1

This is a draft document and does not represent a definitive view of the agency on the questions addressed.
This and other guidance documents are accessible on the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy web site at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/guidance/default.aspx?pid=2&spid=1

. Guidance Type: Test Procedure Category : Residential Products Product: Refriger ators and freezers Guidance Version: DRAFT Issued: July 9 , 2012 Comment Period Closes : August 8 , 20 12

Q: Which components are included ( or not included ) in the volume calculations for refrigeration products tested using the new DOE test procedures, which are mandatory for rating products starting September 15, 2014 ?

A: The following is a draft U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) guidance document regarding residential refrigerator, refrigerator

- freezers, and freezers. This draft guidance document represents the Department’s interpretation of its existing regulations and is e xempt from the notice and comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. See 5 U.S.C. § 553(b)(A). Nevertheless, given that the Department has not previously expressed its views on this issue, we are interested in receiving feedback from the pub lic. Therefore, the Department is accepting comments and suggestions from the public until August 8 , 2012 . Comments and suggestions should be provided in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or text file format by sending an email to RefrigFreezerGuidance2012TP0025@ee.doe.gov . Please also include the docket number EERE

- 2012

- BT

- TP

- 00 25 . At the end of the comment period , this draft guidance document may be adopted, revised or withdrawn. Specific issues on which DOE seeks comments are described in the paragraph following the draft guidance.
The Department has established new test procedures for residential refrigerat ion products that will be mandatory for rating products beginning on the compliance date of the new energy conservation standards , which is September 15, 2014. See 76 FR 57516 (Sept. 15, 2011) and 76 FR 70865 (Nov. 16, 2011). These new test procedures are set forth at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A, “ Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Electric Refrigerators and Electric Refrigerator

Freezers , ” and A ppendix B , “Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Freezers

. ” S ection 5.3 of both Appendi ces A and B require volume calcul ations to be made as described in section 4 of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) standard HRF

- 1

- 2008 (HRF

- 1

- 2008 ).
The volume calculation methods of the new test procedures differ somewhat from the currently required methods, which specify that volume calculations must be made as described in AHAM standard HRF

- 1

- 1979 (see , for example , 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1, section 5.3). HRF

- 1

- 2008 is less explicit than HRF

- 1

- 1979 as to which c omponents of a refrigeration product are to be included as part of the measured volume. Since the publishing of the test procedure final rule, DOE has received questions regarding how to treat certain components when calculating the relevant volume measurements under the new test procedure that manufacturers will need to use starting in 2014

-- i.e. 10 CFR Part 430, A ppendices A and B

. . Table 1 below summarizes DOE’s proposed guidance regarding several particular components.2

Table 1: Proposed Guidance for Refrigeration Product Components

Component Treatment of Volume in Measurements Discussion

Icemaker Compartment Insulation (e.g. , insulation isolating the icemaking compartment from the fresh food compartment of a product with a bottom

- mounted freezer with through

- the

- door ice service ) Not Included HRF

- 1

- 2008 section 4.2.2 indicates that removable partitions shall be treated as not being in place for the volume calculation. Thus, the space occupied by removable partitions is included in the volume calculation. However, the icemaker compartment insulation is not removable , thus the space occupied by this insulation should be deducted in the volume calculation

.

Icemaker Auger M otor Included If housed inside the insulated space of the cabinet, this component is c onsidered part of the icemaker or ice storage bin , and is therefore included per section 5.3 of Appendi ces A and B , which state that “the volume occupied by the automatic icemaker, including its ice storage bin, is to be included in the volume measurement.”

Ice Maker Kit Included Included per section 5.3 of Appendi ces A and B

. Ice Storage Bin

Fountain Recess Not Included Not included per section 4.2.2 of HRF

- 1

- 2008. Dispenser Insulation

Ice Chute Included Included up to the dispenser flap if there is no plug, c over, or cap over the ice chute, per figure 4

- 3 of HRF

- 1

- 2008.

Not Included Not included if there is a plug, cover, or cap over

the ice chute per figure 4

- 2 of HRF

- 1

- 2008

.

DOE notes that the volume calculation of several of the components listed above is either currently addressed by the DOE test procedure that manufacturers will need to use starting in 2014 or by related provisions contained in HRF

- 1

- 2008. However, given the recent requests for guidance, and in order to ensure that manufacturers have clarity regarding the DOE’s views regarding each of these specific components, DOE is providing manufacturers with notice of its views and an opportunity to comment. As for questions that may arise in the future regarding other components that are not already addressed3

by either the above chart or the applicable DOE test procedure, DOE will address those issues as appropriate.

Issues on which DOE seeks comment: Based upon review of the volume measurement procedure in section 4 of AHAM HRF

- 1

- 2008, DOE believes that the interpretations described in the table above represent the appropriate treatment of each component in measuremen ts of total volume. However, DOE is interested in receiving comments on these interpretations, particularly with respect to treatment of the icemaker compartment insulation and the icemaker auger motor.