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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.

The following is a draft U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) guidance document regarding test procedures 

for residential clothes washers, clothes dryers, and dishwashers. This draft guidance document 

represents the Department’s interpretation of the existing regulations and is exempt from the notice 

and comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. (5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A)) Nevertheless, the 

Department is accepting comments and suggestions from the public until January 1, 2015. Comments 

and suggestions should be provided in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or text file format by sending 

an email to OffModeGuidance2014GUID0056@ee.doe.gov. Include docket number 

http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2014-BT-GUID-0056 in your correspondence. At the 

end of the comment period, this draft guidance document may be adopted, revised or withdrawn. 

Guidance Type: Test Procedures

Category: Residential Products

Product: Clothes Washers, Clothes Dryers, and Dishwashers

Guidance Version: DRAFT

Issued: December 2, 2014

Comment Period Ends: January 1, 2015

Q: For a clothes washer, clothes dryer or dishwasher with an electronic, or “soft,” on/off button 

or switch that does not physically break the connection to the mains power supply, is the 

appliance considered to be in “off mode” when the button or switch is indicated as being in the 

“off” position? 

A: No, the appliance would instead be considered to be in “standby mode” as defined in 

appendices C1, D1, D2 and J2 of Subpart B to 10 CFR Part 430. Standby mode is defined as a 

mode in which the product is connected to a mains power source and offers one or more of the 

following user-oriented or protective functions which may persist for an indefinite period of 

time: (a) To facilitate the activation of other modes (including activation or deactivation of 

active mode) by remote switch (including remote control), internal sensor, or timer; (b) 

continuous functions, including information or status displays (including clocks) or sensor-based 

functions. A timer is a continuous clock function (which may or may not be associated with a 

display) that provides regular, scheduled tasks (e.g., switching) and that operates on a 

continuous basis.

DOE considers the internal control panel component that detects the press of the electronic 

power button to be an internal sensor that facilitates the activation or deactivation of other 

modes (including active mode); therefore, the product would be in standby mode when the 

electronic button or switch is indicated as being in the “off” position. Because of its capability to 
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detect the press of the electronic power button, this internal sensor differs from a hard on/off 

switch, which does not provide any such sensing capabilities but may include an indicator to 

show that the product is in off mode.

“Off mode” as defined in appendices C1, D1, D2 and J2 of Subpart B to 10 CFR Part 430 would 

not be applicable to this product, unless it also has a “hard” on/off switch or dial that physically 

breaks the connection to the mains power supply and does not provide any standby mode or 

active mode features when that on/off switch is in the “off” position.