14622 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Parts 429 and 430 

[EERE–2019–BT–TP–0037] 

RIN 1904–AE83 

Energy Conservation Program: Test 

Procedure for Consumer Boilers 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

and request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (‘‘DOE’’) proposes to amend the 

test procedures for consumer boilers to 

incorporate by reference the latest 

version of the industry standards 

currently referenced in the Federal test 

procedure. DOE proposes to relocate the 

test procedure in a new appendix 

separate from the residential furnace 

test procedure. DOE also proposes to 

remove an extraneous definition from 

its regulatory definitions. DOE is 

seeking comment from interested parties 

on the proposal. 

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, 

and information regarding this proposal 

no later than May 16, 2022. See section 

V, ‘‘Public Participation,’’ for details. 

DOE will hold a webinar on Thursday, 

April 7, 2022, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. See 

section V, ‘‘Public Participation,’’ for 

webinar registration information, 

participant instructions, and 

information about the capabilities 

available to webinar participants. If no 

participants register for the webinar, it 

will be cancelled. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

encouraged to submit comments using 

the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Alternatively, interested persons may 

submit comments, identified by docket 

number EERE–2019–BT–TP–0037 and/ 

or RIN 1904–AE83, by any of the 

following methods: 

1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

2. Email: 

ConsumerBoilers2019TP0037@

ee.doe.gov. Include the docket number 

EERE–2019–BT–TP–0037 and/or RIN 

1904–AE83 in the subject line of the 

message. 

No telefacsimiles (faxes) will be 

accepted. For detailed instructions on 

submitting comments and additional 

information on the rulemaking process, 

see section V of this document. 

Although DOE has routinely accepted 

public comment submissions through a 

variety of mechanisms, including postal 

mail and hand delivery/courier, the 

Department has found it necessary to 

make temporary modifications to the 

comment submission process in light of 

the ongoing coronavirus (‘‘COVID–19’’) 

pandemic. DOE is currently suspending 

receipt of public comments via postal 

mail and hand delivery/courier. If a 

commenter finds that this change poses 

an undue hardship, please contact 

Appliance Standards Program staff at 

(202) 586–1445 to discuss the need for 

alternative arrangements. Once the 

COVID–19 pandemic health emergency 

is resolved, DOE anticipates resuming 

all of its regular options for public 

comment submission, including postal 

mail and hand delivery/courier. 

Docket: The docket, which includes 

Federal Register notices, webinar or 

public meeting attendee lists and 

transcripts (if a webinar or public 

meeting is held), comments, and other 

supporting documents/materials, is 

available for review at 

www.regulations.gov. All documents in 

the docket are listed in the 

www.regulations.gov index. However, 

some documents listed in the index, 

such as those containing information 

that is exempt from public disclosure, 

may not be publicly available. 

The docket web page can be found at 

www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE2019-BT-TP-0037. The docket web page 

contains instructions on how to access 

all documents, including public 

comments, in the docket. See section V 

for information on how to submit 

comments through 

www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Ms. Julia Hegarty, U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Building 

Technologies Office, EE–2J, 1000 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20585–0121. Telephone: (240) 597– 

6737. Email 

ApplianceStandardsQuestions@

ee.doe.gov. 

Ms. Amelia Whiting, U.S. Department 

of Energy, Office of the General Counsel, 

GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 586–2588. Email: 

Amelia.Whiting@hq.doe.gov. 

For further information on how to 

submit a comment, review other public 

comments and the docket, or participate 

in a public meeting (if one is held), 

contact the Appliance and Equipment 

Standards Program staff at (202) 287– 

1445 or by email: 

ApplianceStandardsQuestions@

ee.doe.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE 

proposes to maintain and amend a 

previously approved incorporation by 

reference and to newly incorporate by 

reference the following industry 

standards into the Code of Federal 

Regulations (‘‘CFR’’) at 10 CFR part 430: 

American National Standards 

Institute (‘‘ANSI’’)/American Society of 

Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers (‘‘ASHRAE’’) 

Standard 103–2017 (ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017), ‘‘Method of Testing for 

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of 

Residential Central Furnaces and 

Boilers,’’ approved July 3, 2017. 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 41.6–2014 

(ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6–2014), ‘‘Standard 

Method for Humidity Measurement,’’ 

approved July 3, 2014. Copies of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 and ANSI/ASHRAE 

41.6–2014 can be obtained from the 

American Society of Heating, 

Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning 

Engineers, Inc., 180 Technology 

Parkway NW, Peachtree Corners, GA 

30092, (800) 527–4723 or (404) 636– 

8400, or online at: www.ashrae.org. 

ASTM, International (‘‘ASTM’’) 

Standard D2156–09 (Reapproved 2018) 

(ASTM D2156–09 (R2018)), ‘‘Standard 

Test Method for Smoke Density in Flue 

Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels,’’ 

reapproved October 1, 2018. 

Copies of ASTM D2156–09 (R2018) 

can be obtained from the ASTM, 

International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, 

P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 

19428–2959 or online at: www.astm.org. 

International Electrotechnical 

Commission (‘‘IEC’’) 62301 (IEC 62301), 

‘‘Household electrical appliancesMeasurement of standby power,’’ 

(Edition 2.0 2011–01). 

Copies of IEC 62301 can be obtained 

from the American National Standards 

Institute, 25 W 43rd Street, 4th Floor, 

New York, NY 10036, (212) 642–4900, 

or online at: webstore.ansi.org. 

See section IV.M of this document for 

a further discussion of these standards. 

Table of Contents 

I. Authority and Background 

A. Authority 

B. Background 

C. Deviation From Appendix A 

II. Synopsis of the Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking 

III. Discussion 

A. Scope of Applicability 

B. Definitions 

C. Metric 

D. Updates to Industry Standards 

E. Test Procedure Requirements 

1. Ambient Conditions 

2. Combustion Airflow Settings 

3. Input Rates for Step Modulating Boilers 

4. Return Water Temperature 

5. Active Mode Electrical Energy 

Consumption 


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1For editorial reasons, upon codification in the 

U.S. Code, Part B was redesignated Part A. 

2All references to EPCA in this document refer 

to the statute as amended through the Infrastructure 

Investment and JobsEnergy Act of 2020, Public Law 

117–58 (Nov. 15, 2021116–260 (Dec. 27, 2020). 

6. Standby Mode and Off Mode 

7. Full Fuel Cycle 

8. Conversion Factor for British Thermal 

Units 

F. Alternative Efficiency Determination 

Methods 

G. Certification Requirements 

1. Linear Interpolation 

2. Supplemental Test Instructions 

3. Standby Mode and Off Mode 

Certification 

H. Test Procedure Costs and 

Harmonization 

1. Test Procedure Costs and Impact 

2. Harmonization With Industry Standards 

I. Compliance Date 

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review 

A. Review Under Executive Order 12866 

B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility 

Act 

C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction 

Act of 1995 

D. Review Under the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

E. Review Under Executive Order 13132 

F. Review Under Executive Order 12988 

G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates 

Reform Act of 1995 

H. Review Under the Treasury and General 

Government Appropriations Act, 1999 

I. Review Under Executive Order 12630 

J. Review Under Treasury and General 

Government Appropriations Act, 2001 

K. Review Under Executive Order 13211 

L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal 

Energy Administration Act of 1974 

M. Description of Materials Incorporated 

by Reference 

V. Public Participation 

A. Participation in the Webinar 

B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared 

General Statements for Distribution 

C. Conduct of the Webinar 

D. Submission of Comments 

E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment 

VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary 

I. Authority and Background 

Furnaces, which includes consumer 

boilers, are included in the list of 

‘‘covered products’’ for which DOE is 

authorized to establish and amend 

energy conservation standards and test 

procedures. (42 U.S.C. 6291(23); 42 

U.S.C. 6292(a)(5)) DOE’s energy 

conservation standards and test 

procedures for consumer boilers are 

currently prescribed at title 10 CFR 

430.32(e)(2), and 10 CFR part 430, 

subpart B, appendix N, Uniform Test 

Method for Measuring the Energy 

Consumption of Furnaces and Boilers 

(‘‘appendix N’’). The following sections 

discuss DOE’s authority to establish test 

procedures for consumer boilers and 

relevant background information 

regarding DOE’s consideration of test 

procedures for this product. 

A. Authority 

Title III, Part B1 of the Energy Policy 

and Conservation Act (‘‘EPCA’’),2 Pub. 

L.’’) 94–163 (42 U.S.C. 6291–6309, as 

codified) established the Energy 

Conservation Program for Consumer 

Products Other Than Automobiles, 

which sets forth a variety of provisions 

designed to improve energy efficiency. 

These products include consumer 

boilers, which are the subject of this 

document. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(5)) 

The energy conservation program 

under EPCA consists essentially of four 

parts: (1) Testing, (2) labeling, (3) 

Federal energy conservation standards, 

and (4) certification and enforcement 

procedures. Relevant provisions of 

EPCA specifically include definitions 

(42 U.S.C. 6291), test procedures (42 

U.S.C. 6293), labeling provisions (42 

U.S.C. 6294), energy conservation 

standards (42 U.S.C. 6295), and the 

authority to require information and 

reports from manufacturers (42 U.S.C. 

6296). 

The Federal testing requirements 

consist of test procedures that 

manufacturers of covered products must 

use as the basis for: (1) Certifying to 

DOE that their products comply with 

the applicable energy conservation 

standards adopted pursuant to EPCA (42 

U.S.C. 6295(s)), and (2) making 

representations about the efficiency of 

those consumer products (42 U.S.C. 

6293(c)). Similarly, DOE must use these 

test procedures to determine whether 

the products comply with relevant 

standards promulgated under EPCA. (42 

U.S.C. 6295(s)) 

Federal energy efficiency 

requirements for covered products 

established under EPCA generally 

supersede State laws and regulations 

concerning energy conservation testing, 

labeling, and standards. (42 U.S.C. 6297) 

DOE may, however, grant waivers of 

Federal preemption in limited 

circumstances for particular State laws 

or regulations, in accordance with the 

procedures and other provisions of 

EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) 

Under 42 U.S.C. 6293, the statute sets 

forth the criteria and procedures DOE 

must follow when prescribing or 

amending test procedures for covered 

products. EPCA requires that any test 

procedures prescribed or amended 

under this section must be reasonably 

designed to produce test results which 

measure energy efficiency, energy use or 

estimated annual operating cost of a 

covered product during a representative 

average use cycle or period of use and 

not be unduly burdensome to conduct. 

(42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) 

EPCA also requires that, at least once 

every 7 years, DOE evaluate test 

procedures for each type of covered 

product, including the consumer boilers 

that are the subject of this document, to 

determine whether amended test 

procedures would more accurately or 

fully comply with the requirements for 

the test procedures to not be unduly 

burdensome to conduct and be 

reasonably designed to produce test 

results that reflect energy efficiency, 

energy use, and estimated operating 

costs during a representative average 

use cycle or period of use. (42 U.S.C. 

6293(b)(1)(A)) 

If the Secretary determines, on his 

own behalf or in response to a petition 

by any interested person, that a test 

procedure should be prescribed or 

amended, the Secretary shall promptly 

publish in the Federal Register 

proposed test procedures and afford 

interested persons an opportunity to 

present oral and written data, views, 

and arguments with respect to such 

procedures. The comment period on a 

proposed rule to amend a test procedure 

shall be at least 60 days but may not 

exceed 270 days. In prescribing or 

amending a test procedure, the 

Secretary shall take into account such 

information as the Secretary determines 

relevant to such procedure, including 

technological developments relating to 

energy use or energy efficiency of the 

type (or class) of covered products 

involved. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(2)) If DOE 

determines that test procedure revisions 

are not appropriate, DOE must publish 

its determination not to amend the test 

procedures. DOE is publishing this 

notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) 

in satisfaction of the 7-year lookback 

review requirement specified in EPCA. 

(42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A)) 

B. Background 

As stated, DOE’s existing test 

procedure for consumer boilers appears 

at Title 10 of the CFR part 430, subpart 

B, appendix N (‘‘Uniform Test Method 

for Measuring the Energy Consumption 

of Furnaces and Boilers’’) and is used to 

determine the annual fuel utilization 

efficiency (‘‘AFUE’’), which is the 

regulatory metric for consumer boilers. 

DOE most recently updated its test 

procedure for consumer boilers in a 

final rule published in the Federal 

Register on January 15, 2016 (‘‘January 

2016 final rule’’). 81 FR 2628. The 

January 2016 final rule amended the 

existing DOE test procedure for 


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consumer boilers to improve the 

consistency and accuracy of test results 

generated using the DOE test procedure 

and to reduce test burden. In particular, 

the modifications relevant to consumer 

boilers included: (1) Clarifying the 

definition of the electrical power term, 

‘‘PE’’; (2) adopting a smoke stick test for 

determining whether minimum default 

draft factors can be applied; (3) allowing 

for optional measurement of condensate 

during establishment of steady-state 

conditions; (4) updating references to 

the applicable installation and operation 

(‘‘I&O’’) manual and providing 

clarifications for when the I&O manual 

does not specify test set-up; and (5) 

revising the AFUE reporting precision. 

DOE also revised the definitions of 

several terms in the test procedure and 

added an enforcement provision to 

provide a method of test for DOE to 

determine compliance with the 

automatic means design requirement 

mandated by the Energy Independence 

and Security Act of 2007, Public Law 

110–140 (Dec. 19, 2007). 81 FR 2628, 

2629–2630. 

On May 15, 2020, DOE published in 

the Federal Register a request for 

information (‘‘May 2020 RFI’’) seeking 

comments on the existing DOE test 

procedure for consumer boilers, which 

incorporates by reference ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 103–1993. 85 FR 

29352. ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 

provides test procedures for 

determining the AFUE of residential 

central furnaces and boilers. In the May 

2020 RFI, DOE requested comments, 

information, and data about a number of 

issues, including: (1) The test 

procedure’s scope and definitions; (2) 

updates to industry standards; (3) 

ambient test conditions; (4) provisions 

for testing boilers with manually 

adjustable combustion airflow; (5) 

calculation of steady-state heat loss for 

condensing, modulating boilers; and (6) 

provisions for testing step modulating 

boilers. Id. at 85 FR 29354–29357. DOE 

also sought comment generally on 

whether the current test procedures are 

reasonably designed to produce results 

that measure energy efficiency during a 

representative average use cycle or 

period of use, whether any potential 

amendments would make the test 

procedure unduly burdensome to 

conduct, whether existing test 

procedures limit a manufacturer’s 

ability to provide additional features, on 

the impact of any potential amendments 

on manufacturers including small 

businesses, on whether there are any 

potential issues related to emerging 

smart technologies, and generally on 

any other aspect of the test procedure 

for consumer boilers. Id. at 85 FR 23957. 

DOE received comments in response 

to the May 2020 RFI from the interested 

parties listed in Table I.1. 

TABLE I.1—WRITTEN COMMENTS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE MAY 2020 RFI 

Commenter(s) Reference in this NOPR Commenter type 

Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute .............................. AHRI .............................................. Trade Association. 

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric, 

Southern California Edison (collectively referred to as the California 

Investor Owned Utilities).

CA IOUs ........................................ Utilities. 

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance ..................................................... NEEA ............................................. Efficiency Organization. 

Weil-McLain ............................................................................................. Weil-McLain ................................... Manufacturer. 

Bradford White Corporation .................................................................... BWC .............................................. Manufacturer. 

Rheem Manufacturing Company ............................................................ Rheem ........................................... Manufacturer. 

Burnham Holdings, Inc ............................................................................ BHI ................................................. Manufacturer. 

Energy Kinetics, Inc ................................................................................ Energy Kinetics .............................. Manufacturer. 

Lochinvar ................................................................................................. Lochinvar ....................................... Manufacturer. 

C. Deviation From Appendix A 

In accordance with section 3(a) of 10 

CFR part 430, subpart C, appendix A 

(‘‘appendix A’’), DOE notes that it is 

deviating from the provision in 

appendix A regarding the pre-NOPR 

stages for a test procedure rulemaking. 

Section 8(b) of appendix A states if DOE 

determines that it is appropriate to 

continue the test procedure rulemaking 

after the early assessment process, it 

will provide further opportunities for 

early public input through Federal 

Register documents, including notices 

of data availability and/or requests for 

information. DOE is opting to deviate 

from this provision due to the 

substantial feedback and information 

supplied by commenters in response to 

the May 2020 RFI. As discussed in 

section I.B of this NOPR, the May 2020 

RFI requested submission of comments, 

data, and information pertinent to test 

procedures for consumer boilers. In 

response to the May 2020 RFI, 

stakeholders provided substantial 

comments and information, which DOE 

has found sufficient to identify the need 

to modify the test procedures for 

consumer boilers. 

II. Synopsis of the Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking 

In this NOPR, DOE proposes to 

update appendix N to remove the 

provisions applicable only to consumer 

boilers and to rename the current 

appendix as ‘‘Uniform Test Method for 

Measuring the Energy Consumption of 

Furnaces.’’ Correspondingly, DOE 

proposes to create a new test procedure 

at 10 CFR 430 subpart B, appendix EE, 

‘‘Uniform Test Method for Measuring 

the Energy Consumption of Boilers’’ 

(‘‘appendix EE’’). In the new appendix 

EE, DOE proposes to include all 

provisions currently included in 

appendix N relevant to consumer 

boilers, with the following 

modifications: 

(1) Incorporate by reference the 

current revision to the applicable 

industry standard, ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017, ‘‘Methods of Testing for Annual 

Fuel Utilization Efficiency of 

Residential Central Furnaces and 

Boilers.’’ 

(2) Incorporate by reference the 

current revision of ASTM Standard 

D2156–09 (Reapproved 2018), 

‘‘Standard Test Method for Smoke 

Density in Flue Gases from Burning 

Distillate Fuels.’’ 

(3) Incorporate by reference ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 41.6–2014, ‘‘Standard Method 

for Humidity Measurement.’’ 

(4) Update the definitions to reflect 

the changes in ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017 as compared to ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993. 

DOE also proposes in this NOPR to 

remove the definition of outdoor 

furnace or boiler from 10 CFR 430.2. 

DOE’s proposed actions are 

summarized in Table II.1 compared to 

the current test procedure as well as the 

reason for the proposed change. 


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3ASHRAE 103–1993 defines a ‘‘boiler’’ as: A selfcontained fuel-burning or electrically heated 

appliance for supplying low-pressure steam or hot 

water for space heating application. This definition 

covers electric boilers and low-pressure steam or 

hot water boilers as those terms are defined by DOE 

at 10 CFR 430.2. 

4This and subsequent parentheticals 

parenthetical provide a reference for information 

located in the docket of DOE’s rulemaking to 

develop test procedures for consumer boilers. 

(Docket No. EERE–2019–BT–TP–0037, which is 

maintained at www.regulations.gov/ 

docket?D=EERE-2019-BT-TP-0037). Parenthetical 

references are arranged as follows: (commenter 

name, comment docket ID number, page of that 

document). 

TABLE II.1—SUMMARY OF CHANGES IN PROPOSED TEST PROCEDURE RELATIVE TO CURRENT TEST PROCEDURE

Current DOE test procedure Proposed test procedure Attribution 

Test procedure requirements based on industry 

standard ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993.

Test procedure requirements based on ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017.

Industry standard update to ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017. 

Procedure for adjusting oil-fired burner references industry standard ASTM D2156–09 

(Reapproved 2013).

Procedure for adjusting oil-fired burner references industry standard ASTM D2156–09 

(Reapproved 2018).

Industry standard update to ASTM D2156–09 

(Reapproved 2018). 

Limits the maximum relative humidity during 

certain tests, but does not provide specific instructions for how to measure relative humidity.

References ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6 for instructions for measuring relative humidity of the 

test room.

Referenced by industry standard ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017, which is being proposed in this NOPR. 

Includes a definition for ‘‘outdoor furnace or 

boiler’’ at 10 CFR 430.2.

Removes the definition for ‘‘outdoor furnace 

or boiler’’.

Remove an unused definition. 

DOE tentatively determines that the 

proposed amendments described in 

section III of this document could 

minimally impact the measured 

efficiency of certain consumer boilers, 

but that if such impacts are realized, retesting and re-rating would not be 

required. DOE also tentatively 

determines that the proposed test 

procedures improve the 

representativeness of the test method 

and would not be unduly burdensome 

to conduct. Discussion of DOE’s 

proposed actions are addressed in detail 

in section III of this document. 

III. Discussion 

A. Scope of Applicability 

As discussed, in the context of 

‘‘covered products,’’ EPCA includes 

boilers in the definition of ‘‘furnace.’’ 

(42 U.S.C. 6291(23)) EPCA defines the 

term ‘‘furnace’’ to mean a product 

which utilizes only single-phase electric 

current, or single-phase electric current 

or DC current in conjunction with 

natural gas, propane, or home heating 

oil, and which: (1) Is designed to be the 

principal heating source for the living 

space of a residence; (2) is not contained 

within the same cabinet with a central 

air conditioner whose rated cooling 

capacity is above 65,000 British thermal 

units (‘‘Btu’’) per hour; (3) is an electric 

central furnace, electric boiler, forcedair central furnace, gravity central 

furnace, or low pressure steam or hot 

water boiler; and (4) has a heat input 

rate of less than 300,000 Btu per hour 

for electric boilers and low pressure 

steam or hot water boilers and less than 

225,000 Btu per hour for forced-air 

central furnaces, gravity central 

furnaces, and electric central furnaces. 

Id. DOE has codified this definition in 

its regulations at 10 CFR 430.2. 

DOE defines ‘‘electric boiler’’ as an 

electrically powered furnace designed to 

supply low pressure steam or hot water 

for space heating application. A low 

pressure steam boiler operates at or 

below 15 pounds per square inch gauge 

(‘‘psig’’) steam pressure; a hot water 

boiler operates at or below 160 psig 

water pressure and 250 degrees 

Fahrenheit (°F) water temperature. 10 

CFR 430.2. 

DOE defines ‘‘low pressure steam or 

hot water boiler’’ as an electric, gas or 

oil burning furnace designed to supply 

low pressure steam or hot water for 

space heating application. 10 CFR 430.2. 

As with an electric boiler, a low 

pressure steam boiler operates at or 

below 15 pounds psig steam pressure; a 

hot water boiler operates at or below 

160 psig water pressure and 250 °F 

water temperature. Id. 

The scope of the test procedure for 

consumer boilers is specified in section 

1.0 of appendix N, which references 

section 2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993. 

In relevant part, section 2 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–1993 states that the 

industry test standard applies to 

boilers 3 with inputs less than 300,000 

Btu per hour (‘‘Btu/h’’); having gas, oil, 

or electric input; and intended for use 

in residential applications. Further, 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 applies to 

equipment that utilizes single-phase 

electric current or low-voltage DC 

current. 

In the May 2020 RFI, DOE requested 

comment on whether any consumer 

boilers are available on the market that 

are covered by the scope provision of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993, but that are 

not covered by the definition of 

‘‘furnace’’ as codified by DOE at 10 CFR 

430.2. 85 FR 29352, 29354. DOE also 

requested comment on whether any 

consumer boilers on the market are 

covered by DOE’s definition of 

‘‘furnace’’ that are not covered by the 

scope provision of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993. Id. 

AHRI, Rheem, and Weil-McLain 

stated that air-to-water and water-towater heat pumps fall under the 

definition of ‘‘furnace’’ in the CFR, but 

are not covered by the current test 

procedures. (AHRI, No. 6 at p. 1; Rheem, 

No. 9 at p. 2; Weil-McLain, No. 5 at p. 

3) 4 BHI commented that if DOE were to 

regulate hydronic heat pumps, such 

products should be classified as heat 

pumps and the boiler definition in 10 

CFR 430.2 should be modified to 

explicitly exclude them. BHI also stated 

that ASHRAE 103 is not intended to 

evaluate such products. (BHI, No. 11 at 

p. 1) 

NEEA recommended that DOE add a 

definition for combination space and 

domestic hot water boilers as the 

current DOE definitions are ambiguous 

when it comes to the developing 

product category as these products fit 

both the definition of consumer boiler 

and water heater. NEEA also suggested 

that DOE adopt a test procedure 

referencing industry standards ASHRAE 

124 and Canadian Standards 

Association (CSA) P.9, as appropriate, 

once the ongoing revision to ASHRAE 

124 is finalized. (NEEA, No. 10 at pp. 

3–4) Rheem also recommended that 

DOE consider adopting a test procedure 

for combination boilers. (Rheem, No. 9 

at p. 2) 

DOE tentatively agrees with 

commenters that air-to-water and waterto-water heat pumps meet the 

definitional criteria to be classified as a 

consumer boiler. These products utilize 

only single-phase electric current, are 

designed to be the principal heating 

source for the living space of a 

residence, are not contained within the 


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5As discussed in section III.B of this document, 

‘‘electric boiler’’ means an electrically powered 

furnace designed to supply low pressure steam or 

hot water for space heating application. A lowpressure steam boiler operates at or below 15 psig 

steam pressure; a hot water boiler operates at or 

below 160 psig water pressure and 250 °F water 

temperature. 10 CFR 430.2. 

6The term ‘‘jacket loss’’ is used by industry to 

mean the transfer of heat from the outer surface (i.e., 

jacket) of a boiler to the ambient air surrounding the 

boiler. 

7AHRI 550/590 is available at: www.ahrinet.org/ 

App_Content/ahri/files/STANDARDS/AHRI/AHRI_

Standard_550-590_I-P_2015_with_Errata.pdf. 

8 DOE interprets BWC’s comment as referring to 

the definition of ‘‘outdoor furnace or boiler’’ at 10 

CFR 430.2. 

same cabinet with a central air 

conditioner whose rated cooling 

capacity is above 65,000 Btu per hour, 

meet the definition of an electric boiler,5

and have a heat input rate of less than 

300,000 Btu per hour (i.e., the 

requirement for electric boilers). As 

such they meet the criteria of ‘‘furnace’’ 

as defined in 10 CFR 430.2. DOE also 

tentatively agrees with commenters that 

the current test procedure in appendix 

N does not address such products and 

would not provide a rated value that is 

representative of the performance of 

these products. In particular, the AFUE 

metric for electric boilers in ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–1993 is calculated as 100 

percent minus jacket loss.6 This metric 

provides a representative measure of 

efficiency for electric boilers using 

electric resistance technology, for which 

an efficiency value of 100 percent (the 

ratio of heat output to energy input) is 

the maximum upper limit that 

technically could be achieved. The 

AFUE metric does not allow for ratings 

greater than 100 percent for electric 

boilers. However, this metric would not 

provide a representative or meaningful 

measure of efficiency for a boiler with 

a heat pump supplying the heat input, 

because heat pump efficiency (in terms 

of heat output to energy input) typically 

exceeds 100 percent. 

Based on a review of the market, 

hydronic air-to-water and water-towater heat pumps offered in the United 

States are often advertised as competing 

products for consumer boilers, but 

typically provide representations of 

energy efficiency using a Coefficient of 

Performance (‘‘COP’’) metric. They are 

often marketed for low-temperature 

radiator, floor heating, and domestic hot 

water applications, but also can be 

marketed for use in high-temperature 

radiator applications. 

DOE tentatively proposes to 

determine that hydronic air-to-water 

and water-to-water heat pumps are 

consumer boilers under EPCA, but that 

due to the lack of a Federal test 

procedure, such products are not subject 

to the current performance standards at 

10 CFR 430.32(e). DOE identified AHRI 

550/590, 2020, ‘‘Standard for 

Performance Rating of Water-Chilling 

and Heat Pump Water-Heating Packages 

Using the Vapor Compression Cycle’’ 

(‘‘AHRI 550/590’’), as an industry test 

method that some manufacturers use for 

evaluating the heating efficiency of 

hydronic air-to-water and water-towater heat pumps in terms of heating 

coefficient of performance (COPH).7

DOE was not able to identify any 

industry method for determining AFUE 

of such products. DOE further notes that 

AFUE is defined as the efficiency 

descriptor for boilers in EPCA. (See 42 

U.S.C. 6291(20).) 

DOE seeks comment on whether any 

other industry test methods exist for 

determining the heating efficiency of 

air-to-water or water-to-water heat 

pumps. DOE seeks comment specifically 

on AHRI 550/590, and whether it would 

be appropriate for adoption as a Federal 

test procedure for such products, and if 

so, whether modifications could be 

made to result in an AFUE rating. 

Regarding NEEA’s comment on 

combination space and domestic hot 

water boilers, DOE is aware that the 

industry standard for testing these 

products (ASHRAE 124, ‘‘Methods of 

Testing for Rating Combination SpaceHeating and Water-Heating 

Appliances’’) is currently under 

revision. DOE plans to further evaluate 

the industry test method once it is 

finalized and available. DOE is not 

proposing a specific definition for 

combination space and water heating 

boilers at this time. DOE notes, 

however, that to the extent that a 

combination space and water heating 

product meets the definition of electric 

boiler or low pressure steam or hot 

water boiler, it is subject to the test 

procedure at appendix N and energy 

conservation standards for consumer 

boilers at 10 CFR 430.32(e)(2), and must 

be tested and rated accordingly. DOE is 

unaware of any design characteristics of 

combination space and water heating 

products that would prevent their 

testing according to appendix N. 

B. Definitions 

In addition to the overarching 

definition for a furnace (which includes 

boilers) and the associated definitions 

for ‘‘electric boiler’’ and ‘‘low pressure 

steam or hot water boiler’’ presented in 

section III.A of this document, DOE also 

has defined ‘‘outdoor boilers’’ and 

‘‘weatherized warm air boilers’’ at 10 

CFR 430.2 as follows: 

• Outdoor furnace or boiler is a 

furnace or boiler normally intended for 

installation out-of-doors or in an 

unheated space (such as an attic or a 

crawl space). 

• Weatherized warm air furnace or 

boiler means a furnace or boiler 

designed for installation outdoors, 

approved for resistance to wind, rain, 

and snow, and supplied with its own 

venting system. 

In the May 2020 RFI, DOE requested 

comment on the definitions currently 

applicable to consumer boilers and 

whether any of these definitions need to 

be revised, and if so, how. 85 FR 29352, 

29355. 

BWC stated that the definition for 

‘‘outdoor boiler’’ 8 should be made more 

similar to ‘‘weatherized warm air 

furnace or boiler’’ by adding the 

weather-resistant conditions, asserting 

that the only difference between these 

two products is that a weatherized 

warm air furnace or boiler requires that 

venting be supplied. BWC also 

commented that ANSI Z21.13, ‘‘GasFired Low Pressure Steam and Hot 

Water Boilers,’’ does not differentiate 

between outdoor and weatherized 

boilers. (BWC, No. 4 at p. 1) 

Lochinvar and CA IOUs commented 

that changes to the definitions are not 

needed. (Lochinvar, No. 8 at p. 1; CA 

IOUs, No. 7 at p. 4) CA IOUs also 

recommended that DOE avoid any 

modifications to existing definitions 

that would reduce the ability of the test 

procedure to compare performance 

across products that use different 

technologies to provide similar 

consumer utility. (CA IOUs, No. 7 at p. 

4) 

Regarding the definition of ‘‘outdoor 

furnace or boiler,’’ the energy 

conservation standards for boilers at 10 

CFR 430.32(e)(2)(iii) do not distinguish 

between outdoor or weatherized boilers. 

With regard to the test procedure, 

different jacket loss factors are applied 

based on whether a boiler is intended to 

be installed indoors, outdoors, or as an 

isolated combustion system. The 

heating seasonal efficiency (EffyHS) 

calculation, which is an element of 

AFUE, is based on the assumption that 

all weatherized boilers are located 

outdoors (see section 10.1 of appendix 

N). Appendix N does not specify a 

separate jacket loss assumption for 

‘‘outdoor furnaces or boilers.’’ As such, 

DOE has initially determined that the 

definition for ‘‘outdoor furnace or 

boiler’’ is extraneous in that the boiler 

testing method is described based on 

whether the boiler is weatherized (and 

thus required to be tested under the 

assumption that it is intended for 


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9The oversize factor is applied to account for the 

typical practice of sizing a boiler such that the 

heating capacity exceeds the heating load. In 

ASHRAE 103–1993, for non-modulating boilers the 

oversize factor is assigned as a national average 

value of 0.7, and for modulating boilers the oversize 

factor is calculated based on the ratio of the heating 

capacity to the average design heating requirement. 

In ASHRAE 103–2017, the oversize factor at the 

maximum input rate is assigned as 0.7 for both 

modulating and non-modulating models. 

installation outdoors), not whether it 

meets the definition of an ‘‘outdoor 

boiler.’’ For analogous reasons, the 

definition appears to be extraneous with 

regard to consumer furnaces. Further, 

the definition of ‘‘outdoor boiler’’ is not 

used elsewhere in the test method or 

energy conservation standards. For 

these reasons, DOE does not propose to 

modify the definition for outdoor 

furnace or boiler and instead proposes 

to remove this definition from its 

regulations. 

DOE seeks comment on its proposal to 

remove the definition of ‘‘outdoor 

furnace or boiler’’ from its regulations. 

DOE seeks comment on whether 

removing the definition for ‘‘outdoor 

furnace or boiler’’ would impact the 

application of the test procedure or 

energy conservation standards for any 

such products. 

In addition to the definitions included 

in 10 CFR 430.2, section 2.0 of appendix 

N incorporates by reference the 

definitions in Section 3 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–1993, with modifications 

and additions as specified in section 2.0 

of appendix N. Sections 2.1 through 

2.13 of appendix N provide additional 

definitions relevant to the consumer 

boilers test procedure. 

DOE requested comment on whether 

the definitions for consumer boilers in 

section 2.0 through section 2.13 of 

appendix N, including those from 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 that are 

incorporated by reference, are still 

appropriate or whether amendments are 

needed. 85 FR 29352, 29355. 

Lochinvar and Weil McLain stated 

that the definitions in ASHRAE 103– 

1993 and the CFR are still adequate and/ 

or do not require changes. (Lochinvar, 

No. 8 at p. 2; Weil McLain, No. 5 at p. 

3) BWC stated that the definition listed 

in 10 CFR 430.2 and ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017 definitions as being 

appropriate. (BWC, No. 4 at p. 2) The 

CA IOUs recommended that DOE make 

no changes to the current definitions for 

consumer boilers in the code and that 

the current definitions adequately cover 

these products for the purpose of 

performing the DOE test procedure. (CA 

IOUs, No. 7 at p. 4) 

As discussed in section III.C of this 

document, DOE is proposing to 

incorporate by reference the most recent 

version of ASHRAE 103: ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017. DOE is proposing minor 

modifications to the definitions in 

appendix N to account for the inclusion 

of several definitions in ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017 that were not included ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–1993. Specifically, ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 includes definitions 

for ‘‘air intake terminal,’’ ‘‘control,’’ and 

‘‘isolated combustion system’’ that are 

not in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993. The 

definitions for ‘‘control’’ and ‘‘isolated 

combustion system’’ in ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017 are almost identical as 

currently defined in sections 2.3 and 2.7 

of appendix N, respectively. Therefore, 

DOE proposes to remove those two 

definitions from the consumer boiler 

test procedure in the CFR, as they 

would be redundant with the 

definitions incorporated by reference 

through ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

DOE seeks comment on its proposal to 

incorporate by reference the definitions 

in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 and to 

remove the definitions for ‘‘control’’ and 

‘‘isolated combustions system’’ from the 

consumer boiler test procedure at 

appendix N accordingly. 

As discussed further in section III.D of 

this document, DOE is proposing to 

move the consumer boiler testing 

provisions from appendix N to a 

proposed new appendix EE and 

maintain the consumer furnace test 

provisions in appendix N. The proposed 

changes to definitions, if made final, 

would be applicable only to the test 

procedure for consumer boilers in 

proposed new appendix EE. 

C. Metric 

As discussed, the energy conservation 

standards for consumer boilers rely on 

the AFUE metric. 10 CFR 430.32(e)(2). 

For gas-fired and oil-fired boilers, AFUE 

accounts for fossil fuel consumption in 

active, standby, and off modes, but does 

not include electrical energy 

consumption. For electric boilers, AFUE 

accounts for electrical energy 

consumption in active mode. EPCA 

defines the term ‘‘annual fuel utilization 

efficiency,’’ in part, as meaning the 

efficiency descriptor for furnaces and 

boilers. (42 U.S.C. 6291(20)). In 

addition, separate metrics for power 

consumption during standby mode and 

off mode (PW,SB and PW,OFF, 

respectively) are used to regulate 

standby mode and off mode energy 

consumption. 10 CFR 

430.32(e)(2)(iii)(B). 

AFUE is defined by ASHRAE 103 

(both the 1993 and 2017 version) as the 

ratio of annual output energy to annual 

input energy, which includes any nonheating-season pilot input loss, but, for 

gas- or oil-fired furnaces or boilers, does 

not include electric energy. For gas- and 

oil-fired boilers, the AFUE test generally 

consists of steady-state, cool down, and 

heat up tests, during which various 

measurements are taken (e.g., flue gas 

temperature, concentration of CO2 in the 

flue gas). (See Sections 9.1, 9.5, and 9.6, 

respectively, of both ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993 and ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017.) For condensing boilers, 

condensate collection tests during 

steady state and cyclic operation are 

also specified. (See Sections 9.2 and 9.8 

of both ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 and 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017.) The test 

measurements are used in conjunction 

with certain assumptions, to calculate 

the AFUE. (See Section 11 of both 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 and ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017.) 

Energy Kinetics provided comments 

pertaining to the AFUE metric, 

including suggestions of how it could be 

made more representative of field 

performance. Energy Kinetics asserted 

that oversizing is not accurately 

reflected in AFUE; specifically, that the 

0.7 oversize factor in the AFUE test 

method is too low, and that a more 

representative oversize factor would be 

a value of 3 to 4.9 Energy Kinetics 

further asserted that AFUE does not 

appropriately account for idle losses 

and provided an example of a boiler 

with an AFUE of 83.5 percent and idle 

loss of 4.87 percent that the commenter 

argued would consume 63 percent more 

fuel than a boiler with an AFUE of 87.5 

percent and an idle loss of 0.15 percent. 

(Energy Kinetics, No. 3 at p. 1) 

Energy Kinetics suggested that DOE 

change from the AFUE metric to a 

combination of a thermal efficiency 

metric and an idle loss metric. The 

commenter argued that both AFUE and 

thermal efficiency are closely aligned to 

steady-state efficiency, but thermal 

efficiency is a faster and easier test to 

perform and is currently used in 

commercial boiler testing. Energy 

Kinetics suggested that idle loss could 

either be measured or a prescribed value 

to foster innovation and recognize better 

performing systems, while also 

simultaneously reducing test burden. 

(Energy Kinetics, No. 3 at p. 2) 

Energy Kinetics stated that AFUE 

does not account for the impact of 

energy savings controls, which prevents 

comparisons of the performance of 

various types of boilers and controls. 

Energy Kinetics stated that AFUE 

assumes that the boiler is in the 

conditioned space and that any heat lost 

from the boiler is gained in the 

conditioned space; and asserted that in 

practice this heat is wasted in 

basements, up chimneys, and out draft 

hoods and draft regulators. Energy 


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10 DOE published a final rule in the Federal 

Register on July 10, 2013, that added equations to 

appendix N to calculate the part-load efficiencies at 

the maximum input rate and reduced input rates for 

two-stage and modulating condensing furnaces and 

boilers when the manufacturer chooses to omit the 

heat-up and cool-down tests under the test 

procedure. 78 FR 41265. The equations in ASHRAE 

103–2017 are identical to those in appendix N. 

Kinetics also argued that for combined 

heat and hot water boilers in the 

conditioned space, heat lost in summer 

while heating domestic water should 

have an impact on air conditioning 

cooling loads. Energy Kinetics asserted 

that AFUE does not apply to boilers that 

provide both space heating and 

domestic hot water. The commenter also 

asserted that use of AFUE for both 

boilers and furnaces creates the false 

implication that the products can be 

compared, but that they cannot be 

compared due to differences in 

distribution losses. (Energy Kinetics, 

No. 3 at p. 2) 

As noted previously, EPCA defines 

AFUE as the efficiency descriptor for 

boilers. (42 U.S.C. 6291(20)) Therefore, 

DOE must use AFUE as the efficiency 

metric for boilers and cannot change to 

thermal efficiency and idle loss as 

suggested by Energy Kinetics. Further, 

EPCA prescribes a design requirement 

that hot water boilers must include an 

automatic means for adjusting water 

temperature, which will limit idle losses 

and reduce the potential for energy 

savings from further accounting for such 

losses as a separate metric or within the 

AFUE metric. (42 U.S.C. 6295(f)(3)(A)– 

(B)) Idle loss could be further addressed 

in the context of AFUE as opposed to 

evaluating a separate metric. At present 

time, DOE does not have sufficient data 

to propose prescribed values that would 

address idle loss. DOE seeks further 

comment from interested parties 

regarding whether idle losses could be 

better reflected in the test method. For 

the reasons discussed, DOE is not 

proposing to adopt an idle loss or 

thermal efficiency metric, or to 

incorporate a specific test for idle loss 

in the AFUE test method at this time. 

Regarding the other issues identified 

with the AFUE metric, DOE notes that 

certain control systems, such as 

modulating burner control systems, are 

accounted for in the test procedure with 

specific instructions regarding how such 

units should be tested. (See, for 

example, sections 7.4 and 10.1 of 

appendix N, which provide specific 

instructions for testing and calculating 

AFUE of modulating boilers.) As 

discussed in the preceding paragraph, 

other control systems, such as an 

automatic means for adjusting water 

temperature, are required by 

prescriptive standard. (42 U.S.C. 

6295(f)(3)(A)–(B)); 10 CFR 

430.32(e)(2)(iii)(A). Energy Kinetics did 

not provide specific comments or 

recommendations regarding what 

additional control systems should be 

accounted for. DOE is not proposing 

additional changes related to controls. 

Regarding the assumption that boilers 

are installed indoors, DOE notes that 

EPCA states that AFUE for boilers that 

are not weatherized is determined based 

on the assumption that they are located 

within the heated space. (See 42 U.S.C. 

6291(20)(C).) Regarding boilers that 

provide both space heating and 

domestic hot water, DOE notes that such 

products can be tested separately for 

AFUE for space heating and for their 

water heating performance under the 

DOE test methods for water heaters. As 

discussed in section III.A of this 

document, an industry test method for 

combined heating and domestic hot 

water boiler systems (ASHRAE 124) is 

currently under revision, and DOE plans 

to evaluate the industry test method 

further once it is finalized and available. 

Lastly, regarding both boilers and 

furnaces using AFUE, DOE notes that 

EPCA prescribes AFUE as the metric for 

both furnaces and boilers. (See 42 U.S.C. 

6291(20)). 

D. Updates to Industry Standards 

As discussed, ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993 is referenced throughout appendix 

N for various testing requirements 

pertaining to determination of the AFUE 

of consumer boilers. Appendix N also 

references certain sections of IEC 62301 

(Second Edition) for determining the 

electrical standby mode and off mode 

energy consumption, and ASTM 

D2156–09 (Reapproved 2013) for 

adjusting oil burners. DOE noted in the 

May 2020 RFI that in the case of IEC 

62301, the version of the standard that 

is currently incorporated by reference is 

still the most recent version; and in the 

case of ASTM D2156–09, the most 

recent iteration of the standard is a 

version reapproved in 2018 that did not 

contain any changes from the 2009 

version. 85 FR 29352, 29355. DOE did 

not receive any comments pertaining to 

its incorporation by reference of IEC 

62301 or ASTM D2156–09 and 

continues to view these as the 

appropriate standards to reference. DOE 

proposes to maintain the current 

reference to IEC 62301, and to update 

the reference to ASTM D2156–09 to 

reflect the version that was reapproved 

in 2018. 

As discussed, ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993 provides procedures for 

determining the AFUE of consumer 

boilers (and furnaces). As mentioned 

previously, ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 

has been updated multiple times since 

1993. In the rulemaking that culminated 

in the January 2016 final rule, DOE 

initially proposed to incorporate by 

reference the most recent version of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103 available at the time 

(i.e., ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2007), but 

ultimately declined to adopt the 

proposal in the final rule based on 

concerns about the impact that changing 

to ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2007 would have 

on AFUE ratings of products distributed 

in commerce at that time. 81 FR 2628, 

2632–2633 (Jan. 15, 2016). DOE stated 

that further evaluation was needed to 

determine the potential impacts of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2007 on the 

measured AFUE of boilers. Id. DOE 

theorized that ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2007 

might better account for the operation of 

two-stage and modulating products and 

stated that the Department may further 

investigate adopting it or a successor 

test procedure in the future. Id. 

After the January 2016 final rule, 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103 was again updated 

to the current version (i.e., ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017). In the May 2020 

RFI, DOE identified several substantive 

differences between ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993 and ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

that pertain to consumer boilers and 

requested further comment on the 

differences between ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993 and ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017. 85 FR 29352, 29355. These 

differences included that: 

1. ASHRAE 103–2017 includes 

calculations for determining the average ontime and off-time per cycle for two-stage and 

modulating boilers, rather than assigning 

fixed values as in ASHRAE 103–1993; 

2. ASHRAE 103–2017 includes 

calculations for the part-load at maximum 

and reduced fuel input rates of condensing 

two-stage and modulating boilers when the 

heat up and cool down tests are omitted as 

per section 9.10, while ASHRAE 103–1993 

does not include these calculations; 10

3. ASHRAE 103–2017 increases post-purge 

time from less than 5 seconds in ASHRAE 

103–1993 to less than or equal to 30 seconds 

for determining whether section 9.10, 

‘‘Optional Test Procedures for Conducting 

Furnaces and Boilers that have no OFFPeriod Flue Loss,’’ is applicable for units 

with no measurable airflow through the 

combustion chamber during the burner offperiod, and it also makes the application for 

the default draft factor values in section 9.10 

a requirement rather than optional; 

4. ASHRAE 103–2017 changes the method 

for determining national average burner 

operating hours (BOH), average annual fuel 

energy consumption (EF), and average annual 

auxiliary electrical energy consumption 

(EAE), especially for two-stage and 

modulating products, based on a 2002 study 

from NIST. 

Id. 


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DOE requested information on 

whether any differences not identified 

by DOE in the May 2020 RFI would 

impact the consumer boiler test 

procedure. Id. 

BWC stated that the only difference 

between ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 and 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 is for the 

indoor air temperature requirements 

and noted that the 1993 version of the 

standard specifies a temperature of 

70 °F, while the 2017 version simply 

references the actual indoor air 

temperature. (BWC, No. 4 at p. 2) BWC 

further stated that it believes this 

difference accounts for only slight 

changes in calculation with little to no 

added burden in the test procedure. 

(BWC, No. 4 at p. 2) Lochinvar 

identified a change that was not 

discussed in the RFI, which is that the 

oversize factor for non-condensing, 

modulating boilers has been changed 

from being calculated based on the 

design heating requirement (‘‘DHR’’) to 

a constant oversize factor of 0.7. 

Lochinvar also explained that the 

constant oversize factor removes 

variations based on where the boiler 

outputs fall in the ADHR ranges and is 

more representative and provides more 

consistent AFUE results across the range 

of boiler output capacities. (Lochinvar, 

No. 8, at p. 2) 

While DOE acknowledges the change 

discussed by BWC, in that the equations 

in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 refer to the 

indoor air temperature as the variable 

‘‘TIA,’’ rather than defined as ‘‘70,’’ DOE 

notes that Section 11.2.10.1 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 defines TIA as 70 °F, 

the ‘‘assumed average indoor air 

temperature.’’ Therefore, the use of TIA

in place of ‘‘70’’ in subsequent sections 

of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 is 

equivalent to the use of ‘‘70’’ in each 

analogous equation in ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993. 

DOE also acknowledges the change 

identified by Lochinvar, and notes that 

this change resolves in part an issue 

with the calculations for modulating, 

condensing models in ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993. In the May 2020 RFI, DOE 

discussed that the calculations in ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–1993 either rely on 

certain values calculated for noncondensing, non-modulating boilers to 

determine the AFUE of condensing, 

modulating boilers, or result in a 

circular reference. 85 FR 29352, 29357. 

Changing the oversize factor to a 

constant 0.7 for condensing, modulating 

boilers, rather than basing it on an 

equation, appears to partially, but not 

fully, resolve the potential circular 

reference in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

In further reviewing the calculations in 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, DOE 

interprets them to rely on certain values 

calculated for non-condensing, nonmodulating boilers to determine the 

AFUE of condensing, modulating 

boilers to avoid a circular reference. 

Specifically, the issue arises within 

the calculation of steady state 

efficiencies at maximum and minimum 

input rate, which depends in part on the 

steady-state heat loss due to condensate 

going down the drain at the maximum 

and reduced input rates. (See Section 

11.5.7.3 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, 

which refers to Section 11.3.7.3.) The 

steady-state heat loss due to condensate 

going down the drain at the maximum 

and minimum input rates is calculated 

in part based on the national average 

outdoor air temperature at the 

maximum and minimum input rates. 

(See Section 11.5.7.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017, which refers to Section 

11.3.7.2.) The national average outdoor 

air temperatures at the maximum and 

minimum input rates are both a 

function of the balance point 

temperature. (See Section 11.5.8.3 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, which refers 

to Section 11.4.8.3.) The balance point 

temperature is calculated based on the 

oversize factor at maximum input rate 

(which is, as discussed previously, a 

constant value in ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017) and the ratio of the heating 

capacity at the minimum input rate to 

the heating capacity at the maximum 

input rate. (See Section 11.5.8.4 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, which 

references Section 11.4.8.4.) The heating 

capacities at the minimum and 

maximum input rates are calculated 

based in part on the steady-state 

efficiencies at minimum and maximum 

input rates, respectively. (See Section 

11.5.8.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, 

which references Section 11.4.8.1.) If 

the calculations were interpreted to 

refer back to the steady-state efficiencies 

at minimum and maximum input rates 

for a modulating, condensing model, as 

determined by Section 11.5.7.2 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017, a circular reference 

would result. However, since there is no 

specific instruction to use the values as 

calculated by Section 11.5.7.2, DOE 

interprets ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 to 

instead instruct that the steady-state 

efficiency at maximum and reduced 

input rates be determined as specified 

in Section 11.4.8.1, which refers to 

Section 11.4.7, which in turn refers to 

Section 11.2.7 for the calculation of 

steady-state efficiency for noncondensing, non-modulating boilers. 

The steady-state efficiencies at 

maximum and minimum input 

calculated using Section 11.2.7 can then 

be used to obtain values for output 

capacities at the maximum and reduced 

input, which are needed to calculate the 

balance point temperature, the average 

outdoor air temperature at maximum 

and minimum input, and finally the 

heat loss due to condensate going down 

the drain at maximum and minimum 

input rates. DOE proposes to add 

provisions to clarify the approach for 

calculating steady-state efficiencies at 

maximum and minimum input rates for 

condensing, modulating boilers using 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

DOE seeks comment on its proposal to 

clarify the calculation of steady-state 

efficiencies at maximum and minimum 

input rates for condensing, modulating 

boilers using ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

DOE also considered the impact of the 

change in oversize factor from a 

calculated value to a constant value. 

DOE analysis suggests that changing the 

oversize factor from being determined 

by an equation to being specified as a 

constant value of 0.7 is unlikely to have 

a substantive impact on AFUE ratings, 

as DOE calculations indicate the AFUE 

value is not particularly sensitive to 

changes in the oversize factor value. For 

example, DOE reviewed test data for 

three modulating, condensing boilers 

and found that the change in oversize 

factor from a calculated value, as 

specified in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993, 

to 0.7 changed the AFUE rating by 0.01 

AFUE percentage points or less for all 

3 models. DOE also examined more 

extreme scenarios for these boilers, in 

which DOE assigned oversize factors 

from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 

1.31 and found that the resulting AFUE 

values differed by only up to 0.07 AFUE 

percentage points as compared to the 

AFUE with the assigned 0.7 oversize 

factor, and only up to 0.13 AFUE 

percentage points when comparing the 

AFUE result at the upper and lower 

bounds. These minimum and maximum 

oversize factors correspond to the 

minimum and maximum values that 

would result from calculation based on 

the procedure for determining these 

values in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 (i.e., 

heating capacity divided by design 

heating requirement minus one; see 

Section 11.4.8.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993). 

As such, DOE is proposing to adopt 

the constant 0.7 oversize factor through 

incorporation by reference of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017. Accordingly, DOE 

is also proposing to remove calculation 

requirements corresponding to multiple 

degrees of oversizing. 

DOE also requested information on 

whether the differences between ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–1993 and ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017 identified in the May 2020 

RFI would impact the measured AFUE, 


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11These data were presented at a public meeting 

for the March 11, 2015 NOPR pertaining to test 

procedures for furnaces and boilers and can be 

found at: www.regulations.gov/document/EERE2012-BT-TP-0024-0021. 

and if so, DOE requested test data 

demonstrating the degree of such 

impact. DOE also requested comment on 

whether the updates to ANSI/ASHRAE 

103 are appropriate for adoption in the 

Federal test procedure for consumer 

boilers, whether the changes would 

allow for more representative energy 

efficiency ratings, and whether the 

changes would increase test burden. 85 

FR 29352, 29355–29356. 

AHRI, Rheem, BWC, Lochinvar, CA 

IOUs, and NEEA supported updating 

the test procedure to incorporate by 

reference ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

(AHRI, No. 6 at p. 3; Rheem, No. 9 at 

p. 3; BWC, No. 4 at p. 2; Lochinvar, No. 

8 at p. 2; CA IOUs, No. 7 at p. 5; NEEA, 

No. 10 at p. 1) AHRI, Rheem, and 

Lochinvar encouraged DOE to gather 

data on whether the differences between 

the 1993 and 2017 versions of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–1993 would impact 

measured AFUE. (AHRI, No. 6 at p. 3 ; 

Rheem, No. 9 at p. 3; Lochinvar, No. 8 

at p. 2) 

AHRI stated that it does not believe 

that adopting the 2017 edition of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103 would significantly affect 

the efficiency ratings or change the test 

burden. AHRI commented that members 

did not have sufficient time to reliably 

assess the impact on measure efficiency 

and encouraged DOE to generate data to 

determine if adopting ASHRAE 103– 

2017 would have any effect on the 

appliance efficiency rating. (AHRI, No. 

6 at p. 3) Similarly, Rheem stated that 

it does not believe that adopting the 

2017 edition of the ANSI/ASHRAE 103 

would significantly affect the efficiency 

ratings, although retesting existing 

models to the new edition would 

temporarily increase the test burden. 

(Rheem, No. 9 at p. 3) The CA IOUs also 

stated that it believed that ASHRAE 

103–2017 is more representative of 

typical operation for two-stage, 

modulating, and condensing boiler 

technologies and that updating to this 

standard should not create significant 

additional burden, as the majority of 

changes are reflected in the calculation 

methodology rather than the test 

procedure. (CA IOUs, No. 7 at p. 5) 

Lochinvar asserted that the testing 

methods in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

represent a significant improvement as 

compared to those referenced by DOE in 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 for residential 

boilers, and cited the use of calculated 

values rather than referencing graphs, 

more realistic on- and off-cycle times, 

and the uniform oversize factor 

regardless of output rate as providing a 

more representative average use cycle 

and more repeatable results. (Lochinvar, 

No. 8 at p. 2) Lochinvar stated that 

updating to the 2017 version may result 

in variations of up to 0.5 percent AFUE 

in either direction for any given model. 

(Id.) Lochinvar also stated that it does 

not believe that referencing ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 would change the 

measured efficiency enough to result in 

substantially different efficiency ratings 

as compared to those currently certified, 

and, therefore, does not believe that 

retesting would be necessary if the 

referenced industry standard were 

updated. (Id. at pp. 2–3) 

BHI tentatively supported updating to 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, with the 

caveat that it has not fully studied the 

impacts of the potential changes. BHI 

also requested that DOE provide 

industry with a set of sample 

calculations for each type of boiler 

covered by the standard, if DOE adopts 

ASHRAE 103–2017, to ensure that 

everyone is operating from identical 

methods of calculating AFUE or provide 

industry with a vetted software tool. 

(BHI, No. 11 at p. 2) 

NEEA stated that an update to ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 would better 

capture the performance of two stage 

and modulating units. (NEEA, No. 10 at 

pp. 1–2) NEEA explained that while the 

update my affect AFUE ratings, the 

revised ratings will better reflect annual 

energy performance leading to a more 

accurate representation of boiler energy 

use. Id. 

Weil McLain recommended against 

updating to ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, 

arguing that the 1993 version of 

ASHRAE 103 is still appropriate and 

that the resulting increases in accuracy 

and resolution of the test method would 

not increase the accuracy of the test 

procedure due to the reporting of AFUE 

to the tenth of a percent, nor would be 

worth the burden of changing the test 

procedure. (Weil McLain, No. 5 at p. 3) 

In this rulemaking, DOE evaluated 

whether the differences between the 

1993 and 2017 editions of ASHRAE 103 

would result in differences in the 

measured AFUE. 

DOE’s preliminary review of prior test 

data has indicated a potential for 

difference in AFUE for certain units, 

specifically two-stage or modulating 

models, due to the changes to the cycle 

times between the two editions. In the 

development of the January 2016 final 

rule, DOE conducted preliminary testing 

to examine the impacts of the changes 

in cycle times between the 1993 and 

2007 editions of ASHRAE 103, which 

are comparable to the changes between 

the 1993 and 2017 editions of ASHRAE 

103. 81 FR 2628, 2633. Data collected 

for the January 2016 final rule for three 

models of condensing, modulating 

boilers showed that the changes in oncycle and off-cycle times resulted in 

changes in AFUE of 0.11, ¥0.50, and 

0.22 percent, respectively. For two 

models of non-condensing, modulating 

boilers, calculating the AFUE based on 

the on-cycle and off-cycle times in 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2007 changed the 

AFUE by 0.11 and ¥0.14 percent, 

respectively.11

In addition, AHRI submitted data for 

testing it had conducted in response to 

the changes proposed in a test 

procedure NOPR for consumer furnaces 

and boilers that was published by DOE 

on March 11, 2015 (80 FR 12876). The 

data from AHRI, in relevant part, 

examined the change in AFUE resulting 

from using ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2007 as 

compared to ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 

for three units. The data showed 

changes in AFUE of ¥0.05 percent for 

a non-condensing, modulating unit, and 

¥0.03 and 0.23 percent for two 

condensing, modulating units. (See 

EERE–2012–BT–TP–0024–0036 at p. 10) 

In reviewing ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017 as compared to ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993, DOE tentatively concludes 

that the improvements included in 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 provide a 

more representative average use cycle 

for consumer boilers, and in particular, 

for two-stage and modulating boilers. 

Specifically, DOE expects that the use of 

calculated values rather than 

referencing graphs, the specification of 

more representative on- and off-cycle 

times, and the specification of a 

constant oversize factor regardless of 

output rate would improve the results 

obtained from ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

as compared to ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993. 

Therefore, DOE proposes to update 

the reference to ANSI/ASHRAE 103 in 

the test procedure for consumer boilers 

to the 2017 edition. DOE tentatively 

concludes that a change from ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–1993 to ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017 would not materially alter the 

burden or cost of conducting an AFUE 

test. Additional details on DOE’s 

assessment of the burden associated 

with this proposed change are in section 

III.G.1 of this document. DOE is 

proposing changes only with respect to 

consumer boilers, and not for consumer 

furnaces. DOE is not proposing to 

amend the reference to ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993 for the provisions applicable 

to consumer furnaces. As discussed, to 

implement this change for boilers only, 

DOE proposes to move the test 

provisions for consumer boilers to a 

new appendix, appendix EE, ‘‘Uniform 


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12See also Docket No. EERE–2012–BT–TP–0024– 

0035 at p. 7. 

Test Method for Measuring the Energy 

Consumption of Boilers.’’ 

Corresponding to the updated 

industry standard, DOE proposes to 

make several modifications in the 

proposed new appendix EE as compared 

to the current test method in appendix 

N. As discussed in section III.B of this 

document, DOE proposes to remove 

from new appendix EE definitions for 

‘‘control’’ and ‘‘isolated combustion 

system,’’ as these definitions are 

included in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

DOE also proposes to remove the 

sections for calculating part-load 

efficiency at reduced and maximum fuel 

input rates (currently sections 10.2 and 

10.3 in appendix N) from proposed new 

appendix EE. These sections were 

initially adopted by DOE because ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–1993 did not provide 

calculations for the scenario allowed 

under section 9.10 of ASHRAE 103 

(which is included in both the 1993 and 

2017 versions), in which the heat up 

and cool down tests can be optionally 

skipped provided that certain criteria 

are met. ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

added equations to address that scenario 

that are identical to those previously 

adopted by DOE, rendering those 

sections duplicative. DOE is also 

proposing minor changes to the test 

method for models with post-purge 

times longer than 3 minutes, consistent 

with the updates included in ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017. DOE is also 

proposing changes to the calculations in 

section 10, consistent with changes in 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. DOE notes 

that appendix N includes certain 

clarifications to ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993 (e.g., to specify a reference to a 

manufacturer’s I&O manual rather than 

a manufacturer recommendation), and 

DOE proposes to maintain those 

clarifications in new appendix EE to the 

extent they apply to ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017. 

As discussed earlier in this section, 

test data indicate that the update to the 

2017 edition of ASHRAE 103 could 

result in changes to the measured AFUE 

of two-stage and modulating boilers 

ranging from ¥0.50 percent to 0.23 

percent, with no discernable trend in 

the direction or magnitude of change. 

DOE also notes that several commenters 

indicated that incorporating ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 would likely not 

significantly impact rated values. 

DOE seeks further comment on its 

proposal to update the incorporation by 

reference of ASHRAE 103 to the most 

recent version (i.e., ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017) and in particular the potential 

impact on ratings and whether retesting 

would be required. 

E. Test Procedure Requirements 

1. Ambient Conditions 

The current consumer boilers test 

procedure specifies that the ambient air 

temperature during testing must be 

between 65 °F and 100 °F for noncondensing boilers, and between 65 °F 

and 85 °F for condensing boilers. See 

section 7.0 of appendix N and Section 

8.5.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993. In 

addition, the relative humidity cannot 

exceed 80 percent during condensate 

measurement. Section 8.0 of appendix N 

and 9.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993. 

In the May 2020 RFI, DOE requested 

comment and data on the effects of 

ambient temperature and relative 

humidity on AFUE results, whether the 

current ranges of allowable conditions 

adversely impact the representativeness 

of AFUE values or repeatability of AFUE 

testing, and whether a narrower range of 

allowable ambient conditions would 

increase testing burden. 85 FR 29352, 

29356. 

AHRI and Rheem encouraged DOE to 

defer to the ambient conditions 

specified in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, 

and stated that any changes would 

mainly impact condensing models. 

(AHRI, No. 6, at p. 4; Rheem, No. 9 at 

p. 3) Lochinvar stated that the prior 

record and DOE conclusions pertaining 

to ambient temperature ranges and 

relative humidity limits remain valid 

and that further revisions are not 

necessary. (Lochinvar, No. 8 at p. 3) 

Lochinvar also asserted that tightening 

ambient condition tolerances could 

disproportionately impact small 

businesses, as they are less likely to be 

able to absorb the costs of equipment to 

maintain such ambient conditions. 

(Lochinvar, No. 8 at p. 6) Weil McLain 

and BHI also supported the use of 

industry consensus test procedures and 

recommended maintaining the range of 

operating conditions established in 

industry standards. (Weil McLain, No. 5 

at p. 4; BHI, No. 11 at p. 2) 

CA IOUs recommended that DOE 

narrow the range of allowable ambient 

temperature to between 55 °F and 75 °F 

during the test, with a tolerance of ±2 °F, 

to better represent field conditions. (CA 

IOUs, No. 7 at p. 4) NEEA also 

recommended that DOE update ambient 

and combustion air temperatures to 

better reflect real world conditions that 

exist in basements, garages, or semiconditioned spaces and operate during 

winter months when temperatures are 

colder. (NEEA, No. 10 at p. 2) 

Specifically, NEEA suggested limiting 

the range of ambient air temperatures to 

be reflective of temperatures in spaces 

where consumer boilers are likely to be 

installed; limiting the range of 

combustion air temperatures to reflect 

the likely conditioners boilers will see 

(i.e. reflective of the outside air 

temperature for condensing products; 

and limit the range of allowable 

conditions overall to reduce the 

opportunities for gaming the test 

procedure and ensure consistency of 

ratings across multiple tested products. 

(NEEA, No. 10 at p. 2) NEEA explained 

that the ambient air temperature and the 

combustion air temperature are likely to 

affect the boiler’s performance and will 

affect radiation and convection losses 

and combustion efficiency, respectively. 

(NEEA, No. 10 at p. 2) 

In the January 2016 final rule, DOE 

investigated concerns regarding the 

ambient air temperature and humidity 

ranges allowed by the test method. 81 

FR 2628, 2638. In that rulemaking, some 

commenters raised concerns that the 

wide range of allowable ambient 

conditions could impact test results, 

and that the ranges were initially 

developed based on laboratory 

conditions that are now outdated, (i.e., 

more closely controlled conditions may 

now be achievable). Id. DOE had tested 

one non-condensing boiler at several 

ambient conditions and found that the 

effects on AFUE were not statistically 

significant. DOE also conducted a series 

of eight AFUE tests on a condensing, 

modulating unit and found that the 

variations in AFUE could not be 

definitively attributed to changes in 

ambient conditions based on the data. 

80 FR 12875, 12890 (Mar. 11, 2015) 

Therefore, DOE did not propose to 

update the ambient conditions in the 

NOPR that preceded the January 2016 

final rule and stated in the January 2016 

final rule that the impact of ambient 

conditions on AFUE values warranted 

further study, but that DOE did not have 

adequate data to justify changing the 

test procedure to narrow the ambient 

temperature or humidity ranges. Id. 

In response to that NOPR, and again 

in response to the May 2020 RFI, BHI 

provided test data for a single 

condensing boiler which showed a 

change in AFUE of 1.3 percent when the 

relative humidity was changed from 

approximately 30 percent to 70 percent. 

BHI did not support changing the 

ambient temperature or humidity 

limitations in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, 

stating in response to the May 2020 RFI 

that minimal changes should be made to 

industry standards. (BHI, No. 11 at pp. 

2, 11 12) 

After considering these comments and 

test data, DOE tentatively concludes that 

it lacks sufficient evidence to determine 


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14632 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

13Section 3.1.1 of ASTM D2156–09 (R2018) 

defines ‘‘smoke spot number, n’’ as the number of 

the spot on the standard scale most closely 

matching the color (or shade) of the test spot. In 

section 4, ASTM D2156–09 (R2018) summarizes the 

test method for determining the smoke spot number 

as follows: A test smoke spot is obtained by pulling 

a fixed volume of flue gas through a fixed area of 

standard filter paper. The color (or shade) of the 

spot thus produced is visually matched with a 

standard scale, and the smoke density is expressed 

as a ‘‘smoke spot number.’’ 

that ambient conditions affect AFUE to 

the extent that a model tested under 

different ambient conditions within the 

current allowable bounds of the test 

method could have significantly 

different AFUE ratings. Although BHI 

provided test data for a single unit 

showing a difference, DOE notes that 

DOE’s previous test data, obtained from 

multiple units, did not indicate 

conclusively that ambient test 

conditions within the current bounds 

cause substantive differences in AFUE. 

Therefore, DOE is not proposing to 

change the ambient test condition 

requirements. 

2. Combustion Airflow Settings 

In the course of the rulemaking for the 

January 2016 final rule, to provide for 

greater consistency in burner airflow 

settings during testing, DOE proposed 

specifying that the excess air ratio, flue 

oxygen (‘‘O2’’) percentage, or flue carbon 

dioxide (‘‘CO2’’) percentage be within 

the middle 30th percentile of the 

acceptable range specified in the I&O 

manual. 80 FR 12876, 12883, 12906 

(Mar. 11, 2015). In absence of a 

specified range in the I&O manual, DOE 

proposed requiring the combustion 

airflow to be adjusted to provide 

between 6.9 percent and 7.1 percent dry 

flue gas O2, or the lowest dry flue gas 

O2 percentage that produces a stable 

flame, no carbon deposits, and an airfree flue gas carbon monoxide (‘‘CO’’) 

ratio below 400 parts per million 

(‘‘ppm’’) during the steady-state test 

described in Section 9.1 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2007, whichever is 

higher. 80 FR 12876, 12906. However, 

after considering comments regarding 

the representativeness of the proposal 

and the potential impact on rated AFUE, 

DOE determined that further study was 

needed to determine how such changes 

would impact AFUE ratings. 81 FR 

2628, 2636. 

In the May 2020 RFI, DOE requested 

comment on whether more specific 

instructions for setting the excess air 

ratio, flue O2 percentage, and/or flue 

CO2 percentage should be provided in 

the consumer boilers test procedure, 

and if so, what those instructions 

should entail. 85 FR 29352, 29356. DOE 

was particularly interested in 

understanding whether such a change 

would improve the representativeness 

of the test method, and whether it 

would impact test burden. 

AHRI suggested that for boilers with 

manually adjustable airflows, the CO2

level be set to within 0.1 percent of the 

CO2 level, if specified, or within 0.2 

percent of the maximum if a range is 

given. In addition, the commenters 

recommended that flue CO levels be 

maintained below 400 ppm and, for oil 

boilers, that the smoke level not exceed 

smoke spot number 1 as measured by 

ASTM D–2156.13 The commenters 

suggested that if those conditions are 

not met at the CO2 levels described 

above, then the highest possible CO2

level that meets the CO and smoke 

criteria (as applicable) should be used. 

(AHRI, No. 6 at p. 4) Rheem explained 

that more specific instructions for 

setting the excess air ratio, the flue O2

level, and/or the flue CO2 level should 

be added to the test procedure. Rheem 

further stated its support for the 

proposed language included with 

AHRI’s comments. (Rheem, No. 9 at p. 

3) 

BWC stated that the AHRI residential 

boiler certification program operations 

manual sufficiently addresses setup and 

adjustment of O2 and CO2 and urged 

DOE to harmonize the Federal test 

procedure with these instructions in the 

AHRI operations manual. BWC 

explained that it would be more 

representative of how boilers will be 

setup and operate in the field. BWC 

stated that, for premix boilers, when O2

and CO2 values are not listed in the 

setup instructions the current test 

procedure requires conducting the tests 

at the CO air-free (COAF) limit, which 

is unrepresentative of manufacturerrecommended field setup, and could 

lead to inaccurate AFUE ratings. BWC 

stated that it believes capturing the 

original CO2 level the unit was set at 

during its initial certification would 

provide greater consistency to test 

results. (BWC, No. 4 at p. 2) 

Lochinvar suggested that, for boilers 

with adjustable combustion airflow, the 

CO2 should be set to either the I&O 

manual specification or, if a range is 

specified, to the upper limit of the 

range. If no CO2 setting is specified, 

Lochinvar suggested testing in the asfound condition. (Lochinvar, No. 8 at p. 

3) Lochinvar also recommended the 

following requirements be added to the 

test method: (1) For oil or power gas 

burner units with natural or induced 

draft, the draft in the firebox be as 

specified in the manufacturer’s I&O 

instructions; (2) on forced draft or 

pressure-fired boilers, the pressure at 

the vent connection be as specified in 

the manufacturer’s I&O instructions, or 

when a range of pressure is provided 

combustion shall be set to the 

recommended pressure that results in 

the highest CO2; (3) when tests are 

required at reduced input rates and I&O 

instructions include instruction for 

adjusting the air/fuel ratio, firebox 

pressure, or vent pressure at the 

minimum firing rate, the adjustments 

shall be made as specified in the 

previous paragraphs but to the values 

provided for the minimum firing rate, or 

otherwise, no adjustments to the air/fuel 

ratio, firebox pressure or vent pressure 

at the minimum firing rate shall be 

made; and (4) no firebox or vent 

pressure adjustments shall be made to 

outdoor boilers. (Lochinvar No. 8 at pp. 

3–4) 

CA IOUs requested that DOE add 

explicit guidelines for flue O2, CO2, or 

excess air ratios, but did not provide 

specific suggestions. (CA IOUs, No. 7 at 

p. 5) BHI expressed concern that the 

addition of CO2 adjustment 

requirements would create significant 

burden in the form of requiring existing 

boilers to be retested, and that this 

change would result in significant 

reductions in AFUE ratings across the 

market. BHI recommended that if DOE 

elects to make this change, conditions 

similar to those recommended by AHRI 

should be adopted. (BHI, No. 11 at p. 3) 

Weil McLain also expressed concern 

with the adoption of a requirement for 

CO2 during testing for boilers with 

manually adjustable airflow, asserting 

that it could introduce an advantage or 

disadvantage to this product type 

relative to others that serve the same 

market (i.e., including more combustion 

property requirements on one category 

of regulated product and not all gasfired categories of regulated products), 

and may limit technologies and future 

enhancements in the field of 

combustion science. Weil-McLain stated 

that if the DOE pursues this topic, it 

recommended that DOE take a 

combustion technology neutral position 

by recognizing that: (A) Increasing the 

combustion CO2 is ultimately 

constrained by a corresponding increase 

in the percentage of CO in the flue 

products and (B) there are gas-fired 

appliances for which the CO2 is 

designed into the combustion system 

and require physically changing or 

modifying components to change the 

CO2. Weil-McLain instead 

recommended establishing a limit of 

400 ppm of CO on an air-free basis 

without additional constraints on 

combustion products for gas-fired 

appliances with the ability to adjust the 

CO2. (Weil McLain, No. 5 at pp. 4–5) 


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14See chapter 7 of the January 2016 ECS Final 

Rule technical support document (Document No. 70 

in Docket No. EERE–2012–BT–STD–0047), found 

online at www.regulations.gov/document/EERE2012-BT-STD-0047-0070. 

After considering these comments, 

DOE tentatively concludes that it lacks 

sufficient data and information to 

indicate that establishing a requirement 

for setting the excess air ratio, flue O2

percentage, and/or flue CO2 percentage 

would provide ratings that are more 

representative than the ratings provided 

under the current approach. Therefore, 

DOE has tentatively determined to 

maintain the current test procedure and 

is not proposing to establish a 

requirement for setting the excess air 

ratio, flue O2 percentage, and/or flue 

CO2 percentage. 

3. Input Rates for Step Modulating 

Boilers 

Appendix N includes a number of 

specific provisions for consumer boilers 

with step modulating controls. Boilers 

with step modulating controls are 

capable of operating at reduced input 

rates (i.e., less than that maximum 

nameplate input rate) and gradually or 

incrementally increasing or decreasing 

the input rate as needed to meet the 

heating load. The test procedure 

currently requires step modulating 

boilers to be tested at the maximum rate 

and a minimum (i.e., ‘‘reduced’’) input 

rate for the steady-state test (referencing 

Section 9.1 of ASRHAE 103–1993), the 

reduced input rate for the cool-down 

test (referencing Section 9.5.2.4 of 

ASRHAE 103–1993), and the reduced 

input rate for the heat-up test 

(referencing Section 9.6.2.1 of ASRHAE 

103–1993). In addition, both the 

optional tracer gas test and the 

measurement of condensate under 

cyclic conditions, when conducted, are 

performed at the reduced input rate 

(referencing Sections 9.7.5 and 9.8 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993, respectively). 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 contains the 

same input rate requirements for 

modulating boilers as ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993. 

In the May 2020 RFI, DOE requested 

comment on whether the existing 

provisions for testing step modulating 

boilers appropriately reflect the 

performance of such boilers. If not, DOE 

sought specific recommendations on the 

changes that would be necessary to 

make the test procedure more 

representative for such products. 85 FR 

29352, 29357. 

AHRI, Rheem, BWC, and Weil McLain 

commented that the current federal test 

procedure for modulating units is 

representative and appropriate. (AHRI 

No. 6 at p. 5; Rheem, No. 9 at p. 4; BWC, 

No. 4 at p. 2; Weil McLain, No. 5 at p. 

5) 

Based on the comments received and 

absent information to the contrary, DOE 

is not proposing changes for step 

modulating units to account for 

operation at any additional input rates 

beyond those already specified by the 

test procedure. 

4. Return Water Temperature 

The test procedure at appendix N 

currently requires a nominal return 

water temperature of 120 °F to 124 °F for 

non-condensing boilers and 120 °F ± 

2 °F for condensing boilers. (See section 

7.0 of appendix N and Sections 8.4.2.3 

and 8.4.2.3.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993.) 

CA IOUs recommended that DOE 

adopt multiple entering water 

temperatures for condensing and noncondensing boilers, respectively, 

consistent with the methodology 

developed by the ASHRAE 155P 

Committee for testing and rating 

commercial boilers. (CA IOUs, No. 7 at 

p. 2) 

On January 15, 2016, DOE published 

a final rule amending the energy 

conservation standards for consumer 

furnaces (the ‘‘January 2016 ECS final 

rule’’). 81 FR 2320. For its analysis for 

the January 2016 ECS final rule, DOE 

investigated the relationship between 

return water temperature and field 

performance, and developed adjustment 

factors to modify the AFUE based on 

expected return water temperatures. 

DOE developed adjustment factors for 

low, medium, and high return water 

temperature scenarios and estimated 

that, on average, AFUE would vary from 

the rated value by ¥2.66 percent to 

+3.15 percent depending on the model 

characteristics and return water 

temperature.14 While DOE developed 

three return water temperature 

scenarios, there is a wide range of 

potential return water temperatures in 

the field. 81 FR 2320, 2354. 

EPCA requires DOE to establish test 

procedures that are reasonably designed 

to produce test results which measure 

energy efficiency of a consumer boilers 

during a representative average use 

cycle or period of use, as determined by 

the Secretary, and shall not be unduly 

burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C. 

6293(b)(3)) DOE tentatively concludes 

that given the wide potential range of 

operating conditions, the single return 

water temperature specified in ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 provides an average 

value that allows for a comparison of 

performance at comparable rating 

conditions and is reasonably 

representative. 

DOE seeks additional comment on 

whether the return water temperature in 

the current test method and ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 are representative 

and appropriate, and whether any 

specific changes to the required 

conditions could improve 

representativeness. DOE is also 

interested in receiving comment on the 

test burden that would result from 

changing the return water 

temperature(s) specified in the test 

procedure. 

5. Active Mode Electrical Energy 

Consumption 

As noted in section III.C of this 

document, for gas-fired and oil-fired 

boilers, AFUE accounts for fossil fuel 

consumption in active, standby, and off 

modes, but does not include electrical 

energy consumption. 

In response to the May 2020 RFI, CA 

IOUs recommended that all of the active 

mode energy use should be accounted 

for; however, information on the active 

mode electrical energy use be reported 

separately, as is done for off mode and 

standby mode, to enable product 

differentiation and to identify best 

performing boilers regarding electrical 

energy consumption. (CA IOUs, No. 7 at 

p. 4) 

As stated, AFUE does not include 

active mode or standby mode and off 

mode electrical consumption for gasfired and oil-fired boilers. As such, 

active mode and standby mode and off 

mode electrical energy consumption is 

not a factor in determining whether a 

gas-fired or oil-fired boiler complies 

with the applicable energy conservation 

standard, and is therefore not required 

to be reported. The DOE test procedure 

includes provisions for determining the 

average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption for gas-fired and 

oil-fired boilers (EAE), as a separate 

metric from AFUE, that accounts for 

active mode, standby mode, and off 

mode electrical consumption. (See 

appendix N, section 10.4.3.) EAE is 

referenced by the calculations at 10 CFR 

430.23(n)(1) for determining the 

estimated annual operating cost for 

furnaces. However, the provisions at 10 

CFR 430.23(n) include several incorrect 

references to sections in appendix N. 

DOE is proposing to correct the 

incorrect section references as part of 

this NOPR, but does not view this as a 

substantive change to the requirements 

of 10 CFR 430.23(n). Specifically, DOE 

proposes to change references to 

sections 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, and 10.5 of 

appendix N to reference sections 10.4, 

10.5, 10.6, and 10.7 of appendix N, 

respectively. 


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14634 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

15 2021 ASHRAE Handbook: Fundamentals (I–P 

Edition). Peachtree Corners, GA: American Society 

of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning 

Engineers, 2021. 

Although not required to be reported 

separately to DOE, to the extent that a 

manufacturer voluntarily chooses to 

make representations as to the active 

mode and standby mode and off mode 

electrical consumption of a gas-fired or 

oil-fired boiler, such representations 

must fairly disclose the results of testing 

according to the DOE test procedure. (42 

U.S.C. 6293(c)(1)) 

6. Standby Mode and Off Mode 

As discussed in section III.C of this 

document, separate metrics for power 

consumption during standby mode and 

off mode (PW,SB and PW,OFF, 

respectively) are used to regulate 

standby mode and off mode energy 

consumption. These values are 

measured in accordance with the 

procedures in IEC 62301, with certain 

exceptions specified regarding test 

conditions, instrumentation 

requirements, and rounding 

requirements. (See appendix N, section 

8.11.) 

AHRI recommended that DOE 

consider streamlining the standby and 

off mode power consumption test 

procedure. (AHRI, No. 6 at p. 6) AHRI 

stated that it will investigate means to 

streamline the process and will submit 

a proposal, but AHRI did not have 

sufficient time to develop a proposal for 

this comment deadline. (AHRI, No. 6 at 

p. 6) DOE has not received further input 

or detail from AHRI on this issue prior 

to the issuance of this NOPR. 

Lochinvar suggested that the standby 

mode and off mode test procedure be 

simplified by allowing a measurement 

of standby and off mode energy 

consumption using a calibrated power 

meter. (Lochinvar, No. 8 at p. 5) 

EPCA requires that DOE amend test 

procedures to include standby mode 

and off mode energy consumption, 

‘‘taking into consideration the most 

current versions of Standards 62301 and 

62087 of the International 

Electrotechnical Commission.’’ (42 

U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) The DOE test 

method currently references IEC 62301, 

which provides instructions for 

measuring standby mode and off mode 

energy consumption. IEC 62301 

provides several options for measuring 

the standby mode and off mode power 

consumption using either the ‘‘sampling 

method,’’ ‘‘average reading method,’’ or 

‘‘direct meter reading method.’’ 

Although these methods vary, if the 

standby or off mode consumption is 

stable, each method can be completed in 

under 1 hour, and the sampling method 

can be completed in as little as 15 

minutes. DOE has determined that the 

provisions in IEC 62301 provide an 

appropriate representation of standby 

mode and off mode energy consumption 

and are not unduly burdensome. See 

generally 77 FR 76831 (Dec. 31, 2012). 

The commenters did not present data to 

show that a simplified method could 

produce results equivalent to IEC 62301. 

For these reasons, DOE is not proposing 

to amend the test method for standby 

mode and off mode energy 

consumption. 

DOE seeks further comment on 

whether a simplified approach for 

measuring standby mode and off mode 

electrical energy consumption is 

appropriate and would provide 

accurate, representative results that are 

comparable to those obtained with IEC 

62301. 

7. Full Fuel Cycle 

Energy Kinetics stated that Full Fuel 

Cycle (‘‘FFC’’) efficiency and source 

efficiency analysis should be 

incorporated into the test procedure to 

allow for comparisons between direct 

fired heat and hot water systems and 

electric grid-based systems. Energy 

Kinetics argued that low electric power 

generation efficiency and high 

transmission and distribution losses 

create a false sense of high efficiency for 

vapor compression cycle heating 

equipment when compared to direct 

fired heating equipment. (Energy 

Kinetics, No. 3 at p. 3) 

The FFC accounts for the energy 

consumed in extracting, processing, and 

transporting fuels. Generally, DOE uses 

the National Energy Modeling System 

(‘‘NEMS’’) as the basis for deriving the 

energy and emission multipliers used to 

conduct FFC analyses in support of 

energy conservation standards 

rulemakings. 77 FR 49701 (Aug. 17, 

2012). DOE also uses NEMS to derive 

factors to convert site electrical energy 

use or savings to primary energy 

consumption by the electric power 

sector. NEMS is updated annually in 

association with the preparation of the 

Energy Information Administration’s 

Annual Energy Outlook. The energy and 

emission multipliers used to conduct 

FFC analyses are subject to change each 

year. 

DOE has previously considered a FFC 

metric in the January 2016 final rule. In 

that final rule, DOE concluded that a 

mathematical adjustment to the test 

procedure to account for FFC is not 

appropriate, because the mathematical 

adjustment to the site-based energy 

descriptor relies on information that is 

updated annually, which would require 

annual updating of the test method. 81 

FR 2628, 2639. DOE maintains that 

position for this NOPR, as the 

circumstances are the same as when 

DOE last considered this issue for the 

January 2016 final rule, and accordingly 

is not proposing to amend the test 

procedure to reflect FFC. 

8. Conversion Factor for British Thermal 

Units 

Upon its review of the current 

appendix N test procedure, DOE 

observed inconsistencies in the existing 

formulas with respect to the values used 

to convert energy in watts (W) or 

kilowatts (kW) to Btu/h. For example, 

section 10.5 of the current appendix N 

indicates that the conversion factor from 

watt-hours to Btu (i.e., watts to Btu/h) is 

3.412. Simultaneously, section 10.4 of 

the current appendix N includes 

equations which include 341,300 as the 

conversion factor between Watts and 

Btu/h expressed for percentage points 

(essentially identifying the conversion 

factor from watt-hours to Btu as 3.413 

instead of 3.412). 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 also has 

these inconsistencies. (See, for example, 

section 4 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 

and Appendix B of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993, which use 3.412 W/(Btu/h) and 

3.413 W/(Btu/h), respectively). ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 strictly uses the 

3.413 W/(Btu/h) conversion factor, 

however. 

DOE notes that the conversion factor 

between watts and Btu/h is generally 

accepted to be 1 watt = 3.412142 Btu/ 

h (or 1 Btu/h = 0.2930711 watts), as 

published in the ASHRAE 

Fundamentals Handbook.15 This value 

is more appropriately rounded to 3.412 

W/(Btu/h); therefore, DOE is making a 

correction to the proposed appendix N 

and appendix EE test procedures to use 

3.412 W/(Btu/h) in all calculations. This 

correction is not expected to affect 

AFUE ratings. 

F. Alternative Efficiency Determination 

Methods 

At 10 CFR 429.70, DOE includes 

provisions for alternative efficiency 

determination methods (‘‘AEDMs’’), 

which are computer modeling or 

mathematical tools that predict the 

performance of non-tested basic models. 

They are derived from mathematical 

models and engineering principles that 

govern the energy efficiency and energy 

consumption characteristics of a type of 

covered equipment. These computer 

modeling and mathematical tools, when 

properly developed, can provide a 

relatively straight-forward and 

reasonably accurate means to predict 

the energy usage or efficiency 

characteristics of a basic model of a 


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16Working group meeting transcripts can be 

found at www.regulations.gov under Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–NOC–0023. 

given covered product or equipment 

and reduce the burden and cost 

associated with testing. 78 FR 79579, 

79580 (Dec. 31, 2013; the ‘‘December 

2013 AEDM Final Rule’’). 

Where authorized by regulation, 

AEDMs enable manufacturers to rate 

and certify their basic models by using 

the projected energy use or energy 

efficiency results derived from these 

simulation models in lieu of testing. Id 

at 78 FR 79580. DOE has authorized the 

use of AEDMs for certain covered 

products and equipment that are 

difficult or expensive to test in an effort 

to reduce the testing burden faced by 

manufacturers of expensive or highly 

customized basic models. Id. DOE’s 

regulations currently permit 

manufacturers of certain products and 

equipment to use AEDMs to rate their 

non-tested basic models (and 

combinations, where applicable) 

provided they meet the Department’s 

regulations governing such use. 

Weil-McLain encouraged DOE to 

allow use of AEDMs for consumer 

boilers similar to DOE’s existing 

approach to allow AEDMs for 

commercial equipment (which DOE 

understands to refer to commercial 

package boilers) in order to reduce 

testing burden and speed the new 

product development process while 

maintaining the intent of EPCA. (WeilMcLain, No. 5 at pp. 1–2) 

Currently, manufacturers of consumer 

boilers (or furnaces more generally) are 

not authorized to use an AEDM to 

determine ratings for these products. 

However, as discussed in section III.G.1 

of this NOPR, manufacturers of cast iron 

boilers may determine AFUE for models 

at a capacity other than the highest or 

lowest of the group of basic models 

having identical intermediate sections 

and combustion chambers through 

linear interpolation of data obtained for 

the smallest and largest capacity units of 

the family. See 10 CFR 

429.18(a)(2)(iv)(A). These provisions 

already provide manufacturers with an 

alternative method of rating consumer 

boilers without testing every model, and 

this alternative method reduces 

manufacturer test burden. Further, DOE 

explained in the December 2013 AEDM 

Final Rule that the AEDM provisions 

extend to those products or equipment 

which ‘‘have expensive or highlycustomized basic models.’’ 78 FR 79579, 

79580. The current AEDM provisions 

for commercial HVAC equipment 

(including commercial package boilers, 

for example) were in part the result of 

a negotiated rulemaking effort by the 

Appliance Standards and Rulemaking 

Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) 

in 2013. Id. Boilers designed for 

residential applications were not 

considered at the time.16 78 FR 79579. 

Hence, at this time, DOE does not have 

sufficient information to propose AEDM 

regulations for consumer boilers. 

DOE requests further comment on 

whether AEDM provisions similar to 

those in place for commercial 

equipment would be necessary and 

appropriate for consumer boilers. 

G. Certification Requirements 

1. Linear Interpolation 

Certification requirements for 

consumer boilers are provided at 10 

CFR 429.18. These requirements, in 

part, allow for manufacturers to make 

representations of efficiency for basic 

models of sectional cast-iron boilers 

having identical intermediate sections 

and combustion chambers using linear 

interpolation of data obtained for the 

smallest and largest capacity units of the 

family. 10 CFR 429.18(a)(2)(iv)(A). AHRI 

and Lochinvar recommended that DOE 

extend the applicability of the existing 

linear interpolation provisions to boilers 

with any type of heat exchanger 

material. Specifically, AHRI and 

Lochinvar suggested that DOE include 

an additional section to the linear 

interpolation provisions stating, ‘‘for 

each basic model or input capacity of 

boilers having similar geometric 

construction other than the higher or 

lowest input capacity in the group of 

basic models and is not a sectional castiron boiler.’’ Both commenters proposed 

language which reflects these potential 

changes and also includes editorial 

updates. (AHRI No. 6 at p. 2; Lochinvar, 

No. 8, at p. 5) 

DOE adopted the linear interpolation 

provision applicable to cast-iron boilers 

in a final rule published on April 13, 

1979 (‘‘April 1979 Final Rule’’). 44 FR 

22410. In the April 1979 Final Rule, 

DOE discussed the effects of sectional 

design of cast-iron boilers. Data 

submitted showed that the annual fuel 

utilization efficiency, energy 

consumption and estimated annual 

operating cost of sectional cast iron 

boilers (i.e., cast iron boilers consisting 

of an assembly of two end sections and 

a variable number of identical 

intermediate sections, the number of 

intermediate sections depending on the 

desired heating capacity) can be 

accurately predicted by a linear 

interpolation based on data obtained 

from units having the smallest and 

largest number of intermediate sections. 

Id. 44 FR 22415. Therefore, little or no 

new information would result from any 

requirement for actual testing of middlesized units. Id. In particular, data was 

submitted that showed the efficiencies 

measured according to DOE test 

procedures of 15 groups of sectional 

cast-iron boilers, with each group 

comprising boilers identical except for 

the number of intermediate sections. Id. 

An analysis of the data showed that 

linear interpolation for the middle-sized 

units resulted in errors in the measured 

efficiency of less than 2 percent 

compared to actual test results. Id. DOE 

concluded that since the tolerance of all 

measures of energy consumption had 

been established as 5 percent 

(applicable to the test procedures at that 

time), the reliability of measured energy 

consumption for the middle-sized units 

would not be significantly diminished 

by a linear interpolation based on data 

obtained from testing units having the 

smallest and largest number of 

intermediate sections and the same 

combustion chamber. Id. As discussed, 

the analysis of this issue in the April 

1979 Final Rule was limited to cast-iron 

boilers, for which a robust sample of test 

data was provided to justify the use of 

a linear interpolation approach. 

Commenters have not provided any data 

or other information to demonstrate that 

using a linear interpolation method with 

other types of heat exchanger materials 

would produce representative test 

results. Lacking such data or 

information that would justify 

extending the approach to other 

materials, DOE is not proposing to 

extend the linear interpolation approach 

to boilers with other heat exchanger 

materials. If presented with such data or 

other information, DOE could consider 

such a change. 

DOE seeks comment on data or other 

information that demonstrates that 

using a linear interpolation method for 

heat exchanger materials other than cast 

iron would produce representative test 

results. 

2. Supplemental Test Instructions 

For commercial boilers, DOE provides 

that a certification report may include 

supplemental testing instructions, if 

such information is necessary to run a 

valid test. Specifically, supplemental 

information must include any 

additional testing and testing set up 

instructions (e.g., specific operational or 

control codes or settings), which would 

be necessary to operate the basic model 

under the required conditions specified 

by the relevant test procedure. 10 CFR 

429.60(b)(4). 

BHI suggested the creation of a 

repository for test instructions, similar 

to that currently in place for commercial 

boilers, instead of requiring a waiver to 


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allow for use of specific test instructions 

not included in the I&O manual or the 

DOE test procedure. BHI stated that 

control systems are increasingly 

complex, which it asserted makes it 

impractical to run the test without 

special tools or codes in many cases. 

Further, BHI stated there are safety and 

reliability concerns with putting testingspecific instructions in the I&O manual. 

BHI also asserted that the use of the 

waiver process for these test instruction 

issues is burdensome, unnecessary, and 

is unjustifiably inconsistent with the 

test procedure rule for commercial 

boilers. (BHI, No. 11 at pp. 3–4) 

BHI did not provide specific examples 

of test instructions that could not be 

included in the I&O manual due to 

concerns about safety or reliability, and 

that would thus need to be presented in 

a waiver. In addition, DOE has not 

received any petitions for waiver for any 

basic models of consumer boilers, 

indicating that there is not a problem 

with testing absent such additional 

information. Therefore, DOE is not 

proposing to establish a repository for 

test instructions for consumer boilers. 

Should testing of a consumer boiler 

necessitate controls or instructions other 

than those included in the I&O manual, 

manufacturers may petition for a waiver 

under the process established at 10 CFR 

430.27. 

DOE seeks further comment on 

whether supplemental test instructions 

are necessary for testing consumer 

boilers. 

3. Standby Mode and Off Mode 

Certification 

Lochinvar suggested that standby 

mode and off mode power consumption 

determined for a single basic model be 

permitted to be used for a product line. 

Lochinvar stated that the variation in 

standby and off mode power 

consumption between products of the 

same basic model are small enough to 

utilize the basic model’s rating for the 

entire product line. (Lochinvar, No. 8 at 

p. 5) 

DOE defines ‘‘basic model’’ in 

relevant part as meaning all units of a 

given type of covered product (or class 

thereof) manufactured by one 

manufacturer; having the same primary 

energy source; and which have 

essentially identical electrical, physical, 

and functional (or hydraulic) 

characteristics that affect energy 

consumption, energy efficiency, water 

consumption, or water efficiency. 10 

CFR 430.2. If consumer boiler models 

are sufficiently similar that they can be 

grouped as a single basic model 

consistent with the definition above, it 

would be expected that these individual 

models would have nearly identical 

standby mode and off mode power 

consumption. In such an instance, 

standby mode and off mode power 

consumption determined for an 

individual model could be used for all 

individual models within the same 

basic model. 

H. Test Procedure Costs and 

Harmonization 

1. Test Procedure Costs and Impact 

In response to the May 2020 RFI, 

Weil-McLain encouraged DOE to 

evaluate the cumulative burden upon 

industry based upon the average 

number of regulated product categories 

and active regulations for manufacturers 

during future product efficiency 

rulemakings. (Weil-McLain, No. 5 at p. 

2) 

EPCA requires that any amended test 

procedures prescribed must be 

reasonably designed to produce test 

results which measure energy 

efficiency, energy use or estimated 

annual operating cost of a covered 

product during a representative average 

use cycle or period of use and not be 

unduly burdensome to conduct. (42 

U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) In proposing 

amendments to the test procedure for 

consumer boilers, DOE considers the 

burden to industry. In this NOPR, DOE 

proposes to amend the existing test 

procedure for consumer boilers by 

updating the references to industry 

standards to reference the most recent 

versions, i.e., to reference ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 and ASTM D2156– 

09 (R2018). DOE has tentatively 

determined that these proposed 

amendments would not impact testing 

costs or increase burden, as discussed in 

the following paragraphs. 

a. ASTM D2156–09 (R2018) 

DOE proposes to incorporate by 

reference the most recent version of 

ASTM D2156–09, which was reaffirmed 

in 2018. Because the relevant provisions 

of ASTM D2156–09 (R2018) are 

unchanged from the version of ASTM 

D2156–09 currently incorporated by 

reference, this proposed change would 

not result in any change to how the test 

procedure is conducted, would not 

impact the measured AFUE ratings, and 

would not result in any change to the 

burden associated with the test 

procedure. 

b. ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

DOE proposes to incorporate by 

reference the most recent version of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103, ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017. DOE has tentatively 

concluded that the test procedure 

referencing ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

would not impact the test procedure 

burden as compared to the current test 

procedure. As discussed in section III.D 

of this document, based on a review of 

test data and comments from 

stakeholders, DOE has tentatively 

determined that while the proposed 

amendment could result in differences 

in the measured values, such differences 

would be minimal and would not 

require re-testing or re-rating of any 

consumer boilers. 

Based on this initial determination, 

manufacturers would be able to rely on 

data generated under the current test 

procedure, should the proposed 

amendments be finalized. As such, it 

would be unlikely that retesting of 

consumer boilers would be required 

solely as a result of DOE’s adoption of 

the proposed amendments to the test 

procedure. However, if a manufacturer 

were to re-test a model using the 

proposed procedure, DOE estimates that 

the cost of performing the proposed 

AFUE test at a third-party laboratory 

would be $3,000. 

DOE requests comment on DOE’s 

tentative determination as to the impact 

and associated costs of the proposed 

incorporation by reference of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017. 

c. ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6–2014 

DOE proposes to incorporate by 

reference the most recent version of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6, ANSI/ASHRAE 

41.6–2014. ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6–2014 is 

referenced in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

for determining the relative humidity of 

the room air during testing of 

condensing boilers. (See Section 8.5.1 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017.) The 

previous version of ANSI/ASHRAE 103, 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993, includes 

limitations on the relative humidity of 

the test room during testing of 

condensing boilers (see Sections 9.2 and 

9.8.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993), but 

does not provide instructions on how 

the measurements must be obtained. 

The reference to ASHRAE 41.6–2014 in 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 will ensure a 

consistent approach to determining the 

relative humidity for the purpose of 

meeting the test conditions. Because the 

DOE test method and ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993 currently limit relative 

humidity allowed during testing, DOE 

reasons that relative humidity already 

must be measured under the current 

procedure. DOE has thus tentatively 

concluded that the incorporation by 

reference of ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6–2014 

would not impact the test procedure 

burden as compared to the current test 

procedure, as the method would likely 

be similar to current practices. 


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DOE requests comment on DOE’s 

tentative determination the proposed 

incorporation by reference of ASHRAE 

41.6–2014 will not increase test burden. 

2. Harmonization With Industry 

Standards 

DOE’s established practice is to adopt 

relevant industry standards as DOE test 

procedures unless such methodology 

would be unduly burdensome to 

conduct or would not produce test 

results that reflect the energy efficiency, 

energy use, water use (as specified in 

EPCA) or estimated operating costs of 

that product during a representative 

average use cycle or period of use. 

Section 8(c) of appendix A of 10 CFR 

part 430 subpart C. In cases where the 

industry standard does not meet this 

EPCA statutory criteria for test 

procedures, DOE will make 

modifications as part of the rulemaking 

process. 

Appendix N incorporates by reference 

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103 for scope, 

definitions, classifications, 

requirements, instruments, apparatus, 

testing conditions, testing procedure, 

nomenclature, and calculations for 

determining AFUE. Appendix N also 

incorporates by reference IEC 62301 for 

measuring standby mode and off mode 

power consumption, and ASTM D2156– 

09 (Reapproved 2013) for adjusting oil 

burners. The industry standards DOE 

proposes to incorporate by reference via 

amendments described in this NOPR are 

discussed in further detail in section 

IV.M of this document. DOE notes that 

DOE has previously established certain 

modifications to ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993 to improve representativeness and 

repeatability, provide additional 

direction, and reduce burden. Similarly, 

DOE has established modifications to 

IEC 62301 to substitute conditions for 

room ambient temperature and 

electrical supply from ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–1993 to reduce burden. In general, 

DOE has determined that those 

modifications remain relevant to the 

updated editions of the referenced 

industry test standards and is not 

proposing to amend or delete those 

previously established modifications. 

DOE requests comments on the 

benefits and burdens of the proposed 

updates and additions to industry 

standards referenced in the test 

procedure for consumer boilers. 

I. Compliance Date 

EPCA prescribes that, if DOE amends 

a test procedure, all representations of 

energy efficiency and energy use, 

including those made on marketing 

materials and product labels, must be 

made in accordance with that amended 

test procedure, beginning 180 days after 

publication of such a test procedure 

final rule in the Federal Register. (42 

U.S.C. 6293(c)(2)) 

If DOE were to publish an amended 

test procedure, EPCA provides an 

allowance for individual manufacturers 

to petition DOE for an extension of the 

180-day period if the manufacturer may 

experience undue hardship in meeting 

the deadline. (42 U.S.C. 6293(c)(3)) To 

receive such an extension, petitions 

must be filed with DOE no later than 60 

days before the end of the 180-day 

period and must detail how the 

manufacturer will experience undue 

hardship. (Id.) 

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory 

Review 

A. Review Under Executive Order 12866 

The Office of Management and Budget 

(‘‘OMB’’) has determined that this test 

procedure rulemaking does not 

constitute a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under section 3(f) of Executive 

Order (‘‘E.O.’’) 12866, Regulatory 

Planning and Review, 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 

4, 1993). Accordingly, this action was 

not subject to review under the 

Executive order by the Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs 

(‘‘OIRA’’) in OMB. 

B. Review Under the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act 

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 

U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires preparation 

of an initial regulatory flexibility 

analysis (‘‘IRFA’’) for any rule that 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. 

As required by Executive Order 13272, 

‘‘Proper Consideration of Small Entities 

in Agency Rulemaking,’’ 67 FR 53461 

(Aug. 16, 2002), DOE published 

procedures and policies on February 19, 

2003, to ensure that the potential 

impacts of its rules on small entities are 

properly considered during the DOE 

rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE 

has made its procedures and policies 

available on the Office of the General 

Counsel’s website: energy.gov/gc/officegeneral-counsel. 

DOE reviewed this proposed rule 

under the provisions of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act and the procedures and 

policies published on February 19, 

2003. DOE certifies that the proposed 

rule, if adopted, would not have 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. 

The factual basis of this certification is 

set forth in the following paragraphs. 

Under 42 U.S.C. 6293, the statute sets 

forth the criteria and procedures DOE 

must follow when prescribing or 

amending test procedures for covered 

products. EPCA requires that any test 

procedures prescribed or amended 

under this section must be reasonably 

designed to produce test results which 

measure energy efficiency, energy use or 

estimated annual operating cost of a 

covered product during a representative 

average use cycle or period of use and 

not be unduly burdensome to conduct. 

(42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) 

In this NOPR, DOE proposes to 

update 10 CFR part 430 subpart B, 

appendix N, ‘‘Uniform Test Method for 

Measuring the Energy Consumption of 

Furnaces and Boilers,’’ to remove the 

provisions applicable only to consumer 

boilers and rename the appendix 

‘‘Uniform Test Method for Measuring 

the Energy Consumption of Furnaces.’’ 

Correspondingly, DOE proposes to 

create a new appendix EE, ‘‘Uniform 

Test Method for Measuring the Energy 

Consumption of Boilers.’’ In the 

proposed new appendix EE, DOE 

proposes to include all provisions 

currently included in appendix N for 

consumer boilers, with the following 

modifications: 

(1) Incorporate by reference the current 

revision to the applicable industry 

standard, ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, 

‘‘Methods of Testing for Annual Fuel 

Utilization Efficiency of Residential 

Central Furnaces and Boilers’’ 

(2) Incorporate by reference the current 

revision of ASTM Standard D2156–09 

(Reapproved 2018), ‘‘Standard Test 

Method for Smoke Density in Flue 

Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels’’ 

(ASTM D2156–09) 

(3) Incorporate by reference ASHRAE 

41.6–2014, ‘‘Standard Method for 

Humidity Measurement’’ 

(4) Update the definitions to reflect the 

changes in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

as compared to ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993. Also remove definition of 

outdoor furnace or boiler from 10 CFR 

430.2 

For manufacturers of consumer 

boilers, the Small Business 

Administration (‘‘SBA’’) has set a size 

threshold, which defines those entities 

classified as ‘‘small businesses’’ for the 

purposes of the statute. DOE used the 

SBA’s small business size standards to 

determine whether any small entities 

would be subject to the requirements of 

the rule. See 13 CFR part 121. The 

equipment covered by this rule is 

classified under North American 

Industry Classification System 


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17The size standards are listed by NAICS code 

and industry description and are available at: 

www.sba.gov/document/support--table-sizestandards (Last accessed on September 22, 2021). 18 DOE’s Compliance Certification Database is 

available at: www.regulations.doe.gov/ccms (last 

accessed July 12, 2021). 19The AHRI Database is available at: 

www.ahridirectory.org (last accessed March 3, 

2021). 

20California Energy Commission’s MAEDbS is 

available at cacertappliances.energy.ca.gov/Pages/ 

ApplianceSearch.aspx (last accessed September 22, 

2021). 

21The ENERGY STAR Product Finder database is 

available at energystar.gov/productfinder/ (last 

accessed September 22, 2021). 

22 app.dnbhoovers.com. 

(‘‘NAICS’’) code 333414,17 ‘‘Heating 

Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) 

Manufacturing.’’ In 13 CFR 121.201, the 

SBA sets a threshold of 500 employees 

or fewer for an entity to be considered 

as a small business for this category. 

DOE identified manufacturers using 

DOE’s Compliance Certification 

Database (‘‘CCD’’),18 the AHRI 

database,19 the California Energy 

Commission’s Modernized Appliance 

Efficiency Database System 

(‘‘MAEDbS’’),20 the ENERGY STAR 

Product Finder database,21 and the prior 

consumer boiler energy conservation 

standards rulemaking. DOE used the 

publicly available information and 

subscription-based market research 

tools (e.g., reports from Dun & 

Bradstreet 22) to identify 28 original 

equipment manufacturers (‘‘OEMs’’) of 

the covered equipment. Of the 28 OEMs, 

DOE identified seven domestic 

manufacturers of consumer boilers that 

met the SBA definition of a ‘‘small 

business.’’ 

As stated earlier, in this NOPR, DOE 

proposes to amend the existing test 

procedure for consumer boilers by 

updating the references to industry 

standards to reference the most recent 

versions. Based on a review of test data 

and stakeholder comments, DOE has 

initially determined that the proposed 

amendments to reference ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 in the test 

procedure would not require retesting or 

re-rating. DOE conducted testing to 

compare the results from testing in 

accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

1993 (the 1993 version is currently 

incorporated by reference in the DOE 

test procedure) with results using the 

more recent editions of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103 to reach this tentative 

determination, which is further 

supported by a majority of comments 

from industry stakeholders indicating 

no expected impact of updating this test 

standard reference. ASTM Standard 

D2156–09, which is currently 

incorporated by reference, was 

reapproved in 2018 with no substantial 

differences. Therefore, DOE’s proposal 

to incorporate the version of ASTM 

D2156–09 reapproved in 2018 would 

not result in any impact on results or 

test burden. DOE also proposes to 

incorporate by reference ANSI/ASHRAE 

41.6–2014, a test method for 

determination of relative humidity. 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–1993 (and by 

extension, the current DOE test 

procedure) includes limitations on the 

relative humidity of the test room 

during certain testing, but it does not 

provide instructions on how the 

measurements must be obtained. 

ASHRAE 41.6–2014 is referenced in 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 as the 

required approach to determining the 

relative humidity for the purpose of 

meeting the test conditions. The test 

method in ASHARE 41.6–2014 is 

understood to be similar to current 

industry practices and is thus not 

expected to introduce any new test 

burden for manufacturers. 

As such, the test procedure 

amendments would not result in any 

change in burden associated the DOE 

test procedure for consumer boilers. 

Therefore, DOE initially concludes 

that the test procedure amendments 

proposed in this NOPR would not have 

a ‘‘significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities,’’ 

and that the preparation of an IRFA is 

not warranted. DOE will transmit the 

certification and supporting statement 

of factual basis to the Chief Counsel for 

Advocacy of the Small Business 

Administration for review under 5 

U.S.C. 605(b). 

DOE welcomes comment on the 

Regulatory Flexibility certification 

conclusion. 

C. Review Under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 

Manufacturers of consumer boilers 

must certify to DOE that their products 

comply with any applicable energy 

conservation standards. To certify 

compliance, manufacturers must first 

obtain test data for their products 

according to the DOE test procedures, 

including any amendments adopted for 

those test procedures. DOE has 

established regulations for the 

certification and recordkeeping 

requirements for all covered consumer 

products and commercial equipment, 

including consumer boilers. (See 

generally 10 CFR part 429.) The 

collection-of-information requirement 

for the certification and recordkeeping 

is subject to review and approval by 

OMB under the Paperwork Reduction 

Act (‘‘PRA’’). This requirement has been 

approved by OMB under OMB control 

number 1910–1400. Public reporting 

burden for the certification is estimated 

to average 35 hours per response, 

including the time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data 

sources, gathering and maintaining the 

data needed, and completing and 

reviewing the collection of information. 

In this NOPR, DOE is proposing to 

update references to industry test 

standards to reference the most current 

versions. DOE is also proposing to 

reorganize the test procedures so that 

boilers are addressed in an appendix 

separate from furnaces generally. The 

proposed amendments would not 

establish new or amended reporting 

requirements. 

Notwithstanding any other provision 

of the law, no person is required to 

respond to, nor shall any person be 

subject to a penalty for failure to comply 

with, a collection of information subject 

to the requirements of the PRA, unless 

that collection of information displays a 

currently valid OMB Control Number. 

D. Review Under the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

In this NOPR, DOE proposes test 

procedure amendments that it expects 

will be used to develop and implement 

future energy conservation standards for 

consumer boilers. DOE has determined 

that this rule falls into a class of actions 

that are categorically excluded from 

review under the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and DOE’s 

implementing regulations at 10 CFR part 

1021. Specifically, DOE has determined 

that adopting test procedures for 

measuring energy efficiency of 

consumer products and industrial 

equipment is consistent with activities 

identified in 10 CFR part 1021, 

appendix A to subpart D, A5 and A6. 

Accordingly, neither an environmental 

assessment nor an environmental 

impact statement is required. 

E. Review Under Executive Order 13132 

Executive Order 13132, ‘‘Federalism,’’ 

64 FR 43255 (Aug. 4, 1999) imposes 

certain requirements on agencies 

formulating and implementing policies 

or regulations that preempt State law or 

that have federalism implications. The 

Executive order requires agencies to 

examine the constitutional and statutory 

authority supporting any action that 

would limit the policymaking discretion 

of the States and to carefully assess the 

necessity for such actions. The 

Executive order also requires agencies to 

have an accountable process to ensure 

meaningful and timely input by State 

and local officials in the development of 

regulatory policies that have federalism 

implications. On March 14, 2000, DOE 


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published a statement of policy 

describing the intergovernmental 

consultation process it will follow in the 

development of such regulations. 65 FR 

13735. DOE has examined this proposed 

rule and has determined that it would 

not have a substantial direct effect on 

the States, on the relationship between 

the national government and the States, 

or on the distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. EPCA governs and 

prescribes Federal preemption of State 

regulations as to energy conservation for 

the products that are the subject of this 

proposed rule. States can petition DOE 

for exemption from such preemption to 

the extent, and based on criteria, set 

forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) No 

further action is required by Executive 

Order 13132. 

F. Review Under Executive Order 12988 

Regarding the review of existing 

regulations and the promulgation of 

new regulations, section 3(a) of 

Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil Justice 

Reform,’’ 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996), 

imposes on Federal agencies the general 

duty to adhere to the following 

requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting 

errors and ambiguity, (2) write 

regulations to minimize litigation, (3) 

provide a clear legal standard for 

affected conduct rather than a general 

standard, and (4) promote simplification 

and burden reduction. Section 3(b) of 

Executive Order 12988 specifically 

requires that executive agencies make 

every reasonable effort to ensure that the 

regulation (1) clearly 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 sections 3(a) and 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 proposed 

rule meets the relevant standards of 

Executive Order 12988. 

G. Review Under the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 

Title II of the Unfunded Mandates 

Reform Act of 1995 (‘‘UMRA’’) requires 

each Federal agency to assess the effects 

of Federal regulatory actions on State, 

local, and Tribal governments and the 

private sector. Public Law 104–4, sec. 

201 (codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531). For a 

proposed regulatory action likely to 

result in a rule that may cause the 

expenditure by State, local, and Tribal 

governments, in the aggregate, or by the 

private sector of $100 million or more 

in any one year (adjusted annually for 

inflation), section 202 of UMRA requires 

a Federal agency to publish a written 

statement that estimates the resulting 

costs, benefits, and other effects on the 

national economy. (2 U.S.C. 1532(a), (b)) 

The UMRA also requires a Federal 

agency to develop an effective process 

to permit timely input by elected 

officers of State, local, and Tribal 

governments on a proposed ‘‘significant 

intergovernmental mandate,’’ and 

requires an agency plan for giving notice 

and opportunity for timely input to 

potentially affected small governments 

before establishing any requirements 

that might significantly or uniquely 

affect small governments. On March 18, 

1997, DOE published a statement of 

policy on its process for 

intergovernmental consultation under 

UMRA. 62 FR 12820; also available at 

http://energy.gov/gc/office-generalcounsel. DOE examined this proposed 

rule according to UMRA and its 

statement of policy and determined that 

the rule contains neither an 

intergovernmental mandate, nor a 

mandate that may result in the 

expenditure of $100 million or more in 

any year, so these requirements do not 

apply. 

H. Review Under the Treasury and 

General Government Appropriations 

Act, 1999 

Section 654 of the Treasury and 

General Government Appropriations 

Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105–277) requires 

Federal agencies to issue a Family 

Policymaking Assessment for any rule 

that may affect family well-being. This 

proposed rule would not have any 

impact on the autonomy or integrity of 

the family as an institution. 

Accordingly, DOE has concluded that it 

is not necessary to prepare a Family 

Policymaking Assessment. 

I. Review Under Executive Order 12630 

DOE has determined, under Executive 

Order 12630, ‘‘Governmental Actions 

and Interference with Constitutionally 

Protected Property Rights’’ 53 FR 8859 

(March 18, 1988), that this proposed 

regulation would not result in any 

takings that might require compensation 

under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. 

Constitution. 

J. Review Under Treasury and General 

Government Appropriations Act, 2001 

Section 515 of the Treasury and 

General Government Appropriations 

Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides 

for agencies to review most 

disseminations of information to the 

public under guidelines established by 

each agency pursuant to general 

guidelines issued by OMB. OMB’s 

guidelines were published at 67 FR 

8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and DOE’s 

guidelines were published at 67 FR 

62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has reviewed 

this proposed rule under the OMB and 

DOE guidelines and has concluded that 

it is consistent with applicable policies 

in those guidelines. 

K. Review Under Executive Order 13211 

Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions 

Concerning Regulations That 

Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 

Distribution, or Use,’’ 66 FR 28355 (May 

22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to 

prepare and submit to OMB, a 

Statement of Energy Effects for any 

proposed significant energy action. A 

‘‘significant energy action’’ is defined as 

any action by an agency that 

promulgated or is expected to lead to 

promulgation of a final rule, and that (1) 

is a significant regulatory action under 

Executive Order 12866, or any successor 

order; and (2) is likely to have a 

significant adverse effect on the supply, 

distribution, or use of energy; or (3) is 

designated by the Administrator of 

OIRA as a significant energy action. For 

any proposed significant energy action, 

the agency must give a detailed 

statement of any adverse effects on 

energy supply, distribution, or use 

should the proposal be implemented, 

and of reasonable alternatives to the 

action and their expected benefits on 

energy supply, distribution, and use. 

The proposed regulatory action to 

amend the test procedure for measuring 

the energy efficiency of consumer 

boilers is not a significant regulatory 

action under Executive Order 12866. 

Moreover, it would not have a 

significant adverse effect on the supply, 

distribution, or use of energy, nor has it 

been designated as a significant energy 

action by the Administrator of OIRA. 

Therefore, it is not a significant energy 

action, and, accordingly, DOE has not 

prepared a Statement of Energy Effects. 

L. Review Under Section 32 of the 

Federal Energy Administration Act of 

1974 

Under section 301 of the Department 

of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95– 

91; 42 U.S.C. 7101), DOE must comply 

with section 32 of the Federal Energy 


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Administration Act of 1974, as amended 

by the Federal Energy Administration 

Authorization Act of 1977. (15 U.S.C. 

788; ‘‘FEAA’’) Section 32 essentially 

provides in relevant part that, where a 

proposed rule authorizes or requires use 

of commercial standards, the notice of 

proposed rulemaking must inform the 

public of the use and background of 

such standards. In addition, section 

32(c) requires DOE to consult with the 

Attorney General and the Chairman of 

the Federal Trade Commission (‘‘FTC’’) 

concerning the impact of the 

commercial or industry standards on 

competition. 

The proposed modifications to the 

test procedure for consumer boilers 

would reference testing methods 

contained in certain sections of the 

following commercial standards: ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 103 (ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017), ASTM D2156–09 (R2018), 

and ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 41.6–2014 

(ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6–2014). DOE has 

evaluated these standards and is unable 

to conclude whether they fully comply 

with the requirements of section 32(b) of 

the FEAA (i.e., whether they were 

developed in a manner that fully 

provides for public participation, 

comment, and review.) DOE will 

consult with both the Attorney General 

and the Chairman of the FTC 

concerning the impact of these test 

procedures on competition, prior to 

prescribing a final rule. 

M. Description of Materials 

Incorporated by Reference 

In this NOPR, DOE proposes to 

incorporate by reference the test 

standard published by ANSI/ASHRAE, 

titled ‘‘Method of Testing for Annual 

Fuel Utilization Efficiency of 

Residential Central Furnaces and 

Boilers,’’ ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. The 

purpose of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 is 

to provide procedures for determining 

the annual fuel utilization efficiency of 

consumer furnaces and boilers. Relevant 

to the DOE test procedure, the standard 

includes test methods for cyclic and 

part-load performance and calculation 

procedures for establishing seasonal 

performance. The standard provides 

information on definitions, 

classifications, requirements, 

instruments, methods of testing, testing 

procedures, nomenclature, and 

calculations for determining the AFUE 

of consumer boilers. 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 includes a 

reference to ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6–2014, 

‘‘Standard Method for Humidity 

Measurement,’’ which DOE also 

proposes to incorporate by reference. 

ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6–2014 includes 

instructions for measuring the relative 

humidity of the test room air. 

Copies of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

and ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6–2014 can be 

obtained from the American Society of 

Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers, Inc., 

Publication Sales, 180 Technology 

Parkway NW, Peachtree Corners, GA 

30092, (800) 527–4723 or (404) 636– 

8400, or online at: www.ashrae.org. 

In this NOPR, DOE also proposes to 

incorporate by reference the test 

standard published by ASTM, titled 

‘‘Standard Test Method for Smoke 

Density in Flue Gases from Burning 

Distillate Fuels,’’ ASTM D2156–09 

(R2018)). ASTM D2156–09 (R2018) 

includes instructions for determining 

the amount of smoke produced by an oil 

burner to ensure the burner is adjusted 

properly. 

Copies of ASTM D2156–09 (R2018) 

can be obtained from the ASTM 

International,100 Barr Harbor Drive, 

P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 

19428–2959 or online at: www.astm.org. 

In this NOPR, DOE also proposes to 

incorporate by reference the test 

standard published by IEC, titled 

‘‘Household electrical appliances— 

Measurement of standby power,’’ 

Edition 2.0 2011–01 (IEC 62301). IEC 

62301 includes instructions for 

determining the electrical power 

consumption during standby mode. 

Copies of IEC 62301 can be obtained 

from the American National Standards 

Institute, 25 W 43rd Street, 4th Floor, 

New York, NY 10036, (212) 642–4900, 

or online at: webstore.ansi.org. 

V. Public Participation 

A. Participation in the Webinar 

The time and date for the webinar are 

listed in the DATES section at the 

beginning of this document. If no 

participants register for the webinar, it 

will be cancelled. Webinar registration 

information, participant instructions, 

and information about the capabilities 

available to webinar participants will be 

published on DOE’s website: 

www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/

appliance_standards/standards.aspx?

productid=45&action=viewcurrent. 

Participants are responsible for ensuring 

their systems are compatible with the 

webinar software. 

B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared 

General Statements for Distribution 

Any person who has an interest in the 

topics addressed in this document, or 

who is representative of a group or class 

of persons that has an interest in these 

issues, may request an opportunity to 

make an oral presentation at the 

webinar. Such persons may submit to 

ApplianceStandardsQuestions@

ee.doe.gov. Persons who wish to speak 

should include with their request a 

computer file in WordPerfect, Microsoft 

Word, PDF, or text (ASCII) file format 

that briefly describes the nature of their 

interest in this rulemaking and the 

topics they wish to discuss. Such 

persons should also provide a daytime 

telephone number where they can be 

reached. 

Persons requesting to speak should 

briefly describe the nature of their 

interest in this rulemaking and provide 

a telephone number for contact. DOE 

requests persons selected to make an 

oral presentation to submit an advance 

copy of their statements at least two 

weeks before the webinar. At its 

discretion, DOE may permit persons 

who cannot supply an advance copy of 

their statement to participate, if those 

persons have made advance alternative 

arrangements with the Building 

Technologies Office. As necessary, 

requests to give an oral presentation 

should ask for such alternative 

arrangements. 

C. Conduct of the Webinar 

DOE will designate a DOE official to 

preside at the webinar/public meeting 

and may also use a professional 

facilitator to aid discussion. The 

meeting will not be a judicial or 

evidentiary-type public hearing, but 

DOE will conduct it in accordance with 

section 336 of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6306). A 

court reporter will be present to record 

the proceedings and prepare a 

transcript. DOE reserves the right to 

schedule the order of presentations and 

to establish the procedures governing 

the conduct of the webinar. There shall 

not be discussion of proprietary 

information, costs or prices, market 

share, or other commercial matters 

regulated by U.S. anti-trust laws. After 

the webinar/public meeting and until 

the end of the comment period, 

interested parties may submit further 

comments on the proceedings and any 

aspect of the rulemaking. 

The webinar will be conducted in an 

informal, conference style. DOE will 

allow time for prepared general 

statements by participants and 

encourage all interested parties to share 

their views on issues affecting this 

rulemaking. Each participant will be 

allowed to make a general statement 

(within time limits determined by DOE), 

before the discussion of specific topics. 

DOE will permit, as time permits, other 

participants to comment briefly on any 

general statements. 

At the end of all prepared statements 

on a topic, DOE will permit participants 


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to clarify their statements briefly. 

Participants should be prepared to 

answer questions by DOE and by other 

participants concerning these issues. 

DOE representatives may also ask 

questions of participants concerning 

other matters relevant to this 

rulemaking. The official conducting the 

webinar/public meeting will accept 

additional comments or questions from 

those attending, as time permits. The 

presiding official will announce any 

further procedural rules or modification 

of the above procedures that may be 

needed for the proper conduct of the 

webinar/public meeting. 

A transcript of the webinar/public 

meeting will be included in the docket, 

which can be viewed as described in the 

Docket section at the beginning of this 

document. In addition, any person may 

buy a copy of the transcript from the 

transcribing reporter. 

D. Submission of Comments 

DOE will accept comments, data, and 

information regarding this proposed 

rule no later than the date provided in 

the DATES section at the beginning of 

this proposed rule. Interested parties 

may submit comments using any of the 

methods described in the ADDRESSES

section at the beginning of this 

document. 

Submitting comments via 

www.regulations.gov. The 

www.regulations.gov web page will 

require you to provide your name and 

contact information. Your contact 

information will be viewable to DOE 

Building Technologies staff only. Your 

contact information will not be publicly 

viewable except for your first and last 

names, organization name (if any), and 

submitter representative name (if any). 

If your comment is not processed 

properly because of technical 

difficulties, DOE will use this 

information to contact you. If DOE 

cannot read your comment due to 

technical difficulties and cannot contact 

you for clarification, DOE may not be 

able to consider your comment. 

However, your contact information 

will be publicly viewable if you include 

it in the comment or in any documents 

attached to your comment. Any 

information that you do not want to be 

publicly viewable should not be 

included in your comment, nor in any 

document attached to your comment. 

Persons viewing comments will see only 

first and last names, organization 

names, correspondence containing 

comments, and any documents 

submitted with the comments. 

Do not submit to www.regulations.gov 

information for which disclosure is 

restricted by statute, such as trade 

secrets and commercial or financial 

information (hereinafter referred to as 

Confidential Business Information 

(‘‘CBI’’)). Comments submitted through 

www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed 

as CBI. Comments received through the 

website will waive any CBI claims for 

the information submitted. For 

information on submitting CBI, see the 

Confidential Business Information 

section. 

DOE processes submissions made 

through www.regulations.gov before 

posting. Normally, comments will be 

posted within a few days of being 

submitted. However, if large volumes of 

comments are being processed 

simultaneously, your comment may not 

be viewable for up to several weeks. 

Please keep the comment tracking 

number that www.regulations.gov 

provides after you have successfully 

uploaded your comment. 

Submitting comments via email. 

Comments and documents submitted 

via email also will be posted to 

www.regulations.gov. If you do not want 

your personal contact information to be 

publicly viewable, do not include it in 

your comment or any accompanying 

documents. Instead, provide your 

contact information on a cover letter. 

Include your first and last names, email 

address, telephone number, and 

optional mailing address. The cover 

letter will not be publicly viewable as 

long as it does not include any 

comments. 

Include contact information each time 

you submit comments, data, documents, 

and other information to DOE. No faxes 

will be accepted. 

Comments, data, and other 

information submitted to DOE 

electronically should be provided in 

PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or 

Excel, or text (ASCII) file format. 

Provide documents that are not secured, 

written in English and free of any 

defects or viruses. Documents should 

not contain special characters or any 

form of encryption and, if possible, they 

should carry the electronic signature of 

the author. 

Campaign form letters. Please submit 

campaign form letters by the originating 

organization in batches of between 50 to 

500 form letters per PDF or as one form 

letter with a list of supporters’ names 

compiled into one or more PDFs. This 

reduces comment processing and 

posting time. 

Confidential Business Information. 

Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person 

submitting information that he or she 

believes to be confidential and exempt 

by law from public disclosure should 

submit via email, two well-marked 

copies: One copy of the document 

marked confidential including all the 

information believed to be confidential, 

and one copy of the document marked 

non-confidential with the information 

believed to be confidential deleted. DOE 

will make its own determination about 

the confidential status of the 

information and treat it according to its 

determination. 

It is DOE’s policy that all comments 

may be included in the public docket, 

without change and as received, 

including any personal information 

provided in the comments (except 

information deemed to be exempt from 

public disclosure). 

E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment 

Although DOE welcomes comments 

on any aspect of this proposal, DOE is 

particularly interested in receiving 

comments and views from interested 

parties concerning the following issues: 

(1) DOE seeks comment on whether 

any other industry test methods exist for 

determining the heating efficiency of 

air-to-water or water-to-water heat 

pumps. DOE seeks comment specifically 

on AHRI 550/590, and whether it would 

be appropriate for adoption as a Federal 

test procedure for such products, and if 

so, whether modifications could be 

made to result in an AFUE rating. 

(2) DOE seeks comment on its 

proposal to remove the definition of 

‘‘outdoor furnace or boiler’’ from its 

regulations. DOE seeks comment on 

whether removing the definition for 

‘‘outdoor furnace or boiler’’ would 

impact the application of the test 

procedure or energy conservation 

standards for any such products. 

(3) DOE seeks comment on its 

proposal to incorporate by reference the 

definitions in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

and to remove the definitions for 

‘‘control’’ and ‘‘isolated combustions 

system’’ from the consumer boiler test 

procedure at appendix N accordingly. 

(4) DOE seeks comment on its 

proposal to clarify the calculation of 

steady-state efficiencies at maximum 

and minimum input rates for 

condensing, modulating boilers using 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

(5) DOE seeks further comment on its 

proposal to update the incorporation by 

reference of ASHRAE 103 to the most 

recent version (i.e., ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017) and in particular the potential 

impact on ratings and whether retesting 

would be required. 

(6) DOE seeks additional comment on 

whether the return water temperature in 

the current test method and ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 are representative 

and appropriate, and whether any 

specific changes to the required 

conditions could improve 


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representativeness. DOE is also 

interested in receiving comment on the 

test burden that would result from 

changing the return water 

temperature(s) specified in the test 

procedure. 

(7) DOE seeks further comment on 

whether a simplified approach for 

measuring standby mode and off mode 

electrical energy consumption is 

appropriate and would provide 

accurate, representative results that are 

comparable to those obtained with IEC 

62301. 

(8) DOE requests further comment on 

whether AEDM provisions similar to 

those in place for commercial 

equipment would be necessary and 

appropriate for consumer boilers. 

(9) DOE seeks comment on data or 

other information that demonstrates that 

using a linear interpolation method for 

heat exchanger materials other than cast 

iron would produce representative test 

results. 

(10) DOE seeks further comment on 

whether supplemental test instructions 

are necessary for testing consumer 

boilers. 

(11) DOE requests comment on DOE’s 

tentative determination as to the impact 

and associated costs of the proposed 

incorporation by reference of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017. 

(12) DOE requests comment on DOE’s 

tentative determination the proposed 

incorporation by reference of ASHRAE 

41.6–2014 will not increase test burden. 

(13) DOE requests comments on the 

benefits and burdens of the proposed 

updates and additions to industry 

standards referenced in the test 

procedure for consumer boilers. 

(14) DOE welcomes comment on the 

Regulatory Flexibility certification 

conclusion. 

VI. Approval of the Office of the 

Secretary 

The Secretary of Energy has approved 

publication of this notice of proposed 

rulemaking and request for comment. 

List of Subjects 

10 CFR Part 429 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Confidential business 

information, Energy conservation, 

Household appliances, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements. 

10 CFR Part 430 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Confidential business 

information, Energy conservation, 

Household appliances, Imports, 

Incorporation by reference, 

Intergovernmental relations, Small 

businesses. 

Signing Authority 

This document of the Department of 

Energy was signed on February 17, 

2022, by Kelly J. Speakes-Backman, 

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy, pursuant to delegated authority 

from the Secretary of Energy. That 

document with the original signature 

and date is maintained by DOE. For 

administrative purposes only, and in 

compliance with requirements of the 

Office of the Federal Register, the 

undersigned DOE Federal Register 

Liaison Officer has been authorized to 

sign and submit the document in 

electronic format for publication, as an 

official document of the Department of 

Energy. This administrative process in 

no way alters the legal effect of this 

document upon publication in the 

Federal Register. 

Signed in Washington, DC, on February 22, 

2022. 

Treena V. Garrett, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. 

Department of Energy. 

For the reasons stated in the 

preamble, DOE is proposing to amend 

parts 429 and 430 of chapter II of title 

10, Code of Federal Regulations as set 

forth below: 

PART 429—CERTIFICATION 

COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT 

FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND 

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL 

EQUIPMENT 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 429 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6317; 28 U.S.C. 

2461 note. 

■ 2. Section 429.134 is amended by 

revising paragraphs (h) introductory 

text, (h)(1)(i)(A), and (h)(2)(i)(A) to read 

as follows: 

§ 429.134 Product-specific enforcement 

provisions. 

* * * * * 

(h) Residential boilers—test protocols 

for functional verification of automatic 

means for adjusting water temperature. 

These tests are intended to verify the 

functionality of the design requirement 

that a boiler has an automatic means for 

adjusting water temperature for singlestage, two-stage, and modulating boilers. 

These test methods are intended to 

permit the functional testing of a range 

of control strategies used to fulfill this 

design requirement. Section 2, 

Definitions, and paragraph 6.1.a of 

appendix EE to subpart B of part 430 of 

this chapter apply for the purposes of 

this paragraph (h). 

(1) * * * 

(i) * * * 

(A) Boiler installation. Boiler 

installation in the test room shall be in 

accordance with the setup and 

apparatus requirements of section 6.0 of 

appendix EE to subpart B of part 430 of 

this chapter. 

* * * * * 

(2) * * * 

(i) * * * 

(A) Boiler installation. Boiler 

installation in the test room shall be in 

accordance with the setup and 

apparatus requirements by section 6.0 of 

appendix EE to subpart B of part 430 of 

this chapter. 

* * * * * 

PART 430—ENERGY CONSERVATION 

PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER 

PRODUCTS 

■ 3. The authority citation for part 430 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6309; 28 U.S.C. 

2461 note. 

§ 430.2 [Amended] 

■ 4. Section 430.2 is amended by 

removing the definition of ‘‘outdoor 

furnace or boiler’’. 

■ 5. Section 430.3 is amended by: 

■ a. Revising paragraph (a); 

■ b. Revising paragraphs (g) 

introductory text and (g)(11); 

■ c. Redesignating paragraphs (g)(17) 

and (18) as paragraphs (g)(18) and (19), 

respectively, and adding new paragraph 

(g)(17); and 

■ d. Revising paragraph (j) introductory 

text; 

■ e. Adding paragraph (j)(3); and 

■ f. Revising paragraph (o)(6). 

The revisions and additions read as 

follows: 

§ 430.3 Materials incorporated by 

reference. 

(a) Certain material is incorporated by 

reference into this [chapter/subchapter/ 

part/subpart] with the approval of the 

Director of the Federal Register in 

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 

CFR part 51. To enforce any edition 

other than that specified in this section, 

the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 

must publish a document in the Federal 

Register and the material must be 

available to the public. All approved 

material is available for inspection at 

DOE and at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). 

Contact DOE at: U.S. Department of 

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Building 

Technologies Program, Sixth Floor, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 

20024, (202) 586–2945, https://

www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/ 


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appliance-and-equipment-standardsprogram. For information on the 

availability of this material at NARA, 

email: fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations.html. The material may be 

obtained from the sources in the 

following paragraphs of this section. 

* * * * * 

(g) ASHRAE. American Society of 

Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers, Inc., 

Publication Sales, 180 Technology 

Parkway NW, Peachtree Corners, GA 

30092, 800–527–4723 or 404–636–8400, 

or go to www.ashrae.org. 

* * * * * 

(11) ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 41.6– 

2014, (‘‘ASHRAE 41.6–2014’’), Standard 

Method for Humidity Measurement, 

ANSI approved July 3, 2014, IBR 

approved for appendices F and EE to 

subpart B of this part. 

* * * * * 

(17) ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103– 

2017, (‘‘ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017’’), 

Method of Testing for Annual Fuel 

Utilization Efficiency of Residential 

Central Furnaces and Boilers, ANSI 

approved July 3, 2017, IBR approved for 

§ 430.23 and appendix EE to subpart B 

of this part. 

* * * * * 

(j) ASTM International, 100 Barr 

Harbor Drive, Post Office Box C700, 

West Conshohocken, PA 19428–2959, 

telephone (877) 909–2786, website: 

www.astm.org; 

* * * * * 

(3) ASTM D2156–09 (Reapproved 

2018) (‘‘ASTM D2156–09 (R2018)’’), 

Standard Test Method for Smoke 

Density in Flue Gases from Burning 

Distillate Fuels, approved October 1, 

2018, IBR approved for appendix EE to 

subpart B of this part. 

* * * * * 

(o) * * * 

(6) IEC 62301 (‘‘IEC 62301’’), 

Household electrical appliances— 

Measurement of standby power, 

(Edition 2.0, 2011–01), IBR approved for 

appendices C1, D1, D2, F, G, H, I, J2, N, 

O, P, Q, X, X1, Y, Z, BB, CC, and EE to 

subpart B of this part. 

* * * * * 

■ 6. Section 430.23 is amended by 

revising paragraph (n) to read as 

follows: 

§ 430.23 Test Procedures for the 

measurement of energy and water 

consumption. 

* * * * * 

(n) Furnaces. (1) The estimated 

annual operating cost for furnaces is the 

sum of: 

(i) Product of the average annual fuel 

energy consumption, in Btu’s per year 

for gas or oil furnaces or in kilowatthours per year for electric furnaces, 

determined according to section 10.2.2 

or 10.3 of appendix N (furnaces, 

excluding low pressure steam or hot 

water boilers and electric boilers) or 

appendix EE (low pressure steam or hot 

water boilers and electric boilers) of this 

subpart, as applicable, and the 

representative average unit cost in 

dollars per Btu for gas or oil, or dollars 

per kilowatt-hour for electric, 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 10.2.3 of appendix 

N (furnaces, excluding low pressure 

steam or hot water boilers and electric 

boilers) or appendix EE (low pressure 

steam or hot water boilers and electric 

boilers) of this subpart, as applicable, 

and the representative average unit cost 

in dollars per kilowatt-hour as provided 

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

(iii) Round the resulting sum to the 

nearest dollar per year. 

(2) The annual fuel utilization 

efficiency (AFUE) for furnaces, 

expressed in percent, is the ratio of the 

annual fuel output of useful energy 

delivered to the heated space to the 

annual fuel energy input to the furnace. 

(i) For gas and oil furnaces, determine 

AFUE according to section 10.1 of 

appendix N (furnaces, excluding low 

pressure steam or hot water boilers and 

electric boilers) or appendix EE (low 

pressure steam or hot water boilers and 

electric boilers) of this subpart, as 

applicable. 

(ii) For electric furnaces, excluding 

electric boilers, determine AFUE in 

accordance with Section 11.1 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE) 103–1993 (incorporated by 

reference, see § 430.3); for electric 

boilers, determine AFUE in accordance 

with ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

(iii) Round the annual fuel utilization 

efficiency to one-tenth of a percentage 

point. 

(3) The estimated regional annual 

operating cost for furnaces must be 

rounded off to the nearest dollar per 

year and is defined as follows: 

(i) When using appendix N for 

furnaces excluding low pressure steam 

or hot water boilers and electric boilers 

(see the note at the beginning of 

appendix N), 

(A) For gas or oil-fueled furnaces, 

(EFR × CBTU) = (EAER × CKWH) 

Where: 

EFR = the regional annual fuel energy 

consumption in Btu per year, determined 

according to section 10.7.1 of appendix 

N; 

CBTU = the representative average unit cost in 

dollars per Btu of gas or oil, as provided 

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

EAER = the regional annual auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption in 

kilowatt-hours per year, determined 

according to section 10.7.2 of appendix 

N; and 

CKWH = the representative average unit cost 

in dollars per kilowatt-hour of 

electricity, as provided pursuant to 

section 323(b)(2) of the Act. 

(B) For electric furnaces, 

(EER × CKWH) 

Where: 

EER = the regional annual fuel energy 

consumption in kilowatt-hours per year, 

determined according to section 10.7.3 of 

appendix N; and 

CKWH is as defined in paragraph (n)(3)(i)(A) 

of this section. 

(ii) When using appendix EE for low 

pressure steam or hot water boilers and 

electric boilers (see the note at the 

beginning of appendix EE), 

(A) For gas or oil-fueled boilers, 

(EFR × CBTU) + (EAER × CKWH) 

Where: 

EFR = the regional annual fuel energy 

consumption in Btu per year, determined 

according to section 10.5.1 of appendix 

EE; 

CBTU and CKWH are as defined in paragraph 

(n)(3)(i)(A) of this section; and 

EAER = the regional annual auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption in 

kilowatt-hours per year, determined 

according to section 10.5.2 of appendix 

EE. 

(B) For electric boilers, 

(EER × CKWH) 

Where: 

EER = the regional annual fuel energy 

consumption in kilowatt hours per year, 

determined according to section 10.5.3 of 

appendix EE; and 

CKWH is as defined in paragraph (n)(3)(i)(A) 

of this section. 

(4) The energy factor for furnaces, 

expressed in percent, is the ratio of 

annual fuel output of useful energy 

delivered to the heated space to the total 

annual energy input to the furnace 

determined according to either section 

10.6 of appendix N (furnaces, excluding 

low pressure steam or hot water boilers 

and electric boilers) or section 10.4 of 

appendix EE (low pressure steam or hot 

water boilers and electric boilers) of this 

subpart, as applicable. 

(5) The average standby mode and off 

mode electrical power consumption for 

furnaces shall be determined according 

to section 8.10 of appendix N (furnaces, 

excluding low pressure steam or hot 

water boilers and electric boilers) or 

section 8.9 of appendix EE (low 


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pressure steam or hot water boilers and 

electric boilers) of this subpart, as 

applicable. Round the average standby 

mode and off mode electrical power 

consumption to the nearest tenth of a 

watt. 

(6) Other useful measures of energy 

consumption for furnaces shall be those 

measures of energy consumption which 

the Secretary determines are likely to 

assist consumers in making purchasing 

decisions and which are derived from 

the application of appendix N (furnaces, 

excluding low pressure steam or hot 

water boilers and electric boilers) or 

appendix EE (low pressure steam or hot 

water boilers and electric boilers) of this 

subpart. 

* * * * * 

■ 7. 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 Consumer 

Furnaces Other Than Boilers 

0. Incorporation by reference. 

DOE incorporated by reference in § 430.3, 

the entire standards for ASHRAE Standard 

103–1993, ASTM D2156–09 (R2018), and IEC 

62301. In cases where there is a conflict, the 

language of the test procedure in this 

appendix takes precedence over the 

incorporated standards. However, only the 

following enumerated provisions of ASHRAE 

103–1993 apply to this appendix: 

(1) ASHRAE 103–1993 

(i) section 2 ‘‘Scope’’ as referenced in 

section 1.0 of this appendix; 

(ii) section 3 ‘‘Definitions’’ as referenced in 

section 2.0 of this appendix; 

(iii) section 4 ‘‘Classifications’’ as 

referenced in section 3.0 of this appendix; 

(iv) section 5 ‘‘Requirements’’ as referenced 

in section 4.0 of this appendix; 

(v) section 6 ‘‘Instruments’’ as referenced 

in section 5.0 of this appendix; 

(vi) section 7 ‘‘Apparatus’’ (except for 

sections 7.1, 7.2.2.2, 7.2.2.5, 7.2.3.1, and 7.8) 

as referenced in section 6.0 of this appendix; 

(vii) section 8 ‘‘Methods of Testing’’ 

(except for sections 8.2.1.3, 8.4.1.1, 8.4.1.1.2, 

8.4.1.2, 8.4.2.1.4, 8.4.2.1.6, 8.6.1.1, 8.7.2, and 

8.8.3) as referenced in section 7.0 of this 

appendix; 

(viii) section 9 ‘‘Test Procedure’’ (except 

for sections 9.1.2.2.1, 9.1.2.2.2, 9.5.1.1, 

9.5.1.2.1, 9.5.1.2.2,, 9.7.4, and 9.10) as 

referenced in section 8.0 of this appendix; 

(ix) section 10 ‘‘Nomenclature’’ as 

referenced in section 9.0 of this appendix; 

and 

(x) section 11 ‘‘Calculations’’ (except for 

sections 11.5.11.1, 11.5.11.2) as referenced in 

section 10.0 of this appendix. 

1.0 Scope. The scope of this appendix is 

as specified in Section 2 of ASHRAE 103– 

1993 as it pertains to furnaces other than low 

pressure steam or hot water boilers or to 

electric boilers. Low pressure steam or hot 

water boilers and electric boilers are 

addressed in appendix EE of this subpart. 

2.0 Definitions. Definitions include those 

specified in Section 3 of ASHRAE 103–1993 

and the following additional and modified 

definitions. 

Active mode means the condition in which 

the furnace is connected to the power source, 

and at least one of the burner, electric 

resistance elements, or any electrical 

auxiliaries such as blowers, are activated. 

Control means a device used to regulate the 

operation of a piece of equipment and the 

supply of fuel, electricity, air, or water. 

Draft inducer means a fan incorporated in 

the furnace that either draws or forces air 

into the combustion chamber. 

Gas valve means an automatic or semiautomatic device consisting essentially of a 

valve and operator that controls the gas 

supply to the burner(s) during normal 

operation of an appliance. The operator may 

be actuated by application of gas pressure on 

a flexible diaphragm, by electrical means, by 

mechanical means or by other means. 

Installation and operation (I&O) manual 

means instructions for installing, 

commissioning, and operating the furnace, 

which are supplied with the product when 

shipped by the manufacturer. 

Isolated combustion system means a 

system where a unit is installed within the 

structure, but isolated from the heated space. 

A portion of the jacket heat from the unit is 

lost, and air for ventilation, combustion and 

draft control comes from outside the heated 

space. 

Multi-position furnace means a furnace 

that can be installed in more than one airflow 

configuration (i.e., upflow or horizontal; 

downflow or horizontal; upflow or 

downflow; and upflow, or downflow, or 

horizontal). 

Off mode means a mode in which the 

furnace is connected to a mains power source 

and is not providing any active mode or 

standby mode function, and where the mode 

may persist for an indefinite time. The 

existence of an off switch in off position (a 

disconnected circuit) is included within the 

classification of off mode. 

Off switch means the switch on the furnace 

that, when activated, results in a measurable 

change in energy consumption between the 

standby and off modes. 

Oil control valve means an automatically or 

manually operated device consisting of an oil 

valve for controlling the fuel supply to a 

burner to regulate burner input. 

Standby mode means any mode in which 

the furnace is connected to a mains power 

source and offers one or more of the 

following space heating functions that may 

persist: 

a. Activation of other modes (including 

activation or deactivation of active mode) by 

remote switch (including thermostat or 

remote control), internal or external sensors, 

and/or timer; and 

b. Continuous functions, including 

information or status displays or sensorbased functions. 

Thermal stack damper means a type of 

stack damper that relies exclusively upon the 

changes in temperature in the stack gases to 

open or close the damper. 

3.0 Classifications. Classifications are as 

specified in Section 4 of ASHRAE 103–1993 

for furnaces. 

4.0 Requirements. Requirements are as 

specified in Section 5 of ASHRAE 103–1993 

for furnaces. 

5.0 Instruments. Instruments must be as 

specified in Section 6 of ASHRAE 103–1993. 

6.0 Apparatus. The apparatus used in 

conjunction with the furnace during the 

testing must be as specified in Section 7 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 except for Sections 7.1, 

7.2.2.2, 7.2.2.5, 7.2.3.1, and 7.8; and as 

specified in sections 6.1 through 6.5 of this 

appendix. 

6.1 General. 

a. Install the furnace in the test room in 

accordance with the I&O manual, as defined 

in section 2.6 of this appendix, except that 

if provisions within this appendix are 

specified, then the provisions herein drafted 

and prescribed by DOE govern. If the I&O 

manual and any additional provisions of this 

appendix are not sufficient for testing a 

furnace, the manufacturer must request a 

waiver from the test procedure pursuant to 

10 CFR 430.27. 

b. If the I&O manual indicates the unit 

should not be installed with a return duct, 

then the return (inlet) duct specified in 

Section 7.2.1 of ASHRAE 103–1993 is not 

required. 

c. Test multi-position furnaces in the least 

efficient configuration. Testing of multiposition furnaces in other configurations is 

permitted if energy use or efficiency is 

represented pursuant to the requirements in 

10 CFR part 429. 

d. The apparatuses described in section 6 

of this appendix are used in conjunction with 

the furnace during testing. Each piece of 

apparatus shall conform to material and 

construction specifications listed in this 

appendix and in ASHRAE 103–1993, and the 

reference standards cited in this appendix 

and in ASHRAE 103–1993. 

e. Test rooms containing equipment must 

have suitable facilities for providing the 

utilities (including but not limited to 

environmental controls, applicable 

measurement equipment, and any other 

technology or tools) necessary for 

performance of the test and must be able to 

maintain conditions within the limits 

specified in section 6 of this appendix. 

6.2 Forced-air central furnaces (direct 

vent and direct exhaust). 

a. Units not equipped with a draft hood or 

draft diverter must be provided with the 

minimum-length vent configuration 

recommended in the I&O manual or a 5-ft 

flue pipe if there is no recommendation 

provided in the I&O manual (see Figure 4 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993). For a direct exhaust 

system, insulate the minimum-length vent 

configuration or the 5-ft flue pipe with 

insulation having an R-value not less than 7 

and an outer layer of aluminum foil. For a 

direct vent system, see Section 7.5 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 for insulation 

requirements. 

b. For units with power burners, cover the 

flue collection box with insulation having an 

R-value of not less than 7 and an outer layer 

of aluminum foil before the cool-down and 

heat-up tests described in Sections 9.5 and 

9.6 of ASHRAE 103–1993, respectively. 

However, do not apply the insulation for the 

jacket loss test (if conducted) described in 


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Section 8.6 of ASHRAE 103–1993 or the 

steady-state test described in Section 9.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993. 

c. For power-vented units, insulate the 

shroud surrounding the blower impeller with 

insulation having an R-value of not less than 

7 and an outer layer of aluminum foil before 

the cool-down and heat-up tests described in 

Sections 9.5 and 9.6, respectively, of 

ASHRAE 103–1993. Do not apply the 

insulation for the jacket loss test (if 

conducted) described in Section 8.6 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 or the steady-state test 

described in Section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103– 

1993. Do not insulate the blower motor or 

block the airflow openings that facilitate the 

cooling of the combustion blower motor or 

bearings. 

6.3 Downflow furnaces. Install an 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 

ASHRAE 103–1993 or the steady-state test 

described in Section 9.1 of ASHRAE 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 ASHRAE 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 R-value not less than 7 

and an outer layer of aluminum foil. (See 

Figure 3–E of ASHRAE 103–1993.) 

6.4 Units with draft hoods or draft 

diverters. Install the stack damper in 

accordance with the I&O manual. Install 5 

feet of stack above the damper. 

a. For units with an integral draft diverter, 

cover the 5-ft stack with insulation having an 

R-value of not less than 7 and an outer layer 

of aluminum foil. 

b. For units with draft hoods, insulate the 

flue pipe between the outlet of the furnace 

and the draft hood with insulation having an 

R-value of not less than 7 and an outer layer 

of aluminum foil. 

c. For units with integral draft diverters 

that are mounted in an exposed position (not 

inside the overall unit cabinet), cover the 

diverter boxes (excluding any openings 

through which draft relief air flows) before 

the beginning of any test (including jacket 

loss test) with insulation having an R-value 

of not less than 7 and an outer layer of 

aluminum foil. 

d. For units equipped with integral draft 

diverters that are enclosed within the overall 

unit cabinet, insulate the draft diverter box 

with insulation as described in Section 6.4.c 

before the cool-down and heat-up tests 

described in Sections 9.5 and 9.6, 

respectively, of ASHRAE 103–1993. Do not 

apply the insulation for the jacket loss test (if 

conducted) described in Section 8.6 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 or the steady-state test 

described in Section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103– 

1993. 

6.5 Condensate collection. Attach 

condensate drain lines to the unit as 

specified in the I&O manual. Maintain a 

continuous downward slope of drain lines 

from the unit. Additional precautions (such 

as eliminating any line configuration or 

position that would otherwise restrict or 

block the flow of condensate or checking to 

ensure a proper connection with condensate 

drain spout that allows for unobstructed 

flow) must be taken to facilitate 

uninterrupted flow of condensate during the 

test. Collection containers must be glass or 

polished stainless steel to facilitate removal 

of interior deposits. The collection container 

must have a vent opening to the atmosphere. 

7.0 Testing conditions. The testing 

conditions must be as specified in Section 8 

of ASHRAE 103–1993, except for Sections 

8.2.1.3, 8.4.1.1, 8.4.1.1.2, 8.4.1.2, 8.4.2.1.4, 

8.4.2.1.6, 8.6.1.1, 8.7.2, and 8.8.3; and as 

specified in sections 7.1 to 7.9 of this 

appendix, respectively. 

7.1 Fuel supply, gas. In conducting the 

tests specified herein, gases with 

characteristics as shown in Table 1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 shall be used. Maintain 

the gas supply, ahead of all controls for a 

furnace, at a test pressure between the 

normal and increased values shown in Table 

1 of ASHRAE 103–1993. Maintain the 

regulator outlet pressure at a level 

approximating that recommended in the I&O 

manual, as defined in section 2.6 of this 

appendix, or, in the absence of such 

recommendation, to the nominal regulator 

settings used when the product is shipped by 

the manufacturer. Use a gas having a specific 

gravity as shown in Table 1 of ASHRAE 103– 

1993 and with a higher heating value within 

±5% of the higher heating value shown in 

Table 1 of ASHRAE 103–1993. Determine the 

actual higher heating value in Btu per 

standard cubic foot for the gas to be used in 

the test within an error no greater than 1%. 

7.2 Gas burner. Adjust the burners of gasfired furnaces to their maximum Btu input 

ratings at the normal test pressure specified 

by section 7.1 of this appendix. Correct the 

burner input rate to reflect gas characteristics 

at a temperature of 60 °F and atmospheric 

pressure of 30 in of Hg and adjust down to 

within ±2 percent of the hourly Btu 

nameplate input rating specified by the 

manufacturer as measured during the steadystate performance test in section 8 of this 

appendix. Set the primary air shutters in 

accordance with the I&O manual to give a 

good flame at this condition. If, however, the 

setting results in the deposit of carbon on the 

burners during any test specified herein, the 

tester shall adjust the shutters and burners 

until no more carbon is deposited and shall 

perform the tests again with the new settings 

(see Figure 9 of ASHRAE 103–1993). After 

the steady-state performance test has been 

started, do not make additional adjustments 

to the burners during the required series of 

performance tests specified in section 9 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993. If a vent-limiting means 

is provided on a gas pressure regulator, keep 

it in place during all tests. 

7.3 Modulating gas burner adjustment at 

reduced input rate. For gas-fired furnaces 

equipped with modulating-type controls, 

adjust the controls to operate the unit at the 

nameplate minimum input rate. If the 

modulating control is of a non-automatic 

type, adjust the control to the setting 

recommended in the I&O manual. In the 

absence of such recommendation, the 

midpoint setting of the non-automatic control 

shall be used as the setting for determining 

the reduced fuel input rate. Start the furnace 

by turning the safety control valve to the 

‘‘ON’’ position. 

7.4 Oil burner. Adjust the burners of oilfired furnaces to give a CO2 reading specified 

in the I&O manual and an hourly Btu input 

during the steady-state performance test 

described in section 8 of this appendix. 

Ensure the hourly BTU input is within ±2% 

of the normal hourly Btu input rating as 

specified in the I&O manual. Smoke in the 

flue may not exceed a No. 1 smoke during 

the steady-state performance test as measured 

by the procedure in ASTM D2156R13). 

Maintain the average draft over the fire and 

in the flue during the steady-state 

performance test at the value specified in the 

I&O manual. Do not allow draft fluctuations 

exceeding 0.005 in. water. Do not make 

additional adjustments to the burner during 

the required series of performance tests. The 

instruments and measuring apparatus for this 

test are described in section 6 of this 

appendix and shown in Figure 8 of ASHRAE 

103–1993. 

7.5 Adjust air throughputs to achieve a 

temperature rise that is the higher of a and 

b, below, unless c applies. A tolerance of 

±2 °F is permitted. 

a. 15 °F less than the nameplate maximum 

temperature rise or 

b. 15 °F higher than the minimum 

temperature rise specified in the I&O manual. 

c. A furnace with a non-adjustable air 

temperature rise range and an automatically 

controlled airflow that does not permit a 

temperature rise range of 30 °F or more must 

be tested at the midpoint of the rise range. 

7.6 Establish the temperature rise 

specified in section 7.5 of this appendix by 

adjusting the circulating airflow. This 

adjustment must be accomplished by 

symmetrically restricting the outlet air duct 

and varying blower speed selection to obtain 

the desired temperature rise and minimum 

external static pressure, as specified in Table 

4 of ASHRAE 103–1993. If the required 

temperature rise cannot be obtained at the 

minimum specified external static pressure 

by adjusting blower speed selection and duct 

outlet restriction, then the following applies. 

a. If the resultant temperature rise is less 

than the required temperature rise, vary the 

blower speed by gradually adjusting the 

blower voltage so as to maintain the 

minimum external static pressure listed in 

Table 4 of ASHRAE 103–1993. The airflow 

restrictions shall then remain unchanged. If 

static pressure must be varied to prevent 

unstable blower operation, then increase the 

static pressure until blower operation is 

stabilized, except that the static pressure 

must not exceed the maximum external static 

pressure as specified by the manufacturer in 

the I&O manual. 

b. If the resultant temperature rise is 

greater than the required temperature rise, 

then the unit can be tested at a higher 

temperature rise value, but one not greater 

than nameplate maximum temperature rise. 

In order not to exceed the maximum 


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temperature rise, the speed of a direct-driven 

blower may be increased by increasing the 

circulating air blower motor voltage. 

7.7 Measurement of jacket surface 

temperature. Divide the jacket of the furnace 

into 6-inch squares when practical, and 

otherwise into 36-square-inch regions 

comprising 4-inch by 9-inch or 3-inch by 12- 

inch sections, and determine the surface 

temperature at the center of each square or 

section with a surface thermocouple. Record 

the surface temperature of the 36-square-inch 

areas in groups where the temperature 

differential of the 36-square-inch areas is less 

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

room temperature, and less than 20 °F for 

temperatures 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 ASHRAE 103–1993). 

7.8 Installation of vent system. Keep the 

vent or air intake system supplied by the 

manufacturer in place during all tests. Test 

units intended for installation with a variety 

of vent pipe lengths with the minimum vent 

length as specified in the I&O manual, or a 

5-ft. flue pipe if there are no 

recommendations in the I&O manual. Do not 

connect a furnace employing a direct vent 

system to a chimney or induced-draft source. 

Vent combustion products solely by using 

the venting incorporated in the furnace and 

the vent or air intake system supplied by the 

manufacturer. For units that are not designed 

to significantly preheat the incoming air, see 

section 7.4 of this appendix and Figure 4a or 

4b of ASHRAE 103–1993. For units that do 

significantly preheat the incoming air, see 

Figure 4c or 4d of ASHRAE 103–1993. 

7.9 Additional optional method of testing 

for determining DP and DF for furnaces. On 

units whose design is such that there is no 

measurable airflow through the combustion 

chamber and heat exchanger when the 

burner(s) is (are) off as determined by the 

optional test procedure in section 7.9.1 of 

this appendix, DF and DP may be set equal 

to 0.05. 

7.9.1 Optional test method for indicating 

the absence of flow through the heat 

exchanger. Manufacturers may use the 

following test protocol to determine whether 

air flows through the combustion chamber 

and heat exchanger when the burner(s) is 

(are) off. The minimum default draft factor 

(as allowed per Sections 8.8.3 and 9.10 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993) may be used only for 

units determined pursuant to this protocol to 

have no airflow through the combustion 

chamber and heat exchanger. 

7.9.1.1 Test apparatus. Use a smoke stick 

that produces smoke that is easily visible and 

has a density less than or approximately 

equal to air. Use a smoke stick that produces 

smoke that is non-toxic to the test personnel 

and produces gas that is unreactive with the 

environment in the test chamber. 

7.9.1.2 Test conditions. Minimize all air 

currents and drafts in the test chamber, 

including turning off ventilation if the test 

chamber is mechanically ventilated. Wait at 

least two minutes following the termination 

of the furnace on-cycle before beginning the 

optional test method for indicating the 

absence of flow through the heat exchanger. 

7.9.1.3 Location of the test apparatus. 

After all air currents and drafts in the test 

chamber have been eliminated or minimized, 

position the smoke stick based on the 

following equipment configuration: 

(a) For horizontal combustion air intakes, 

approximately 4 inches from the vertical 

plane at the termination of the intake vent 

and 4 inches below the bottom edge of the 

combustion air intake; or 

(b) for vertical combustion air intakes, 

approximately 4 inches horizontal from vent 

perimeter at the termination of the intake 

vent and 4 inches down (parallel to the 

vertical axis of the vent). 

7.9.1.4 Duration of test. Establish the 

presence of smoke from the smoke stick and 

then monitor the direction of the smoke flow 

for no less than 30 seconds. 

7.9.1.5 Test results. During visual 

assessment, determine whether there is any 

draw of smoke into the combustion air intake 

vent. 

(a) If absolutely no smoke is drawn into the 

combustion air intake, the furnace meets the 

requirements to allow use of the minimum 

default draft factor pursuant to Section 8.8.3 

and/or Section 9.10 of ASHRAE 103–1993. 

(b) If there is any smoke drawn into the 

intake, proceed with the methods of testing 

as prescribed in Section 8.8 of ASHRAE 103– 

1993. 

8.0 Test procedure. Conduct testing and 

measurements as specified in Section 9 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 except for Sections 

9.1.2.2.1, 9.1.2.2.2, 9.5.1.1, 9.5.1.2.1, 

9.5.1.2.2, 9.7.4, and 9.10; and as specified in 

sections 8.1 through 8.10 of this appendix. 

Section 8.4 of this appendix may be used in 

lieu of Section 9.2 of ASHRAE 103–1993. 

8.1 Fuel input. For gas units, measure and 

record the steady-state gas input rate in Btu/ 

hr, including pilot gas, corrected to standard 

conditions of 60 °F and 30 in. Hg. Use 

measured values of gas temperature and 

pressure at the meter and barometric pressure 

to correct the metered gas flow rate to the 

above standard conditions. For oil units, 

measure and record the steady-state fuel 

input rate. 

8.2 Electrical input. During the steadystate test, perform a single measurement of 

all of the electrical power involved in burner 

operation (PE), including energizing the 

ignition system, controls, gas valve or oil 

control valve, and draft inducer, if 

applicable. 

During the steady-state test, perform a 

single measurement of the electrical power to 

the circulating air blower (BE). 

8.3 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 

record that PEIG = 0.4 kW if no nameplate 

power input is provided. Record the 

nameplate ignition device on-time interval, 

tIG, or, if the nameplate does not provide the 

ignition device on-time interval, measure the 

on-time interval with a stopwatch at the 

beginning of the test, starting when the 

burner is turned on. Set tIG = 0 and PEIG = 

0 if the device on-time interval is less than 

or equal to 5 seconds after the burner is on. 

8.4 Optional test procedures for 

condensing furnaces, measurement of 

condensate during the establishment of 

steady-state conditions. For units with stepmodulating or two-stage controls, conduct 

the test at both the maximum and reduced 

inputs. In lieu of collecting the condensate 

immediately after the steady state conditions 

have been reached as required by Section 9.2 

of ASHRAE 103–1993, condensate may be 

collected during the establishment of steady 

state conditions as defined by Section 9.1.2.1 

of ASHRAE 103–1993. Perform condensate 

collection for at least 30 minutes. Measure 

condensate mass immediately at the end of 

the collection period to prevent evaporation 

loss from the sample. Record fuel input for 

the 30-minute condensate collection test 

period. Observe and record fuel higher 

heating value (HHV), temperature, and 

pressures necessary for determining fuel 

energy input (Qc,ss). Measure the fuel 

quantity and HHV with errors no greater than 

1%. The humidity for the room air shall at 

no time exceed 80%. Determine the mass of 

condensate for the establishment of steady 

state conditions (Mc,ss) in pounds by 

subtracting the tare container weight from the 

total container and condensate weight 

measured at the end of the 30-minute 

condensate collection test period. 

8.5 Cool-down test for gas- and oil-fueled 

gravity and forced-air central furnaces 

without stack dampers. Turn off the main 

burner after completing steady-state testing, 

and measure the flue gas temperature by 

means of the thermocouple grid described in 

Section 7.6 of ASHRAE 103–1993 at 1.5 

minutes (TF,OFF(t3)) and 9 minutes (TF,OFF(t4)) 

after shutting off the burner. When taking 

these temperature readings, the integral draft 

diverter must remain blocked and insulated, 

and the stack restriction must remain in 

place. On atmospheric systems with an 

integral draft diverter or draft hood and 

equipped with either an electromechanical 

inlet damper or an electromechanical 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 post-purge period 

with a stopwatch. Record the time from 

burner ‘‘OFF’’ to combustion blower ‘‘OFF’’ 

(electrically de-energized) as tP. If the 

measured tP is less than or equal to 30 

seconds, set tP at 0 and conduct the cooldown test as if there is no post-purge. If tP

is prescribed by the I&O manual or measured 

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 ASHRAE 

103–1993 at the end of the post-purge period, 


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tP(TF,OFF (tP)), and at the time (1.5 + tP) 

minutes (TF,OFF(t3)) and (9.0 + tP) minutes 

(TF,OFF(t4)) after the main burner shuts off. 

8.6 Cool-down test for gas- and oil-fueled 

gravity and forced-air central furnaces 

without stack dampers and with adjustable 

fan control. For a furnace with adjustable fan 

control, measure the time delay between 

burner shutdown and blower shutdown, t+. 

This time delay, t+, will be 3.0 minutes for 

non-condensing 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 time delay, 

t+, specified above, bypass the fan control 

and manually control the fan to allow for the 

appropriate delay time as specified in 

Section 9.5.1.2 of ASHRAE 103–1993. For a 

furnace that employs a single motor to drive 

both the power burner and the indoor air 

circulating blower, the power burner and 

indoor air circulating blower must be 

stopped at the same time. 

8.7 Direct measurement of off-cycle losses 

testing method. [Reserved.] 

8.8 Calculation options. The rate of the 

flue gas mass flow through the furnace and 

the factors DP, DF, and DS are calculated by 

the equations in Sections 11.6.1, 11.6.2, 

11.6.3, 11.6.4, 11.7.1, and 11.7.2 of ASHRAE 

103–1993. On units whose design is such 

that there is no measurable airflow through 

the combustion chamber and heat exchanger 

when the burner(s) is (are) off (as determined 

by the optional test procedure in section 7.9 

of this appendix), DF and DP may be set equal 

to 0.05. 

8.10 Optional test procedures for 

condensing furnaces that have no off-period 

flue losses. For units that have applied the 

test method in section 7.9 of this appendix 

to determine that no measurable airflow 

exists through the combustion chamber and 

heat exchanger during the burner off-period 

and having post-purge periods of less than 5 

seconds, the cool-down and heat-up tests 

specified in Sections 9.5 and 9.6 of ASHRAE 

103–1993 may be omitted. In lieu of 

conducting the cool-down and heat-up tests, 

the tester may use the losses determined 

during the steady-state test described in 

Section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103–1993 when 

calculating heating seasonal efficiency, 

EffyHS. 

8.10 Measurement of electrical standby 

and off mode power. 

8.10.1 Standby power measurement. With 

all electrical auxiliaries of the furnace not 

activated, measure the standby power (PW,SB) 

in accordance with the procedures in IEC 

62301, except that Section 8.5, Room 

Ambient Temperature, of ASHRAE 103–1993 

and the voltage provision of Section 8.2.1.4, 

Electrical Supply, of ASHRAE 103–1993 

shall apply in lieu of the corresponding 

provisions of IEC 62301 at Section 4.2, Test 

room, and the voltage specification of Section 

4.3, Power supply. Frequency shall be 60Hz. 

Clarifying further, IEC 62301 Section 4.4, 

Power measurement instruments, and 

Section 5, Measurements, apply in lieu of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 Section 6.10, Energy 

Flow Rate. Measure the wattage so that all 

possible standby mode wattage for the entire 

appliance is recorded, not just the standby 

mode wattage of a single auxiliary. Round the 

recorded standby power (PW,SB) to the second 

decimal place, except for loads greater than 

or equal to 10W, which must be recorded to 

at least three significant figures. 

8.10.2 Off mode power measurement. If 

the unit is equipped with an off switch or 

there is an expected difference between off 

mode power and standby mode power, 

measure off mode power (PW,OFF) in 

accordance with the standby power 

procedures in IEC 62301, except that Section 

8.5, Room Ambient Temperature, of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 and the voltage provision 

of Section 8.2.1.4, Electrical Supply, of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 shall apply in lieu of the 

corresponding provisions of IEC 62301 at 

Section 4.2, Test room, and the voltage 

specification of Section 4.3, Power supply. 

Frequency shall be 60Hz. Clarifying further, 

IEC 62301 Section 4.4, Power measurement 

instruments, and Section 5, Measurements, 

apply for this measurement in lieu of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 Section 6.10, Energy 

Flow Rate. Measure the wattage so that all 

possible off mode wattage for the entire 

appliance is recorded, not just the off mode 

wattage of a single auxiliary. If there is no 

expected difference in off mode power and 

standby mode power, let PW,OFF = PW,SB, in 

which case no separate measurement of off 

mode power is necessary. Round the 

recorded off mode power (PW,OFF) to the 

second decimal place, except for loads 

greater than or equal to 10W, in which case 

round the recorded value to at least three 

significant figures. 

9.0 Nomenclature. Nomenclature 

includes the nomenclature specified in 

Section 10 of ASHRAE 103–1993 and the 

following additional variables: 

Effmotor = Efficiency of power burner motor 

PEIG = 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,F = Ratio 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 

tIG = Electrical interrupted ignition device 

on-time, min. 

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

measured, °F 

= TS,SS,X if stack gas temperature is 

measured, °F 

yIG = 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 ontime 

ESO = Average annual electric standby mode 

and off mode energy consumption, in 

kilowatt-hours 

PW,OFF = Furnace off mode power, in watts 

PW,SB = Furnace standby mode power, in 

watts 

10.0 Calculation of derived results from 

test measurements. Perform calculations as 

specified in Section 11 of ASHRAE 103– 

1993, except for Sections 11.5.11.1, 11.5.11.2, 

and appendices B and C; and as specified in 

Sections 10.1 through 10.11 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 ASHRAE 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 ASHRAE 103–1993, except that 

for condensing modulating systems Sections 

11.5.11.1 and 11.5.11.2 are replaced by 

Sections 10.2 and 10.3 of this appendix. 

EffyHS is based on the assumptions that all 

weatherized warm air furnaces are located 

outdoors and that non-weatherized warm air 

furnaces are installed as isolated combustion 

systems. 

10.2 Part-load efficiency at reduced fuel 

input rate. If the option in Section 8.9 of this 

appendix is not employed, calculate the partload efficiency at the reduced fuel input rate, 

EffyU,R, for condensing furnaces equipped 

with either step-modulating or two-stage 

controls, expressed as a percent and defined 

as: 


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If the option in section 8.9 of this appendix 

is employed, calculate EffyU,R as follows: 

Where: 

LL,A = value as defined in Section 11.2.7 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993, 

LG = value as defined in Section 11.3.11.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993, at reduced input 

rate, 

LC = value as defined in Section 11.3.11.2 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input 

rate, 

LJ = value as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate, 

tON = value as defined in Section 11.4.9.11 

of ASHRAE 103–1993, 

QP = pilot fuel input rate determined in 

accordance with Section 9.2 of ASHRAE 

103–1993 in Btu/h, 

QIN = value as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.1 

of ASHRAE 103–1993, 

tOFF = value as defined in Section 11.4.9.12 

of ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input 

rate, 

LS,ON = value as defined in Section 11.4.10.5 

of ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input 

rate, 

LS,OFF = value as defined in Section 11.4.10.6 

of ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input 

rate, 

LI,ON = value as defined in Section 11.4.10.7 

of ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input 

rate, 

LI,OFF = value as defined in Section 11.4.10.8 

of ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input 

rate, 

CJ = jacket loss factor and equal to: 

= 0.0 for furnaces intended to be installed 

indoors 

= 1.7 for furnaces intended to be installed 

as isolated combustion systems 

= 3.3 for furnaces intended to be installed 

outdoors 

LS,SS = value as defined in Section 11.4.6 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input 

rate, 

CS = value as defined in Section 11.3.10.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input 

rate. 

10.3 Part-Load Efficiency at Maximum 

Fuel Input Rate. If the option in section 8.9 

of this appendix is not employed, calculate 

the part-load efficiency at maximum fuel 

input rate, EffyU,H, for condensing furnaces 

equipped with two-stage controls, expressed 

as a percent and defined as: 

If the option in section 8.9 of this appendix 

is employed, calculate EffyU,H as follows: 

Where: 

LL,A = value as defined in Section 11.2.7 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993, 

LG = value as defined in Section 11.3.11.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate, 

LC = value as defined in Section 11.3.11.2 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate, 

LJ = value as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate, 

tON = value as defined in Section 11.4.9.11 

of ASHRAE 103–1993, 

QP = pilot fuel input rate determined in 

accordance with Section 9.2 of ASHRAE 

103–1993 in Btu/h, 

QIN = value as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.1 

of ASHRAE 103–1993, 

tOFF = value as defined in Section 11.4.9.12 

of ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate, 

LS,ON = value as defined in Section 11.4.10.5 

of ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate, 

LS,OFF = value as defined in Section 11.4.10.6 

of ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate, 

LI,ON = value as defined in Section 11.4.10.7 

of ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate, 

LI,OFF = value as defined in Section 11.4.10.8 

of ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate, 

CJ = value as defined in Section 10.2 of this 

appendix, 

LS,SS = value as defined in Section 11.4.6 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate, 

CS = value as defined in Section 11.4.10.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input 

rate. 

10.4 National average burner operating 

hours, average annual fuel energy 

consumption, and average annual auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption for gas or oil 

furnaces. 

10.4.1 National average number of burner 

operating hours. For furnaces 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 

A = 100,000/[341,200 (yP PE + yIG PEIG + y 

BE) + (QIN¥QP) EffyHS], for forced draft 

unit, indoors 

= 100,000/[341,200 (yP PE Effmotor + yIG

PEIG + y BE) + (QIN¥QP) EffyHS], for 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS2EP15MR22.001</GPH> EP15MR22.002</GPH> EP15MR22.003</GPH>

Ef fYu,R = 100 - Li,A + La - Le - ) . ] (Cs) ton1 

IN 
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2022 / Proposed Rules 14649 

forced draft unit, isolated combustion 

system, 

= 100,000/[341,200 (yP PE (1 ¥ Effmotor) + 

yIG PEIG + y BE) + (QIN¥QP) EffyHS], for 

induced draft unit, indoors, and 

= 100,000/[341,200 (yIG PEIG + y BE) + 

(QIN¥QP) EffyHS], for induced draft unit, 

isolated combustion system. 

DHR = typical design heating requirements as 

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

103–1993, using the proper value of 

QOUT defined in Section 11.2.8.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993. 

B = 2 QP (EffyHS) (A)/100,000 

Where: 

Effmotor = nameplate power burner motor 

efficiency provided by the manufacturer, 

= 0.50, an assumed default power burner 

efficiency if not provided by the 

manufacturer. 

100,000 = factor that accounts for percent 

and kBtu 

yP = ratio of induced or forced draft blower 

on-time to average burner on-time, as 

follows: 

1 for units without post-purge; 

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

post purge; or 

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

modulating furnaces with post purge. 

PE = all electrical power related to burner 

operation at full load steady-state 

operation, including electrical ignition 

device if energized, controls, gas valve or 

oil control valve, and draft inducer, as 

determined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix. 

yIG = ratio of burner interrupted ignition 

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

0 for burners not equipped with 

interrupted ignition device; 

(tIG/3.87) for single-stage furnaces; or 

(tIG/10) for two-stage and step modulating 

furnaces; 

PEIG = electrical input rate to the interrupted 

ignition device on burner (if employed), 

as defined in section 8.3 of this appendix 

y = ratio of blower on-time to average burner 

on-time, as follows: 

1 for furnaces without fan delay; 

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

with fan delay; or 

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

modulating furnaces with fan delay. 

BE = circulating air fan electrical energy 

input rate at full-load steady-state 

operation as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix. 

tP = post-purge time as defined in section 8.5 

of this appendix 

= 0 if tP is equal to or less than 30 seconds 

tIG = on-time of the burner interrupted 

ignition device, as defined in section 8.3 

of this appendix 

QIN = as defined in Section 11.2.8.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

QP = as defined in Section 11.2.11 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

EffyHS = as defined in Section 11.2.11 (noncondensing systems) or Section 11.3.11.3 

(condensing systems) of ASHRAE 103– 

1993, percent, and calculated on the 

basis of: 

isolated combustion system installation, 

for non-weatherized warm air furnaces; 

or 

outdoor installation, for furnaces that are 

weatherized. 

2 = ratio of the average length of the heating 

season in hours to the average heating 

load hours 

t∂ = delay time between burner shutoff and 

the blower shutoff measured as defined 

in Section 9.5.1.2 of ASHRAE 103–1993 

t¥ = as defined in Section 9.6.1 of ASHRAE 

103–1993 

10.4.1.1 For furnaces 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 Section 11.4.8.1.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

QP = as defined in Section 11.4.12 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

BOHSS = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix, in which the weighted EffyHS

as defined in Section 11.4.11.3 or 

11.5.11.3 of ASHRAE 103–1993 is used 

for calculating the values of A and B, the 

term DHR is based on the value of QOUT

defined in Section 11.4.8.1.1 or 

11.5.8.1.1 of ASHRAE 103–1993, and the 

term (yPPE + yIGPEIG + 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/[341,200 (yP PE + yIG PEIG + y 

BE) R + (QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS], for forced 

draft unit, indoors 

= 100,000/[341,200 (yP PE Effmotor + yIG

PEIG + y BE) R + (QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS], for 

forced draft unit, isolated combustion 

system, 

= 100,000/[341,200 (yP PE (1 ¥ Effmotor) + 

yIG PEIG + y BE) R + (QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS], 

for induced draft unit, indoors, and 

= 100,000/[341,200 (yIG PEIG + y BE) R + 

(QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS], for induced draft 

unit, isolated combustion system. 

Where: 

Effmotor = nameplate power burner motor 

efficiency provided by the manufacturer, 

= 0.50, an assumed default power burner 

efficiency if not provided by the 

manufacturer. 

EffyHS = as defined in Section 11.4.11.3 or 

11.5.11.3 of ASHRAE 103–1993, and 

calculated on the basis of: 

isolated combustion system installation, 

for non-weatherized warm air furnaces; 

or 

outdoor installation, for furnaces that are 

weatherized. 

8,760 = total number of hours per year 

4,600 = as defined in Section 11.4.12 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

10.4.1.2 For furnaces equipped with twostage or step-modulating controls, the 

national average number of burner operating 

hours at the reduced operating mode (BOHR) 

is defined as: 

BOHR = XR EM/QIN,R

Where: 

XR = as defined in Section 11.4.8.7 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QIN,R = as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.2 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

10.4.1.3 For furnaces equipped with twostage controls, the national average number 

of burner operating hours at the maximum 

operating mode (BOHH) is defined as: 

BOHH = XH EM/QIN

Where: 

XH = as defined in Section 11.4.8.6 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QIN = as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

10.4.1.4 For furnaces equipped with stepmodulating controls, the national average 

number of burner operating hours at the 

modulating operating mode (BOHM) is 

defined as: 

BOHM = XH EM/QIN,M

Where: 

XH = as defined in Section 11.4.8.6 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QIN,M = QOUT,M/(EffySS,M/100) 

QOUT,M = as defined in Section 11.4.8.10 or 

11.5.8.10 of ASHRAE 103–1993, as 

appropriate 

EffySS,M = as defined in Section 11.4.8.8 or 

11.5.8.8 of ASHRAE 103–1993, as 

appropriate, in percent 

100 = factor that accounts for percent 

10.4.2 Average annual fuel energy 

consumption for gas or oil fueled furnaces. 

For furnaces equipped with single-stage 

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 section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

QIN = as defined in Section 11.2.8.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

QP = as defined in Section 11.2.11 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

8,760 = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this 

appendix 

10.4.2.1 For furnaces equipped with 

either two-stage or step modulating controls, 

EF is defined as: 

EF = EM + 4,600 QP

Where: 

EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this 

appendix 

4,600 = as defined in Section 11.4.12 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

QP = as defined in Section 11.2.11 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

10.4.3 Average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption for gas or oil-fueled 

furnaces. For furnaces equipped with singlestage controls, the average annual auxiliary 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS2
14650 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

electrical consumption (EAE) is expressed in 

kilowatt-hours and defined as: 

EAE = BOHSS (yP PE + yIG PEIG + yBE) + ESO

Where: 

BOHSS = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

yP = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

PE = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

yIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

PEIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

y = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

BE = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this 

appendix 

10.4.3.1 For furnaces equipped with twostage controls, EAE is defined as: 

EAE = BOHR (yP PER + yIG PEIG + yBER) + 

BOHH (yP PEH + yIG PEIG + y BEH) + ESO

Where: 

BOHR = as defined in section 10.4.1.2 of this 

appendix 

yP = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

PER = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the reduced 

fuel input rate 

yIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

PEIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

y = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

BER = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the reduced 

fuel input rate 

BOHH = as defined in section 10.4.1.3 of this 

appendix 

PEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

BEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this 

appendix 

10.4.3.2 For furnaces equipped with stepmodulating controls, EAE is defined as: 

EAE = BOHR (yP PER + yIG PEIG + y BER) + 

BOHM (yP PEH + yIG PEIG + y BEH) + ESO

Where: 

BOHR = as defined in section 10.4.1.2 of this 

appendix 

yP = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

PER = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the reduced 

fuel input rate 

yIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

PEIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

y = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

BER = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the reduced 

fuel input rate 

BOHM = as defined in 10.4.1.4 of this 

appendix 

PEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

BEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this 

appendix 

10.5 Average annual electric energy 

consumption for electric furnaces. For 

electric furnaces, the average annual 

electrical energy consumption (EE) is 

expressed in kilowatt-hours and defined as: 

EE = 100 (2,080) (0.77) DHR/(3.412 AFUE) + 

ESO

Where: 

100 = to express a percent as a decimal 

2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

0.77 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

DHR = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

3.412 = conversion factor from watt-hours to 

Btu 

AFUE = as defined in Section 11.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993, in percent, and 

calculated on the basis of: 

Isolated combustion system installation, 

for non-weatherized warm air furnaces; 

or 

outdoor installation, for furnaces that are 

weatherized. 

ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this 

appendix. 

10.6 Energy factor. 

10.6.1 Energy factor for gas or oil 

furnaces. Calculate the energy factor, EF, for 

gas or oil furnaces defined as, in percent: 

EF = (EF ¥ 4,600 (QP))(EffyHS)/(EF + 3,412 

(EAE)) 

Where: 

EF = average annual fuel consumption as 

defined in section 10.4.2 of this 

appendix 

4,600 = as defined in Section 11.4.12 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

QP = pilot fuel input rate determined in 

accordance with Section 9.2 of ASHRAE 

103–1993 in Btu/h 

EffyHS = annual fuel utilization efficiency as 

defined in Sections 11.2.11, 11.3.11, 

11.4.11 or 11.5.11 of ASHRAE 103–1993, 

in percent, and calculated on the basis 

of: 

Isolated combustion system installation, 

for non-weatherized warm air furnaces; 

or 

outdoor installation, for furnaces that are 

weatherized. 

3,412 = conversion factor from kW to Btu/h 

EAE = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this 

appendix 

10.6.2 Energy factor for electric furnaces. 

The energy factor, EF, for electric furnaces is 

defined as: 

EF = AFUE 

Where: 

AFUE = annual fuel utilization efficiency as 

defined in section 10.4.3 of this 

appendix, in percent 

10.7 Average annual energy consumption 

for furnaces located in a different geographic 

region of the United States and in buildings 

with different design heating requirements. 

10.7.1 Average annual fuel energy 

consumption for gas or oil-fueled furnaces 

located in a different geographic region of the 

United States and in buildings with different 

design heating requirements. For gas or oilfueled furnaces, 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 section 10.4.2 of this 

appendix 

8,760 = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QP = as defined in Section 11.2.11 of 

ASHRAE 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 section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

10.7.2 Average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption for gas or oil-fueled 

furnaces located in a different geographic 

region of the United States and in buildings 

with different design heating requirements. 

For gas or oil-fueled furnaces, the average 

annual auxiliary electrical energy 

consumption for a specific geographic region 

and a specific typical design heating 

requirement (EAER) is expressed in kilowatthours and defined as: 

EAER = (EAE ¥ ESO) (HLH/2080) + ESOR

Where: 

EAE = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this 

appendix 

ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this 

appendix 

HLH = as defined in section 10.7.1 of this 

appendix 

2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

ESOR = as defined in section 10.7.3 of this 

appendix. 

10.7.3 Average annual electric energy 

consumption for electric furnaces located in 

a different geographic region of the United 

States and in buildings with different design 

heating requirements. For electric furnaces, 

the average annual electric energy 

consumption for a specific geographic region 

and a specific typical design heating 

requirement (EER) is expressed in kilowatthours and defined as: 

EER = 100 (0.77) DHR HLH/(3.412 AFUE) + 

ESOR

Where: 

100 = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this 

appendix 

0.77 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

DHR = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

HLH = as defined in section 10.7.1 of this 

appendix 

3.412 = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this 

appendix 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2022 / Proposed Rules 14651 

AFUE = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this 

appendix 

ESOR = ESO as defined in section 10.11 of this 

appendix, except that in the equation for 

ESO, the term BOH is multiplied by the 

expression (HLH/2080) to get the 

appropriate regional accounting of 

standby mode and off mode loss. 

10.8 Annual energy consumption for 

mobile home furnaces. 

10.8.1 National average number of burner 

operating hours for mobile home furnaces 

(BOHSS). BOHSS is the same as in section 

10.4.1 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. 

10.8.2 Average annual fuel energy for 

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

section 10.4.2 of this appendix except that 

the burner operating hours, BOHSS, is 

calculated as specified in section 10.8.1 of 

this appendix. 

10.8.3 Average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption for mobile home 

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

10.4.3 of this appendix, except that the 

burner operating hours, BOHSS, is calculated 

as specified in section 10.8.1 of this 

appendix. 

10.9 Calculation of sales weighted 

average annual energy consumption for 

mobile home furnaces. To reflect the 

distribution of mobile homes to geographical 

regions with average HLHMHF values different 

from 2,080, adjust the annual fossil fuel and 

auxiliary electrical energy consumption 

values for mobile home furnaces using the 

following adjustment calculations. 

10.9.1 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 section 10.8.2 of this 

appendix 

8,760 = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QP = as defined in section 10.2 of this 

appendix 

HLHMHF = 1880, sales weighted average 

heating load hours for mobile home 

furnaces 

2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

10.9.2 For mobile home furnaces, the 

sales-weighted-average annual auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption is expressed in 

kilowatt-hours and defined as: 

EAE,MHF = EAE HLHMHF/2,080 

Where: 

EAE = as defined in section 10.8.3 of this 

appendix 

HLHMHF = as defined in section 10.9.1 of this 

appendix 

2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

10.10 Direct determination of off-cycle 

losses for furnaces equipped with thermal 

stack dampers. [Reserved] 

10.11 Average annual electrical standby 

mode and off mode energy consumption. 

Calculate the annual electrical standby mode 

and off mode energy consumption (ESO) in 

kilowatt-hours, defined as: 

ESO = (PW,SB (4160 ¥ BOH) + 4600 PW,OFF) 

K 

Where: 

PW,SB = furnace standby mode power, in 

watts, as measured in section 8.10.1 of 

this appendix 

4,160 = average heating season hours per year 

BOH = total burner operating hours as 

calculated in section 10.4 of this 

appendix for gas or oil-fueled furnaces. 

Where for gas or oil-fueled furnaces 

equipped with single-stage controls, 

BOH = BOHSS; for gas or oil-fueled 

furnaces equipped with two-stage 

controls, BOH = (BOHR + BOHH); and for 

gas or oil-fueled furnaces equipped with 

step-modulating controls, BOH = (BOHR

+ BOHM). For electric furnaces, BOH = 

100(2080)(0.77)DHR/(Ein 3.412(AFUE)) 

4,600 = as defined in Section 11.4.12 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 

PW,OFF = furnace off mode power, in watts, 

as measured in section 8.10.2 of this 

appendix 

K = 0.001 kWh/Wh, conversion factor from 

watt-hours to kilowatt-hours 

Where: 

100 = to express a percent as a decimal 

2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

0.77 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

DHR = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this 

appendix 

Ein = steady-state electric rated power, in 

kilowatts, from Section 9.3 of ASHRAE 

103–1993 

3.412 = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this 

appendix 

AFUE = as defined in Section 11.1 of 

ASHRAE 103–1993 in percent 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS2
14652 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

■ 8. Appendix EE to subpart B of part 

430 is added to read as follows: 

Appendix EE to Subpart B of Part 430— 

Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 

Energy Consumption of Consumer 

Boilers 

0. Incorporation by reference 

DOE incorporated by reference in § 430.3, 

the entire standard for ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017, ANSI/ASHRAE 41.6–2014, ASTM 

D2156–09 (R2018), and IEC 62301. However, 

only enumerated provisions of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 are applicable to this 

appendix, as follows: 

(1) ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

(i) section 2 ‘‘Scope’’ as referenced in 

section 1.0 of this appendix; 

(ii) section 3 ‘‘Definitions’’ as referenced in 

section 2.0 of this appendix; 

(iii) section 4 ‘‘Classifications’’ as 

referenced in section 3.0 of this appendix; 

(iv) section 5 ‘‘Requirements’’ as referenced 

in section 4.0 of this appendix; 

(v) section 6 ‘‘Instruments’’ as referenced 

in section 5.0 of this appendix; 

(vi) section 7 ‘‘Apparatus’’ (except for 

sections 7.1 and 7.8) as referenced in section 

6.0 of this appendix; 

(vii) section 8 ‘‘Methods of Testing’’ 

(except for sections 8.3.1.3, 8.3.3.1, 8.4.1.1, 

8.4.1.1.1, 8.4.1.2, 8.6.1.1, 8.7.2, and 8.8.3) as 

referenced in section 7.0 of this appendix; 

(viii) section 9 ‘‘Test Procedure’’ (except 

for 9.1.2.2.1, 9.1.2.2.2, 9.5.2.1, 9.7.4, and 

9.10) as referenced in section 8.0 of this 

appendix; 

(ix) section 10 ‘‘Nomenclature’’ as 

referenced in section 9.0 of this appendix; 

and 

(x) section 11 ‘‘Calculations’’ as referenced 

in section 10.0 of this appendix. 

In cases where there is a conflict, the 

language of the test procedure in this 

appendix takes precedence over the 

incorporated standards. 

1.0 Scope. The scope of this appendix is 

as specified in Section 2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017 as it pertains to low pressure steam 

or hot water boiler and electric boilers. 

2.0 Definitions. Definitions include those 

specified in Section 3 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017 and the following additional and 

modified definitions. 

Active mode means the condition in which 

the boiler is connected to the power source, 

and at least one of the burner, electric 

resistance elements, or any electrical 

auxiliaries such as blowers or pumps, are 

activated. 

Boiler pump means a pump installed on a 

boiler and that is separate from the 

circulating water pump. 

Draft inducer means a fan incorporated in 

the boiler that either draws or forces air into 

the combustion chamber. 

Gas valve means an automatic or semiautomatic device consisting essentially of a 

valve and operator that controls the gas 

supply to the burner(s) during normal 

operation of an appliance. The operator may 

be actuated by application of gas pressure on 

a flexible diaphragm, by electrical means, by 

mechanical means or by other means. 

Installation and operation (I&O) manual 

means instructions for installing, 

commissioning, and operating the boiler, 

which are supplied with the product when 

shipped by the manufacturer. 

Off mode means a mode in which the 

boiler is connected to a mains power source 

and is not providing any active mode or 

standby mode function, and where the mode 

may persist for an indefinite time. The 

existence of an off switch in off position (a 

disconnected circuit) is included within the 

classification of off mode. 

Off switch means the switch on the boiler 

that, when activated, results in a measurable 

change in energy consumption between the 

standby and off modes. 

Oil control valve means an automatically or 

manually operated device consisting of an oil 

valve for controlling the fuel supply to a 

burner to regulate burner input. 

Standby mode means any mode in which 

the boiler is connected to a mains power 

source and offers one or more of the 

following space heating functions that may 

persist: 

a. To facilitate the activation of other 

modes (including activation or deactivation 

of active mode) by remote switch (including 

thermostat or remote control), internal or 

external sensors, or timer; 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS2EP15MR22.004</GPH>

3,000 2,500 

Alaska: 3,500 

Hawaii and territories : 0 

Tbll map II nuonably accurate for mtlt putt of the United State, b\lt 11 neeaadly 

pueralized,. uul ec.wequatly not too acearate bl moutabaou rq.ions, putlallarty 

mtberodda. 

FIGUP.S l• HBATINO LOAD HOURS (HLll) FOR. THB UNITED STATBS 
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2022 / Proposed Rules 14653 

b. Continuous functions, including 

information or status displays or sensorbased functions. 

Thermal stack damper means a type of 

stack damper that relies exclusively upon the 

changes in temperature in the stack gases to 

open or close the damper. 

3.0 Classifications. Classifications are as 

specified in Section 4 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017. 

4.0 Requirements. Requirements are as 

specified in Section 5 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017. 

5.0 Instruments. Instruments must be as 

specified in Section 6 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017. 

6.0 Apparatus. The apparatus used in 

conjunction with the boiler during the testing 

must be as specified in Section 7 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 except for sections 7.1 

and 7.8; and as specified in sections 6.1 and 

6.2 of this appendix. 

6.1 General. 

a. Install the boiler in the test room in 

accordance with the I&O manual, as defined 

in section 2.5 of this appendix, except that 

if provisions within this appendix are 

specified, then the provisions herein drafted 

and prescribed by DOE govern. If the I&O 

manual and any additional provisions of this 

appendix are not sufficient for testing a 

boiler, the manufacturer must request a 

waiver from the test procedure pursuant to 

10 CFR 430.27. 

b. The apparatuses described in section 6 

of this appendix are used in conjunction with 

the boiler during testing. Each piece of 

apparatus shall conform to material and 

construction specifications listed in this 

appendix and in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, 

and the reference standards cited in this 

appendix and in ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

c. Test rooms containing equipment must 

have suitable facilities for providing the 

utilities (including but not limited to 

environmental controls, sufficient fluid 

source(s), applicable measurement 

equipment, and any other technology or 

tools) necessary for performance of the test 

and must be able to maintain conditions 

within the limits specified in section 6 of this 

appendix. 

6.2 Condensate collection. Attach 

condensate drain lines to the unit as 

specified in the I&O manual. Maintain a 

continuous downward slope of drain lines 

from the unit. Additional precautions (such 

as eliminating any line configuration or 

position that would otherwise restrict or 

block the flow of condensate or checking to 

ensure a proper connection with condensate 

drain spout that allows for unobstructed 

flow) must be taken to facilitate 

uninterrupted flow of condensate during the 

test. Collection containers must be glass or 

polished stainless steel to facilitate removal 

of interior deposits. The collection container 

must have a vent opening to the atmosphere. 

7.0 Testing conditions. The testing 

conditions must be as specified in Section 8 

of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, except for 

Sections 8.3.1.3, 8.3.3.1, 8.4.1.1, 8.4.1.1.1, 

8.4.1.2, 8.6.1.1, 8.7.2, and 8.8.3; and as 

specified in sections 7.1 to 7.8 of this 

appendix, respectively. For condensing 

furnaces and boilers, the relative humidity of 

the room air shall be measured in accordance 

with one of the methods described in ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 41.6–2014 (see Section 

8.5 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017). 

7.1 Fuel supply, gas. In conducting the 

tests specified herein, gases with 

characteristics as shown in Table 1 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 shall be used. Maintain 

the gas supply, ahead of all controls for a 

boiler, at a test pressure between the normal 

and increased values shown in Table 1 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. Maintain the 

regulator outlet pressure at a level 

approximating that recommended in the I&O 

manual, as defined in section 2.5 of this 

appendix, or, in the absence of such 

recommendation, to the regulator settings 

used when the product is shipped by the 

manufacturer. Use a gas having a specific 

gravity as shown in Table 1 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 and with a higher heating 

value within ±5% of the higher heating value 

shown in Table 1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017. Determine the actual higher heating 

value in Btu per standard cubic foot for the 

gas to be used in the test within an error no 

greater than 1%. 

7.2 Installation of piping. Install piping 

equipment in accordance with the I&O 

manual. In the absence of such specification, 

install piping in accordance with Section 

8.3.1.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

7.3 Gas burner. Adjust the burners of gasfired boilers to their maximum Btu input 

ratings at the normal test pressure specified 

by section 7.1 of this appendix. Correct the 

burner input rate to reflect gas characteristics 

at a temperature of 60 °F and atmospheric 

pressure of 30 in of Hg and adjust to within 

±2 percent of the hourly Btu nameplate input 

rating specified by the manufacturer as 

measured at the maximum input rate during 

the steady-state performance test in section 8 

of this appendix. Set the primary air shutters 

in accordance with the I&O manual to give 

a good flame at this condition. If, however, 

the setting results in the deposit of carbon on 

the burners during any test specified herein, 

the tester shall adjust the shutters and 

burners until no more carbon is deposited 

and shall perform the tests again with the 

new settings (see Figure 9 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017). After the steady-state 

performance test has been started, do not 

make additional adjustments to the burners 

during the required series of performance 

tests specified in Section 9 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017. If a vent-limiting means is 

provided on a gas pressure regulator, keep it 

in place during all tests. 

7.4 Modulating gas burner adjustment at 

reduced input rate. For gas-fired boilers 

equipped with modulating-type controls, 

adjust the controls to operate the unit at the 

nameplate minimum input rate. If the 

modulating control is of a non-automatic 

type, adjust the control to the setting 

recommended in the I&O manual. In the 

absence of such recommendation, the 

midpoint setting of the non-automatic control 

shall be used as the setting for determining 

the reduced fuel input rate. Start the boiler 

by turning the safety control valve to the 

‘‘ON’’ position. Use a supply water 

temperature that will allow for continuous 

operation without shutoff by the control. If 

necessary to achieve such continuous 

operation, supply water may be increased 

above 120 °F; in such cases, gradually 

increase the supply water temperature to 

determine what minimum supply water 

temperature, with a 20 °F temperature rise 

across the boiler, will be needed to adjust for 

the minimum input rate at the reduced input 

rate control setting. Monitor regulated gas 

pressure out of the modulating control valve 

(or entering the burner) to determine when 

no further reduction of gas pressure results. 

The flow rate of water through the boiler 

shall be adjusted to achieve a 20 °F 

temperature rise. 

7.5 Oil burner. Adjust the burners of oilfired boilers to give a CO2 reading specified 

in the I&O manual and an hourly Btu input 

within ±2% of the hourly Btu nameplate 

input rating as specified in the I&O manual 

and as measured at maximum input rate 

during steady-state performance test as 

described in section 8 of this appendix. 

Smoke in the flue may not exceed a No. 1 

smoke during the steady-state performance 

test as measured by the procedure in ASTM 

D2156–09 (R2018). Maintain the average 

draft over the fire and in the flue during the 

steady-state performance test at the value 

specified in the I&O manual. Do not allow 

draft fluctuations exceeding 0.005 in. water. 

Do not make additional adjustments to the 

burner during the required series of 

performance tests. The instruments and 

measuring apparatus for this test are 

described in section 6 of this appendix and 

shown in Figure 8 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017. 

7.6 Measurement of jacket surface 

temperature. Divide the jacket of the boiler 

into 6-inch squares when practical, and 

otherwise into 36-square-inch regions 

comprising 4 inch by 9 inch or 3 inch by 12 

inch sections, and determine the surface 

temperature at the center of each square or 

section with a surface thermocouple. Record 

the surface temperature of the 36-square-inch 

areas in groups where the temperature 

differential of the 36-square-inch areas is less 

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

room temperature, and less than 20 °F for 

temperatures more than 100 °F above room 

temperature. 

7.7 Installation of vent system. Keep the 

vent or air intake system supplied by the 

manufacturer in place during all tests. Test 

units intended for installation with a variety 

of vent pipe lengths with the minimum vent 

length as specified in the I&O manual, or a 

5-ft. flue pipe if there are no 

recommendations in the I&O manual. Do not 

connect a boiler employing a direct vent 

system to a chimney or induced-draft source. 

Vent combustion products solely by using 

the venting incorporated in the boiler and the 

vent or air intake system supplied by the 

manufacturer. For units that are not designed 

to significantly preheat the incoming air, see 

section 7.5 of this appendix and Figure 4a or 

4b of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. For units 

that do significantly preheat the incoming 

air, see Figure 4c or 4d of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017. 

7.8 Additional optional method of testing 

for determining DP and DF. On units whose 

design is such that there is no measurable 


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airflow through the combustion chamber and 

heat exchanger when the burner(s) is (are) off 

as determined by the optional test procedure 

in section 7.8.1 of this appendix, DF and DP

may be set equal to 0.05. 

7.8.1 Optional test method for indicating 

the absence of flow through the heat 

exchanger. Manufacturers may use the 

following test protocol to determine whether 

air flows through the combustion chamber 

and heat exchanger when the burner(s) is 

(are) off. The minimum default draft factor 

(as allowed per Sections 8.8.3 and 9.10 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017) may be used only 

for units determined pursuant to this 

protocol to have no airflow through the 

combustion chamber and heat exchanger. 

7.8.1.1 Test apparatus. Use a smoke stick 

that produces smoke that is easily visible and 

has a density less than or approximately 

equal to air. Use a smoke stick that produces 

smoke that is non-toxic to the test personnel 

and produces gas that is unreactive with the 

environment in the test chamber. 

7.8.1.2 Test conditions. Minimize all air 

currents and drafts in the test chamber, 

including turning off ventilation if the test 

chamber is mechanically ventilated. Wait at 

least two minutes following the termination 

of the boiler on-cycle before beginning the 

optional test method for indicating the 

absence of flow through the heat exchanger. 

7.8.1.3 Location of the test apparatus. 

After all air currents and drafts in the test 

chamber have been eliminated or minimized, 

position the smoke stick based on the 

following equipment configuration: 

(a) For horizontal combustion air intakes, 

approximately 4 inches from the vertical 

plane at the termination of the intake vent 

and 4 inches below the bottom edge of the 

combustion air intake; or 

(b) for vertical combustion air intakes, 

approximately 4 inches horizontal from vent 

perimeter at the termination of the intake 

vent and 4 inches down (parallel to the 

vertical axis of the vent). In the instance 

where the boiler combustion air intake is 

closer than 4 inches to the floor, place the 

smoke device directly on the floor without 

impeding the flow of smoke. 

7.8.1.4 Duration of test. Establish the 

presence of smoke from the smoke stick and 

then monitor the direction of the smoke flow 

for no less than 30 seconds. 

7.8.1.5 Test results. During visual 

assessment, determine whether there is any 

draw of smoke into the combustion air intake 

vent. 

If absolutely no smoke is drawn into the 

combustion air intake, the boiler meets the 

requirements to allow use of the minimum 

default draft factor pursuant to Section 8.8.3 

and/or Section 9.10 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017. 

If there is any smoke drawn into the intake, 

proceed with the methods of testing as 

prescribed in Section 8.8 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017. 

8.0 Test procedure. Conduct testing and 

measurements as specified in Section 9 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017) except for 

Sections 9.1.2.2.1, 9.1.2.2.2, 9.5.2.1, 9.7.4, 

and 9.10; and as specified in sections 8.1 

through 8.9 of this appendix. Section 8.4 of 

this appendix may be used in lieu of Section 

9.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

8.1 Fuel input. For gas units, measure and 

record the steady-state gas input rate in Btu/ 

h, including pilot gas, corrected to standard 

conditions of 60 °F and 30 in. Hg. Use 

measured values of gas temperature and 

pressure at the meter and barometric pressure 

to correct the metered gas flow rate to the 

above standard conditions. For oil units, 

measure and record the steady-state fuel 

input rate. For maximum input rate, the 

measured burner input rate shall be within 

±2% of the hourly Btu nameplate input rating 

(QIN) specified by the manufacturer. For 

modulating furnaces and boilers operating at 

reduced input rate, the measured reduced 

heat input rate (QIN,R) shall be recorded. At 

the discretion of the one testing, the hourly 

Btu nameplate minimum input rating 

specified by the manufacturer may be used 

in the calculations in place of QIN,R if the 

measured rate is within ±2% of the 

nameplate rating. 

8.2 Electrical input. During the steadystate test, perform a single measurement of 

all of the electrical power involved in burner 

operation (PE), including energizing the 

ignition system, controls, gas valve or oil 

control valve, and draft inducer, if 

applicable. For boilers, the measurement of 

PE must include the boiler pump if so 

equipped. If the boiler pump does not 

operate during the measurement of PE, add 

the boiler pump nameplate power to the 

measurement of PE. If the boiler pump 

nameplate power is not available, use 0.13 

kW. For hot water boilers, use the circulating 

water pump nameplate power for BE, or if 

the pump nameplate power is not available, 

use 0.13 kW. 

8.3 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 

record that PEIG = 0.4 kW if no nameplate 

power input is provided. Record the 

nameplate ignition device on-time interval, 

tIG, or, if the nameplate does not provide the 

ignition device on-time interval, measure the 

on-time interval with a stopwatch at the 

beginning of the test, starting when the 

burner is turned on. Set tIG = 0 and PEIG = 

0 if the device on-time interval is less than 

or equal to 5 seconds after the burner is on. 

8.4 Optional test procedures for 

condensing boilers, measurement of 

condensate during the establishment of 

steady-state conditions. For units with stepmodulating or two-stage controls, conduct 

the test at both the maximum and reduced 

inputs. In lieu of collecting the condensate 

immediately after the steady state conditions 

have been reached as required by Section 9.2 

of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, condensate may 

be collected during the establishment of 

steady state conditions as defined by Section 

9.1.2.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. Perform 

condensate collection for at least 30 minutes. 

Measure condensate mass immediately at the 

end of the collection period to prevent 

evaporation loss from the sample. Record 

fuel input for the 30-minute condensate 

collection test period. Observe and record 

fuel higher heating value (HHV), 

temperature, and pressures necessary for 

determining fuel energy input (Qc,ss). 

Measure the fuel quantity and HHV with 

errors no greater than 1%. The humidity for 

the room air shall at no time exceed 80%. 

Determine the mass of condensate for the 

establishment of steady state conditions 

(Mc,ss) in pounds by subtracting the tare 

container weight from the total container and 

condensate weight measured at the end of the 

30-minute condensate collection test period. 

8.5 Cool-down test for gas- and oil-fueled 

boilers without stack dampers. After steadystate testing has been completed, turn the 

main burner(s) ‘‘OFF’’ and measure the flue 

gas temperature at 3.75 minutes (temperature 

designated as TF,OFF(t3)) and 22.5 minutes 

(temperature designated as TF,OFF(t4)) after 

the burner shut-off using the thermocouple 

grid described in Section 7.6 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017. 

a. During this off-period, for units that do 

not have pump delay after shut-off, do not 

allow any water to circulate through the hot 

water boilers. 

b. For units that have pump delay on shutoff, except those having pump controls 

sensing water temperature, the unit control 

must stop the pump. Measure and record the 

time between burner shut-off and pump shutoff (t+) to the nearest second. 

c. For units having pump delay controls 

that sense water temperature, operate the 

pump for 15 minutes and record t+ as 15 

minutes. While the pump is operating, 

maintain the inlet water temperature and 

flow rate 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 103–2017. 

d. For boilers that employ post-purge, 

measure the length of the post-purge period 

with a stopwatch. Record the time from 

burner ‘‘OFF’’ to combustion blower ‘‘OFF’’ 

(electrically de-energized) as tP. Measure the 

flue gas temperature by means of the 

thermocouple grid described in Section 7.6 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 at the end of the 

post-purge period tP (TF,OFF(tP)) and at (3.75 

+ tP) minutes (TF,OFF(t3)) and (22.5 + tP) 

minutes (TF,OFF(t4)) after the main burner 

shuts off. If tP is prescribed by the I&O 

manual or measured to be greater than 3 

minutes, also measure the flue gas 

temperature at the midpoint of the post-purge 

period tP/2 (TF,OFF(tP/2)). If the measured tP

is less than or equal to 30 seconds, record tP

as 0 and conduct the cool-down test as if 

there is no post-purge. 

8.6 Direct measurement of off-cycle losses 

testing method. [Reserved.] 

8.7 Calculation options. The rate of the 

flue gas mass flow through the boiler and the 

factors DP, DF, and DS are calculated by the 

equations in Sections 11.6.1, 11.6.2, 11.6.3, 

11.6.4, 11.7.1, and 11.7.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017. On units whose design is such 

that there is no measurable airflow through 

the combustion chamber and heat exchanger 

when the burner(s) is (are) off (as determined 

by the optional test procedure in section 7.8 

of this appendix), DF and DP may be set equal 

to 0.05. 

8.8 Optional test procedures for 

condensing boilers that have no off-period 

flue losses. For units that have applied the 

test method in section 7.8 of this appendix 

to determine that no measurable airflow 

exists through the combustion chamber and 

heat exchanger during the burner off-period 


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and having post-purge periods of less than 30 

seconds, the cool-down and heat-up tests 

specified in Sections 9.5 and 9.6 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 may be omitted. In lieu 

of conducting the cool-down and heat-up 

tests, the tester may use the losses 

determined during the steady-state test 

described in Section 9.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017 when calculating heating seasonal 

efficiency, EffyHS. 

8.9 Measurement of electrical standby 

and off mode power. 

8.9.1 Standby power measurement. With 

all electrical auxiliaries of the boiler not 

activated, measure the standby power (PW,SB) 

in accordance with the procedures in IEC 

62301, except that Section 8.5, Room 

Ambient Temperature, of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017 and the voltage provision of 

Section 8.2.1.4, Electrical Supply, of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 shall apply in lieu of the 

corresponding provisions of IEC 62301 at 

Section 4.2, Test room, and the voltage 

specification of Section 4.3, Power supply. 

Frequency shall be 60Hz. Clarifying further, 

IEC 62301 Section 4.4, Power measurement 

instruments, and Section 5, Measurements, 

apply in lieu of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

Section 6.10, Energy Flow Rate. Measure the 

wattage so that all possible standby mode 

wattage for the entire appliance is recorded, 

not just the standby mode wattage of a single 

auxiliary. Round the recorded standby power 

(PW,SB) to the second decimal place, except 

for loads greater than or equal to 10W, which 

must be recorded to at least three significant 

figures. 

8.9.2 Off mode power measurement. If 

the unit is equipped with an off switch or 

there is an expected difference between off 

mode power and standby mode power, 

measure off mode power (PW,OFF) in 

accordance with the standby power 

procedures in IEC 62301, except that Section 

8.5, Room Ambient Temperature, of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 and the voltage provision 

of Section 8.2.1.4, Electrical Supply, of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 shall apply in lieu of the 

corresponding provisions of IEC 62301 at 

Section 4.2, Test room, and the voltage 

specification of Section 4.3, Power supply. 

Frequency shall be 60Hz. Clarifying further, 

IEC 62301 Section 4.4, Power measurement 

instruments, and Section 5, Measurements, 

apply for this measurement in lieu of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 Section 6.10, Energy 

Flow Rate. Measure the wattage so that all 

possible off mode wattage for the entire 

appliance is recorded, not just the off mode 

wattage of a single auxiliary. If there is no 

expected difference in off mode power and 

standby mode power, let PW,OFF = PW,SB, in 

which case no separate measurement of off 

mode power is necessary. Round the 

recorded off mode power (PW,OFF) to the 

second decimal place, except for loads 

greater than or equal to 10W, in which case 

round the recorded value to at least three 

significant figures. 

9.0 Nomenclature. Nomenclature 

includes the nomenclature specified in 

Section 10 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 and 

the following additional variables: 

Effmotor = Efficiency of power burner motor 

PEIG = 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,F = Ratio 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 

tIG = Electrical interrupted ignition device 

on-time, min. 

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

measured, °F 

= TS,SS,X if stack gas temperature is 

measured, °F 

yIG = 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 ontime 

ESO = Average annual electric standby mode 

and off mode energy consumption, in 

kilowatt-hours 

PW,OFF = Boiler off mode power, in watts 

PW,SB = Boiler standby mode power, in watts 

10.0 Calculation of derived results from 

test measurements. Perform calculations as 

specified in Section 11 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017, except for appendices B and C; 

and as specified in sections 10.1 through 10.7 

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 ANSI/ASHRAE 103– 

2017, except for the following: 

10.1.1 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 (noncondensing systems), 11.3.11 

(condensing systems), 11.4.11 (noncondensing modulating systems) and 

11.5.11 (condensing modulating systems) 

of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, and is 

based on the assumptions that 

weatherized boilers are located outdoors 

and that non-weatherized boilers are 

installed indoors. 

10.1.2 In Section 11.5.7.3 for the purpose 

of calculating the steady-state efficiency of a 

condensing, modulating boiler at the 

maximum and reduced input rates the 

following applies: 

10.1.2.1 Calculate steady state efficiencies 

at the maximum and reduced input rates, 

EffySS and EffySS,R, using the equations for 

non-condensing, non-modulating systems in 

Section 11.2.7 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

10.1.2.2 Use the values for EffySS and 

EffySS,R calculated in the previous step to 

determine the heating capacity at the 

maximum and reduced input rates, QOUT and 

QOUT,R, according to Sections 11.4.8.1.1 and 

11.4.8.1.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

10.1.2.3 Use the values for QOUT and 

QOUT,R calculated in the previous step to 

determine the balance point temperature, TC,

according to Section 11.4.8.4 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017. 

10.1.2.4 Use the value for TC determined 

in the previous step to calculate the average 

outdoor air temperature for the maximum 

and reduced input rates, TOA,H and TOA,R, 

according to Section 11.4.8.3 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017. 

10.1.2.5 Use the values for TOA,H and 

TOA,R calculated in the previous step to 

calculate the steady-state heat loss due to 

condensate going down the drain, LC,SS, at 

the maximum and reduced input rates 

according to Section 11.3.7.2 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017. 

10.1.2.6 Use the values of LC,SS at the 

maximum and reduced input rates calculated 

in the previous step to determine the steadystate efficiency for modulating, condensing 

boilers at the maximum and reduced input 

rates, EffySS and EffySS,R, according to 

Section 11.3.7.3 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

10.2 National average burner operating 

hours, average annual fuel energy 

consumption, and average annual auxiliary 

electrical energy consumption for gas or oil 

boilers. 

10.2.1 National average number of burner 

operating hours. 

10.2.1.1 For boilers equipped with singlestage controls, the national average number 

of burner operating hours is defined as: 

BOHSS = 2,080 (0.77) (A) [(QOUT/1000)/ 

(1+a)]¥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 

A = 100,000/[341,200 (yP PE + yIG PEIG + y 

BE) + (QIN¥QP) EffyHS], for forced draft 

unit, indoors 

= 100,000/[341,200 (yP PE (1¥Effmotor) + 

yIG PEIG + y BE) + (QIN¥QP) EffyHS], for 

induced draft unit, indoors, and 

QOUT = value as defined in Section 11.2.8.1 

of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017. 

a = value as defined in Section 11.2.8.2 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

B = 2 QP (EffyHS) (A)/100,000 

Where: 

Effmotor = nameplate power burner motor 

efficiency provided by the manufacturer, 

= 0.50, an assumed default power burner 

efficiency if not provided by the 

manufacturer. 

100,000 = factor that accounts for percent 

and kBtu 

yP = ratio of induced or forced draft blower 

on-time to average burner on-time, as 

follows: 

1 for units without post-purge; 

1 + (tP/tON) for single stage boilers with 

post purge; or 

PE = all electrical power related to burner 

operation at full load steady-state 

operation, including electrical ignition 

device if energized, controls, gas valve or 

oil control valve, draft inducer, and 

boiler pump, as determined in section 

8.2 of this appendix. 

yIG = ratio of burner interrupted ignition 

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

0 for burners not equipped with interrupted 

ignition device; 

(tIG/tON) for single stage boilers 

PEIG = electrical input rate to the interrupted 

ignition device on burner (if employed), 

as defined in section 8.3 of this appendix 


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y = ratio of pump on-time to average burner 

on-time, as follows: 

1 for boilers without a pump delay; 

1 + (t+/tON) for single-stage boilers with 

pump delay; 

BE = circulating water pump electrical 

energy input rate at full-load steady-state 

operation as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix. 

tP = post-purge time as defined in section 8.5 

of this appendix 

= 0 if tP is equal to or less than 30 seconds 

tIG = on-time of the burner interrupted 

ignition device, as defined in section 8.3 

of this appendix 

QIN = as defined in Section 11.2.8.1 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

QP = as defined in Section 11.2.11 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

EffyHS = as defined in Section 11.2.11 (noncondensing systems) or Section 11.3.11.3 

(condensing systems) of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017, percent, and calculated on the 

basis of: 

Indoor installation, for non-weatherized 

boilers; or outdoor installation, for 

boilers that are weatherized. 

2 = ratio of the average length of the heating 

season in hours to the average heating 

load hours 

t+ = delay time between burner shutoff and 

the pump shutoff measured as defined in 

section 8.5 of this appendix. 

tON = value as defined in Table 7 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017. 

10.2.1.2 For boilers equipped with twostage or step-modulating controls, the 

national average number of burner operating 

hours at the reduced operating mode (BOHR) 

is defined as: 

BOHR = XR (2080)(0.77)[(QOUT/1,000)/(1 + 

a)](AR)¥2080(BR) 

Where: 

XR = as defined in Section 11.4.8.6 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

2080 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

0.77 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QOUT = as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.1 or 

11.5.8.1.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

a = as defined in Section 11.4.8.2 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

AR = 100,000/[341,200(yP,RPER + yIG,RPEIG + 

yRBER) + (QIN,R—QP) EffyU,R] for forced 

draft unit, indoors; and 

= 100,000/[341,200(yP,RPER (1¥Effmotor) + 

yIG,RPEIG + yRBER) + (QIN,R¥QP) EffyU,R] 

for induced draft unit, indoors 

BR = 2QP (EffyU,R) (AR)/100,000 

100,000 = conversion factor accounting for 

percent and 1,000 Btu/kBtu 

341,200 = conversion factor accounting for 

percent and 3,412 Btu/h/kW 

yP,R = 1 + (tp/tON,R) for two-stage and step 

modulating boilers with post purge 

PER = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the reduced 

fuel input rate 

yIG,R = tIG/tON,R

PEIG = as defined in section 8.3 of this 

appendix 

yR = 1 + (t+)/tON,R for two-stage and step 

modulating boilers with fan delay 

BER = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the reduced 

fuel input rate 

QIN,R = as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.2 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

QP = as defined in Section 11.4.12 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

EffyU,R = as defined in Section 11.4.11.1 or 

11.5.11.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, 

and calculated on the basis of: 

Indoor installation, for non-weatherized 

boilers; or 

outdoor installation, for boilers that are 

weatherized. 

Effmotor = nameplate power burner motor 

efficiency provided by the manufacturer, 

= 0.50, an assumed default power burner 

efficiency if not provided by the 

manufacturer. 

10.2.1.3 For boilers equipped with twostage controls, the national average number 

of burner operating hours at the maximum 

operating mode (BOHH) is defined as: 

BOHH = XH (2080)(0.77)[(QOUT/1,000)/(1 + 

a)](AH)¥2080(BH) 

Where: 

XH = as defined in Section 11.4.8.5 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

2080 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

0.77 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QOUT = as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.1 or 

11.5.8.1.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

a = as defined in Section 11.4.8.2 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

AH = 100,000/[341,200(yP,HPEH + yIG,HPEIG + 

yHBEH) + (QIN,H¥QP) EffyU,H] for forced 

draft unit, indoors; and 

= 100,000/[341,200(yP,HPEH (1¥Effmotor) + 

yIG,HPEIG + yHBEH) + (QIN,H¥QP) EffyU,H] 

for induced draft unit, indoors 

BH = 2QP (EffyU,H) (AH)/100,000 

100,000 = conversion factor accounting for 

percent and 1,000 Btu/kBtu 

341,200 = conversion factor accounting for 

percent and 3412 Btu/h/kW 

yP,H = 1 + (tp/tON,H) for two-stage and step 

modulating boilers with post purge 

PEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

yIG,H = tIG/tON,H

PEIG = as defined in section 8.3 of this 

appendix 

yH = 1 + (t+)/tON,H for two-stage and step 

modulating boilers with fan delay 

BEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

QIN,H = as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.1 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

QP = as defined in Section 11.4.12 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

EffyU,H = as defined in Section 11.4.11.2 or 

11.5.11.2 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, 

and calculated on the basis of: 

indoor installation, for non-weatherized 

boilers; or 

outdoor installation, for boilers that are 

weatherized. 

Effmotor = nameplate power burner motor 

efficiency provided by the manufacturer, 

= 0.50, an assumed default power burner 

efficiency if not provided by the 

manufacturer. 

10.2.1.4 For boilers equipped with stepmodulating controls, the national 

average number of burner operating 

hours at the modulating operating mode 

(BOHM) is defined as: 

BOHM = XH (2080)(0.77)[(QOUT/1,000)/ 

(1+a)](AM)¥2080(BM) 

Where: 

XH = as defined in Section 11.4.8.5 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

2080 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

0.77 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QOUT = as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.1 or 

11.5.8.1.1 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

a = as defined in Section 11.4.8.2 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

AM = 100,000/[341,200(yP,HPEH + yIG,HPEIG + 

yHBEH) + (QIN,M¥QP) EffyU,M] for forced 

draft unit, indoors; and 

= 100,000/[341,200(yP,HPEH (1¥Effmotor) + 

yIG,HPEIG + yHBEH) + (QIN,M¥QP) 

EffyU,M] for induced draft unit, indoors 

BM = 2QP (EffyU,M) (AM)/100,000 

100,000 = conversion factor accounting for 

percent and 1,000 Btu/kBtu 

341,200 = conversion factor accounting for 

percent and 3412 Btu/h/kW 

yP,H = 1 + (tp/tON,H) for two-stage and step 

modulating boilers with post purge 

PEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

yIG,H = tIG/tON,H

PEIG = as defined in section 8.3 of this 

appendix 

yH = 1 + (t+)/tON,H for two-stage and step 

modulating boilers with fan delay 

BEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

QIN,M = (100)(QOUT,M/EffySS,M) 

QOUT,M = as defined in Section 11.4.8.9 or 

11.5.8.9 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

EffySS,M = value as defined in Section 

11.4.8.7 or 11.5.8.7 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017 

QP = as defined in Section 11.4.12 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

EffyU,M = as defined in Section 11.4.9.2.3 or 

11.5.9.2.3 of ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017, 

and calculated on the basis of: 

indoor installation, for non-weatherized 

boilers; or 

outdoor installation, for boilers that are 

weatherized. 

Effmotor = nameplate power burner motor 

efficiency provided by the manufacturer, 

= 0.50, an assumed default power burner 

efficiency if not provided by the 

manufacturer. 

10.2.2 Average annual fuel energy 

consumption for gas or oil fueled boilers. 

10.2.2.1 For boilers equipped with singlestage 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 section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QIN = as defined in Section 11.2.8.1 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 


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QP = as defined in Section 11.2.11 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

8,760 = total number of hours per year. 

10.2.2.2 For boilers equipped with either 

two-stage or step modulating controls, EF is 

defined as follows. For two-stage control: 

EF = (BOHH)(QIN)+(BOHR)

(QIN,R)+[8760¥(BOHH+BOHR)]QP

For step-modulating control: 

EF = (BOHM)(QIN,M)+(BOHR)

(QIN,R)+[8760¥(BOHH+BOHR)]QP

Where: 

BOHH = as defined in section 10.2.1.3 of this 

appendix 

BOHR = as defined in section 10.2.1.2 of this 

appendix 

BOHM = as defined in section 10.2.1.4 of this 

appendix 

QIN = as defined in Section 11.2.8.1 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

QIN,R = as defined in Section 11.4.8.1.2 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

QIN,M = as defined in Section 10.2.1.4 of this 

appendix 

8,760 = total number of hours per year 

QP = as defined in Section 11.2.11 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017. 

10.2.3 Average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption for gas or oil-fueled 

boilers. 

10.2.3.1 For boilers equipped with singlestage controls, the average annual auxiliary 

electrical consumption (EAE) is expressed in 

kilowatt-hours and defined as: 

EAE = BOHSS (yP PE + yIG PEIG + yBE) + ESO

Where: 

BOHSS = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

yP = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

PE = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

yIG = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

PEIG = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

y = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

BE = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

ESO = as defined in section 10.7 of this 

appendix. 

10.2.3.2 For boilers equipped with twostage controls, EAE is defined as: 

EAE = BOHR (yP,R PER + yIG,R PEIG + yRBER) 

+ BOHH (yP,H PEH + yIG,H PEIG + yHBEH) 

+ ESO

Where: 

BOHR = as defined in section 10.2.1.2 of this 

appendix 

yP,R = as defined in section 10.2.1.2 of this 

appendix 

PER = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the reduced 

fuel input rate 

yIG,R = as defined in section 10.2.1.2 of this 

appendix 

PEIG = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

yR = as defined in section 10.2.1.2 of this 

appendix 

BER = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the reduced 

fuel input rate 

BOHH = as defined in section 10.2.1.3 of this 

appendix 

PEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

yP,H = as defined in section 10.2.1.3 of this 

appendix 

yIG,H = as defined in section 10.2.1.3 of this 

appendix 

BEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

yH = as defined in section 10.2.1.3 of this 

appendix 

ESO = as defined in section 10.7 of this 

appendix. 

10.2.3.3 For boilers equipped with stepmodulating controls, EAE is defined as: 

EAE = BOHR (yP,R PER + yIG,R PEIG + yR BER) 

+ BOHM (yP,H PEH + yIG,H PEIG + yHBEH) 

+ ESO

Where: 

BOHR = as defined in section 10.2.1.2 of this 

appendix 

yP,R = as defined in section 10.2.1.2 of this 

appendix 

PER = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the reduced 

fuel input rate 

yIG,R = as defined in section 10.2.1.2 of this 

appendix 

PEIG = as defined in section 10.2.1 of this 

appendix 

yR = as defined in section 10.2.1.2 of this 

appendix 

BER = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the reduced 

fuel input rate 

BOHM = as defined in 10.2.1.4 of this 

appendix 

yP,H = as defined in section 10.2.1.3 of this 

appendix 

PEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

yIG,H = as defined in section 10.2.1.3 of this 

appendix 

yH = as defined in section 10.2.1.3 of this 

appendix 

BEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this 

appendix and measured at the maximum 

fuel input rate 

ESO = as defined in section 10.7 of this 

appendix. 

10.3 Average annual electric energy 

consumption for electric boilers. For electric 

boilers, the average annual electrical energy 

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

EE = 100 (2,080) (0.77) [QOUT/(1 + a)]/(3412 

AFUE) + ESO

Where: 

100 = to express a percent as a decimal 

2,080 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

0.77 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QOUT = as defined in Section 11.2.8 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

a = as defined in Section 11.2.8.2 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

3412 = conversion factor from kilowatt-hours 

to Btu 

AFUE = as defined in Section 11.1 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017, in percent, and 

calculated on the basis of: 

indoor installation, for non-weatherized 

boilers; or 

outdoor installation, for boilers that are 

weatherized. 

ESO = as defined in section 10.7 of this 

appendix. 

10.4 Energy factor. 

10.4.1 Energy factor for gas or oil boilers. 

Calculate the energy factor, EF, for gas or oil 

boilers defined as, in percent: 

EF = (EF ¥ 4,600 (QP))(EffyHS)/(EF + 3,412 

(EAE)) 

Where: 

EF = average annual fuel consumption as 

defined in section 10.2.2 of this 

appendix 

4,600 = as defined in Section 11.4.12 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

QP = pilot fuel input rate determined in 

accordance with Section 9.2 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 in Btu/h 

EffyHS = annual fuel utilization efficiency as 

defined in Sections 11.2.11, 11.3.11, 

11.4.11 or 11.5.11 of ANSI/ASHRAE 

103–2017, in percent, and calculated on 

the basis of: 

indoor installation, for non-weatherized 

boilers; or 

outdoor installation, for boilers that are 

weatherized. 

3,412 = conversion factor from kW to Btu/h 

EAE = as defined in section 10.2.3 of this 

appendix. 

10.4.2 Energy factor for electric boilers. The 

energy factor, EF, for electric 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 boilers located in a different geographic 

region of the United States and in buildings 

with different design heating requirements. 

10.5.1 Average annual fuel energy 

consumption for gas or oil-fueled boilers 

located in a different geographic region of the 

United States and in buildings with different 

design heating requirements. For gas or oilfueled 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 section 10.2.2 of this 

appendix 

8,760 = as defined in section 10.2.2 of this 

appendix 

QP = as defined in Section 11.2.11 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

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 section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix. 


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10.5.2 Average annual auxiliary electrical 

energy consumption for gas or oil-fueled 

boilers located in a different geographic 

region of the United States and in buildings 

with different design heating requirements. 

For gas or oil-fueled boilers, the average 

annual auxiliary electrical energy 

consumption for a specific geographic region 

and a specific typical design heating 

requirement (EAER) is expressed in kilowatthours and defined as: 

EAER = (EAE ¥ ESO) (HLH/2080) + ESOR

Where: 

EAE = as defined in section 10.2.3 of this 

appendix 

ESO = as defined in section 10.7 of this 

appendix 

HLH = as defined in section 10.5.1 of this 

appendix 

2,080 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

ESOR = as defined in section 10.5.3 of this 

appendix. 

10.5.3 Average annual electric energy 

consumption for electric boilers located in a 

different geographic region of the United 

States and in buildings with different design 

heating requirements. For electric boilers, the 

average annual electric energy consumption 

for a specific geographic region and a specific 

typical design heating requirement (EER) is 

expressed in kilowatt-hours and defined as: 

EER = 100 (0.77) [QOUT/(1+a)] HLH/(3.412 

AFUE) + ESOR

Where: 

100 = as defined in section 10.2.3 of this 

appendix 

0.77 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QOUT = as defined in Section 11.2.8.1 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

a = as defined in Section 11.2.8.2 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

HLH = as defined in section 10.5.1 of this 

appendix 

3.412 = as defined in section 10.2.3 of this 

appendix 

AFUE = as defined in section 10.2.3 of this 

appendix 

ESOR = ESO as defined in section 10.7 of this 

appendix, except that in the equation for 

ESO, the term BOH is multiplied by the 

expression (HLH/2080) to get the 

appropriate regional accounting of 

standby mode and off mode loss. 

10.6 Direct determination of off-cycle 

losses for boilers equipped with thermal 

stack dampers. [Reserved] 

10.7 Average annual electrical standby 

mode and off mode energy consumption. 

Calculate the annual electrical standby mode 

and off mode energy consumption (ESO) in 

kilowatt-hours, defined as: 

ESO = (PW,SB (4160 ¥ BOH) + 4600 PW,OFF) 

K 

Where: 

PW,SB = boiler standby mode power, in watts, 

as measured in section 8.9.1 of this 

appendix 

4,160 = average heating season hours per year 

BOH = total burner operating hours as 

calculated in section 10.2 of this 

appendix for gas or oil-fueled boilers. 

Where for gas or oil-fueled boilers 

equipped with single-stage controls, 

BOH = BOHSS; for gas or oil-fueled 

boilers equipped with two-stage controls, 

BOH = (BOHR + BOHH); and for gas or 

oil-fueled boilers equipped with stepmodulating controls, BOH = (BOHR + 

BOHM). For electric boilers, BOH = 

100(2080)(0.77)[QOUT/(1+a)]/(Ein

3412(AFUE)) 

4,600 = as defined in Section 11.4.12 of 

ANSI/ASHRAE 103–2017 

PW,OFF = boiler off mode power, in watts, as 

measured in section 8.9.2 of this 

appendix 

K = 0.001 kWh/Wh, conversion factor from 

watt-hours to kilowatt-hours 

Where: 

100 = to express a percent as a decimal 

2,080 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

0.77 = as defined in section 10.2.1.1 of this 

appendix 

QOUT = as defined in Section 11.2.8 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

a = as defined in Section 11.2.8.2 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

Ein = steady-state electric rated power, in 

kilowatts, from Section 9.3 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 

3412 = as defined in section 10.3 of this 

appendix 

AFUE = as defined in Section 11.1 of ANSI/ 

ASHRAE 103–2017 in percent. 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2022 / Proposed Rules 14659 

[FR Doc. 2022–04017 Filed 3–14–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–C 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS2EP15MR22.005</GPH>

3,000 2,500 

Alaska: 

Hawaii and territories : 

Thil map b nuonably aeeunte for lllffl parts of die United .States but II aNtllllrily 

pntralind, ud eoueqweotly not too lffltl'IUI in moutainou reait1U, pardeularly 

lathe~ 

PIOURB 1 .. HEATING LOAD HOURS (HLH) ,oanm UNITBD STATES