22846 Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 3, 1994 / Notices

[Case No. F-0713 917, as amended by the National Energy

Conservation Policy Act (NACPA),

Energy Conservation Program for Public Law 95-619,92 Stat. 3266, the

Consumer Products: Granting of the National Appliance Energy

Application for Interim Waiver and Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA),

Publishing of the Petition for Waiver of Public Law 100-12, the National

DOE Furnace Test Procedures From Appliance Energy Conservation

Rheem Manufacturing Company Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988),

AGENCY : Office of Energy Efficiency and Public Law 100-357, and the Energy

Renewable Energy, DOE. Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), Public Law

ACTION: Notice. 102-486, 106 Stat. 2776, which requires

DOE to prescribe standardized test

SUMMARY : Today's notice publishes a procedures to measure the energy

letter granting an Interim Waiver to consumption- of certain consumer

Rheem Manufacturing Company products, including furnaces. The intent

(Rheem) from the existing Department of the test procedures is to provide a

of Energy (DOE) test procedure comparable measure of energy

regarding blower time delay for the consumption that will assist consumers

company's GDG upflow, GLH in making purchasing decisions. These

downflow, GVH horizontal, and GPH test procedures appear at 10 CFR part

upflow/horizontal gas furnaces. 430, Subpart B.

Today's notice also publishes a The Department amended the

"Petition for Waiver" from Rheem. prescribed test procedures by adding 10

Rheem's Petition for Waiver requests CFR 430.27 on September 26, 1980,

DOE to grant relief from the DOE creating the waiver process. 45 FR

furnace test procedure relating to the 64108. Thereafter, DOE further amended

blower time delay specification. Itheem the appliance test procedure waiver

seeks to test using a blower delay time process to allow the Assistant Secretary

of 20 seconds for its GDG upflow, GLH for Energy Efficiency and Renewable

downflow, GVH horizontal, and GPH Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an

upflow/horizontal gas furnaces instead Interim Waiver from test procedure

of the specified 1.5-minute delay requirements to manufacturers that have.

between burner on-time and blower on- petitioned DOE for a waiver of such

time. The Department is soliciting prescribed test procedures. 51 FR 42823,

comments, data, and information November 26, 1986.

respecting the Petition for Waiver. The waiver process allows the

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, Assistant Secretary to waive

and information not later than June 2, temporarily, test procedures for a

1994. particular basic model when a petitioner

ADDRESSES : Written comments and shows that the basic model contains one

statements shall be sent to: Department or more design characteristics which

of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency prevent testing according to the

and Renewable Energy, Case No. F-071, prescribed test procedures, or when the

Mail Stop EE-43, room 5E-066, prescribed test procedures may evaluate

Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence the basic model in a manner so

Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, unrepresentative of its true energy

(202) 586-7140. consumption as to provide materially

inaccurate comparative data. Waivers

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: generally remain in effect until final test

Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of procedure amendments become .

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency effective, resolving the problem that is

and Renewable Energy, Mail Station the subject of the waiver.

EE-431, Forrestal Building, 1000 The Interim Waiver provisions added

Independence Avenue, SW., by the 1986 amendment allow the

Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586- Secretary to grant an Interim Waiver

7140. when it is determined that the applicant

Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department will experience economic hardship if

of Energy, Office of General Counsel, the Application for Interim Waiver is

Mail Station GC-72, Forrestal denied, if it appears likely that the

Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, Petition for Waiver will be granted, and/

SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) or the Assistant Secretary determines

586-9507. that it would be desirable for public

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : The policy reasons to grant immediate relief

Energy Conservation Program for pending a determination on the Petition

Consumer Products (other than for Waiver. An Interim Waiver remains

automobiles) was established pursuant in effect for a period of 180 days or until

to the Energy Policy and Conservation DOE issues its determination on the

Act (EPCA), Public Law 94-163, 89 Stat. Petition for Waiver, whichever is

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 108
Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 3, 1994 / Notices

sooner, and may be extended for an

additional 180 days, if necessary.

On March 23, 1994, Rheem filed an

Application for Interim Waiver

regarding blower time delay. Rheem's

Application seeks an Interim Waiver

from the DOE test provisions that

require a 1.5-minute time delay between

the ignition of the burner and starting of

the circulating air blower. Instead,

Rheem requests the allowance to test

using a 20-second blower time delay

when testing its GDG upflow, GLH

downflow, GVH horizontal, and GPH

upflow/horizontal gas furnaces. Rheem

states that the 20-second delay is

indicative of how these furnaces

actually operate. Such a delay results in

an average increase in AFUE of 2.0

percentage points. Since current DOE

test procedures do not address this

variable blower time delay, Rheem asks

that the Interim Waiver be granted.

The Department has published a

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on

August 23, 1993, (58 FR 44583) to

amend the furnace test procedure,

which addresses the above issue.

Previous waivers for this type of time

blower delay control have been granted

by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR

2710, January 18, 1985; Magic Chef

Company. 50 FR 41553, October 11,

1985; Rheem Manufacturing Company,

53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 56 FR

2920, January 25, 1991, 57 FR 10166,

March 24, 1992, and 57 FR 34560,

August 5,1992; Trane Company, 54 FR

19226, May 4, 1989, 56 FR 6021,

February 14, 1991 . 57 FR 10167, March .

24, 1992, 57 FR 22222, May 27, 1992,

and 58 FR 68138, December 23; 1993;

Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224,

December 5, 1990, 57 FR 49700,

November 3, 1992, 58 FR 68136,

December 23, 1993, and 58 FR 68137,

December 23, 1993; Inter-City Products

Corporation, 55 FR 51487, December 14,

1990, and 56 FR 63945, December 6,

1991; DMO Industries, 56 FR 4622,

February 5, 1991; Heil-Quaker

Corporation, 56 FR 6019, February 14,

1991; Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018,

February 14, 1991, 57 FR 38830, August

27, 1992, 58 FR 68131, December 23,

1993, 58 FR 68133, December 23, 1993

and 59.FR 14394, March 28, 1994;

Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958,

June 18, 1991, 56 FR 63940, December

6, 1991, 57 FR 23392, June 3, 1992, and

58 FR 68130, December 23,1993;

Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR

54960, September 9; 1991; Goodman

Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR

51713, October 15, 1991, 57 FR 27970,

June 23,1992 and 59 FR 12586, March

17, 1994; The Ducane Company Inc.. 56

FR 63943, December 6, 1991, 57 FR

10163, March 24,1992, and 58 FR

68134, December 23, 1993; Armstrong

Air Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899,

January 9, 1992, 57 FR 10160, March 24,

1992, 57 FR 10161, March 24, 1992, 57

FR 39193, August 28,1992, and 57 FR

54230, November 17, 1992; Thermo

Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9,

1992; Consolidated Industries

Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27,

1992; Evcon Industries, Inc., 57 FR

47847, October 20,1992; and Bard

Manufacturing Company, 57 FR 53733,

November 12, 1992. Thus, it appears

likely that the Petition for Waiver will

be granted for blower time delay.

In those instances where the likely

success of the Petition for Waiver has

been demonstrated based upon DOE

having granted a waiver for a similar

product design, it is in the public

interest to have similar products tested

and rated for energy consumption on a

comparable basis.

Therefore, based on the above, DOE is

granting Rheem an Interim Waiver for

its GDG upflow, GLH downflow, GVH

horizontal, and GPH upflow/horizontal

gas furnaces. Pursuant to paragraph (e)

of § 430.27 of the Code of Federal

Regulations part 430, the following

letter granting the Application for

Interim Waiver to Rheem was issued.

Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR

430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the

"Petition for Waiver" in its entirety. The

petition contains no confidential

information. The Department solicits

comments, data, and information

respecting the petition.

Issued in Washington, DC, April 19, 1994.

Frank M. Stewart, Jr.,

Acting Chief of Staff, Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy.

April 19, 1994.

Mr. Daniel J. Canclini,

Vice-President,

Product Development and,

Research Engineering,

Rheem Manufacturing Company,

P.O. Box 17010,

Fort Smith, AR 729 1 7-701 0.

22847

1992, 57 FR 22222 , May 27, 1992, and 58 FR

68138, December 23,1993; Lennox

Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5,1990,

57 FR 49700, November 3, 1992, 58 FR

68136, December 23, 1993, and 58 FR 68137,

December 23,1993; Inter-City .Products

Corporation, 55 FR 51487, December 14,

1990, and 56 FR 63945, December 6,1991;

DMO Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5,

1991; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019,

February 14, 1991; Carrier Corporation, 56 FR

6018, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 38830,

August 27, 1992, 58 FR 68131 , December 23,

1993, 58 FR 68133, December 23, 1993 and

59 FR 14394 , March 28 , 1994; Amana

Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958 , June 18,

1991 , 56 FR 63940, December 6, 1991, 57 FR

23392 , June 3, 1992, and 58 FR 68130,

December 23, 1993; Snyder General

Corporation, 56 FR 54960. September 9,

1991; Goodman Manufacturing Corporation,

56 FR 51713, October 15, 1991, 57 FR 27970,

June 23 , 1992 and 59 FR 12586 , March 17,'

1994 ; The Ducane Company Inc., 56 FR

63943, December 6, 1991, 57 FR 10163,

March 24 , 1992, and 58 FR 68134 , December

23, 1993; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc.,

57 FR 899, January 9, 1992. 57 FR 10160,

March 24, 1992 , 57 FR 10161, March 24,

1992 , 57 FR 39193, August 28, 1992, and 57

FR 54230, November 17, 1992; Thermo

Products. Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9,1992;

Consolidated Industries Corporation, 57 FR

22220, May 27, 1992; Evcon Industries, Inc.,

57 FR 47847, October 20, 1992; and Bard

Manufacturing Company, 57 FR 53733,

November 12, 1992. Thus, it appears likely

that the Petition for Waiver will be granted

for blower time delay. ,

Rheem's Application for Interim Waiver

does not provide sufficient information to

evaluate what, if any, economic impact or

competitive disadvantage Rheem will likely

experience absent a favorable determination

on its application.

However. in those instances where the

likely success of the Petition for Waiver has

been demonstrated, based upon DOE having

granted a waiver for a similar product design,

it is in the public interest to have similar

products tested and rated for energy

consumption on a comparable basis.

Therefore. Rheem's Application for an

Interim Waiver from the DOE test procedure

for its GDG upflow, GLH downflow, GVH

horizontal, and GPH upflow/horizontal gas

furnaces regarding blower time delay is

Dear Mr. Canclini: This is in response to granted.

your March 23, 1994, Application for Interim Rheem shall be permitted to test its GDG

Waiver and Petition for Waiver from the upflow, GLH downflow, GVH horizontal, and

Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure GPH upflow/horizontalgas furnaces on the

regarding blower time delay for Rheem basis of the test procedures specified in 10

Manufacturing Company (Rheem) GDG CFR part 430, subpart B. Appendix N, with

upflow, GLH downflow, GVH horizontal, and the modification set forth below:

GPH upflow/horizontal gas furnaces. (i) Section 3.0 in Appendix N is deleted,

Previous waivers for this type of timed and replaced with the following paragraph:

blower delay control have been granted by 3.0 Test Procedure. Testing and

DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710,

January 18, 1985; Magic Chef Company, 50

FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem

Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574,

December 1, 1988, 56 FR 2920, January 25,

1991, 57 FR 10166, March 24,1992, and 57

FR 34560, August S. 1992; Trane Company.

54 FR 19226, May 4,1989. 56 FR 6021,

February 14,1991, 57 FR 10167, March 24,

measurements shall be as specified In

Section 9 in ANSI/ASHRAE 103-82 with the

exception of Sections 9.2.2, 9.3.1, and 9.3.2,

and the inclusion of the following additional

procedures:

(ii) Add a new paragraph 3.10 In Appendix

N as follows:

3.10 Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central

Furnaces. After equilibrium conditions are

CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 108
22848 Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 3, 1994 / Notices

achieved following the cool-down test and

the required measurements performed, turn

on the furnace and measure the flue gas

temperature using the thermocouple grid

described above, at 0.5 and 2-5 minutes after

the main burner(s) comes on. After the

burner start-up, delay the blower start-up by

1.5 minutes (t-) unless:

(1) The furnace employs a single motor to

drive the power burner and the indoor air

circulation blower, In which case the burner

and blower shall be started together, or

(2) The furnace is designed to operate

using an unvarying delay time that is other

than 1 .5 minutes, In which case the fan

control shall be permitted to start the blower,

or

(3).The delay time results in the activation

of a temperature safety device which shuts

off the burner. in which case the fan control

shall be permitted to start the blower. In the

latter case, if the fan control is adjustable, set

it to start the blower at the highest

temperature. If the fan control is permitted to

start the blower, measure time delay (t-)

using a stop watch. Record the measured

temperatures. During the heat-up test for oilfueled furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue

pipe within ±0.01 inch of water column of

the manufacturer's recommended on-period

draft.

This Interim Waiver is based upon the

presumed validity of statements and all

allegations submitted by the company. This

Interim Waiver may be removed or modified

at any tine upon a determination that the

factual basis underlying the application is

incorrect.

The Interim Waiver shall remain in effect

for a'period of 180 days or until DOE acts on

the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner,

and may be extended for an additional 180-

day period, if necessary.

Sincerely,

Frank M. Stewart, Jr.,

Acting thiefof Staff, Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy.

March 23.1994.

Mr. Cyrus Nasseri,

Assistant Secretary, Conservation, and

Renewable Energy. United States

Department of Energy, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,

DC 20565.

Dear Mr. Nasseri: This is. a petition for

waiver and application for interim waiver

submitted pursuant to title 10 CFR 430.27.

Waiver is requested from the furnace test

procedure as prescribed in appendix N to

Subpart B of Part 430. The test procedure

requires a 1.5 minute delay between burner

and blower start-up. Rheern is requesting

authorization to use a 20 second delay

instead of 1.5 minutes for our series (-)GDG

upflow, (-)GLH'downflow, (- )GVH

horizontal, and (- )GPH upflow/horizontal

residential gas-fired furnaces.

Rheem will be manufacturing these

appliances with an electronic device that

controls the blower operation on a timing

sequence as opposed to temperature.

Improved energy efficiency is achieved by

reducing on cycle losses. Under the

Appendix N procedures, the stack

temperature is allowed to climb at a faster

rate than it would with a 20 second blower

on time, allowing energy to be lost out of the

vent system. This waste of energy would not

occur in actual operation. If this petition is

granted, the true blower on time delay would

be used in the calculations.

The current test procedures do not give

Rheem credit for the energy savings which

averages approximately 2%. This

improvement is an average reduction of 20%

of the normal on cycle energy losses. Rheem

Is of the opinion that a 20% reduction is a

worthwhile energy savings.

Rheem has been granted previous waivers

regarding blower on time to be used in the

efficiency calculations for our (-)GEB and

(- )GKA series condensing furnaces and/or

(- )GDE, (- )GLE, (- )GDG, (- )GLG and

(- )GVG series furnaces. Several other

manufacturers of gas furnaces have also been

granted a waiver to permit calculations based

on timed blower operation. Also. ASHRAE

Standard 103-1993, paragraph 9.5.1.2.2

specifically addresses the use of timed

blower operation.

Confidential and comparative test data is

available to you upon your request.

confirming the above energy savings.

Manufacturers that domestically market

similar products are being sent a copy of this

petition for waiver and petition for interim

waiver.

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Canclini,

Vice-President, Product Development and

Research Engineering.

1FR Doc. 94-10579 Filed 5-2-94; 8:45 aml

atLUNO CODE 5460-at-P

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CAS-RM-79-104 COMMENT 108