[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3025-3026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1729]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Case No. F-084]


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of 
the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for 
Waiver of Goodman Manufacturing Company From the DOE Furnace Test 
Procedure

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Today's notice grants an Interim Waiver to Goodman 
Manufacturing Company (Goodman) from the existing Department of Energy 
(DOE or Department) test procedure regarding blower time delay for the 
company's GSU series central furnaces.
    Today's notice also publishes a ``Petition for Waiver'' from 
Goodman. Goodman's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief 
from the DOE furnace test procedure relating to the blower time delay 
specification. Goodman seeks to test using a blower delay time of 30 
seconds for its GSU series central furnaces instead of the specified 
1.5-minute delay between burner on-time and blower on-time. The 
Department is soliciting comments, data, and information respecting the 
Petition for Waiver.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than 
February 29, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department 
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Case No. 
F-084, Mail Stop EE-43, Room 1J-108, Forestall Building, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20585, (202) 586-7140.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-431, Forestall 
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20585-0121, 
(202) 586-9138
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General 
Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, Forestall Building, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20585-0103, (202) 586-9507

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program for Consumer 
Products (other than automobiles) was established pursuant to the 
Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA), which requires 
DOE to prescribe standardized test procedures to measure the energy 
consumption of certain consumer products, including furnaces. The 
intent of the test procedures is to provide a comparable measure of 
energy consumption that will assist consumers in making purchasing 
decisions. These test procedures appear at Title 10 CFR Part 430, 
Subpart B.
    The Department amended the test procedure rules to provide for a 
waiver process by adding Section 430.27 to Title 10 CFR Part 430. 45 FR 
64108, September 26, 1980. Subsequently, DOE amended the waiver process 
to allow the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver from test 
procedure requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned DOE for a 
waiver of such prescribed test procedures. Title 10 CFR Part 430, 
Section 430.27(a)(2).
    The waiver process allows the Assistant Secretary to waive 
temporarily test procedures for a particular basic model when a 
petitioner shows that the basic model contains one or more design 
characteristics which prevent testing according to the prescribed test 
procedures, or when the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the 
basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy 
consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. 
Waivers generally remain in effect until final test procedure 
amendments become effective, resolving the problem that is the subject 
of the waiver.
    An Interim Waiver will be granted if it is determined that the 
applicant will experience economic hardship if the Application for 
Interim Waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the Petition for 
Waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that 
it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate 
relief pending a determination on the Petition for Waiver. Title 10 CFR 
Part 430, Section 430.27 (g). An Interim Waiver remains in effect for a 
period of 180 days or until DOE issues its determination on the 
Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an 
additional 180 days, if necessary.
    On July 19, 1995, Goodman filed an Application for Interim Waiver 
and a Petition for Waiver regarding blower time delay. Goodman's 
Application seeks an Interim Waiver from the DOE test provisions that 
require a 1.5-minute time delay between the ignition of the burner and 
starting of the circulating air blower. Instead, Goodman requests the 
allowance to test using a 30-second blower time delay when testing its 
GSU series central furnaces. Goodman states that the 30-second delay is 
indicative of how these furnaces actually operate. Such a delay results 
in an increase in AFUE of 1.0 percentage point. Since current DOE test 
procedures do not address this variable blower time delay, Goodman asks 
that the Interim Waiver be granted.
    The Department has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on 
August 23, 1993, (58 FR 44583) to amend the furnace test procedure, 
which addresses the above issue.
    Previous Petitions for Waiver for this type of time blower delay 
control have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, 
January 18, 1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; 
Rheem Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 56 FR 2920, 
January 25, 1991, 57 FR 10166, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 34560, August 5, 
1992; 59 FR 30577, June 14, 1994, and 59 FR 55470, November 7, 1994; 
Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989, 56 FR 6021, February 14, 1991, 
57 FR 10167, March 24, 1992, 57 

[[Page 3026]]
FR 22222, May 27, 1992, 58 FR 68138, December 23, 1993, and 60 FR 
62835, December 7, 1995; Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5, 
1990, 57 FR 49700, November 3, 1992, 58 FR 68136, December 23, 1993, 
and 58 FR 68137, December 23, 1993; Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 
FR 51487, December 14, 1990, and 56 FR 63945, December 6, 1991; DMO 
Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5, 1991, and 59 FR 30579, June 14, 
1994; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019, February 14, 1991; Carrier 
Corporation, 56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 38830, August 27, 
1992, 58 FR 68131, December 23, 1993, 58 FR 68133, December 23, 1993, 
59 FR 14394, March 28, 1994, and 60 FR 62832, December 7, 1995; Amana 
Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958, June 18, 1991, 56 FR 63940, December 
6, 1991, 57 FR 23392, June 3, 1992, and 58 FR 68130, December 23, 1993; 
Snyder General Corporation, 56 FR 54960, September 9, 1991; Goodman 
Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 51713, October 15, 1991, 57 FR 27970, 
June 23, 1992 and 59 FR 12586, March 17, 1994; The Ducane Company Inc., 
56 FR 63943, December 6, 1991, 57 FR 10163, March 24, 1992, and 58 FR 
68134, December 23, 1993; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 57 FR 899, 
January 9, 1992, 57 FR 10160, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 10161, March 24, 
1992, 57 FR 39193, August 28, 1992, 57 FR 54230, November 17, 1992, and 
59 FR 30575, June 14, 1994; Thermo Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 
9, 1992; Consolidated Industries Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27, 
1992; Evcon Industries, Inc., 57 FR 47847, October 20, 1992, and 59 FR 
46968, September 13, 1994; Bard Manufacturing Company, 57 FR 53733, 
November 12, 1992, and 59 FR 30578, June 14, 1994; and York 
International Corporation, 59 FR 46969, September 13, 1994, 60 FR 100, 
January 3, 1995, 60 FR 62834, December 7, 1995, and 60 FR 62837, 
December 7, 1995.
    Thus, it appears likely that this Petition for Waiver for blower 
time delay will be granted. In those instances where the likely success 
of the Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated based upon DOE having 
granted a waiver for a similar product design, it is in the public 
interest to have similar products tested and rated for energy 
consumption on a comparable basis.
    Therefore, based on the above, DOE is granting Goodman an Interim 
Waiver for its GSU series condensing furnaces. Goodman shall be 
permitted to test its GSU series condensing furnaces on the basis of 
the test procedures specified in Title 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, 
Appendix N, with the modification set forth below:
    (I) Section 3.0 in Appendix N is deleted and replaced with the 
following paragraph:
    3.0  Test Procedure. Testing and measurements shall be as specified 
in Section 9 in ANSI/ASHRAE 103-82 with the exception of Sections 
9.2.2, 9.3.1, and 9.3.2, and the inclusion of the following additional 
procedures:
    (ii) Add a new paragraph 3.10 in Appendix N as follows:
    3.10  Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central Furnaces. After equilibrium 
conditions are achieved following the cool-down test and the required 
measurements performed, turn on the furnace and measure the flue gas 
temperature, using the thermocouple grid described above, at 0.5 and 
2.5 minutes after the main burner(s) comes on. After the burner start-
up, delay the blower start-up by 1.5 minutes (t-) unless: (1) the 
furnace employs a single motor to drive the power burner and the indoor 
air circulation blower, in which case the burner and blower shall be 
started together; or (2) the furnace is designed to operate using an 
unvarying delay time that is other than 1.5 minutes, in which case the 
fan control shall be permitted to start the blower; or (3) the delay 
time results in the activation of a temperature safety device which 
shuts off the burner, in which case the fan control shall be permitted 
to start the blower. In the latter case, if the fan control is 
adjustable, set it to start the blower at the highest temperature. If 
the fan control is permitted to start the blower, measure time delay 
(t-) using a stop watch. Record the measured temperatures. During the 
heat-up test for oil-fueled furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue 
pipe within <plus-minus> 0.01 inch of water column of the 
manufacturer's recommended on-period draft.
    This Interim Waiver is based upon the presumed validity of 
statements and all allegations submitted by the company. This Interim 
Waiver may be removed or modified at any time upon a determination that 
the factual basis underlying the Application is incorrect.
    The Interim Waiver shall remain in effect for a period of 180 days 
or until DOE acts on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and 
may be extended for an additional 180-day period, if necessary.
    Goodman's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief from the 
DOE furnace test procedure relating to the blower time delay 
specification. Goodman seeks to test using a blower delay time of 30 
seconds for its GSU series condensing furnaces instead of the specified 
1.5-minute delay between burner on-time and blower on-time. Pursuant to 
paragraph (b) of Title 10 CFR Part 430.27, DOE is hereby publishing the 
``Petition for Waiver'' in its entirety. The Petition contains no 
confidential information. The Department solicits comments, data, and 
information respecting the Petition.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

July 19, 1995.
Assistant Secretary, Conservation and Renewable Energy,
United States Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20585

Re: Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver

    Gentlemen: This is a Petition for Waiver and Application for 
Interim Waiver submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR 430.27. Waiver is 
requested from the test procedure for measuring Furnace Energy 
Consumption as found in Appendix H to Subpart B of 430.
    The current test procedure requires a 1.5 minute delay between 
burner ignition and the start of the circulating air blower. Goodman 
Manufacturing Co., L.P. is requesting waiver and authorization to 
use a 30 second delay instead of the specified 1.5 minutes for the 
blower to start after main burner ignition. Goodman Manufacturing 
intends to use a fixed timing control on our GSU series central 
furnaces to gain additional energy savings that are achieved with 
the use of shorter blower on times.
    Test data for these furnaces with a 30 second day delay 
indicated an increase in AFUE of 1.0 percentage point. The use of a 
30 second delay reduces the appliance flue losses and therefore 
increases the furnace efficiency. Copies of confidential test data 
confirming this energy savings will be provided to you at your 
request.
    The current test procedure does not give Goodman Manufacturing 
credit for energy savings that can be obtained using fixed blower 
timings. The proposed ASHRAE 103-1988 that is under consideration by 
D.O.E. addresses the use of timed blower operation.
    Goodman Manufacturing is confident that this Waiver will be 
granted, and therefore we request an Interim Waiver be granted until 
a final ruling is made. Goodman, as well as other manufacturers of 
domestic furnaces. have been granted similar waivers.
    Manufacturers that domestically market similar products have 
been sent a copy of this Petition for Waiver and Application for 
Interim Waiver.

        Sincerely,
Peter H. Alexander,
Executive Vice President.
[FR Doc. 96-1729 Filed 1-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P9