44194 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

10 CFR Parts 429 and 431 

[EERE–2021–BT–TP–0021] 

RIN 1904–AF17 

Energy Conservation Program: Test 

Procedure for Fans and Blowers 

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, Department of 

Energy. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking, 

request for comment, and 

announcement of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Energy (‘‘DOE’’) proposes to establish a 

test procedure for fans and blowers, 

including air-circulating fans, and to 

adopt through reference the relevant 

industry test standards as the DOE test 

procedure for measuring the fan 

electrical input power (‘‘FEP’’) and for 

determining the fan energy index 

(‘‘FEI’’). DOE also proposes to establish 

supporting definitions, requirements for 

alternative energy use determination 

methods, and sampling requirements to 

determine the represented values of FEP 

and FEI. DOE is seeking comment from 

interested parties on the proposal. 

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, 

and information regarding this proposal 

no later than September 23, 2022. See 

section V, ‘‘Public Participation,’’ for 

details. 

DOE will hold a webinar on Tuesday, 

August 2, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 

p.m. See section V, ‘‘Public 

Participation,’’ for webinar registration 

information, participant instructions, 

and information about the capabilities 

available to webinar participants. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

encouraged to submit comments using 

the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 

www.regulations.gov, under docket 

number EERE–2021–BT–TP–0021. 

Follow the instructions for submitting 

comments. Alternatively, interested 

persons may submit comments, 

identified by docket number EERE– 

2021–BT–TP–0021, by any of the 

following methods: 

(1) Email: FansBlowers2021TP0021@

ee.doe.gov. Include the docket number 

EERE–2021–BT–TP–0021 in the subject 

line of the message. 

(2) Postal Mail: Appliance and 

Equipment Standards Program, U.S. 

Department of Energy, Building 

Technologies Office, Mailstop EE–5B, 

1000 Independence Avenue SW, 

Washington, DC 20585–0121. 

Telephone: (202) 287–1445. If possible, 

please submit all items on a compact 

disc (‘‘CD’’), in which case it is not 

necessary to include printed copies. 

(3) Hand Delivery/Courier: Appliance 

and Equipment Standards Program, U.S. 

Department of Energy, Building 

Technologies Office, 950 L’Enfant Plaza 

SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20024. 

Telephone: (202) 287–1445. If possible, 

please submit all items on a CD, in 

which case it is not necessary to include 

printed copies. 

No telefacsimiles (‘‘faxes’’) will be 

accepted. For detailed instructions on 

submitting comments and additional 

information on this process, see section 

V of this document. 

Docket: The docket for this activity, 

which includes Federal Register 

notices, public meeting attendee lists 

and transcripts (if a 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, not all documents listed in 

the index may be publicly available, 

such as information that is exempt from 

public disclosure. 

The docket web page can be found at 

www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ 

appliance_standards/product.aspx/ 

productid/65. 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:

Mr. Jeremy Dommu, 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: (202) 586– 

9879 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 incorporate by reference the 

following industry standard into 10 CFR 

parts 429 and 431: 

ANSI/AMCA Standard 214–21, ‘‘Test 

Procedure for Calculating Fan Energy 

Index for Commercial and Industrial 

Fans and Blowers.’’ 

Copies of AMCA 214–21 can be 

obtained from AMCA International at 30 

West University Drive, Arlington 

Heights, IL 60004–1893, (847) 394– 

0150, or by going to www.amca.org. 

DOE proposes to incorporate by 

reference the following industry 

standards into 10 CFR part 431: 

American National Standard Institute 

(ANSI)/Air Movement and Control 

Association (AMCA) Standard 99–16 

‘‘Standards Handbook.’’ 

ANSI/AMCA Standard 210/American Society 

of Heating, Refrigerating and AirConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 51–16, 

‘‘Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for 

Certified Aerodynamic Performance 

Rating.’’ 

ANSI/AMCA 230–15 with errata, ‘‘Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Air Circulating Fans for 

Rating and Certification’’, with technical 

errata sheet for ANSI/AMCA standard 230– 

15 density corrections. 

ANSI/AMCA Standard 240–15 ‘‘Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Positive Pressure 

Ventilators for Aerodynamic Performance 

Rating.’’ 

Copies of AMCA 99–16, AMCA 210– 

16, AMCA 214–21, AMCA 230–15, with 

errata and AMCA 240–15, can be 

obtained from AMCA International at 30 

West University Drive, Arlington 

Heights, IL 60004–1893, or by going to 

www.amca.org. 

International Organization for 

Standardization (ISO) 5801:2017, 

‘‘Fans—Performance testing using 

standardized airways,’’ approved 

2017. ISO 80079–36:2016, ‘‘Explosive 

atmospheres—Part 36: Non-electrical 

equipment for explosive 

atmospheres—Basic method and 

requirements,’’ approved 2016. 

Copies of ISO 5801:2017–2017 and 

ISO 80079–36:2016 can be obtained 

from the International Organization for 

Standardization, Chemin de Blandonnet 

8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, 

Switzerland, or by going to www.iso.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 the Process Rule 

II. Synopsis of the Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking 

III. Discussion 

A. Scope of Applicability 

1. Proposed Test Procedure Scope 

2. Proposed Fan and Blower Exclusions 

3. Proposed Exclusion of Embedded Fans 

and Blowers 

4. Air Circulating Fans 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 44195 

1All references to EPCA in this document refer 

to the statute as amended through the Energy Act 

of 2020, Public Law 116–260 (Dec. 27, 2020), which 

reflect the last statutory amendments that impact 

Parts A and A–1 of EPCA. 

2For editorial reasons, upon codification in the 

U.S. Code, Part C was redesignated Part A–1 and 

hereafter referred to as ‘‘Part A–1’’. 

3There are currently no energy conservation 

standards for fans and blowers. 

5. Non-Electric Drivers 

6. Replacement Parts 

B. Definitions 

1. Fan and Blower Categories 

2. Basic Model 

3. Safety Fans 

4. Air Circulating Fans 

5. Definitions Related to Heat Rejection 

Equipment 

6. Outlet Area 

C. Industry Standards 

D. Proposed Adoption of the Test 

Procedure in AMCA 214–21 and 

Modifications to the Test Procedure 

1. Motor Efficiency Calculation 

2. Combined Motor and Controller 

Efficiency Calculation 

3. Annex A of AMCA 214–21 

4. Annex E of AMCA 214–21 

5. Section 6.5 of AMCA 214–21 and Annex 

F 

6. Annex H and Annex I of AMCA 214– 

21 

7. Section 8.3 of AMCA 214–21 

8. Measurement of PRV Performance 

9. Exclusively Embedded Fans 

10. Wire-to-Air Testing for Air Circulating 

Fans 

11. Total Pressure Calculation for Air 

Circulating Fans 

12. Appurtenances 

13. Voltage, Phase and Frequency 

14. Test Speeds for Air Circulating Fans 

15. Determination of Equilibrium 

16. Test Figures 

17. Reference Fan Electrical Input Power 

Calculation 

18. Rounding 

19. Location of Extraneous Airflow 

Measurement 

20. Run-In Requirements 

21. Transducer Type Barometers 

E. Distinguishing Between Fans and 

Blower and Air Circulating Fans 

F. Metric 

G. Efficiency Considerations for Certain 

Unducted Fans 

H. Control Credit Approach 

I. Use of a Single Test Procedure Nationally 

J. Alternative Energy Determination 

Methods (AEDM) 

1. Validation 

2. Additional AEDM Requirements 

3. AEDM Verification Testing 

K. Sampling Plan 

L. Enforcement Provisions 

M. Test Procedure Costs and Impact 

1. Estimated Costs for Testing Fans and 

Blowers at a Third-Party Facility 

2. Estimated Cost To Develop, Validate, 

and Implement an AEDM 

3. Voluntary Representations 

N. Compliance Date 

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review 

A. Review Under Executive Orders 12866 

and 13563 

B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility 

Act 

1. Descriptions of Reasons Why Action Is 

Being Considered 

2. Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, Rule 

3. Duplication, Overlap, and Conflict With 

Other Rules and Regulations 

4. Significant Alternatives to the Rule 

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 

On August 19, 2021, DOE published 

a coverage determination classifying 

fans and blowers as a covered 

equipment under 42 U.S.C. 6311(2)(A) 

and 42 U.S.C. 6312(b). 86 FR 46579 

(‘‘August 2021 Final Coverage 

Determination’’). DOE does not 

currently have a test procedure or 

energy conservation standards for fans 

and blowers. The following sections 

discuss DOE’s authority to establish a 

test procedure for fans and blowers and 

relevant background information 

regarding DOE’s consideration of test 

procedures for this equipment. 

A. Authority 

The Energy Policy and Conservation 

Act, as amended (‘‘EPCA’’),1 authorizes 

DOE to regulate the energy efficiency of 

a number of consumer products and 

certain industrial equipment. (42 U.S.C. 

6291–6317) Title III, Part C 2 of EPCA, 

added by Public Law 95–619, Title IV, 

section 441(a), established the Energy 

Conservation Program for Certain 

Industrial Equipment, which sets forth a 

variety of provisions designed to 

improve energy efficiency. EPCA 

provides that DOE may include a type 

of industrial equipment, including fans 

and blowers, as covered equipment if it 

determines that to do so is necessary to 

carry out the purposes of Part A–1. (42 

U.S.C. 6311(2)(B)(ii) and (iii); 42 U.S.C. 

6312(b)). EPCA specifies the types of 

equipment that can be classified as 

industrial equipment. (42 U.S.C. 

6311(2)(B)) The purpose of Part A–1 is 

to improve the efficiency of electric 

motors and pumps and certain other 

industrial equipment in order to 

conserve the energy resources of the 

Nation. (42 U.S.C. 6312(a)) As stated, on 

August 19, 2021, DOE published a final 

determination determining that fans and 

blowers meet the three statutory criteria 

for classifying industrial equipment as 

covered (42 U.S.C. 6311(2)(A)), because 

fans and blowers are a type of industrial 

equipment (1) which in operation 

consume, or are designed to consume, 

energy; (2) are to a significant extent 

distributed in commerce for industrial 

or commercial use; and (3) are not 

covered under 42 U.S.C. 6291(a)(2). 86 

FR 46579, 46586. DOE also determined 

that coverage of fans and blowers is 

necessary to carry out the purposes of 

Part A–1. 86 FR 46579, 46588. 

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 include definitions (42 U.S.C. 

6311), test procedures (42 U.S.C. 6314), 

labeling provisions (42 U.S.C. 6315), 

energy conservation standards (42 

U.S.C. 6313), and the authority to 

require information and reports from 

manufacturers. (42 U.S.C. 6316; 42 

U.S.C. 6296) 

The Federal testing requirements 

consist of test procedures that 

manufacturers of covered equipment 

must use as the basis for: (1) certifying 

to DOE that their equipment complies 

with the applicable energy conservation 

standards adopted pursuant to EPCA (42 

U.S.C. 6316(a); 42 U.S.C. 6295(s)), and 

(2) making other representations about 

the efficiency of that equipment. (42 

U.S.C. 6314(d)) Similarly, DOE must use 

these test procedures to determine 

whether the equipment complies with 

relevant standards promulgated under 

EPCA.3 (42 U.S.C. 6316(a); 42 U.S.C. 

6295(s)) 

Federal energy efficiency 

requirements for covered equipment 

established under EPCA supersede State 

laws and regulations concerning energy 

conservation testing, labeling, and 

standards. (42 U.S.C. 6316(a); 42 U.S.C. 

6316(b); 42 U.S.C. 6297) With respect to 

industrial equipment for which 

coverage is established under 42 U.S.C. 

6312(b), e.g., fans and blowers, the 

preemption provisions in EPCA apply 

beginning on the date on which a final 

rule establishing an energy conservation 

standard is issued by the Secretary, 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS2
44196 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

4The Working Group was comprised of 

representatives from AAON, Inc.; AcoustiFLO LLC; 

AGS Consulting LLC; AMCA; AHRI, Appliance 

Standards Awareness Project; Berner International 

Corp; Buffalo Air Handling Company; Carnes 

Company; Daikin/Goodman; ebm-papst; Greenheck; 

Morrison Products; Natural Resources Defense 

Council; Newcomb & Boyd; Northwest Energy 

Efficiency Alliance; CA IOUs; Regal Beloit 

Corporation; Rheem Manufacturing Company; 

Smiley Engineering LLC representing Ingersoll 

Rand/Trane; SPX Cooling Technologies/CTI; The 

New York Blower Company; Twin City Companies, 

Ltd; U.S. Department of Energy; and United 

Technologies/Carrier. 

5 Details of the negotiation sessions can be found 

in the public meeting transcripts that are posted to 

the docket for the energy conservation standard 

rulemaking at: www.regulations.gov/ 

docket?D=EERE-2013-BT-STD-0006. 

6At the beginning of the negotiated rulemaking 

process, the Working Group defined that before any 

vote could occur, the Working Group must establish 

a quorum of at least 20 of the 25 members and 

defined consensus as an agreement with less than 

4 negative votes. Twenty voting members of the 

Working Group were present for this vote. Two 

members (Air-Conditioning, Heating, and 

Refrigeration Institute and Ingersoll Rand/Trane) 

voted no on the term sheet. 

7The references are arranged as follows: 

(commenter name, comment docket ID number, 

page of that document). If one comment was 

submitted with multiple attachments, the references 

are arranged as follows: (commenter name, 

comment docket ID number. Attachment number, 

page of that document). The attachment number 

corresponds to the order in which the attachment 

appears in the docket. The parenthetical reference 

provides a reference for information located in DOE 

Docket No. EERE–2021–BT–TP–0021. If the 

information was submitted to a different DOE 

docket, the DOE Docket number is additionally 

specified in the reference. 

8At the time of the petition, AMCA 214–21 was 

available as a draft version (AMCA 214). 

9AMCA requested at 21-day extension (AMCA, 

No. 2 at p. 1). 

except that any State or local standard 

prescribed or enacted or the equipment 

before the date on which the final rule 

is issued shall not be preempted until 

the energy conservation standard 

established by the Secretary for the 

equipment takes effect. (42 U.S.C. 

6316(a)(10)) DOE may, however, grant 

waivers of Federal preemption for 

particular State laws or regulations, in 

accordance with the procedures and 

other provisions of EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 

6316(b)(2)(D)) 

Under 42 U.S.C. 6314, EPCA sets forth 

the criteria and procedures DOE must 

follow when prescribing or amending 

test procedures for covered equipment. 

EPCA requires that any test procedures 

prescribed or amended under this 

section must be reasonably designed to 

produce test results which reflect energy 

efficiency, energy use or estimated 

annual operating cost of a given type of 

covered equipment during a 

representative average use cycle and 

requires that test procedures not be 

unduly burdensome to conduct. (42 

U.S.C. 6314(a)(2)) 

If the Secretary determines that a test 

procedure amendment is warranted, the 

Secretary must publish proposed test 

procedures in the Federal Register and 

afford interested persons an opportunity 

(of not less than 45 days’ duration) to 

present oral and written data, views, 

and arguments on the proposed test 

procedures. (42 U.S.C. 6314(b)) 

B. Background 

As discussed, on August 19, 2021, 

DOE published in the Federal Register 

a final coverage determination 

classifying fans and blowers as covered 

equipment. 86 FR 46579. DOE 

determined that the term ‘‘blower’’ is 

interchangeable with the term ‘‘fan’’. 86 

FR 46579, 46583. DOE defines a fan (or 

blower) as a rotary bladed machine used 

to convert electrical or mechanical 

power to air power, with an energy 

output limited to 25 kilojoule (‘‘kJ’’) per 

kilogram (‘‘kg’’) of air. A fan (or blower) 

consists of an impeller, a shaft and 

bearings and/or driver to support the 

impeller, as well as a structure or 

housing. A fan (or blower) may include 

a transmission, driver, and/or motor 

controller. 10 CFR 431.172. 

Prior to the August 2021 Final 

Coverage Determination, DOE published 

a notice of intent to establish an 

Appliance Standards and Rulemaking 

Federal Advisory Committee 

(‘‘ASRAC’’) Working Group (‘‘Working 

Group’’) for fans and blowers. 80 FR 

17359 (April 1, 2015). The Working 

Group 4 commenced negotiations at an 

open meeting on May 18, 2015 and held 

16 meetings and three webinars to 

discuss scope, metrics, test procedures, 

and standard levels for fans.5 The 

Working Group concluded its 

negotiations on September 3, 2015, and, 

by consensus vote,6 approved a term 

sheet containing recommendations for 

DOE on the scope of a test procedure, 

and energy conservation standards for 

fans. The term sheet containing the 

Working Group recommendations 

(‘‘term sheet’’) is available in the fans 

energy conservation standard 

rulemaking docket. (Docket No. EERE– 

2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 179) 7 ASRAC 

approved the term sheet on September 

24, 2015. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT– 

NOC–0005; Public Meeting Transcript, 

No. 58, at p. 29) Comments received on 

issues related to the test procedure 

during the Working Group negotiations 

and not resolved in the term sheet are 

discussed in this proposed rulemaking. 

Discussion of these comments will 

include a reference to Docket No. EERE– 

2013–BT–NOC–0005. 

On January 10, 2020, DOE received a 

notice of petition received from the Air 

Movement and Control Association 

(‘‘AMCA’’), Air Conditioning 

Contractors of America, and Sheet Metal 

& Air Conditioning Contractors of 

America (‘‘the Petitioners’’) requesting 

that DOE establish test procedures for 

certain categories of commercial and 

industrial fans based on an industry test 

method in development, AMCA 214, 

which was published with a request for 

public comment on April 23, 2020; 8 85 

FR 22677 (‘‘April 2020 Notice of 

Petition’’). As part of the April 2020 

Notice of Petition, DOE sought data and 

information pertinent to whether an 

amended test procedures would (1) 

accurately measure energy efficiency, 

energy use, or estimated annual 

operating cost of fans during a 

representative average use cycle; and (2) 

not be unduly burdensome to conduct. 

85 FR 22677, 22679. 

On October 1, 2021, DOE published a 

request for information (‘‘RFI’’) 

pertaining to potential test procedures 

for fans and blowers. 86 FR 54412 

(‘‘October 2021 RFI’’). In the October 

2021 RFI, DOE identified a variety of 

issues on which it sought input to 

determine whether, and if so how, 

potential test procedures for fans and 

blowers, including air circulating fans, 

would (1) comply with the requirements 

in EPCA that test procedures be 

reasonably designed to produce test 

results which reflect energy use during 

a representative average use cycle, and 

(2) not be unduly burdensome to 

conduct. Id. In response to requests 

from stakeholders,9 DOE extended the 

comment period 14 days to November 

15, 2021. 86 FR 59308 (Oct. 27, 2021). 

DOE also received comments related 

to the test procedure from its February 

8, 2022, Energy Conservation Standards 

for Fans and Blower RFI (‘‘February 

2022 ECS RFI’’). 87 FR 7048. Discussion 

of these comments will include a 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 44197 

10See Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003. 

11The parenthetical reference provides a 

reference for information located in the docket of 

DOE’s rulemaking to develop test procedures for 

fans and blowers. Unless otherwise noted, all 

comments referenced in this notice are available in 

DOE’s docket for this test procedure rulemaking. 

(Docket No., EERE–2021–BT–TP–0021 which is 

maintained at www.regulations.gov/docket EERE2021-BT-TP-0021/). The references are arranged as 

follows: (commenter name, comment docket ID 

number, page of that document). 

12See Docket No. EERE–2022–BT–STD–0002. 

reference to the docket (EERE–2022– 

BT–STD–0002). 

Stakeholders that submitted written 

comment in response to the April 2020 

Notice of Petition, the October 2021 RFI, 

and the February 2022 ECS RFI are 

listed in Table I–1 of this document. 

TABLE I–1—LIST OF COMMENTERS WITH WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE APRIL 2020 NOTICE OF PETITION

AND OCTOBER 2021 RFI 

Organization(s) Reference in this 

NOPR Organization type 

April 2020 

notice of 

petition 10

October 2021 

TP RFI 11

February 2022 

ECS RFI 12

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration 

Institute.

AHRI ......................... Trade Association ..... X X ........................

Air Movement and Control Association International.AMCA ........................ Trade Association ..... X X ........................

Appliance Standards Awareness Project, 

American Council for an Energy-Efficient 

Economy, Natural Resources Defense 

Council.

ASAP, ACEEE, 

NRDC.

Efficiency Organizations.X X ........................

Appliance Standards Awareness Project, 

American Council for an Energy-Efficient 

Economy, Natural Resources Defense 

Council, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.

ASAP, ACEEE, 

NRDC, NEEA.

Efficiency Organizations......................... ........................ X 

China World Trade Organization/Technical 

Barriers to Trade.

China WTO/TBT ....... Government Agency X ........................ ........................

Cooling Technology Institute ........................ CTI ............................ Trade Association ..... X ........................ ........................

N/A ................................................................ Corvino ...................... Individual ................... ........................ X ........................

Daikin Applied ............................................... Daikin ........................ Manufacturer ............. X ........................ ........................

ebm-papst Inc ............................................... ebm-papst ................. Manufacturer ............. X ........................ X 

Greenheck Group ......................................... Greenheck ................ Manufacturer ............. X ........................ ........................

Harry Graves ................................................ Graves ...................... Individual ................... X ........................ ........................

Johnson Controls .......................................... Johnson Controls ...... Manufacturer ............. X ........................ ........................

Lennox International Inc ............................... Lennox ...................... Manufacturer ............. X ........................ ........................

Marley Engineering Products LLC ................ MEP .......................... Manufacturer ............. ........................ X ........................

Morrison Products Inc ................................... Morrison .................... Manufacturer ............. ........................ X ........................

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

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and 

Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

NEEA and NWPCC .. Efficiency Organizations.X ........................ ........................

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San 

Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern 

California Edison; collectively, the California Investor-Owned Utilities.

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

Note: ‘‘X’’ indicates the notice(s) that each stakeholder commented on. 

In response to the April 2020 Notice 

of Petition, Lennox commented that 

DOE should reject the fan test procedure 

petition because no coverage 

determination had been finalized. 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

Lennox, No. 5 at p. 1) AHRI and 

Johnson Controls commented that DOE 

would first need to establish fans as 

covered equipment before initiating a 

test procedure rulemaking. (Docket No. 

EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, AHRI, No. 

14 at p. 3; Johnson Controls, No. 10 at 

p. 1) In response to the October 2021 TP 

RFI, AHRI and Morrison commented 

that they appreciate DOE’s efforts to 

define fans and blowers and commented 

that DOE should finalize the coverage 

determination process to determine if a 

stand-alone commercial and industrial 

fans regulation is ‘‘necessary or 

appropriate’’ to the achievement of 

EPCA’s purposes. (AHRI, No. 10 at p. 3; 

Morrison, No. 8 at p. 2) 

DOE is publishing this NOPR 

following the publication of the August 

2021 Final Coverage Determination. 

Corvino commented that there is a 

need for fan test procedures and 

suggested that DOE investigate costs 

related to testing. (Corvino, No. 3 at p. 

1) MEP commented generally that the 

steps required to create new regulations 

place a tremendous burden upon the 

industry, especially for newly covered 

products. MEP asserted that the first 

efficiency rulemaking places a burden 

on the industry in preparation for the 

rulemaking that is larger than the 

average burden attributed to subsequent 

rulemakings during the life cycle cost 

analysis used in determining the 

minimum allowable efficiencies. (MEP, 

No. 5 at p. 2) 

DOE analyzes the costs of any 

potential test procedure, as discussed in 

section III.M. DOE is proposing test 

procedures for fans and blowers. DOE is 

not proposing to establish energy 

conservation standards for such covered 

equipment in this proposed rule. To the 

extent that DOE were to propose energy 

conservation standards for fans and 

blowers, DOE would conduct a 

manufacturer impact analysis in that 

rulemaking. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS2
44198 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

II. Synopsis of the Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking 

In this NOPR, DOE proposes to 

establish a test procedure for fans and 

blowers in subpart J of part 431 and to 

modify part 429, as follows: 

(1) Establish the scope of the test procedure 

for fans and blowers as to include standalone 

and embedded fans and blowers (i.e., fans 

and blowers incorporated into other 

equipment), with fan shaft input power equal 

to or greater than 1 horsepower and fan 

airpower equal to or less than 150 

horsepower that are either: (1) axial inline 

fans; (2) axial panel fans; (3) centrifugal 

housed fans; (4) centrifugal unhoused fans; 

(5) centrifugal inline fans; (6) radial-housed 

fans; or (7) power roof/wall ventilators 

(‘‘PRVs’’); air-circulating fans; and excluding 

some fans that are exclusively embedded in 

other products of equipment; and excluding 

radial housed unshrouded fans with diameter 

less than 30 inches or a blade width of less 

than 3 inches, safety fans, induced flow fans, 

jet fans, and cross-flow fans. 

(2) Define ‘‘axial inline fan’’, ‘‘axial panel 

fan’’, ‘‘centrifugal housed fan’’, ‘‘centrifugal 

unhoused fan’’, ‘‘centrifugal inline fan’’, 

‘‘radial-housed fan’’, ‘‘power roof ventilator’’, 

‘‘cross-flow fan’’, ‘‘induced flow fan’’, ‘‘jet 

fan’’, ‘‘basic model,’’ ‘‘safety fan,’’ ‘‘air 

circulating fan,’’ and related terms. Define 

terms related to heat rejection equipment; 

(3) Adopt through reference in newly 

proposed appendix A to subpart J of 10 CFR 

part 431 (‘‘appendix A’’) certain provions of 

ANSI/AMCA 214–21, ‘‘Test Procedure for 

Calculating Fan Energy Index for Commercial 

and Industrial Fans and Blowers’’ (‘‘AMCA 

214–21’’), with modifications, as the test 

procedure for determining FEP and FEI of 

fans and blowers other than circulating fans; 

(4) Adopt through reference in newly 

propsoed appendix B to subpart J of 10 CFR 

part 431 (‘‘appendix B’’) certain provisions of 

AMCA 214–21, with modifications, as the 

test procedure for determining FEP and FEI 

of air circulating fans; 

(5) Adopt through reference certain 

provisions of the following industry 

standards referenced by AMCA 214–21: 

ANSI/AMCA 210–16, (‘‘AMCA 210–16’’) 

‘‘Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for 

Certified Aerodynamic Performance Rating’’; 

ANSI/AMCA 230–15, (‘‘AMCA 230–15 with 

errata’’) ‘‘Laboratory Methods of Testing Air 

Circulating Fans for Rating and Certification’’ 

with errata; and ISO 5801:2017, ‘‘Fans— 

Performance testing using standardized 

airways’’; 

(6) Establish fan and blower sampling 

requirements and provisions related to 

determining represented values in 10 CFR 

429.64; 

(7) Establish an alternative effiency 

determination method (‘‘AEDM’’) for fans 

and blowers in 10 CFR 429.70; and 

(8) Establish enforcements provisions for 

fan and blower basic models. 

The proposal is summarized in Table 

II.2. 

TABLE II.2—SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS IN THIS TP NOPR, THEIR PROPOSED LOCATION WITHIN THE CODE OF FEDERAL

REGULATIONS, AND THE APPLICABLE PREAMBLE DISCUSSION

Topic Location in CFR Summary of proposals Applicable preamble 

discussion 

Scope .......................... 10 CFR 431.174 ....... Establish the scope of the test procedure for fans and blowers 

as to include standalone and embedded fans and blowers (i.e., 

fans and blowers incorporated into other equipment), with fan 

shaft input power equal to or greater than 1 horsepower and 

fan airpower equal to or less than 150 horsepower that are either: (1) axial inline fans; (2) axial panel fans; (3) centrifugal 

housed fans; (4) centrifugal unhoused fans; (5) centrifugal 

inline fans; (6) radial-housed fans; or (7) power roof/wall ventilators (‘‘PRVs’’); air-circulating fans; and excluding some fans 

that are exclusively embedded in other products of equipment; 

and excluding radial housed unshrouded fans with diameter 

less than 30 inches or a blade width of less than 3 inches, 

safety fans, induced flow fans, jet fans, and cross-flow fans.

Section III.A. 

Definitions ................... 10 CFR 431.172 ....... Define ‘‘axial inline fan’’, ‘‘axial panel fan’’, ‘‘centrifugal housed 

fan’’, ‘‘centrifugal unhoused fan’’, ‘‘centrifugal inline fan’’, ‘‘radial-housed fan’’, ‘‘power roof ventilator’’, ‘‘cross-flow fan’’, ‘‘induced flow fan’’, ‘‘jet fan’’, ‘‘basic model,’’ ‘‘safety fan,’’ ‘‘air circulating fan,’’ and related terms. Define terms related to heat 

rejection equipment; 

Section III.B. 

Test Procedure ........... 10 CFR 431.174 ....... Establish FEI as the metric for fans and blowers, incorporate by 

reference AMCA 214–21, AMCA 210–16, AMCA 230–15 (with 

errata) and provide additional instructions for determining the 

FEI (and other applicable performance characteristics) for fans 

and blowers.

Sections III.C, III.D, and 

III.F. 

Sampling Plan ............ 10 CFR 429.66 ......... Specify the minimum number of fans or blowers to be tested to 

rate a basic model and determine representative values.

Section III.K. 

AEDM ......................... 10 CFR 429.70 ......... Establish requirements for applying an alternative energy use determination method.Section III.J. 

Enforcement Provisions.10 CFR 429.110 & 

10 CFR 429.134.

Establish a method for determining compliance of fan and blower 

basic models.

Section III.L. 

DOE’s proposed test method for fans 

and blowers includes measurements of 

pressure, flow rate, and fan shaft or 

electrical input power, all of which are 

required to calculate FEP and FEI, as 

well as other quantities to characterize 

rated fans and blowers performance 

(e.g., speed). DOE has tentatively 

determined that the relevant sections of 

AMCA 214–21, AMCA 210–16 and 

AMCA 230–15 with errata, in 

conjunction with the additional 

provisions proposed in this test 

procedure, would produce test results 

that reflect the energy efficiency and 

energy use of a fan or blower during a 

representative average use cycle. (42 

U.S.C. 6314(a)(2)) Additionally, DOE 

has tentatively determined that the 

proposed test procedure, which is based 

on the relevant industry testing 

standard, would not be unduly 

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

6314(a)(2)) DOE’s analysis of the 

burdens associated with the proposed 

test procedure is presented in section 

III.M of this document. 


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13The air power of a fan is the fan’s output 

power. It is proportional to the product of the fan 

airflow rate and the fan pressure. 14The terms ‘‘ducted’’ and ‘‘unducted’’ refer to 

the recommended test configuration used when 

conducting a fan test. Appendix C of the term sheet 

specifies which fan categories are typically ducted 

(i.e., tested using a ducted outlet and for which the 

FEI is calculated on a total pressure basis): axial 

cylindrical housed, centrifugal housed, excluding 

inline and radial, inline and mixed flow, radial 

housed; and which fan types are considered 

unducted (i.e., tested with a free outlet and for 

which the FEI is calculated on a static pressure 

basis): panel, centrifugal unhoused, excluding 

inline and radial, and power roof ventilators. 

15All documents related to this rulemaking can 

be found in the rulemaking Docket 22–AAER–01 

accessible at: www.energy.ca.gov/rules-andregulations/appliance-efficiency-regulations-title20/appliance-efficiency-proceedings-11. 

16See Proposed regulatory language for 

Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers 

available in the following Docket: 22–AAER–01 at: 

efiling.energy.ca.gov/Lists/ 

DocketLog.aspx?docketnumber=22-AAER-01. 

III. Discussion 

In the following sections, DOE 

proposes to establish test procedures 

and related definitions for fans and 

blowers in subpart J of part 431, to 

establish sampling plans for this 

equipment, to establish an alternative 

energy determination method for this 

equipment, and to establish 

enforcement provisions for this 

equipment. In the following section, 

DOE provides relevant background 

information, explains why the proposal 

merits consideration, discusses relevant 

public comments, and proposes a 

potential approach. 

A. Scope of Applicability 

This rulemaking applies to fans and 

blowers. A fan or blower is defined as 

a rotary bladed machine that is used to 

convert electrical or mechanical power 

to air power with an energy output 

limited to 25 kilojoule (‘‘kJ’’)/kilogram 

(‘‘kg’’) of air. 10 CFR 431.172. It consists 

of an impeller, a shaft and bearings and/ 

or driver to support the impeller, as well 

as a structure or housing. Id. A fan or 

blower may include a transmission, 

driver, and/or motor controller. Id. As 

discussed, DOE has classified fans and 

blowers as covered equipment. 86 FR 

46579. ‘‘Covered equipment’’ consists of 

certain industrial equipment, which in 

turn excludes covered products, other 

than industrial equipment that is a 

component of a covered product. (42 

U.S.C. 6311(1) and (2)(A)(iii)). DOE 

explained in the coverage determination 

that the fans and blowers, the subject to 

this rulemaking, do not include ceiling 

fans and furnace fans, as defined at 10 

CFR 430.2. See 86 FR 46579, 46586. 

In the August 2021 Final Coverage 

Determination, DOE did not establish 

definitions for specific categories of fans 

and blowers. DOE stated that it would 

consider specific categories of fans and 

blowers and the scope of applicability of 

test procedures and energy conservation 

standards in their respective 

rulemakings. 86 46579, 46585. 

This section discusses the fans and 

blowers that DOE is proposing to 

include in the scope of applicability of 

the test procedure as well as proposed 

exemptions. 

1. Proposed Test Procedure Scope 

This section discusses fans and 

blowers, other than air circulating fans, 

proposed for inclusion in the scope of 

applicability of the test procedure. Air 

circulating fans are discussed in section 

III.A.4 of this document. 

The Working Group recommended 

that the test procedure be applicable to 

certain classifications of fans and 

blowers, listed in Table III–1 of this 

document. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT– 

STD–0006, No. 179, Recommendation 

#1 at p. 1) The Working Group did not 

provide definitions for the specified 

classifications of the fans and blowers 

identified for inclusion in the scope of 

a test procedure. AMCA 214–21 

provides terms and associated 

definitions for certain classifications of 

fans and blowers that DOE has 

tentatively determined correspond to 

the Working Group recommendation. 

The Working Group further 

recommended that the test procedure 

apply only to fans with a fan shaft 

power equal to or greater than 1 

horsepower (‘‘hp’’) and fan air power 13

equal to or less than 150 hp. The 

Working Group recommended that 

airpower be calculated using static 

pressure for unducted fans (‘‘static 

airpower’’) and total pressure for ducted 

fans (‘‘total airpower’’).14 (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 179, 

Recommendation #5, at p. 4) 

On February 24, 2022, the California 

Energy Commission (‘‘CEC’’) published 

a proposed rulemaking for fans and 

blowers that includes terms and 

definitions that DOE has tentatively 

determined correspond to the Working 

Group recommendations.15 CEC 

proposes to cover the following fan 

categories: axial inline, axial panel, 

centrifugal housed, centrifugal 

unhoused, centrifugal inline, radial 

housed, and power roof/wall 

ventilators, and to define these terms 

largely based on the definitions in 

AMCA 214–21, with revisions to 

indicate a fan’s intended application 

and if a fan’s inlet or outlet can be 

(optionally, as applicable) ducted. In 

addition, the CEC proposal considers 

fans and blowers that have a rated fan 

shaft power greater than or equal to 1 

horsepower, or, for fans without a rated 

shaft input power, an electrical input 

power greater than or equal to 1 kW, 

and a fan output power less than or 

equal to 150 horsepower.16

The classification of fans and blowers 

recommended by the Working Group for 

coverage under a test procedure and the 

corresponding terms and definitions in 

AMCA 214–21 and the proposed CEC 

regulations are presented in Table III–1 

of this document. 

TABLE III–1—SCOPE RECOMMENDED BY THE WORKING GROUP, CORRESPONDING TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Working group scope 

recommendations Corresponding term and definition in AMCA 214–21 Corresponding CEC definitions 

Axial cylindrical housed 

fan.

‘‘Axial inline fan’’ means a fan with an axial impeller and 

a cylindrical housing with or without turning vanes.

‘‘Axial-inline fan’’ means a fan with an axial impeller and 

a cylindrical housing with or without turning vanes. Inlets and outlets can optionally be ducted. 

Panel fan ....................... ‘‘Axial panel fan’’ means an axial fan, without cylindrical 

housing, that is mounted in a panel, an orifice plate or 

ring.

‘‘Axial-panel fan’’ means a fan with an axial impeller 

mounted in a short housing, non-cylindrical, that can be 

a panel, ring, or orifice plate. The housing is typically 

mounted to a wall separating two spaces, and the fans 

are used to increase the pressure across this wall. Inlets and outlets are not ducted. 


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17PRVs include: Centrifugal PRV exhaust fans; 

Centrifugal PRV supply fans; and Axial PRVs, as 

defined in AMCA 214–21. 

18The electrical input power is equal to the fan 

shaft input power divided by the motor efficiency. 

19A duty point is characterized by a given airflow 

and pressure and has a corresponding operating 

speed. 

TABLE III–1—SCOPE RECOMMENDED BY THE WORKING GROUP, CORRESPONDING TERMS AND DEFINITIONS—Continued 

Working group scope 

recommendations Corresponding term and definition in AMCA 214–21 Corresponding CEC definitions 

Centrifugal housed fan, 

excluding inline fan 

and radial fan.

‘‘Centrifugal housed fan’’ means a fan with a centrifugal 

or mixed flow impeller in which airflow exits into a 

housing that is generally scroll-shaped to direct the air 

through a single fan outlet. A centrifugal housed fan 

does not include a radial impeller *.

‘‘Centrifugal housed fan’’ means a fan with a centrifugal 

or mixed flow impeller in which airflow exits into a 

housing that is generally scroll-shaped to direct the air 

through a single fan outlet. Inlets and outlets can optionally be ducted. It does not include a radial impeller. 

Centrifugal unhoused 

fan, excluding radial 

fan.

‘‘Centrifugal unhoused fan’’ means a fan with a centrifugal or mixed flow impeller in which airflow enters 

through a panel and discharges into free space. Inlets 

and outlets are not ducted. This fan type also includes 

fans designed for use in fan arrays that have partition 

walls separating the fan from other fans in the array **.

‘‘Centrifugal unhoused fan’’ means a fan with a centrifugal or mix-flow impeller in which airflow enters 

through a panel and discharges into free space. Inlets 

and outlets are not ducted. This fan type also includes 

fans designed for use in fan arrays that have partition 

walls separating the fan from other fans in the array. 

Inline and mixed-flow 

fan.

‘‘Centrifugal inline fan’’ means a fan with a centrifugal or 

mixed flow impeller in which airflow enters axially at the 

fan inlet and the housing redirects radial airflow from 

the impeller to exit the fan in an axial direction.

‘‘Centrifugal inline fan’’ means a fan with a centrifugal or 

mixed-flow impeller in which airflow enters axially at the 

fan inlet and the housing redirects radial airflow from 

the impeller to exit the fan in an axial direction. Inlets 

and outlets can optionally be ducted. 

Radial housed fan ......... ‘‘Radial-housed fan’’ means a fan with a radial impeller in 

which airflow exits into a housing that is generally 

scroll-shaped to direct the air through a single fan outlet. Inlets and outlets can optionally be ducted.

‘‘Radial-housed fan’’ means a fan with a radial impeller in 

which airflow exits into a housing that is generally 

scroll-shaped to direct the air through a single fan outlet. Inlets and outlets can optionally be ducted. 

Power roof ventilator ..... ‘‘Power roof/wall ventilator (PRV)’’ means a fan with an 

internal driver and a housing to prevent precipitation 

from entering the building. It has a base designed to fit 

over a roof or wall opening, usually by means of a roof 

curb.

‘‘Power roof ventilator (PRV)’’ or ‘‘power wall ventilator 

(PWV)’’ means a fan with an internal driver and a 

housing to prevent precipitation from entering the building. It has a base designed to fit over a roof or wall 

opening, usually by means of a roof curb. 

* The inclusion of ‘‘scroll-shaped’’ in this definition excludes inline fans. 

** Radial fans are housed and therefore not included in this definition. 

In response to the April 2020 Notice 

of Petition, ebm-papst commented in 

favor of a broader test procedure scope 

and stated that any limitation on scope 

should be made in future labeling 

requirements, certification 

requirements, or energy conservation 

standards. ebm-papst stated that AMCA 

214–21 was designed for fans above 

0.745 mechanical kilowatts shaft power 

(equivalent to 1 hp) or 0.890 electrical 

kilowatts, and below 112 kilowatts 

(equivalent to 150 hp) air power, and 

that these requirements should be the 

only scope restrictions on the test 

procedure. (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT– 

PET–0003, ebm-papst, No. 9) 

In response to the April 2020 Notice 

of Petition for Rulemaking, AHRI 

commented that the scope of the DOE 

test procedure should ideally align with 

the scope of AMCA 214 as finalized and 

that AHRI was working with AMCA to 

resolve scope concerns in AMCA 214 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

AHRI, No. 14 at p. 2). 

In this NOPR, DOE proposes to 

include all fans and blowers that are 

included within the scope of AMCA 

210–16 (referenced by AMCA 214–21) 

and proposes that the test procedure 

would be applicable to the following 

fans and blowers, as proposed in section 

III.A.10 of this document and subject to 

the exclusions discussed in section 

III.A.2 of this document: (1) axial inline 

fan; (2) axial panel fan; (3) centrifugal 

housed fan; (4) centrifugal unhoused 

fan; (5) centrifugal inline fan; (6) radialhoused fan; and (7) power roof/wall 

ventilator (‘‘PRV’’).17

DOE is proposing that the scope of the 

test procedure cover fans and blowers 

with a fan shaft input power equal to or 

greater than 1 horsepower and a fan 

static or total air power equal to or less 

than 150 horsepower. 

DOE has tentatively determined that 

the 1 hp fan shaft power lower limit 

may not be a practical unit of 

measurement for all fans because some 

fans are designed such that the 

measurement of the shaft input power is 

not feasible, and the only feasible 

measurement is the FEP, which is 

measured in units of kW. For example, 

some fans incorporate the bare-shaft and 

the motor in the same enclosed housing 

and do not provide access to the fan 

shaft (i.e., between the motor and the 

fan), where the measurement of the fan 

shaft power would be conducted. DOE 

relied on the motor efficiency equations 

provided in Section 6.4.2.3 of AMCA 

214–21 to convert the fan shaft power 

into electrical input power 18 and has 

tentatively determined that 0.89 kW is 

appropriate to establish a standardized 

equivalent to the 1 hp fan shaft input 

power limit. Additionally, Section 

6.5.3.1.3 ‘‘Fan Efficiency Requirements’’ 

of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1, ‘‘Energy 

Standard for Buildings except Low-Rise 

Residential Buildings (2019)’’ 

(‘‘ASHRAE 90.1–2019’’) relies on the 

value of 0.89 kW as the corresponding 

threshold to a value of 1 hp of shaft 

input power. 

Accordingly, DOE proposes that the 

test procedure would be applicable to a 

fan or blower with duty points 19 with 

the following characteristics: (1) a fan 

shaft input power equal to or greater 

than 1 horsepower and a fan static or 

total air power equal to or less than 150 

horsepower, or (2) a FEP equal to or 

greater than 0.89 kW and a fan static or 

total airpower equal to or less than 150 

horsepower. 

DOE further proposes to establish the 

150 hp upper limit in terms of total 

airpower for fans and blowers that use 

a total pressure basis FEI and would be 

required to be tested with a ducted 

outlet according to the proposed 

provisions adopted through reference to 

AMCA 214–21. For fans and blowers 

that use a static pressure basis FEI and 

that would be required to be tested 

using a free outlet under the provisions 

of AMAC 214–21 proposed to be 

adopted by reference, DOE proposes to 

establish the airpower limit in terms of 


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20Specifically, radial housed unshrouded fans, 

which means a radial housed fan for which the 

impeller blades are attached to a backplate and hub 

(i.e., open radial blade), or to a hub only (i.e., open 

paddle wheel), and with an open front at the 

impeller’s inlet. These are different than radial 

shrouded fans, for which the impeller blades are 

attached to a backplate and to a ring or ‘‘shroud’’ 

at the impeller’s inlet. 21The discussions of the Working Group related 

to these exclusions can be found in the meeting 

transcripts, available in the fans energy 

conservation standard rulemaking docket. (Docket 

No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 161 at pp. 63–70; Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 85 at pp. 60–62). 

22For example, circulating fans, ceiling fans, desk 

fans, jet tunnel fans, and induced flow fans (e.g., 

used in laboratory exhaust systems). This is 

consistent with the scope of the terms sheet. 

static airpower. Table III–9 of this 

document lists the fan and blower 

categories that rely on a total or static 

pressure basis in accordance with 

AMCA 214–21. 

DOE proposes the lower 1 hp limit to 

match the technical applicability of the 

AMCA 214–21 and AMCA 210–16 test 

procedures. DOE is proposing the upper 

air power limit at this time because fans 

that operate above the proposed upper 

limit are typically custom orders and are 

too large to be tested in a laboratory 

setting. In addition, these limits are in 

line with the Working Group 

recommendations and the CEC scope. 

DOE may consider methods for test for 

these fans in a future rulemaking. 

Finally, to define total airpower, DOE 

proposes to rely on the definition of 

‘‘fan output power’’ in AMCA 210–16. 

DOE proposes to define ‘‘total airpower’’ 

as the total power delivered to air by the 

fan; it is proportional to the product of 

the fan airflow rate, the fan total 

pressure, and the compressibility 

coefficient and is calculated in 

accordance with Section 7.8.1 of AMCA 

210–16. See the definition of ‘‘fan 

output power’’ in Section 3.1.31 of 

AMCA 210–16 and calculation formulas 

in Section 7.8.1 of AMCA 210–16. DOE 

also proposes to define ‘‘static air 

power’’ as the static power delivered to 

air by the fan; it is proportional to the 

product of the fan airflow rate, the fan 

static pressure, and the compressibility 

coefficient and is calculated in 

accordance with Section 7.8.1 of AMCA 

210–16, using static pressure instead of 

total pressure. 

Fan and blower categories proposed 

to be exempted from the scope of this 

test procedure are discussed in section 

III.A.2 of this document. 

DOE requests comment on the fans 

and blowers, other than air circulating 

fans, proposed for inclusion in the DOE 

test procedure. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed limits based on fan airpower, 

fan shaft input power and fan electrical 

input power for fans other than air 

circulating fans. Specifically, DOE 

requests comment on the proposed 

definitions of ‘‘static airpower’’ and 

‘‘total airpower’’ used to characterize 

the upper 150 horsepower limit for fans 

other than air circulating fans. 

2. Proposed Fan and Blower Exclusions 

DOE proposes to explicitly exclude 

certain fans and blowers from the scope 

of the test procedure. 

The Working Group recommended to 

exclude circulating fans (also known as 

air circulating fans), induced flow fans, 

jet fans, and cross-flow fans. (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 179, 

Recommendation #2, at pp. 2–3) The 

Working Group also recommended to 

exclude safety fans due to low operating 

hours and specific design features that 

impair efficiency (e.g., high tip 

clearance), and a subset of radial fans 

that are used for material handling 

applications 20 (e.g., to move paper dust, 

sand).21 (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT– 

STD–0006, No. 179, Recommendation 

#2, at pp. 2–3) Table III–2 of this 

document presents the exclusions 

recommended by the Working Group. 

TABLE III–2—FAN CATEGORIES RECOMMENDED FOR EXCLUSION BY THE WORKING GROUP

Fan category recommended for 

exclusion by the working group * Definition in AMCA 214–21 

Radial housed unshrouded fan with 

diameter less than 30 inches or a 

blade width of less than 3 inches.

Included in the definition ‘‘radial housed fan’’ as noted in Table III–1. 

Safety fan ........................................ Not defined in AMCA 214–21. 

Induced flow fan .............................. ‘‘Induced flow fan’’ means a type of laboratory exhaust fan with a nozzle and windband; the fan’s outlet airflow is greater than the inlet airflow due to induced airflow. All airflow entering the inlet exits through the 

nozzle. Airflow exiting the windband includes the nozzle airflow plus the induced airflow. 

Jet fan ............................................. ‘‘Jet fan’’ means a fan designed and marketed specifically for producing a high velocity air jet in a space to 

increase its air momentum. Jet fans are rated using thrust. Inlets and outlets are not ducted but may include acoustic silencers. 

Cross-flow fan ................................. ‘‘Cross-flow fan’’ means a fan with a housing that creates an airflow path through the impeller in a direction 

at right angles to its axis of rotation and with airflow both entering and exiting the impeller at its periphery. Inlets and outlets can optionally be ducted.** 

* Note: the Working Group also recommended to exclude circulating fans, (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 179, Recommendation #2, at pp. 2–3) which are defined in AMCA 214–21 as a fan that is not a ceiling fan that is used to move air within a space that has no provision for connection to ducting or separation of the fan inlet from its outlet. The fan is designed to be used for the general circulation of air. Circulating fans are discussed in Section III.A.4 of this document. 

** Excluded from AMCA 214–21 and defined in ANSI/AMCA Standard 208, ‘‘Calculation of the Fan Energy Index for calculating FEI’’ (‘‘AMCA 

208–18’’). 

The Petitioners requested that the 

scope of any future DOE test procedure 

be consistent with the scope described 

in the term sheet, and requested to 

exclude fans that cannot be tested per 

AMCA 210–16 (i.e., the physical test 

method referenced in AMCA 214–21).22

The Petitioners also requested that the 

scope of the test procedure be consistent 

with ASHRAE 90.1–2019. (Docket No. 

EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, The 

Petitioners, No. 1, attachment ‘‘AMCA 

Petition to DOE Cover Letter and 

Petition [sic] 2020110’’ at pp. 7–8) 

Table III–3 of this document compares 

the scope exclusions requested by the 

Petitioners in accordance with the 

commercial and industrial fan and 

blower requirements in ASHRAE 90.1– 

2019 and the scope of exclusions as 

recommended by the Working Group 

(other than embedded fans and 

blowers). DOE reviewed the fan and 

blower exclusions to Section 6.5.3.1.3 of 

ASHRAE 90.1–2019 ‘‘Fan Efficiency 

Requirements’’ as listed in Table III–3 of 

this document and has tentatively 


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23As defined in ANSI/AMCA 214–21: ‘‘A fan that 

is part of a manufactured assembly where the 

assembly includes functions other than air 

movement.’’ 24CEC proposed excluding these fans because 

AMCA 214–21 is not applicable to this equipment. 

See CEC’s Initial Statement of Reason, available at: 

efiling.energy.ca.gov/Lists/ 

DocketLog.aspx?docketnumber=22-AAER-01. 25The CEC defines an air curtain unit as 

equipment providing a directionally controlled 

stream of air moving across the entire height and 

width of an opening that reduces the infiltration or 

transfer of air from one side of the opening to the 

other and/or inhibits the passage of insects, dust, or 

debris. 

determined that these exclusions are covered by the exclusions 

recommended by the Working Group. 

TABLE III–3—EXCEPTIONS TO SECTION 6.5.3.1.3 OF ASHRAE 90.1–2019 ‘‘FAN EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS’’ 

[Other than for embedded fans and blowers] 

Exceptions to Section 6.5.3.1.3 of ASHRAE 90.1–2019 

‘‘Fan Efficiency Requirements’’ Included in the exclusions recommended by the Working Group? 

Fans that are not embedded fans with a motor nameplate horsepower 

of less than 1.0 hp or with a fan nameplate electrical input power of 

less than 0.89 ‘‘kW’’.

Yes. 

Ceiling fans ............................................................................................... Yes (Note: ceiling fans are not within the scope of the definition of fans 

and blowers). 

Fans used for moving gases at temperatures above 482 °F ................... Yes (safety fans). 

Fans used for operation in explosive atmospheres ................................. Yes (safety fans). 

Reversible fans used for tunnel ventilation .............................................. Yes (jet fans, safety fans). 

Fans outside the scope of AMCA 208–18 ............................................... Yes (AMCA 208–18 references the scope of AMCA 210–16). 

Fans that are intended to operate only during emergency conditions .... Yes (safety fans). 

In response to the April 2020 Notice 

of Petition, Greenheck commented in 

support of a scope consistent with the 

term sheet and with ASHRAE 90.1– 

2019. (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET– 

0003, Greenheck, No. 6.1 at p. 2) 

Johnson Controls commented in support 

of the exclusions requested by the 

Petitioners. (Docket No. EERE–2020– 

BT–PET–0003, Johnson Controls, No. 10 

at pp. 1–2) 

In its proposed rulemaking for 

commercial and industrial fans and 

blowers, the CEC proposes to exclude 

the following categories of fans: (1) 

safety fans (see section III.B.3 of this 

document for more details on this 

definition), (2) ceiling fans as defined in 

10 CFR 430.2; (3) circulating fans; (4) 

induced-flow fans; (5) jet fans; (6) crossflow fans; (7) embedded fans as defined 

in ANSI/AMCA 214–21; 23 (8) fans 

mounted in or on motor vehicles or 

other mobile equipment; (9) fans that 

create a vacuum of 30 in. water gauge 

or greater; 24 and (10) air curtain unit.25

See Table III–4 of this document; 

section III.A.3 of this document for a 

discussion of embedded fans and air 

curtain units; and section III.A.5 of this 

document for a discussion of fans 

mounted in or on motor vehicles or 

other mobile equipment. 

TABLE III–4 FANS RECOMMENDED FOR EXCLUSION BY THE WORKING GROUP AND THE CORRESPONDING CEC PROPOSED

EXCLUSIONS

Fans recommended for exclusion 

by the working group * Corresponding term and definition proposed for exclusion in CEC proposed regulatory text 

Radial housed unshrouded fan with 

diameter less than 30 inches or a 

blade width of less than 3 inches.

Not excluded by the CEC proposed regulatory text. 

Safety fan ........................................ ‘‘Safety Fan’’ See section III.B.3 of this document. 

Induced flow fan .............................. ‘‘Induced-flow fan’’ means a type of laboratory exhaust fan with nozzle and windband; the fan’s outlet airflow is greater than the inlet airflow due to induced airflow. All airflow entering the inlet exits through the 

nozzle. Airflow exiting the windband includes the nozzle airflow as well as the induced airflow. 

Jet fan ............................................. ‘‘Jet fan’’ means a fan designed and marketed specifically to produce a high-velocity air jet in a space to 

increase its air momentum. Jet fans are rated using thrust. Inlets and outlets are not ducted but may include acoustic silencers. 

Cross-flow fan ................................. ‘‘Cross-flow fan’’ means a fan with a housing that creates an airflow path through the impeller, in a direction at right angles to the axis of rotation and with airflow both entering and exiting the impeller at the 

periphery. Inlets and outlets can optionally be ducted. 

* Note: The Working Group also recommended to exclude circulating fans, which are also excluded from the CEC proposed regulation and defined as a fan that is not a ceiling fan that is used to move air within a space, that has no provision for connection to ducting or separation of the 

fan inlet from its outlet. The fan is designed to be used for the general circulation of air. Circulating fans are discussed in Section III.A.4 of this 

document. 

DOE reviewed the exclusions 

recommended by the Working Group, 

the exclusions requested by Petitioners, 

the exclusions provided in the proposed 

CEC regulations, and comments 

received. DOE is proposing to exclude 

from the proposed DOE test procedure 

the following fans and blowers: (1) 

radial housed unshrouded fans with a 

diameter less than 30 inches or a blade 

width of less than 3 inches; (2) safety 

fans; (3) induced flow fans; (4) jet fans; 

and (5) cross-flow fans. 

Based on input from AMCA during 

the ASRAC negotiations, DOE has 

tentatively determined that radial 

housed unshrouded fans with a 

diameter less than 30 inches or a blade 

width of less than 3 inches are designed 

for materials handling applications. 


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26ANSI/AMCA 250–22: Laboratory Methods of 

Testing Jet Tunnel Fans for Performance. Available 

at www.amca.org. 

27Additionally, AMCA 214–21 defines a 

minimum testable configuration as ‘‘A fan having 

at least an impeller; shaft and bearings and/or 

driver to support the impeller; and its structure or 

its housing’’. See Section 3.53 of AMCA 214–21. 

These fans have specific design features 

(e.g., built to resist the impact and 

erosive wear from large quantities of 

various materials passing through the 

fan housing) that generally limit the 

opportunity for improved efficiency. 

(Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; 

Public Meeting Transcript, No. 85 at p. 

60). Furthermore, testing these fans 

based on the test method for clean air 

fans would not provide a measurement 

of energy use or energy efficiency that 

is representative of an average use cycle. 

For these reasons, DOE proposes to 

exclude radial housed unshrouded fans 

with a diameter less than 30 inches or 

a blade width of less than 3 inches at 

this time. 

DOE proposes to exclude safety fans 

at this time, which operate 

intermittently and may have specific 

design features that generally limit the 

opportunity for improved efficiency. 

DOE also proposes to exclude 

induced flow fans; jet fans; and crossflow fans because a test using AMCA 

210–16 would not provide a 

measurement of energy use or energy 

efficiency that is representative of an 

average use cycle, as described further 

in the following paragraphs. 

Induced flow fans are used for 

laboratory exhaust applications, and 

their performance is tested based on 

AMCA Standard 260–20, ‘‘Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Induced Flow Fans 

for Rating.’’ AMCA 260–20 is an adjunct 

to AMCA 210–16 in order to 

accommodate the induced flow fans’ 

unique characteristics, namely the 

impact of the windband on 

performance. The windband is a 

component of induced flow fans used to 

direct the fume exhaust and maximize 

plume height and the amount of air 

mixed with the lab exhaust to increase 

the dilution ratio. Induced flow fans 

produce a high plume of air at the outlet 

in order to exhaust laboratory fumes and 

hazardous chemicals in such a manner 

that diminishes the likelihood that 

exhausted air will be re-entrained into 

the building’s intake air. Their 

performance does not only depend on 

the flow of air that they provide, but 

also on the ‘‘effective plume height,’’ 

which is the plume rise provided by the 

induced flow fan added to the stack 

height of the fan (i.e., from the roof to 

the outlet of the windband). DOE has 

tentatively determined that a test using 

AMCA 210–16 would not provide a 

measurement of energy use or energy 

efficiency during a representative 

average use cycle for induced flow fans 

and proposes to exclude these fans from 

the scope of the test procedure at this 

time. 

Jet fans are typically used in vehicular 

tunnels to provide ventilation and 

improve air quality. Jet fans can also be 

used in the event of a fire in the tunnel 

to remove the smoke and fumes from 

the source of the incident, if necessary, 

by reversing their airflow. Jet fan 

performance is characterized by thrust 

and horsepower and not based on the 

airflow and pressure they can provide. 

AMCA 250–22 26 provides methods of 

measuring thrust, volume airflow, and 

power and includes provisions for 

deriving efficiency in terms of ‘‘thrust 

power ratio’’. Therefore, DOE has 

tentatively determined that a test using 

AMCA 210–16 would not provide a 

measurement of energy use or energy 

efficiency during a representative 

average use cycle of jet fans and 

proposes to exclude these fans from the 

scope of the test procedure. 

Cross-flow fan performance is related 

to the ability to produce a wide, uniform 

airflow as opposed to the airpower 

output, which is what is accounted for 

in AMCA 210–16. Therefore, DOE has 

tentatively determined that cross-flow 

fans would necessitate consideration of 

a different metric to better capture the 

energy use of these under a 

representative cycle of use. Therefore, 

DOE proposes that cross-flow fans will 

not be addressed in its test procedure at 

this time. 

DOE is considering including an 

exclusion, consistent with the findings 

of the CEC, for fans that create a vacuum 

of 30 inches water gauge or greater. DOE 

has tentatively determined that a test 

using AMCA 210–16 may not result in 

a measurement of energy use or energy 

efficiency during a representative 

average use cycle for fans that are 

exclusively used to create a vacuum 

rather than produce airflow. DOE 

requests additional information on fans 

exclusively used to create a vacuum and 

on the 30 inches water gauge criteria 

used by the CEC. 

DOE requests comment on its 

proposed exclusions from the proposed 

scope of applicability of the test 

procedure, listed as follows: (1) radial 

housed unshrouded fans with a 

diameter less than 30 inches or a blade 

width of less than 3 inches; (2) safety 

fans; (3) induced flow fans; (4) jet fans; 

and (5) cross-flow fans. DOE seeks 

additional information to support 

exclusion from the scope of potential 

test procedures. 

DOE seeks comment and input on the 

applicability of AMCA 214–21 and 

AMCA 210–16 to fans that create a 

vacuum of 30 inches water gauge or 

greater. DOE requests comment on the 

30 inches water gauge limit used by the 

CEC. 

3. Proposed Exclusion of Embedded 

Fans and Blowers 

In addition to the specific exclusions 

discussed in the prior section, DOE has 

also considered excluding certain 

‘‘embedded’’ fans from the scope of the 

test procedure. Fans can be distributed 

in commerce as standalone equipment 

or can be distributed in commerce 

incorporated into other equipment that 

requires a fan to operate. 

Section 3.25.3 of AMCA 214–21 

defines a ‘‘standalone fan’’ as ‘‘a fan in 

at least a minimum testable 

configuration. This includes any driver, 

transmission or motor controller if 

included in the rated fan. It also 

includes any appurtenances included in 

the rated fan, and it excludes the impact 

of any surrounding equipment whose 

purpose exceeds or is different than that 

of the fan.’’ 27 Section 3.25.4 of AMCA 

214–21 defines the term ‘‘embedded 

fan’’ in section 3.25.4 as ‘‘a fan that is 

part of a manufactured assembly where 

the assembly includes functions other 

than air movement.’’ 

The Working Group recommended 

excluding certain embedded fans. See 

Table III–5 of this document. (Docket 

No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 

179, Recommendations #2 and #3 at pp. 

2–4) 

TABLE III–5—EMBEDDED FANS RECOMMENDED FOR EXCLUSION BY THE WORKING GROUP

Fans embedded in: 

Single-phase central air conditioners and heat pumps rated with a certified cooling capacity less than 65,000 British thermal units per hour 

(‘‘Btu/h’’), that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 430.32(c). 

Three-phase, air-cooled, small commercial packaged air-conditioning and heating equipment rated with a certified cooling capacity less 

than 65,000 Btu/h, that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(b). 


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28The Working Group created a subgroup to 

propose potential embedded fan exclusions, which 

were subsequently voted on by the Working Group. 

The information used by the subgroup to develop 

the proposal is available in the fans energy 

conservation standard rulemaking docket. (Docket 

No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 125.2). 

29AMCA 214–21 defines the ‘‘minimal testable 

configuration’’ as a fan having at least an impeller; 

shaft and bearings and/or driver to support the 

impeller; and its structure or its housing. 30As part of this recommendation, the Working 

Group also recommended that if a manufacturer 

purchases a standalone fan to incorporate in a 

product or in equipment, that manufacturer must 

ensure that the design operating range (or design 

point) of the embedded fan is within the certified 

operating range of the standalone fan and disclose 

the design operating range (or design point) of the 

embedded fan to the end-user. This issue does not 

relate to the test procedure and is not discussed in 

this document. 

TABLE III–5—EMBEDDED FANS RECOMMENDED FOR EXCLUSION BY THE WORKING GROUP—Continued 

Residential furnaces that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 430.32(y). 

Transport refrigeration (i.e., Trailer refrigeration, Self-powered truck refrigeration, Vehicle-powered truck refrigeration, Marine/Rail container 

refrigerant), and fans exclusively powered by internal combustion engines. 

Vacuum cleaners.* 

Heat Rejection Equipment: 

• Packaged evaporative open circuit cooling towers. 

• Evaporative field-erected open circuit cooling towers. 

• Packaged evaporative closed-circuit cooling towers. 

• Evaporative field-erected closed-circuit cooling towers. 

• Packaged evaporative condensers. 

• Field-erected evaporative condensers. 

• Packaged air-cooled (dry) coolers. 

• Field-erected air-cooled (dry) coolers. 

• Air-cooled steam condensers. 

• Hybrid (water saving) versions of all of the previously listed equipment that contain both evaporative and air-cooled heat exchange sections. 

Air curtains: 

Air-cooled commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps (CUAC, CUHP) with a certified cooling capacity between 5.5 tons (65,000 

Btu/h) and 63.5 tons (760,000 Btu/h) that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(b).** 

Water-cooled and evaporatively-cooled commercial air conditioners and water-source commercial heat pumps that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(b).** 

Single package vertical air conditioners and heat pumps that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(d).** 

Packaged terminal air conditioners (PTAC) and packaged terminal heat pumps (PTHP) that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation

standard at 10 CFR 431.97(c).** 

Computer room air conditioners that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(e).** 

Variable refrigerant flow multi-split air conditioners and heat pumps that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 

431.97(f).** 

* Although the term sheet specifies ‘‘vacuum’’, the term was intended to designate vacuum cleaners. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; 

AHRI, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 166 at p. 11). 

** The recommendation only applies to supply and condenser fans embedded in this equipment. 

Stated more generally, the exclusions 

recommended by the Working Group 

would exclude from the scope of the test 

procedure, fans that are embedded in 

regulated equipment for which the DOE 

metric captures the energy consumption 

of the fan.28

The Working Group further 

recommended for fans embedded in 

non-regulated equipment, and/or 

embedded in regulated equipment other 

than listed in appendix B, and/or any 

fans that are not supply and condense 

fans in regulated equipment listed in 

appendix B that the first manufacturer 

of a testable configuration 29 would be 

responsible for certifying the standalone 

fan performance to DOE. (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 179, 

Recommendation #4 at pp. 4) 30

The Petitioners requested that the 

scope of any DOE test procedure be 

consistent with the scope of the term 

sheet. Petitioners also requested the testprocedure scope for commercial fans be 

consistent with ASHRAE 90.1–2019, 

and additionally exclude embedded 

fans that are part of equipment listed in 

Section 6.4.1.1 of ASHRAE 90.1–2019. 

ASHRAE 90.1–2019 (See Table III–7 of 

this document). (Docket No. EERE– 

2020–BT–PET–0003, The Petitioners, 

No. 1, attachment ‘‘AMCA Petition to 

DOE Cover Letter and Petition [sic] 

2020110’’ at pp. 7–8) 

The additional exclusions for 

embedded fans that are part of 

equipment listed in Section 6.4.1.1 of 

ASHRAE 90.1–2019 as requested by 

AMCA is included in the fan and 

blower exclusions to Section 6.5.3.1.3 of 

ASHRAE 90.1–2019 ‘‘Fan Efficiency 

Requirements’’ as listed in section in 

Section 6.5.3.1.3 of ASHRAE 90.1–2019 

and presented in Table III–6 of this 

document. 

TABLE III–6—EMBEDDED FAN AND BLOWERS EXCLUSIONS TO SECTION 6.5.3.1.3 OF ASHRAE 90.1–2019 ‘‘FAN

EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS’’ 

Embedded fan and blowers exclusions to Section 6.5.3.1.3 of ASHRAE 90.1–2019 ‘‘Fan Efficiency Requirements’’ 

Included in the 

exclusion 

recommended by 

the Working Group? 

Embedded fans and fan arrays with a combined motor nameplate horsepower of 5 hp or less or with a fan system electrical input power of 4.1 kW or less.No. 

Embedded fans that are part of equipment listed under Section 6.4.1.1 ............................................................................... See Table III–7. 

Embedded fans included in equipment bearing a third party-certified seal for air or energy performance of the equipment 

package.

No. 


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TABLE III–7—EQUIPMENT LISTED IN SECTION 6.4.1.1 OF ASHRAE 90.1–2019 ‘‘MINIMUM EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCIES— 

LISTED EQUIPMENT—STANDARD RATING AND OPERATING CONDITIONS’’ 

Fans embedded in: Included in the embedded fan exclusions recommended by the 

Working Group? 

Electrically Operated Unitary Air Conditioners ......................................... Partially. This category includes equipment above 760,000 Btu/h. The 

exclusions in the term sheet apply only to fans embedded in equipment above 65,000 Btu/h and below 760,000 Btu/h (equivalent to 5.5 

tons and 63.5 tons, respectively as stated in the term sheet). In addition, the term sheet specifies that the exclusions would apply only to 

embedded ‘‘supply and condenser fans.’’ 

Electrically Operated Air-Cooled Unitary Heat Pumps ............................ Partially. This category includes equipment above 760,000 Btu/h. The 

exclusions in the term sheet apply only to fans embedded in equipment below 760,000 Btu/h. In addition, the term sheet specifies that 

the exclusion would apply only to embedded ‘‘supply and condenser 

fans.’’ 

Air-, water-, and evaporatively cooled Condensing Units ........................ Yes, these fans are below 1 hp. In addition, it is specified in Table 

6.8.1–1 of ASHRAE 90.1–2019 that this category only includes 

equipment greater than or equal to 135,000 Btu/h. 

Water-Chilling Packages .......................................................................... No. 

Electrically Operated Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners, Packaged 

Terminal Heat Pumps, Single-Package Vertical Air Conditioners, and 

Single-Package Vertical Heat Pumps.

Yes. However, the term sheet specifies that the exclusion would apply 

only to embedded ‘‘supply and condenser fans.’’ 

Room Air-conditioners and Air-conditioner Heat pumps .......................... Yes. These fans are below 1 hp. 

Warm-Air Furnaces and Combination Warm-Air Furnaces/Air-Conditioning Units, Warm-Air Duct Furnaces, and Unit Heaters.No. 

Gas- and Oil-Fired Boilers ........................................................................ Partially. Some of these fans are below 1 hp. 

Heat-Rejection Equipment ........................................................................ Yes. 

Electrically Operated Variable-Refrigerant-Flow Air Conditioners ........... Yes. However, the term sheet specifies that the exclusion would apply 

only to embedded ‘‘supply and condenser fans.’’ 

Electrically Operated Variable-Refrigerant-Flow and Applied Heat 

Pumps.

Partially. This category includes ground water source and ground 

source equipment that is not regulated by DOE and that was not included in the term sheet exclusions. In addition, the term sheet 

specifies that the exclusion would apply only to embedded ‘‘supply 

and condenser fans.’’ 

Floor-Mounted Air Conditioners and Condensing Units Serving Computer Rooms.Partially. This category includes equipment greater than or equal to 

760,000 Btu/h, which are not regulated by DOE. 

Commercial Refrigerators, Commercial Freezers, and Refrigeration ...... Yes, these fans are below 1 hp. 

Vapor-Compression-Based Indoor Pool Dehumidifiers ........................... Yes, these fans are below 1 hp. 

Electrically Operated direct-expansion dedicated outdoor air system 

Units, Single-Package and Remote Condenser, without Energy Recovery.

No. 

Electrically Operated direct-expansion dedicated outdoor air system 

Units, Single-Package and Remote Condenser, with Energy Recovery.

No. 

Electrically Operated Water-Source Heat Pumps .................................... Partially. This category includes ground water source and ground 

source equipment that is not regulated by DOE and was not included 

in the term sheet exclusions. In addition, the term sheet specifies 

that the exclusion would apply only to embedded ‘‘supply and condenser fans.’’ 

Heat Pump and Heat Recovery Chiller Packages ................................... No. 

Ceiling-Mounted Computer-Room Air Conditioners ................................. Partially. The term sheet only excludes embedded fans in computer 

room air conditioners that are subject to DOE energy conservation 

standards. 

Walk-In Cooler and Freezer Display Door ............................................... Yes, these fans are below 1 hp. 

Walk-In Cooler and Freezer Non-Display Door ....................................... Yes, these fans are below 1 hp. 

Walk-In Cooler and Freezer Refrigeration System .................................. Yes, these fans are below 1 hp. 

As previously noted, in response to 

the April 2020 Notice of Petition, 

Greenheck commented in support of a 

scope consistent with the term sheet 

and with ASHRAE 90.1–2019 (Docket 

No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

Greenheck, No. 6.1 at p. 2) Johnson 

Controls commented in support of the 

exclusions requested by the Petitioners 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

Johnson Controls, No. 10 at pp. 1). 

CTI commented in support of the 

exclusion of fans used in heat rejection 

equipment as requested by the 

Petitioners. CTI commented that this 

exclusion was included in the term 

sheet scope recommendation based on 

the widespread usage of equipmentlevel energy efficiency metrics; the low 

potential for energy savings; the 

potential unintended increases in fan 

and system energy use ; and the 

associated design challenges due to the 

very large size of fans used in heat 

rejection equipment. (Docket No. EERE– 

2020–BT–PET–0003, CTI, No. 11 at pp. 

1–2) 

AHRI commented in support of the 

Petitioners’ request to exclude from the 

scope of the test procedure condenser 

fans embedded in commercial and 

industrial chillers, condensing units, 

and unregulated packaged air 

conditioners and heat pumps with 

cooling capacity greater than 760,000 

Btu/h, consistent with Section 6.4.1.1 of 

ASHRAE 90.1–2019. AHRI also 

supported the exclusions listed in the 


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31The AMCA 214–21 metric describes fan 

performance as tested in a standalone configuration 

(i.e. not installed inside other equipment). 

32AMCA 214–21 had not yet published at the 

time of these comments. 

33Energy Conservation Program for Certain 

Industrial Equipment: Energy Conservation 

Standards and Test Procedures for Commercial 

Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Water-Heating 

Equipment. 74 FR 36312, 36322 (July 22, 2009). 

34See Proposed regulatory language for 

Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers 

term sheet for heat rejection equipment, 

including but not limited to air cooled 

condensers, dry coolers, cooling towers, 

evaporative condensers, and hybrid 

wet/dry units. (Docket No. EERE–2020– 

BT–PET–0003, AHRI, No. 14 at p. 2) 

Further, AHRI commented in support of 

additional exclusions to exclude all fans 

in all regulated equipment and asserted 

that EPCA does not permit two 

standards to be applied to regulated 

equipment. AHRI stated that the list of 

equipment in Section 6.4.1.1 of 

ASHRAE 90.1–2019 strictly applies to 

air distribution equipment and does not 

include all regulated equipment 

incorporating fans, such as boilers. 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

AHRI, No. 14 at p. 2) In addition, AHRI 

questioned the representativeness of 

applying a standalone fan metric for 

embedded fans in regulated 

equipment.31 AHRI asserted that the 

standalone fan metric, after accounting 

for system effect, would not provide an 

appropriate basis for comparison of 

performance. (Docket No. EERE–2020– 

BT–PET–0003, AHRI, No. 14 at p. 2) 

Daikin commented in support of all of 

AHRI’s comments on the petition. 

(Daikin, No. 8 at p. 1). 

Lennox commented that fans 

embedded in DOE regulated HVACR 

equipment should be excluded from the 

scope to avoid duplicative burdens for 

HVACR equipment already subject to 

DOE regulation. (Docket No. EERE– 

2020–BT–PET–0003, Lennox, No. 5 at p. 

3) 

Several interested parties commented 

in support of an equipment level 

approach (i.e., system approach) that 

would regulate the HVACR equipment 

rather than what they described as a 

component level approach. CTI 

commented that energy conservation 

standards based on already established 

equipment-level metrics are more 

effective at reducing energy 

consumption compared to energy 

savings obtained by using a fan 

efficiency metric, and at a lower 

regulatory burden. (Docket No. EERE– 

2020–BT–PET–0003, CTI, No. 11 at p. 2) 

Daikin commented that DOE had 

recently stated that it may seek to 

establish regulatory coverage over 

equipment, rather than the components 

in such equipment. (Docket No. EERE– 

2020–BT–PET–0003, Daikin, No. 8 at p. 

1) In addition, Daikin commented that 

the purpose of the FEI established by 

AMCA 214 is to help drive fan sizing 

and better fan selection. Daikin 

commented that while there were 

benefits to improving fan sizing and 

incentivizing better fan selection for 

standalone fans, not all possible FEI 

improvement approaches are practical 

for embedded fans (e.g., increasing fan 

size or increasing the number of fans). 

Daikin stated that certain equipment 

incorporating embedded fans must 

comply with multiple safety standards 

and performance standards. Daikin 

commented that embedded fans are 

carefully selected to adhere to such 

safety and performance standards, and 

that component sizes or the number of 

components cannot be altered to meet 

the needs of a component level test 

procedure. (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT– 

PET–0003, Daikin, No. 8 at p. 1) 

Daikin generally supported the 

exclusions requested by the Petitioners, 

stating that such exclusions should be 

reflected in the scope of AMCA 214. 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

Daikin, No. 8 at p. 1). CTI also 

commented that the exclusions 

requested by the Petitioners should be 

reflected in the scope of AMCA 214 and 

expressed concern that the draft AMCA 

214 test standard 32 could allow for the 

inclusion of embedded fans at some 

point in the future. CTI further stated 

that AMCA 214 is not suitable for 

inclusion in a regulatory program due to 

testing and accuracy issues. CTI did not 

provide a description of these issues. 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

CTI, No. 11 at p. 3) 

In response to the October 2021 RFI, 

AHRI commented that there have been 

many changes since the conclusion of 

the Working Group. For example, the 

introduction of FEI in ASHRAE 90.1, 

the development of a new test 

procedure for FEI, and the publication 

of AMCA 214. AHRI commented that 

itis chiefly concerned with ensuring that 

the scope of coverage does not impose 

double regulation on covered 

equipment. AHRI commented that 

AMCA 214–21 does not specifically 

exclude embedded fans other than in 

the foreword (which states that ‘‘AMCA 

Standard 214 primarily is for fans that 

are tested alone or with motors and 

drives; it does not apply to fans tested 

embedded inside of other equipment’’); 

however, AHRI stated that there is no 

normative procedure for applying a 

stand-alone fan metric to embedded 

applications. (AHRI, No. 10 at p. 2) 

In response to the October 2021 RFI, 

AHRI and Morrison commented that 

any fan and blower regulations should 

exclude all fans and blowers used in 

regulated equipment because EPCA 

does not permit two standards to be 

applied to a single federally regulated 

product. AHRI and Morrison cited 

DOE’s discussion in a final rule 

published July 22, 2009 33 in which DOE 

stated, ‘‘EPCA authorizes DOE to 

establish a performance standard or a 

single design standard. As such, a 

standard that establishes both a 

performance standard and a design 

requirement remain beyond the scope of 

DOE’s legal authority.’’ AHRI and 

Morrison, citing 42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6)(C), 

asserted that introducing component 

regulation on regulated products creates 

a secondary redesign cycle contrary to 

EPCA. AHRI and Morrison also asserted 

that EPCA is clear that DOE is 

prohibited from setting a new efficiency 

standard on products within certain 

defined time limits. Specifically, AHRI 

and Morrison commented that DOE 

cannot set new efficiency standards for 

products manufactured after a date that 

is the later of (1) the date that is three 

years after publication of the final rule 

establishing a new standard; or (2) the 

date that is six years after the effective 

date of the current standard for a 

covered product, citing 42 U.S.C. 

6313(a)(6)(C)(iv). AHRI and Morrison 

commented that introducing a fan 

regulation on top of a regulation for 

covered equipment would complicate 

the regulatory, design and compliance 

cycles. AHRI and Morrison added that 

clearly excluding fans in regulated 

products will help DOE comply with 

the legally mandated schedule and 

parameters laid out under EPCA. AHRI 

and Morrison additionally commented 

that DOE should maintain consistency 

in its rulemaking process and seek to 

establish regulatory coverage over 

equipment rather than the components 

in such equipment. (AHRI, No. 10 at pp. 

3–4; Morrison, No. 8 at p. 2) 

Morrison added that DOE should only 

regulate standalone fans and not those 

embedded in equipment since none of 

the referenced test methods are for 

embedded fans. Further, Morrison 

commented that the vast majority of 

fans manufactured by √Morrison are 

incorporated in HVAC equipment that 

already have energy efficiency measures 

that account for the fan energy, and thus 

should continue to be out of scope for 

this regulation. (Morrison, No. 8 at p. 1) 

In its proposed regulation, the CEC 

proposes to exclude embedded fans, as 

defined in AMCA 214–21, including 

embedded fans in air curtain units.34 In 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 44207 

available in the following Docket: 22–AAER–01 at: 

efiling.energy.ca.gov/Lists/ 

DocketLog.aspx?docketnumber=22-AAER-01. 

35See CEC Commercial and Industrial Fans and 

Blowers Staff Report, Docket No. 22–AAER–01, 

TN# 241951, at p. 16. 

36 Id. 

37See CEC Commercial and Industrial Fans and 

Blowers Staff Report, Docket No. 22–AAER–01, 

TN# 241951, at p. 30 

38 In some cases, the heat rejection equipment 

manufacturer may purchase the impeller and 

assemble the fan in a housing which is tied to the 

structure of the heat rejection equipment. 

39AMCA, Standard 220–21, ‘‘Laboratory Methods 

of Testing Air Curtains for Aerodynamic 

Performance Ratings,’’ 2021. Available at 

www.amca.org. 

40 DOE notes that while the Working Group 

recommended to exclude fans in residential 

furnaces that are subject to DOE’s energy 

conservation standard at 10 CFR 430.32(y), furnace 

fans are excluded from the definition of ‘‘fan and 

blower’’ and therefore do not need to be listed as 

a proposed exclusion. 

its staff report, the CEC stated that its 

proposal would exclude fans embedded 

in regulated and nonregulated 

equipment where the main function is 

other than the movement of air, as long 

as the fan is not sold or offered for sale 

as a standalone product.35 As reasons 

for exclusion, the CEC stated that these 

fans are either manufactured by an 

original equipment manufacturer 

(OEM), who embeds the fan in a piece 

of equipment where the main function 

is something other than the movement 

of air, or because they are manufactured 

for the purpose of being embedded into 

an appliance after market.36 The CEC 

also discussed the potential complexity 

of testing embedded fans and the 

accuracy of the results. See section 

III.D.8 of this document for further 

discussion related to testing.37

DOE proposes to exclude fans 

embedded in equipment listed in Table 

III–5, as long as the fan is not 

distributed in commerce as a standalone 

product, consistent with the Working 

Group term sheet scope 

recommendations related to embedded 

fans. The equipment listed in Table III– 

5 includes equipment that is separately 

regulated by DOE (‘‘covered 

equipment’’) as well as non-covered 

equipment (i.e., transportation 

refrigeration equipment, vacuum 

cleaners, heat rejection equipment, and 

air curtains). 

Fans used in transportation 

equipment are often designed to 

accommodate the limited space 

available and are built following 

specific construction requirements to 

withstand shock and vibrations. These 

design constraints significantly limit 

potential opportunities for 

improvements in efficiency. Consistent 

with the Working Group term sheet 

(Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD– 

0006–0179, Recommendation #2 at p. 

2), DOE proposes to exclude fans that 

are exclusively embedded in transport 

refrigeration (i.e., trailer refrigeration, 

self-powered truck refrigeration, 

vehicle-powered truck refrigeration, and 

marine/rail container refrigeration) at 

this time. 

DOE proposes to exclude fans that are 

exclusively embedded in vacuum 

cleaners. AHRI initially made this 

recommendation on the basis that these 

fans represent low energy savings 

potential due to their low operating 

hours. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT– 

STD–0006; AHRI, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 166 at p. 11) Fans 

embedded in vacuums cleaners are not 

used to produce airflow. Rather, they 

are used to create a vacuum for material 

handling purposes (i.e., moving dust, 

small particles etc.). DOE has tentatively 

determined that a clean air test using 

AMCA 210–16 would not result in a 

measurement of energy use or energy 

efficiency during a representative 

average use cycle. For this reason, and 

consistent with the Working Group term 

sheet scope recommendations, DOE 

proposes to exclude fans embedded in 

vacuum cleaners from the scope of the 

test procedure. 

Fans used in heat rejection equipment 

are primarily fabricated in-house by the 

heat rejection equipment manufacturer 

and that these fans are not sold in a 

standalone configuration.38 For this 

reason, and consistent with the Working 

Group term sheet scope 

recommendations, DOE proposes to 

exclude fans embedded in heat rejection 

equipment from the scope of the test 

procedure. 

Air curtains are used in entrances to 

buildings or openings between two 

spaces conditioned at different 

temperatures. Their performance does 

not depend on the airpower alone, but 

on their ability to create a uniform 

airstream that separates two spaces from 

each other. Air curtains are subject to a 

separate AMCA testing standard.39 This 

standard establishes uniform methods 

for the testing of an air curtain to 

determine aerodynamic performance in 

terms of airflow rate, outlet air velocity 

uniformity, power consumption, and air 

velocity projection. Air curtains include 

fans packaged with a motor, filter, outlet 

section (a nozzle, discharge grille, etc.), 

and in some cases a mounting plate, 

and/or an electric heater or water heater. 

The performance of fans embedded in 

air curtains is related to airflow rate, 

outlet air velocity uniformity, and air 

velocity projection as opposed to the 

airpower output alone, which is what is 

accounted for in AMCA 210–16. 

Therefore, DOE has tentatively 

determined that fans embedded in air 

curtain fans would necessitate 

consideration of a different metric to 

better capture the energy use of air 

curtain fans under a representative cycle 

of use. Therefore, DOE proposes that 

fans embedded in air curtains not be 

addressed in the proposed test 

procedure. 

In addition, at this time, DOE 

proposes that the test procedure would 

exclude fans in covered equipment in 

which the fan energy use is already 

captured in the equipment specific test 

procedures. DOE is proposing to adopt 

an exclusion for fans embedded in 

equipment listed in Table III–5,40 as 

long as the fan is not distributed in 

commerce as a standalone product. DOE 

proposes to also exclude fans embedded 

in direct-expansion dedicated outdoor 

systems (‘‘DX–DOAS’’) to reflect the 

DOE proposed test procedure and 

metric for DX–DOAS that, if adopted, 

would incorporate fan energy use. See 

86 FR 72874, 72889–72890 (December 

23, 2021). These proposed exclusions 

are consistent with the 

recommendations of the Working 

Group. The proposed approach would 

avoid regulating fans for which existing 

DOE regulations account for their 

energy use by excluding such fans from 

the test procedure if distributed solely 

embedded in the listed equipment. To 

the extent a fan is distributed in 

commerce as a stand-alone fan, and 

therefore is not limited to use in specific 

equipment, or embedded in equipment 

in which its energy use is not addressed 

in a DOE test procedure, such a fan 

would be subject to the DOE test 

procedure. 

Table III–8 summarizes the 

exclusively embedded fans proposed for 

exclusions from the scope of the test 

procedure. 


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44208 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

TABLE III–8—EXCLUSIVELY EMBEDDED FANS PROPOSED FOR EXCLUSION FROM THE SCOPE OF THE TEST PROCEDURE

Fans exclusively embedded in: 

Direct-expansion dedicated outdoor systems (‘‘DX–DOASes’’) subject to any DOE test procedures in appendix B to subpart F of part 431.* 

Single-phase central air conditioners and heat pumps rated with a certified cooling capacity less than 65,000 British thermal units per hour 

(‘‘Btu/h’’), that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 430.32(c). 

Three-phase, air-cooled, small commercial packaged air-conditioning and heating equipment rated with a certified cooling capacity less 

than 65,000 Btu/h, that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(b). 

Transport refrigeration (i.e., Trailer refrigeration, Self-powered truck refrigeration, Vehicle-powered truck refrigeration, Marine/Rail container 

refrigerant), and fans exclusively powered by fan combustion engines. 

Vacuum cleaners. 

Heat Rejection Equipment: 

• Packaged evaporative open circuit cooling towers. 

• Evaporative field-erected open circuit cooling towers. 

• Packaged evaporative closed-circuit cooling towers. 

• Evaporative field-erected closed-circuit cooling towers. 

• Packaged evaporative condensers. 

• Field-erected evaporative condensers. 

• Packaged air-cooled (dry) coolers. 

• Field-erected air-cooled (dry) coolers. 

• Air-cooled steam condensers. 

• Hybrid (water saving) versions of all of the previously listed equipment that contain both evaporative and air-cooled heat exchange sections. 

Air curtains. 

** Air-cooled commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps (CUAC, CUHP) with a certified cooling capacity between 5.5 tons (65,000 

Btu/h) and 63.5 tons (760,000 Btu/h) that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(b). 

** Water-cooled and evaporatively-cooled commercial air conditioners and water-source commercial heat pumps that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(b). 

** Single package vertical air conditioners and heat pumps that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(d). 

** Packaged terminal air conditioners (PTAC) and packaged terminal heat pumps (PTHP) that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(c). 

** Computer room air conditioners that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 431.97(e). 

** Variable refrigerant flow multi-split air conditioners and heat pumps that are subject to DOE’s energy conservation standard at 10 CFR 

431.97(f). 

** DX–DOASes are not currently subject to a DOE test procedure. However, there is an ongoing rulemaking to establish a test procedure for 

DX–DOASes that DOE anticipates will be finalized before the final rule of the fans and blowers rulemaking. Information about this rulemaking 

can be found at regulations.gov under the Docket Number EERE–2017–BT–TP–0018. 

* The exclusion only applies to supply and condenser fans embedded in this equipment. 

As discussed, DOE is proposing to 

exclude embedded fans that are not 

distributed in commerce as standalone 

fans. DOE acknowledges that in a 

number of instances, a standalone fan 

purchased by a manufacturer for 

incorporation into a unit of listed 

equipment may be indistinguishable 

based on physical features from a fan 

that is purchased by a manufacturer for 

incorporation into non-listed equipment 

or from a fan used as a standalone fan. 

During the ASRAC negotiations, AHRI 

conducted a survey of its members to 

determine the number of fans purchased 

versus manufactured by the equipment 

manufacturer. (Docket No. EERE–2013– 

BT–STD–0006, AHRI, No. 125.3, at p. 1) 

AHRI estimated that over 80 percent of 

all fans that are used as components 

across all commercial regulated 

equipment are manufactured by the 

equipment manufacturer. Id. This 

percentage was higher for commercial 

air-conditioning and heat pump 

equipment and was estimated to be 

between 94 and 99 percent. Id. 

In order to provide additional 

specificity as to the fans that would be 

subject to the embedded fan exclusion, 

DOE proposes to use the term 

‘‘exclusively embedded fans’’ to 

designate the fans covered by the 

embedded fan exclusion. DOE proposes 

to define ‘‘exclusively embedded fan’’ 

as: a fan or blower that is manufactured 

and incorporated into a product or 

equipment manufactured by the same 

manufacturer and that is exclusively 

distributed in commerce embedded in 

another product or equipment. Based on 

this information, DOE has tentatively 

determined that the vast majority of fans 

used as components in regulated 

commercial HVACR equipment would 

meet the proposed definition of 

exclusively embedded fan and would 

not be subject to the test procedure as 

proposed in this NOPR. 

The following examples illustrate 

how the proposed definition of 

exclusively embedded fan would impact 

whether a fan must be tested and 

certified to DOE: 

• If a manufacturer makes a fan and 

incorporates it into equipment that the 

manufacturer also makes, that fan 

would meet the definition of exclusively 

embedded fan. If the embedded fan is 

part of equipment listed in Table III–8 

of this document, that fan would be 

excluded from the proposed scope of 

the test procedure so long as the 

manufacturer does not also sell that fan 

as a standalone fan. If the embedded fan 

is not part of equipment listed in Table 

III–8 of this document, the embedded 

fan would be included in the proposed 

scope of the test procedure and the fan 

would be subject to the test procedure. 

• If Manufacturer A makes (or 

imports) a fan and then only sells it to 

Manufacturer B who then only 

distributes that fan in commerce 

embedded within a larger piece of 

equipment, that fan would not meet the 

definition of exclusively embedded fan 

(even if the equipment is listed in Table 

III–8 of this document), as it would be 

distributed in commerce as a standalone 

fan by Manufacturer A, and therefore 

the fan would be subject to the test 

procedure under the proposal. 

• If a fan is exclusively imported as 

part of a larger piece of equipment, that 

fan would meet the definition of 

exclusively embedded fan. If the 

embedded fan is part of equipment 

listed in Table III–8 of this document, 

that fan would be excluded from the 

proposed scope of applicability of the 

test procedure. If the embedded fan is 

not part of equipment listed in Table 

III–8 of this document, the embedded 

fan would be included in the proposed 


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41AMCA 230–15 defines ‘‘personnel cooler’’ as a 

fan used in shops, factories, etc., generally supplied 

with wheels or casters on the housing or frame to 

aid in portability, and with motor and impeller 

enclosed in a common guard and shroud; ‘‘box fan’’ 

as a fan used in an office or residential application 

and having the motor and impeller enclosed in an 

approximately square box frame having a handle; 

and ‘‘table fan’’ as a fan intended for use on a desk, 

table or countertop, and which may also be 

provided with the means for mounting to a wall. 

See Sections 5.1.2 through 5.1.5 of AMCA 230–15. 

scope of applicability of the test 

procedure. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed exclusively embedded fan 

exclusions listed in Table III–8 of this 

document. 

DOE seeks information on whether it 

is common practice for standalone fan 

manufacturers that supply fans to 

HVACR equipment manufacturers to 

test these fans in accordance with 

AMCA 214–21 or AMCA 210–16 in a 

standalone configuration, and to 

provide fan performance data for these 

fans. 

DOE seeks information on whether it 

is common practice for manufacturers of 

HVACR equipment that manufacture 

and incorporate fans into their 

equipment to test these fans in 

accordance with AMCA 214–21 or 

AMCA 210–16 in a standalone 

configuration, and to provide fan 

performance data to their customers. 

DOE seeks comment on the estimates 

provided for the percentage of fans that 

are incorporated in HVACR equipment 

that are purchased by the HVACR 

equipment manufacturer vs. 

manufactured in-house. 

DOE seeks comment and input 

regarding any physical features that 

could be used to distinguish a fan that 

is exclusively designed for use in 

equipment listed in Table III–8 of this 

document. 

DOE seeks comment on the proposed 

definition of ‘‘exclusively embedded 

fan’’. 

4. Air Circulating Fans 

In the October 2021 RFI, DOE 

requested information regarding 

potential test procedures for fans and 

blowers, including air circulating fans, 

specifically air circulating fan heads 

(‘‘ACFHs’’), and requested feedback on 

definitions provided in AMCA 230–15 

and on the scope of any potential test 

procedure for air circulating fans. 86 FR 

54412, 54414–54415. DOE described 

ACFHs as designed to provide 

concentrated directional airflow and 

consisting of a motor, impeller and 

guard for mounting on a pedestal, wall 

mount bracket, ceiling mount bracket, Ibeam bracket or other mounting means. 

86 FR 54412, 54414. DOE stated that 

ACFHs are different from ceiling fans, 

which are designed to circulate air 

rather than provide concentrated 

directional airflow; and as a result, 

ACFHs have lower diameter-tomaximum operating speed ratio 

(expressed in inches per revolutions per 

minute (‘‘in/RPM’’)) than ceiling fans. 

Id. Comments received related to 

definitions are discussed in section 

III.B.4 of this document. As discussed in 

section III.B.4, DOE proposes to define 

air circulating fans and related terms. 

AMCA commented in support of 

developing test procedures for ACFHs. 

AMCA recommended that for clarity, 

repeatability, and market confidence, 

DOE should harmonize with IEC 

60879:2019 ‘‘Comfort fans and 

regulators for household and similar 

purposes—Methods for measuring 

performance,’’ and set a simple 

electrical-input-power threshold by 

excluding ACFHs less than 125 Watts 

(‘‘W’’) from a commercial and industrial 

ACFH test procedure. AMCA stated this 

would cover the vast majority of fans 

used in commercial and industrial 

applications and would exclude fans 

mostly used for residential applications. 

(AMCA, No. 6 at p. 6) In addition, 

AMCA commented in support of 

developing a test procedure for 

additional categories of air circulating 

fans defined in AMCA 230–15 (i.e., 

personnel coolers, box fans, and table 

fans),41 using AMCA 230–15 as the basis 

for a test procedure and including fans 

of greater than or equal to 125 W 

electrical input power. AMCA also 

stated that, should DOE develop energy 

conservation standards for air 

circulating fans, all categories of 

circulating fans should be subject to the 

same efficiency standard and lower 

wattage scope limit. (AMCA, No. 6 at p. 

6) AMCA commented that impeller 

diameter is not an appropriate criteria to 

use to delimit the scope of a potential 

test procedure for ACF, specifically for 

ACFHs. AMCA commented that typical 

impeller diameters for ACFHs offered 

for sale in the United States range from 

12 inches to 36 inches; however, there 

is no practical reason that an ACFH 

with a diameter outside that range could 

not be manufactured and/or sold. 

AMCA stated that limiting the DOE test 

procedure to specific diameters could 

encourage the introduction of fans 

outside of the covered diameters into 

the marketplace. AMCA added that 

typical motor sizes range from 1⁄10 hp to 2⁄3 hp, with 1⁄10, 1⁄8, 1⁄4, 1⁄3, 1⁄2, and 2⁄3

hp being the most common; but because 

there is no mandated test procedure and 

reporting requirements, fan electricalinput-power data is not readily available 

for the majority of ACFHs and cannot be 

estimated using the motor horsepower. 

AMCA commented that ACFH motors 

typically are loaded above their 

nameplate horsepower, such that simply 

multiplying the published hp by the 

conversion factor of 746 Watts per hp 

and dividing by a nominal motor 

efficiency does not provide a useful 

input-power estimate. (AMCA, No. 6 at 

p. 7) AMCA stated that IEC 60879:2019 

covers additional product classes, such 

as ‘‘tower fans’’ and ‘‘bladeless fans’’ 

and that these categories of fans should 

be excluded from the test procedure. 

(AMCA, No. 6 at p. 6) 

ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC commented 

that additional categories of air 

circulating fans other than ACFHs, such 

as personnel coolers, box fans, and table 

fans, meet the definition of ‘‘fan and 

blower’’ and thus should be included in 

the test procedure. ASAP, ACEEE, 

NRDC added that these additional air 

circulating fan categories are covered in 

the existing AMCA 230–15 test 

procedure for air circulating fans, such 

that it is feasible to include them within 

the scope of the DOE test procedure. 

ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC commented that 

generally, air circulating fans are fans 

used to circulate air within a confined 

space for use in agriculture, 

manufacturing, etc. and estimated the 

total global market for all fans and 

blowers to be approximately $20 billion, 

while agricultural ventilation, a major 

market for air circulating fans, is 

expected to reach $1.3 billion by 2027. 

ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC commented that 

establishing standardized DOE test 

procedures and efficiency ratings for air 

circulating fans will ensure that 

purchasers have access to comparable 

information about efficiency, enabling 

informed purchasing decisions. (ASAP, 

ACEEE, NRDC, No. 7 at p. 1) ASAP, 

ACEEE, NRDC supported limiting the 

definition of air circulating fans to input 

powers of 125 W and above, stating that 

this would be consistent with IEC 

60879:20195 and fan standards in the 

European Union. ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC 

added that a minimum input power cutoff of 125 W is sufficient to reasonably 

distinguish air circulating fans that are 

to any significant extent distributed in 

commerce for industrial or commercial 

use. (ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC, No. 7 at p. 

2) 

The CA IOUs recommended that DOE 

regulate all commercial air circulating 

fans not currently covered, which could 

be defined as having a minimum power 

draw threshold such as 125 W. 

Additionally, the CA IOUs stated that 

personnel and agricultural fans that 

have solid housings or that may not 

meet the diameter-to maximum 


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44210 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

42As discussed in section I.A.4 of this document, 

ACFH have a maximum diameter-to maximum 

operating speed ratio of 0.06 inches per rotations 

per minute (‘‘in/RPM’’). 

43MEP referenced Direct Heating equipment 

rulemakings: 85 FR 77017 and 86 FR 20053. 

operating speed ratio 42 should be 

regulated, but are not considered 

ACFHs. The CA IOUs further 

commented that there is support by the 

industry to regulate all commercial air 

circulating fans, and they recommended 

that DOE undertake an additional 

rulemaking(s) to cover them. (CA IOUs, 

No. 9 at p. 3) 

NEEA recommended that DOE 

consider evaluating efficiency standards 

and test procedures for additional 

categories of air circulating fans, such as 

industrial personnel coolers, box fans, 

and table fans that meet the definition 

of circulating fan. NEAA stated that the 

RFI focused primarily on ACFHs, and 

that other, non-ceiling categories of air 

circulating fans such as industrial 

personnel coolers, box fans, and table 

fans fall within the definition of a ‘‘fan’’ 

as defined in the final determination 

published on August 19, 2021. NEEA 

asserted that DOE has the authority to 

develop an efficiency standard for these 

types of equipment. NEEA supports the 

development of efficiency standards and 

test procedures for these industrial 

equipment categories and recommended 

that DOE consider regulating other fans 

listed in AMCA 230–15 under the same 

standard and utilize the same test 

procedure. NEEA additionally 

commented that with this scope 

expansion, DOE has the potential to 

influence the market towards more 

efficient technologies where possible 

and could realize significant energy 

savings for these equipment categories. 

(NEEA, No. 11 at p. 2) 

MEP recommended that the definition 

for an ACFH should include a 

requirement for polyphase electric 

current with a fan shaft power greater 

than 3 hp, to avoid including 

‘‘residential fans’’ in regulations and to 

align ACFHs with the upper limit of the 

small electric motors hp range as 

presented in § 431.446(a). (MEP, No. 5 at 

p. 1) 

In response to an energy conservation 

standards RFI published on February 8, 

2022 (‘‘February 2022 ECS RFI’’; 87 FR 

7048), ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC, and NEEA 

stated that, should very small-diameter 

(‘‘VSD’’) ceiling fans not be included in 

the scope of the ongoing ceiling fan 

rulemaking, DOE should cover them as 

ACFHs under the fans and blowers 

rulemaking. These commenters 

supported this by stating that, since the 

diameter-to-maximum operating speed 

ratios of VSDs are often less than 0.06, 

they would not qualify as ceiling fans 

according to the ceiling fan definition in 

the proposed ceiling fan scope, but 

would qualify as ACFHs. They also 

commented that VSDs and ACFHs have 

similar physical characteristics. (Docket 

No. EERE–2022–BT–STD–0002, ASAP, 

ACEEE, NRDC, and NEEA, No. 6 at pp. 

2–3) 

In response to the February 2022 ECS 

RFI, ebm papst stated that fan airflow 

rate can be reliably determined for air 

circulating fans using the AMCA 230 

testing method, particularly for air 

circulating fans with an input power 

greater than 125 W. (Docket No. EERE– 

2022–BT–STD–0002, ebm-papst, No. 8 

at p. 2) 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata) does not 

include any limitation in terms of input 

power of the air circulating fans that can 

be tested in accordance with the test 

procedure. The AMCA committee is 

considering limiting the scope of AMCA 

230–15 (with errata) to air circulating 

fans with input power of 125 W and 

above to focus on commercial and 

industrial fan applications and exclude 

residential fans such as tower fans and 

bladeless fans. 

DOE has tentatively determined that 

the proposed test procedure would 

provide a representative measurement 

of energy use or energy efficiency 

during a representative average use 

cycle for all air circulating fans as 

defined as proposed in section III.B.4 of 

this document. Therefore, at this time, 

DOE proposes to include all categories 

of air circulating fans in the scope of the 

proposed test procedure; i.e., including 

equipment with input power less than 

125 W. Should DOE identify additional 

information to justify excluding fans 

with input power less than 125 W from 

the scope (or any other power limit that 

may be justified), DOE may consider 

applying a power limit in the final rule 

as considered by the AMCA committee 

and supported by stakeholders. In 

addition, DOE may consider specifying 

that the 125 W corresponds to the air 

circulating fan’s input power at 

maximum speed. 

MEP recommended that the scope of 

a DOE test procedure should only 

include products exclusively used to 

move air. MEP commented that 

products that perform additional 

combustion, humidification, 

dehumidification, heating, or cooling 

functions should be excluded from this 

test procedure. MEP added that the 

rationale for this recommendation is 

found in the foreword of AMCA 214–21, 

which states, ‘‘AMCA Standard 214 

primarily is for fans that are tested alone 

or with motors and drives; it does not 

apply to fans tested embedded inside of 

other equipment’’. MEP also stated that 

fans used in supplementary electric 

heater products and portable electric 

heaters should also be excluded from 

the fan regulations, asserting that any 

inefficiencies of supplementary electric 

heater products and portable electric 

heaters would serve to provide heat to 

a space in addition to that which is 

supplied by a primary electric heater.43

(MEP, No. 5 at p. 2) 

DOE’s proposed test procedure for air 

circulating fans, if finalized, would 

apply to the equipment that meets the 

definition of fan and blower. The air 

circulating fan would be tested in a 

standalone configuration (i.e., not 

incorporated inside other equipment) in 

accordance with the proposed DOE test 

procedure, which would be based on 

AMCA 214–21. 

DOE requests comments on the 

proposed scope of applicability of the 

test procedure for air circulating fans. 

5. Non-Electric Drivers 

Some fans operate with non-electric 

drivers, such as engines or generators, 

and such fans may be used in nonstationary applications or stationary 

applications. The Working Group 

recommended that DOE exclude fans 

that are exclusively powered by internal 

combustion engines from the test 

procedure and related energy 

conservation standards. (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; No. 179, 

Recommendation #2, at p. 2) 

AMCA 214–21 does not provide for 

the testing of fans and blowers powered 

by internal combustion engines. In order 

to measure the energy efficiency or 

energy use the energy performance of 

non-electric drivers during a 

representative average use cycle, 

separate test methods would be 

necessary for each type of driver (e.g., 

engine, generators). DOE is not currently 

aware of a relevant industry test 

procedure and does not have 

information regarding the test set-up 

required to test fans powered by internal 

combustion engines. As such, DOE is 

not proposing test procedures for fans 

and blowers powered exclusively by an 

internal combustion engine at this time, 

regardless of whether such fan or blower 

is used in a stationary or non-stationary 

application. 

Certain bare-shaft fans can be 

powered by either electric drivers (i.e., 

motors) or non-electric drivers. DOE has 

tentatively determined that to the extent 

that such a fan is powered by an electric 

driver, the proposed test procedure 

would provide for measurement of the 

energy efficiency or energy use the 


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44The AMCA 214–21 and CEC definitions for 

these terms appear in Table III–1 of this document. 

energy performance of non-electric 

drivers during a representative average 

use cycle when powered by an electric 

driver. As such, DOE is proposing that 

such a fan would be subject to the 

proposed test procedure. 

DOE requests comment on excluding 

fans and blowers that are exclusively 

powered by internal combustion 

engines from the scope of this test 

procedure and associated energy 

conservation standards. 

DOE requests feedback and 

information on the physical features 

that would help distinguish fans and 

blowers that are exclusively powered by 

internal combustion engines from other 

fans and blowers. 

6. Replacement Parts 

The Working Group did not address 

the issue of replacement parts in the 

term sheet. (Docket EERE–2013–BT–TP– 

0055; No. 179, Appendix F at p. 19). 

Clarage commented that no 

exemptions should be made for 

replacement parts. (Docket EERE–2013– 

BT–STD–0006; Clarage, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 161 at p. 43) The CA 

IOUs commented that no exemptions 

should be made for replacement fans 

(Docket EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; CA 

IOUs, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 

163 at p. 185) 

ebm-papst commented that 

replacements for identical fan models 

that are not compliant should be exempt 

from the regulation for no more than 5 

years. (Docket EERE–2013–BT–STD– 

0006; ebm-papst, No. 152 at p. 3) 

Several stakeholders commented that 

replacement fans for fans embedded in 

larger pieces of equipment should be 

exempted from the test procedure and 

energy conservation standard 

rulemaking. Ingersoll Rand/Trane 

commented that replacement fans used 

as components should be exempted. 

Ingersoll Rand/Trane stated that 

replacement fans under the new 

regulation may not be suitable for the 

existing equipment, and thus 

replacement of the equipment may be 

required in order for the fan to comply. 

In addition, Ingersoll Rand/Trane 

expressed safety concerns that could 

arise from using replacement fans on 

existing equipment that serves 

applications such as combustion air, or 

heating applications. (Docket EERE– 

2013–BT–STD–0006; Ingersoll Rand/ 

Trane, No. 153 at p. 5) AHRI 

commented that replacement fans for 

fans embedded in equipment made 

before the compliance date should be 

exempt because the life of the 

equipment is longer than the life of the 

fan. In addition, AHRI noted that most 

replacement fan parts are supplied from 

the original equipment manufacturers 

and are not sold in a testable 

configuration; therefore the exemption 

of replacement fans is unlikely to create 

enforcement loopholes. (Docket EERE– 

2013–BT–STD–0006; AHRI, No. 158 at 

p. 7) 

AMCA commented that no consensus 

was obtained amongst AMCA’s 

membership regarding an approach for 

replacement fans. (Docket EERE–2013– 

BT–TP–0006; AMCA, Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 164 at p. 325) In 

response to the October 2021 RFI, AHRI 

and Morrison commented that the scope 

of any fan regulation should be limited 

to standalone fans and should recognize 

the utility of replacement parts. These 

commenters stated that HVACR and 

water heating equipment are built, 

tested, rated, and certified as a 

completed design, which is reliant upon 

a specific set of components, and that 

modifying these components changes 

the performance of the equipment. 

AHRI and Morrison also commented 

that in many cases, such as supply air 

fans for gas fired heat exchangers, hot 

water coils or electric resistance units, 

there are a variety of equipment safety 

and performance standards affected by 

the precisely engineered fan 

performance. AHRI and Morrison stated 

that if a replacement fan is made noncompliant because of new regulations, 

the continued safe use of the system 

would be called into question and the 

negative consequences could be 

catastrophic. (AHRI, No. 10 at p. 3; 

Morrison, No. 8 at p. 2) Morrison 

commented that replacement parts used 

in HVAC equipment should therefore be 

out of scope for safety reasons. 

(Morrison, No. 8 at p. 2) 

As discussed, fans and blowers as 

defined consist of an impeller, a shaft 

and bearings and/or driver to support 

the impeller, as well as a structure or 

housing. They may include a 

transmission, driver, and/or motor 

controller. The proposed test procedure 

would apply to the fan and blower as 

complete equipment (i.e., inclusive of 

all the parts listed in the definition) and 

not to a single component of the fan 

(e.g., the impeller alone). DOE proposes 

to include all fans and blowers that: (1) 

meet the criteria for scope inclusion as 

described in section III.A.1 of this 

document, and (2) are not proposed for 

exclusion as listed in section III.A.2 of 

this document or Table III–8 of this 

document, regardless of whether that 

fan is a replacement fan. DOE is not 

proposing to include fan parts (e.g., 

impeller, housing) in the scope of the 

test procedure, as such components do 

not meet the definition of fan and 

blower. At this time, DOE is not 

proposing energy conservation 

standards for fans and blowers, and the 

proposed test procedure would not 

impact the availability of current 

models. The proposed test procedure, if 

final, would not set any energy 

conservation standards and would not 

result in any non-compliant fans. 

B. Definitions 

This section discusses DOE’s 

proposed definitions for specific terms 

used in the proposed test procedure. 

1. Fan and Blower Categories 

DOE proposes to define several fan 

and blower categories to support the 

scope proposals described in section 

III.A of this document. 

As previously discussed, the 

classification of fans and blowers 

recommended by the Working Group for 

coverage under a test procedure and the 

corresponding terms and definitions in 

AMCA 214–21 and in the CEC proposed 

regulations are presented in Table III–1 

of this document. The CEC definitions 

are similar to the AMCA 214–21 

definitions. The inclusion of additional 

language in the CEC definitions to 

indicate a fan’s intended application or 

whether a fan’s inlet or outlet is 

(optionally, as relevant) ducted is 

informative, but does not further 

distinguish the terms. In addition, for 

axial panel fans, the CEC definitions 

specifies that the housing is typically 

mounted to a wall separating two 

spaces, and the fans are used to increase 

the pressure across this wall. Inlets and 

outlets are not ducted. 

DOE proposes to utilize the 

terminology and definitions specified in 

AMCA 214–21 to define the categories 

of fans and blowers proposed in the 

scope of applicability of the test 

procedure and tested using AMCA 210– 

16 as follows: (1) axial inline fan; (2) 

centrifugal housed fan; (3) centrifugal 

unhoused fan; (4) centrifugal inline fan; 

(5) radial-housed fan; and (6) PRVs. (See 

Table III–1 of this document). DOE 

proposes to modify the definition of 

axial panel fan as provided in AMCA 

214–21 to distinguish these fans from 

air circulating axial panel fans.44 The 

addition in the CEC definitions specifies 

that axial panel fans are typically 

mounted to a wall separating two 

spaces, and the fans are used to increase 

the pressure across this wall. This 

description distinguishes axial panel 

fans from axial air circulating panel 

fans, which do not have provisions for 

connection to ducting or separation of 

the fan inlet from its outlet. However, 


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45These provision would allow manufacturers to 

group individual models with essentially identical, 

but not exactly the same, energy performance 

characteristics into a basic model to reduce testing 

burden. Under DOE’s certification requirements, all 

the individual models within a basic model 

identified in a certification report as being the same 

basic model must have the same certified efficiency 

rating and use the same test data underlying the 

certified rating. The March 7, 2011, final rule also 

established that the efficiency rating of a basic 

model must be based on the least efficient or most 

energy consuming individual model (i.e., all 

individual models within a basic model must be at 

least as energy efficient as the certified rating). 76 

FR 12422, 12428–12429. 

the CEC distinction is based on how the 

fan is installed. Instead, DOE proposes 

to rely on physical features and to 

define axial panel fans as follows: 

Axial panel fans means an axial fan, 

without cylindrical housing, that 

includes a panel, orifice plate, or ring 

with brackets for mounting through a 

wall, ceiling, or other structure that 

separates the fan’s inlet from its outlet. 

In addition, to support the exclusions 

proposed in section III.A.2 of this 

document, and clarify which fans would 

fall under the proposed exclusions. DOE 

proposes a definition of ‘‘safety fan’’, as 

discussed in section III.B.3 of this 

document. DOE also proposes to adopt 

definitions of the terms ‘‘induced flow 

fan’’ and ‘‘jet fan’’ as established in 

AMCA 214–21. In addition, DOE 

proposes to define ‘‘cross-flow fan’’ as 

defined in AMCA 208–18. See section 

III.A.2 of this document. 

DOE requests comment on the 

definitions proposed for the following 

fan categories: (1) axial inline fan; (2) 

axial panel fan; (3) centrifugal housed 

fan; (4) centrifugal unhoused fan; (5) 

centrifugal inline fan; (6) radial-housed 

fan; and (7) PRVs, consistent with 

AMCA 214–21. If any of the definitions 

are not appropriate, DOE seeks input on 

how they should be amended and why. 

DOE seeks input and comments on 

the proposed definitions of (1) induced 

flow fan, (2) jet fan, and (3) cross-flow 

fan consistent with AMCA 214–21 and 

AMCA 208–18. If any of the definitions 

are not appropriate, DOE seeks input on 

how they should be amended and why. 

2. Basic Model 

The basic model concept allows 

manufacturers to group like models for 

the purpose of making representations 

of energy efficiency and/or energy use, 

including for the purpose of 

demonstrating compliance with DOE’s 

energy conservation standards to the 

extent DOE has established such 

standards. The concept of basic model 

may allow manufacturers to reduce the 

amount of testing they must do to rate 

the energy use or efficiency of their 

product. DOE’s current regulations 

provide equipment-specific basic model 

definitions, which typically state that 

models within the same basic model 

group have ‘‘essentially identical’’ 

energy or water use characteristics; as 

well as a general definition that 

provides (with some exceptions noted 

in the regulatory text) that a basic model 

means ‘‘all units of a given type of 

product (or class thereof) manufactured 

by one manufacturer, having the same 

primary energy source, and which have 

essentially identical electrical, physical, 

and functional characteristics that affect 

energy consumption, energy efficiency, 

water consumption, or water 

efficiency.’’ See for example 10 CFR 

430.2; 431.62, 431.152, 431.192, 

431.202, 431.222, and 431.292. 

DOE proposes to add a definition of 

basic model specific to fans and blowers 

that specifies a ‘‘basic model’’ as ‘‘all 

units of fans and blowers manufactured 

by one manufacturer, having the same 

primary energy source, and having 

essentially identical electrical, physical, 

and functional (e.g., aerodynamic) 

characteristics that affect energy 

consumption.’’ 

Fan and blower manufacturers may 

offer for sale the same bare shaft fan 

assembled, packaged, or integrated with 

different motor, transmission, and 

control combinations. Based on DOE’s 

proposed basic model definition, the 

same bare shaft fan, sold with different 

combinations of motor, transmission, 

and controls (or as a bare shaft fan) 

could be grouped under the same basic 

model. In addition, fan manufacturers 

would be able to elect to group similar 

individual fan models within the same 

basic model under the same ratings to 

reduce testing burden, provided that all 

representations regarding the energy use 

of fans within that basic model are 

identical and are based on the most 

consumptive unit. See 76 FR 12422, 

12428–12429 (March 7, 2011).45

Manufacturers would have the option to 

certify separate ratings for each 

combination of bare shaft fan, motor, 

transmission and/or control in order to 

make separate representations of the 

performance of each specific 

combination. 

In view of the substantial number of 

fans that could be subject to an 

individual certification requirement for 

each basic model, the Working Group 

discussed various options to reduce the 

burden of certification when the basic 

models only differed in terms of a single 

bare shaft fan feature, e.g., number of 

blades on the impeller, wheel width, or 

pitch angle as opposed to a different 

motor, transmission or control 

combination. (Docket No. EERE–2013– 

BT–STD–0006; Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 162 at pp. 24–63. One 

option discussed was to only require 

testing and certifying a fan model based 

on a single value or setting of the bare 

shaft fan feature, and only publishing 

one rating for that fan model, without 

differentiating for the variations in the 

given bare shaft fan feature. However, 

because this would provide inaccurate 

performance information, this option 

was not further considered. (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; Public 

Meeting Transcript, No. 162, at pp. 45– 

46) 

A second option that was discussed 

was to require that manufacturers certify 

a limited number of basic models and 

provide DOE with a mathematical 

formula to enable interpolating results 

for non-certified models. However, 

because these formulas can be 

proprietary algorithms, this option was 

not further considered. (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; Public 

Meeting Transcript, No. 162 at p. 38 and 

at p. 48) 

A third option that was discussed was 

to require manufacturers to certify a 

limited number of basic models and to 

provide DOE with a statement that all 

other fan variations based on changing 

one of the bare shaft fan’s features was 

also compliant. (Docket No. EERE– 

2013–BT–STD–0006; Public Meeting 

Transcript, No. 162 at pp. 48, 61) For 

example, a manufacturer would be 

required to certify one basic model at 

the feature-setting corresponding to the 

highest energy consumption and to 

submit to DOE a statement certifying 

that all other fan variations based on 

changing that one feature were also 

compliant. Another example would be 

to require manufacturers to certify the 

bounds of a range, for example 

maximum and minimum impeller 

width, and submit a statement that any 

fan model in between would be 

compliant. Under this option, 

manufacturers would still be allowed to 

make representations of the FEP and FEI 

of the non-certified basic models. 

(Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; 

Public Meeting Transcript, No. 162 at p. 

61) 

A fourth option discussed was to 

allow manufacturers to be able to 

submit an executable version of their 

selection programs to DOE for 

certification instead of submitting a 

separate compliance statement and 

certification report for each individual 

basic model, or variation of a basic 

model which would constitute a new 

basic model. In addition, because all 

manufacturers may not have a selection 

software, the Working Group discussed 

that the equivalent alternative would be 

to have to submit individual 


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46The definition from the European Commission 

Regulation No. EU 327/2011 is provided in Article 

1, Section 3 of the European Commission 

Regulation No. EU 327/2011 which defines safety 

fans as (1) Fans designed specifically to operate in 

potentially explosive atmospheres; (2) Fans 

designed for emergency use only, at short-time 

duty, with regard to fire safety requirements; (3) 

Fans designed specifically to operate: (a) Where 

temperatures of the gas being moved exceed 100 °C; 

(b) Where ambient temperatures for the motor, if 

located outside the gas airstream, driving the fan 

exceed 65 °C; (c) Where the annual average 

temperature of the gas being moved and/or the 

operating ambient temperature for the motor, if 

located outside the gas stream, are lower than 

¥40 °C; (d) In toxic, highly corrosive or flammable 

environments or in environments with abrasive 

substances. See eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ 

TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32011R0327. 

47ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU covers equipment 

and protective systems intended for use in 

potentially explosive atmospheres or ‘‘Atmosphere 

Explosive’’ (‘‘ATEX’’). 48The temperature limit in the safety fan 

definition as written in the term sheet should have 

been of 200 °C (392 °F), and not 200 °F. As specified 

in the term sheet, the intent of the Working Group 

was to align the safety fan definition with the 

European definition. The limit of 200 °C 

corresponds to ‘‘high temperature fans’’ as defined 

in EN 12101–3:2002 ‘‘Smoke and heat control 

systems. Specification for powered smoke and heat 

exhaust ventilators’’, class F200 (resistant to 200 °C 

during 20 minutes) and to the ‘‘T3’’ temperature 

classification in NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code, 

NEC) article 500 and 505. 

49Fans for nuclear applications were discussed 

during the July 21, 2015 meeting of the Working 

Continued 

certification statements and reports for 

each individual basic model and any of 

their variations that would constitute a 

new basic model. Test results for each 

basic model would need to be provided 

in a tabular format, with the possibility 

of replacing the tabular format by 

equations providing equivalent results 

(Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; 

Public Meeting Transcript, No. 162, at 

pp. 62–77) 

This fourth and last option was the 

one recommended by the Working 

Group. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT– 

STD–0006; No. 179, Recommendation 

#26, at p. 13) Specifically, AMCA 

recommended that DOE use a process 

similar to the Electronic Catalog 

Checking System (referred to as 

‘‘ECAT’’) used by AMCA to check the 

validity of fans offered for sale in 

manufacturer selection programs. 

AMCA suggested that DOE use ECAT or 

a comparable system to evaluate 

selection software that represents what 

manufacturers offer for sale. (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; AMCA, No. 

168 at p. 2) AMCA added that their 

members are especially concerned with 

how manufacturers would certify fans 

with partial-width wheels and reiterated 

that their preference is to allow 

submission of selection software, or to 

tie each sale to a certified full width 

model with an AEDM to simplify 

certification of a modified certified fan 

after production. AMCA explained that 

very few partial-width wheel fans are 

likely to ever be produced twice, 

however, manufacturers offer them for 

sale using selection programs, 

displaying and documenting their 

performance to customers. (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; AMCA, No. 

169 at p. 5) 

Some manufacturers may distribute in 

commerce a fan model that can be 

‘‘configured.’’ For example, an 

adjustable-pitch axial fan of a given size 

may be offered at 30 different blade 

pitches. Similarly, a centrifugal fan of a 

given size may be offered in small 

increments of impeller widths and 

impeller diameters without changing 

the housing size. As each blade pitch 

angle is a variation of the same fan 

model, DOE proposes that all blade 

pitches of a certain size adjustable-pitch 

axial fan may be represented as a single 

basic model. 

Similar to the approach taken for 

pumps for trimmed impellers (see 81 FR 

4086, 4092–4093 (January 26, 2016), 

DOE proposes that, for centrifugal fans, 

manufacturers represent efficiency at 

the full-impeller width (i.e., 100 percent 

impeller width) and full-impeller 

diameter (i.e., 100 percent impeller 

diameter). Fan performance information 

is typically provided at 100 percent 

impeller width and 100 percent 

impeller diameter in manufacturer 

product literature. Additionally, DOE 

proposes that all variations of a given 

full-size impeller width and full-size 

impeller diameter may be considered to 

be part of a single basic model 

represented by the fan with the full-size 

impeller width and full-size diameter. 

As such, DOE proposes to define ‘‘fullwidth impeller’’ and ‘‘full-diameter 

impeller’’ as ‘‘the maximum impeller 

width and the maximum impeller 

diameter with which a given fan basic 

model is distributed in commerce.’’ The 

grouping of impeller diameter variation 

under the same basic model would not 

allow grouping of fans of different fullimpeller size together. Rather, the 

proposal would capture small 

increments of impeller widths and 

impeller diameters (without changing 

the housing or structure of the fan). For 

example, if a manufacturer offers the 

same fan model in the following fullimpeller sizes: 60, 70, 80, and 90 inches, 

each full-impeller size would constitute 

a separate basic model. However, a fan 

with an impeller trimmed to 69 inches 

could be grouped with the same 70-inch 

untrimmed fan. 

In summary, DOE proposes to define 

‘‘basic model’’ as meaning ‘‘all units of 

fans and blowers manufactured by one 

manufacturer, having the same primary 

energy source, and having essentially 

identical electrical, physical, and 

functional (e.g., aerodynamic) 

characteristics that affect energy 

consumption. In addition: (1) all 

variations of blade pitches of an 

adjustable-pitch axial fan may be 

considered a single basic model; and (2) 

all variations of impeller widths and 

impeller diameters of a given full-width 

impeller and full-diameter impeller 

centrifugal fan may be considered a 

single basic model.’’ 

DOE believes this approach will 

address concerns expressed by 

commenters regarding the potentially 

large number of models that would need 

to be considered. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed definition of basic model, 

with respect to fans and blowers. 

3. Safety Fans 

DOE proposes a definition of safety 

fan to support the exclusion for safety 

fans proposed in section III.A.2 of this 

document. 

In the energy conservation standards 

framework document published 

February 1, 2013, DOE presented a 

definition for safety fans, as follows: ‘‘an 

axial or centrifugal fan designed for use 

in applications requiring extra safety 

measures, such as: (a) those designed to 

operate in potentially explosive 

atmospheres; (b) those designed for 

emergency use only, at short-time duty, 

with regard to fire safety requirements; 

(c) those designed specifically to operate 

where the temperature of gases being 

moved exceed 500 °F; and (d) those 

designed for toxic, highly corrosive, or 

flammable environments with abrasive 

substances.’’ (Docket No. EERE–2013– 

BT–STD–0006, No. 1, at p. 9) This 

definition was based on the European 

Commission Regulation No. EU 327/ 

2011.46

The Working Group recommended to 

exclude safety fans and further included 

a recommended definition for these 

fans, consistent with the European 

definition as follows: fans designed for 

use in applications requiring extra 

safety measures, such as: (a) those 

designed to operate in potentially 

explosive atmospheres (‘‘ATEX’’ 

fans); 47 (b) those designed for 

emergency use only, at short-time duty, 

with regard to fire safety requirements 

(e.g., smoke extraction fans, emergency 

reversible tunnel fans); (c) those 

designed specifically to operate where 

the temperature of gases being moved 

exceed 200 °F; 48 or (d) those designed 

for use in toxic, highly corrosive, or 

flammable environments [or in 

environments] with abrasive substances 

(e.g. NQ–1).49 (Docket No. EERE–2013– 


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Group. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 

161, Public Meeting transcript, at p. 75) There was 

a typographic error in the public meeting transcript 

and the term sheet. The intent of ‘‘NQ–1’’ as written 

in the term sheet was to refer to nuclear fans and 

refers to ‘‘NQA–1’’ or fans that meet the 

requirements in American Society of Mechanical 

Engineering (‘‘ASME’’) NQA–1 certification 

program ‘‘Quality Assurance Requirements for 

Nuclear Facility Applications.’’ 

50See CEC Docket No. 22–AAER–01, TN # 

241950, Proposed regulatory language for 

Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers, at pp. 

7–8. 

51Fan applications with airstreams of explosive 

or flammable particles or gases require spark 

resistant construction in accordance with AMCA 

spark resistant specifications as described in ANSI/ 

AMCA Standard 99–16 ‘‘Standards Handbook’’. 

Spark resistant construction is intended to prevent 

any two or more fan components from generating 

sparks within the airstream by rubbing or striking 

during operation. AMCA 99–16 defines three 

classes of spark construction resistant 

constructions: A, B and C, with level C being the 

‘‘entry level’’ and level A offering the highest degree 

of spark resistance. 

52ANSI/AIHA/ASSE Z9.5–2012, ‘‘Laboratory 

Ventilation’’ provides laboratory ventilation 

requirements and practices. 53See www.intertek.com/blog/2019-03-14-hazloc/. 

BT–STD–0006; No. 179, 

Recommendation #2, at p. 2; No. 179, 

Appendix D, at p. 17) 

To help identify safety fans, the 

Working Group relied on the 

description of physical characteristics, 

third party testing, or third party 

verification terms such as ATEX and 

NQA–1 to identify nuclear fans. The 

Working Group stated that the 

definition recommended in appendix D 

may be subject to potential edits 

necessary to accomplish the same 

intent. Id. 

After publication of the term sheet, 

AMCA commented, with regard to 

safety fans, that fans for nuclear 

installations should be exempted from 

the rulemaking scope. (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; AMCA, No. 

169 at p. 3). In addition, AMCA noted 

that Working Group members agreed 

that the high temperature limit for fans 

should be set at 200 °C, rather than 

200 °F, which is the temperature limit in 

the term sheet. (Docket No. EERE–2013– 

BT–STD–0006; AMCA, No. 169 at p. 4). 

As discussed in section III.A.2 of this 

document, the exceptions to section 

6.5.3.1.3 (‘‘Fan Efficiency 

Requirements’’) of ASHRAE 90.1–2019 

related to safety fans include: fans used 

for moving gases at temperatures above 

482 °F (equivalent to 250°C); reversible 

fans used for tunnel ventilation; and 

fans that are intended to only operate 

during emergency conditions. 

The CEC has proposed the following 

definition of safety fan: (1) a fan that is 

designed and marketed to operate only 

at or above 482 °F (250 °C); (2) a 

reversible axial fan in cylindrical 

housing that is designed and marketed 

for use in ducted tunnel ventilation that 

will reverse operations under 

emergency ventilation conditions; (3) a 

fan bearing an Underwriter Laboratories 

or Electric Testing Laboratories listing 

for ‘‘Power Ventilators for Smoke 

Control Systems’’; (4) an open discharge 

exhaust fan with integral discharge 

nozzles which develop or maintain a 

minimum discharge velocity of 3000 

feet per minute (‘‘FPM’’); (5) a fan 

constructed in accordance with AMCA 

type A or B spark resistant construction 

as defined in ANSI/AMCA Standard 99– 

16 Standards Handbook; (6) a fan 

designed and marketed for use in 

explosive atmospheres and tested and 

marked according to EN 13463–1:2001 

Non-electrical Equipment for Potentially 

Explosive Atmospheres; or (7) an 

electric-motor-driven- Positive Pressure 

Ventilator as defined in ANSI/AMCA 

Standard 240–15 Laboratory Methods of 

Testing Positive Pressure Ventilators for 

Aerodynamic Performance Rating.50

Regarding item (1) of the CEC 

definition, the temperature limit in the 

CEC definition is 250 °C, compared to 

200 °C recommended in the term sheet. 

This higher temperature aligns with the 

exceptions to Section 6.5.3.1.3 of 

ASHRAE 90.1–2019 ‘‘Fan Efficiency 

Requirements,’’ which excludes fans 

used for moving gases at temperatures 

above 482 °F (equivalent to 250°C). 

Items (2), (3), (5),51 and (6) of the CEC 

definition describe fans that are used in 

explosive atmospheres or for smoke 

extraction. Item (4) of the CEC definition 

includes the minimum discharge 

velocity of 3000 FPM, which 

corresponds to the minimum safe 

discharge velocity per ANSI Z9.5–2012 

‘‘Laboratory Ventilation,’’ 52 which 

describes fans that are used in 

laboratory environments. Finally, item 

(7) of the CEC definition, which relates 

to positive pressure ventilator fans, 

describes fans that are used (typically by 

firefighters) to remove heat and 

combustion products from a structure. 

Positive pressure ventilator fans are 

excluded from AMCA 210–16 and are 

tested per AMCA 240–15, Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Positive Pressure 

Ventilators for Aerodynamic 

Performance Rating. 

Based on a review of the existing 

industry and regulatory definitions of 

‘‘safety fan,’’ DOE has tentatively 

determined that the definition proposed 

by the CEC is representative of the 

equipment considered ‘‘safety fans’’; 

i.e., fans that can operate at high 

temperatures, fans that are used in 

explosive atmospheres or for smoke 

extraction, fans that are used in 

laboratory environments, and fans used 

to remove heat and combustion 

products from a structure. Therefore, 

DOE proposes to adopt a definition in 

line with the definition proposed by the 

CEC with the following edits. Regarding 

item (1) of the CEC definition: DOE 

proposes not to include the term ‘‘only’’ 

from ‘‘a fan that is designed and 

marketed to operate only at or above 482 

degrees Fahrenheit (250 degrees 

Celsius)’’ because DOE has tentatively 

determined that a fan that can operate 

at or above a certain temperature can 

also operate below. Regarding item (4) 

DOE has tentatively determined that the 

definition of safety fans is equivalent to 

‘‘laboratory exhaust fans’’ as defined in 

Section 3.52 of AMCA 214–21: fans 

designed and marketed specifically for 

exhausting contaminated air vertically 

away from a building using a highvelocity discharge. DOE is considering 

replacing item (4) with ‘‘laboratory 

exhaust fans’’ and to define it in 

accordance with AMCA 214–21. DOE 

also reviewed item (6) and notes that the 

referenced industry standard is no 

longer current has been replaced. In 

2008, the International Electrotechnical 

Commission System for Certification to 

Standards Relating to Equipment for 

Use in Explosive Atmospheres replaced 

EN 13463–1 by ISO 80079–36,’’ 

Explosive atmospheres—Part 36: Nonelectrical equipment for explosive 

atmospheres—Basic method and 

requirements’’.53 The latest version of 

ISO 80079–36 is the 2016 edition. 

Therefore, DOE proposes to reference 

ISO 80079–36:2016, instead of EN 

13463–1:2001. In addition, DOE notes 

that AMCA 230–15 is under review and 

DOE proposes to update the reference to 

the latest version of AMCA 230 

available at the time of publication of 

the test procedure final rule. 

DOE requests comments on its 

proposed definition of safety fans. 

Specifically, DOE requests comments in 

whether item (4) of the CEC definition 

of safety fans is equivalent to 

‘‘laboratory exhaust fans’’ as defined in 

Section 3.52 of AMCA 214–21. 

4. Air Circulating Fans 

In the October 2021 RFI, DOE 

published a request for information 

regarding potential test procedures for 

fans and blowers, specifically for air 

circulating fans and ACFHs. 86 FR 

54412. DOE noted that Section 5.1 of 

AMCA 230–15 defines an ‘‘air 

circulating fan’’ as ‘‘a non-ducted fan 

used for the general circulation of air 

within a confined space.’’ 86 FR 54412, 

54414. Further, AMCA 230–15 classifies 

ACFHs as a category of air circulating 


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54A technical Committee was formed to review 

AMCA 230–15. For more information see https://

www.cognitoforms.com/AMCA1/_

230TechnicalCommitteeInvitation10132021. 

fans and defines ACFHs in Section 5.1.1 

of AMCA 230–15 as follows: ‘‘an 

assembly consisting of a motor, impeller 

and guard for mounting on a pedestal 

having a base and column, wall mount 

bracket, ceiling mount bracket, I-beam 

bracket or other commonly accepted 

mounting means.’’ Section 5.1.1 of 

AMCA 230–15. DOE noted that Section 

3.15 of AMCA 214–21 defines the term 

‘‘circulating fan’’ as ‘‘a fan that is not a 

ceiling fan that is used to move air 

within a space that has no provision for 

connection to ducting or separation of 

the fan inlet from its outlet. The fan is 

designed to be used for the general 

circulation of air.’’ Id. DOE also noted 

that AMCA 214–21 does not include a 

definition for ACFH. Id. DOE requested 

feedback on the definitions of air 

circulating fan and ACFHs as provided 

in AMCA 230–15, and of other 

categories of air circulating fans (i.e., 

personnel coolers, box fans, and table 

fans). 86 FR 54412, 54414. 

AMCA commented that it did not 

support using the AMCA 230–15 

definition of ‘‘air circulating fan’’ 

because it had been updated in AMCA 

214–21. In addition, AMCA 

recommended adding ‘‘air’’ to the 

defined term (i.e., ‘‘air circulating fan’’). 

(AMCA, No. 6 at p. 3) 

In response to the February 2022 ECS 

RFI, ebm papst commented that the 

descriptions of the different types of 

ACFs in AMCA 230 were not intended 

to be used for delineating ACFs into 

different classes in DOE regulations. 

(Docket No. EERE–2022–BT–STD–0002, 

ebm-papst, No. 8 at p. 2) 

Since the end of the comment period, 

the AMCA 230 committee 54has been 

considering a revised definition of air 

circulating fan as follows: a fan that has 

no provision for connection to ducting 

or separation of the fan inlet from its 

outlet using a pressure boundary, 

operates against zero external static 

pressure loss, and is not a jet fan (as 

defined in AMCA 214–21). 

DOE reviewed the definition of ‘‘air 

circulating fan’’ in AMCA 214–21 and 

notes that the description of the 

intended application is unnecessary and 

may create confusion with the proposed 

ceiling fan definition, as discussed 

further in this section. In addition, as 

noted previously, DOE does not 

consider ceiling fans as fans and 

blowers, and therefore ceiling fans are 

not included as ‘‘air circulating fans’’. 

For this reason, DOE has determined 

that it is unnecessary to specify that an 

air circulating fan is not a ceiling fan 

within the definition of air circulating 

fan. DOE also reviewed the definition 

being considered by the AMCA 230 

committee which adds the following 

terms ’’ using a pressure boundary’’ and 

‘‘operates at zero static pressure’’ to 

further specify that air circulating fans 

do not have any provision for 

connection to ducting or separation of 

the fan inlet from its outlet that would 

create a static pressure differential 

between the inlet and the outlet of the 

fan. In addition, DOE agrees that jet fans 

should be excluded as discussed in 

section III.A.2 of this document. 

Therefore, DOE proposes to define air 

circulating fan using the definition 

being considered by the AMCA 230 

committee as it provides further 

specificity and proposes to define air 

circulating fans as ‘‘a fan that has no 

provision for connection to ducting or 

separation of the fan inlet from its outlet 

using a pressure boundary, operates 

against zero external static pressure loss, 

and is not a jet fan.’’ 

Air circulating fans exist in different 

configurations depending on the 

impeller design (axial or centrifugal), 

presence or absence of a guard and/or 

housing, and the shape of the housing. 

As discussed, AMCA 230–15 (with 

errata) includes the following 

equipment categories discussed in the 

remainder of this section: (1) ACFHs; (2) 

personnel coolers; (3) box fans; and (4) 

table fans. 

In response to the October 2021 RFI, 

AMCA commented that it does not 

support DOE using the AMCA 230–15 

definition of ACFH because AMCA 

believes the definition seems 

insufficient to distinguish ACFHs from 

ceiling fans. AMCA additionally 

commented that because ACFHs can be 

sold with mounting kits for installation 

onto ceilings, I-beams, or other overhead 

structures, there is confusion in the 

industry as to whether they meet the 

statutory definition of ceiling fan. 

Instead, AMCA recommended adopting 

a modified ACFH definition as follows: 

‘‘An assembly consisting of a motor, 

impeller and guard for mounting on a 

pedestal having a base and column, wall 

mount bracket, ceiling mount bracket, Ibeam bracket or other commonly 

accepted mounting means. ACFH do not 

have housings with solid walls, such as 

tubes, boxes or panels. An ACFH has a 

maximum value of diameter-tomaximum-operating-speed ratio (e.g., 

0.06 inches per rotations per minute 

(‘‘in/RPM’’)) to distinguish ACFH from 

ceiling fans. ACFH are known by other 

names in the various industries in 

which they are used, including basket 

fan, horizontal-airflow fan, and stir fan’’. 

AMCA suggested that the revisions 

would ensure the definition separates 

ACFHs from other types of air 

circulating fans and that including the 

maximum-value threshold of 0.06 in/ 

RPM would separate ACFHs from 

ceiling fans. AMCA additionally 

commented that the suggested revisions 

further highlight alternative names for 

ACFHs used in industry. (AMCA, No. 6 

at p. 4) AMCA also provided supporting 

analysis of the performance data of 178 

models of air circulating fan heads, all 

of which had a diameter-to-maximumoperating-speed ratio less than 0.06 in/ 

RPM, as recommended in the ACFH 

definition. (AMCA, No. 6 at p. 5) 

The CA IOUs recommended that DOE 

add the following sentence to the 

definition of ACFH to the existing 

definition in AMCA 230–15 to 

distinguish ACFHs from ceiling fans 

and other air circulating fans such as 

personnel and livestock coolers: 

‘‘ACFHs do not have housings with 

solid walls such as tubes, boxes, or 

panels. An ACFH has a maximum value 

of diameter-to-maximum operating 

speed ratio of 0.06 in/RPM (inch per 

revolution per minute)’’. The CA IOUs 

explained that the addition would 

clarify that ACFHs are basket-type fans 

that do not have solid housings. (CA 

IOUs, No. 9 at pp. 1–2) 

NEEA commented in support of 

AMCA’s analysis of the existing market 

and of using 0.06 in/RPM as the 

maximum value for ACFHs. (NEEA, No. 

11 at p.1) 

AHRI supported the explicit inclusion 

of ACFHs under fans and blowers, with 

modifications to the definition of 

ACFHs as recommended by AMCA. 

AHRI commented in support of AMCA’s 

proposed additions to the ACFH 

definition to specify that an ACFH 

‘‘do(es) not have housings with solid 

walls, such as tubes, boxes or panels.’’ 

AHRI commented that the inclusion of 

this text is important, stating that it not 

only helps define the product, but it 

also clearly fits within the scope of 

AMCA 214–21. AHRI stated that AMCA 

214–21 specifies that ‘‘AMCA Standard 

214 primarily is for fans that are tested 

alone or with motors and drives; it does 

not apply to fans tested embedded 

inside of other equipment,’’ and as such, 

that it is only necessary to regulate 

standalone fans. (AHRI, No. 10 at p. 2) 

MEP commented that broad 

definitions result in significant and 

undue burden on manufacturers that 

use any type of fan in any of their 

products, as those manufacturers have 

to evaluate each product against each 

proposed aspect of each step in the 

regulatory process. MEP recommended 

that DOE establish ACFH as a product 


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category of fans as defined at 10 CFR 

431.172 with the following definition: 

‘‘ACFHs are fans powered by poly-phase 

electric current with a fan shaft power 

greater than 3 hp and which only 

provide concentrated directional airflow 

and where the construction consists of 

a motor, impeller, guard, and may 

include connections for mounting or 

support and which are exclusive of 

other covered products or fans 

embedded inside of other equipment or 

products.’’ MEP commented that the 

definition of ceiling fan is obvious and 

exclusionary from an ACFH. MEP 

further stated that AMCA recognizes the 

definition of ‘‘embedded fan’’ in Section 

3.25.4 of ANSI/AMCA 214–21 as ‘‘a fan 

that is part of a manufactured assembly 

where the assembly includes functions 

other than air movement’’ and 

recommended that DOE include this 

qualification in the Federal definition of 

ACFH to clarify the separation between 

ceiling fans and other products that use 

fans for purposes other than air 

circulation (e.g., combustion, 

humidification, dehumidification, 

heating, or cooling to name a few). 

(MEP, No. 5 at p. 1) . 

Since the end of the comment period, 

the AMCA 230 committee has 

considered a revised definition of 

ACFH, under the term ‘‘ACFH, 

unhoused’’ as follows: an air circulating 

fan without housing, having an axial 

impeller with a ratio of fan-blade span 

(in inches) to maximum rate of rotation 

(in revolutions per minute) less than or 

equal to 0.06. The impeller may or may 

not be guarded. 

On December 7, 2021, DOE published 

a supplemental notice of proposed test 

procedures for ceiling fans. 86 FR 69544 

(‘‘December 2021 Ceiling Fans 

SNOPR’’). In the December 2021 Ceiling 

Fans SNOPR, DOE proposed a 

definition of ceiling fan that specifies 

the term ‘‘circulating air’’ based on 

diameter-to-maximum operating speed 

ratio: a fan for ‘‘circulating air’’ is one 

with a ratio of fan blade span (in inches) 

to maximum rotation rate (in 

revolutions per minute) greater than 

0.06. 86 FR 69544, 69551. To support 

this proposed definition, DOE 

performed an independent analysis and 

tentatively determined that ACFHs have 

a diameter-to-maximum operating speed 

ratio of less than or equal to 0.06 in/ 

RPM. 86 FR 69544, 69550. 

ACFHs are air circulating fans 

without a housing (i.e., cylindrical 

housing, box housing, or panel). They 

have an axial impeller which is 

typically surrounded by a guard and are 

commonly called ‘‘basket fans’’. 

Therefore, the added specification of 

‘‘unhoused’’ in the definition from the 

AMCA 230 committee is helpful to 

further distinguish these fans. DOE 

reviewed comments from stakeholders 

and has tentatively determined that the 

definition being considered by the 

AMCA 230 committee would address 

stakeholder comments and would 

ensure that ACFH are distinguished 

from other types of fans and blowers 

and air circulating fans. Therefore, DOE 

proposes to define an unhoused ACFH 

as follows: ‘‘An air circulating fan 

without housing, having an axial 

impeller with a ratio of fan-blade span 

(in inches) to maximum rate of rotation 

(in revolutions per minute) less than or 

equal to 0.06. The impeller may or may 

not be guarded. ’’ The 0.06 in/RPM 

threshold is appropriate to differentiate 

ACFHs from ceiling fans and aligns with 

the December 2021 Ceiling Fans 

SNOPR. In addition, the additional 

description of the absence of a housing 

would ensure that ACFHs are 

distinguished from other categories of 

fans and blowers and air circulating 

fans. Table fans would be included in 

the proposed definition of unhoused 

ACFHs. 

As previously noted, air circulating 

fans also come with housings. To 

describe air circulating fans with 

housings, the AMCA 230 committee is 

considering a definition of housed 

ACHFs as: an air circulating fan with an 

axial or centrifugal impeller, and a 

housing. DOE has tentatively 

determined that the definition 

considered by the AMCA 230 committee 

accurately describes all categories of 

equipment that fall under housed 

ACFHs, therefore, DOE proposes to 

adopt the definition established by the 

AMCA 230 committee. The AMCA 230 

committee is further considering 

establishing definitions for four 

categories of housed ACFHs, as follows: 

(1) an air circulating axial panel fan 

means an axial air circulating fan 

without a cylindrical housing or box 

housing that is mounted on a panel, 

orifice plate or ring (also commonly 

known as panel fan, cow cooler, 

livestock cooler); (2) a box fan means an 

axial air circulating fan without a 

cylindrical housing that is mounted on 

a panel, orifice plate or ring and is 

mounted in a box housing; (3) a 

cylindrical air circulating fan means an 

axial air circulating fan in a cylindrical 

housing that is not a positive pressure 

ventilator (‘‘PPV’’) (also commonly 

known as personnel cooler, barrel fan, 

drum fan, high velocity fan, portable 

cooler, thermal mixing fan, 

destratification fan, downblast fan); and 

(4) a housed centrifugal air circulator 

means a fan with a centrifugal or radial 

impeller in which airflow exits into a 

housing that is generally scroll shaped 

to direct the air through a single, narrow 

fan outlet (also commonly known as 

utility blower, loading dock fan, carpet 

dryer, floor fan). 

DOE reviewed additional air 

circulating fans with housing 

distributed in commerce and has 

tentatively identified four categories of 

air circulating fans based on the blade 

design (i.e., axial or centrifugal) and 

housing configuration (i.e., panel, box, 

cylindrical, or scroll shaped), matching 

the equipment segmentation considered 

by the AMCA 230 committee. In 

addition, as discussed in section III.B.3, 

DOE proposes to exclude PPVs and 

proposes to add this clarification when 

defining cylindrical air circulating fans. 

DOE has tentatively determined that the 

definitions considered by the AMCA 

230 committee accurately describes the 

four categories of equipment that DOE 

identified as meeting the definition of 

housed ACFH. Therefore, DOE proposes 

to adopt the definitions of air circulating 

axial panel pan, box fan, cylindrical air 

circulating fan, and housed centrifugal 

air circulator as considered by the 

AMCA 230 committee, with the 

following clarifications: (1) DOE 

proposes to replace ‘‘air circulating fan’’ 

by ‘‘housed air circulating fan head’’ to 

explicitly indicate that each of these 

fans are housed ACFHs; (2) replace the 

term ‘‘circulator’’ by ’’ circulating fan’’ 

for consistency in terminology; (3) 

remove the examples of additional 

terms used commonly by industry. 

Personnel coolers (as defined in AMCA 

230–15 (with errata)) would be included 

under the proposed cylindrical air 

circulating fan definition. 

In response to the February 2022 ECS 

RFI, the CA IOUs commented that DOE 

should include panel fans as ACFs and 

that panel fans are often used as ACFs 

for air circulation and cooling for 

residential, commercial, and 

agricultural spaces. They also stated that 

most of the ACFs in the 

Bioenvironmental and Structural 

System Lab (‘‘BESS Lab’’) database are 

panel fans. (Docket No. EERE–2022–BT– 

STD–0002, CA IOUs, No. 7 at p. 5–6) 

ebm papst recommended that the DOE 

test procedure should clearly state that 

basket fans (consisting of a motor, axial 

impeller, and a basket-style guard that 

partially or completely encloses the 

rotating parts) should be tested 

according to AMCA 230. (Docket No. 

EERE–2022–BT–STD–0002, ebm-papst, 

No. 8 at p. 2) 

As noted previously, DOE proposes to 

include axial panel air circulating fan as 

a category of housed ACFH. In addition, 

DOE notes that basket fans meet the 


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proposed definition of unhoused ACFH 

and would therefore be tested in 

accordance with AMCA 214–21, 

referencing AMCA 230–15 (with errata) 

and modifications proposed in this 

notice. 

For all definitions related to air 

circulating fans, DOE is aware that the 

revisions being considered by the 

AMCA 230 committee are subject to 

change and could further be revised in 

the next version of AMCA 230. Should 

the revised version of AMCA 230 

publish prior to the publication of any 

DOE test procedure final rule, DOE 

intends, after considering stakeholder 

feedback received in response to the 

proposals in this document, to revise 

the definitions in line with the latest 

AMCA 230 standard, provided the 

updates in this standard are consistent 

with the definitions DOE is proposing in 

this NOPR or the updates are related to 

topics that DOE has discussed and for 

which DOE has solicited comments in 

this NOPR. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed definitions for air circulating 

fan and related terms. 

5. Definitions Related to Heat Rejection 

Equipment 

As stated, DOE is proposing to 

exclude from the scope of the test 

procedure fans and blowers exclusively 

embedded in heat rejection equipment, 

specifically fans and blowers 

exclusively embedded in packaged 

evaporative open circuit cooling towers; 

evaporative field-erected open circuit 

cooling towers; packaged evaporative 

closed-circuit cooling towers; 

evaporative field-erected closed-circuit 

cooling towers; packaged evaporative 

condensers; field-erected evaporative 

condensers; packaged air-cooled (dry) 

coolers; field-erected air-cooled (dry) 

cooler; air-cooled steam condensers; and 

hybrid (water saving) versions of such 

listed equipment that contain both 

evaporative and air-cooled heat 

exchange sections. The Working Group 

provided the following definitions for 

these equipment: 

• Packaged evaporative open-circuit 

cooling tower: a device which rejects 

heat to the atmosphere through the 

direct cooling of a water stream to a 

lower temperature by partial 

evaporation; 

• Evaporative field erected opencircuit cooling tower: a structure which 

rejects heat to the atmosphere through 

the direct cooling of a water stream to 

a lower temperature by partial 

evaporation; 

• Packaged evaporative closed-circuit 

cooling tower: a device which rejects 

heat to the atmosphere through the 

indirect cooling of a process fluid 

stream in an internal coil to a lower 

temperature by partial evaporation of an 

external recirculating water flow; 

• Evaporative field erected closedcircuit cooling tower: a structure which 

rejects heat to the atmosphere through 

the indirect cooling of a process fluid 

stream to a lower temperature by partial 

evaporation of an external recirculating 

water flow; 

• Packaged evaporative condenser: a 

device which rejects heat to the 

atmosphere through the indirect 

condensing of a refrigerant in an 

internal coil by partial evaporation of an 

external recirculating water flow; 

• Field erected evaporative 

condenser: a structure which rejects 

heat to the atmosphere through the 

indirect condensing of a refrigerant in 

an internal coil by partial evaporation of 

an external recirculating water flow; 

• Packaged air-cooled (dry) cooler: a 

device which rejects heat to the 

atmosphere from a fluid, either liquid, 

gas or a mixture thereof, flowing 

through an air-cooled internal coil; 

• Field erected air-cooled (dry) 

cooler: a structure which rejects heat to 

the atmosphere from a fluid, either 

liquid, gas or a mixture thereof, flowing 

through an air-cooled internal coil; and 

• Air-cooled steam condensers: a 

device for rejecting heat to the 

atmosphere through the indirect 

condensing of steam inside air-cooled 

finned tubes. (Docket No. EERE–2013– 

BT–STD–0006, No. 179, 

Recommendation #2, at pp. 2–3) 

As discussed in of this document. 

DOE proposes to exclude fans 

exclusively embedded in heat rejection 

equipment, consistent with the 

recommendation of the Working Group. 

To support these exclusions, DOE 

proposes to adopt definitions of the 

terms used to specify the relevant heat 

rejection equipment. The proposed 

definitions are based on the 

recommendations of the Working 

Group. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT– 

STD–0006, No. 179, Recommendations 

#2, at pp. 2–3) 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed definitions related to heat 

rejection equipment. 

6. Outlet Area 

The equations in Section A.2 of 

AMCA 208–18, discussed in section 

III.D.10 of this document, require 

determination of the fan outlet or 

discharge area. Section 5.5.4 of AMCA 

230–15 (with errata), defines the 

discharge area as the area of a circle 

having a diameter equal to the blade tip 

diameter. DOE notes that this definition 

is only applicable to unhoused ACFHs 

as the discharge area of a housed ACFH 

is determined based on the surface area 

at the exit of the housing and is not 

based on the fan blade tip diameter. In 

contrast, Section 3.57 of AMCA 214–21 

provides the following definition of 

outlet area: the area in contact with the 

fan’s outlet. AMCA 99–16 provides the 

following definitions of fan outlet and 

fan outlet area: (1) fan outlet means the 

plane perpendicular to the airstream at 

the outlet opening of the fan or the 

manufacturer-supplied evase ́ or diffuser; 

(2) fan outlet area means the gross 

inside area measured at the plane of the 

outlet opening. For a roof ventilator, it 

is the gross impeller outlet area for 

centrifugal types or the gross housing 

area at the impeller for axial types (see 

Section 0066 of AMCA 99–16). 

The AMCA 230 committee is 

considering revising the definition of 

discharge area to include housed 

ACFHs, and to replace the term 

‘‘discharge area’’ by ‘‘fan outlet area’’, 

which is a more commonly used term. 

In addition, the AMCA committee is 

considering adding diagrams to further 

clarify how the fan outlet area should be 

determined for housed ACFHs. 

In this NOPR, DOE is proposing a 

definition for fan outlet area specific to 

air circulating fans as (i.e., ‘‘air 

circulating fan outlet area’’): (1) for 

unhoused ACHFs, the area of a circle 

having a diameter equal to the blade tip 

diameter; (2) for housed ACFHs, the 

inside area perpendicular to the 

airstream, measured at the plane of the 

opening through which the air exits the 

fan. 

For fans and blowers other than air 

circulating fans, DOE notes that Annex 

H of AMCA 210–16 includes 

requirements for determining where the 

fan outlet area is measured for different 

fan categories and also references 

AMCA 99–16, which includes further 

diagrams to aid in the determination of 

the outlet area. DOE has tentatively 

determined that for fans and blowers 

other than air circulating fans, the 

current definition in AMCA 214–21 and 

the existing requirements in Annex H of 

AMCA 210–16 are sufficient to 

determine the outlet area and is not 

proposing edits. Should DOE receive 

comments that additional specifications 

are required, DOE may consider revising 

the definition of outlet area for fans and 

blowers other than air circulating fans. 

DOE requests comment on its 

proposed definition of air circulating 

fan outlet area. DOE additionally 

requests comment on whether the 

definition of outlet area for fans and 

blowers other than air circulating fans 

should be revised and, if so, how. 


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55Currently the latest version of AMCA 210 is 

AMCA 210–16. 

56A bare-shaft fan is a fan without a motor or any 

other drive. 

57AMCA 214–21 references AMCA 210–2016 as 

the physical test method to use for fans and blowers 

(except ACFHs). AMCA 210–16 describes four fan 

test set-ups (or ‘‘installation categories’’) designated 

by a letter, depending on the ducting at the inlet 

and outlet of the fan. ‘‘A’’: free inlet, free outlet; 

‘‘B’’: free inlet, ducted outlet; ‘‘C’’: ducted inlet, free 

outlet; and ‘‘D’’: ducted inlet, ducted outlet. 

58A duty point is characterized by a given airflow 

and pressure and has a corresponding operating 

speed. 

59Fan total pressure is the air pressure that exists 

by virtue of the state of the air and the rate of 

motion of the air. It is the sum of velocity pressure 

and static pressure at a point. If air is at rest, its 

total pressure will equal the static pressure. 

60 Depending on the fan category, the fan 

performance is represented using a test set-up with 

a ducted outlet (i.e., using total pressure) or a free 

outlet (i.e., using static pressure) to reflect typical 

usage conditions. Fans with ducts attached to the 

fan’s outlet are typically selected based on their 

performance at a given airflow and total pressure, 

because both the static pressure and fan velocity 

pressure are available to overcome system 

resistance. However, fans with a free outlet are 

typically selected based on their performance at a 

given airflow and static pressure, because the 

velocity pressure cannot be used to overcome 

system resistance. The Working Group 

recommended using total pressure for some 

categories of fans (i.e., axial cylindrical housed fans, 

centrifugal housed fans, inline and mixed flow fans, 

and radial housed fans) and static pressure for 

others (i.e., panel fans, centrifugal unhoused fans, 

and PRVs). 

61AMCA 211–13 provides instructions on how to 

apply fan laws and on how to perform a test when 

establishing an AMCA-certified rating. Some of 

these instructions were revised and integrated in 

AMCA 214. 

C. Industry Standards 

DOE’s established practice is to adopt 

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. 10 CFR 431.4; 10 CFR 

part 430 subpart C appendix A section 

8(c). 

The Working Group recommended 

that the test procedure for commercial 

and industrial fans: 

(1) For standalone (non-embedded) 

fans, be based on a physical test 

performed in accordance with the latest 

version of AMCA 210 (i.e., available at 

the time of publication of any test 

procedure final rule) (Docket No. EERE– 

2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 179, 

Recommendation #7, at p. 5); 55

(2) Establish methods to determine 

the ‘‘FEP’’ either by: the direct 

measurement of the electrical input 

power to the fan, or by the measurement 

of the mechanical input power to the 

fan (i.e., a fan shaft power test, which 

captures the performance of the bareshaft fan) and by applying default 

values (i.e., calculation algorithms) to 

reflect the additional motor, 

transmission, or motor controller energy 

use (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD– 

0006, No. 179, Recommendation #9, at 

pp. 5–6); and 56

(3) Allow the use of equations (‘‘fan 

laws’’) to determine the performance of 

a bare-shaft fan at a non-tested speed, 

based on the results of a test conducted 

at a different speed. (Docket No. EERE– 

2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 179, 

Recommendation #17, at p. 10) 

The Working Group also 

recommended specific test set-up and 

minimal testable configurations to use 

for each fan category.57 (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 179, 

Recommendation #7, at p. 5) 

The Working Group further made 

recommendations on calculation 

algorithms and reference values to use 

to represent the motor, transmission, 

and motor controller energy efficiency 

when testing a fan based on a fan shaft 

power test. (Docket No. EERE–2013– 

BT–STD–0006, No. 179, 

Recommendations #10 through #15, at 

pp. 6–9) Additionally, the Working 

Group recommended that embedded 

fans be tested in a standalone fan 

configuration (i.e., outside of the piece 

of equipment in which they are 

embedded). Because some components 

of embedded fans may not be removable 

without causing irreversible damage to 

the equipment, the Working Group 

recommended non-impeller 

components of the fan that are 

geometrically similar to the ones used 

by the fan as embedded in the larger 

piece of equipment be used to complete 

the fan testable configuration. (Docket 

No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 

179, Recommendation #8, at pp. 5–6) 

The Working Group also recommended 

calculating FEP as the ratio of the 

electrical input power of a reference fan 

(in this case, a fan that is exactly 

compliant with any future fan energy 

conservation standards) to the electrical 

input power of the actual fan for which 

the FEP is calculated, both established 

at the same duty point.58 In addition, 

the Working Group recommended using 

either static or total pressure 59 to 

characterize the duty point of a fan and 

to calculate the associated reference 

FEP, depending on the fan category and 

the test set-up used.60 (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 179, 

Recommendations #18, #19, at pp. 10– 

11) Finally, the Working Group 

recommended equations and default 

values to use when calculating the 

reference FEP of a fan at a given duty 

point. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT– 

STD–0006, No. 179, Recommendations 

#18 through #21, at pp. 10–12) 

Since the publication of the term 

sheet, AMCA has revised and developed 

test standards consistent with the 

recommendations of the Working 

Group: 

• In September 2016, AMCA 

published AMCA 210–16, which 

updated ANSI/AMCA 210–2007, 

‘‘Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for 

Certified Aerodynamic Performance 

Rating’’, to include a wire-to-air test 

method, which captures the 

performance of any motor, transmission, 

or motor controller present in the fan, in 

addition to the performance of the bareshaft fan (i.e., a measurement of the FEP 

in kW), in addition to the previously 

existing methods for conducting 

laboratory tests to determine fan shaft 

power in hp, airflow in cubic feet per 

minute (‘‘cfm’’), pressure in inches of 

water gauge (‘‘in. wg.’’), and at a given 

speed of rotation in ‘‘RPM’’. 

• In April 2017, AMCA published 

ANSI/AMCA Standard 207–2017 ‘‘Fan 

System Efficiency and Fan System Input 

Power’’. This publication provides 

calculation algorithms representing the 

performance of reference motors, 

transmissions, and motor controllers. 

These calculations can be directly 

applied to the results of a fan shaft 

power test in accordance with AMCA 

210–16 to obtain the FEP of a fan at a 

given duty point. 

• In January 2018, AMCA published 

‘‘AMCA 208–18’’. This publication 

defines FEI as the ratio of the electrical 

input power of a reference fan to the 

electrical input power of the actual fan 

for which FEI is calculated, both 

established at the same duty point. It 

provides equations to calculate the FEP 

of a fan of as a function of airflow and 

pressure (either static or total depending 

on the fan category considered). 

Building on these test standards, 

AMCA developed a new AMCA 214–21 

test method which was approved by 

ANSI on March 1, 2021. AMCA 214–21 

combines provisions of AMCA 210–16, 

AMCA 207–17, and AMCA 208–18, as 

well as portions of AMCA 211–13 

(R2018), ‘‘Certified Ratings Program 

Product Rating Manual for Fan Air 

Performance’’ (‘‘AMCA 211–13’’), into a 

single standard.61 Consistent with the 

recommendations of the Working 

Group, AMCA 214–21 provides 

methods to establish the FEP either by: 

(1) the measurement of the electrical 

input power to the fan (i.e., a ‘‘wire-toair’’ test); or by (2) the measurement of 

the fan shaft power and the application 


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62AMCA 230–15, AMCA 250–12, ‘‘Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Jet Tunnel Fans for 

Performance’’, and AMCA 260–20, ‘‘Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Induced Flow Fans for Rating’’ 

for testing circulating fans, jet fans, and laboratory 

exhaust fans with induced flow. 

63AMCA 230–15 provides methods for 

conducting laboratory tests to determine the 

performance characteristics of circulating fans 

including the FEP in W, speed in RPM, pressure in 

inches of mercury, airflow in cfm, thrust in pound 

force (lbf), efficacy in cfm/W, and overall efficiency 

in lbf/W. 

64As discussed, the FEI of a fan at a given 

operating point is a dimensionless index defined as 

the FEP (kW) of a theoretical reference fan divided 

by the FEP (kW) of the fan at the same operating 

point. 

65AMCA 214–21 uses the term ‘‘polyphase 

regulated motor’’ to designate a three-phase motor 

regulated under 10 CFR 431.25. 

66When applying the fan laws, the results of a 

tested fan are used to calculate the fan shaft power 

of a non-tested fan at a higher speed or with a larger 

diameter than the tested fan. The fan laws are 

described in section E.1 of Annex E of AMCA 214– 

21. 

67AMCA 214–21 references additional industry 

test methods for motors (with or without a motor 

controller): Canada Standards Association (‘‘CSA’’) 

C747–09 (R2019), ‘‘Energy efficiency test methods 

for small motors’’; CSA C838–13 (R2018), ‘‘Energy 

efficiency test methods for three-phase variable 

frequency drive systems;’’ and Institute of Electrical 

and Electronics Engineers (‘‘IEEE’’) 112–2017, 

‘‘IEEE Standard Test Procedure for Polyphase 

Induction Motors and Generators.’’ See annex F of 

AMCA 214–21. 

of calculation algorithms to reflect 

additional motor, transmission, or 

control energy use. In each case, the fan 

power measurements are performed in 

accordance with AMCA 210–16 or ISO 

5801:2017, which is referenced in 

AMCA 214–21 as an equivalent test 

procedure to AMCA 210–16. AMCA 

214–21 also references laboratory test 

methods for additional categories of fans 

such as jet fans, circulating fans, and 

induced flow fans.62 Specifically, 

AMCA 214–21 references AMCA 230– 

15 63 as the industry test procedure to 

follow when conducting performance 

measurements on air circulating fans. In 

addition, AMCA 214–21 adds specific 

test instructions to ensure test 

repeatability and reproducibility. 

Specifically, AMCA 214–21 defines a 

single set of test set-ups that must be 

used when conducting a test to ensure 

comparability of results (See Table III– 

9). Further, AMCA 214–21 specifies 

how to select the speed(s) and duty 

points at which to conduct the test, as 

well as which accessories to include in 

the test (See Table III–10). 

Section 6.3.1 of AMCA 214–21 

provides specific equations to be used 

for bare-shaft fans that can only 

accommodate a direct-drive 

transmission (i.e., fans that are directly 

coupled to the drive). (See DOE’s 

request for comment at the end of this 

section requesting information on the 

physical features that could be 

identified to differentiate bare-shaft fans 

that can accommodate only a directdrive transmission from other bare-shaft 

fans). 

AMCA 214–21 establishes the FEP 

metric, measured in kW, and the FEI 

metric.64 FEI is calculated as the ratio of 

the electrical input power of a reference 

fan (in this case, a fan with electrical 

input power calculated using the 

equations provided in Section 5 of 

AMCA 214–21) to the electrical input 

power of the actual fan for which the 

FEI is calculated, both established at the 

same duty point. AMCA 214–21 

specifies different measurement 

methods to obtain the FEP and FEI of a 

fan depending on whether the fan 

includes a motor (polyphase regulated 65

or not), transmission, or motor 

controller. (See Table III–10). The 

methods included in AMCA 214–21 are 

designed to provide flexibility and 

reduce test burden. Specifically, AMCA 

214–21 includes methods to reduce the 

number of speeds at which the 

manufacturer performs a test: 

• Annex G of AMCA 214–21 allows 

manufacturers to reduce the number of 

speeds selected for testing by applying 

an interpolation method that uses the 

results obtained at two tested speeds to 

calculate the FEP of a fan at a speed 

between the two tested speeds; and 

• When establishing the FEP using a 

fan shaft power test and the calculations 

described in Sections 6.3, 6.4, and 6.5 

of AMCA 214–21, Annex E of AMCA 

214–21 allows a reduction in the 

number of tests needed by allowing 

either: (1) an interpolation of test results 

between tested speeds (similar to what 

was previously described); or (2) use of 

fan laws 66 to calculate the fan shaft 

power and corresponding airflow and 

pressure of a fan at a non-tested speed 

based on the results (e.g., fan shaft 

power at a given duty point) at a 

different speed. 

AMCA 214–21 also provides a 

number of provisions that may reduce 

the amount of required testing. 

Specifically, AMCA 214–21 provides: 

• The same fan shaft power test can 

be used for combinations of the same 

bare-shaft fan and different motor, 

transmission, or motor controller. (See 

Section 6.3 of AMCA 214–21). 

• A separate fan shaft power and 

motor test (with or without a motor 

controller) 67 may be conducted. 

Methods for combining the results for 

both tests to calculate the FEP at a given 

duty point are provided (See Section 6.5 

of AMCA 214–21). 

• Annex E of AMCA 214–21 uses fan 

laws to calculate the fan shaft power of 

a non-tested fan using results from a fan 

shaft power test of a fan with a smaller 

impeller diameter. 

• Annex E of AMCA 214–21 also 

provides interpolation methods to 

calculate the fan shaft power based on 

two fan tests in which a single 

geometric feature (i.e., dimension) is 

varied. Examples include changes in 

axial fan blade pitch, or centrifugal fan 

blade width, as well as the distance 

from an impeller to a separating panel 

on fans for fan arrays. The interpolation 

method is applied between two fan tests 

at the same tested fan speed. The 

dimension for the calculated fan must 

be between the dimensions for the two 

tested fans. 

TABLE III–9—AMCA 214–21 TEST CONFIGURATIONS FOR PROPOSED IN-SCOPE FANS AND BLOWERS USING AMCA 210– 

16 AND AMCA 230–15 

[Table 7.1 of AMCA 214–21] 

Fan configuration Test standard 

Required Optional 

Test configuration * FEI pressure basis ** Test configuration FEI pressure basis 

Centrifugal housed ..... AMCA 210–16 .......... B or D ....................... Total .......................... A or C ....................... Static. 

Radial housed ............ AMCA 210–16 .......... B or D ....................... Total .......................... A or C ....................... Static. 

Centrifugal inline ........ AMCA 210–16 .......... B or D ....................... Total .......................... A or C ....................... Static. 

Centrifugal unhoused AMCA 210–16 .......... A ................................ Static ......................... N/A ............................ N/A. 

Centrifugal PRV exhaust.AMCA 210–16 .......... A or C ....................... Static ......................... N/A ............................ N/A. 

Centrifugal PRV supply.AMCA 210–16 .......... B ................................ Total .......................... A ................................ Static. 


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68FEG is a numerical rating that classifies fans by 

their aerodynamic ability to convert mechanical 

shaft power, or impeller power in the case of a 

direct driven fan, to air power. FEG applies to the 

efficiency of the fan only and not to the motor and 

drives. More efficient fan models have a higher FEG 

rating. See AMCA whitepaper available at 

www.amca.org/assets/resources/public/userfiles/ 

file/Nospreads_FanEfficGrades.pdf. 

TABLE III–9—AMCA 214–21 TEST CONFIGURATIONS FOR PROPOSED IN-SCOPE FANS AND BLOWERS USING AMCA 210– 

16 AND AMCA 230–15—Continued 

[Table 7.1 of AMCA 214–21] 

Fan configuration Test standard 

Required Optional 

Test configuration * FEI pressure basis ** Test configuration FEI pressure basis 

Axial inline .................. AMCA 210–16 .......... D ............................... Total .......................... C ............................... Static. 

Axial panel .................. AMCA 210–16 .......... A ................................ Static ......................... N/A ............................ N/A. 

Axial PRV ................... AMCA 210–16 .......... A or C ....................... Static ......................... N/A ............................ N/A. 

Circulating Fans ......... AMCA 230–15 .......... E ................................ Total .......................... N/A ............................ N/A. 

* Each letter corresponds to a test set-up described in Section 7.1 of AMCA 214–21. A: free inlet, free outlet; B: free inlet, ducted outlet; C: 

ducted inlet, free outlet; D: ducted inlet, ducted outlet. 

** This indicates that reference FEP used in the FEI calculation is established using either static or total pressure as indicated in this table and 

as determined by the required test configuration. 

TABLE III–10—AMCA 214–21 TEST OPTIONS

Test description 

(section 6 of AMCA 

214–21) 

Driver configuration Motor controller 

configuration 

Transmission 

configuration Test speed(s) FEP determination method 

Wire to air test at all 

speeds.

Motor ......................... With or without a 

motor controller.

With or without transmission.All speeds ** .............. Section 6.1 of AMCA 

214–21. 

Wire to air test at selected speeds.Motor ......................... With or without a 

motor controller.

With or without transmission.At least two speeds .. Section 6.2 of AMCA 

214–21. 

Fan shaft power test 

for fans without a 

motor *.

None ......................... With or without a 

motor controller.

Without transmission At least one speed .... Section 6.3 of AMCA 

214–21. 

Fan shaft power test 

for fans with a regulated motor *.

Electric motors subject to standards at 

10 CFR 431.25.

With a variable frequency drive in accordance with section 6.4.1.4 of 

AMCA 214–21 or 

without a motor 

controller.

Direct drive, V-belt 

drive, flexible coupling, or synchronous belt drive.

At least one speed .... Section 6.4 of AMCA 

214–21. 

Fan shaft power test 

and motor/motor 

and controls test *.

Motor ......................... With or without a 

motor controller.

Direct drive, V-belt 

drive, flexible coupling, or synchronous belt drive.

At least one speed .... Section 6.5 of AMCA 

214–21. 

* With or without the use of interpolation or fan laws as provided in Annex E. 

** All speeds for which FEP values are generated. 

The Petitioners suggested reliance on 

the FEP and FEI metrics and 

recommended that both metrics be 

derived using AMCA 214 (Docket No. 

EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, The 

Petitioners, No. 1.3 at pp. 5–7). 

In response to the April 2020 Notice 

of Petition for Rulemaking, AHRI, CTI, 

Daikin, and Lennox questioned the 

appropriateness of the AMCA 214 test 

standard, which was still under review 

with ANSI at the time the April 2020 

Notice of Petition for Rulemaking was 

published (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT– 

PET–0003, AHRI, No. 14 at pp. 1–2; CTI, 

No. 11 at p. 3; Daikin, No. 8 at p. 1; 

Lennox, No. 5 at p. 3). AHRI requested 

that DOE delay the establishment of a 

test procedure until after AMCA 214 

was final and published, stating that 

AHRI was working with AMCA to seek 

resolution on several technical issues. 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

AHRI, No. 14 at p. 2). As discussed, 

AMCA 214 was approved by ANSI on 

March 1, 2021. DOE reviewed the final 

version of AMCA 214–21 in the 

preparation of the October 2021 RFI. 

Daikin commented that the draft 

AMCA 214 test procedure was 

appropriate for fans distributed in 

commerce as standalone fans, but is not 

useful for fans embedded in equipment. 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

Daikin, No. 8 at p. 1). 

NEEA and NWPCC commented in 

support of establishing a test procedure 

for commercial and industrial fans and 

stated that the industry and efficiency 

advocates have collaboratively 

participated in developing AMCA 214. 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

NEEA and NWPCC, No. 12 at p. 2). 

ASAP, ACEEE, and NRDC commented 

in support of establishing a test 

procedure for commercial and industrial 

fans and commented that AMCA 

incorporated input from a broad range 

of stakeholders in developing AMCA 

214 (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET– 

0003, ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC, No. 7 at 

p. 1). 

Greenheck commented that a DOE test 

procedure based on AMCA 214 would: 

accelerate the use of the FEI over Fan 

Efficiency Grade (‘‘FEG’’) 68 in state and 

municipal energy codes and reduce 

manufacturer burden; reduce burden on 

consumers, designers, code officials, 

and manufacturers by preempting costly 

patchwork state and local fan test 

procedure regulations; help U.S. 

manufacturers compete internationally 

by minimizing the potentially 

disruptive and inconsistent regulations 

in Europe (EU ecodesign regulation for 

industrial fans No 327/2011); provide 

manufacturers with a more immediate 

return on investment through national 

demand for fans with a good FEI rating 


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69See www.amca.org/LDCF. 

70 DOE is aware that AMCA 230–15 is currently 

undergoing periodic review and may be revised in 

the future. Should a new version become available 

at the time of any final rule, DOE would incorporate 

by reference the latest available version of AMCA 

230. 

rather than limited and sporadic 

demand from individual states and 

municipalities; and be consistent with 

the fan FEI requirements in ASHRAE 

90.1–2019. In addition, Greenheck 

stated that this would align with the 

process used by DOE to regulate other 

equipment in ASHRAE 90.1–2019 

Tables 6.8.1–1 through 6.8.1–20 and 

would be useful to support future 

incentive programs based on FEI. 

Greenheck additionally commented that 

NEEA was developing an incentive 

program based on FEI. (Docket No. 

EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, Greenheck, 

No. 6.1 at pp. 1–2). 

Several interested parties also 

commented that a DOE test procedure 

based on AMCA 214 would provide a 

basis to assist customers and designers 

in making purchasing decisions and 

save energy by informing design 

decisions. (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT– 

PET–0003, NEEA and NWPCC, No. 12 at 

p. 1; ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC, No. 7 at p. 

1; Johnson Controls, No. 10 at p. 1). (See 

section III.F III.E for further discussion 

of these comments). 

In response to the October 20221 RFI, 

AMCA commented in support of the use 

of AMCA 214–21 and AMCA 230–15 as 

the basis for the test procedure with the 

caveat that AMCA 230–15 is entering a 

revision cycle and that DOE should refer 

to the latest version of AMCA 230. 

(AMCA, No. 6 at p. 7) AMCA also stated 

that an erratum to AMCA 230–15 was 

published on the AMCA website 69 in 

May 2021 and a copy was provided to 

DOE. AMCA also stated that references 

to ANSI/AMCA Standard 230–15 

generally mean ‘‘ANSI/AMCA Standard 

230–15 with errata.’’ (AMCA, No. 6 at p. 

2) AMCA further commented that 

AMCA 230–15 will undergo a regularly 

scheduled periodic review and update 

in 2022 to maintain ANSI approval. 

AMCA commented that although AMCA 

is not expecting the physical test 

method to change in the next revision, 

the 2021 erratum will be integrated with 

the standard and improvements will be 

made to definitions as part of the 

standards revision process. AMCA 

recommended that DOE allow the 

ANSI/AMCA Standard 230 revision 

committee to complete its work so the 

new edition of the standard can be 

referenced in a DOE rulemaking 

involving ACFH. (AMCA, No. 6 at p. 2) 

AMCA stated that the majority of the 

market is single-speed, and 

recommended that, for regulatory 

purposes, only ‘‘high speed’’ should be 

required for compliance and checktesting. AMCA asserted that this 

approach would be more repeatable and 

reduce regulatory burden. AMCA stated 

that it generally understood that fans 

having two or more speeds are run at 

high speed in commercial and industrial 

environments, although AMCA did not 

have data to support its understanding. 

(AMCA, No. 6 at p. 8) 

NEEA recommended that DOE 

consider AMCA 214–21 to determine 

the efficiency of fans and blowers and 

AMCA 230–15 as the test procedure for 

ACFHs. NEEA commented that these 

procedures incorporate decisions made 

during the 2015 ASRAC working group, 

and thus have consensus from industry, 

advocacy and governmental 

organizations as procedures that reflect 

energy efficiency during a 

representative average use cycle and are 

not unduly burdensome to conduct. 

NEEA commented that they have 

supported the development of these test 

procedures and asserted there is 

momentum in the market for these 

procedures. NEEA further asserted that 

these test procedures represent the 

current best practice for defining and 

calculating the efficiencies of fans. 

NEEA stated that AMCA 230 will be in 

revision soon, and recommended that 

the new version of the standard be the 

basis for DOE’s regulation once the 

standard is published. (NEEA, No. 11 at 

pp. 1–2) 

AHRI commented that ACFHs are 

standalone fans, with performance 

testing established appropriately using 

AMCA 230–15 and a FEI metric 

calculated using AMCA 214–21. (AHRI, 

No. 10 at p. 2) 

The CA IOUs recommended that DOE 

use the FEI metric from AMCA 214–21 

for ACFHs. (CA IOUs, No. 9 at p. 2) 

DOE is proposing to incorporate by 

reference AMCA 214–21 as the 

prescribed test method for evaluating 

the energy use of fans and blowers, with 

modifications discussed in section III.D 

of this document. AMCA 214–21 

references AMCA 210–16 and AMCA 

230–15 (with errata) as the physical test 

method, and further provides provisions 

for calculating the FEI. This industrybased test procedure, which is already 

used by industry and referenced by 

ASHRAE 90.1, can be applied to the 

range of fans and blowers proposed in 

scope, including air circulating fans. 

DOE also proposes to incorporate by 

reference AMCA 210–16, ISO 

5801:2017, and AMCA 230–15 (with 

errata) (or latest version available at the 

time of the any final rule),70 which are 

the physical test methods referenced in 

AMCA 214–21 for fans and blowers and 

air circulating fans. DOE has tentatively 

determined that AMCA 214–21 provides 

a representative measurement of energy 

use or energy efficiency during a 

representative average use cycle for all 

fans and blowers in the proposed scope. 

The proposal to use AMCA 214–21 is 

consistent with the comments received 

from stakeholder and with the Working 

Group recommendations. Although 

NEEA commented in support of using 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata), DOE notes 

that AMCA 214–21 requires testing air 

circulating fans in accordance with 

AMCA 230–15. 

DOE is also aware that the AMCA 230 

committee is currently reviewing AMCA 

230–15 (with errata), to determine if any 

revisions are necessary. DOE 

understands that should the AMCA 230 

committee make any changes to AMCA 

230–15 (with errata), AMCA would 

publish a revised standard, potentially 

numbered as AMCA 230–22 (or AMCA 

230–23, based on the publication year). 

DOE is participating in the AMCA 230 

committee meetings to review and 

revise AMCA 230–15 (with errata). 

While this NOPR proposes to reference 

the requirements from AMCA 230–15 

(with errata), it also discusses the 

revisions being considered by the 

AMCA 230 committee. DOE requests 

comment on these revisions as well as 

any additional revisions under 

consideration by the AMCA 230 

committee that are not discussed in this 

document. Should the revised version of 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata), publish 

prior to the publication of any DOE test 

procedure final rule, DOE intends, after 

considering stakeholder feedback 

received in response to the proposals in 

this document, to incorporate by 

reference the latest version of AMCA 

230, provided the updates in the final 

published standard are consistent with 

the provisions DOE is proposing in this 

NOPR, or the updates are related to 

topics that DOE has discussed and 

solicited comments on in this NOPR. 

The subsequent sections of this NOPR 

discuss each substantive change in 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata), that DOE 

proposes to incorporate into appendix 

B, as well as the updates being 

considered by the AMCA 230 

committee. 

Estimated costs for the proposed test 

procedure are discussed in section III.L 

of this document. DOE seeks 

information on whether, in general, 

AMCA 214–21, AMCA 210–16, and 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata) provide 

measurements which reflect energy 

efficiency or energy use during a 

representative average use cycle of the 


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71The efficiency (Eff) of a motor at a given load 

(x) relates to the motor horsepower (hp) and losses 

(L) as follows: Eff = (x. hp)/(x.hp + L) 

fans and blowers (including air 

circulating fans) proposed to be in 

scope. If these standards would not 

provide such measurements, DOE seeks 

input on how it should be amended and 

why, and on any other industry test 

standard that would be more 

appropriate. 

DOE requests comment and 

supporting data on whether AMCA 214– 

21 and ISO 5801:2017 produce 

equivalent test results. 

DOE seeks information and data to 

assist in evaluating the repeatability and 

reproducibility of AMCA 214–21, 

AMCA 210–16, and AMCA 230–15 

(with errata). DOE seeks input on 

whether any changes to these standards 

are needed to increase its repeatability 

and reproducibility. 

DOE seeks information on whether 

changes to AMCA 214–21, AMCA 210– 

16, and AMCA 230–15 (with errata) are 

needed to allow for the determination of 

more representative energy efficiency 

ratings, and any cost associated with a 

suggested change. 

DOE requests comment on the 

physical features that could be 

identified to differentiate bare-shaft fans 

that can accommodate only a directdrive transmission from other bare-shaft 

fans. 

DOE requests comment on any 

additional revisions under 

consideration by the AMCA 230 

committee that are not discussed in this 

document. 

D. Proposed Adoption of the Test 

Procedure in AMCA 214–21 and 

Modifications to the Test Procedure 

As discussed previously, DOE is 

proposing to adopt through reference 

certain provisions of AMCA 214–21 as 

the prescribed test method for 

measuring the energy use and energy 

efficiency of fans and blowers. 

Specifically, for fans and blowers that 

are not air circulating fans, DOE 

proposes that testing be performed in 

accordance with the following sections 

of AMCA 214–21: 

• Section 2 ‘‘References’’, 

• Section 3 ‘‘Definitions’’, 

• Section 4 ‘‘Calculation of the FEI for 

a single duty point’’, 

• Section 5 ‘‘Reference Fan Electrical 

Power (FEPref)’’, 

• Section 6.1 ‘‘Wire-to-Air Testing at 

the Required Duty Point’’, 

• Section 6.2 ‘‘Calculated Ratings 

Based on Wire to Air Testing’’, 

• Section 6.3 ‘‘Bare Shaft Fans’’, 

• Section 6.4.1.1 ‘‘Requirements for 

the fan’’, 

• Section 6.4.1.2 ‘‘Requirements for 

the transmission’’, 

• Section 6.4.1.3 ‘‘Requirements for 

the motor, 

• Section 6.4.2 Calculation of FEPact’’, 

• Section 6.4.2.1 ‘‘Calculation of 

transmission efficiency (htrans,act)’’, 

• Section 6.4.2.2 ‘‘Calculation of 

actual motor output power’’, 

• Section 6.4.2.3 ‘‘Motor efficiency if 

no VFD is included’’, 

• Section 7 ‘‘Testing’’, 

• Section 8.1 ‘‘Laboratory 

Measurement Only’’, 

• Section 8.2.1 ‘‘Fan laws and other 

calculation methods for shaft-to-air 

testing’’, 

• Section 8.2.3 ’’ Calculation to other 

speeds and densities for wire-to-air 

testing ‘‘, 

• Annex D ‘‘Motor Performance 

Constants (Normative)’’, 

• Annex E ‘‘Calculation Methods for 

Fans Tested Shaft-to-Air’’, 

• Annex G ‘‘Wire-to-Air 

Measurement—Calculation to Other 

Speeds and Densities (Normative)’’, 

• Annex J ‘‘Other data and 

calculations to be retained’’, and 

• Annex K ‘‘Proportionality and 

Dimensional Requirements 

(Normative)’’. 

For air circulating fans, DOE proposes 

that testing be performed in accordance 

with the following sections of AMCA 

214–21: 

• Section 2 ‘‘References’’, 

• Section 3 ‘‘Definitions’’, 

• Section 4 ‘‘Calculation of the FEI for 

a single duty point’’, 

• Section 5 ‘‘Reference Fan Electrical 

Power (FEPref)’’, 

• Section 6.1 ‘‘Wire-to-Air Testing at 

the Required Duty Point’’, 

• Table 7.1 of Section 7 ‘‘Testing’’, 

• Section 7.1. ‘‘Test Configurations’’ 

• Section 7.2 ‘‘Setup Selection’’ 

• Section 7.4 ‘‘Run-in requirements’’; 

and 

• Annex J ‘‘Other data and 

calculations to be retained’’ 

As proposed, the test procedure 

would provide methods to calculate the 

FEI and FEP of a fan at each of its duty 

points based on: (1) the fan electrical 

input measured by a wire-to-air test or, 

(2) the fan shaft input power measured 

by a shaft-to-air test (conducted in 

accordance with AMCA 210–16 or 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata), and the 

modifications proposed in this section), 

and the application of calculation 

algorithms to represents the 

performance of the motor. The test 

procedure would also provide methods 

to calculate the FEP or fan shaft input 

power at untested duty points, based on 

the performance of test duty points and 

interpolation methods, including the fan 

laws. The following sections discuss key 

elements of the proposed test procedure 

and proposed modification to AMCA 

214–21. 

1. Motor Efficiency Calculation 

For bare shaft fans and fans with an 

electric motor subject to energy 

conservation standards at 10 CFR 431.25 

(‘‘polyphase regulated motor’’), Section 

6.3 and 6.4 of AMCA 214–21 specify 

testing these fans using a shaft-to-air test 

(i.e., a test that does not include the 

motor performance). When conducting a 

shaft-to-air test, the mechanical fan shaft 

input power is measured and the FEP is 

then calculated by using a mathematical 

model to represent the performance of 

the motor (i.e., its part-load efficiency). 

The FEP is then used to calculate the 

FEI of the fan. 

AMCA 214–21 provides two different 

methods to estimate the part-load 

efficiency of a polyphase regulated 

motor. A single equation presented in 

Section 5.3 and section 6.3.3 of AMCA 

214 are used to calculate the FEP of the 

reference fan (‘‘FEPref’’) and the actual 

FEP of bare-shaft fans (‘‘FEPact’’), while 

a more complex model based on several 

equations described in Section 6.4.2.3 of 

AMCA 214 is used to calculate the 

actual FEP of fans sold with polyphase 

regulated motors without a variable 

frequency drive (‘‘VFD’’). In support of 

a final rule published January 25, 2016, 

for the commercial and industrial pump 

test procedure, DOE developed a model 

to estimate the electric motor part-load 

performance of polyphase regulated 

motors. 81 FR 4086, 4124–4125. As 

noted in the commercial and industrial 

pumps test procedure notice of 

proposed rulemaking published on 

April 1, 2015, DOE has designed the 

calculation-based approach used in the 

pump test procedure to be conservative 

(i.e., the model represents a 

conservative estimate of part-load motor 

losses and efficiency) 71 80 FR 17585, 

17628 (‘‘Pumps April 2015 TP NOPR’’) 

DOE notes that such approach 

minimizes the possibility that testing 

the pump without the motor and using 

the model to estimate motor 

performance would result in better 

energy efficiency ratings than testing the 

pump inclusive of the motor. 

Pumps and fans are powered by the 

same categories of motors, and DOE 

compared the motor part-load efficiency 

resulting from applying the two AMCA 

214–21 motor equations with the motor 

part-load efficiency obtained when 

using the equation from the DOE pump 

test procedure. DOE found that the 

AMCA models resulted in efficiency 

values that were, on average, one 

percent higher (when using Sections 5.3 

and 6.3.3) and two percent higher (when 


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72On average, across operating motor loads (25 to 

100 percent load) and across all motor horsepowers 

between 1 and 250 hp, the motor part-load 

efficiency values obtained using the equations in 

AMCA 214 were one and two percent higher than 

the motor part-load efficiency values obtained using 

the equations from the DOE pump test procedure. 

73The efficiency (Eff) of a motor at a given load 

(x) relates to the motor horsepower (hp) and losses 

(L) as follows: Eff = (x. hp)/(x.hp + L). 

74On average the combined motor and controller 

part-load efficiency values obtained using the 

equation in AMCA 214–21 were 5 percent higher 

across operating motor loads (25 to 100 percent 

load) and across all motor horsepowers between 1 

and 250 hp, when compared to the combined motor 

and controller part-load efficiency values obtained 

using the equations from the DOE pump test 

procedure. 

75AHRI Standard 1210, ‘‘Standard for 

Performance Rating of Variable Frequency Drives,’’ 

certified data from 2016, 2020, and 202. See: 

https://www.ahridirectory.org/NewSearch?

programId=71&searchTypeId=3. 

using Section 6.4.2.3) than the values 

determined using the equation from the 

DOE pump test procedure.72 When 

using these equations to calculate the 

FEI of a large sample of fans, DOE found 

that the impact on FEI was, on average, 

1 percent higher than the FEI obtained 

using the model from the DOE pump 

test procedure. 

Based on this review, DOE tentatively 

concludes that the impact on the FEI is 

not significant enough to justify 

deviating from the established industry 

test procedure. Therefore, DOE proposes 

to maintain the equations as provided in 

Sections 5.3 and 6.4.2.3 of AMCA 214– 

21 to estimate the part-load motor 

efficiency when calculating FEPref, 

FEPact, and the FEPact of fans sold with 

electric motors regulated at 10 CFR 

431.25 (and without VFDs). Should 

additional information become available 

indicating that the FEI ratings resulting 

from the equations in AMCA 214–21 

diverged to a greater extent from the FEI 

ratings resulting from testing the fan 

wire-to-air, DOE would consider the use 

of alternate equations, such as the 

equations from the DOE pump test 

procedure. 

DOE requests comment on the 

equations provided in Sections 5.3 and 

6.4.2.3 of AMCA 214–21. Specifically, 

DOE requests comment on whether 

applying the method outlined in Section 

6.4 of AMCA 214–21 and the equations 

provided in Section 6.4.2.3 of AMCA 

214–21 could result in a higher value of 

FEI than the FEI resulting from a wireto-air test in accordance with Section 

6.1 of AMCA 214–21. 

2. Combined Motor and Controller 

Efficiency Calculation 

For fans with a polyphase regulated 

motor and a controller, AMCA 214–21 

allows testing these fans using a shaftto-air test (i.e., a test that does not 

include the motor and controller 

performance). When conducting a shaftto-air test, the mechanical fan shaft 

input power is measured and the FEP is 

then calculated by using a mathematical 

model to represent the performance of 

the combined motor and controller (i.e., 

its part-load efficiency). The FEP is then 

used to calculate the FEI of the fan. 

Section 6.4.2.4 of AMCA 214–21, 

which relies on Annex B ‘‘Motor 

Constants if Used With VFD 

(Normative)’’ and Annex C ‘‘VFD 

Performance Constants (Normative)’’, 

provides a method to estimate the 

combined motor and controller partload efficiency for certain electric 

motors and controller combinations that 

meet the requirements in Sections 

6.4.1.3 and 6.4.1.4 of AMCA 214–21, 

which specify that the motor must be an 

electric motor subject to energy 

conservation standards at 10 CFR 

431.25. 

Previously, DOE developed a similar 

model to estimate the combined motors 

and controller part-load performance in 

support of the commercial and 

industrial pump rulemaking, in the case 

where the motor is polyphase regulated 

motor. 81 FR 4086, 4128–4130 (January 

25, 2016). As noted in the Pumps April 

2015 TP NOPR, the model used in the 

pump test procedure represents a 

conservative estimate of part-load motor 

losses (and efficiency).73 80 FR 17585, 

17628 This minimizes the possibility 

that using the calculation approach to 

estimate the motor and controller 

performance would result in better 

energy efficiency ratings than when 

testing the equipment inclusive of the 

motor and controller. 

Pumps and fans are powered by the 

same categories of motors and 

controllers and DOE compared the 

motor part-load efficiency resulting 

from applying the AMCA 214–21 motor 

and controller equations with the 

combined motor and controller partload efficiency obtained when using the 

equation from the DOE pump test 

procedure and found that the AMCA 

model resulted in combined motor and 

controller part-load efficiency values 

that were, on average, four percent 

higher than when using the DOE 

model.74 In addition, DOE reviewed 

motor and VFD efficiency data from the 

AHRI certified product database 75 and 

found existing motor and VFD 

combinations that performed at a lower 

efficiency than predicted by the AMCA 

214 model. DOE also reviewed the 

reference motor and controller (‘‘power 

drive system’’) efficiency provided in 

IEC 61800–9–2:2017 ‘‘Adjustable speed 

electrical power drive systems—Part 9– 

2: Ecodesign for power drive systems, 

motor starters, power electronics and 

their driven applications—Energy 

efficiency indicators for power drive 

systems and motor starters’’, which also 

provides equations to represent the 

performance of a motor and controller 

used with fans, and found that the IEC 

model predicted values of efficiency 

that were significantly lower (more than 

10 percent on average) than the model 

included in AMCA 214–21. 

Based on this analysis, DOE has 

concerns that the equations described in 

Section 6.4.2.4 of AMCA 214–21 may 

not be appropriately representative, 

resulting in fan FEI ratings that would 

be higher than FEI ratings obtained 

using the wire-to-air test method 

described in Section 6.1 of AMCA 214– 

21. Therefore, DOE does not propose to 

allow the use of Section 6.4.2.4 of 

AMCA 214–21. Instead, DOE proposes 

that fans with motor and controller be 

tested in accordance with Section 6.1 of 

AMCA 214–21. Manufacturers would 

still be able to rely on a mathematical 

model (including the same model as 

described in Section 6.4.2.4 of AMCA 

214–21, as long as the model meets the 

AEDM requirements discussed in 

section III.J of this document) in lieu of 

testing to determine the FEI of a fan 

with a motor and controller, subject to 

the proposed AEDM discussed in 

section III.J of this document. 

3. Annex A of AMCA 214–21 

Annex A provides the reference 

nominal full-load efficiency values to 

use for polyphase motors subject to 

energy conservation standards at 10 CFR 

431.25 when calculating the motor part 

load efficiency in accordance with 

Section 6.4.2.3 of AMCA 214–21. DOE 

proposes to replace Annex A of AMCA 

214–21 by a reference to Table 5 of 10 

CFR 431.25. The values in Annex A and 

Table 5 of 10 CFR 431.25 are identical, 

however, referencing the Code of 

Federal Regulations would ensure that 

the values of polyphase regulated motor 

efficiencies remain up to date with any 

potential future updates established by 

DOE. 

4. Annex E of AMCA 214–21 

As previously discussed, Annex E of 

AMCA 214–21 allows a reduction in the 

number of tests potentially required by 

allowing the use of fan laws to calculate 

the fan shaft power of a non-tested fan 

using results from a fan shaft power test 

of a fan with a smaller impeller 

diameter. Since the publication of 

AMCA 214–21, AMCA 211–22 

‘‘Certified Ratings Program Product 

Rating Manual for Fan Air Performance’’ 

was published. Annex I of AMCA 211– 


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76CSA C747–09 (R2014), ‘‘Energy efficiency test 

methods for small motors;’’ CSA C838–13 (R2018), 

‘‘Energy efficiency test methods for three-phase 

variable frequency drive systems;’’ IEEE 112–2017, 

‘‘IEEE Standard Test Procedure for Polyphase 

Induction Motors and Generators’’ and ANSI/ 

ASHRAE Standard 222–2018, ‘‘Standard Method of 

Test for Electrical Power Drive Systems’’. 

22 allows the use of fan laws to 

additionally interpolate the fan shaft 

power of a non-tested fan using results 

from a fan shaft power test of two fans 

with a smaller and larger impeller 

diameter (i.e., interpolation between 

two tested sizes). DOE is considering 

adding a reference to section I.6 of 

Annex I of AMCA 211–22 and allowing 

manufacturer to additionally interpolate 

the fan shaft power of a non-tested fan 

between two tested fans sizes. 

Alternatively, DOE may consider 

referencing Annex I of AMCA 211–22 in 

place of Annex E of AMCA 214–21. 

DOE requests comments on whether it 

should add a reference to Section I.6 of 

AMCA 211–22 or replace Annex E of 

AMCA 214–21 by Annex I of AMCA 

211–22. 

5. Section 6.5 of AMCA 214–21 and 

Annex F 

Section 6.5 and Annex F of AMCA 

214–21 provide methods to determine 

the FEP of the actual fan by conducting 

separate tests for the bare shaft fan and 

the motor or the combined motor and 

controller. Annex F specifies the 

industry test methods 76 to use when 

testing the motor or the combined motor 

and controller. As provided in Annex F, 

the motor and controller, if included, 

must be tested at the range of speeds 

and loads over which the fan is to be 

rated. The measurements result in a 

map of the input power (kW) versus 

speed and load and intermediate values 

can be determined through interpolation 

(linear interpolation or a polynomial 

curve fit). The methods in Section 6.5 

and Annex F of AMCA 214–21 are 

applicable to any electric motor 

(including non-DOE regulated motors 

that meet the definition of electric motor 

at 10 CFR 431.12) as long as it can be 

tested per the industry test procedures 

included in Annex F. 

The test procedure for combined 

motor and controller in AMCA 214–21 

deviates from the methods proposed in 

the January 2021 electric motors test 

procedure NOPR. 86 FR 71710, 71743 

(December 17, 2021) While Annex F of 

AMCA 214–21 specifies that testing that 

combined motor and controllers can be 

performed using either ANSI/ASHRAE 

Standard 222, ‘‘Standard Method of Test 

for Electrical Power Drive Systems’’, 

CSA C838, ‘‘Energy efficiency test 

methods for three-phase variable 

frequency drive systems’’, or CSA C747, 

‘‘Energy efficiency test methods for 

small motors’’, DOE proposed, in the 

January 2021 electric motors test 

procedure NOPR, that combined motors 

and controllers be tested using IEC 

61800–9–2:2017, ‘‘Adjustable speed 

electrical power drive systems—Part 9– 

2: Ecodesign for power drive systems, 

motor starters, power electronics and 

their driven applications—Energy 

efficiency indicators for power drive 

systems and motor starters’’. 86 FR 

71710, 71743 For fans combined with 

regulated motors, the methods described 

in Section 6.5 and Annex F of AMCA 

214–21 would be less burdensome than 

multiple wire-to-air tests; however, it 

would likely be significantly more 

burdensome than applying the 

calculation methods described in 

Section 6.3 of AMCA 24–21, since it 

would require physical tests of all 

motors with which the bare shaft fan 

could be paired. In addition, with the 

option to allow for an AEDM as 

discussed in section III.J. of this 

document, a manufacturer would be 

able to integrate the methods of Section 

6.5 and Annex F of AMCA 214–21 into 

a mathematical model as long as the 

proposed AEDM requirements were 

met. 

Therefore, DOE is not proposing to 

include Section 6.5 and annex F of 

AMCA 214–21 in the proposed DOE test 

procedure. Manufacturers would still be 

able to rely on a mathematical model 

(including potentially the same model 

as described in Section 6.5 of AMCA 

214–21, as long as the models meet the 

AEDM requirements discussed in 

section III.J of this document) in lieu of 

testing to determine the FEI of a fan 

with a motor or a motor and controller, 

provided that the mathematical model 

meets all the AEDM requirements 

proposed in section III.J. of this 

document. 

6. Annex H and Annex I of AMCA 214– 

21 

Annex H ‘‘Required Reported Values 

(Normative)’’ of AMCA 214–21 provides 

reporting requirements. DOE is not 

proposing to adopt Annex H. DOE may 

consider proposals to establish reporting 

requirements for fans and blowers under 

a separate rulemaking. 

Annex I ‘‘Minimum Data 

Requirements for Published Ratings 

(Informative)’’ provides guidance on 

what performance information to 

publish. DOE is not proposing to adopt 

Annex I. DOE is proposing requirements 

regarding represented values in section 

III.K of this document. 

7. Section 8.3 of AMCA 214–21 

Section 8.3 ‘‘Appurtenances’’ 

provides guidance on how to 

characterize fan performance in the case 

of a fan with additional appurtenances 

beyond what is required by the test 

procedure. DOE is not proposing to 

adopt this section as DOE does not 

propose to establish fan performance 

with additional appurtenances beyond 

what is specified by the test procedure 

in Section 7.3 of AMCA 214–21, which 

DOE proposes to adopt through 

reference. 

8. Measurement of PRV Performance 

As described in Table III–9, AMCA 

214–21 requires different test 

configurations for PRVs that supply air 

to a building and PRVs that exhaust air 

from a building. Some PRVs can operate 

both as supply and exhaust fans. DOE 

proposes that PRVs that can operate 

both as supply and exhaust fans be 

tested in both configurations. 

DOE seeks feedback on its proposal 

that PRVs that can operate both as 

supply and exhaust fans be tested in 

both configurations as described in 

Table III–9 of this document. 

9. Exclusively Embedded Fans 

As discussed in section III.A.3 of this 

document, DOE proposes to exclude 

fans that are exclusively embedded in 

equipment as listed in Table III–8 of this 

document. Other exclusively embedded 

fans would be included in the scope of 

the test procedure to the extent that they 

meet the proposed test procedure scope 

criteria presented in section III.A.1 of 

this document and do not fall under the 

proposed exclusions discussed in 

section III.A.2. of this document. 

The Working Group recommended 

that embedded fans be tested in a 

standalone fan configuration (i.e., 

outside of the piece of equipment in 

which they are embedded). (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; No. 179, 

Recommendation #8 at p. 5) DOE 

interprets this recommendation to apply 

to exclusively embedded fans because 

standalone fans that are purchased by 

an OEM for incorporation into 

equipment can be tested prior to being 

embedded. Because exclusively 

embedded fans included in larger 

equipment may share structural or 

functional parts with that equipment, 

the fan would not be removable without 

causing irreversible damage to the 

equipment. To address such embedded 

fans, the Working Group recommended 

testing exclusively embedded fans using 

additional fan components, except for 

the fan impeller, that are geometrically 

identical to that of the embedded fan 


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77See for example: www.trane.com/Commercial/ 

Uploads/Pdf/1020/clchprc003_en_mseriescatalog_

1205.pdf; content.greenheck.com/public/DAMProd/ 

Original/10001/AllProducts_catalog.pdf. 

inside the larger piece of equipment. 

(Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; 

No. 179, Recommendation #8 at p. 5) In 

addition, the Working Group 

recommended that embedded fans be 

certified over their standalone operating 

range. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT– 

STD–0006; No. 179, Recommendation 

#4 at p. 4) 

DOE collected fan performance 

information from OEM and fan 

manufacturer websites, indicating that 

OEMs currently test and collect 

information on embedded fan 

performance and that OEMs understand 

a fan’s typical operating range in terms 

of flow and pressure.77 As previously 

discussed, the AMCA 214–21 foreword 

states that, ‘‘AMCA Standard 214 

primarily is for fans that are tested alone 

or with motors and drives; it does not 

apply to fans tested embedded inside of 

other equipment.’’ To test exclusively 

embedded fans, DOE therefore proposes, 

consistent with the Working Group 

recommendation, that these fans be 

tested as standalone fans, outside of the 

equipment in which they are 

incorporated. In addition, DOE proposes 

that if any fan components are not 

removable without causing irreversible 

damage to the equipment into which the 

fan is embedded, the manufacturer must 

use additional fan components, except 

for the fan impeller, that are 

geometrically identical to that of the fan 

embedded inside the larger piece of 

equipment for testing. This would result 

in a range of FEI ratings at every 

operating point at which the fan is 

capable of operating, including at the 

flow and pressure point experienced by 

the fan when embedded inside the 

equipment. 

DOE seeks comment on its proposal to 

test exclusively embedded fans in a 

standalone configuration outside of the 

equipment that incorporates the fan. 

10. Wire-to-Air Testing for Air 

Circulating Fans 

Air circulating fans incorporate and 

are sold with a motor. Accordingly, 

AMCA 230–15, which is the physical 

test method referenced in AMCA 214– 

21 for air circulating fans, only provides 

a wire-to-air test method. DOE proposes 

a test procedure for testing air 

circulating fans based on the methods in 

Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of AMCA 214–21. 

In response to the February 2022 ECS 

RFI, the CA IOUs commented that ACFs 

sold without a motor should be 

included in the DOE test procedure. 

(Docket No. EERE–2022–BT–STD–0002, 

CA IOUs, No. 7 at p. 6) In addition, the 

CA IOUs stated that ACFs with multiple 

motor options should be tested using a 

motor capable of running the fan at the 

fan’s maximum allowable speed. They 

added that doing so will prevent 

manufacturers from avoiding energy 

conservation standards by selling 

incomplete fans. The CA IOUs also 

suggested that optional motor fans be 

tested with the least efficient motor and 

allow for an optional representation of 

higher-efficiency motors. Id. 

DOE did not find any circulating fans 

that were distributed in commerce 

without an electric motor. However, if 

an air circulating fan is sold without a 

motor, it would still meet the definition 

of an air circulating fan and would be 

included in the scope of the test 

procedure. DOE proposes that air 

circulating fans distributed in commerce 

without an electric motor be tested 

using an electric motor as recommended 

in the manufacturer’s catalogs or 

distributed in commerce with the air 

circulating fan. If more than one motor 

is available in manufacturer’s catalogs 

or distributed in commerce with the air 

circulating fan, DOE proposes requiring 

that it be tested using the least efficient 

motor capable of running the fan at the 

fan’s maximum allowable speed. 

DOE requests comment on its 

proposed approach for testing air 

circulating fans that are distributed in 

commerce without an electric motor. 

11. Total Pressure Calculation for Air 

Circulating Fans 

AMCA 214–21 specifies that air 

circulating fans must rely on a FEI based 

on total pressure (sum of the static 

pressure and velocity pressure) (See 

Table III–9 of this document). However, 

AMCA 230–15 does not specify the 

measurement or calculation of fan total 

pressure, which is a required input to 

the FEI calculation. 

DOE proposes to add provisions to 

specify how to calculate fan total 

pressure and to apply the equations in 

Section A.2 of AMCA 208–18 when 

calculating the fan total pressure at a 

given airflow for fans tested per AMCA 

230–15. 

DOE requests comment on its 

proposal to add provisions for 

calculating the total pressure of air 

circulating fans based on the equations 

in Section A.2 of AMCA 208–18. 

12. Appurtenances 

Section 7.3 of AMCA 214–21 provides 

instructions on which appurtenances to 

include as part of the tested fan. It 

distinguishes between appurtenances 

that improve or reduce performance. For 

appurtenances that improve fan 

performance (including but not limited 

to inlet bells, diffusers, stators, or guide 

vanes), AMCA 214–21 specifies that 

these appurtenances should be included 

if always supplied with the fan when 

distributed in commerce. For 

appurtenances that reduce fan 

performance, which include, but are not 

limited to, safety guards, dampers, 

filters, or weather hoods, AMCA 214–21 

states that if the appurtenance is always 

supplied with the fan when distributed 

in commerce, then it shall be tested 

with the fan. If the appurtenance is not 

always supplied with the fan when 

distributed in commerce, it shall not be 

tested with the fan. 

For circulating fans, the AMCA 230 

committee is considering adding the 

following provisions as part of the 

revised version of AMCA 230: any 

appurtenances sold with the fan shall be 

included in the minimum testable 

configuration. 

DOE reviewed the provisions related 

to accessories in AMCA 214–21 and as 

considered by the AMCA 230 committee 

and has tentatively determined that 

testing using the provisions discussed 

by the AMCA 230 committee would 

provide results that are more 

representative of field conditions 

because consumers are likely to use the 

fan with the appurtenances they 

purchase. Therefore, DOE proposes to 

specify for fans and blowers, including 

air circulating fans, that any 

appurtenances sold with the fan must be 

included during the test. 

In addition, for air circulating fans, 

the AMCA 230 committee is considering 

additional provisions to include in the 

next version of AMCA 230 to describe 

what should be considered as part of the 

test (i.e., the ‘‘minimum testable 

configuration’’). The committee is 

considering the following: (1) If sold 

with the fan, an on/off switch or speed 

control device would be included in the 

minimum testable configuration. The 

power consumption of the on/off switch 

or speed control device would be 

included in the active and standby 

mode power measurements. (2) If 

multiple control devices are sold with 

the fan, only the standard fan control 

device would be used for testing. (3) 

Optional product features not related to 

generating air movement would not be 

energized for the purpose of testing. 

Optional product features not related to 

generating air movement include, but 

are not limited to: misting kits, external 

sensors not required to operate the fan, 

and communication devices not 

required to operate the fan. 

For air circulating fans, DOE has 

tentatively determined that it is unlikely 


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that additional features not related to air 

movement would remain in the onposition unless intended by the 

consumer. As such, requiring testing in 

their ‘‘as-shipped’’ configuration would 

not provide a more representative 

measure of energy use for air circulating 

fans. DOE proposes to add clarification 

that additional features not related to air 

movement be installed, but either 

powered off or set at the lowest energyconsuming mode during testing. 

Further, to avoid confusion as to which 

controller is used for testing in the case 

where multiple advanced controllers are 

offered, DOE proposes to add additional 

clarification to its specifications for 

appurtenances. Specifically, DOE 

proposes to clarify that if the air 

circulating fan is offered with a default 

controller, testing would be conducted 

using the default controller. If the air 

circulating fan is offered with multiple 

controllers, testing would be conducted 

using the minimally functional 

controller (i.e. ‘‘standard controller’’). 

Testing using the minimally functional 

controller is consistent with the 

direction to test with additional features 

not energized during the power 

consumption measurement. Controller 

functions other than the minimal 

functions (i.e., the functions necessary 

to operate the air circulating fan blades) 

are akin to additional features that do 

not relate to the air circulating fan’s 

ability to create airflow. This proposed 

addition clarifies which controller to 

select. These proposals are in line with 

the additional provisions considered by 

the AMCA 230 committee. 

DOE is aware that the revisions 

considered by the AMCA 230 committee 

are subject to change and could further 

be revised in the next version of AMCA 

230. Should the revised version of 

AMCA 230 publish prior to the 

publication of any DOE test procedure 

final rule, DOE intends, after 

considering stakeholder feedback 

received in response to the proposals in 

this document, to revise the provisions 

related to appurtenances in line with 

the latest AMCA 230 standard, provided 

the updates in this standard are 

consistent with the provisions DOE is 

proposing in this NOPR, or the updates 

are related to topics that DOE has 

discussed and for which DOE has 

solicited comments to in this NOPR. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed provisions related to the 

consideration of appurtenances when 

testing fans and blowers, including air 

circulating fans. 

DOE requests comment on whether it 

should consider specifying additional 

provisions to describe which 

components should be included in the 

test. 

13. Voltage, Phase and Frequency 

Fans and blowers can be rated to 

operate at 50 or 60 Hz, be supplied by 

single-phase or multi-phase electricity, 

and can operate at a single rated voltage 

(e.g. 115 V) or within one or more rated 

voltage ranges, or a combination of both 

(e.g. 115/208–230V). 

Section 7.8 of AMCA 214–21 specifies 

that for fan electrical power 

measurement (when conducting a wireto-air test), the fan must be operated 

using 60 Hz supply unless that 

frequency conflicts with nameplate 

values. The voltage during the test shall 

match the highest allowable value that 

corresponds with the relevant 

nameplate. 

In the Unites States, 60 Hz frequency 

is the most representative, and DOE has 

tentatively determined that fans rated 

for operation with only 60Hz power 

supply would be tested with 60 Hz 

electricity and that fans capable of 

operating with 50Hz and 60Hz 

electricity would also be tested with 

60Hz electricity. DOE has tentatively 

determined that it does not need to 

consider air circulating fans rated for 

operation with only 50 Hz power, since 

these fans are not relevant in the U.S. 

market. 

Regarding the phase and voltage to 

select for testing, at this time, DOE is 

proposing to clarify which phase and 

voltage to use during the test as follows. 

DOE proposes to specify to test fans 

and blowers, including circulating fans, 

rated for operation with only a singleor multi-phase power supply with 

single- or multi-phase electricity, 

respectively. Fans and blowers, 

including circulating fans, capable of 

operating with single- and multi-phase 

electricity, DOE proposes that fans 

capable of operating with single- and 

multi-phase electricity must be tested 

using multi-phase power supply, which 

is the most common power supply for 

industrial and commercial equipment. 

DOE would allow manufacturers of fans 

and blowers, including circulating fans, 

capable of operating with single- and 

multi-phase electricity to test such fans 

with single-phase power and make 

representations of efficiency associated 

with both single and multi-phase 

electricity if a manufacturer desires to 

do so. 

For fans and blowers other than air 

circulating fans, DOE does not have any 

information to evaluate which 

configuration would be the most 

representative of an average energy use 

cycle and DOE proposes to retain the 

provisions in Section 7.8 of AMCA 214– 

21 to specify testing at the highest rated 

voltage and align with existing industry 

standards. Alternatively, DOE may 

consider other options such as 

specifying a voltage for test similar to 

that proposed below for air circulating 

fans. 

For air circulating fans, DOE does not 

have any information to evaluate which 

configuration would be the most 

representative of an average energy use 

cycle. Instead, DOE reviewed the 

provisions related to the supply voltage 

in the ceiling fan test procedure, which 

are also tested based on AMCA 230–15 

(with errata). Sections 3.43 and 3.4.4 of 

10 CFR part 430 appendix U. DOE 

proposes the same provisions for air 

circulating fans that it uses for ceiling 

fan, with additional language to 

distinguish how to select the supply 

voltage for fans tested using singlephase and multi-phase electricity. 

Specifically, DOE proposes that the 

supply voltage must be: (1) for air 

circulating fans tested with single-phase 

electricity, the supply voltage would be 

(a) 120 V if the air circulating fan’s 

minimum rated voltage is 120 V or the 

lowest rated voltage range contains 120 

V, (b) 240 V if the air circulating fan’s 

minimum rated voltage is 240 V or the 

lowest rated voltage range contains 240 

V, or (c) the air circulating fan’s 

minimum rated voltage (if a voltage 

range is not given) or the mean of the 

lowest rated voltage range, in all other 

cases; (2) for air circulating fans tested 

with multi-phase electricity, the supply 

voltage would be (a) 240 V if the air 

circulating fan’s minimum rated voltage 

is 240 V or the lowest rated voltage 

range contains 240 V, or (b) the air 

circulating fan’s minimum rated voltage 

(if a voltage range is not given) or the 

mean of the lowest rated voltage range, 

in all other cases. 

DOE is aware that the revisions 

considered by the AMCA 230 committee 

are subject to change and could further 

be revised in the next version of AMCA 

230. Should the revised version of 

AMCA 230 publish prior to the 

publication of any DOE test procedure 

final rule, DOE intends, after 

considering stakeholder feedback 

received in response to the proposals in 

this document, to revise the provisions 

related to frequency, phase, and voltage 

in line with the latest AMCA 230 

standard, provided the updates in this 

standard are consistent with the 

provisions DOE is proposing in this 

NOPR, or the updates are related to 

topics that DOE has discussed and 

solicited comments to in this NOPR. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed provisions related to 


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78 In agricultural applications, DOE has found 

some data indicating ventilation requirements vary 

by a factor of 12 depending on the season (cold 

weather vs. hot weather). However it’s unclear if the 

different ventilation requirements would typically 

be met by cycling fans on/off at maximum speed or 

by varying speeds, or through other speed settings. 

https://extension.umn.edu/swine-facilities/changeseason-ventilation. 

79 If the fan’s maximum speed is 1000 RPM and 

the fan’s minimum speed is 400 RPM, then the 

following speeds should be reported: 400, 550, 700, 

850, and 1000 where each speed is equally spaced 

of 150 RPM or (1000–400)/4 

specifying which frequency, phase, and 

voltage to use during a test. 

DOE additionally requests comment 

on whether the supply voltage 

requirements proposed for testing air 

circulating fans and fans and blowers 

other than air circulating fans would 

appropriately represent an average use 

cycle. 

14. Test Speeds for Air Circulating Fans 

Section 8.2.4 of AMCA 230–15 (with 

errata) specifies that for air circulating 

fans with variable speed, performance 

data is captured and reported at five 

speeds (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 percent 

of maximum speed) evenly spaced 

throughout the speed range. If there are 

less than five speeds available, the 

performance of all speeds is measured. 

AMCA 230–15 does not explicitly 

indicate how to test fans with multiple 

discrete speed settings. 

AMCA recommended that DOE 

require testing only at ‘‘high speed’’ for 

compliance and check-testing asserting 

that the majority of the market is singlespeed. AMCA commented that this 

would be more repeatable -and reduce 

regulatory burden. While AMCA 

provided no supporting data, AMCA 

commented that fans having two or 

more speeds generally are run at high 

speed in commercial and industrial 

environments. (AMCA, No. 6 at p. 8) 

The AMCA 230 committee is 

considering revising the test speed 

requirements in AMCA 230–15 (with 

errata) to indicate that all air circulating 

fans must be tested at their highest (i.e., 

maximum) speed and that additional 

speeds may be captured and reported to 

more fully define the shape of the fan 

flow vs. speed curve (for example— 

additional measurements at 20, 40, 60, 

and 80 percent of maximum speed). 

For single speed air circulating fans, 

DOE proposes to require that testing be 

conducted at the single available speed. 

For multi-speed fans with discrete 

operating speeds, and for variable-speed 

fans with continuously adjustable 

speeds, while DOE believes it is 

preferable to align the DOE test 

procedure with the accepted industry 

test procedures—in this case AMCA 

230—as much as possible, DOE does not 

have data to determine the typical field 

operating speed(s) of air circulating 

fan 78 (AMCA did not provide any data 

to support their claims that air 

circulating fans are mainly used at high 

speed) and DOE has tentatively 

determined that testing at each discrete 

speed (for multi-speed fans) or at each 

of the five speeds currently specified in 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata), rather than 

only requiring testing at the maximum 

speed may provide a more holistic 

representation of an air circulating fan’s 

performance over a range of service 

levels, which may in turn facilitate 

easier comparisons for consumers. It 

would also capture any changes in the 

efficiency of the motor and associated 

variable speed control device at partload conditions. In addition, DOE 

proposes to clarify that variable-speed 

air circulating fans with a minimum 

speed that is greater than 20 percent of 

the maximum speed, the performance 

data would be captured and reported in 

five speeds evenly spaced throughout 

the speed range, including at minimum 

and maximum speeds.79

DOE is considering several alternative 

options for specifying the test speeds at 

which fans with multiple or variable 

speeds should be tested including 

testing a high speed only, or testing in 

accordance with the speed requirements 

for large diameter ceiling fans in section 

3.5 of 10 CFR part 430, appendix U, 

which specifies that testing must be 

conducted at maximum speed and at 40 

percent speed or the nearest speed that 

is not less than 40 percent speed. DOE 

notes that regardless of the proposed 

tested speeds, performance data at 

additional speeds may be captured and 

reported to better define the shape of the 

fan performance curve (for example, 

additional measurements at 20, 60, and 

80 percent of maximum speed). 

DOE is aware that the AMCA 230 

committee is considering revisions to 

how test speeds are specified for air 

circulating fans and that the options 

considered by the AMCA 230 committee 

are subject to change and could further 

be revised in the next version of AMCA 

230. Should the revised version of 

AMCA 230 publish prior to the 

publication of any DOE test procedure 

final rule, DOE intends, after 

considering stakeholder feedback 

received in response to the proposals in 

this document, to revise the provisions 

related to speed selection in line with 

the latest AMCA 230 standard, provided 

the updates in this standard are 

consistent with the provisions DOE is 

proposing in this NOPR, or the updates 

are related to topics that DOE has 

discussed and solicited comments on in 

this NOPR. 

Finally, DOE notes that AMCA 214– 

21 has provisions to calculate 

performance data at non-tested speeds 

based on wire-to-air test results at 

different speeds. See Section 6.2 

‘‘Calculated Ratings Based on Wire to 

Air Testing’’ of AMCA 214–21, which 

references Section 8.2.3 ‘‘Calculation to 

other speeds and densities for wire-toair testing’’, and Annex G ‘‘Wire-to-Air 

Measurement—Calculation to Other 

Speeds and Densities (Normative)’’. For 

air circulating fans, DOE has tentatively 

determined that these sections do not 

apply because air circulating fans have 

a more limited range of operating speeds 

and DOE is proposing to test at each 

speed where performance data is 

required. AMCA 214–21 also includes 

an annex that only applies to shaft-toair tests and allows interpolating 

performance between tested speeds 

(Annex E of AMCA 214–21). For air 

circulating fans, DOE has tentatively 

determined that these sections do not 

apply because air circulating fans are 

tested wire-to-air. 

DOE seeks feedback on the options 

presented for specifying the testing 

speed(s) for air circulating fans and its 

proposal to test single speed fans at the 

single available speed, multi-speed fans 

at each available speed, and variable 

speed fans at 20, 40, 60, and 80 percent 

of maximum speed. DOE further 

requests feedback on its proposal to 

clarify that if the fan minimum speed is 

greater than 20 percent of the maximum 

speed, the performance data would be 

captured and reported in five speeds 

evenly spaced throughout the speed 

range, including at minimum and 

maximum speeds. 

DOE requests data to characterize 

typical air circulating fan operating 

speed(s) and time spent at each 

operating speed. 

DOE requests feedback on whether 

Section 6.2 and Annex E of AMCA 214– 

21 should be applied to air circulating 

fans. 

15. Determination of Equilibrium 

Section 6.1.2 of AMCA 210–16 states 

that ‘‘statistically stable conditions shall 

be established before each [test] 

determination. To test for a stable 

condition, trial observations shall be 

made until steady readings are obtained. 

The range of airflow over which stable 

condition[s] cannot be established shall 

be recorded and reported.’’ Similarly, 

Section 8.1.1 of AMCA 230–15 (with 

errata) specifies that equilibrium 

conditions must be established before 

each measurement, with equilibrium 

achieved once steady readings are 


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obtained. DOE notes that while both 

AMCA 210–16 and AMCA 230–15 

require that steady readings must be 

obtained prior to the start of test, neither 

test standard provides specific variables 

with associated tolerances within which 

equilibrium can be quantified. In order 

to ensure repeatable and reproducible 

results from a test method, it is 

necessary to specify consistent 

requirements for determining when a 

fan is and is not at equilibrium before 

the commencement of testing. It is also 

necessary to specify a time period over 

which equilibrium must be established. 

(a) Air Circulating Fans 

For circulating fans, the AMCA 230 

committee is considering selecting three 

or four values from the options listed in 

Table III–12 for determining equilibrium 

prior to testing, namely: fan speed, 

system input power, barometric 

pressure, and load differential. To verify 

that equilibrium has been achieved, 

readings would need to meet the 

tolerances specified in Table III–12, 

after running the fan for at least 5 

minutes, with measurements taken at 

least every 5 seconds. 

TABLE III–12—EQUILIBRIUM OPTIONS

CONSIDERED BY THE AMCA 230 

COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP

Variable Equilibrium tolerance 

Ambient barometric pressure.±3 percent of mean. 

Extraneous airflow before 

test.

≤50 fpm. 

System input voltage * .... ±2 percent of mean. 

System input power ** .... ±2 percent of mean or 1 

Watt. 

Fan speed ...................... ±1 percent of mean or 1 

rpm. 

Load ................................ ±1 percent of mean. 

Load differential .............. ±1 percent of mean. 

* AMCA 230–15 (with errata) uses the terms system input voltage, electrical input voltage, and voltage interchangeably. 

** AMCA 230–15 (with errata) uses the terms systems input power, electrical input power, and power 

interchangeably to designate the real power (see 

Section 6.3 of AMCA 230–15 (with errata). 

DOE has tentatively determined that 

ambient air density, extraneous airflow 

(i.e., test room ventilation), system input 

voltage, system input current, system 

input power, fan speed, load, and load 

differential will impact test results. 

Therefore, DOE is proposing that 

measurements of these values would 

need to fall within the tolerance 

window listed in Table III–13 prior to 

initiating the test for fans and blowers, 

including air circulating fans. As the 

examples above illustrate, equilibrium 

must be determined from multiple data 

points taken over a specified period of 

time. DOE is proposing that 

measurements for the variables listed in 

Table III–13 would be taken at least 

every 5 seconds over a minimum of 5 

minutes. This timeframe provides a 

minimum of 60 data points from which 

equilibrium can be verified. 

TABLE III–13—PROPOSED TEST VARIABLES AND TOLERANCES FOR DETERMINING EQUILIBRIUM OF AIR CIRCULATING FANS PRIOR TO EACH

FAN TEST

Variable Equilibrium tolerance 

Calculated air density ..... ±1 percent of mean. 

System input voltage ...... ±2 percent of mean. 

System input current ...... ±2 percent of mean. 

System input power ........ ±2 percent of mean or 1 

W, whichever is greater. 

Fan speed ...................... ±1 percent of mean or 1 

rpm, whichever is 

greater. 

Load ................................ ±1 percent of mean. 

Load differential .............. ±1 percent of mean. 

Fan pressure and horsepower, and 

therefore fan efficiency, will vary with 

air density at the fan inlet. Therefore, 

DOE is proposing that air density, as 

determined from dry bulb temperature, 

dew point, and barometric pressure 

measured over at least 5 minutes, would 

remain within one percent of the mean 

air density in order to establish 

equilibrium prior to fan testing. 

DOE’s proposed system input voltage, 

system input current, system input 

power, load, and load differential 

tolerances for evaluating equilibrium are 

two times the equipment accuracy 

tolerances specified in AMCA 230–15. 

Doubling equipment accuracy is a 

typical approach for determining 

reasonable measurement tolerances. 

DOE notes that its proposed tolerances 

for input voltage, input current, load, 

and load differential are identical to 

those discussed by the AMCA 230 

committee working group, as are the 

measurement interval and measurement 

time frame. However, DOE is proposing 

that system input power would also 

include a lower limit on wattage (i.e., ±2 

percent of mean wattage or 1 W). 

Additionally, DOE is proposing that fan 

speed would be within ±1 percent of the 

mean rpm or 1 rpm, whichever is 

highest over at least a 5-minute time 

period in order to establish equilibrium 

prior to testing. DOE recognizes that 

measurements at low airflow tend to be 

variable and this approach provides 

additional tolerance for fans tested at 

lower speeds. 

DOE recognizes that demonstrating 

equilibrium for each of the variables 

listed in Table III–13 of this document 

may not be realistic for all fans. DOE 

may consider prioritizing the variables 

listed in Table III–13 of this document, 

such that equilibrium must always be 

demonstrated for a specific number of 

the highest priority variables. For 

instance, DOE may require that 

equilibrium must be demonstrated for 

more variables at high speed than at low 

speed. Alternately, DOE may consider 

specifying a subset of the variables 

proposed in Table III–13 of this 

document, similar to what has been 

discussed by the AMCA 230 committee. 

Section 8.1.2 of AMCA 230–15 

specifies that the extraneous airflow 

before, during, and after test should not 

exceed 50 fpm and that measurements 

should be taken immediately before and 

after the test to verify that this condition 

is met. DOE agrees that extraneous 

airflow in the test chamber may impact 

test results and should be recorded prior 

to and after the test; however, DOE 

notes that it is unrealistic to conduct 

extraneous airflow measurement during 

testing. Therefore, in addition to the 

maximum extraneous airflow 

requirement of 50 feet per minute 

specified in Section 8.1.2 of AMCA 

230–15, DOE is proposing to measure 

and record extraneous airflow for at 

least one minute prior to establishing 

equilibrium and for at least one minute 

at the conclusion of the test, with 

measurements recorded at a maximum 

of 5 second intervals. A test would be 

considered to be concluded at the 

instant the blades are no longer 

spinning. 

DOE is aware that the revisions 

considered by the AMCA 230 committee 

are subject to change and could further 

be revised in the next version of AMCA 

230. Should the revised version of 

AMCA 230 publish prior to the 

publication of any DOE test procedure 

final rule, DOE intends, after 

considering stakeholder feedback 

received in response to the proposals in 

this document, to revise the provisions 

related to appurtenances in line with 

the latest AMCA 230 standard, provided 

the updates in this standard are 

consistent with the provisions DOE is 

proposing in this NOPR, or the updates 

are related to topics that DOE has 

discussed and for which DOE has 

solicited comments to in this NOPR. 

DOE requests comment on its 

proposal for determining if an air 

circulating fan has reached equilibrium 

prior to initiating testing. Specifically, 

DOE is soliciting comment on the test 

variables and related tolerances that it is 

proposing to incorporate in its 

equilibrium determination. 

Additionally, DOE seeks comment on 

the minimum duration and maximum 

interval over which equilibrium would 

need to be verified. DOE also seeks 

comment on which variables proposed 


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in Table III–13 that, if not stable prior 

to test, would have the greatest impact 

on measured fan performance. Finally, 

DOE requests comment on its proposal 

to specify the time and frequency over 

which extraneous airflow measurements 

would be recorded. 

(b) Fans and Blowers Other Than Air 

Circulating Fans 

Similar to the evaluation described 

previously for air circulating fans, DOE 

reviewed the test chamber and test 

equipment accuracy requirements listed 

in Section 6 of AMCA 210–16. DOE has 

tentatively determined that ambient air 

density, input power (as measured by a 

reaction dynamometer, torque meter, 

calibrated motor, or electrical meter) 

will impact test results. Additionally, 

ascertaining that fan speed is at steady 

state prior to testing is critical for 

ensuring repeatable and reproducible 

fan performance results. Therefore, DOE 

is proposing that measurements of these 

values would need to fall within the 

tolerance window listed in Table III–14 

prior to initiating the test. Equilibrium 

on input power would be required on a 

single input power device. Equivalent to 

the proposal for air circulating fans, 

DOE is proposing that fan system 

equilibrium would need to be verified 

over at least 5 minutes, with 

measurements recorded on each 

variable at a maximum of 5 seconds. 

TABLE III–14: PROPOSED TEST VARIABLES AND TOLERANCES FOR DETERMINING EQUILIBRIUM OF FANS

AND BLOWER OTHER THAN AIR CIRCULATING FANS PRIOR TO EACH

FAN TEST

Variable Equilibrium tolerance 

Ambient air density ......... ±1 percent of mean. 

Input power by reaction 

dynamometer.

±4 percent of mean. 

TABLE III–14: PROPOSED TEST VARIABLES AND TOLERANCES FOR DETERMINING EQUILIBRIUM OF FANS

AND BLOWER OTHER THAN AIR CIRCULATING FANS PRIOR TO EACH

FAN TEST—Continued 

Variable Equilibrium tolerance 

Input power by torque 

meter.

±4 percent of mean. 

Input power by calibrated 

motor.

±4 percent of mean. 

Input power by electrical 

meter.

±2 percent of mean or 1 

W, whichever is greater. 

Fan speed ...................... ±1 percent of mean or 1 

rpm, whichever is 

greater. 

For fans other than circulating fans, 

DOE notes that Section 7.3 of the 2007 

edition of ISO 5801 specified that before 

taking measurements, the fan must be 

run until it reaches steady operation, 

which was described as speed 

fluctuation being no more than ±0.5 

percent of the average speed. While this 

provision is more stringent than DOE’s 

proposal of ±1 percent of the average 

speed measured over at least 5 minutes, 

DOE is proposing tolerances on 

variables in addition to fan speed (as 

listed in Table III–14) to verify that 

equilibrium has been achieved. 

DOE recognizes that demonstrating 

equilibrium for each of the variables 

listed in Table III–14 may not be 

realistic for all fans. DOE may consider 

prioritizing the variables listed in Table 

III–14, such that equilibrium must 

always be demonstrated for a specific 

number of the highest priority variables. 

For instance, DOE may require that 

equilibrium must be demonstrated for 

more variables at high speed than at low 

speed. Alternately, DOE may consider 

specifying a subset of the variables 

proposed in Table III–14, similar to 

what has been discussed in the AMCA 

230 committee working group. 

DOE requests comment on its 

proposal for determining if a fan that is 

not an air circulating fan has reached 

equilibrium prior to initiating testing. 

Specifically, DOE is soliciting comment 

on the test variables and related 

tolerances that it is proposing to 

incorporate in its equilibrium 

determination. Additionally, DOE seeks 

comment on the minimum duration and 

maximum interval over which 

equilibrium would need to be verified. 

Finally, DOE seeks comment on which 

variables proposed in Table III–14 that, 

if not stable prior to test, would have the 

greatest impact on measured fan 

performance. 

16. Test Figures 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata) describes 

the test set-up that can be used to test 

various categories of air circulating fans 

and specifies that air circulating fan 

heads and table fans, which correspond 

to unhoused ACFHs, must be tested 

according to test figures 2A, 2B1, and 

2B2. AMCA 230–15 (with errata) also 

specifies that box fans and personnel 

coolers, which are both housed ACFHs, 

must be tested using test figures 3A and 

3B. The AMCA 230 Committee 

reviewed the existing text figures and is 

considering revising the allowable test 

figures to reflect that housed air 

circulating fans could also be tested 

using test figures 2A, 2B1, and 2B2, and 

unhoused air circulating fans would be 

tested using figures 3A and 3B. 

DOE has tentatively determined that 

test figures 2A, 2B1, 2B2, 3A and 3B are 

appropriate for all air circulating fans. 

As such, DOE is proposing to specify 

that any test figures that are specified in 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata) can be used 

for testing air circulating fans. Table III– 

14 of this document summarizes DOE’s 

proposals for which test set-up would 

be used for each air circulating fan type. 

TABLE III–14—TEST FIGURES IN AMCA 230–15 

[With errata] 

Test figure and description Applicable air circulating fan category in AMCA 230–15 DOE’s proposed applicable 

air circulating fan category 

Test Figure 2A: Horizontal Airflow Setup with Counterweights Pivot Above Test Subject.Air circulating fan heads and table fans ......................... Any air circulating fan. 

Test Figure 2B1: Horizontal Airflow Setup with Load Cell Air circulating fan heads and table fans ......................... Any air circulating fan. 

Test Figure 2B2: Horizontal Airflow Setup with Load Cell 

Pivot Below Test Subject.

Air circulating fan heads and table fans ......................... Any air circulating fan. 

Test Figure 3A: Horizontal Airflow Setup with Load Cell Box Fan and Personnel Cooler ...................................... Any air circulating fan. 

Test Figure 3B: Horizontal Airflow Setup with Load Cell Box Fan and Personnel Cooler ...................................... Any air circulating fan. 

DOE is aware that the revisions being 

considered by the AMCA 230 committee 

are subject to change and could further 

be revised in the next version of AMCA 

230. Should the revised version of 

AMCA 230 publish prior to the 

publication of any DOE test procedure 

final rule, DOE intends, after 

considering stakeholder feedback 

received in response to the proposals in 

this document, to revise the definitions 

in line with the latest AMCA 230 


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80 Data collected on March 22, 2022, included 507 

models of air circulating fans with the following 

information: Manufacturer, Power Supply, Model 

Number, Style (i.e. basket, box, panel, or tube), Size 

(in) (i.e., impeller diameter), Guard configuration, 

Airflow (cfm), Efficacy (cfm/w), Thrust (lbf), Input 

power (kW), Thrust Efficiency ratio (lbf/kW), 5D 

Centerline Velocity (fpm). See bess.illinois.edu. 

81 DOE notes that for housed air centrifugal fans, 

DOE relied on the impeller diameter as a proxy for 

the diameter of the orifice of the housing. 

standard, provided the updates in this 

standard are consistent with the 

definitions DOE is proposing in this 

NOPR or the updates are related to 

topics that DOE has discussed and for 

which DOE has solicited comments in 

this NOPR. 

DOE requests comment on the 

applicability of each test figure in 

AMCA 230–15 to air circulating fans. 

17. Reference Fan Electrical Input 

Power Calculation 

Section 5 of AMCA 214–21 provide 

the equations necessary to calculate the 

reference FEP at a given duty point. The 

reference FEP calculation relies on three 

equations: 

• A reference fan shaft input power 

equation, used to calculate the reference 

fan shaft input power at a given duty 

point. This equation relies on a flow 

constant (Q0, equal to 250) and a 

pressure constant (P0, equal to 0.4), 

which represent how efficiency varies 

as a function of flow and pressure and 

an efficiency target, which was set to 

represent a market reference efficiency 

fan (equal to 0.66 total efficiency target 

or 0.6 static efficiency target, depending 

on the FEI pressure basis). See Section 

5.1 of AMCA 214–21; 

• A reference fan transmission 

efficiency equation, which calculates 

the reference fan transmission as a 

function of the reference shaft input 

power and represents a typical belt 

drive. See Section 5.2 of AMCA 214–21; 

and 

• A reference motor equation as 

described in section III.D.1 of this 

document. 

In response to the February 2022 ECS 

RFI, the CA IOUs encouraged DOE to 

use different flow and pressure 

constants for the FEI for ACFs than 

those that are used in either AMCA 214 

or the Ceiling Fan Energy Index 

(‘‘CFEI’’). They stated the ACFs do not 

operate in ‘‘high-pressure, low airflow’’ 

conditions (for which the coefficients 

developed for the FEI metric in AMCA 

214–21 are most applicable) nor do they 

operate in ‘‘low-pressure, high airflow’’ 

conditions (for which the CFEI metric is 

most applicable). CA IOUs provided 

data showing that the FEI from AMCA 

214–21 favors larger diameter ACFs, 

while the CFEI favors smaller diameter, 

lower airflow ACFs. They further 

encouraged DOE to collaborate with 

industry stakeholders to develop new 

FEI coefficients specifically for ACFs. 

(Docket No. EERE–2022–BT–STD–0002, 

CA IOUs, No. 7 at p. 2–5) 

DOE collected air circulating fan 

performance data from the BESS 

certification database 80 and performed 

the following analysis to determine the 

appropriate flow and pressure constants 

for air circulating fans: (1) DOE used the 

published fan impeller diameter (in) 

and flow (cfm) and the total pressure 

formula discussed in section III.D.10 of 

this document to calculate the total 

pressure 81 of each fan in the database; 

(2) DOE used the published efficacy 

(cfm/W) and airflow (cfm) data to 

calculate the FEP of each fan in the 

database (FEPact); (3) DOE used the 

formulas in Section 5 of AMCA 214–21 

to calculate the reference FEP (FEPref) of 

each fan in the database at its 

corresponding total pressure and flow 

point; and (4) DOE conducted a 

regression analysis using the method of 

least squares to identify the values of 

the flow constant, Q0, pressure constant, 

P0, and efficiency target, which 

minimize the sum of squared difference 

between FEPact and FEPref.. DOE 

obtained the following results: Q0 = 

3,210 (rounded to the nearest 10); P0 = 

0; and an efficiency target of 0.43. Based 

on this analysis, DOE has tentatively 

determined that these constant values 

for flow and pressure constants are 

appropriate for air circulating fans and 

proposes to use the values of Q0 = 3,210 

and P0 = 0 when calculating the FEI of 

air circulating fans as part of the test 

procedure. Should additional data 

become available to justify different 

constants, DOE may consider different 

values of Q0 and P0 for air circulating 

fans. 

Figure III–1 through Figure III–3 show 

air circulating fan performance data 

from the BESS database as well as the 

corresponding reference fan 

performance data calculated using Q0 = 

3,210, P0=0, and an efficiency target of 

0.43. Figure III–3 and Figure III–4 also 

shows the cfm/w index calculated as the 

cfm/w value of the fan divided by the 

average cfm/w value of all fans of the 

same diameter present in the database. 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 44231 


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3.5 

3 

2.5 

i 2 

.Iii: 

ir' 

~ 1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

• 

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 45000 

Airflow (cfm} 

• FEPact (kW) 

@ FEPref (kW) 

Figure 111-1: Fan Electrical Input Power as a Function of Airflow (Qo=3,210; Po=0; 

Efficiency target = 0.43) 

3.5 

3 

2.5 

i 2 

.Iii: 

i:t" 

w 

u.. 1.5 

1 

0.5 

0 

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 

Total Pressure (in wg) 

0.2 0.25 

• FEPact (kW) 

111 FEPref (kW) 

Figure 111-2: Fan Electrical Input Power as a Function of Total Pressure (Qo=3,210; 

Po=0; Efficiency target = 0.43) 
44232 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

82This is a direct result of the analysis which 

looks at minimizing the distance (i.e., the square of 

the difference) between FEPref and FEPact. 

83An efficiency target of 0.66 corresponds to the 

efficiency level 3 (‘‘EL3’’) as analyzed in the 

November 2016 Notice of Data Availability. Based 

on the analysis conducted in support of this NODA 

DOE estimated that 80 percent of fans perform at 

or above EL3 based on information published in the 

life-cycle cost spreadsheet, ‘‘LCC Sample’’ 

worksheet. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, 

LCC Spreadsheet, No. 190, at p. 4, cell AD51–AD58) 

Using an efficiency target of 0.43 

results in a reference fan that performs 

better than approximately 50 percent of 

the market.82 For general fans and 

blowers, the current efficiency target of 

0.66 is estimated to correspond to a fan 

that performs better than approximately 

20 percent of the market.83 In line with 

this approach, DOE has tentatively 

determined that the efficiency target for 

air circulating fans that would 

correspond to a reference fan which 

performs better than 20 percent of the 

market is 0.38. Therefore, DOE proposes 

to use an efficiency target of 0.38 in its 

calculations for determining air 

circulating fan FEI. DOE notes that if 

additional data become available to 


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"': •# 

•• 

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 45000 

Airflow (cfm} 

• CFM/w index 

FEI 

Figure 111-3: FEI and cfm/w index as a Function of Airflow (Qo=3,210; Po=0; 

Efficiency target = 0.43) 

2.5 

II II 

2 'ii 

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0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 

Impeller Diameter (in) 

Figure 111-4: FEI and cfm/w index as a Function of Impeller Diameter (Qo=3,210; 

Po=0; Efficiency target = 0.43) 
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 44233 

justify a different efficiency target, DOE 

may consider a different efficiency 

target for air circulating fans. Figure III– 

5 illustrates the impact of changing the 

efficiency target on the calculated 

reference fan wire-to-air efficiency, 

(‘‘Wire-to-air Efficiency ref’’) in 

comparison to the wire-to-air efficiency 

of actual fans (‘‘Wire-to-air Efficiency 

act’’). 

Figure III–5 shows the reference fan 

cfm/w compared against the cfm/w of 

the actual fans included in the BESS 

database. Below impeller diameters of 

20 inches, DOE notes that most fans in 

the database have a FEI value greater 

than 1 (as illustrated by having higher 

cfm/w values compared to the reference 

fan, this can also be seen on Figure III– 

4 where smaller fan impellers tend to 

have higher FEIs). DOE believes this is 

because most fans with impeller 

diameters at or below 20 inches are 

direct driven, while the reference fan 

always includes belt losses. DOE may 

consider calculating the FEPref value s 

using the same transmission 

configuration as the actual fan being 

evaluated (i.e., include transmission 

losses in the FEPref calculation only for 

fans distributed in commerce with a belt 

transmission). However, DOE has 

tentatively determined that using the 

same reference fan for all fan 

configurations results in a FEI that can 

be compared across transmission 

configurations and that different FEI 

calculations depending on the 

transmission configuration may be 

confusing to the consumer. Therefore, at 

this time, DOE proposes to calculate 

FEPref inclusive of the belt losses. 


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0.45 

0.4 

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0.1 

0.05 

0 

0 10000 20000 30000 

Airflow (cfm) 

40000 

• Wire to Air Efficiency act 

Wire to air efficiency (0.38) 

Wire to air efficiency ref (0.43) 

50000 

Figure 111-5: Wire-to-air Efficiency as Function of Airflow (Qo=3,210; Po=0; 

Efficiency target = 0.43 and 0.38) 
44234 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–C 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed FEI calculation for air 

circulating fans. 

18. Rounding 

As discussed in section III.K, DOE 

presents a sampling plan for 

determining representative values of 

FEI, FEP, and BHP. As discussed, 

AMCA 214–21 provides a method for 

calculating fan performance using the 

FEI metric. However, AMCA 214–21 

does not provide normative rounding 

requirements for FEI. 

DOE notes that the FEI requirement is 

specified to the hundredths place in 

Section 6.5.3.1.3 of ASHRAE 90.1–2019 

(Fan Efficiency). Additionally, the DOE 

energy conservation standard for large 

diameter ceiling fans is the Ceiling Fan 

Energy Index (‘‘CFEI’’), where the CFEI 

metric is calculated according to AMCA 

208–18, is specified to the hundredths 

place (i.e., CFEI must be greater than or 

equal to 1.00 at high speed and 1.31 at 

40 percent speed, or the nearest speed 

that is not less than 40 percent speed). 

10 CFR 430.32. Additionally, Annex I of 

AMCA 214–21 (informative) specifies 

rounding the FEI to the hundredth 

place. 

DOE notes that FEI is the ratio of the 

electric input power of a reference fan 

to the electric input power of the actual 

fan and agrees that rounding FEI to two 

decimal places seems reasonable. 

Therefore, DOE is proposing that 

represented values of FEI would be 

rounded to the hundredths place. For 

consistency, DOE is also proposing that 

represented values for FEP would be 

rounded to the hundredths place. 

Rounding of the inputs to the 

calculation of FEI can impact the 

represented FEI (or FEP value). DOE 

reviewed the provisions related to 

rounding in the ceiling fan test 

procedure, which state that all 

measurements should be recorded at the 

resolution of the test instrumentation 

and that calculations shall be rounded 

to the number of significant digits 

present at the resolution of the test 

instrumentation. Section 3.1.1 of 10 CFR 

part 430 appendix U. 

DOE has tentatively concluded that 

the rounding provisions in section 3.1.1 

of 10 CFR part 430 appendix U are 

reasonable and that recording 

measurements at the resolution of the 

test instrumentation would provide 

sufficient significant digits for 

accurately calculating representative 

values of FEI and FEP. Therefore, DOE 

is proposing that all measurements 

would be recorded at the resolution of 

the test instrumentation and that 

calculations would be rounded to the 

number of significant digits present at 

the resolution of the test 

instrumentation. 

DOE is aware that the AMCA 230 

committee is considering adding 

rounding requirements in the revised 

version of AMCA 230. Should the 

revised version of AMCA 230 publish 

prior to the publication of any DOE test 

procedure final rule, DOE intends, after 

considering stakeholder feedback 

received in response to the proposals in 

this document, to revise the provisions 

related to appurtenances in line with 

the latest AMCA 230 standard, provided 

the updates in this standard are 

consistent with the provisions DOE is 

proposing in this NOPR, or the updates 

are related to topics that DOE has 

discussed and for which DOE has 

solicited comments to in this NOPR. 

DOE requests comment on its 

proposals for rounding represented 

values of FEI and FEP to the hundredths 

place. Additionally, DOE seeks 

comment on its proposal to specify 

rounding requirements for test values 

and calculations that are consistent with 

the resolution of the test 

instrumentation. 

19. Location of Extraneous Airflow 

Measurement 

Section 8.1.2 of AMCA 230–15 (with 

errata) specifies that the air velocity in 

the test room, not generated by the test 

air circulating fan, shall not exceed 0.25 

m/s (50 fpm) prior to, during, and after 

the test. Velocity measurements shall be 

taken immediately before and 

immediately after the test to ensure that 

this condition is met. In addition, 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata) specifies 

the location of the extraneous airflow 

measurement shall be directly under the 

center of the fan at an elevation of 

1701.8 mm (67 in.) above the floor. DOE 

notes that this provision is only 

applicable to fans tested according to 

Figure 1 of AMCA 230–15 (with errata) 

and that there is no location specified 

for extraneous airflow measurement for 

fans tested according to Figures 2A, 

2B1, 2B2, 3A and 3B. 


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40 

• 

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30 

25 

• 

• 

• • 

"""""""""""""""e""""" 

""""".""""""" 

O'----------------------------- 0 20 30 40 50 60 70 

Impeller Diameter (in) 

ecfm/w act 

"ctm/w ref (0.38) 

Figure 111-5: Comparison of cfm/w Metric for Actual Fans vs. cfm/w Metric for 

Reference Fans at the Same Duty Point (Qo=3,210; Po=O; Efficiency target = 0.38) 
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 44235 

84As previously described, a duty point is 

characterized by a given airflow and pressure and 

has a corresponding operating speed. The collection 

of all duty points associated with a given speed is 

referred to as a ‘‘fan curve’’. AMCA 214–21 

provides methods to establish the FEP and FEI at 

any point within the operating range of the fan. 

85See AMCA 205–2010, ‘‘Energy Efficiency 

Classification for Fans’’. 

86 International Green Construction Code (2012); 

ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1, Energy Standard for 

Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings 

(2013); ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES 189.1, Standard 

for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings 

Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (2014); 

International Energy Conservation Code (2015). 

87Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, 

Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, 

Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. 

The AMCA committee is considering 

adding the following provisions to 

specify the location of the extraneous 

airflow measurement and to move these 

provisions from Section 8.1.2 of AMCA 

230–15 (with errata) into each of the 

figures. For figure 1 of AMCA 230–15, 

the location of extraneous airflow 

measurement would be directly under 

the center of the fan at an elevation of 

1.7m (67 in.) above the floor. For figures 

2A, 2B1, 2B2, 3A and 3B, the location 

of extraneous airflow measurement 

should be at the center of the fan at a 

distance of 1.5m (5 ft) downstream of 

the fan impeller. 

DOE agrees that these additional 

specifications are necessary to ensure 

test procedure repeatability, and 

therefore proposes to add these 

additional provisions as considered by 

the AMCA 230 committee. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed location of the extraneous 

airflow measurement for air circulating 

fans. 

20. Run-In Requirements 

Section 7.4 of AMCA 214–21 specifies 

that all fans shall be run-in for not less 

than fifteen minutes prior to the 

commencement of data collection. The 

AMCA 230 committee is considering 

adding similar requirements for air 

circulating fans. DOE proposes that the 

minimum run-in requirement of 15 

minutes for fans and blowers be applied 

to air circulating fans. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed run-in requirements. 

21. Transducer Type Barometers 

Section 6.5.2.1 of AMCA 230–15 

(with errata) specifies that transducer 

type barometers shall be calibrated for 

each test. The AMCA 230 committee is 

considering removing this requirement 

from the revised version. DOE is also 

considering not including this 

requirement as it may be sufficient to 

require that the barometer be calibrated 

against a mercury column barometer 

with a calibration that is traceable to the 

National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (‘‘NIST’’) or other national 

physical measures recognized as 

equivalent by NIST, without having to 

repeat calibration before each test. 

DOE requests comment on whether 

the requirement to calibrate transducer 

type barometers for each test is 

necessary or should be removed for air 

circulating fans. 

E. Distinguishing Between Fans and 

Blower and Air Circulating Fans 

In response to the February 2022 ECS 

RFI, ebm-papst supported the use of the 

thrust-test method described in AMCA 

230 to test ACFs without a housing. 

They also stated that either AMCA 210 

or AMCA 230 test methods could be 

used for ACFs with housing. (Docket 

No. EERE–2022–BT–STD–0002, ebmpapst, No. 8 at p. 1) 

Some manufacturers offer the same 

fan model with different mounting 

configurations. Depending on the 

mounting configuration, the same fan 

could either meet the definition of a fan 

tested per AMCA 210–15 or meet the 

definition of an air circulating fan and 

be tested per AMCA 230–15. DOE 

identified that air circulating fans with 

housing (i.e., axial panel air circulating 

fans and box fans) can also be 

distributed in commerce as with 

brackets for mounting through a wall, 

ceiling, or other structure that separates 

the fan’s inlet for its outlet and 

marketed as ‘‘exhaust fans’’. In this case, 

DOE agrees with ebm-papst that these 

fans would be tested per AMCA 210–16 

as they would meet the definition of an 

axial panel fan. Manufacturers who 

distribute these fans in commerce in 

both configurations and market the fans 

both for air circulation and exhaust 

applications typically test the fan using 

both AMCA 230–15 (with errata) and 

AMCA 210–16. 

DOE is proposing that fan models that 

meet both the definition of an axial 

panel fan and the definition of an air 

circulating fan (i.e., axial air circulating 

panel fan, box fan, or ACFH) depending 

on the presence or absence of brackets 

for mounting through a wall, ceiling, or 

other structure that separates the fan’s 

inlet from its outlet be tested according 

to both the proposed test procedures for 

fans and blowers, excluding air 

circulating fans, and the proposed test 

procedure for air circulating fans. 

DOE requests comment on its 

proposal that fans that meet the 

definition of both an axial panel fan and 

the definition of an air circulating fan 

because of the presence or absence of 

brackets for mounting through a 

structure that separates a fan’s inlet 

from its outlet be tested both as a fan 

and blower and as an air circulating fan. 

F. Metric 

AMCA 214–21 provides uniform 

methods to determine the FEP and FEI 

of a fan at a given duty point.84 As 

explained, FEP describes the electrical 

input power of a fan in kilowatts. 

AMCA 214–21 defines FEI as the ratio 

of the electrical input power of a 

reference fan to the electrical input 

power of the actual fan for which the 

FEI is calculated, both established at the 

same duty point. As stated, FEI is a 

dimensionless index for evaluating a 

fan’s performance against a reference 

fan. Section 5 of AMCA 214–21 

provides the equations to calculate the 

reference fan electrical input power as 

a function of airflow and pressure. 

For fans other than circulating fans, 

the Working Group recommended using 

FEP as the primary fan metric and to 

allow using FEI for additional 

representation of energy use. The 

Working Group also recommended 

calculating FEI using the FEP of a fan 

that is exactly compliant with any 

future fan energy conservation 

standards. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT– 

STD–0006, No. 179, Recommendation 

#6, at p. 5). The Working Group further 

recommended that the metric be 

evaluated at each operating point as 

specified by the manufacturer. (Docket 

No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 

179, Recommendations #18, #27, at pp. 

10–11, 13–14). Under this approach, for 

each basic model of fan, a manufacturer 

would have to determine the FEP of the 

fan at each operating point. 

As discussed, FEG is another 

efficiency metric developed for fans 

other than air circulating fans. FEG is a 

numerical rating that represents the 

ratio of airpower produced by the fan 

divided by the fan shaft power, as a 

function of fan impeller diameter.85 As 

stated by the petitioners, starting in 

2012, FEG was used in model energy 

codes and standards 86 to establish fan 

efficiency requirements, which were 

subsequently adopted by at least 12 

State energy codes.87 (Docket No. EERE– 

2020–BT–PET–0003, The Petitioners, 

No. 1.3., at p. 2, 4) Following the 

recommendations of the Working 

Group, AMCA developed the metrics 

FEP and FEI as a replacement for FEG. 

The Petitioners stated that, compared 

with FEG, FEI is a wire-to-air metric for 

fans. The Petitioners also commented 

that the FEI metric allows fan specifiers 

and purchasers to easily compare the 

power consumption of multiple fans, 

including motor and drive 

combinations. Petitioners stated that 


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44236 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

88AMCA listed the following in its comment: 

ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1–2019, Energy Standard for 

Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings; 

ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES 189.1–2020, 

Standard for the Design of High-Performance; Green 

Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings; 

2021 International Energy Conservation Code; 2021 

International Green Construction Code; 2020 

Florida Building Code: Energy Conservation; 2021 

Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code; 2022 

California Building Energy Efficiency Standards 

(Title 24). 

using FEI would facilitate simpler 

enforcement by code officials because 

FEI ratings are easy to compare to 

potential minimum code requirements. 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

The Petitioners, No. 1.3 at p. 3) 

In response to the April 2020 Notice 

of Petition, CTI commented that FEI is 

a new metric and questioned its 

longevity as a basis for Federal 

regulation. CTI commented that AMCA 

previously advocated for FEG in 

ASHRAE 90.1 and is now advocating for 

FEI. CTI commented that the use of FEI 

in ASHRAE 90.1–2019 will help assess 

the usability and application of this 

metric. (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT– 

PET–0003, CTI, No. 11 at p. 3) 

NEEA and NWPCC commented in 

support of the FEI metric. NEEA and 

NWPCC stated that the FEI, which is 

established at any given duty point, can 

be used to compare the energy 

consumption of different fans operating 

at the same design conditions. NEEA 

and NWPCC commented that the FEI 

metric provides a straightforward way 

for designers to evaluate the relative 

power consumption of different fans 

and would drive the market to select 

more efficient fans through providing 

consistent, actionable information to 

designers. (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT– 

PET–0003, NEEA and NWPCC, No. 12 at 

p. 2) 

ASAP, ACEEE, and NRDC and 

Greenheck commented that a DOE test 

procedure based on AMCA 214 would 

provide the basis to assist customers 

and designers in making purchasing 

decisions and save energy by informing 

design decisions. (Docket No. EERE– 

2020–BT–PET–0003, ASAP, ACEEE, 

NRDC, No. 7 at p. 1; Greenheck, No. 6.2. 

at p. 1). ASAP, ACEEE, and NRDC 

stated that AMCA 214 provides methods 

to establish FEI ratings across the entire 

operating range of a fan model, which 

can improve fan selection and deliver 

large energy and cost savings. ASAP, 

ACEEE, and NRDC commented that the 

FEI metric provides a simple way to 

evaluate the relative power 

consumption of potential fans at a 

customer’s design point. (Docket No. 

EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, ASAP, 

ACEEE, NRDC, No. 7 at p. 1) 

Johnson Controls commented in 

support of a transition from FEG to FEI 

for fans in airside applications (i.e., 

applications where the primary purpose 

of equipment is to deliver airflow to a 

space, and where the energy efficiency 

of the fan operation is the primary 

driver of performance). Johnson 

Controls commented that using FEI for 

the representation of fan efficiency in 

airside applications will help 

consumers better understand the energy 

performance of a fan based on the 

expected airflow and pressure at the 

point of design. (Docket No. EERE– 

2020–BT–PET–0003, Johnson Controls, 

No. 10 at p. 1) 

In the October 2021 RFI, DOE 

requested feedback on the metrics used 

in AMCA 230–15 and AMCA 214–21, 

particularly in the context of air 

circulating fans, including ACFHs. 86 

FR 54412, 54415. 

AHRI commented that ACFHs are 

standalone fans, with performance 

testing established appropriately using 

AMCA 230–15 and a FEI metric 

calculated using AMCA 214–21. (AHRI, 

No. 10 at p. 2) 

AMCA reiterated its support for the 

use of FEI as the regulatory metric over 

FEP and as the metric for representation 

for fans and blowers, including air 

circulating fans. AMCA commented that 

FEI is preferred over FEP because FEI is 

a comprehensive ratio that already has 

duty-point dependent reference power 

embedded. FEI lends itself as a practical 

efficiency metric for setting a fan energy 

standard. FEP, is variable, depending on 

flow and other parameters. FEI, 

therefore, would be a more stable 

compliance metric. AMCA added that 

FEI has become the norm for AMCA 

certification and industry practice and 

has been adopted into model energy 

codes and standards and is used in state 

energy codes.88 AMCA added that FEI is 

also being used as the metric for utility 

incentive programs presently offered or 

under development. (AMCA, No. 6 at p. 

9) AMCA also recommended that DOE 

allow representation of intermediate 

data used to determine FEI, if those 

values were calculated using data from 

physical tests in accordance with the 

DOE test procedure, i.e., FEP, W; 

Airflow, cfm; Efficacy, cfm/W; and 

Thrust efficiency ratio, lbf/kW. (AMCA, 

No. 6 at p. 9) 

ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC support using 

FEI as the efficiency metric for air 

circulating fans. ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC 

commented that the FEI is both 

representative of energy usage and 

straightforward for purchasers to 

interpret. ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC 

commented that FEI accounts for 

inherent efficiency differences between 

fans of the same diameter that deliver 

different airflows. ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC 

also stated that using FEI for air 

circulating fans would also provide 

consistency with other commercial and 

industrial fan types subject to any future 

DOE standards. Moreover, ASAP, 

ACEEE, NRDC commented that FEI is 

intuitive and easy to understand for 

informing purchase decisions and 

provided the example that a FEI of 1.1 

represents 10% energy savings over a 

FEI of 1. ASAP, ACEEE, NRDC also 

stated that FEI is similar to the Pump 

Energy Index for pumps. (ASAP, 

ACEEE, NRDC, No. 7 at p. 2) 

NEEA agreed with AMCA in 

preferring the use of FEI over FEP for 

Federal efficiency standards. NEEA 

commented that FEI is a metric the 

market is already beginning to align to, 

and an additional efficiency metric 

could confuse the market. NEEA 

commented that the industry has begun 

to transition away from Fan Efficiency 

Grade (FEG) to FEI, encouraged by the 

inclusion of FEI in model energy codes 

(including ASHRAE 90.1–2019 and the 

2021 Oregon Energy Efficiency 

Specialty Code). NEEA stated that 

consistency in the metric used to 

calculate efficiency will expedite 

adoption of efficient equipment and 

make opportunities for incentive 

programs more readily available to the 

market. NEEA is not opposed to the use 

of FEP as an intermediary metric to 

determine FEI, but recommends that 

DOE align with the market’s momentum 

toward FEI to create industry alignment 

around the definition of fan efficiency. 

(NEEA, No. 11 at p. 3) 

The CA IOUs recommended that DOE 

use the FEI metric from AMCA 214–21 

for ACFHs. The CA IOUs commented 

that FEP is not an efficiency metric, but 

rather a measurement of the fan’s input 

power, taking motor, motor controller, 

and transmission losses into account. 

The CA IOUs asserted that FEI, which 

is a ratio of the product’s FEP to the 

electrical input power of a reference fan, 

is a more appropriate metric for these 

products. The CA IOUs stated that FEI 

also accounts for the air velocity 

generated by the fan, which is an 

important consideration for ACFHs 

since one of the primary requirements of 

an ACFH is to deliver a focused 

airstream at a moderate to high velocity. 

Additionally, the CA IOUs commented 

that FEI has become the default metric 

for fans in building codes and incentive 

programs. The CA IOUs stated that FEI 

is the efficiency metric used in ASHRAE 

90.1, IECC, and the California Energy 

Code. The CA IOUs added that since 

FEP and ACFH airflow in cubic feet per 

minute is needed to calculate overall 

efficiency and efficacy per AMCA 230– 


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89See Proposed regulatory language for 

Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers 

available in the following Docket: 22–AAER–01 at: 

efiling.energy.ca.gov/Lists/ 

DocketLog.aspx?docketnumber=22-AAER-01. 

90ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1–2019, Energy 

Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential 

Buildings; ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES 189.1– 

2020, Standard for the Design of High-Performance; 

Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential 

Buildings; 2021 International Energy Conservation 

Code; 2021 International Green Construction Code; 

2020 Florida Building Code: Energy Conservation; 

2021 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code; 

2022 California Building Energy Efficiency 

Standards (Title 24); incentive programs presently 

offered or under development by Seattle City Light, 

ComEd, and Xcel Energy. See AMCA FEI Advocacy 

Brief available at: www.amca.org/assets/resources/ 

public/assets/uploads/0621-FEI_Advocacy_Brief_

V3-20210715.pdf. 

91See AMCA whitepaper available at 

www.amca.org/assets/resources/public/userfiles/ 

file/Nospreads_FanEfficGrades.pdf. 

92Average velocity of air emerging from an outlet 

measured in the plane of the outlet. 

93All documents related to this rulemaking can 

be found in the rulemaking Docket 22–AAER–01 

accessible at: www.energy.ca.gov/rules-andregulations/appliance-efficiency-regulations-title20/appliance-efficiency-proceedings-11. See Joint 

AMCA, AHRI and NEEA comments at https://

efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.

aspx?tn=242893&DocumentContentId=76471 (p. 

20) and CA IOUs comments at: https://efiling.

energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?tn=

242904&DocumentContentId=76485 (p.7). 

94See Joint AMCA, AHRI and NEEA comments at 

https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?

tn=242893&DocumentContentId=76471 (p. 20). 

95See CA IOUs comments at: https://efiling.

energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?

tn=242904&DocumentContentId=76485 (p.7). 

96See Joint AMCA, AHRI and NEEA comments at 

https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?

tn=242893&DocumentContentId=76471 (p. 20). 

15, testing labs and manufacturers can 

still report those metrics in their 

product literature without additional 

burden. (CA IOUs, No. 9 at p. 2) 

In response to the February 2022 ECS 

RFI, ebm papst suggested using a metric 

that distinguishes air circulating fans 

with exceptional air velocity from air 

circulating fans with exceptional wireto-air efficiency because of the 

importance of air velocity when 

selecting an air circulating fans. (ebmpapst, No. 8 at p. 3) 

In its proposed regulation, the CEC is 

proposing to use the FEI metric for fans 

and blowers.89 Since the publication of 

the term sheet and of AMCA 214–21, a 

number of incentive programs and 

model energy codes and standards used 

in state energy codes rely on the FEI 

metric.90

As noted, FEG is a numerical rating 

that represents the ratio of airpower 

produced by the fan divided by the fan 

shaft power and is defined as a function 

of fan impeller diameter. FEG ratings are 

defined in discrete ‘‘bands’’ (e.g., FEG 

85, FEG 80, FEG 75, etc.) and are 

established in accordance with AMCA 

205–12, ‘‘Energy Efficiency 

Classification for Fans’’.91 To determine 

FEG, a fan is tested to measure its 

maximum bare-shaft fan efficiency (i.e., 

peak efficiency). The FEG rating is 

determined by plotting the measured 

peak efficiency versus the fan impeller 

diameter, then reading the associated 

FEG band in which this point falls. 

Fans can operate over a wide range of 

speed, pressure, and airflow, and the fan 

bare-shaft efficiency can vary greatly 

over this range. As defined in AMCA 

205–12, the FEG rating is representative 

of only the maximum efficiency of the 

fan. As a result, depending on the actual 

operating conditions, a fan with a higher 

peak efficiency and FEG rating could 

consume more energy in a particular 

application than a fan with a lower peak 

efficiency and FEG rating. In addition, 

the FEG metric does not capture the 

performance of the motor, transmission, 

or motor controllers and does not 

differentiate among fans with motors, 

transmissions, and motor controllers 

with differing efficiency levels. 

AMCA 230–15 provides methods to 

determine FEP of air circulating fans as 

well as efficacy (i.e., amount of flow per 

unit of electrical input power produced 

in cfm/W) and overall efficiency (i.e., 

amount of thrust per unit of electrical 

input power produced in lbf/W). While 

AMCA 230–15 provides methods to 

determine several metrics associated to 

air circulating fan performance, AMCA 

214–21 relies on the FEP and FEI 

metrics (‘‘wire-to-air metrics) for air 

circulating fans. In addition, FEI 

accounts for air velocity 92 as it relies on 

the calculation of the reference fan FEP 

(FEPref) as a function of flow and total 

pressure (which is equal to velocity 

pressure for air circulating fans) and 

allows comparing the wire-to-air 

performance of fans at different air 

velocities. 

Based on the discussion in the 

preceding paragraphs, DOE proposes to 

apply FEI as the efficiency metric for 

fans and blowers. As discussed, FEI 

would provide for evaluation of the 

efficiency of a fan or blower across a 

range of operating conditions, would 

capture the performances of the motor, 

transmission, or motor controllers (if 

any), and would allow for the 

differentiation of fans with motors, 

transmissions, and motor controllers 

with differing efficiency levels. Also as 

discussed, use of FEI would align with 

the industry test standard (AMCA 214– 

21) and drive better fan selections. In 

addition, DOE proposes to establish the 

FEI differently for fans and blowers 

other than air circulating fans, and for 

air circulating fans as described in 

section III.F.1 and section III.F.2 of this 

document. 

1. FEI Determination for Fans and 

Blowers Other Than Air Circulating 

Fans 

For fans and blowers that are not air 

circulating fans, considering their wide 

range of application, DOE proposes that 

fan FEI would be evaluated in 

accordance with the DOE proposed test 

procedure at each of the fan’s operating 

points within the range of airpower and 

shaft input power proposed in scope 

(i.e., at each duty point, as specified by 

the manufacturer within the range of 

airpower and shaft input power 

proposed in scope). This approach is 

consistent with the term sheet 

recommendations and would require 

the determination of the FEI at each 

duty point as specified by the 

manufacturer. With this approach, the 

test procedure would not prescribe 

particular operating conditions at which 

the FEI is to be evaluated in order to 

calculate the FEI metric, instead, the FEI 

is determined at each duty point. 

Further, if DOE were to establish any 

potential energy conservation standards, 

compliance with that standard would be 

required at each duty point specified by 

the manufacturer within the range of 

airpower and shaft input power 

proposed in scope (i.e., operating range 

or ‘‘bubble’’), and for which the 

manufacturer publishes performance 

data. See discussion in section III.L. of 

this document. 

DOE notes several stakeholders 

(AMCA, AHRI, NEEA, and the CA IOUs) 

submitted comments related to this 

approach as part of the CEC proposed 

rulemaking docket.93 AMCA, AHRI, 

NEEA, and the CA IOUs recommended 

that manufacturers be able to publish 

performance data for duty points where 

the FEI is non-compliant (i.e., FEI < 1 

in the case of the CEC proposed 

regulation) and explained that 

performance data across the entire fan 

operating range is needed for designing 

or troubleshooting fan system 

problem.94 The CA IOUs suggested that 

manufacturers be allowed to publish fan 

performance data in marketing or 

catalogs materials, but clearly indicate 

inefficient values that are outside the 

FEI ≥1.0 bubble.95 AMCA, AHRI and 

NEEA jointly commented that a 

regulation should not prohibit, but 

rather distinguish duty points that meet 

the California Standards and duty 

points that don’t.96

In view of these comments, DOE is 

considering to require calculating a 

weighted-average FEI (‘‘WFEI’’) based 

on the FEI at a limited number of 


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97The BEP represents the flow and pressure 

values at which the fan total efficiency (ratio of total 

airpower to fan shaft input power) is maximized 

when operating a given speed. Prior to the use of 

FEI, energy codes required selecting a fan with an 

efficiency within 10–15 percentage points of the 

BEP efficiency. See International Green 

Construction Code (2012); ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1, 

Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise 

Residential Buildings (2013); ANSI/ASHRAE/ 

USGBC/IES 189.1, Standard for the Design of HighPerformance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise 

Residential Buildings (2014); International Energy 

Conservation Code (2015). 

98A fan curve represents the flow and pressure 

duty points of a fan at a given speed. 

99See section 6.3 of AMCA 201–02: AMCA. 

(2002). Fans and systems. AMCA Publication 201. 

Arlington Heights, IL: Air Movement and Control 

Association International. Available at 

www.amca.org/assets/resources/public/pdf/ 

Education%20Modules/AMCA%20201- 

02%20(R2011).pdf. 

representative duty points instead of 

having the FEI metric evaluated at each 

duty point as proposed. With such 

approach, if DOE were to establish 

energy conservation standards, 

compliance would be based on the 

weighted-average FEI of a given basic 

model, and manufacturers would be 

allowed to publish performance 

information at all duty points. DOE has 

tentatively determined that while some 

fans can operate at different speeds, the 

FEI generally increases (i.e., performs 

better) as the speed of the fan decreases. 

Therefore, DOE is considering requiring 

manufacturers calculate a weightedaverage FEI based on operating points at 

maximum speed. This would ensure 

that the fan will perform with an FEI 

that is equal to or greater than the FEI 

at maximum speed. In addition, endusers have been encouraged to select 

and operate the fan near a fan’s best 

efficiency point (BEP),97 therefore, DOE 

is considering using the BEP at 

maximum speed as a reference duty 

point and to require calculating the 

weighted average FEI using the duty 

points specified as described in the 

remainder of this section, depending on 

the fan’s speed capability and motor 

configuration. In the absence of fan field 

operating data, DOE is considering 

equally weighting these duty points. 

For fans without motors or controls: 

DOE is considering requiring that the 

weighted-average FEI be calculated at 

maximum speed and using the 

following duty points: 100 percent of 

BEP flow, 75 percent of BEP flow, and 

50 percent of BEP flow. All flow points 

would be on the same fan curve 98 at the 

fan’s maximum operating speed. 

For single-speed fans (i.e., fans with a 

single-speed motor), DOE is considering 

to require that the weighted-average FEI 

be calculated at the single available 

speed and using the following operating 

points: 100 percent of BEP flow, 75 

percent of BEP flow, and 50 percent of 

BEP flow. All flow points would be on 

the same fan curve at the same single 

available operating speed. 

For variable-speed fans that can 

continuously adjust their operating 

speeds (i.e., fans with a variable-speed 

motor), DOE is considering to require 

that the weighted-average FEI be 

calculated at the following points: 100 

percent of BEP flow at maximum speed, 

75 percent of BEP flow, and 50 percent 

of BEP flow. However, in this case the 

reduced BEP flow points would be 

achieved by reducing the fan’s operating 

speed and following a quadratic system 

curve, rather than following the fan 

curve at maximum speed to achieve the 

desired flow point. The system curve 

represents the system’s resistance 

(pressure) at various flows and is often 

represented by a curve where the 

pressure varies as the square of the flow 

ratios.99

For multi-speed fans (i.e., fans with a 

multi-speed motor capable of operating 

at different discrete speeds): DOE is also 

considering requiring that the weightedaverage FEI be calculated at the 

following points: 100 percent of BEP 

flow at maximum speed, 75 percent of 

BEP flow, and 50 percent of BEP flow. 

In this case, similar to variable speed 

fans, the reduced BEP flow points 

would be achieved by reducing the fan’s 

operating speed (For multi-speed fans, 

the speed options are limited). 

Therefore, in this case the manufacturer 

would not be able to continuously 

reduce speed until the required flow is 

achieved. Instead, DOE is considering 

an approach where the manufacturer 

would be required to achieve the 

reduced BEP flow points by reducing 

speed and increasing pressure (i.e., 

moving along the fan curve at reduced 

speeds). In addition, DOE is considering 

requiring that the pressure at the 

reduced BEP flow point be greater than 

the pressure on the reference system 

curve. 

In addition, DOE notes that for fans 

tested wire-to-air, it is not possible to 

determine the BEP as a ratio of air 

power to shaft input power as the fan 

shaft input power is not measured 

directly. Therefore, when applying a 

wire-to-air test method, DOE is 

considering establishing the BEP as the 

point that maximizes the fan’s wire-toair efficiency. 

DOE requests comment on the 

appropriate metric to use for fans and 

blowers other than air circulating fans. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed FEI metric determined in 

accordance with the proposed test 

procedure, and on whether any changes 

are necessary to provide for more 

representative energy efficiency ratings. 

If changes are suggested, DOE seeks 

input on how the proposed FEI metric 

should be amended and why, and on 

any other metrics that would be more 

appropriate. If changes or alternate 

metrics are suggested, DOE requests 

information on the impact to testing cost 

as compared to the proposed use of FEI. 

DOE requests comments on the 

alternative approach considered to 

establish a weighted average FEI metric 

for fans and blowers other than air 

circulating fans. DOE requests 

comments on the appropriate reference 

system curve to use in the case of 

variable-speed fans to standardize the 

calculation of the reduced BEP flow 

operating points. 

2. FEI Determination for Air Circulating 

Fans 

For air circulating fans, to account for 

variations in fan speeds, DOE proposes 

the following, depending on the air 

circulating fan’s speed capability: for 

single speed fans, DOE proposes that the 

FEI be evaluated at the single available 

speed and corresponding duty point. 

For multi-speed fans and variable speed 

fans, in the absence of data to 

characterize typical operating speeds, 

DOE proposes to calculate the FEI based 

on the weighted average FEI at each of 

the tested fan speeds, and that each 

speed be apportioned an equal weight. 

(e.g., if the FEI is calculated at five 

speeds, each speed is given 20 percent 

in the calculation of the weighted 

average FEI). DOE has tentatively 

determined that while DOE has not 

found data to characterize the field 

operating speeds of air circulating fans, 

a more representative FEI can be 

calculated by using a weighted-average 

across multiple speeds and weighting 

all those speeds equally (when 

compared to calculating the efficiency at 

only high speed). DOE notes that it 

would still allow manufacturers to make 

representations of performance using 

cfm/w if a manufacturer desires to do 

so. In addition, to differentiate the 

proposed FEI for air circulating fans 

(i.e., based on Q0=3,210 and P0=0, and 

an efficiency target of 0.38—See section 

III.D.17 of this document) from the FEI 

as it applies to fans and blowers that are 

not air circulating fans (i.e., based on 

Q0= 250 and P0=0.4, and an efficiency 

target of 0.66 for fans with a total 

pressure basis—See section III.D.17 of 

this document) and from the CFEI as it 

applies to ceiling fans, DOE is 

considering using the term ‘‘Air 

Circulating Fan FEI’’ or ‘‘ACFEI’’. 

DOE is aware that the AMCA 230 

committee may consider specifying 


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100 DOE identified that fans used in agricultural 

applications (‘‘agricultural fans’’) include PRVs 

(tested per AMCA 214–21, referencing AMCA 210– 

16) axial panel fans (tested per AMCA 214–21, 

referencing AMCA 210–16) and air circulating fans 

(tested per AMCA 214–21, referencing AMCA 230– 

15). Grave’s comment focuses on agricultural fans 

that are PRVs. 

101BESS Lab publishes test results for agricultural 

fans and provides the values of cfm/watt at different 

duty points expressed in static pressure, speed, and 

airflow. Based on these results, the electrical input 

power of a fan in kilowatts (same metric as the FEP) 

can be converted to cfm/watt by dividing the 

airflow by 1000 at a given duty point. This is 

similar to the results of an AMCA 214–21 test 

which provides the FEP in kilowatts at a given 

airflow, static pressure, and speed (the ratio of the 

airflow and FEP, divided by 1000 would provide 

the cfm/watts metric). See for example: https://

bess.illinois.edu/pdf/00110.pdf. 

which metric to use in AMCA 230–22 

when evaluating the energy 

performance of air circulating fans. 

While this NOPR proposes to rely on 

FEI, DOE is considering alternative 

metrics such as cfm/w including 

weighted average cfm/w for multi- and 

variable-speed fans), as well as 

alternative weights for multi- and 

variable-speed fans. 

DOE requests comment on the 

appropriate metric to use for air 

circulating fans. 

DOE requests comment on the 

proposed FEI metric determined in 

accordance with the proposed test 

procedure, and on whether any changes 

are necessary to provide for more 

representative energy efficiency ratings. 

If changes are suggested, DOE seeks 

input on how the proposed FEI metric 

should be amended and why, and on 

any other metrics that would be more 

appropriate. Specifically, for air 

circulating fans, DOE requests comment 

on the proposed use of the FEI metric 

determined in accordance with the test 

procedure as proposed and if DOE 

should consider other performance 

metrics as measured by AMCA 230–15, 

or different weights. If changes or 

alternate metrics are suggested, DOE 

requests information on the impact to 

testing cost as compared to the proposed 

use of FEI. 

DOE requests comments on whether 

to use a different acronym to designate 

the FEI of air circulating fans (‘‘ACFEI’’). 

G. Efficiency Considerations for Certain 

Unducted Fans 

As proposed, depending on the fan 

category, the reference FEP would be 

calculated based on total pressure as 

opposed to static pressure. See Table 

III–9 of this document. As discussed, 

the reference FEP would be used to 

calculate the FEI value. 

An individual commenter opposed 

the use of the FEI metric, stating that the 

FEI disadvantages non-ducted fans, in 

particular, wall fans and PRVs, which 

are tested in AMCA 214 based on static 

pressure. Graves stated that such fans 

are penalized unfairly by excluding the 

velocity pressure component in the 

calculation of FEI. Graves asserted that 

wall fans and PRVs would have a higher 

measured efficiency if total pressure 

rather than static pressure was used in 

the calculation of FEI. (Docket No. 

EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, Graves, No. 

4 at p. 1) 

Graves stated that for certain nonducted fans, the outlet velocity pressure 

is a useful fan output, citing the 

following examples: poultry houses, 

which require a minimum of 600 feet 

per minute of air velocity; dairy 

installations, in which air movement 

contributes to greater milk production; 

paint shops, which use PRVs to filter 

the exhausted air from the paint booth; 

and restaurant PRVs, which extract heat 

from the kitchen and filter the supply 

air. (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET– 

0003, Graves, No. 4 at p. 1). Graves 

recommended testing agricultural 

fans 100 with the metric relied on by the 

BESS Lab at the University of Illinois, 

which uses a cubic feet per minute per 

watt (‘‘cfm/watt’’) metric. (Docket No. 

EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, Graves, No. 

4 at p. 3). 

To reflect typical usage conditions, 

AMCA 214–21 specifies whether testing 

is required to be conducted with a 

ducted outlet (i.e., measuring total 

pressure) or a free outlet (i.e., measuring 

static pressure) for each defined fan 

category (See Table III–9). For certain 

categories required to be tested with a 

ducted outlet, AMCA 214–21 defines an 

optional test that can be performed with 

a free outlet. For axial panel fans (i.e., 

‘‘wall fans’’) and axial PRV fans, AMCA 

214–21 requires testing with a free 

outlet (i.e., measuring static pressure), 

but does not define an optional test with 

a ducted outlet. 

AMCA commented that the FEI 

calculations submitted by Graves were 

based on an older methodology. (Docket 

No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, AMCA, 

No. 13 at p. 1). AMCA commented that 

the velocity pressure at the fan’s outlet 

is not the same as the velocity pressure 

created by the air moving inside the 

building, and that the two are only 

tangentially related. AMCA described 

an example illustrating that two 

different rooftop fans—one larger fan 

with an outlet velocity of 500 FPM and 

an airflow of 1,000 cfm, and one smaller 

fan with an outlet velocity of 750 FPM 

and the same airflow of 1,000 cfm— 

would both result in the same air 

velocity inside the building; however, 

the smaller fan’s efficiency would be 

lower, and it would consume more 

energy than the larger fan with lower 

outlet velocity. (Docket No. EERE–2020– 

BT–PET–0003, AMCA, No. 13 at pp. 1– 

2). 

AMCA stated that FEI is calculated 

using a lower reference fan efficiency 

for unducted fans than for ducted fans 

(0.60 vs. 0.66, respectively), which it 

described as providing a 6 percent 

efficiency ‘‘grace’’ for unducted fans. 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

AMCA, No. 13 at p. 2). 

AMCA also commented that BESS 

Lab uses static pressure as a basis for the 

cfm/watt metric and that manufacturers 

of agricultural fans include performance 

data in catalogs using static pressure. 

AMCA further commented that the cfm/ 

watt metric is similar to the FEI metric, 

and that the results of the BESS Lab test 

could be used to calculate FEI.101

According to AMCA, all the agricultural 

exhaust fans listed on the BESS Lab 

website have an FEI of at least 1.00. 

(Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, 

AMCA, No. 13 at pp. 2–3). 

AMCA further commented that the 

metric of cfm/watt is a simple metric 

that was appropriate for agricultural 

exhaust fans because these fans are 

almost always applied at the same 

pressure (0.10 in. wg. of static pressure). 

However, AMCA stated that PRVs, 

which have similar applications to 

agricultural exhaust fans, can be applied 

at much higher pressures in other 

applications. Accordingly, a metric of 

cfm/watt evaluated at a single pressure 

and airflow can no longer be used for 

evaluation because the cfm/watt of a fan 

applied at a higher pressure would be 

much less than the cfm/watt at a lower 

pressure. (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT– 

PET–0003, AMCA, No. 13 at pp. 2–3). 

AMCA commented that the choice to 

calculate FEI using either static or total 

pressure depending on fan category was 

recommended by the Working Group, 

which included a mix of stakeholders, 

including manufacturers of unducted 

fans. (Docket No. EERE–2020–BT–PET– 

0003, AMCA, No. 13 at p. 2). 

In response to the October 2021 RFI, 

Morrison commented that air circulating 

fan heads (‘‘ACFHs’’) are different from 

other fans intended to be hooked up to 

ducts and should be evaluated 

differently. Morrison commented that 

an efficacy metric, such as that used by 

the BESS Lab (cfm/watt), would be 

appropriate. (Morrison, No. 8 at p. 1) 

DOE reviewed the metric used by 

BESS Lab for reporting test results for 

agricultural fans. Although BESS Lab 

relies on a cfm/watt metric, the 

measured values are the same as those 

measured by a wire-to-air test in 


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102Comments from BESS Lab to the CEC process 

indicate that they Lab tests rely on AMCA 210–16 

with modifications as noted in American Society of 

Agricultural and Biological Engineers (‘‘ASABE’’)/ 

S565 Oct2005 Agricultural Ventilation Constant 

Speed Fan Test Standard or on AMCA 230–15. See 

efiling.energy.ca.gov/ 

GetDocument.aspx?tn=218197&

DocumentContentId=26682 and 

efiling.energy.ca.gov/ 

GetDocument.aspx?tn=221228. 

103 Variable speed controls or dynamic 

continuous controls: any device that adjusts the 

speed of the fan continuously over the fan’s 

operating speed range in response to incremental 

changes in the required fan output airflow during 

its operation. (Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD– 

0006; No. 179 at p. 6) 

104See European Commission Regulation No. EU 

327/2011; eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/ 

PDF/?uri=CELEX:32011R0327&from=EN. 

105See Proposed regulatory language for 

Commercial and Industrial Fans and Blowers 

available in the following Docket: 22–AAER–01 at: 

efiling.energy.ca.gov/Lists/DocketLog.aspx?

docketnumber=22-AAER-01. 

106See Staff Report, p. 36–37 for Commercial and 

Industrial Fans and Blowers available in the 

following Docket: 22–AAER–01 at: 

efiling.energy.ca.gov/Lists/DocketLog.aspx?

docketnumber=22-AAER-01. 

accordance with AMCA 214–21 (i.e., 

airflow, static pressure, electrical input 

power) and DOE tentatively determined 

this metric is identical to the FEP metric 

measured at a unique pressure point (or 

limited number of pressure points). In 

addition, DOE notes that the BESS Lab 

relies on test methods that are based on 

AMCA 210–16 and AMCA 230–15.102

Therefore, DOE is proposing to use the 

FEI (based on FEP) metric for all PRVs 

and air circulating fans, including 

agricultural fans. 

DOE seeks feedback on the proposed 

use of the FEI metric for all PRVs and 

air circulating fans, including 

agricultural fans. 

H. Control Credit Approach 

The Working Group recommended 

that the FEP of a fan with dynamic 

continuous control 103 be calculated 

with an additional credit to offset the 

losses inherent to the control. (Docket 

No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; No. 

179, Recommendation #16, at p. 9) 

ebm-papst, Inc. commented that fans 

with electronic VSDs for automatic load 

matching should be allowed a credit 

that does not disfavor their rating. 

However, voltage controls such as triac 

controls, series resistors, tapped motor 

windings, and autotransformers should 

not be allowed a credit because of their 

low efficiency at part-load. (Docket No. 

EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, ebm-papst, 

No. 152 at pp. 1–2) 

Greenheck, supported by Wade S. 

Smith Consulting, suggested applying a 

10 percent credit to the FEP of fans 

equipped with variable speed controls 

(e.g., for these fans the FEP would be 

decreased by a factor of 0.9). (Docket 

No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; 

Greenheck, No. 221a at p. 13; Smith, No. 

207 at p.3) Greenheck stated that a 10 

percent credit is in line with the credit 

used in the current European 

regulations.104 Greenheck commented 

that such credit would be sufficient to 

compensate for the losses inherent to 

the variable speed control, while being 

small enough to not provide enough 

incentive to make inefficient fans paired 

with controls attractive to customers. 

(Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; 

Greenheck, No. 221a at p. 13) 

DOE analyzed the control credit in the 

European Commission Regulation No. 

EU 327/2011 and observed that the 

value of the credit is equivalent to about 

5–10 percent of the fan electrical input 

power for a fan with controls with an 

electrical input power less than 5 kW, 

but that it decreases to 4 percent for fans 

at or above 5 kW. Since the term sheet 

publication, AMCA established the FEI 

calculation method in AMCA 214–21. 

DOE also reviewed the calculation of 

FEP for fans with variable speed 

controls in AMCA 214–21, which does 

not provide for any control credit. (See 

Section 6.4.2 of AMCA 214–21). 

In its proposed rulemaking for 

commercial and industrial fans and 

blowers, the CEC did not propose a 

credit when establishing the FEI of fans 

with controllers and did not specify a 

different minimum FEI level when 

proposing energy conservation 

standards for fans with a controller.105

Instead, the CEC highlighted that fans 

with a controller will have a larger FEIcompliant performance capability 

compared to fans that are single 

speed.106

Consistent with industry practice, 

DOE proposes to adopt the FEP and FEI 

calculation as specified in AMCA 214– 

21 and does not propose to develop a 

control credit for fans with a controller. 

As stated, EPCA requires the DOE test 

procedures be reasonably designed to 

produce test results, which reflect 

energy efficiency and energy use during 

a representative average use cycle and 

not be unduly burdensome to conduct. 

(42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(2)) To the extent use 

of a dynamic continuous control 

impacts the energy use characteristics of 

a fan or blower, appropriate 

consideration of any such impact would 

be part of the evaluation of potential 

energy conservation standards. 

DOE requests comment on its 

proposal to not include a credit in the 

FEP and FEI calculation for fans with a 

motor controller. 

I. Use of a Single Test Procedure 

Nationally 

In response to the April 2020 Notice 

of Petition, ebm-papst requested that a 

DOE test procedure preempt potentially 

differing physical test methods and 

calculations associated with existing, 

pending, and future building energy 

codes and fan standards anywhere in 

the Nation. (Docket No. EERE–2020– 

BT–PET–0003, ebm-papst, No. 9 at p. 1) 

As previously noted, Federal energy 

efficiency requirements for covered 

equipment established under EPCA 

generally supersede State laws and 

regulations concerning energy 

conservation testing, labeling, and 

standards. (42 U.S.C. 6316(a) and (b); 42 

U.S.C. 6297) DOE may, however, grant 

waivers of Federal preemption for 

particular State laws or regulations, in 

accordance with the procedures and 

other provisions of EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 

6316(b)(2)(D)) With respect to 

equipment covered by DOE under 

section 6311(1)(L), pre-emption of State 

or local standards for that equipment 

would begin on the date that an energy 

conservation standard is established, 

except where state or local standards 

have already been established. (42 

U.S.C. 6316(a)(10)) Pre-emption of 

existing State regulations would begin 

on the date compliance is required with 

the Federal energy conservation 

standard, should such a standard be 

established. (Id.) As DOE established 

fans and blowers as a covered 

equipment under its authority in section 

6311(1)(L), pre-emption of State or local 

standards will not apply until DOE 

establishes standards for this equipment 

(if the State or locality has not adopted 

their own standard) or until the DOE 

standard takes effect (if the State or 

locality has existing standards for the 

covered equipment in place). 

J. Alternative Energy Determination 

Methods (AEDM) 

For certain covered equipment, DOE 

permits the use of an AEDM subject to 

the requirements at 10 CFR 429.70. An 

AEDM is a mathematical model based 

on the covered equipment design, and 

mitigates the potential cost associated 

with having to physically test units. 

AEDMs are permitted in instances in 

which the model can reasonably predict 

the equipment’s energy efficiency 

performance. 

Although specific requirements vary 

by product or equipment, use of an 

AEDM entails development of a 

mathematical model that estimates 

energy efficiency or energy 

consumption characteristics of the basic 

model, as would be measured by the 


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107 DOE uses validation classes for AEDMs. While 

validation classes may not directly align with 

equipment classes, validation classes are consistent 

with equipment classes. DOE would propose 

equipment classes in a future energy conservation 

standards rulemaking for fans and blowers. 

108The FEI is equal to the reference FEP (FEP– 

ref) divided by the FEP of the actual fan. Therefore, 

if the FEP calculated using the AEDM (FEP–AEDM) 

is greater than or equal to 95 percent of the FEP 

(FEP–test) determined through testing, the FEP–ref/ 

FEP–AEDM is less than or equal to 1/0.95 * FEP– 

ref/FEP–test. 

applicable DOE test procedure. 10 CFR 

429.70(c)(1)(i). The AEDM must be 

based on engineering or statistical 

analysis, computer simulation or 

modeling, or other analytic evaluation 

of performance data. 10 CFR 

429.70(c)(1)(ii). A manufacturer must 

validate an AEDM by demonstrating 

that its predicted efficiency performance 

of the evaluated equipment agrees with 

the performance as measured by actual 

testing in accordance with the 

applicable DOE test procedure. 10 CFR 

429.70(c)(1)(iii). The validation 

procedure and requirements, including 

the statistical tolerance, number of basic 

models, and number of units tested vary 

by product. 10 CFR 429.70(c)(2). 

Once developed, an AEDM may be 

used for representations of the 

performance of untested basic models in 

lieu of physical testing. The 

manufacturer, by using an AEDM, bears 

the responsibility and risk of the 

validity of the ratings, including cases 

where the manufacturer receives and 

relies on performance data for certain 

components from a component 

manufacturer. 

AEDMs, when properly developed, 

can provide a straight-forward and 

accurate means to predict the energy 

usage or efficiency characteristics of a 

basic model of a given covered product 

or equipment and reduce the burden 

and cost associated with testing. Where 

authorized by regulation, AEDMs enable 

manufacturers to rate and certify the 

compliance of their basic models by 

using the projected energy use or energy 

efficiency results derived from these 

simulation models in lieu of testing. 

The Working Group recommended 

allowing the use of an AEDM to 

generate the represented values of FEP 

and FEI of a fan basic model. (Docket 

No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 

179, Recommendations #23, #24, #25 at 

pp. 12–13) 

DOE proposes to allow the use of an 

AEDM in lieu of testing to determine fan 

performance, which would mitigate the 

potential cost associated with having to 

physically test units. 

1. Validation 

Validation is the process by which a 

manufacturer demonstrates that an 

AEDM meets DOE’s requirements for 

use as a certification tool by physically 

testing a certain number of basic models 

and comparing the test results to the 

output of the AEDM. Before using an 

AEDM, a manufacturer must validate 

the AEDM’s accuracy and reliability as 

follows. 

A manufacturer must select a 

minimum number of basic models from 

each validation class to which the 

AEDM applies. To validate an AEDM, 

the specified number of basic models 

from each validation class must be 

tested in accordance with the DOE test 

procedure and sampling plan in effect at 

the time those basic models used for 

validation are distributed in commerce. 

Testing may be conducted at a 

manufacturer’s testing facility or a thirdparty testing facility. The resulting 

rating is directly compared to the result 

from the AEDM to determine the 

AEDM’s validity. A manufacturer may 

develop multiple AEDMs per equipment 

category, and each AEDM may span 

multiple validation classes; however, 

the minimum number of basic models 

must be validated per equipment 

category for every AEDM that a 

manufacturer chooses to develop. An 

AEDM may be applied to any basic 

model within the applicable equipment 

category at the manufacturer’s 

discretion. All documentation of testing, 

the AEDM results, and subsequent 

comparisons to the AEDM would be 

required to be maintained as part of 

both the test data underlying the 

certified rating and the AEDM 

validation package pursuant to 10 CFR 

429.71. 

The Working Group recommended 

that the AEDM be validated by the 

testing of at least two basic models, 

compliant with any potential energy 

conservation standards for each 

equipment class.107 In addition, the 

Working Group recommended that if an 

AEDM was used to simulate a wire-toair test method, then the basic models 

used to validate the AEDM had to be 

tested using the wire-to-air test method. 

(Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; 

No. 179, Recommendation #24, at p. 13). 

DOE is proposing to include fan and 

blower validation classes at 10 CFR 

429.70(k) and to require that two basic 

models per validation class be tested 

using the relevant proposed test 

procedure. This number of basic models 

is consistent with the number of basic 

models required for most DOE-regulated 

equipment that utilize AEDMs. In 

addition, at least one basic model 

selected for validation testing would be 

required to include a motor, or a motor 

and controller of each topology (e.g., 

induction, permanent magnet, 

electronically commutated motor) 

included in the AEDM. In addition, 

DOE proposes that if the AEDM is 

intended to represent the wire-to-air test 

method, then the testing of the basic 

models used to validate the AEDM must 

be performed according to the wire-toair test method. Similarly, if the AEDM 

is intended to represent the fan shaft 

power test method, DOE proposes that 

the testing of the basic models used to 

validate the AEDM be performed 

according to the fan shaft power test 

method. 

DOE’s proposed validation classes for 

fans and blowers are listed as follows: 

(1) Centrifugal housed; (2) Radial 

housed; (3) Centrifugal inline; (4) 

Centrifugal unhoused; (5) Centrifugal 

PRV exhaust; (6) ; Centrifugal PRV 

supply; (7) Axial inline; (8) Axial panel; 

(9) Axial PRV; (10) unhoused ACFH; 

(11) air circulating axial panel fan; (12) 

box fan; (13) cylindrical air circulating 

fan; and (14) housed centrifugal air 

circulating fan. 

The Working Group recommended 

adding a tolerance of five percent to the 

results of the AEDM for the basic 

models used for validation of the 

AEDM. The Working Group 

recommended that the predicted FEP 

using the AEDM may not be more than 

five percent less than the FEP 

determined from the test according to 

the DOE test procedure for the basic 

models used to validate an AEDM. 

(Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006; 

No. 179, Recommendation #25, at p. 13). 

The Working Group recommendation 

would require that the FEP calculated 

by an AEDM must be greater than or 

equal to 95 percent of the FEP 

determined testing the basic models 

used to validate the AEDM. This is 

equivalent to requiring that the FEI 

determined using the FEP calculated by 

an AEDM must be less than or equal to 

100/0.95 percent or approximately 105 

percent of the FEI calculated using the 

FEP determined from testing the basic 

models used to validate the AEDM.108

DOE proposes to apply the 5 percent 

tolerance to the FEI because FEI is the 

proposed metric. DOE proposes that the 

FEI calculated by an AEDM must be less 

than or equal to 105 percent of the FEI 

determined from the test of the basic 

models used to validate the AEDM. 

2. Additional AEDM Requirements 

Consistent with provisions for other 

commercial and industrial equipment, 

DOE proposes to require that, if 

requested by DOE, a manufacturer must 

perform at least one of the following 

activities: (1) conduct a simulation 


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109NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical 

Methods, https://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/ 

handbook/eda/section3/eda352.htm. 110 10 CFR part 429 outlines sampling plans for 

certification testing for product or equipment 

covered by EPCA. 

111Or any other metric for which the consumer 

will favor a higher value, such as FEI. 112For example, if DOE expects that the 

variability for measured performance is within a 

margin of 3 percent, DOE will use a K value of 0.97. 

See for example 79 FR 32019, 32037 (June 3, 2014). 

before a DOE representative to predict 

the performance of particular basic 

models of the equipment to which the 

AEDM was applied; (2) provide analysis 

of previous simulations conducted by 

the manufacturer; or (3) conduct 

certification testing of basic model(s) 

selected by DOE. 

In addition, DOE proposes that when 

making representations of values other 

than FEI (e.g., FEP, fan shaft power) for 

a basic model that relies on an AEDM, 

all other representations would be 

required to be based on the same AEDM 

results used to generate the represented 

value of FEI. 

3. AEDM Verification Testing 

Consistent with provisions for certain 

other commercial and industrial 

equipment, DOE proposes including in 

10 CFR 429.70(k) provisions related to 

AEDM verification testing for fans and 

blowers, including: (1) selection of units 

from retail if available, or otherwise 

from a manufacturer, (2) independent, 

third-party testing if available, or 

otherwise at a manufacturer’s facility, 

(3) testing performed without 

manufacturer representatives on-site, (4) 

testing in accordance with the DOE test 

procedure, any active test procedures, 

any guidance issued by DOE, and lab 

communication with the manufacturer 

only if DOE organizes it, (5) notification 

of manufacturer if a model tests worse 

than its certified rating by an amount 

exceeding a 5 percent tolerance with 

opportunity for the manufacturer to 

respond, (6) potential finding of the 

rating for the model to be invalid, and 

(7) specifications regarding when a 

manufacturer’s use of an AEDM may be 

restricted due to prior invalid 

represented values and how a 

manufacturer could regain the privilege 

of using an AEDM for rating. 

DOE requests feedback regarding all 

aspects of its proposal to permit use of 

an AEDM for fans and blowers, and any 

data or information comparing modeled 

performance with the results of physical 

testing. DOE specifically seeks comment 

on its proposed validation classes, and 

whether different number of basic 

models should be considered. 

K. Sampling Plan 

DOE provides sampling provisions for 

determining represented values of 

energy use or energy efficiency of a 

covered product or equipment. See 

generally 10 CFR part 429. These 

sampling provisions provide uniform 

statistical methods that require testing a 

sample of units that is large enough to 

account for reasonable manufacturing 

variability among individual units of a 

basic model, or variability in the test 

methodology, such that the test results 

for the overall sample will be reasonably 

representative of the efficiency of that 

basic model. 

The general sampling requirement 

currently applicable to all covered 

products and equipment provides that a 

sample of sufficient size must be 

randomly selected and tested and that, 

unless otherwise specified, a minimum 

of two units must be tested to certify a 

basic model. 10 CFR 429.11. This 

minimum is implicit in the requirement 

to calculate a mean—an average—which 

requires at least two values. 

Manufacturers can increase their sample 

size to narrow the margin of error. The 

design of the sampling plan is intended 

to determine an accurate assessment of 

product or equipment performance, 

within specified confidence limits, 

without imposing an undue testing or 

economic burden on manufacturers. 

Different samples from the same 

population will generate different 

values for the sample average. An 

interval estimate quantifies this 

uncertainty in the sample estimate by 

computing lower and upper confidence 

limits (‘‘LCL’’ and ‘‘UCL’’) of an interval 

(centered on the average of the sample) 

which will, with a given level of 

confidence, contain the population 

average. Instead of a single estimate for 

the average of the population (i.e., the 

average of the sample), a confidence 

interval generates a lower and upper 

limit for the average of the population. 

The interval estimate gives an 

indication of how much uncertainty 

there is in the estimate of the average of 

the population.109 Confidence limits are 

expressed in terms of a confidence 

coefficient. For covered equipment and 

products, the confidence coefficient 

typically ranges from 90 to 99 

percent.110 The confidence coefficient, 

for example 97.5 percent means that if 

an infinite number of samples are 

collected, and the confidence interval 

computed, 97.5 percent of these 

intervals would contain the average of 

the population: i.e., although the 

average of the entire population is not 

known, there is a high probability (97.5 

percent confidence level) that it is 

greater than or equal to the LCL and less 

than or equal to the UCL. 

To ensure that the represented value 

of efficiency is no greater than the 

population average, the sampling plans 

for determination of the represented 

value typically consist of testing a 

representative sample to insure that . . . 

(ii) Any represented value of energy 

efficiency 111 . . . shall be no greater 

than the lower of (A) the average of the 

sample (x ̄) or (B) the lower XX 

confidence limit of the true mean 

divided by K, where the values for XX 

and K vary with product or equipment 

type. XX, the confidence limit, typically 

ranges from 90 to 99 percent, while K, 

an adjustment factor, typically ranges 

from 0.9 to 0.99. The specific values for 

XX and K for a particular product or 

equipment are selected based on an 

expected level of variability in product 

performance and measurement 

uncertainty. 10 CFR 429.14 through 10 

CFR 429.63. Requiring that the 

represented value be less than or equal 

to the LCL would ensure that the 

represented value of efficiency is no 

greater than the population average. 

DOE divides the LCL by K to provide 

additional tolerance to account for 

variability in product performance and 

measurement uncertainty.112 The 

comparison with the average of the 

sample further ensures that if LCL 

divided by K is greater than x ̄, the 

represented value is established using 

the average of the sample. In addition, 

DOE relies on a one-sided confidence 

limit to provide the option for 

manufacturers to rate more 

conservatively. 

The Working Group recommended 

that a represented value of a basic 

model be based on a minimum of one 

test, where the tested value must be less 

than the represented value. The 

Working Group did not provide 

recommendations to address a situation 

in which a manufacturer chooses to 

increase their test sample size. (Docket 

No. EERE–2013–BT–STD–0006, No. 

179, Recommendation #23 at p. 12) The 

Petitioners also requested that 

manufacturers be allowed to establish 

FEP and FEI ratings of a fan basic model 

based on testing of a single unit. (Docket 

No. EERE–2020–BT–PET–0003, The 

Petitioners, No. 1.3 at p. 8) 

In response to the October 2021 RFI, 

AMCA commented that they do not yet 

have a specific sampling 

recommendation it can support with 

data and analyses. AMCA would prefer 

to use the ratings and sampling methods 

embodied in AMCA Publication 211, 

‘‘Certified Ratings Program Product 

Rating Manual for Fan Air 

Performance’’, which is the program’s 

operating manual for certifying fans to 


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113The general sampling requirement currently 

applicable to all covered products and equipment 

provides that a sample of sufficient size must be 

randomly selected and tested to ensure compliance 

and that, unless otherwise specified, a minimum of 

two units must be tested to certify a basic model 

as compliant. See 10 CFR 429.11. 

114 DOE estimated the hourly wage using data 

from BLS’s ‘‘Occupational Employment and Wages, 

May 2021’’ publication. DOE used the ‘‘Mechanical 

Engineers’’ mean hourly wage of $46.64 to estimate 

the hourly wage rate (www.bls.gov/oes/current/ 

oes172141.htm). DOE then used BLS’s ‘‘Employer 

Costs for Employee Compensation—December 

2021’’ to estimate that wages and salary account for 

approximately 70.5 percent of compensation for 

private industry workers (www.bls.gov/ 

news.release/archives/ecec_03182022.pdf). Last 

accessed on April 2, 2022. Therefore, DOE 

estimated a fully burdened labor rate of $66.16 

($46.64 ÷ 0.705 = $66.16). 

AMCA’s certification programs. (AMCA, 

No. 6 at p. 10) 

DOE proposes that a minimum 

sample size of two units would be used 

when making representations of FEP, 

FEI, and BHP, as applicable. This 

proposal is consistent with the 

statistical sampling requirements in 

place for other commercial and 

industrial equipment regulated by 

DOE.113 In addition, DOE proposes that 

the FEI be rounded to the nearest 

hundredth. These requirements would 

be added to 10 CFR 429.66. 

DOE seeks information on whether 

the statistical sampling plans used for 

other commercial and industrial 

equipment at 10 CFR part 429 would be 

appropriate for fans and blowers. If not, 

DOE requests information and data to 

explain why not, and what changes 

would be appropriate. DOE also 

requests comment on the proposed 

minimum sample size. 

L. Enforcement Provisions 

DOE proposes to add specific 

enforcement testing provisions for fans 

and blowers at 10 CFR 429.110 and 

proposes that DOE would use an initial 

sample size of not more than four units 

and would determine compliance based 

on the arithmetic mean of the sample. 

This is similar to existing enforcement 

testing provisions for pumps and 

HVACR equipment. 

DOE proposes to add product-specific 

enforcement provisions for fans and 

blowers other than air circulating fans to 

specify that: (1) geometric similarity of 

two or more fans will be verified by 

requiring that the manufacturer 

provides all fan design dimensions as 

described in Annex K of AMCA 214–21; 

and (2) DOE will test each fan basic 

model according to the test method 

(specified by the manufacturer in any 

certification report (i.e., based on 

Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 or 6.4 of AMCA 

214–21). 

M. Test Procedure Costs and Impact 

As previously discussed, DOE 

proposes to establish a test procedure 

for fans and blowers at 10 CFR part 431 

subpart J and a newly proposed 

appendix A and appendix B as follows: 

(1) adopting through reference the test 

methods in AMCA 214–21, with certain 

modifications; (2) adopting through 

reference certain test procedure 

provisions in AMCA 210–16 and AMCA 

230–15 with errata, as referenced by 

AMCA 214–21; and (3) specifying FEP 

and FEI as the relevant metrics, based 

on AMCA 214–21. Additionally, DOE is 

proposing to add section 66 to 10 CFR 

part 429, which adds fan and blower 

sampling requirements and provisions 

related to determining represented 

values, and to add section (k) to 10 CFR 

429.70, which specifies alternative 

efficiency determination method 

requirements. DOE has tentatively 

determined that the proposed test 

procedure would impact testing costs as 

discussed in the following paragraphs. 

By proposing to adopt industry 

standards, DOE has tentatively 

determined that the test procedure 

proposed in this NOPR would be 

reasonably designed to produce test 

results, which reflect energy efficiency 

and energy use of fans and blowers 

during a representative average use 

cycle and that would not be unduly 

burdensome for manufacturers to 

conduct. DOE is presenting the costs 

associated with performing testing 

according to the proposed test 

procedure at third-party testing facilities 

(i.e., facilities that are not operated by 

the manufacturer whose product is 

being tested). 

DOE recognizes that some 

manufacturers of fans and blowers may 

operate their own testing facilities or 

may establish in-house testing facilities 

suitable for obtaining representative 

efficiency values using the test 

procedure proposed in this NOPR. In 

order to establish a test laboratory 

capable of testing to the proposed test 

procedure, DOE expects that 

manufacturers could have substantial 

initial capital costs; however, DOE 

anticipates that the cost to perform a test 

would be less for in-house testing than 

for third-party testing. Therefore, it is 

expected that over the lifetime of a new 

test laboratory, the initial expense of the 

capital costs would be less than the total 

cost of third-party testing. For the 

purpose of estimating the costs in order 

to properly represent efficiency values 

for fans and blowers according to the 

test procedure proposed in this NOPR, 

DOE analyzed the case of testing at 

third-party laboratories. 

1. Estimated Costs for Testing Fans and 

Blowers at a Third-Party Facility 

In the case of testing at third-party 

testing facilities, DOE estimates a pertest cost of $3,000 for AMCA members 

and $6,000 for non-AMCA members. 

These estimates are based on statements 

made by AMCA during the ASRAC 

negotiations, where a member cost of 

$3,000 per test and a non-member cost 

of no more than double the member cost 

were stated. (Docket No. EERE–2013– 

BT–STD–0006, #82, p. 228) DOE 

estimates that approximately 60 percent 

of fan manufacturers are AMCA 

members and that the remaining 40 

percent are not AMCA members. 

Utilizing these percentages and the 

respective costs per test for AMCA 

members and non-AMCA members, 

DOE estimates the aggregated average 

test cost would be $4,200 for third-party 

testing of both general fans and air 

circulating fans. As stated in section 

III.K, DOE proposes that basic model 

representations would be required to be 

based on testing a minimum of two 

units. Therefore, DOE estimates that it 

will cost $8,400 to test a basic model. 

DOE requests feedback on its 

assumption that it would cost an 

average of $4,200 to test one fan for both 

general fans and air circulating fans. 

Additionally, DOE requests data on 

third-party laboratory testing costs 

(other than AMCA). 

DOE requests feedback on the method 

described above for estimating 

manufacturer per-model testing costs of 

general fans and air circulating fans. 

Additionally, DOE requests feedback 

and data on the total testing costs per 

basic model for testing at third-party 

facilities. 

2. Estimated Cost To Develop, Validate, 

and Implement an AEDM 

As previously discussed, an AEDM is 

a mathematical model developed by a 

manufacturer that estimates the energy 

efficiency or energy consumption 

characteristics of a basic model as 

measured by the applicable DOE test 

procedure. Before using an AEDM, a 

manufacturer must validate the AEDM’s 

accuracy and reliability by physically 

testing a certain number of basic models 

and comparing the test results to the 

output of the AEDM. 

DOE assumes a mechanical engineer 

would develop and validate a new 

AEDM. Based on wage and salary data 

from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

(‘‘BLS’’), DOE estimates the hourly fully 

burdened mechanical engineering wage 

to be approximately $66.114 DOE also 

estimates that it would take 24 labor 


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115 DOE estimated the hourly wage using data 

from BLS’s ‘‘Occupational Employment and Wages, 

May 2021’’ publication. DOE used the ‘‘Mechanical 

Engineering Technologists and Technicians’’ mean 

hourly wage of $30.47 to estimate the hourly wage 

rate (www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes173027.htm). DOE 

then used BLS’s ‘‘Employer Costs for Employee 

Compensation—December 2021’’ to estimate that 

wages and salary account for approximately 70.5 

percent of compensation for private industry 

workers (www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ecec_

03182022.pdf). Last accessed on April 2, 2022. 

Therefore, DOE estimated a fully burdened labor 

rate of $43.22 ($30.47 ÷ 0.705 = $43.22). 

hours per validation class for an 

engineer to develop and validate an 

AEDM using existing simulation tools. 

Therefore, DOE estimated the cost of a 

fully burdened mechanical engineer as 

approximately $1,600 per validation 

class. As discussed in section III.J.1, 

testing of two basic models is required 

to validate an AEDM for a specific 

validation class. One unit must be tested 

per basic model in order to validate an 

AEDM. 10 CFR 429.70(c)(2)(i) Therefore, 

two physical tests on two different basic 

models are required for validation of a 

fans and blowers AEDM. As discussed 

in the previous section, DOE estimates 

the average cost per test to be $4,200. 

Therefore, the total estimated 

manufacturer cost to develop and 

validate an AEDM for a single validation 

class is estimated to be $10,000, which 

is the cost to perform one test on two 

basic models at a third-party lab 

($8,400) plus the fully burdened cost of 

a mechanical engineer’s time to develop 

and validate the AEDM ($1,600). 

DOE assumes a mechanical technician 

would implement an AEDM once it is 

developed. Based on wage and salary 

data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

DOE estimates the hourly fully 

burdened mechanical technician wage 

to be approximately $43.115 DOE 

estimates that it would take a 

mechanical technician 1 hour to 

determine the representative values 

necessary to certify a basic model using 

an AEDM. Therefore, the estimated cost 

to implement an AEDM to develop 

certified ratings is $43 per basic model. 

DOE requests comment on its 

assumption that manufacturers have 

existing simulation tools that a 

mechanical engineer could use to 

develop an AEDM. Additionally, DOE 

requests comment on its assumption 

that AEDMs would be developed by a 

mechanical engineer and later utilized 

by mechanical technicians to develop 

certified ratings for each basic model. 

Finally, DOE requests comment on its 

assumption that it would take a 

mechanical engineering approximately 

24 working hours to develop an AEDM 

and that it would take a mechanical 

technician approximately 1 hour per 

basic model to develop certified ratings 

from an AEDM. 

3. Voluntary Representations 

If manufacturers voluntarily make 

representations regarding the energy 

consumption or cost of energy of the 

fans and blowers that are proposed to be 

in-scope for the proposed test procedure 

(listed in Section III.A of this 

document), they would be required to 

make representations based on testing 

according to the DOE test procedure. (42 

U.S.C. 6314(d)(1)) DOE has initially 

determined that the implementation of 

the proposed test procedure, if finalized, 

would result in added costs to fan and 

blower manufacturers if manufacturers 

choose to make efficiency 

representations. These added costs 

pertain to manufacturers that would 

need to update current efficiency 

representations in marketing materials 

and those that would choose to add 

efficiency representations to marketing 

materials. 

N. 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. 6314(d)(1)) To the extent the test 

procedure proposed in this document is 

required only for the evaluation and 

issuance of new efficiency standards, 

use of the proposed test procedure, if 

finalized, would not be required until 

the implementation date of new 

standards. 10 CFR 431.4; Section 8(e) of 

appendix A 10 CFR part 430 subpart C. 

If DOE were to publish a new 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. 6314(d)(2)) 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 Orders 

12866 and 13563 

Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, 

Regulatory Planning and Review, as 

supplemented and reaffirmed by E.O. 

13563, Improving Regulation and 

Regulatory Review’’, 76 FR 3821 (Jan. 

21, 2011), requires agencies, to the 

extent permitted by law, to (1) propose 

or adopt a regulation only upon a 

reasoned determination that its benefits 

justify its costs (recognizing that some 

benefits and costs are difficult to 

quantify); (2) tailor regulations to 

impose the least burden on society, 

consistent with obtaining regulatory 

objectives, taking into account, among 

other things, and to the extent 

practicable, the costs of cumulative 

regulations; (3) select, in choosing 

among alternative regulatory 

approaches, those approaches that 

maximize net benefits (including 

potential economic, environmental, 

public health and safety, and other 

advantages; distributive impacts; and 

equity); (4) to the extent feasible, specify 

performance objectives, rather than 

specifying the behavior or manner of 

compliance that regulated entities must 

adopt; and (5) identify and assess 

available alternatives to direct 

regulation, including providing 

economic incentives to encourage the 

desired behavior, such as user fees or 

marketable permits, or providing 

information upon which choices can be 

made by the public. DOE emphasizes as 

well that E.O. 13563 requires agencies to 

use the best available techniques to 

quantify anticipated present and future 

benefits and costs as accurately as 

possible. In its guidance, the Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs 

(OIRA) in the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) has emphasized that such 

techniques may include identifying 

changing future compliance costs that 

might result from technological 

innovation or anticipated behavioral 

changes. For the reasons stated in the 

preamble, this proposed regulatory 

action is consistent with these 

principles. 

Section 6(a) of E.O. 12866 also 

requires agencies to submit significant 

regulatory actions to OIRA for review. 

OIRA has determined that this proposed 

regulatory action does not constitute a 

significant regulatory action under 

section 3(f) of E.O. 12866. Accordingly, 

this action was not submitted to OIRA 

for review under E.O. 12866. 

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 


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required by Executive Order 13272, 

Proper Consideration of Small Entities 

in Agency Rulemaking, 67 FR 53461 

(August 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: www.energy.gov/gc/ 

office-general-counsel. 

The following sections detail DOE’s 

IRFA for this test procedure rulemaking: 

1. Descriptions of Reasons Why Action 

Is Being Considered 

DOE is proposing to establish a test 

procedure for fans and blowers at 

subpart J of 10 CFR part 431. As 

discussed, EPCA provides that DOE may 

include a type of industrial equipment, 

including fans and blowers, as covered 

equipment if it determines that to do so 

is necessary to carry out the purposes of 

Part A–1. (42 U.S.C. 6311(2)(B)(ii) and 

(iii); 42 U.S.C. 6312(b)). The purpose of 

Part A–1 is to improve the efficiency of 

electric motors and pumps and certain 

other industrial equipment in order to 

conserve the energy resources of the 

Nation. (42 U.S.C. 6312(a)) As stated, on 

August 19, 2021, DOE published a final 

determination determining that fans and 

blowers meet the statutory criteria for 

classifying industrial equipment as 

covered, because fans and blowers are a 

type of industrial equipment (1) which 

in operation consume, or are designed 

to consume, energy; (2) are to a 

significant extent distributed in 

commerce for industrial or commercial 

use; and (3) are not covered under 42 

U.S.C. 6291(a)(2). 86 FR 46579, 46586. 

DOE also determined that coverage of 

fans and blowers is necessary to carry 

out the purposes of Part A–1. 86 FR 

46579, 46588. 

This proposed rulemaking is in 

accordance with DOE’s obligations 

under EPCA. 

2. Objectives of, and Legal Basis for, 

Rule 

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 include definitions (42 U.S.C. 

6311), test procedures (42 U.S.C. 6314), 

labeling provisions (42 U.S.C. 6315), 

energy conservation standards (42 

U.S.C. 6313), and the authority to 

require information and reports from 

manufacturers. (42 U.S.C. 6316; 42 

U.S.C. 6296) 

The Federal testing requirements 

consist of test procedures that 

manufacturers of covered equipment 

must use as the basis for: (1) certifying 

to DOE that their equipment complies 

with the applicable energy conservation 

standards adopted pursuant to EPCA (42 

U.S.C. 6316(a); 42 U.S.C. 6295(s)), and 

(2) making other representations about 

the efficiency of that equipment. (42 

U.S.C. 6314(d)) Similarly, DOE must use 

these test procedures to determine 

whether the equipment complies with 

relevant standards promulgated under 

EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6316(a); 42 U.S.C. 

6295(s) 

3. Description and Estimate of Small 

Entities Regulated 

DOE has recently conducted a focused 

inquiry into small business 

manufacturers of the equipment covered 

by this proposed rulemaking. DOE used 

the Small Business Administration 

(SBA) size standards to determine 

whether any small entities would be 

subject to the requirements of the 

proposed rule. The small business size 

standards are listed by North American 

Industry Classification System 

(‘‘NAICS’’) code as well as by industry 

description and are available at 

www.sba.gov/document/support--tablesize-standards. Manufacturing 

commercial and industrial fans and 

blowers is classified under NAICS 

333413, ‘‘Industrial and Commercial 

Fan and Blower and Air Purification 

Equipment Manufacturing.’’ The SBA 

sets a threshold of 500 employees or 

fewer for an entity to be considered as 

a small business for this category. DOE 

used a combination of publicly available 

information and a private stakeholder 

database to create a list of potential 

manufacturers. Once DOE created a list 

of potential manufacturers, DOE used 

market research tools to determine 

whether any met the SBA’s definition of 

a small entity, based on the total 

number of employees for each company 

including parent, subsidiary, and sister 

entities. 

4. Based on DOE’s analysis, over 200 

companies potentially selling 

commercial and industrial fans and 

blowers covered by this proposed test 

procedure were identified. DOE 

screened out companies that do not 

meet the small entity definition and 

additionally screened out companies 

that are largely or entirely foreign 

owned and operated. Of the identified 

companies, 51 were further identified as 

a potential small business 

manufacturing commercial and 

industrial fans and blowers. 

5. Description and Estimate of 

Compliance Requirements 

DOE estimates that this proposed test 

procedure would not require any 

manufacturer to incur any testing 

burden associated with the proposed 

test procedure. If finalized, DOE 

recognizes that commercial and 

industrial fans and blowers energy 

conservation standards may be 

proposed or promulgated in the future 

and manufacturers would then be 

required to test all covered equipment 

in accordance with the proposed test 

procedures. (See Docket No. EERE– 

2021–BT–TP–0021) Therefore, although 

such is not yet required, DOE is 

presenting the costs associated with 

testing equipment and procedure 

consistent with the requirements of the 

proposed test procedure, as would be 

required to comply with any future 

energy conservation standards for fans 

and blowers. 

This proposed test procedure, if 

finalized, may result in manufacturers 

who choose to make voluntary 

representation incurring costs 

associated with re-testing their models 

to update efficiency representations in 

marketing materials based on testing 

according to the DOE test procedure. 

Estimated costs for testing fans and 

blowers is discussed in Section M of 

this notice. 

(a) Establishment of a Test Procedure 

Due to the lack of a model database 

and the large number of potential small 

businesses, DOE selected 20 of the small 

businesses to examine for model 

counts—which can be averaged across 

the full set of small businesses. DOE 

reviewed the websites and, where 

available, product catalogs of each of the 

sampled small businesses 

manufacturing equipment covered by 

the proposed test procedure. While 

detailed product information was not 

availiable for three of the sampled small 

businesses, DOE identified, maximally, 

2,686 models of commercial and 

industrial fans and blowers that may be 

covered by the proposed test procedure 

across the remaining 17 small 

businesses. The number of models 

identified ranged from 7 to 636 across 

the applicable manufacturers, for an 

average of 158 and a median of 49 

models per manufacturer. In the intesest 

of arriving at an upperbound cost 

estimate, DOE assumes that all small 

businesses will use third-party testing 

and not implement an AEDM. DOE 

previously estimated a total average 

certification testing cost of $8,400 per 

model—$6,000 for an AMCA member 

and $12,000 for a non-AMCA member— 


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which translates to an average cost for 

small business manufacturers of 

$1,327,200, assuming all models are 

tested. Accordingly, total costs for small 

businesses, assuming that the nonsampled small businesses have similar 

model counts would be approximately 

$67,687,200. 

DOE was able to find annual revenue 

estimates for all of the 17 small 

businesses sampled. Testing costs as a 

pecentage of estimated annual revenue 

fluctuate widely—ranging from less 

than one percent to over 70 percent—for 

an average of approximately 15 percent 

and a median value of approximately 

four percent. 

(b) Establishment of an AEDM 

Establishing an AEDM for commercial 

and industrial fans and blowers is not 

expected to impose an additional cost 

on small business manufacturers. 

Manufacturers are not required to use 

the AEDM and using the AEDM to 

certify models is expected to result in an 

significantly lower cost relative to using 

the standard test procedure for all or 

most of the models a small business 

might produce. 

6. Duplication, Overlap, and Conflict 

With Other Rules and Regulations 

DOE is not aware of any rules or 

regulations that duplicate, overlap, or 

conflict with the proposed rule being 

considered today. 

7. Significant Alternatives to the Rule 

The discussion in this section 

analyzes impacts on small businesses 

that would result from DOE’s proposed 

test procedure, if finalized. In reviewing 

alternatives to the proposed test 

procedure, DOE examined not 

establishing a performance-based test 

procedure for commercial and industrial 

fans and blowers. While not establishing 

performance-based test procedures for 

commercial and industrial fans and 

blowers would reduce the burden on 

small businesses, DOE must use test 

procedures to determine whether the 

products comply with relevant 

standards promulgated under EPCA. (42 

U.S.C. 6295(s)) 

DOE notes there currently are no 

energy conservation standards 

prescribed for commercial and 

industrial fans and blowers. Therefore, 

manufacturers would not be required to 

conduct the proposed test procedure, if 

made final, until such time as 

compliance is required with energy 

conservation standards, should DOE 

establish such standards, unless 

manufacturers voluntarily chose to 

make representations as to the energy 

use or energy efficiency of commercial 

and industrial fans and blowers. 

DOE has tentatively determined that 

there are no better alternatives than the 

proposed amendments in terms of 

meeting the agency’s objectives to 

measure energy efficiency more 

accurately and to reduce burden on 

manufacturers. Therefore, DOE is 

proposing in this NOPR to amend the 

existing DOE test procedure for fans and 

blowers. 

Additional compliance flexibilities 

may be available through other means. 

Notably, section 504 of the Department 

of Energy Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 

7194, provides authority for the 

Secretary to adjust a rule issued under 

EPCA in order to prevent ‘‘special 

hardship, inequity, or unfair 

distribution of burdens’’ that may be 

imposed on that manufacturer as a 

result of such rule. Manufacturers 

should refer to 10 CFR part 430, subpart 

E, and 10 CFR part 1003 for additional 

details. 

C. Review Under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 

Manufacturers of covered equipment 

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 certain covered 

consumer products and commercial 

equipment. (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. 

This proposed rule would not 

establish any certification or 

recordkeeping requirements on 

manufacturers of fans and blowers. 

Were DOE to establish energy 

conservation standards for fans and 

blowers, certification data would be 

required for fans and blowers subject to 

such standards; however, DOE is not 

proposing certification or reporting 

requirements for fans and blowers in 

this NOPR. Instead, DOE may consider 

proposals to establish certification 

requirements and reporting for fans and 

blowers under a separate rulemaking 

regarding appliance and equipment 

certification. DOE will address changes 

to OMB Control Number 1910–1400 at 

that time, as necessary. 

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 a new 

test procedure that it expects will be 

used to develop and implement future 

energy conservation standards for fans 

and blowers. 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 

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, 


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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. Federal energy efficiency 

requirements for covered equipment 

established under EPCA supersede State 

laws and regulations concerning energy 

conservation testing, labeling, and 

standards beginning on the date on 

which a final rule establishing an energy 

conservation standard is issued by the 

Secretary, except that any State or local 

standard prescribed or enacted or the 

equipment before the date on which the 

final rule is issued shall not be 

preempted until the energy conservation 

standard established by the Secretary for 

the equipment takes effect. (42 U.S.C. 

6316(a)(10); 42 U.S.C. 6297) DOE may, 

however, grant waivers of Federal 

preemption for particular State laws or 

regulations, in accordance with the 

procedures and other provisions of 

EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6316(b)(2)(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 

www.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). Pursuant to OMB 

Memorandum M–19–15, Improving 

Implementation of the Information 

Quality Act (April 24, 2019), DOE 

published updated guidelines which are 

available at www.energy.gov/sites/prod/ 

files/2019/12/f70/DOE%20Final

%20Updated%20IQA%20Guidelines

%20Dec%202019.pdf. 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 fans and 

blowers is not a significant regulatory 

action under Executive Order 12866. 

Moreover, it would not have a 


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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 

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 test procedure for fans 

and blowers would incorporate testing 

methods contained in certain sections of 

the following commercial standards: 

AMCA 214–21, AMCA 210–16, AMCA 

230–15, AMCA 240–15, AMCA 99–16, 

ISO 5801:2017, and ISO 80079–36:2016. 

DOE has evaluated these standards and 

is unable to conclude whether they fully 

complies with the requirements of 

section 32(b) of the FEAA (i.e., whether 

it was 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 

standards published by AMCA, titled, 

‘‘ANSI/AMCA Standard 214–21, ‘‘Test 

Procedure for Calculating Fan Energy 

Index for Commercial and Industrial 

Fans and Blowers.’’ AMCA 214–21 is an 

industry-accepted test procedure that 

provides methods to determine fan 

electrical shaft power and/or electrical 

power, flow, and pressure and calculate 

the fan energy index (FEI) and is 

applicable to product sold in North 

America. AMCA 214–21 specifies 

testing conducted in accordance with 

other industry-accepted test procedures 

(also proposed for incorporation by 

reference). The test procedure proposed 

in this NOPR references various sections 

of AMCA 214–21 that address test 

setup, test conduct, and calculation of 

the FEI. 

DOE also proposes to incorporate by 

reference the test standards published 

by AMCA, titled ‘‘ANSI/AMCA 

Standard 210/ASHRAE 51–16 

Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for 

Certified Aerodynamic Performance 

Rating;’’ and ‘‘ANSI/AMCA 230–15, 

‘‘Laboratory Methods of Testing Air 

Circulating Fans for Rating and 

Certification’’ (with errata). AMCA 210– 

16 is an industry-accepted test 

procedure that provides methods of 

tests for fans and blowers that are not air 

circulating fans, and AMCA 230–15 is 

an industry-accepted test procedure that 

provides methods of tests for air 

circulating fans. These methods are 

referenced in AMCA 214–21. 

DOE further proposes to incorporate 

by reference the test standards 

published by AMCA, titled ‘‘ANSI/ 

AMCA 240–15, Laboratory Methods of 

Testing Positive Pressure Ventilators for 

Aerodynamic Performance Rating’’ 

(‘‘AMCA 240–15’’). AMCA 240–15 is an 

industry-accepted test procedure that 

provides definitions and methods of 

tests for positive pressure ventilator. 

DOE further proposes to incorporate 

by reference the test standards 

published by AMCA, titled ‘‘ANSI/ 

AMCA 99–16 Standards Handbook’’, 

(‘‘AMCA 99–16’’). AMCA 99–16 serves 

as a collection of technical information 

that is used in the development of other 

AMCA documents. 

Copies of AMCA 214–21, AMCA 210– 

16, AMCA 230–15, AMCA 240–15, and 

AMCA 99–16 may be purchased from 

AMCA International at 30 West 

University Drive, Arlington Heights, IL 

60004–1893, or by going to 

www.amca.org. 

DOE also proposes to incorporate by 

reference the test standards published 

by the International Organization for 

Standardization, titled ‘‘ISO 5801:2017, 

Fans—Performance testing using 

standardized airways’’ (‘‘ISO 

5801:2017’’). ISO 5801:2017 is the 

industry-accepted test procedure that 

provides methods of tests for fans and 

blowers that are not air circulating fans, 

internationally. In addition, DOE 

proposes to incorporate by reference 

ISO 80079–36:2016, which specifies the 

method and requirements for design, 

construction, testing and marking of 

non-electrical equipment intended for 

use in potentially explosive 

atmospheres. 

Copies of ISO 5801:2017 and ISO 

80079–36:2016 may be purchased from 

International Organization for 

Standardization, Chemin de Blandonnet 

8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, 

Switzerland, or by going to www.iso.org. 

V. Public Participation 

A. Participation in the Webinar 

The time and date of the webinar are 

listed in the DATES section at the 

beginning of this document. Webinar 

registration information, participant 

instructions, and information about the 

capabilities available to webinar 

participants will be published on DOE’s 

website: www.energy.gov/eere/ 

buildings/public-meetings-andcomment-deadlines. 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. 

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/public 

meeting. 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. 


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116 DOE has historically provided a 75-day 

comment period for test procedure NOPRs pursuant 

to the North American Free Trade Agreement, U.S.- 

Canada-Mexico (‘‘NAFTA’’), Dec. 17, 1992, 32 

I.L.M. 289 (1993); the North American Free Trade 

Agreement Implementation Act, Public Law 103– 

182, 107 Stat. 2057 (1993) (codified as amended at 

10 U.S.C.A. 2576) (1993) (‘‘NAFTA Implementation 

Act’’); and Executive Order 12889, ‘‘Implementation 

of the North American Free Trade Agreement,’’ 58 

FR 69681 (Dec. 30, 1993). However, on July 1, 2020, 

the Agreement between the United States of 

America, the United Mexican States, and the United 

Canadian States (‘‘USMCA’’), Nov. 30, 2018, 134 

Stat. 11 (i.e., the successor to NAFTA), went into 

effect, and Congress’s action in replacing NAFTA 

through the USMCA Implementation Act, 19 U.S.C. 

4501 et seq. (2020), implies the repeal of E.O. 12889 

and its 75-day comment period requirement for 

technical regulations. Thus, the controlling laws are 

EPCA and the USMCA Implementation Act. 

Consistent with EPCA’s public comment period 

requirements for consumer products, the USMCA 

only requires a minimum comment period of 60 

days. Consequently, DOE now provides a 60-day 

public comment period for test procedure NOPRs. 

The webinar will be conducted in an 

informal, conference style. DOE will 

present a general overview of the topics 

addressed in this proposed rulemaking, 

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 

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 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 before or after the public meeting, 

but no later than the date provided in 

the DATES section at the beginning of 

this proposed rule.116 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 itself 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. 

Otherwise, 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, hand 

delivery/courier, or postal mail. 

Comments and documents submitted 

via email, hand delivery/courier, or 

postal mail 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. If you 

submit via postal mail or hand delivery/ 

courier, please provide all items on a 

CD, if feasible, in which case it is not 

necessary to submit printed copies. No 

telefacsimiles (‘‘faxes’’) will be 

accepted. 

Comments, data, and other 

information submitted to DOE 

electronically should be provided in 

PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or 

Excel, WordPerfect, or text (ASCII) file 

format. Provide documents that are not 

secured, that are 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). 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS2
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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 of interested 

parties concerning the following issues: 

(1) DOE requests comment on the fans 

and blowers, other than air circulating 

fans, proposed for inclusion in the DOE 

test procedure. 

(2) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed limits based on fan airpower, 

fan shaft input power and fan electrical 

input power for fans other than air 

circulating fans. Specifically, DOE 

requests comment on the proposed 

definitions of ‘‘static airpower’’ and 

‘‘total airpower’’ used to characterize 

the upper 150 horsepower limit for fans 

other than air circulating fans. 

(3) DOE requests comment on its 

proposed exclusions from the proposed 

scope of applicability of the test 

procedure, listed as follows: (1) radial 

housed unshrouded fans with a 

diameter less than 30 inches or a blade 

width of less than 3 inches; (2) safety 

fans; (3) induced flow fans; (4) jet fans; 

and (5) cross-flow fans. DOE seeks 

additional information to support 

exclusion from the scope of potential 

test procedures. 

(4) DOE seeks comment and input on 

the applicability of AMCA 214–21 and 

AMCA 210–16 to fans that create a 

vacuum of 30 inches water gauge or 

greater. DOE requests comment on the 

30 inches water gauge limit used by the 

CEC. 

(5) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed exclusively embedded fan 

exclusions listed in Table III 8 of this 

document. 

(6) DOE seeks information on whether 

it is common practice for standalone fan 

manufacturers that supply fans to 

HVACR equipment manufacturers to 

test these fans in accordance with 

AMCA 214–21 or AMCA 210–16 in a 

standalone configuration, and to 

provide fan performance data for these 

fans. 

(7) DOE seeks information on whether 

it is common practice for manufacturers 

of HVACR equipment that manufacture 

and incorporate fans into their 

equipment to test these fans in 

accordance with AMCA 214–21 or 

AMCA 210–16 in a standalone 

configuration, and to provide fan 

performance data to their customers. 

(8) DOE seeks comment on the 

estimates provided for the percentage of 

fans that are incorporated in HVACR 

equipment that are purchased by the 

HVACR equipment manufacturer vs. 

manufactured in-house. 

(9) DOE seeks comment and input 

regarding any physical features that 

could be used to distinguish a fan that 

is exclusively designed for use in 

equipment listed in Table III 8 of this 

document. 

(10) DOE seeks comment on the 

proposed definition of ‘‘exclusively 

embedded fan’’. 

(11) DOE requests comments on the 

proposed scope of applicability of the 

test procedure for air circulating fans. 

(12) DOE requests comment on 

excluding fans and blowers that are 

exclusively powered by internal 

combustion engines from the scope of 

this test procedure and associated 

energy conservation standards. 

(13) DOE requests feedback and 

information on the physical features 

that would help distinguish fans and 

blowers that are exclusively powered by 

internal combustion engines from other 

fans and blowers. 

(14) DOE requests comment on the 

definitions proposed for the following 

fan categories: (1) axial inline fan; (2) 

axial panel fan; (3) centrifugal housed 

fan; (4) centrifugal unhoused fan; (5) 

centrifugal inline fan; (6) radial-housed 

fan; and (7) PRVs, consistent with 

AMCA 214–21. If any of the definitions 

are not appropriate, DOE seeks input on 

how they should be amended and why. 

(15) DOE seeks input and comments 

on the proposed definitions of (1) 

induced flow fan, (2) jet fan, and (3) 

cross-flow fan consistent with AMCA 

214–21 and AMCA 208–18. If any of the 

definitions are not appropriate, DOE 

seeks input on how they should be 

amended and why. 

(16) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed definition of basic model, 

with respect to fans and blowers. 

(17) DOE requests comments on its 

proposed definition of safety fans. 

Specifically, DOE requests comments in 

whether item (4) of the CEC definition 

of safety fans is equivalent to 

‘‘laboratory exhaust fans’’ as defined in 

Section 3.52 of AMCA 214–21. 

(18) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed definitions for air circulating 

fan and related terms. 

(19) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed definitions related to heat 

rejection equipment. 

(20) DOE requests comment on its 

proposed definition of air circulating 

fan outlet area. DOE additionally 

requests comment on whether the 

definition of outlet area for fans and 

blowers other than air circulating fans 

should be revised and, if so, how. 

(21) DOE seeks information on 

whether, in general, AMCA 214–21, 

AMCA 210–16, and AMCA 230–15 

(with errata) provide measurements 

which reflect energy efficiency or 

energy use during a representative 

average use cycle of the fans and 

blowers (including air circulating fans) 

proposed to be in scope. If these 

standards would not provide such 

measurements, DOE seeks input on how 

it should be amended and why, and on 

any other industry test standard that 

would be more appropriate. 

(22) DOE requests comment and 

supporting data on whether AMCA 214– 

21 and ISO 5801:2017 produce 

equivalent test results. 

(23) DOE seeks information and data 

to assist in evaluating the repeatability 

and reproducibility of AMCA 214–21, 

AMCA 210–16, and AMCA 230–15 

(with errata). DOE seeks input on 

whether any changes to these standards 

are needed to increase its repeatability 

and reproducibility. 

(24) DOE seeks information on 

whether changes to AMCA 214–21, 

AMCA 210–16, and AMCA 230–15 

(with errata) are needed to allow for the 

determination of more representative 

energy efficiency ratings, and any cost 

associated with a suggested change. 

(25) DOE requests comment on the 

physical features that could be 

identified to differentiate bare-shaft fans 

that can accommodate only a directdrive transmission from other bare-shaft 

fans. 

(26) DOE requests comment on any 

additional revisions under 

consideration by the AMCA 230 

committee that are not discussed in this 

document. 

(27) DOE requests comment on the 

equations provided in Section 5.3 and 

section 6.4.2.3 of AMCA 214–21. 

Specifically, DOE requests comment on 

whether applying the method outlined 

in Section 6.4 of AMCA 214–21 and the 

equations provided in Section 6.4.2.3 of 

AMCA 214–21 could result in a higher 

value of FEI than the FEI resulting from 

a wire-to-air test in accordance with 

Section 6.1 of AMCA 214–21. 

(28) DOE requests comments on 

whether it should add a reference to 

section I.6 of AMCA 211–22 or replace 

Annex E of AMCA 214–21 by Annex I 

of AMCA 211–22. 

(29) DOE seeks feedback on its 

proposal that PRVs that can operate 

both as supply and exhaust fans be 

tested in both configurations as 

described in Table III 9. 

(30) DOE seeks comment on its 

proposal to test exclusively embedded 

fans in a standalone configuration 

outside of the equipment that 

incorporates the fan. 

(31) DOE requests comment on its 

proposed approach for testing air 

circulating fans that are distributed in 

commerce without an electric motor. 


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(32) DOE requests comment on its 

proposal to add provisions for 

calculating the total pressure of air 

circulating fans based on the equations 

in Section A.2 of AMCA 208–18. 

(33) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed provisions related to the 

consideration of appurtenances when 

testing fans and blowers, including air 

circulating fans. 

(34) DOE requests comment on 

whether it should consider specifying 

additional provisions to describe which 

components should be included in the 

test. 

(35) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed provisions related to 

specifying which frequency, phase, and 

voltage to use during a test. 

(36) DOE additionally requests 

comment on whether the supply voltage 

requirements proposed for testing air 

circulating fans and fans and blowers 

other than air circulating fans would 

appropriately represent an average use 

cycle. 

(37) DOE seeks feedback on the 

options presented for specifying the 

testing speed(s) for air circulating fans 

and its proposal to test single speed fans 

at the single available speed, multispeed fans at each available speed, and 

variable speed fans at 20, 40, 60, and 80 

percent of maximum speed. DOE further 

requests feedback on its proposal to 

clarify that if the fan minimum speed is 

greater than 20 percent of the maximum 

speed, the performance data would be 

captured and reported in five speeds 

evenly spaced throughout the speed 

range, including at minimum and 

maximum speeds. 

(38) DOE requests data to characterize 

typical air circulating fan operating 

speed(s) and time spent at each 

operating speed. 

(39) DOE requests feedback on 

whether Section 6.2 and Annex E of 

AMCA 214–21 should be applied to air 

circulating fans. 

(40) DOE requests comment on its 

proposal for determining if an air 

circulating fan has reached equilibrium 

prior to initiating testing. Specifically, 

DOE is soliciting comment on the test 

variables and related tolerances that it is 

proposing to incorporate in its 

equilibrium determination. 

Additionally, DOE seeks comment on 

the minimum duration and maximum 

interval over which equilibrium would 

need to be verified. DOE also seeks 

comment on which variables proposed 

in Table III–13 that, if not stable prior 

to test, would have the greatest impact 

on measured fan performance. Finally, 

DOE requests comment on its proposal 

to specify the time and frequency over 

which extraneous airflow measurements 

would be recorded. 

(41) DOE requests comment on its 

proposal for determining if a fan that is 

not an air circulating fan has reached 

equilibrium prior to initiating testing. 

Specifically, DOE is soliciting comment 

on the test variables and related 

tolerances that it is proposing to 

incorporate in its equilibrium 

determination. Additionally, DOE seeks 

comment on the minimum duration and 

maximum interval over which 

equilibrium would need to be verified. 

Finally, DOE seeks comment on which 

variables proposed in Table III–14 that, 

if not stable prior to test, would have the 

greatest impact on measured fan 

performance. 

(42) DOE requests comment on the 

applicability of each test figure in 

AMCA 230–15 to air circulating fans. 

(43) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed FEI calculation for air 

circulating fans. 

(44) DOE requests comment on its 

proposals for rounding represented 

values of FEI and FEP to the hundredths 

place. Additionally, DOE seeks 

comment on its proposal to specify 

rounding requirements for test values 

and calculations that are consistent with 

the resolution of the test 

instrumentation. 

(45) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed location of the extraneous 

airflow measurement for air circulating 

fans. 

(46) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed run-in requirements. 

(47) DOE requests comment on 

whether the requirement to calibrate 

transducer type barometers for each test 

is necessary or should be removed for 

air circulating fans. 

(48) DOE requests comment on its 

proposal that fans that meet the 

definition of both an axial panel fan and 

the definition of an air circulating fan 

because of the presence or absence of 

brackets for mounting through a 

structure that separates a fan’s inlet 

from its outlet be tested both as a fan 

and blower and as an air circulating fan. 

(49) DOE requests comment on the 

appropriate metric to use for fans and 

blowers other than air circulating fans. 

(50) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed FEI metric determined in 

accordance with the proposed test 

procedure, and on whether any changes 

are necessary to provide for more 

representative energy efficiency ratings. 

If changes are suggested, DOE seeks 

input on how the proposed FEI metric 

should be amended and why, and on 

any other metrics that would be more 

appropriate. If changes or alternate 

metrics are suggested, DOE requests 

information on the impact to testing cost 

as compared to the proposed use of FEI. 

(51) DOE requests comments on the 

alternative approach considered to 

establish a weighted average FEI metric 

for fans and blowers other than air 

circulating fans. DOE requests 

comments on the appropriate reference 

system curve to use in the case of 

variable-speed fans to standardize the 

calculation of the reduced BEP flow 

operating points. 

(52) DOE requests comment on the 

appropriate metric to use for air 

circulating fans. 

(53) DOE requests comment on the 

proposed FEI metric determined in 

accordance with the proposed test 

procedure, and on whether any changes 

are necessary to provide for more 

representative energy efficiency ratings. 

If changes are suggested, DOE seeks 

input on how the proposed FEI metric 

should be amended and why, and on 

any other metrics that would be more 

appropriate. Specifically, for air 

circulating fans, DOE requests comment 

on the proposed use of the FEI metric 

determined in accordance with the test 

procedure as proposed and if DOE 

should consider other performance 

metrics as measured by AMCA 230–15, 

or different weights. If changes or 

alternate metrics are suggested, DOE 

requests information on the impact to 

testing cost as compared to the proposed 

use of FEI. 

(54) DOE requests comments on 

whether to use a different acronym to 

designate the FEI of air circulating fans 

(‘‘ACFEI’’). 

(55) DOE seeks feedback on the 

proposed use of the FEI metric for all 

PRVs and air circulating fans, including 

agricultural fans. 

(56) DOE requests comment on its 

proposal to not include a credit in the 

FEP and FEI calculation for fans with a 

motor controller. 

(57) DOE requests feedback regarding 

all aspects of its proposal to permit use 

of an AEDM for fans and blowers, and 

any data or information comparing 

modeled performance with the results of 

physical testing. DOE specifically seeks 

comment on its proposed validation 

classes, and whether different number 

of basic models should be considered. 

(58) DOE seeks information on 

whether the statistical sampling plans 

used for other commercial and 

industrial equipment at 10 CFR part 429 

would be appropriate for fans and 

blowers. If not, DOE requests 

information and data to explain why 

not, and what changes would be 

appropriate. DOE also requests 

comment on the proposed minimum 

sample size. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS2
44252 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

(59) DOE requests feedback on its 

assumption that it would cost an 

average of $4,200 to test one fan for both 

general fans and air circulating fans. 

Additionally, DOE requests data on 

third-party laboratory testing costs 

(other than AMCA). 

(60) DOE requests feedback on the 

method described above for estimating 

manufacturer per-model testing costs of 

general fans and air circulating fans. 

Additionally, DOE requests feedback 

and data on the total testing costs per 

basic model for testing at third-party 

facilities. 

(61) DOE requests comment on its 

assumption that manufacturers have 

existing simulation tools that a 

mechanical engineer could use to 

develop an AEDM. Additionally, DOE 

requests comment on its assumption 

that AEDMs would be developed by a 

mechanical engineer and later utilized 

by mechanical technicians to develop 

certified ratings for each basic model. 

Finally, DOE requests comment on its 

assumption that it would take a 

mechanical engineering approximately 

24 working hours to develop an AEDM 

and that it would take a mechanical 

technician approximately 1 hour per 

basic model to develop certified ratings 

from an AEDM. 

Additionally, DOE welcomes 

comments on other issues relevant to 

the conduct of this rulemaking that may 

not specifically be identified in this 

document. 

VI. Approval of the Office of the 

Secretary 

The Secretary of Energy has approved 

publication of this notice of proposed 

rulemaking request for comment, and 

announcement of public meeting. 

List of Subjects 

10 CFR Part 429 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Confidential business 

information, Energy conservation, 

Household appliances, Imports, 

Incorporation by reference, 

Intergovernmental relations, Reporting 

and recordkeeping requirements, Small 

businesses. 

10 CFR Part 431 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Confidential business 

information, Energy conservation test 

procedures, Incorporation by reference, 

and Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements. 

Signing Authority 

This document of the Department of 

Energy was signed on June 24, 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 June 24, 

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 431 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 429.4 is amended by: 

■ a. Revising paragraph (a); 

■ b. Redesignating paragraphs (d), (e), 

and (f) as (e), (f) and (g); and 

■ c. Adding new paragraph (d). 

The revisions and addition read as 

follows: 

§ 429.4 Materials incorporated by 

reference. 

(a) Certain material is incorporated by 

reference into this part 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, DOE must publish a 

document in the Federal Register and 

the material must be available to the 

public. All approved incorporation by 

reference (IBR) material is available for 

inspection at DOE, and at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). Contact DOE at: the 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) 586–9127, 

Buildings@ee.doe.gov, https://

www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/ 

building-technologies-office. 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 

following sources: 

* * * * * 

(d) AMCA. Air Movement and Control 

Association International, 30 West 

University Drive, Arlington Heights, IL 

60004–1893, (847) 394–0150, 

www.amca.org. 

(1) ANSI/AMCA Standard 214–21, 

(‘‘AMCA 214–21’’), ‘‘Test Procedure for 

Calculating Fan Energy Index for 

Commercial and Industrial Fans and 

Blowers’’, March 1, 2021; IBR approved 

for § 429.134. 

(2) [Reserved] 

* * * * * 

§ 429.11 [Amended] 

■ 3. Section 429.11 is amended in 

paragraph (a) by removing ‘‘429.62’’ and 

adding in its place ‘‘429.66’’, and in 

paragraph (b) by removing ‘‘429.65’’ and 

adding in its place ‘‘429.66’’. 

■ 4. Add § 429.66 to subpart B to read 

as follows: 

§ 429.66 Fans and blowers. 

(a) Determination of represented 

values. A manufacturer must determine 

the represented values for each basic 

model, either by testing in conjunction 

with the applicable sampling provisions 

or by applying an AEDM as set forth in 

this section and in § 429.70(k). 

Manufacturers must update represented 

values to account for any change in the 

applicable motor standards in Table 5 of 

§ 431.25 and certify amended values as 

of the next annual certification (as 

applicable). 

(1) Testing—(i) Units to be tested. If 

the represented values for a given basic 

model are determined through testing, 

the requirements of § 429.11 apply. 

(ii) Any represented value of fan 

electrical input power (‘‘FEP’’), fan shaft 

input power, or other measure of energy 

consumption of a basic model for which 

consumers would favor lower values 

shall be greater than or equal to the 

higher of: 

(A) The mean of the sample, where 

Where x ̄ is the sample mean; n is the 

number of samples, and xi is the ith

sample. Or, 

(B) The upper 95 percent confidence 

limit (UCL) of the true mean divided by 

1.05, where: 


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and x ̄ is the sample mean; s is the 

sample standard deviation; n is the 

number of samples; and t0.95 is the t 

statistic for a 95 percent one-tailed 

confidence interval with n–1 degrees of 

freedom (from appendix A of subpart B 

of part 429). Represented values must be 

rounded to the nearest hundredth. 

(iii) Any represented value of the fan 

energy index (‘‘FEI’’), weighted-average 

FEI, or other measure of energy 

consumption of a basic model for which 

consumers would favor higher values 

shall be less than or equal to the lower 

of: 

(A) The mean of the sample, where 

Where x ̄ is the sample mean; n is the 

number of samples, and xi is the ith

sample. Or, 

(B) The lower 95 percent confidence 

limit (LCL) of the true mean divided by 

0.95, where: 

and x ̄ is the sample mean; s is the 

sample standard deviation; n is the 

number of samples; and t0.95 is the t 

statistic for a 95 percent one-tailed 

confidence interval with n–1 degrees of 

freedom (from appendix A of subpart B 

of part 429). Represented values must be 

rounded to the nearest hundredth. 

(2) Alternative efficiency 

determination methods. In lieu of 

testing, the represented values for a 

basic model of a fan or blower must be 

determined through the application of 

an AEDM pursuant to the requirements 

of § 429.70(j) and the provisions of this 

section, where: the represented values 

of any basic model used to validate an 

AEDM must be calculated under 

paragraph (b)(1) of this section. 

■ 5. Section 429.70 is amended by: 

■ a. In paragraph (a), removing ‘‘429.62’’ 

and adding its place ‘‘429.66’’; and 

■ b. Adding paragraph (k). 

The additions read as follows: 

§ 429.70 Alternative methods for 

determining energy efficiency or energy 

use. 

* * * * * 

(k) Alternative efficiency 

determination method (AEDM) for fans 

and blowers— (1) Criteria an AEDM 

must satisfy. A manufacturer is not 

permitted to apply an AEDM to a basic 

model of fan or blower to determine 

represented values pursuant to this 

section unless: 

(i) The AEDM is derived from a 

mathematical model that estimates the 

energy use characteristics of the basic 

model as measured by the applicable 

DOE test procedure and accurately 

represents the performance 

characteristics of that basic model; 

(ii) The AEDM is based on 

engineering or statistical analysis, 

computer simulation or modeling, or 

other analytic evaluation of actual 

performance data; and 

(iii) The manufacturer has validated 

the AEDM in accordance with 

paragraph (k)(2) of this section. 

(2) Validation of an AEDM. Before 

using an AEDM, the manufacturer must 

validate the AEDM’s accuracy and 

reliability by comparing the simulated 

FEI, or simulated weighted-average FEI, 

as applicable, to the tested FEI or tested 

weighted-average FEI, as applicable 

(determined by testing), as follows. 

(i) Select basic models. For each fan 

or blower validation class listed as 

follows: centrifugal housed fan; radial 

housed fan; centrifugal inline fan; 

centrifugal unhoused fan; centrifugal 

power roof ventilator exhaust fan; 

centrifugal power roof ventilator supply 

fan; axial inline fan; axial panel fan; 

axial centrifugal power roof ventilator 

fan; unhoused ACFH; air circulating 

axial panel fan; box fan; cylindrical air 

circulating fan; and housed centrifugal 

air circulating fan to which the AEDM 

is applied, a manufacturer must select at 

least two basic models compliant with 

any energy conservation standards in 

subpart J of part 431. In addition, at 

least one basic model selected for 

validation testing should include a 

motor, or a motor and controller if the 

AEDM is applied to a basic model with 

a motor or to a basic model with a motor 

and controller. 

(ii) Apply the AEDM to the selected 

basic models. Using the AEDM, 

calculate the simulated FEI, or 

weighted-average FEI, as applicable, for 

each of the selected basic models. 

(iii) Testing. Test at least two units of 

each of the selected basic models in 

accordance with 10 CFR 431.174 of this 

chapter and determine the FEI or 

weighted-average FEI, as applicable, in 

accordance with § 429.66(a)(1). 

(iv) Compare. The simulated FEI or 

simulated weighted-average FEI, as 

applicable, for each basic model must be 

less than or equal to 105 percent of the 

FEI or weighted-average FEI, as 

applicable, determined in paragraph 

(k)(2)(iii) of this section through testing. 

(3) Verification of an AEDM. (i) 

Periodic reviews. Each manufacturer 

must periodically select basic models 

representative of those to which it has 

applied an AEDM. The manufacturer 

must select a sufficient number of basic 

models to ensure the AEDM maintains 

its accuracy and reliability. For each 

basic model selected for verification: 

subject at least one unit to testing in 

accordance with 10 CFR 431.174. The 

provisions in paragraph (k)(2)(iv) of this 

section must be met. 

(ii) Each manufacturer that has used 

an AEDM under this section must have 

available for inspection by the 

Department of Energy records showing: 

(A) The method or methods used to 

develop the AEDM; 

(B) The mathematical model, the 

engineering or statistical analysis, 

computer simulation or modeling, and 

other analytic evaluation of performance 

data on which the AEDM is based; 

(C) Complete test data, equipment 

information, and related information 

that the manufacturer has generated or 

acquired pursuant to paragraphs (k)(2) 

and (k)(3) of this section; and 

(D) The calculations used to 

determine the simulated FEI or 

simulated weighted-average FEI, as 

applicable, of each basic model to 

which the AEDM was applied. 

(iii) If requested by the Department, 

the manufacturer must: 

(A) Conduct simulations to predict 

the performance of particular basic 

models of electric motors specified by 

the Department; 

(B) Provide analyses of previous 

simulations conducted by the 

manufacturer; and/or 

(C) Conduct testing of basic models 

selected by the Department. 

■ 6. Amend § 429.110 by: 

■ a. Redesignating paragraphs (e)(7), (8), 

and (9) as (e)(8), (9), and (10), 

respectively; and 

■ b. Adding new paragraph (e)(7). 

The addition reads as follows: 

§ 429.110 Enforcement testing. 

* * * * * 

(e) * * * 

(7) For fans and blowers, DOE will 

use an initial sample size of not more 

than four units and will determine 

compliance based on the arithmetic 

mean of the sample. 

* * * * * 

■ 7. Amend § 429.134 by adding 

paragraph (s) to read as follows: 

§ 429.134 Product-specific enforcement 

provisions. 

* * * * * 

(s) Fans and blowers—(1) Verification 

of geometric similarity. For fans and 

blowers other than air circulating fans, 

geometric similarity of two or more fans 

or blowers will be verified by requiring 


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UCL= x + to.9s (.ln) 

LCL = x - to.9s (.ln) 
44254 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

that the manufacturer provides all fan 

design dimensions as described in 

Annex K of AMCA 214–21 

(incorporated by reference, see § 429.4). 

(2) For fans and blowers other than air 

circulating fans, DOE will test each fan 

or blower basic model according to the 

test method specified by the 

manufacturer (i.e., based on Section 6.1, 

6.2, 6.3 or 6.4 of AMCA 214–21). 

PART 431—ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN 

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL 

EQUIPMENT 

■ 8. The authority citation for part 431 

continues to read as follows: 

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

2461 note. 

■ 9. Section 431.172 is revised to read 

as follows: 

§ 431.172 Definitions. 

Air circulating fan means a fan that 

has no provision for connection to 

ducting or separation of the fan inlet 

from its outlet using a pressure 

boundary, operates against zero external 

static pressure loss, and is not a jet fan. 

Air circulating axial panel fan means 

an axial housed air circulating fan head 

without a cylindrical housing or box 

housing that is mounted on a panel, 

orifice plate or ring. 

Air circulating fan outlet area 

means— 

(1) For unhoused air circulating fan 

heads, the area of a circle having a 

diameter equal to the blade tip diameter; 

and 

(2) For housed ACFHs, the inside area 

perpendicular to the airstream, 

measured at the plane of the opening 

through which the air exits the fan. 

Air-cooled steam condenser means a 

device for rejecting heat to the 

atmosphere through the indirect 

condensing of steam inside air-cooled 

finned tubes. 

Axial inline fan means a fan with an 

axial impeller and a cylindrical housing 

with or without turning vanes. 

Axial panel fans means an axial fan, 

without cylindrical housing, that 

includes a panel, orifice plate, or ring 

with brackets for mounting through a 

wall, ceiling, or other structure that 

separates the fan’s inlet from its outlet. 

Basic model, with respect to fans and 

blowers, means all units of fans and 

blowers manufactured by one 

manufacturer, having the same primary 

energy source, and having essentially 

identical electrical, physical, and 

functional (e.g., aerodynamic) 

characteristics that affect energy 

consumption. In addition: 

(1) All variations of blade pitches of 

an adjustable-pitch axial fan may be 

considered a single basic model; and 

(2) All variations of impeller widths 

and impeller diameters of a given fullwidth impeller and full-diameter 

impeller centrifugal fan may be 

considered a single basic model. 

Box fan means an axial housed air 

circulating fan head without a 

cylindrical housing that is mounted on 

a panel, orifice plate or ring and is 

mounted in a box housing. 

Centrifugal housed fan means a fan 

with a centrifugal or mixed flow 

impeller in which airflow exits into a 

housing that is generally scroll-shaped 

to direct the air through a single fan 

outlet. A centrifugal housed fan does 

not include a radial impeller. 

Centrifugal inline fan means a fan 

with a centrifugal or mixed flow 

impeller in which airflow enters axially 

at the fan inlet and the housing redirects 

radial airflow from the impeller to exit 

the fan in an axial direction. 

Centrifugal unhoused fan means a fan 

with a centrifugal or mixed flow 

impeller in which airflow enters 

through a panel and discharges into free 

space. Inlets and outlets are not ducted. 

This fan type also includes fans 

designed for use in fan arrays that have 

partition walls separating the fan from 

other fans in the array. 

Cross-flow fan means a fan or blower 

with a housing that creates an airflow 

path through the impeller in a direction 

at right angles to its axis of rotation and 

with airflow both entering and exiting 

the impeller at its periphery. Inlets and 

outlets can optionally be ducted. 

Cylindrical air circulating fan means 

an axial housed air circulating fan head 

with a cylindrical housing that is not a 

positive pressure ventilator as defined 

in ANSI/AMCA Standard 240–15, 

Laboratory Methods of Testing Positive 

Pressure Ventilators for Aerodynamic 

Performance Rating, (incorporated by 

reference, see § 431.173). 

Evaporative field erected closedcircuit cooling tower means a structure 

which rejects heat to the atmosphere 

through the indirect cooling of a process 

fluid stream to a lower temperature by 

partial evaporation of an external 

recirculating water flow. 

Evaporative field erected open-circuit 

cooling tower means a structure which 

rejects heat to the atmosphere through 

the direct cooling of a water stream to 

a lower temperature by partial 

evaporation. 

Exclusively embedded fan means a 

fan or blower that is manufactured and 

incorporated into a product or 

equipment manufactured by the same 

manufacturer and that is exclusively 

distributed in commerce embedded in 

another product or equipment. 

Fan or blower means a rotary bladed 

machine used to convert electrical or 

mechanical power to air power, with an 

energy output limited to 25 kilojoule 

(kJ)/kilogram (kg) of air. It consists of an 

impeller, a shaft and bearings and/or 

driver to support the impeller, as well 

as a structure or housing. A fan or 

blower may include a transmission, 

driver, and/or motor controller. 

Fan static airpower means the static 

power delivered to air by the fan or 

blower; it is proportional to the product 

of the fan airflow rate, the fan static 

pressure and the compressibility 

coefficient and is calculated in 

accordance with Section 7.8.1 of AMCA 

210–16, (incorporated by reference, see 

§ 431.173), using static pressure instead 

of total pressure. 

Fan total airpower means the total 

power delivered to air by the fan or 

blower; it is proportional to the product 

of the fan airflow rate, the fan total 

pressure and the compressibility 

coefficient and is calculated in 

accordance with Section 7.8.1 of AMCA 

210–16 (incorporated by reference, see 

§ 431.173). 

Field erected air-cooled (dry) cooler 

means a structure which rejects heat to 

the atmosphere from a fluid, either 

liquid, gas or a mixture thereof, flowing 

through an air-cooled internal coil. 

Field erected evaporative condenser 

means a structure which rejects heat to 

the atmosphere through the indirect 

condensing of a refrigerant in an 

internal coil by partial evaporation of an 

external recirculating water flow. 

Full-width impeller means the 

maximum impeller width with which a 

given fan or blower basic model is 

distributed in commerce. 

Full-diameter impeller means 

maximum impeller diameter with 

which a given fan or blower basic model 

is distributed in commerce. 

Housed air circulating fan head 

means an air circulating fan with an 

axial or centrifugal impeller, and a 

housing. 

Housed centrifugal air circulating fan 

means a housed air circulating fan head 

with a centrifugal or radial impeller in 

which airflow exits into a housing that 

is generally scroll shaped to direct the 

air through a single, narrow fan outlet. 

Induced flow fan means a type of 

laboratory exhaust fan with a nozzle and 

windband; the fan’s outlet airflow is 

greater than the inlet airflow due to 

induced airflow. All airflow entering the 

inlet exits through the nozzle. Airflow 

exiting the windband includes the 

nozzle airflow plus the induced airflow. 


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Jet fan means a fan designed and 

marketed specifically for producing a 

high velocity air jet in a space to 

increase its air momentum. Jet fans are 

rated using thrust. Inlets and outlets are 

not ducted but may include acoustic 

silencers. 

Packaged air-cooled (dry) cooler 

means a device which rejects heat to the 

atmosphere from a fluid, either liquid, 

gas or a mixture thereof, flowing 

through an air-cooled internal coil. 

Packaged evaporative closed-circuit 

cooling tower means a device which 

rejects heat to the atmosphere through 

the indirect cooling of a process fluid 

stream in an internal coil to a lower 

temperature by partial evaporation of an 

external recirculating water flow. 

Packaged evaporative condenser 

means a device which rejects heat to the 

atmosphere through the indirect 

condensing of a refrigerant in an 

internal coil by partial evaporation of an 

external recirculating water flow. 

Packaged evaporative open-circuit 

cooling tower means a device which 

rejects heat to the atmosphere through 

the direct cooling of a water stream to 

a lower temperature by partial 

evaporation. 

Power roof ventilator means a fan 

with an internal driver and a housing to 

prevent precipitation from entering the 

building. It has a base designed to fit 

over a roof or wall opening, usually by 

means of a roof curb. 

Radial-housed fan means a fan with a 

radial impeller in which airflow exits 

into a housing that is generally scrollshaped to direct the air through a single 

fan outlet. Inlets and outlets can 

optionally be ducted. 

Safety Fan means: 

(1) A fan or blower that is designed 

and marketed to operate only at or 

above 482 degrees Fahrenheit (250 

degrees Celsius); 

(2) A reversible axial fan in 

cylindrical housing that is designed and 

marketed for use in ducted tunnel 

ventilation that will reverse operation 

under emergency ventilation conditions; 

(3) A fan or blower bearing an 

Underwriter Laboratories or Electric 

Testing Laboratories listing for ‘‘Power 

Ventilators for Smoke Control Systems’’; 

(4) An open discharge exhaust fan 

with integral discharge nozzles which 

develop or maintain a minimum 

discharge velocity of 3,000 FPM; 

(5) A fan constructed in accordance 

with AMCA type A or B spark resistant 

construction as defined in ANSI/AMCA 

Standard 99–16 Standards Handbook, 

(incorporated by reference, see 

§ 431.173); 

(6) A fan or blower designed and 

marketed for use in explosive 

atmospheres and tested and marked 

according to ISO 80079–36:2016 

Explosive atmospheres—Part 36: Nonelectrical equipment for explosive 

atmospheres—Basic method and 

requirements, (incorporated by 

reference, see § 431.173); or 

(7) An electric-motor-driven-Positive 

Pressure Ventilator as defined in ANSI/ 

AMCA Standard 240–15, Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Positive Pressure 

Ventilators for Aerodynamic 

Performance Rating, (incorporated by 

reference, see § 431.173). 

Unhoused Air circulating fan head 

means an air circulating fan without a 

housing, having an axial impeller with 

a ratio of fan-blade span (in inches) to 

maximum rate of rotation (in 

revolutions per minute) less than or 

equal to 0.06. The impeller may or may 

not be guarded. 

■ 10. Section 431.173 is added to 

subpart J to read as follows: 

§ 431.173 Materials incorporated by 

reference. 

(a) Certain material is incorporated by 

reference into this 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, DOE must publish a 

document in the Federal Register and 

the material must be available to the 

public. All approved incorporation by 

reference (IBR) material is available for 

inspection at DOE, and at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). Contact DOE at: the 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) 586–9127, 

Buildings@ee.doe.gov, https://

www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/ 

building-technologies-office. 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: 

(b) AMCA. Air Movement and Control 

Association International, Inc., 30 West 

University Drive, Arlington Heights, IL 

60004–1893, (847) 394–0150, 

www.amca.org. 

(1) ANSI/AMCA Standard 99–16 

‘‘Standards Handbook,’’ November 10, 

2016, IBR approved for § 431.172. 

(2) ANSI/AMCA Standard 210/ 

ASHRAE 51–16, (‘‘AMCA 210–16’’), 

‘‘Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for 

Certified Aerodynamic Performance 

Rating,’’ August 26, 2016, IBR approved 

for § 431.172 and appendix A to this 

subpart. 

(3) ANSI/AMCA Standard 214–21, 

(‘‘AMCA 214–21’’), ‘‘Test Procedure for 

Calculating Fan Energy Index for 

Commercial and Industrial Fans and 

Blowers,’’ March 1, 2021; IBR approved 

for § 431.174, and appendices A and B 

to this subpart. 

(4) ANSI/AMCA 230–15, (‘‘AMCA 

230–15 (with errata)’’) ‘‘Laboratory 

Methods of Testing Air Circulating Fans 

for Rating and Certification,’’ October 

16, 2015, with technical errata sheet for 

ANSI/AMCA standard 230–15 density 

corrections. IBR approved for appendix 

B to this subpart. 

(5) ANSI/AMCA Standard 240–15, 

(‘‘AMCA 240–15’’) ‘‘Laboratory Methods 

of Testing Positive Pressure Ventilators 

for Aerodynamic Performance Rating,’’ 

September 5, 2015, IBR approved for 

§ 431.172. 

(c) ISO. International Organization for 

Standardization, Chemin de Blandonnet 

8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, 

Switzerland, www.iso.org, email: 

customerservice@iso.org. 

(1) ISO 5801:2017, ‘‘Fans— 

Performance testing using standardized 

airways’’, approved 2017, IBR approved 

for appendix A to this subpart. 

(2) ISO 80079–36 ‘‘Explosive 

atmospheres—Part 36: Non-electrical 

equipment for explosive atmospheres— 

Basic method and requirements’’, 

approved 2016, IBR approved for 

§ 431.172. 

■ 11. Section 431.174 is added to 

subpart J to read as follows: 

§ 431.174 Test Procedure for fans or 

blowers. 

(a) Scope for fans and blowers other 

than air circulating fans. A fan or 

blower, other than an air circulating fan 

is subject to the test procedure in this 

section if it meets the following criteria: 

(1) Is a centrifugal housed fan; radial 

housed fan; centrifugal inline fan; 

centrifugal unhoused fan; centrifugal 

power roof ventilator exhaust fan; 

centrifugal power roof ventilator supply 

fan; axial inline fan; axial panel fan; or 

axial centrifugal power roof ventilator 

fan; 

(2) Is not: 

(i) A radial housed unshrouded fan 

with blade diameter at tip less than 30 

inches or a blade width of less than 3 

inches; 

(ii) A safety fan; 

(iii) An induced flow fan; 

(iv) A jet fan; 

(v) A cross-flow fan; 

(vi) A fan manufactured exclusively to 

be powered by internal combustion 

engines; or 


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44256 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

(viii) A fan and blower exclusively 

embedded in the equipment listed in 

paragraph (a)(3) of this section; 

(3) Is not an exclusively embedded 

fan subject to the following exclusions: 

(i) The test procedure in this section 

does not apply to fans or blowers that 

are exclusively embedded in: 

(A) Single phase central air 

conditioners and heat pumps rated with 

a certified cooling capacity less than 

65,000 British thermal units per hour 

(‘‘Btu/h’’) cooling capacity, that are 

subject to DOE’s energy conservation 

standard at 10 CFR 430.32(c); 

(B) Three phase, air-cooled, small 

commercial packaged air-conditioning 

and heating equipment rated with a 

certified cooling capacity less than 

65,000 Btu/h cooling capacity, that are 

subject to DOE’s energy conservation 

standard at § 431.97(b); 

(C) Transport refrigeration (i.e., 

Trailer refrigeration, Self-powered truck 

refrigeration, Vehicle-powered truck 

refrigeration, Marine/Rail container 

refrigerant); 

(D) Vacuum cleaners; 

(E) Heat Rejection Equipment: 

Packaged evaporative open-circuit 

cooling towers; Evaporative fielderected open-circuit cooling towers; 

Packaged evaporative closed-circuit 

cooling towers; Evaporative fielderected closed-circuit cooling towers; 

Packaged evaporative condensers; Fielderected evaporative condensers; 

Packaged air-cooled (dry) coolers; Fielderected air-cooled (dry) cooler; Aircooled steam condensers; Hybrid (water 

saving) versions of all of the previously 

listed equipment that contain both 

evaporative and air-cooled heat 

exchange sections; 

(F) Air curtains; and 

(G) Direct expansion-dedicated 

outdoor air system that are subject to 

any DOE’s test procedures in appendix 

B to subpart F of this part. 

(ii) The test procedure in this section 

does not apply to supply or condenser 

fans or blowers that are exclusively 

embedded in: 

(A) Air-cooled commercial package 

air conditioners and heat pumps 

(‘‘CUAC’’, ‘‘CUHP’’) with a certified 

cooling capacity between 5.5 ton 

(65,000 Btu/h) and 63.5 ton (760,000 

Btu/h) that are subject to DOE’s energy 

conservation standard at § 431.97(b); 

(B) Water-cooled and evaporativelycooled commercial air conditioners that 

are subject to DOE’s energy conservation 

standard at § 431.97(b); 

(C) Water-source heat pumps that are 

subject to DOE’s energy conservation 

standard at § 431.97(b); 

(D) Single package vertical air 

conditioners and heat pumps that are 

subject to DOE’s energy conservation 

standard at § 431.97(d); 

(E) Packaged terminal air conditioners 

(‘‘PTAC’’) and packaged terminal heat 

pumps (PTHP) that are subject to DOE’s 

energy conservation standard at 

§ 431.97(c); 

(F) Computer room air conditioners 

that are subject to DOE’s energy 

conservation standard at § 431.97(e); 

and 

(G) Variable refrigerant flow multisplit air conditioners and heat pumps 

that are subject to DOE’s energy 

conservation standard at § 431.97(f); and 

(4) Is a fan or blower with duty points 

with the following characteristics, 

measured or calculated in accordance 

with the test procedure set forth in 

appendix A of this subpart: 

(i)(A) fan shaft input power equal to 

or greater than 1 horsepower; or 

(B) fan electrical input power equal to 

or greater than 0.89 kW; and 

(ii)(A) fan static airpower equal to or 

less than 150 horsepower for fans using 

a static pressure basis fan energy index 

(‘‘FEI’’) in accordance with the required 

test configuration listed in Table 7.1 of 

AMCA 214–21; or 

(B) fan total airpower equal to or less 

than 150 horsepower for fans using a 

total pressure basis FEI in accordance 

with the required test configuration 

listed in Table 7.1 of AMCA 214–21; 

(b) Scope for air circulating fans. The 

test procedure in this section applies to 

all air circulating fans. 

(c) Testing and calculations for fans 

and blowers other than air-circulating 

fans. Determine the FEI, the fan 

electrical input power (‘‘FEP’’), and fan 

shaft power (as applicable) at each duty 

point, as specified by the manufacturer, 

using the test procedure set forth in 

appendix A of this subpart. 

(d) Testing and calculations for aircirculating fan. Determine the FEI and 

the fan electrical input power (‘‘FEP’’) 

or the weighted-average FEI and 

weighted-average FEP as applicable, 

using the test procedure set forth in 

appendix B of this subpart. 

■ 12. Add appendix A to subpart J to 

part 431 to read as follows: 

Appendix A to Subpart J of Part 431— 

Uniform Test Method for the 

Measurement of Energy Consumption of 

Fans and Blowers Other Than Air 

Circulating Fans 

Note: After [date 180 days after date of 

publication of the final rule], any 

representations made with respect to energy 

use or efficiency of fans and blowers subject 

to testing pursuant to 10 CFR 431.174 must 

be made in accordance with this appendix. 

0. Incorporation by reference. 

In § 431.173, DOE incorporated by 

reference the entire standard for AMCA 214– 

21, AMCA 210–16, and ISO 5801:2017; 

however, only enumerated provisions of 

those documents are applicable as follows: 

0.1. AMCA 214–21, ‘‘Test Procedure for 

Calculating Fan Energy Index for Commercial 

and Industrial Fans and Blowers’’: 

0.1.1. Section 2 ‘‘References,’’ as referenced 

in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.2. Section 3 ‘‘Definitions’’, as 

referenced in section 1 of this appendix; 

0.1.3. Section 4 ‘‘Calculation of the FEI for 

a single duty point’’, as referenced in section 

2.4 of this appendix; 

0.1.4. Section 5 ‘‘Reference Fan Electrical 

Power (FEPref)’’, as referenced in section 2.4 

of this appendix; 

0.1.5. Section 6.1 ‘‘Wire-to-Air Testing at 

the Required Duty Point’’, as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.6. Section 6.2 ‘‘Calculated Ratings 

Based on Wire-to-Air Testing’’, as referenced 

in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.7. Section 6.3 ‘‘Bare Shaft Fans’’, as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.8. Section 6.4.1.1 ‘‘Requirements for the 

fan’’, as referenced in section 2.2 of this 

appendix; 

0.1.9. Section 6.4.1.2 ‘‘Requirements for the 

transmission’’, as referenced in section 2.2 of 

this appendix; 

0.1.10. Section 6.4.1.3 ‘‘Requirements for 

the motor, as referenced in section 2.2 of this 

appendix; 

0.1.11. Section 6.4.2 Calculation of FEPact’’, 

as referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.12. Section 6.4.2.1 ‘‘Calculation of 

transmission efficiency ‘‘trans,act)’’, as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.13. Section 6.4.2.2 ‘‘Calculation of 

actual motor output power’’, as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.14. Section 6.4.2.3 ‘‘Motor efficiency if 

no VFD is included’’, as referenced in section 

2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.15. Section 7 ‘‘Testing’’, as referenced 

in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.16. Section 8.1 ‘‘Laboratory 

Measurement Only’’, as referenced in section 

2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.17. Section 8.2.1 ‘‘Fan laws and other 

calculation methods for shaft-to-air testing’’, 

as referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.18. Section 8.2.3 ’’ Calculation to other 

speeds and densities for wire-to-air testing‘‘, 

as referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.19. Annex D ‘‘Motor Performance 

Constants (Normative)’’, as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.20. Annex E ‘‘Calculation Methods for 

Fans Tested Shaft-to-Air’’, as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.21. Annex G ‘‘Wire-to-Air 

Measurement—Calculation to Other Speeds 

and Densities (Normative)’’, as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.22. Annex J ‘‘Other data and 

calculations to be retained’’ as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; and 

0.1.23. Annex K ‘‘Proportionality and 

Dimensional Requirements (Normative)’’ as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix. 

0.2. AMCA 210–16, ‘‘Laboratory Methods 

of Testing Fans for Certified Aerodynamic 

Performance Rating’’: 

0.2.1. Section 3 ‘‘Definitions/Units of 

Measure/Symbols’’ as referenced in section 

2.2 of this appendix; 


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0.2.2. Section 4 ‘‘Instruments and Methods 

of Measurement’’ as referenced in section 2.2 

of this appendix; 

0.2.3. Section 5 ‘‘Test Setups and 

Equipment’’ as referenced in section 2.2 of 

this appendix; 

0.2.4. Section 6 ‘‘Observation and Conduct 

of Test’’ as referenced in section 2.2 of this 

appendix; 

0.2.5. Section 7.1 ‘‘Calibration Correction’’ 

as referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.2.6. Section 7.2 ‘‘Density and Viscosity of 

air’’ as referenced in section 2.2 of this 

appendix; 

0.2.7. Section 7.3 ‘‘Fan Airflow Rate at Test 

Conditions’’ as referenced in section 2.2 of 

this appendix 

0.2.8. Section 7.4 ‘‘Fan Velocity Pressure at 

Test Conditions’’ as referenced in section 2.2 

of this appendix 

0.2.9. Section 7.5 ‘‘Fan Total Pressure at 

Test Conditions’’ as referenced in section 2.2 

of this appendix; 

0.2.10. Section 7.6 ‘‘Fan Total Static 

Pressure at Test Conditions’’ as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.2.11. Section 7.7 ‘‘Fan Input Power at 

Test Conditions’’ as referenced in section 2.2 

of this appendix; and 

0.2.1.12. Section 7.8 ‘‘Fan Efficiency’’ as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix. 

0.3. ISO 5801:2017, ‘‘Fans—Performance 

testing using standardized airways’’: 

0.3.1. Section 3 ‘‘Terms and Definitions’’ as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.3.2. Section 4 ‘‘Symbols, Abbreviated 

Terms and Subscripts’’ as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.3.3. Section 5 ‘‘General’’ as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.3.4. Section 6 ‘‘Teat Configurations’’ as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.3.5. Section 7 ‘‘Test Configurations’’ as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.3.6. Section 8 ’’ Airways for Duct 

Configuration’’ as referenced in section 2.2 of 

this appendix; 

0.3.7. Section 9 ‘‘Standardized Test 

Chambers’’ as referenced in section 2.2 of 

this appendix; 

0.3.8. Section 10 ‘‘Various Components 

parts for a Laboratory Setup’’ as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.3.9. Section 11 ‘‘Standard Test 

Configurations’’ as referenced in section 2.2 

of this appendix; 

0.3.10. Section 12 ‘‘Measurements’’ as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.3.11. Section 13 ‘‘Reference Conditions’’ 

as referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.3.12. Section 15 ‘‘Calculations’’ as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.3.13. Section 16 ‘‘fan Characteristic 

Curves’’ as referenced in section 2.2 of this 

appendix; and 

0.3.14. Section 17 ‘‘Uncertainty Analysis’’ 

as referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix. 

In cases where there is a conflict, the 

language of this appendix takes precedence 

over those documents. Any subsequent 

amendment to a referenced document by the 

standard-setting organization will not affect 

the test procedure in this appendix, unless 

and until the test procedure is amended by 

DOE. Material is incorporated as it exists on 

the date of the approval, and a notice of any 

change in the material will be published in 

the Federal Register. 

1. Definitions. 

The definitions applicable to this appendix 

are defined in § 431.172 and in Section 3 

‘‘Definitions’’ of AMCA 214–21. In cases 

where there is a conflict, the definitions in 

§ 431.172 take precedence over AMCA 214– 

21. 

2. Test procedure for fans and blowers 

other than air circulating fans. 

2.1. General. 

This section describes the test procedure 

for fans and blowers other than air 

circulating fans. In cases where there is a 

conflict, the provisions in this appendix take 

precedence over AMCA 214–21. Where 

AMCA 214–21 refers to Annex A ‘‘Polyphase 

Regulated Motor Efficiencies (Normative)’’of 

AMCA 214–21, Table 5 of § 431.25 must be 

used instead. Centrifugal Power Roof 

Ventilators that are both supply and exhaust 

must be tested in both supply and exhaust 

configurations. 

2.2. Testing. 

2.2.1. General. 

The fan electrical input power (FEPact) in 

kilowatts must be determined at every duty 

point specified by the manufacturer in 

accordance with one of the test methods 

listed in Table 1, and the following sections 

of AMCA 214–21: Section 2 ‘‘References’’, 

Section 7 ‘‘Testing’’, included the referenced 

provisions to AMCA 210–16 and ISO 

5801:2017 as listed in sections 2.2.2 and 2.2.3 

of this appendix, Section 8.1 ‘‘Laboratory 

Measurement Only’’ (as applicable), and 

Annex J ‘‘Other data and calculations to be 

retained’’. Section 7 of AMCA 214–21 

references AMCA 210–16 and ISO 5801:2017. 

TABLE 1 TO APPENDIX A TO SUBPART J OF PART 431 

Driver 

Motor 

controller 

present? 

Transmission 

configuration? Test method Applicable section(s) of AMCA 214–21 

Electric motor ........................ Yes or No ...... Any ...................................... Wire-to-air ........................... 6.1 ‘‘Wire-to-Air Testing at the Required Duty Point’’. 

Electric motor ........................ Yes or No ...... Any ...................................... Calculation based on Wireto-air testing.6.2 ‘‘Calculated Ratings Based on Wire-to-Air Testing’’ 

(references Section 8.2.3 ‘‘Calculation to other 

speeds and densities for wire-to-air testing’’ and 

Annex G ‘‘Wire-to-Air Measurement—Calculation to 

Other Speeds and Densities (Normative)’’). 

Regulated polyphase motor No .................. Direct drive, V-belt drive, 

flexible coupling or synchronous belt drive.

Shaft-to-air .......................... 6.4 ‘‘Fans with Polyphase Regulated Motors ‘‘(references Annex D ‘‘Motor Performance Constants 

(Normative)’’).* 

None or non-electric ............. No .................. None ................................... Shaft-to-air .......................... Section 6.3 ‘‘Bare Shaft Fans’’. 

Regulated polyphase motor No .................. Direct drive, V-belt drive, 

flexible coupling or synchronous belt drive.

Calculation based on Shaftto-air testing.Section 8.2.1 ‘‘Fan laws and other calculation methods 

for shaft-to-air testing’’(references Annex D ‘‘Motor 

Performance Constants (Normative)’’, Annex E ‘‘Calculation Methods for Fans Tested Shaft-to-Air’’ and 

Annex K ‘‘Proportionality and Dimensional Requirements (Normative)’’). 

None or non-electric ............. No .................. None ................................... Calculation based on Shaftto-air testing.Section 8.2.1 ‘‘Fan laws and other calculation methods 

for shaft-to-air testing’’ (references Annex E ‘‘Calculation Methods for Fans Tested Shaft-to-Air’’ and Annex 

K ‘‘Proportionality and Dimensional Requirements 

(Normative)’’). 

* Only the following section of 6.4 apply: Section 6.4.1.1 ‘‘Requirements for the fan’’, Section 6.4.1.2 ‘‘Requirements for the transmission’’, Section 6.4.1.3 ‘‘Requirements for the motor, Section 6.4.2 Calculation of FEPact’’, Section 6.4.2.1 ‘‘Calculation of transmission efficiency (–trans,act)’’, Section 6.4.2.2 ‘‘Calculation of actual 

motor output power’’, Section 6.4.2.3 ‘‘Motor efficiency if no VFD is included’’. 

In addition, the following values must be 

determined in accordance with this appendix 

at each duty point specified by the 

manufacturer: fan airflow in cubic feet per 

minute; fan air density; fan total pressure in 

inches of water gauge for fans using a total 

pressure basis FEI in accordance with the 

required test configuration listed in Table 7.1 

of AMCA 214–21; fan static pressure in 

inches of water gauge for fans using a static 

pressure basis FEI in accordance with the 

required test configuration listed in Table 7.1 

of AMCA 214–21; fan speed in revolutions 

per minute; and fan shaft input power in 

horsepower for fans tested in accordance 

with Section 6.3, 6.4 or 6.5 of AMCA 214– 

21. All measurements must be recorded at 

the resolution of the test instrumentation and 

calculations must be rounded to the number 

of significant digits present at the resolution 

of the test instrumentation. 


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44258 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

In cases where there is a conflict, the 

provisions in AMCA 214–21 take precedence 

over AMCA 210–16 and ISO 5801:2017. In 

addition, the provisions in this appendix 

apply. 

2.2.2. AMCA 210–16, Applicable Sections. 

The following sections of AMCA 210–16 

are applicable: Section 3 ‘‘Definitions/Units 

of Measure/Symbols’’, Section 4 

‘‘Instruments and Methods of Measurement’’; 

Section 5 ‘‘Test Setups and Equipment’’; 

Section 6 ‘‘Observation and Conduct of 

Test’’; Section 7.1 ‘‘Calibration Correction’’; 

Section 7.2 ‘‘Density and Viscosity of air’’; 

Section 7.3 ‘‘Fan Airflow Rate at Test 

Conditions; Section 7.4 ‘‘Fan Velocity 

Pressure at Test Conditions’’; Section 7.5 

‘‘Fan Total Pressure at Test Conditions’’; 

Section 7.6 ‘‘Fan Total Static Pressure at Test 

Conditions’’; Section 7.7 ‘‘Fan Input Power at 

Test Conditions’’; and Section 7.8 ‘‘Fan 

Efficiency’’. 

2.2.3. ISO 5801:2017, Applicable Sections. 

The following sections of ISO 5801:2017 

are applicable: Section 3 ‘‘Terms and 

Definitions’’; Section 4 ‘‘Symbols, 

Abbreviated Terms and Subscripts’’; 

‘‘General’’; Section 6 ‘‘Teat Configurations’’; 

Section 7 ‘‘Test Configurations’’; Section 8 ’’ 

Airways for Duct Configuration’’; Section 9 

‘‘Standardized Test Chambers’’; Section 10 

‘‘Various Components parts for a Laboratory 

Setup’’; Section 11 ‘‘Standard Test 

Configurations’’; Section 12 

‘‘Measurements’’; Section 13 ‘‘Reference 

Conditions’’; Section 15 ‘‘Calculations’’; 

Section 16 ‘‘fan Characteristic Curves’’; and 

Section 17 ‘‘Uncertainty Analysis’’. 

2.2.4. Appurtenances. 

This section replaces the provisions in 

section 7.3 of AMCA 214–21 

‘‘Appurtenances’’. If present, any additional 

appurtenances sold with the fan must be 

included during the test. 

2.2.5. Single-Phase and Multi-Phase. 

Fans and blowers rated for operation for 

single- or multi-phase power supply must be 

tested with single- or multi-phase power 

electricity, respectively. 

Fans and blowers, capable of operating 

with single- and multi-phase power supply, 

must be tested using multi-phase electricity. 

2.3. Equilibrium Conditions. 

The following provisions must be used to 

characterize steady operation (equilibrium) 

as required in section 6 of AMCA 210–16. 

Equilibrium is achieved if measurements are 

within the tolerances specified in the Table 

2. Measurements need to be determined over 

at least 5 minutes, with measurements 

recorded on each variable at a maximum of 

5-second intervals. 

TABLE 2 TO APPENDIX A TO SUBPART

J OF PART 431 

Variable Equilibrium tolerance 

Ambient air density ... ± 1 percent of mean. 

Input power by reaction dynamometer.± 4 percent of mean. 

Input power by torque 

meter.

± 4 percent of mean. 

Input power by calibrated motor.± 4 percent of mean. 

TABLE 2 TO APPENDIX A TO SUBPART

J OF PART 431—Continued 

Variable Equilibrium tolerance 

Input power by electrical meter.± 2 percent of mean 

or 1 W, whichever 

is greater. 

Fan speed ................. ± 1 percent of mean 

or 1 rpm, whichever is greater. 

2.4. FEI Calculation. 

The FEI must be determined at every duty 

point in accordance with Section 4 

‘‘Calculation of the FEI for a single duty 

point’’ and Section 5 ‘‘Reference Fan 

Electrical Power (FEPref) of AMCA 214–21. 

In addition the FEI must be rounded to the 

nearest hundredths place. 

■ 13. Add appendix B to subpart J to 

part 431 to read as follows: 

Appendix B to Subpart J of Part 431— 

Uniform Test Method for the 

Measurement of Energy Consumption of 

Air Circulating Fans 

Note: After [date 180 days after date of 

publication of the final rule], any 

representations made with respect to energy 

use or efficiency of fans and blowers subject 

to testing pursuant to § 431.174 must be 

made in accordance with this appendix. 

0. Incorporation by reference. 

In § 431.173, DOE incorporated by 

reference the entire standard for ANSI/ 

AMCA Standard 214–21, and ANSI/AMCA 

230–15 with errata; however, only 

enumerated provisions of those documents 

are applicable as follows: 

0.1. AMCA 214–21, ‘‘Test Procedure for 

Calculating Fan Energy Index for Commercial 

and Industrial Fans and Blowers’’: 

0.1.1. Section 2 ‘‘References,’’ as referenced 

in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.2. Section 3 ‘‘Definitions’’, as 

referenced in section 1 of this appendix; 

0.1.3. Section 4 ‘‘Calculation of the FEI for 

a single duty point’’, as referenced in section 

2.10 of this appendix; 

0.1.4. Section 5 ‘‘Reference Fan Electrical 

Power (FEPref)’’, as referenced in section 2.10 

of this appendix; 

0.1.5. Section 6.1 ‘‘Wire-to-Air Testing at 

the Required Duty Point’’, as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.6. Table 7.1 in Section 7. ‘‘Testing’’, as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.7. Section 7.1 ‘‘Test Configuration’’, as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.8. Section 7.2 ‘‘Setup Selection’’, as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.1.9. Section 7.4 ‘‘Run-in Requirements’’ 

as referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

and 

0.1.10. Annex J ‘‘Other data and 

calculations to be retained’’ as referenced in 

section 2.2 of this appendix. 

0.2. AMCA 230–15 (with errata), 

‘‘Laboratory Methods of Testing Air 

Circulating Fans for Rating and Certification’’ 

(with errata)’’: 

0.2.1. Section 3 ‘‘Units of Measurement’’ as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.2.2. Section 4 ‘‘Symbols and Subscripts’’ 

as referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.2.3. Section 5 ‘‘Definitions’’ as referenced 

in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

0.2.4. Section 6 ‘‘Instruments and Methods 

of Measurement’’ as referenced in section 2.2 

of this appendix; 

0.2.5. Section 7 ‘‘Instruments and Methods 

of Measurement’’ as referenced in section 2.2 

of this appendix; 

0.2.6. Section 8 ‘‘Observations and 

Conduct of Test’’ as referenced in section 2.2 

of this appendix; 

0.2.7. Section 9 ‘‘Calculations’’ as 

referenced in section 2.2 of this appendix; 

and 

0.2.8. Section 10 ‘‘Report and Results of 

Test’’ as referenced in section 2.2 of this 

appendix. 

In cases where there is a conflict, the 

language of this appendix takes precedence 

over those documents. Any subsequent 

amendment to a referenced document by the 

standard-setting organization will not affect 

the test procedure in this appendix, unless 

and until the test procedure is amended by 

DOE. Material is incorporated as it exists on 

the date of the approval, and a notice of any 

change in the material will be published in 

the Federal Register. 

1. Definitions. 

The definitions applicable to this appendix 

are defined in § 431.172 and in Section 3 

‘‘Definitions’’ of AMCA 214–21. In cases 

where there is a conflict, the definitions in 

§ 431.172 take precedence over AMCA 214– 

21. 

2. Test procedure for air circulating fans. 

2.1. General. 

This section describes the test procedure 

for air circulating fans. In cases where there 

is a conflict, the provisions in this appendix 

take precedence over AMCA 214–21. 

2.2. Testing. 

2.2.1. General. 

The fan electrical input power (FEPact) in 

kilowatts at each tested speed specified in 

section 2.6 of this appendix must be 

determined in accordance with the following 

sections of AMCA 214–21: Section 2 

‘‘References’’, Section 6.1 ‘‘Wire-to-Air 

Testing at the Required Duty Point’’, Table 

7.1 in Section 7 ‘‘Testing’’, included the 

referenced provisions to AMCA 230–15 as 

listed in section 2.2.2 of this appendix (with 

errata), Section 7.1 ‘‘Test Configuration’’, 

Section 7.2 ‘‘Setup Selection’’, Section 7.4 

‘‘Run-in Requirements’’, and Annex J ‘‘Other 

data and calculations to be retained’’. Section 

7 of AMCA 214–21 references AMCA 230–15 

(with errata). In cases where there is a 

conflict, the provisions in AMCA 214–21 

take precedence over AMCA 230–15 (with 

errata). 

In addition, the following values must be 

determined in accordance with this 

appendix, at each tested speed as specified 

in section 2.6 of this appendix: fan energy 

index (‘‘FEI’’) in accordance with section 

2.11 of this appendix, fan electrical input 

power (‘‘FEPact’’) in kilowatts; fan airflow in 

cubic feet per minute; fan air density; fan 

total pressure in inches of water gauge; and 

fan speed in revolutions per minute. In 

addition, for multi- and variable-speed fans, 

the weighted-average FEI and FEP in 


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accordance with sections 2.11 and 2.12 of 

this appendix must also be determined. All 

measurements must be recorded at the 

resolution of the test instrumentation and 

calculations must be rounded to the number 

of significant digits present at the resolution 

of the test instrumentation. 

2.2.2. AMCA 230–15, Applicable Sections. 

The following section of AMCA 230–15 are 

applicable: Section 3 ‘‘Units of 

Measurement’’; Section 4 ‘‘Symbols and 

Subscripts’’; Section 5 ‘‘Definitions’’; Section 

‘‘Instruments and Methods of Measurement’’; 

Section 7 ‘‘Instruments and Methods of 

Measurement’’; Section 8 ‘‘Observations and 

Conduct of Test’’; Section 9 ‘‘Calculations’’; 

and Section 10 ‘‘Report and Results of Test’’. 

In addition, testing must be conducted in 

accordance with the provisions in section 2.3 

through 2.12 of this appendix. Further, the 

terms ‘‘electrical input power’’ ‘‘system input 

power’’ and ‘‘power’’ shall be considered 

equivalent. The terms ‘‘electrical input 

voltage’’, ‘‘system input voltage ‘‘, and 

‘‘voltage’’ shall be considered equivalent. 

2.3. Test Figures and Location of 

Extraneous airflow measurement. 

The following test figures, described in 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata) must be used to 

test air circulating fans: 2A, 2B1, 2B2, 3A or 

3B. 

The location of extraneous airflow 

measurement shall be at the center of the fan 

at a distance of 1.5m (5 ft) downstream of the 

fan impeller. 

2.4. Air circulating fans without motors. 

Air circulating fans distributed in 

commerce without an electric motor must be 

tested using an electric motor as 

recommended in the manufacturer’s catalogs 

or distributed in commerce with the air 

circulating fan. If more than one motor is 

available in manufacturer’s catalogs or 

distributed in commerce with the air 

circulating fan, DOE proposes requiring 

testing using the least efficient motor capable 

of running the fan at the fan’s maximum 

allowable speed. 

2.5. Power Supply. 

2.5.1. Frequency. 

Air circulating fans rated for operation 

with only 60Hz power supply must be tested 

with 60 Hz electricity. Air circulating fans 

capable of operating with 50Hz and 60Hz 

electricity must be tested with 60Hz 

electricity. 

2.5.2. Phase. 

Air circulating fans rated for operation for 

single- or multi-phase power supply must be 

tested with single- or multi-phase power 

electricity, respectively. 

Air circulating fans, capable of operating 

with single- and multi-phase power supply, 

must be tested using multi-phase electricity. 

2.5.3. Voltage. 

Select the supply voltage as follows: 

(1) For air circulating fans tested with 

single-phase electricity, the supply voltage 

must be (a) 120 V if the air circulating fan’s 

minimum rated voltage is 120 V or the lowest 

rated voltage range contains 120 V, (b) 240 

V if the air circulating fan’s minimum rated 

voltage is 240 V or the lowest rated voltage 

range contains 240 V, or (c) the air circulating 

fan’s minimum rated voltage (if a voltage 

range is not given) or the mean of the lowest 

rated voltage range, in all other cases. 

(2) For air circulating fans tested with 

multi-phase electricity, the supply voltage 

must be (a) 240 V if the air circulating fan’s 

minimum rated voltage is 240 V or the lowest 

rated voltage range contains 240 V, or (b) the 

air circulating fan’s minimum rated voltage 

(if a voltage range is not given) or the mean 

of the lowest rated voltage range, in all other 

cases. 

2.6. Appurtenances. 

If present, any additional appurtenances 

sold with the air circulating fan must be 

included during the test. 

If present, any additional accessories or 

features sold with the air circulating fan that 

do not relate to the air circulating fan’s 

ability to create airflow (for example, misting 

kits) is to be installed, but turned off during 

testing. If such an accessory or feature cannot 

be turned off, it shall be set to the lowest 

energy-consuming mode during testing. If the 

air circulating fan is offered with a default 

controller, test using the default controller. If 

multiple controllers are offered, test using the 

minimally functional controller. 

2.7. Equilibrium Conditions. 

The following provisions must be used to 

characterize equilibrium as required in 

Section 8 of AMCA 230–15 (with errata). 

Equilibrium is achieved if measurements are 

within the tolerances specified in the Table 

1. Measurements need to be determined over 

at least 5 minutes, with measurements 

recorded on each variable at a maximum of 

5 second intervals. 

TABLE 1 TO APPENDIX B TO SUBPART

J OF PART 431 

Variable Equilibrium tolerance 

Calculated air density ..... ±1 percent of mean. 

System input voltage ...... ±2 percent of mean. 

System input current ...... ±2 percent of mean. 

System input power ........ ±2 percent of mean or 1 

W, whichever is greater. 

Fan speed ....................... ±1 percent of mean or 1 

rpm, whichever is 

greater. 

Load ................................ ±1 percent of mean. 

Load differential .............. ±1 percent of mean. 

2.8. Extraneous Airflow. 

This section replaces Section 8.1.2 of 

AMCA 230–15 (with errata) ‘‘Extraneous 

airflow.’’ 

Air velocity in the test room not generated 

by the air circulating fan must not exceed 

0.25 m/s (50 fpm) prior to, before and after 

the test. Velocity measurements must be 

taken to ensure that this condition is met as 

follows: 

(1) At least one minute prior to establishing 

equilibrium; and 

(2) For at least one minute at the 

conclusion of the test, with measurements 

recorded at a maximum of 5 second intervals. 

A test is considered to be concluded at the 

instant the blades are no longer spinning. 

2.9. Test speed. 

Select the test speed(s) as follows: 

(1) For single speed fans, performance data 

shall be captured and reported for the single 

available speed; 

(2) For multi-speed fans with discrete 

speeds, performance data shall be captured 

and reported at each available speeds; 

(3) For variable-speed fans with 

continuously adjustable speeds, performance 

data shall be captured and reported at 20, 40, 

60, 80 and 100 percent of the fan’s maximum 

speed. If the fan’s minimum speed is greater 

20 percent of the maximum speed the 

performance data must be captured and 

reported at five speeds evenly spaced within 

the available speed range, including at the 

fan’s minimum and maximum speed. 

2.10. Total Pressure Calculations. 

The fan total pressure at a given airflow 

must be calculated according to the following 

equation: 

Where: 

A = air circulating fan outlet area (square 

feet), 

Pt,i = Fan total pressure at duty point i 

(inches of water gauge), 

Qi = Airflow at duty point i (cubic feet per 

minute), 

r = Fan air density (Pound Mass Per Cubic 

Foot). 

2.11. FEI and Weighted-average FEI 

Calculation. 

The FEI must be determined at every test 

specified in section 2.6 of this appendix, in 

accordance with Section 4 ‘‘Calculation of 

the FEI for a single duty point’’ and Section 

5 ‘‘Reference Fan Electrical Power (FEPref)’’ 

of AMCA 214–21. In addition, the values of 

Q0, P0, and h0 in Section 5.1.1. of AMCA 

214–21 must be replaced by the following 

values: Q0 = 3,210, P0 = 0, and h0=0.38. 

FEI values must be rounded to the nearest 

hundredths place. 

For single speed fans, determine the FEI at 

the single available speed. For multi-speed 

and variable speed fans, calculate the 

weighted-average FEI as follows: 


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p . - ( Qi )2 

t,l - p 1097.8 x A 

n 

Weighted Average FE/ = 3⁄4I FE/i 

i=l 
44260 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 141 / Monday, July 25, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

Where: n is the number of speeds as 

specified in section 2.6 of this appendix and 

FEIi is the FEI at the ith tested speed. 

2.12. FEPact and Weighted-Average FEPact 

Calculation. 

For single speed fans, determine the FEPact

at the single available speed. 

For multi-speed and variable speed fans, 

calculate the weighted-average FEPact (in kW) 

as follows: 

Where: n is the number of speeds as 

specified in section 2.6 of this appendix and 

is the FEPact,i is the FEPact at the ith tested 

speed. 

[FR Doc. 2022–13897 Filed 7–22–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 


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n 

Weighted Average FEPact = ~ ~ FEPacti nL · 

i=l