vented heaters if the 

design of the heater is such that the ± 5 

percent of 50 percent of the maximum fuel 

input rate cannot be set. provided this 

minimum rate is no greater than 213 of 

maximum input rate of the heater. 

4.2.4.2 For manually controlled heater 

with one single firing rate the weighted 

average steady-state efficiency is the steadystate efficiency measured at the single firing 

rate. 

c. Section 4.2.6 is revised to read as 

follows: 

4.2.6 Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. 

4.2.6.1 For manually controlled vented 

heaters. calculate the AFUE expressed as a 

percent and defined as: 

2,950 11ss Qin-max +2.083(4,600)11u Qp 

where: 

2.950=average number of heating degree days 

T\ss=as defined as T\ss-WT in 4.2.4 of this appendix 

T\u=as defined in 4.2.5 of this appendix 

Qin-max=as defined as Qin at the maximum fuel input rate. as defined in 3.1 of this appendix 

4.600=average number of non-heating season hours per year 

Qp=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix 

2.083=(65-15}/24=50/24 

65=degree day base temperature. OF 

15=national average outdoor design temperature for vented heaters as defined in section 4.1.10 of this appendix 

24=number of hours in a day 

4.2.6.2 For manually controlled vented 

heaters where the pilot light can be turned 

off by the user when the heater is not in use 

as described in section 3.5.2. calculate the 

AFUE expressed as a percent and defined as: 

AFUE=T\u 

where: 

T\u=as defined in section 4.2.5 of this 

appendix 

d. Section 4.3.7 is revised to read as 

follows: 

AFUE = 2,950 11SS-WT 11u Qin-max 

4.3.7 Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. 

Calculate the AFUE expressed as a percent 

and defined as: 

2,950 11SS-WT Qin-max +2.083(4,600)11u Qp 

where: 

2.950=average number of heating degree days 

T\ss-WT=as defined in 4.1.16 of this appendix 

T\u=as defined in 4.3.6 of this appendix 

Qin-max=as defined in 4.2.6 of this appendix 

4.600=as specified in 4.2.6 of this appendix 

Qp=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix 

2.083=as specified in 4.2.6 of this appendix 

e. Add section 4.6 after section 4.5.3 

and before the table 1 to read as follows: 

4.6 Annual energy consumption. 

4.6.1 National average number of burner 

operating hours. For vented heaters equipped 

with Single stage controls or manual controls. 

the national average number of burner 

operating hours (BOH) is defined as: 

BOHss=1.416AFA DHR-1.416 B 

where: 

1. 416=national average heating load hours for 

vented heaters based on 2.950 degree 

days and 15°F outdoor design 

temperature 

AF=0.7067. adjustment factor to adjust the 

calculated design heating requirement 

and heating load hours to the actual 

heating load experienced by the heating 

system 

DHR=typical design heating requirements 

based on QOUT. from Table 4 of this' 

appendix. 

QouT=[(T\ss/100} -C; (L/100)] Qin 

y=jacket loss as defined in 4.1.5 of this 

appendix 

Cj=2.8. adjustment factor as defined in 4.3.6 

of this appendix 

T\ss=steady-state efficiency as defined in 

4.1.1 0 of this appendix, percent 

Qin=as defined in 3.1 of this appendix at the 

maximum fuel input rate 

A= I 00,000/[341 ,300PE+(Qin - Qp}T\ul 

B=2.938(Qp} T\u A/IOO,OOO 

100,000=factor that accounts for percent and 

kBtu 

PE=as defined in 3.1.3 of this appendix 

Qp=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix 

T\u=as defined in 4.3.6 of this appendix for 

vented heaters using the tracer gas 

method, percent 

=as defined in 4.2.5 of this appendix for 

manually controlled vented heaters. 

percent 

=2,950 AFUET\ss Qin/[2,950 T\ss QinAFUE(2.083)(4,600}Qp], for vented 

heaters equipped without manual 

controls and without thermal stack 

dampers and not using the optional 

tracer gas method, where: 

AFUE=as defined in 4.1.17 of this appendix. 

percent 

2,950=average number of heating degree days 

as defined in 4.2.6 of this appendix 

4,600=average number of non-heating season 

hours per year as defined in 4.2.6 of this 

appendix 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No, 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 26163 

2.938=(4,160/1 ,4 1 6)=ratio of the average 

length of the heating season in hours to 

the average heating load hours 

2.083=as specified in 4.2.6 of this appendix 

4.6.1.1 For vented heaters equipped with 

two stage or step modulating controls the 

national average number of burner operating 

hours at the reduced operating mode is 

defined as: 

BOHR=XjEM/Qred_in 

where: 

Xj=as defined in 4.1.14 of this appendix 

Qred-in=as defined in 4.1.11 of this appendix 

EM=average annual energy used during the 

heating season 

=(Qin-Qp)BOHss+(8,760-4,600)Qp 

Qin=as defined in 3.1 ofthis appendix at the 

maximum fuel input rate 

Qp=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix 

BOHss=as defined in 4.6.1 of this appendix, 

in which the term PE in the factor A is 

increased by the factor R. which is 

defined in 3.1.3 of this appendix as: 

R= 1.3 for two stage controls 

= 1.4 for step modulating controls when the 

ratio of minimum-to-maximum fuel 

input is greater than or equal to 0.7 

= 1. 7 for step modulating controls when the 

ratio of minimum-to-maximum fuel 

input is less than 0.7 and greater than or 

equal to 0.5 

=2.2 for step modulating controls when the 

ratio of minimum-to-maximum fuel 

input is less than 0.5 

A=100,000/[34 1,300 PE R+(Qin - Qp)T]ul 

8,760=tota1 number of hours per year 

4,600=as specified in 4.2.6 of this appendix 

4.6.1.2 For vented heaters equipped with 

two stage or step modulating controls the 

national average number of burner operating 

hours at the maximum operating mode 

(BOHH.l is defined as: 

BOHH=X2EM/Qin 

where: 

X2=as defined in 4.1.15 of this appendix 

EM=average annual energy used during the 

heating season 

=(Qin- Qp) BOHss+ (8, 760 - 4,600)Qp 

Qin=as defined in 3.1 of this appendix at the 

maximum fuel input rate 

4.6.2 Average annual fuel energy for gas 

or oil fueled vented heaters. For vented 

heaters equipped with single stage controls 

or manual controls, the average annual fuel 

energy consumption (EF) is expressed in Btu 

per year and defined as: 

EF=BOHss (Qin-Qp)+8,760 Qp 

where: 

BOHss=as defined in 4.6.1 of this appendix 

Qin=as defined in 3.1 of this appendix 

Qp=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix 

8,760=as specified in 4.6.1 of this appendix 

4.6.2.1 For vented heaters equipped with 

either two stage or step modulating controls 

EF is defined as: 

EF=EM+4,600Qp 

where: 

EM=as defined in 4.6.1.2 of this appendix 

4,600=as specified 4.2.6 of this appendix 

Qp=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix 

4.6.3 Average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption for vented heaters. For 

vented heaters with single stage controls or 

manual controls the average annual auxiliary 

electrical consumption (EAE) is expressed in 

kilowatt-hours and defined as: 

EAE=BOHssPE 

where: 

BOHss=as defined in 4.6.1 of this appendix 

PE=as defined in 3.1.3 ofthis appendix 

4.6.3.1 For vented heaters equipped with 

two stage or modulating controls EAE is 

defined as: 

EAE= (BOHR+BOHH.l PE 

where: 

BOHR=as defined in 4.6.1 of this appendix 

BOH~as defined in 4.6.1 of this appendix 

PE=as defined in 3.1.3 of this appendix 

4.6.4 Average annual energy 

consumption for vented heaters located in a 

different geographiC region of the United 

States and in buildings with different design 

heating requirements. 

4.6.4.1 Average annual fuel energy 

consumption for gas or oil fueled vented 

home heaters located in a different 

geographiC region of the United States and in 

buildings with different design heating 

requirements. For gas or oil fueled vented 

heaters the average annual fuel energy 

consumption for a specific geographic region 

and a specific typical design heating 

requirement (EFRl is expressed in Btu per 

year and defined as: 

EFR=(EF- 8,760 Qp)(HLHll ,416)+8,760Qp 

where: 

EFas defined in 4.6.2 ofthis appendix 

8,760=as specified in 4.6.1 of this appendix 

Qp=as defined in 3.5 of this appendix 

HLH=heating load hours for a specific 

geographic region determined from the 

heating load hour map in Figure 3 of this 

appendix 

1 ,416=as specified in 4.6.1 ofthis appendix 

4.6.4.2 Average annual auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption for gas or oil 

fueled vented home heaters located in a 

different geographic region of the United 

States and in buildings with different design 

heating requirements. For gas or oil fueled 

vented home heaters the average annual 

auxiliary electrical energy consumption for a 

specific geographic region and a specific 

typical design heating requirement (EAEa) is 

expressed in kilowatt-hours and defined as: 

EAER=EAE HLH/1,416 

where: 

EAE=as defined in 4.6.3 of this appendix 

HLH=as defined in 4.6.4.1 of this appendix 

1,416=as specified in 4.6.1 of this appendix 

f. Table 4 and Figure 3 are added to 

the end of appendix 0 to subpart B of 

10 CFR part 430 to read as follows: 

TABLE 4,-AVERAGE DESIGN HEATING 

REQUIREMENTS FOR VENTED HEATERS WITH DIFFERENT OUTPUT CAPACITIES 

Vented heaters output capacity 

Qout-(Btulhr) 

5,000-7,499 ............................ .. 

7,500-10,499 ........................... . 

10,500-13,499 ......................... . 

13,500-16,499 ........................ .. 

16,500-19,499 ........................ .. 

19,500-22,499 ......................... . 

22,500-26,499 ........................ .. 

26,500-30,499 ......................... . 

30,500-34,499 ........................ .. 

34,500-38,499 ......................... . 

38,500-42,499 ......................... . 

42,500-46,499 ......................... . 

46,500-51,499 ......................... . 

51,500-56,499 ......................... . 

56,500-61,499 ........................ .. 

61,500-66,499 ......................... . 

66,500-71,499 ........................ .. 

71,500-76,500 ........................ .. 

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P 

Average design heating 

requirements 

(kBtu/hr) 

5.0 

7.5 

10.0 

12.5 

15,0 

17.5 

20.5 

23.5 

26.5 

30.0 

33.5 

36.5 

40.0 

44.0 

48.0 

52.0 

56.0 

60.0 
EE·RM·93·501 COMMENT 115 

26164 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 

!!! 

,... 

c 

z 

G) 

o 

g 

m 

~ 

~ b 

3,000 2,500 

2,50 

2,000 1,500 

Alaska: 

RI 

CT 

NJ 

E2,OOO 

MD 

1,500 

Hawaii and territories : 

3,500 

o 

This map is reasonably accurate for most parts of the United States but is necessarily 

generalized, and consequently not too accurate in mountainous regions, particularly in 

the rockies. 

FIGURE 3· HEATING LOAD HOURS (HLH) FOR THE UNITED STATES 
 EE-RM-93-501 COMMENT 115

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 91 / Monday, May 12, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 26165 

7. Appendix P to Subpart B of Part 

430 is revised to read as follows: 

Appendix P to Subpart B of Part 430-

Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 

Energy Consumption of Pool Heaters 

1. Test method. The test method for testing 

pool heaters is as specified in American 

National Standards Institute Standard for 

Gas-Fired Pool Heaters. Z21.56-1994. 

2. Test conditions. Establish the test 

conditions specified in section 2.9 of ANSI 

Z21.56-1994. 

3. Measurements. Measure the quantities 

delineated in section 2.9 of ANSI Z21.56-

1994. The measurement of energy 

consumption for oil-fired pool heaters in Btu 

is to be carried out in appropriate units. e.g .. 

gallons. 

4. Calculations. 

4.1 Thermal efficiency. Calculate the 

thermal effiCiency. Et (expressed as a 

percent). as specified in section 2.9 of ANSI 

Z21.56-1994. The expression offuel 

consumption for oil-fired pool heaters shall 

be in Btu. 

4.2 Average annual fossil fuel energy for 

pool heaters. The average annual fuel energy 

for pool heater. EF; is defined as: 

EF=BOH QIN+(pOH - BOH)Qp 

where: 

BOH=average number of burner operating 

hours=104 h 

POH=average number of pool operating 

hours=4464 h 

QIN=rated fuel energy input as defined 

according to 2.9.1 or 2.9.2 of ANSI 

Z21.56-1994. as appropriate 

Qp=energy consumption of continuously 

operating pilot light if employed. in 

Btu/h. 

4.3 Average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption for pool heaters. The 

average annual auxiliary electrical energy 

consumption for pool heaters. EAE. is 

expressed in Btu and defined as: 

EAE=BOHPE 

where: 

PE=2Ec if heater tested according to 2.9.1 of 

ANSI Z21.56-1994 

=3.412 PErated if heater tested according to 

2.9.2 of ANSI Z21.56-1994. in Btu/h 

Ec=Electrical consumption of the heater 

(converted to equivalent unit of Btu). 

induding the electrical energy to the 

recirculating pump if used. during the 

30-minute thermal efficiency test. as 

defined in 2.9.1 of ANSI Z21.56-1994. in 

Btu per 30 min. 

2=Conversion factor to convert unit from per 

30 min. to per h. 

PErated=nameplate rating of auxiliary 

electrical eqUipment of heater. in Watts 

BOH=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix 

4A Heating seasonal efficiency. 

4.4.1 Calculate the seasonal useful output 

of the pool heater as: 

EoUT=BOH [(ErllOO)(QIN+PE)) 

where: 

BOH=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix 

Et=thermal efficiency as defined in 4.1 of this 

appendix 

QIN=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix 

PE=as defined in 4.3 of this appendix 

100=conversion factor. from percent to 

fraction 

4.4.2 Calculate the seasonal input to the 

pool heater as: 

EIN=BOH (QIN+PE)+(pOH - BOH) Qp 

where: 

BOH=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix 

QIN=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix 

PE=as defined in 4.3 of this appendix 

POH=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix 

Qp=as defined in 4.2 of this appendix 

4.4.3 Calculate the pool heater heating 

seasonal efficiency (in percent). 

4.4.3.1 For pool heaters employing a 

continuous pilot light: 

EFFY HS= 1 00 (EOUT/EIN) 

where: 

EOUT=as defined in 4.4.1 of this appendix 

EIN=as defined in 4.4.2 of this appendix 

100=to convert a fraction to percent 

4.4.3.2 For pool heaters without a 

continuous pilot light: 

EFFYHS=Et 

where: 

Et=as defined in 4.1 of this appendix. 

[FR Doc. 97-10608 Filed 5-9-97: 8:45 am) 

BILLING CODE 645Q-Ol-P