81_FR_2638 81 FR 2628 - Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedures for Residential Furnaces and Boilers

81 FR 2628 - Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedures for Residential Furnaces and Boilers

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 10 (January 15, 2016)

Page Range2628-2656
FR Document2016-00040

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) amends its test procedure for residential furnaces and boilers established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. This rulemaking will fulfill DOE's obligation to review its test procedures for covered products at least once every seven years. The revisions include: Clarifying the components included in the burner electrical power input term (PE); adopting a method for determining whether a minimum draft factor can be applied, and how the conditions are to be verified; allowing optional measurement of condensate collection during establishment of steady state; updating references to the applicable installation and operating manual and providing clarifications when the installation and operation (I&O) manual does not specify test setup; clarifying the testing of units intended to be installed without a return duct; adopting a provision clarifying the testing of multi-position units; revising the required reporting precision for annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE); and adopting a verification method for determining whether a boiler incorporates an automatic means for adjusting water temperature and whether this design requirement functions as required.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 10 (Friday, January 15, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2628-2656]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00040]



[[Page 2627]]

Vol. 81

Friday,

No. 10

January 15, 2016

Part V





Department of Energy





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10 CFR Parts 429 and 430





 Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test Procedures for 
Residential Furnaces and Boilers; Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 2628]]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Parts 429 and 430

[Docket No. EERE-2012-BT-TP-0024]
RIN 1904-AC79


Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Test 
Procedures for Residential Furnaces and Boilers

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) amends its test procedure 
for residential furnaces and boilers established under the Energy 
Policy and Conservation Act. This rulemaking will fulfill DOE's 
obligation to review its test procedures for covered products at least 
once every seven years. The revisions include: Clarifying the 
components included in the burner electrical power input term (PE); 
adopting a method for determining whether a minimum draft factor can be 
applied, and how the conditions are to be verified; allowing optional 
measurement of condensate collection during establishment of steady 
state; updating references to the applicable installation and operating 
manual and providing clarifications when the installation and operation 
(I&O) manual does not specify test setup; clarifying the testing of 
units intended to be installed without a return duct; adopting a 
provision clarifying the testing of multi-position units; revising the 
required reporting precision for annual fuel utilization efficiency 
(AFUE); and adopting a verification method for determining whether a 
boiler incorporates an automatic means for adjusting water temperature 
and whether this design requirement functions as required.

DATES: The effective date of this rule is February 16, 2016. The final 
rule changes will be mandatory for representations made on or after 
July 13, 2016. The incorporation by reference of certain material 
listed in this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register 
as of February 16, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The docket, which includes Federal Register notices, public 
meeting attendee lists and transcripts, 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.
    A link to the docket Web page can be found at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2012-BT-TP-0024. This Web 
page contains a link to the docket for this final rule on the 
www.regulations.gov site. The www.regulations.gov Web page contains 
simple instructions on how to access all documents, including public 
comments, in the docket.
    For further information on how to review the docket, contact Ms. 
Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or by email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building 
Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-6590. Email: 
[email protected].
    Mr. Pete Cochran, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9496. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule incorporates by reference 
into part 430 the following industry standard:
    ASTM D2156-09 (Reapproved 2013) (``ASTM D2156R13''), Standard Test 
Method for Smoke Density in Flue Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels, 
approved October 1, 2013.
    Copies of ASTM D2156R13 can be obtained from ASTM. American Society 
of Testing and Materials, ASTM Headquarters, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, 
P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, (877) 909-2786 or 
(610) 832-9585, or by going to http://www.astm.org. See section IV.M 
for further discussion of this standard.

Table of Contents

I. Authority and Background
II. Summary of the Final Rule
III. Discussion
    A. Products Within Scope of the Final Rule
    B. General Comments
    1. Statutory Deadline
    2. Simultaneous Changes in Test Procedure and Standards
    3. Lack of Data Availability
    C. Proposed Incorporation by Reference of ASHRAE Standard 103-
2007
    D. Test Procedure Amendments
    1. Electrical Power of Components
    2. Smoke Stick Test for Determining Use of Minimum Default Off-
Cycle and Power Burner Draft Factors
    3. Condensate Collection During the Establishment of Steady 
State Conditions
    4. Installation and Operation Manual Reference
    5. Duct Work for Units That Are Installed Without a Return Duct
    6. Testing Requirements for Multi-Position Configurations
    7. AFUE Reporting Precision
    8. Definitions and Other Changes
    E. Other Test Procedure Considerations
    1. Room Ambient Air Temperature and Humidity Ranges
    2. Full-Fuel-Cycle Energy Metrics
    3. Oversize Factor Value
    4. Alternative Methods for Furnace/Boiler Efficiency 
Determination
    5. Test Method for Combination Appliance
    F. Test Burden
    G. Measured Energy Use
    H. Certification and Enforcement
    1. Verification Test for Automatic Means for Adjusting the Water 
Temperature in Boilers
    2. Compliance Dates for the Amended Test Procedure
IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review
    A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
    B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
    C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
    D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
    E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
    F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
    G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 1999
    I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
    J. Review Under Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 2001
    K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
    L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration 
Act of 1974
    M. Description of Materials Incorporated by Reference
V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

I. Authority and Background

    Title III, Part B \1\ of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 
1975 (``EPCA'' or ``the Act''), Public Law 94-163 (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309, 
as codified) sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve 
energy efficiency and established the Energy Conservation Program for 
Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles.\2\ These products include 
residential furnaces and boilers, the subject of this notice.\3\
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    \1\ For editorial reasons, Part B was codified as Part A in the 
U.S. Code.
    \2\ All references to EPCA in this document refer to the statute 
as amended through the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, 
Public Law 114-11 (Apr. 30, 2015).
    \3\ Under 42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(5), the statute establishes 
``furnaces'' as covered products, and 42 U.S.C. 6291(23) defines 
furnaces as inclusive of boilers.
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    Under EPCA, DOE's energy conservation program generally consists of 
four parts: (1) Testing; (2) labeling; (3) Federal energy conservation 
standards; and (4) certification and enforcement procedures. The 
testing requirements consist of test procedures that manufacturers of 
covered products must

[[Page 2629]]

use as the basis for: (1) Certifying to DOE that their products comply 
with the applicable energy conservation standards adopted pursuant to 
EPCA, and (2) making other representations about the efficiency of 
those products. (42 U.S.C. 6293(c); 42 U.S.C. 6295(s)) Similarly, DOE 
must use these test procedures to determine whether the products comply 
with any relevant standards promulgated under EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(s))
    EPCA sets forth the criteria and procedures that DOE must follow 
when prescribing or amending test procedures for covered products. EPCA 
provides, in relevant part, that any test procedures prescribed or 
amended under this section shall be reasonably designed to produce test 
results which measure energy efficiency, energy use, or estimated 
annual operating cost of a covered product during a representative 
average use cycle or period of use, and shall not be unduly burdensome 
to conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3))
    In addition, if DOE determines that a test procedure amendment is 
warranted, it must publish proposed test procedures and offer the 
public an opportunity to present oral and written comments on them. (42 
U.S.C. 6293(b)(2)) Finally, in any rulemaking to amend a test 
procedure, DOE must determine to what extent, if any, the proposed test 
procedure would alter the product's measured energy efficiency as 
determined under the existing test procedure. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(1))
    EISA 2007 amended EPCA to require that, at least once every 7 
years, DOE must review test procedures for all covered products and 
either amend the test procedures (if the Secretary determines that 
amended test procedures would more accurately or fully comply with the 
requirements of 42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) or publish a notice in the 
Federal Register of any determination not to amend a test procedure. 
(42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A)) Under this requirement, DOE must review the 
test procedure for residential furnaces and boilers not later than 
December 19, 2014 (i.e., 7 years after the publication of EISA 2007 on 
December 19, 2007).
    DOE's current energy conservation standards for residential 
furnaces and boilers are expressed as minimum annual fuel utilization 
efficiency (AFUE). AFUE is an annualized fuel efficiency metric that 
accounts for fuel consumption in active, standby, and off modes. The 
following discussion provides a brief history of the rulemakings 
underlying the existing test procedure for residential furnaces and 
boilers.
    The existing DOE test procedure for determining the AFUE of 
residential furnaces and boilers is located at 10 CFR part 430, subpart 
B, appendix N, Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption 
of Furnaces and Boilers. The existing DOE test procedure for 
residential furnaces and boilers was established by a final rule 
published in the Federal Register on May 12, 1997, and it incorporates 
by reference the American National Standards Institute/American Society 
of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ANSI/ASHRAE) 
Standard 103-1993, Method of Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization 
Efficiency of Residential Central Furnaces and Boilers (ASHRAE 103-
1993). 62 FR 26140, 26157 (incorporated by reference at 10 CFR 
430.3(f)(10)). On October 14, 1997, DOE published an interim final rule 
in the Federal Register to revise a provision concerning the insulation 
of the flue collector box in order to ensure the updated test procedure 
would not affect the measured AFUE of existing furnaces and boilers. 62 
FR 53508. This interim final rule was adopted without change in a final 
rule published in the Federal Register on February 24, 1998. 63 FR 
9390.
    On October 20, 2010, DOE amended its test procedure for furnaces 
and boilers to establish a method for measuring the electrical energy 
use in standby mode and off mode for gas- fired and oil-fired furnaces 
and boilers, as required by EISA 2007. 75 FR 64621. These test 
procedure amendments incorporated by reference, and were based 
primarily on, provisions of the International Electrotechnical 
Commission (IEC) Standard 62301 (First Edition), Household electrical 
appliances--Measurement of standby power. On December 31, 2012, DOE 
published a final rule (December 2012 final rule) in the Federal 
Register that updated the incorporation by reference of the standby 
mode and off mode test procedure provisions to refer to the latest 
edition of IEC Standard 62301 (Second Edition). 77 FR 76831. On July 
10, 2013, DOE published a final rule (July 2013 final rule) in the 
Federal Register that amended its test procedure for residential 
furnaces and boilers by adopting needed equations that allow 
manufacturers the option to omit the heat-up and cool-down tests and 
still generate a valid AFUE measurement. 78 FR 41265. On August 30, 
2013, DOE published a correction to the July 2013 final rule that 
corrected errors in the redesignations of affected subsections within 
section 10 of appendix N. 78 FR 53625.
    On January 4, 2013, DOE initiated this rulemaking to examine all 
aspects of the DOE test procedure by publishing a request for 
information (RFI) (January 2013 RFI) in the Federal Register. 78 FR 
675. On March 11, 2015, DOE published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NOPR) (March 2015 NOPR) in the Federal Register to amend the test 
procedure for residential furnaces and boilers. 80 FR 12876. In the 
March 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to amend the residential furnaces and 
boilers test procedure by incorporating by reference ANSI/ASHRAE 
Standard 103-2007 (ASHRAE 103-2007) in place of ASHRAE 103-1993, which 
currently is referenced in the existing test procedure. In addition, 
the March 2015 NOPR proposed to adopt modifications that would 
establish revised test procedures for two-stage and modulating 
products, as well as for boilers with long post-purge times that would 
not otherwise be included in the incorporation by reference of ASHRAE 
103-2007.
    DOE also proposed to amend the test procedure to: (1) Allow the 
measurement of condensate during the establishment of steady-state 
rather than require an additional 30 minutes of testing after steady-
state conditions are established; (2) revise annual electricity 
consumption equations to account for additional electrical components; 
(3) revise test procedure references to ``manufacturer 
recommendations'' or ``manufacturer's instructions'' that do not 
explicitly identify the source of the recommendations or instructions; 
(4) include a test protocol for determining the functionality of the 
automatic means for adjusting water temperature; (5) include a test 
method to indicate the absence or presence of air flow to determine 
whether the minimum default draft factor may be used; (6) revise the 
required reporting precision for AFUE; (7) specify testing requirements 
for units that are installed without a return duct; and (8) specify 
testing requirements for units with multi-position configurations. 80 
FR 12876.

II. Summary of the Final Rule

    The final rule amends the existing DOE test procedure for 
residential furnaces and boilers to improve the consistency and 
accuracy of test results generated using the DOE test procedure and to 
reduce test burden. In particular, these modifications include: (1) 
Clarifying the definition of the electrical power term PE; (2) adopting 
a smoke stick test for determining use of minimum default draft 
factors; (3) allowing for the measurement of condensate under steady-
state

[[Page 2630]]

conditions; (4) referencing the manufacturer's installation and 
operation (I&O) manual and providing clarifications when the I&O manual 
does not specify test setup; (5) specifying ductwork requirements for 
units that are installed without a return duct; (6) specifying testing 
requirements for units with multi-position configurations; and (7) 
revising the AFUE reporting precision. DOE has also revised the 
definitions of several terms in the test procedure and added an 
enforcement provision to provide a method of test for DOE to determine 
compliance with the automatic means design requirement mandated by EISA 
2007.
    DOE has withdrawn or modified all test procedure amendment 
proposals in the March 2015 NOPR for which stakeholders expressed 
concern regarding the effect of the proposed amendments on the measured 
energy efficiency of residential furnaces and boilers when compared to 
the current test procedure. In particular, as discussed in section 
III.C, DOE has withdrawn its proposal to incorporate by reference 
ASHRAE 103-2007.

III. Discussion

    The following sections discuss the products within the scope of 
this rulemaking, the test procedure amendments, other test procedure 
considerations, test burden, measured energy use, and changes to 
certification and enforcement provisions.
    In response to the March 2015 NOPR, the following twelve interested 
parties submitted written comments: The American Gas Association (AGA); 
the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); 
Burnham Holdings, Inc. (Burnham); Carrier Corporation (Carrier); John 
Cockerill (Cockerill); Goodman Global, Inc. (Goodman); Lennox 
Industries Inc. (Lennox); Lochinvar, LLC (Lochinvar); Rheem 
Manufacturing Company (Rheem); Ingersoll Rand Residential Solutions 
(Ingersoll Rand); Laclede Group; and Weil-McLain. Interested parties 
provided comments on a range of issues, including those DOE identified 
in the March 2015 NOPR, as well as issues related to the proposed test 
procedure changes. The issues on which DOE received comments, as well 
as DOE's responses to those comments and the resulting changes to the 
test procedure proposals presented in the NOPR, are discussed in the 
subsequent sections. A parenthetical reference at the end of a comment 
quotation or paraphrase provides the location of the item in the public 
record.\4\
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    \4\ The parenthetical reference provides a reference for 
information located in the docket of DOE's rulemaking to amend the 
test procedures for residential furnaces and boilers. (Docket No. 
EERE-2012-BT-TP-0024, which is maintained at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2012-BT-TP-0024). The 
references are arranged as follows: (commenter name, comment docket 
ID number, page of that document).
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A. Products Within Scope of the Final Rule

    The test procedure amendments apply to products that meet the 
definitions for residential furnaces and boilers (see DOE's regulations 
at 10 CFR 430.2). A ``furnace'' is defined as a product that: (1) 
Utilizes only single-phase electric current, or single-phase electric 
current or direct current (DC) in conjunction with natural gas, 
propane, or home heating oil; (2) is designed to be the principal 
heating source for the living space of a residence; (3) is not 
contained within the same cabinet with a central air conditioner whose 
rated cooling capacity is above 65,000 Btu per hour; (4) is an electric 
central furnace, electric boiler, forced-air central furnace, gravity 
central furnace, or low pressure steam or hot water boiler; and (5) has 
a heat input rate of less than 300,000 Btu per hour for electric 
boilers and low pressure steam or hot water boilers and less than 
225,000 Btu per hour for forced-air central furnaces, gravity central 
furnaces, and electric central furnaces.\5\
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    \5\ The definition of ``furnace'' currently in the CFR at 10 CFR 
430.2 mistakenly repeats the terms ``gravity central furnaces, and 
electric central furnaces'' at the end of the definition. In this 
final rule, DOE is correcting this error to remove the duplicative 
language.
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    The individual products within the scope of this test procedure and 
the definition of each (see DOE's regulations at 10 CFR 430.2) are 
listed below:
    (1) Electric boiler means an electrically powered furnace designed 
to supply low pressure steam or hot water for space heating 
application. A low pressure steam boiler operates at or below 15 pounds 
per square inch gauge (psig) steam pressure; a hot water boiler 
operates at or below 160 psig water pressure and 250 [deg]F water 
temperature.
    (2) Electric central furnace means a furnace that is designed to 
supply heat through a system of ducts with air as the heating medium, 
in which heat generated by one or more electric resistance heating 
elements is circulated by means of a fan or blower.
    (3) Forced-air central furnace means a furnace that burns gas or 
oil and is designed to supply heat through a system of ducts with air 
as the heating medium. The heat generated by combustion of gas or oil 
is transferred to the air within a casing by conduction through heat 
exchange surfaces and is circulated through the duct system by means of 
a fan or blower.
    (4) Gravity central furnace means a gas-fueled furnace which 
depends primarily on natural convection for circulation of heated air 
and which is designed to be used in conjunction with a system of ducts.
    (5) Low pressure steam or hot water boiler is an electric, gas, or 
oil-burning furnace designed to supply low pressure steam or hot water 
for space heating applications. A low pressure steam boiler operates at 
or below 15 psig steam pressure; a hot water boiler operates at or 
below 160 psig water pressure and 250 [deg]F water temperature.
    (6) Mobile home furnace means a direct vent furnace that is 
designed for use only in mobile homes.
    (7) Outdoor furnace or boiler is a furnace or boiler normally 
intended for installation out-of-doors or in an unheated space (such as 
an attic or a crawl space).
    (8) Weatherized warm air furnace or boiler means a furnace or 
boiler designed for installation outdoors, approved for resistance to 
wind, rain, and snow, and supplied with its own venting system.

B. General Comments

    Stakeholders submitted general comments regarding the test 
procedure and parallel energy conservation standards rulemaking 
timeline and the availability of data related to this proceeding. DOE 
discusses and responds to these comments in the following subsections.
1. Statutory Deadline
    As noted in section I, EISA 2007 requires that DOE must review test 
procedures for all covered products and amend the test procedures or 
publish a notice in the Federal Register of any determination not to 
amend test procedures at least once every seven years. (42 U.S.C. 
6293(b)(1)(A)).
    AHRI asserted that the start date for the obligation to review 
efficiency test procedures at least once every seven years has been 
reset by the July 2013 Final Rule. And, therefore, by its estimation, 
DOE has approximately five more years to review and amend, as needed, 
the test procedures for residential furnaces and boilers. AHRI added 
that this would be ample time to manage DOE's rulemaking activities 
such that proposed revisions to efficiency standards and test 
procedures are not considered concurrently. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 2)

[[Page 2631]]

    DOE notes that the July 2013 Final Rule was limited in scope and 
only intended to remedy a specific concern articulated by stakeholders. 
Specifically, the July 2013 Final Rule adopted needed equations to 
allow manufacturers the option to omit the heat up and cool down tests 
and still generate a valid AFUE measurement for certain condensing 
products. 78 FR 41265, 41266. DOE considers the seven year look back 
provision to include a comprehensive review of the entire test 
procedure. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A)) DOE did not conduct a 
comprehensive review for the July 2013 Final Rule. Furthermore, DOE 
stated in the July 2013 Final Rule that it was initiating a separate 
rulemaking that was broader in scope to examine all aspects of the DOE 
test procedure for residential furnaces and boilers. 78 FR 41265, 
41266. Therefore, DOE maintains that the July 2013 final rule did not 
meet the requirements outlined in 42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A). In contrast, 
DOE has conducted a comprehensive review as part of the current 
rulemaking, which satisfies the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 
6293(b)(1)(A).
2. Simultaneous Changes in Test Procedure and Standards
    Several stakeholders cited legal and practical concerns regarding 
the timing of proposed revisions to the test procedures and standards 
for residential furnaces and boilers. Stakeholders requested that DOE 
delay any further work on the rulemakings to amend efficiency standards 
for these products until after the finalization of the test procedure. 
(AHRI, No. 36 at p. 1; Weil-McLain, No. 31 at p. 2; Ingersoll Rand, No. 
37 at p. 5)
    AHRI stated that it believes the non-final status of the test 
procedure inhibits stakeholders' fair evaluation of the standard. AHRI 
stressed the importance of having a known efficiency test procedure. 
AHRI noted that when a test procedure is in flux, manufacturers must 
spend resources collecting potentially unusable data which undermines 
their ability to provide input on the proposed efficiency standards. 
Similarly, AHRI added that when a test procedure is not finalized, a 
manufacturer has no way of determining whether the test procedure will 
affect its ability to comply with a proposed revised standard. AHRI 
noted that DOE is required to give stakeholders the opportunity to 
provide meaningful comments and asserted that the joint proposal of 
test procedures and standards diminishes that opportunity (see 42 
U.S.C. 6295(p)(2), 6306(a)). (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 1)
    In response to AHRI, DOE does not believe that the timing of the 
test procedure and standards rulemakings has negatively impacted 
stakeholders' ability to provide meaningful comment on this test 
procedure rulemaking. DOE allowed four months for public comment on the 
test procedure NOPR. Additionally, DOE's original proposal included an 
update to the latest industry standard (i.e., ASHARE 103-2007), which 
was developed by a consensus-based ASHRAE process, and was released in 
2007. DOE believes that industry was involved in developing that 
standard and had experience with the changes in the 2007 version of 
ASHRAE Standard 103. Lastly, stakeholders provided detailed, insightful 
comments on all aspects of the proposal, including submitting select 
test data in response to DOE's proposal, which shows that industry was 
able to carefully consider the proposed method and how it compared to 
the current Federal method of test. In addition, DOE has taken AHRI's 
concerns regarding the potential impact of test procedure changes on 
measured energy use into account in its determinations of which test 
procedure proposals to finalize in this rulemaking.
    AHRI and Goodman stated that by publishing the March 2015 NOPR 
within weeks of the proposed efficiency standard, DOE has failed to 
abide by the procedures located at 10 CFR part 430, subpart C, appendix 
A (7)(b). (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 2; Goodman, No. 33 at p. 2) AHRI stated 
that the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) requires agencies to abide 
by their policies and procedures, especially where those rules have a 
substantive effect. AHRI asserted that the non-final test procedure has 
the substantive effect of increasing costs to stakeholders and 
diminishing their ability to comment on the efficiency standards. 
(AHRI, No. 36 at p. 2; Weil-McLain, No. 31 at p. 7)
    In response to the comments from AHRI and Goodman asserting that 
DOE has failed to abide by its procedures at 10 CFR 430, subpart C, 
appendix A (7)(b), DOE notes that appendix A establishes procedures, 
interpretations, and policies to guide DOE in the consideration and 
promulgation of new or revised appliance efficiency standards under 
EPCA. (See section 1 of 10 CFR part 430, subpart C, appendix A) Those 
procedures are a general guide to the steps DOE typically follows in 
promulgating energy conservation standards. The guidance recognizes 
that DOE can and will, on occasion, deviate from the typical process. 
Accordingly, DOE has concluded that there is no basis to either: (1) 
Delay the final rules adopting standards for residential furnaces and 
boilers; or (2) suspend the test procedure rulemaking until the 
standards rulemaking has been completed.
    Ingersoll Rand and Goodman stated their concern that two-stage, 
condensing furnaces that would meet the March 12, 2015 furnace proposed 
rule of 92-percent AFUE under the current test procedure would not meet 
the 92-percent AFUE standard under the proposed DOE test procedure. 
Ingersoll Rand noted that the two test procedures were assumed to be 
identical in the March 12, 2015 residential furnace standard NOPR 
technical support document. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 2; Goodman, 
No. 33 at p. 1) Similarly, Weil-McLain suggested that the uncertainty 
caused by the simultaneous test procedure rulemaking amplifies venting 
issues present in the residential boiler standards NOPR. (Weil-McLain, 
No. 31 at p. 3)
    In response to Ingersoll Rand and Goodman, as discussed in section 
III.C, DOE declines to adopt the latest industry standard of ASHRAE 
103-2007, which is the only amendment proposed in the March 2015 NOPR 
that manufacturers claimed could alter the AFUE for two-stage and 
modulating condensing products. In response to Weil-McLain, DOE notes 
that none of the proposed test procedure provisions that had the 
potential to result in a change in measured AFUE are adopted in this 
test procedure final rule, as discussed in section III.G.
3. Lack of Data Availability
    In response the March 2015 NOPR, interested parties submitted 
comments regarding lack of data availability. For example, the March 
2015 NOPR included several references to a testing report. 80 FR 12876, 
12878. Burnham stated that in spite of requests from commenters, the 
testing report was not available in the public docket as of July 8, 
2015. Burnham added that the lack of access to the testing report has 
made it impossible to properly review the impact of ambient conditions 
on AFUE during the public comment period. Burnham requested that the 
comment period be extended to allow comment on this document which 
should be disclosed immediately. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 7)
    DOE made the test results available during the test procedure 
public meeting.\6\ The slide deck presented at

[[Page 2632]]

the public meeting was posted to the docket on March 26, 2015, along 
with the transcript of the public meeting. (Public Meeting Presentation 
Slides, No. 21) Therefore, stakeholders were presented with an 
opportunity to review and discuss the data with the Department at the 
public meeting and to review the results during the comment period, 
which was open until July 10, 2015.
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    \6\ Test results included in the slide deck for the public 
meeting include those for proposed changes related to AFUE 
determination for two-stage/modulating products, measurement of 
condensate under steady state conditions, electric consumption of 
components, and verification test for automatic means for adjusting 
the water temperature in boilers. DOE did not provide test results 
for ambient conditions or other testing for which no changes were 
proposed in the NOPR.
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C. Proposed Incorporation by Reference of ASHRAE Standard 103-2007

    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed amendments to reduce 
variability, eliminate ambiguity, and address discrepancies between the 
test procedure and actual field conditions, and DOE requested comment 
on its proposals. 80 FR 12876, 12902. One of these proposals was to 
update its incorporation by reference of the industry test standard 
ASHRAE 103-1993 to ASHRAE 103-2007.
    DOE received several comments in response to its proposal to update 
the incorporation by reference in the DOE test procedure to ASHRAE 103-
2007. Lochinvar and AGA responded to the NOPR in favor of adopting 
ASHRAE 103-2007 provided that DOE make adequate allowances for the 
resulting test burden and the impact that the change would have on 
existing efficiency claims. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 1; AGA, No. 27 at 
p. 4) Similarly, Burnham stated that they are not opposed to the update 
provided test burden is reduced. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 3)
    Ingersoll Rand and Rheem stated their support only for certain 
provisions of ASHRAE 103-2007. Specifically, Ingersoll Rand supported 
requiring only reduced fire testing (and not high-fire testing) when 
the calculated balance point temperature is less than or equal to five 
degrees. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 4) Rheem stated their support 
for the elimination of table 8 and the average design heating 
requirements in ASHRAE 103-1993. (Rheem, No. 30 at p. 2)
    Lennox and Weil-McLain suggested DOE not update to ASHRAE 103-2007 
at this time. (Lennox, No. 32 at p. 2; Weil-McLain, No. 31 at p. 7) 
AHRI and Weil-McLain suggested that DOE wait to modify the test 
procedure until ASHRAE 103-2016 is issued. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 8; Weil-
McLain, No. 31 at p. 7) Carrier suggested that DOE not update to ASHRAE 
103-2007, but change the AFUE metric for forced-air furnaces to be 
based on the steady-state operation, as discussed in section III.E.4. 
(Carrier, No. 34 at p. 2)
    Several commenters suggested that that the updating to ASHRAE 103-
2007 would result in more significant changes to AFUE ratings than 
suggested by DOE in the March 2015 NOPR. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 3; 
Lennox, No. 32 at p. 2; AGA, No. 27 at p. 4; AHRI, No. 36 at p. 4; 
Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 2) Of these commenters, only AHRI provided 
test data, which indicated small changes in AFUE as a result of changes 
to the cyclical condensate test for modulating condensing boilers. 
(AHRI, No. 36 at p. 17)
    Burnham and Ingersoll Rand suggested that the impact to AFUE 
resulting from the changes in cycle times is still uncertain. 
Therefore, it is not possible to conclude that the effect of this 
proposed change to the procedure is insignificant. (Burnham, No. 35 at 
p. 3; Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 2) Ingersoll Rand noted that as a 
result of adopting ASHRAE 103-2007, two-stage and modulating non-
condensing furnaces will have a higher AFUE rating, and condensing 
furnaces will have lower AFUE ratings. Ingersoll Rand noted that the 
changes in AFUE are higher than the uncertainty of the test procedure 
reported by DOE and therefore this change to the test procedure cannot 
be considered de minimis. Ingersoll Rand also noted that the test 
results are limited and have high variability. Ingersoll Rand suggested 
that the change not be adopted until the variability is better 
understood. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 2) AGA suggested that the 
Department substantially increase the amount of testing using the 
modified test procedure to ensure that the resulting efficiency rating 
for both furnaces and boilers are accurate and repeatable. (AGA, No. 27 
at p. 4)
    Similarly, Ingersoll Rand suggested the calculation to account for 
post purge times longer than three minutes not be adopted without test 
data indicating the adjustment to AFUE that would result from this 
update. Ingersoll Rand stated that without test data they cannot 
determine if the new readings would be representative of a unit's 
performance. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 4)
    In response to the March 2015 NOPR, Ingersoll Rand requested that 
DOE not adopt the proposed changes to the calculation of annual 
auxiliary electrical energy consumption (EAE) caused by the 
update to ASHRAE 103-2007. Ingersoll Rand stated that the calculation 
of EAE proposed in the March 2015 NOPR changes the value of 
EAE substantially from -8.5 percent to +13.5 percent. 
Ingersoll Rand noted that this change, along with the proposal to 
include the electrical consumption of additional components is 
significant enough that all current furnaces would have to be retested 
and recertified. Ingersoll Rand requested that DOE reconsider its 
finding that the amended test procedure would have a ``de minimis 
impact on the products' measured energy use'' and instead find that the 
proposed test procedure amendment has a significant impact on measured 
electricity consumption. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 5)
    Several commenters stated that the changes to AFUE caused by 
updating to ASHRAE 103-2007 would lead to additional testing burden. 
(Burnham, No. 35 at p. 3; Lennox, No. 32 at p. 2; AHRI, No. 36 at p. 4) 
AHRI stated that the change to use calculated values for tON 
and tOFF will at a minimum require retesting for any step-
modulating models at the reduced input rate and for many two stage 
models at both the maximum and reduced input rates. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 
4)
    Given this expected test burden, Lochinvar argued that if DOE is to 
adopt ASHRAE 103-2007, DOE must declare in writing that products 
certified according to ASHRAE 103-1993 that were on the market prior to 
updating the test procedure are not required to be retested and 
recertified unless the design is changed in a way that affects 
efficiency. Lochinvar suggested that future audit tests of pre-existing 
products could still be conducted according to ASHRAE 103-2007 but that 
manufacturers should not be required to do new tests on existing models 
for certification reporting to DOE's Compliance Certification 
Management System (CCMS). (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 1)
    Burnham also commented that their efforts to explore the impact of 
adoption of ASHRAE 103-2007 have been hampered by the lack of generally 
available, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
validated software tools for calculating AFUE (and intermediate values) 
based on ASHRAE 103-2007. Burnham argued that the lack of software is a 
significant departure from past practice during comparable rulemakings. 
Burnham also asserted that this constituted a lack of transparency that 
would violate basic administrative law precepts and would be arbitrary 
and capricious. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 3)
    After considering these comments, DOE agrees that further 
evaluation is

[[Page 2633]]

needed to determine the impact of adopting ASHRAE 103-2007 on the AFUE 
ratings of residential furnace and boiler models currently distributed 
in commerce. As a result, DOE does not adopt ASHRAE 103-2007 in this 
final rule. Instead, DOE retains the reference in the existing test 
procedure to ASHRAE 103-1993, both related to AFUE and EAE. 
However, DOE believes ASHRAE 103-2007 better accounts for the operation 
of two-stage and modulating equipment and may further evaluate adoption 
of ASHRAE 103-2007, or a successor standard, in future rulemakings. In 
addition to retaining the reference to ASHRAE 103-1993, DOE revises the 
list of excluded ASHRAE 103-1993 sections to reflect test procedure 
amendments (as discussed in section III.D) and to more accurately 
identify the excluded sections.
    DOE does not agree with Burnham's assertion that the lack of an 
automated software program implementing the equations presented in 
DOE's proposal hampered stakeholder's ability to comment on the 
practicability and the impact of the adoption of ASHRAE 103-2007. DOE 
does not endorse specific calculations tools commonly developed by 
industry or third-party test laboratories that automate the equations 
provided in DOE's regulations. Furthermore, DOE does not need to 
provide software for interested parties to be able to perform the 
calculations in proposed test procedure amendments and believes the 
simplified equations provided in the proposed rule can be easily 
implemented through a desktop-software calculation tool such as a 
commonly available spreadsheet application. Lastly, DOE disagrees with 
Burnham's assertion that the proposed rule was not sufficiently clear 
to provide an opportunity for interested parties to understand the 
proposal and provide meaningful comment because each of the equations 
utilized was presented in the regulatory text within the proposed rule 
in a step-by-step fashion.

D. Test Procedure Amendments

    In response to the March 2015 NOPR, DOE received input on a variety 
of test procedure issues beyond incorporation of ASHRAE 103-2007, 
including: (1) Electrical power of additional components; (2) smoke 
stick test for determining use of minimum default draft factors; (3) 
measurement of condensate under steady-state conditions; (4) I&O manual 
reference and proposed clarifications when the I&O manual does not 
specify test setup; (5) specifying ductwork requirements for units that 
are installed without a return duct; (6) specifying testing 
requirements for units with multi-position configurations; (7) AFUE 
reporting precision; (8) room ambient temperature and humidity ranges; 
(9) full-fuel-cycle (FFC) energy metrics in the AFUE test; (10) 
oversize factor values; (11) alternative methods for furnace and boiler 
efficiency determination; and (12) test method for combination 
appliances. DOE amends the test procedure for residential furnaces and 
boilers regarding issues (1)-(7), which are addressed in further detail 
below. Issues (8)-(12), for which DOE does not amend the test procedure 
in this final rule, are discussed in section III.E. DOE also received 
comments on the verification test for automatic means for adjusting 
water temperature, which are discussed in section III.H.1.
1. Electrical Power of Components
    In the January 2013 RFI and March 2015 NOPR, DOE noted that the 
specific method of electrical measurement prescribed in the existing 
DOE test procedure does not explicitly capture the electrical power 
associated with all auxiliary components. The method identifies PE as 
the electrical power used to operate the burner but only explicitly 
mentions measurements of the power supplied to the power burner motor, 
the ignition device, and the circulation water pump, but does not 
explicitly identify other devices that use power during the active 
mode, such as the gas valve, safety and operating controls, and a 
secondary pump for boilers (i.e., boiler pump) used to maintain a 
minimum flow rate through the boiler heat exchanger, which is most 
typically associated with condensing boiler designs. 78 FR 675, 678; 80 
FR 12876, 12882. In response to the January 2013 RFI, several 
stakeholders, including Lennox, Rheem, and AHRI, stated that 
manufacturers already measure all electrical power associated with the 
additional components DOE listed in the January 2013 RFI. (Lennox, No. 
6 at p. 3; Rheem, No. 12 at p. 10; AHRI, No. 13 at p. 6) Therefore, to 
clarify which components are included in the power measurements, in the 
March 2015 NOPR DOE proposed to add two new terms to the calculations 
of the average annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
(EAE) to capture the electrical power of the boiler pump 
(BES) and the gas valve and controls (EO), if 
present. DOE requested comment on these proposed amendments. 80 FR 
12876, 12902.
    AHRI expressed the view that the proposed changes over-complicate 
this issue and that the proposed measurements will change the 
measurement of EAE. AHRI stated that the typical gas burner 
will not operate unless both the ignition system and gas control (e.g., 
automatic valves) are energized, which DOE acknowledges by including 
the power of the energized electric ignition device in the definition 
of PE. AHRI stated that the definition of PE should be clarified to 
include all electrical energy consumption that relates to the functions 
of igniting and operating the burner during the on cycle. (AHRI, No. 36 
at p. 5)
    Burnham supported DOE's proposal to measure all electrical 
consumption associated with operating the burner (PE), which should 
include the power consumption of any additional pump which is needed to 
provide adequate flow through the boiler itself without also providing 
significant flow through the heating system. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4)
    Lochinvar stated that, in its experience, all electrical power 
consumption measurements made during an AFUE test are made at the power 
supply connection to the boiler and account for all auxiliary 
components. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 2) Lochinvar stated that while the 
proposed change in the measurement of electrical consumption seems 
unnecessary, it does not object to the revision.
    After reviewing the comments on the March 2015 NOPR, DOE agrees 
with the alternative approach suggested by AHRI to make explicit that 
all of the electrical energy provided to the burner is captured in the 
EAE measurement. Rather than including the additional terms 
in the equation for EAE as proposed in the NOPR, DOE 
clarifies the definition of PE to include all of the electrical power 
that relates to burner operation, including energizing the ignition 
system, controls, gas valve or oil control valve, and draft inducer, if 
applicable.\7\ In addition, DOE agrees with Burnham that the electrical 
power of the boiler pump, if present, should be accounted for in the 
electrical measurements for boilers. Therefore, DOE further amends the 
definition of PE for boilers to include the electrical power of the 
boiler pump. In cases where the boiler pump power might not be captured 
in the electrical power measurement because it is not operating at that 
time, DOE will require the nameplate power to be added to PE, and if 
nameplate power is not available, then manufacturers must include a

[[Page 2634]]

default value of 0.13 kW. This is the same as the current default value 
for a circulating water pump, and DOE understands that the power of the 
boiler pump is similar to that of a typical circulating water pump. DOE 
revises sections 8.1, 8.2, and 10.4 of appendix N to subpart B of 10 
CFR part 430 to reflect the clarification of the definition of PE.
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    \7\ The existing DOE test procedure states in section 10.4.1 
that PE is the ``burner electrical power input at full load steady-
state operation, including electrical ignition device if energized, 
as defined in 9.1.2.2 of ASHRAE 103-1993.''
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    The revised section 2 of appendix N defines the individual 
components that are measured as part of PE:
     Control means a device used to regulate the operation of a 
piece of equipment and the supply of fuel, electricity, air, or water.
     Draft inducer means a fan incorporated in the furnace or 
boiler that either draws or forces air into the combustion chamber.
     Gas valve means an automatic or semi-automatic device 
consisting essentially of a valve and operator that controls the gas 
supply to the burner(s) during normal operation of an appliance. The 
operator may be actuated by application of gas pressure on a flexible 
diaphragm, by electrical means, by mechanical means or by other means.
     Oil control valve means an automatically or manually 
operated device consisting of an oil valve for controlling the fuel 
supply to a burner to regulate burner input.
     Boiler pump means a pump installed on a boiler that 
maintains adequate water flow through the boiler heat exchanger and 
that is separate from the circulating water pump.
    Although these definitions were not explicitly proposed in the 
NOPR, they provide additional clarity about the definition of PE, 
consistent with the proposal in the NOPR to improve the regulatory text 
to reflect that PE includes the electrical power of all auxiliary 
components.
    Carrier noted that DOE in the past had held to the policy of not 
making changes that will negatively impact present ratings. The 
electrically-efficient furnaces ratio, known as ``e'', will increase 
with the additional requirement, making some products lose their ENERGY 
STAR[supreg] qualification. Carrier stated that including additional 
electrical components along with the blower electrical consumption is 
equivalent to changing the ENERGY STAR qualifying standard without 
justifying the value. (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 4)
    In response to Carrier's concerns, DOE notes that the definition of 
PE has always been the electrical energy input to the burner and that 
the amendments adopted in this rule merely make explicit additional 
components that are commonly incorporated into burners. Further, as 
noted in many other stakeholder comments, most manufacturers already 
measure the electrical power of all the auxiliary components that are 
listed in the revised definition of PE. Therefore, clarifying the 
additional components in the definition of PE will not affect ENERGY 
STAR ratings for most furnaces. Furthermore, the clarification of the 
definition of PE ensures more accurate and consistent reporting of 
energy consumption in the residential furnaces and boilers market.
    Weil-McLain stated that the new electrical testing requirements 
would not allow the manufacturer to interpolate results from tests 
because the electrical load will not scale in the same manner as other 
aspects of a boiler. This means hundreds of new tests will need to be 
run, imposing substantial cost and burden. (Weil-McLain, No. 31 at p. 
6)
    In response to Weil-McLain's comment, DOE notes that only cast iron 
sectional boilers may be certified based on linear interpolation, as 
specified in 10 CFR 429.18(b)(3). As stated previously, the amendment 
of the definition of PE will not impose additional burden because it 
does not change the definition but merely clarifies the components 
included in measurement of PE. In addition, DOE's understanding is that 
cast iron sectional boilers are typically non-condensing models that do 
not have boiler pumps.
    Burnham recommended that DOE provide regulatory provisions to 
ensure that electrical consumption is measured with the controls 
normally shipped with the boiler. Such provisions are required because 
in many cases it is impossible to perform the AFUE test using controls 
having an automatic means of adjusting water temperature, making 
replacement of the standard controls during the AFUE test mandatory. 
(Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4) DOE notes that the electrical power 
measurement during the steady-state test does not account for 
electrical power outside of normal steady-state operation. Therefore, 
any controls operation outside of the steady-state test, such as 
automatic means for adjusting water temperature, are not included in 
the electrical power measurement.
2. Smoke Stick Test for Determining Use of Minimum Default Off-Cycle 
and Power Burner Draft Factors
    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to leave the default draft 
factor values for furnaces and boilers unchanged from the existing text 
procedure. 80 FR 12876, 12885. DOE did not receive any comments on this 
issue, and does not amend the default draft factor values for this 
final rule.
    In addition, to determine if a unit has no measureable airflow 
through the heat exchanger such that manufacturers may use the minimum 
default draft factors, DOE proposed in the March 2015 NOPR to 
incorporate a test based on the use of a smoke stick to establish the 
absence of flow through the heat exchanger. DOE requested input on 
whether, in addition to the proposed smoke stick test, other options 
exist for indicating the absence of flow through the heat exchanger. 80 
FR 12876, 12902.
    Lochinvar stated that it appreciates and supports the DOE's 
affirmation of the use of smoke for visual determination of no-flow 
conditions in the vent. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 4) Similarly, Rheem 
stated that although the proposed procedure is not quantitative, it is 
more definitive than ``absolutely no chance of airflow through the 
combustion chamber and heat exchanger when the burner is off.'' (Rheem, 
No. 30 at p. 3)
    Ingersoll Rand and Carrier stated that the proposed procedure 
requires a detailed definition of the ``smoke stick device'' and test 
method to be created and made available. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 
5; Carrier, No. 34 at p. 5) Ingersoll Rand stated that the test method 
and materials to be used need to be explicitly documented to ensure 
that all test labs generate repeatable and reproducible test results. 
(Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 5) Carrier also requested additional 
information as to where smoke sticks can be obtained commercially. 
(Carrier, No. 34 at p. 5)
    DOE agrees with Rheem that the test procedure is not quantitative; 
however, the purpose of the test is to provide a visual assessment of 
no airflow, not a quantitative measure of airflow. Regarding the 
Ingersoll Rand and Carrier request to provide a detailed definition of 
the smoke stick device, DOE notes that smoke sticks are commercially 
available and routinely used for visualization purposes, and DOE does 
not endorse a specific type of smoke stick device. In addition, DOE 
believes that the exact amount of smoke produced by the smoke stick is 
not essential to the reproducibility of the results.
    Ingersoll Rand expressed concern about air flow in the lab and if 
manufacturers can fix their venting such that air does not flow through 
it. (Ingersoll Rand, Public Meeting Transcript, No. 23 at p. 117) 
Similarly, Carrier requested DOE to add clarification to the procedure 
to ensure that the smoke stick is not affected by

[[Page 2635]]

the ventilation system when used. Carrier also expressed concern about 
the use of a smoke-generating device in a lab area that is not 
appropriately ventilated. (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 5)
    In response to Ingersoll Rand, DOE already specified that all air 
currents and drafts be minimized for the smoke stick test in the March 
2015 NOPR. For this final rule, DOE explicitly states that ventilation 
should be turned off if the test area is mechanically ventilated, and 
to minimize air currents if there is no mechanical ventilation. To 
address Carrier's safety concerns, DOE clarifies that the smoke 
produced by the smoke stick must be non-toxic to the test personnel. 
DOE is confident that the smoke stick test as proposed in the NOPR and 
modified based on the clarifications recommended by stakeholders will 
ensure repeatable and reproducible test results. Therefore, DOE adopts 
the modified optional smoke stick test to determine the absence of flow 
through the heat exchanger.
    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE also proposed to include revisions to 
the requirements of sections 8.8.3 and 9.10 of ASHRAE 103-2007 to 
accommodate the use of the smoke stick test, and, to reduce redundancy, 
to eliminate use of the term ``absolutely'' from ``absolutely no chance 
of airflow'' in sections 8.8.3 and 9.7.4 of ASHRAE 103-2007. 80 FR 
12876, 12902. DOE received no comment on these proposals. Even though 
DOE has decided not to adopt ASHRAE 103-2007 and instead retain 
reference to ASHRAE 103-1993, the relevant sections do not differ 
between the two versions. Therefore, DOE is adding sections 7.10 and 
8.10 to appendix N and revising sections 10.2 and 10.3 of appendix N to 
accommodate the use of the smoke stick test and is eliminating the use 
of the term ``absolutely'' from ``absolutely no chance of airflow'' in 
sections 8.8.3 and 9.7.4 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (included as sections 7.10 
and 8.9 of appendix N) for determining the use of the minimum default 
draft factors.
3. Condensate Collection During the Establishment of Steady State 
Conditions
    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to allow for the condensate 
mass to be measured during the establishment of steady-state 
conditions, rather than after steady-state has been achieved. 80 FR 
12876, 12881. Section 9.2 of ASHRAE 103-1993 requires that the 
measurement of condensate shall be conducted during the 30-minute 
period after steady-state conditions have been established. For the 
March 2015 NOPR, DOE investigated the difference in condensate mass 
collected and the rate of condensate production during the two separate 
periods (i.e., during the establishment of steady-state conditions and 
after steady-state conditions have been reached) and determined that 
there is no significant difference in the mass of condensate collected 
or the rate of condensate production during the two separate 
timeframes.
    In response to the March 2015 NOPR, Lennox, Lochinvar and AHRI 
stated their support for the allowance to measure condensate during the 
establishment of steady[hyphen]state conditions. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at 
p. 2; Lennox, No. 32 at p. 3; AHRI, No. 36 at p.5; Ingersoll Rand, No. 
37 at p. 5) However, Lennox, AHRI and Ingersoll Rand each noted that to 
avoid an unintended consequence of causing manufacturers to retest 
existing models, this change should be clearly identified as an option 
to the current procedure. (Lennox, No. 32 at p. 3 Lennox, No. 32 at p. 
3; AHRI, No. 36 at p.5; Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 5) Carrier also 
agreed that the condensate collection can be done during the steady 
state period, so long as clarification is added to prevent testing with 
dry heat exchangers. (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 4)
    On the other hand, Rheem did not support allowing the measurement 
of condensate during the establishment of steady state conditions. 
(Rheem, No. 30 at p.1) Rheem argued that condensate measurements have a 
significant impact on the final calculated AFUE value and that 
additional variation in the condensate measurement procedure will add 
variation to the test procedure. Rheem believes that the time spent to 
establish steady-state conditions is worthwhile and should not be 
eliminated. (Rheem, No. 30 at p.1)
    DOE understands commenters' concerns regarding the test burden 
associated with the need to retest existing models to the new test 
procedure. Therefore, DOE has made the ability to measure condensate 
during the establishment of steady-state conditions an option, not a 
requirement. This change is incorporated in section 8.4 of appendix N.
    In response to Rheem, DOE notes that test data indicate a similar 
rate of condensate mass production in both the establishment of steady-
state, and measurement of condensate test intervals. Therefore, DOE 
does not expect any impact on AFUE to result from the allowance of this 
optional procedure.
4. Installation and Operation Manual Reference
    The existing DOE test procedure language, which refers in some 
locations to ``manufacturer recommendations'' or ``manufacturer 
instructions'', can lead to the use of ad hoc instructions derived 
solely for testing purposes. To clarify the test procedure language, 
DOE proposed in the March 2015 NOPR that testing recommendations should 
be drawn from each product's I&O manual. DOE also provided alternate 
instructions if the I&O manual did not contain the necessary testing 
recommendations. 80 FR 12876, 12883. Lastly, in the March 2015 NOPR, 
DOE proposed to require manufacturers to request a test procedure 
waiver from DOE when the DOE test procedure provisions and I&O manuals 
are not sufficient for testing a furnace or boiler. Id. These 
proposals, comments received, and responses are discussed in the 
following sub-sections.
a. Reference to I&O Manual
    DOE did not receive any comments objecting to reference the 
manufacturer's I&O manuals instead of ``manufacturer's instructions'' 
or ``manufacturer's recommendations.'' Therefore, DOE replaces all 
references to ``manufacturer's instructions'' or ``manufacturer's 
recommendations'' in ASHRAE 103-1993 with ``I&O manual'' in appendix 
N.\8\ However, in response to the March 2015 NOPR, Burnham suggested 
revising the definition of I&O manual in section 2.7 because many oil 
boilers do not carry a safety listing as a packaged unit; rather, they 
are comprised of separately listed components. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 
5) DOE agrees with Burnham that some boilers do not carry safety 
listings as packaged units and thus excludes the reference to the 
product's safety listing in the adopted definition of I&O manual in 
section 2 of appendix N.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ DOE replaced references in sections 7.1, 7.2.2.2, 7.2.2.5, 
7.2.3.1, 7.8, 8.2.1.3, 8.3.3.1, 8.4.1.1, 8.4.1.1.2, 8.4.1.2, 
8.4.2.1.4, 8.4.2.1.6, 8.7.2, and 9.5.1.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993 with 
sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 
7.9, and 8.5 of appendix N, respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Proposed Specific Instructions for Adjusting Combustion Airflow
    In the NOPR, DOE proposed specific instructions for adjusting 
combustion airflow to achieve an excess air ratio, flue O2 
percentage, or flue CO2 percentage to within the middle 30th 
percentile of the acceptable range specified in the I&O manual. AHRI 
stated that the specification of ``the 30th percentile of the 
acceptable range'' is confusing. The 30th percentile is a

[[Page 2636]]

single value so it is not clear what is meant by ``the middle of the 
30th percentile.'' (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 3) Ingersoll Rand stated that 
the proposed burner adjustments are more restrictive than both the 
current test procedure and the specifications found in ASHRAE Standard 
103-2007. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 6) Burnham stated that while it 
supports DOE's effort to more closely tie air fuel ratio used during 
the test with what can be expected in the field, DOE needs to recognize 
that the industry practice has been to use the CO2 at the 
top end of the range (or in some cases even higher) in the I&O manual. 
(Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4) Lochinvar objected to the proposed changes, 
stating that forcing boiler manufacturers to test at the maximum input 
rate and the middle air-fuel ratio is not typical of field 
installations, is inconsistent with past rating methods, and will force 
manufacturers to rerate boilers based on this test procedure change. 
Lochinvar suggested adopting language from section 5.3 of AHRI Standard 
1500, which uses the CO2 at the top of the manufacturer's 
specified range, to provide improved clarity and specificity regarding 
the air-fuel adjustment and to be more consistent with current industry 
practice, with much less potential to force manufacturers to retest and 
rerate existing products.\9\ (Lochinvar, No. 29 at pp. 2-3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ AHRI Standard 1500 is available at http://ahrinet.org/site/686/Standards/HVACR-Industry-Standards/Search-Standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Lennox, AHRI, and Burnham noted that the proposed adjustment of the 
CO2 percentage on gas- and oil-fired boilers would 
significantly affect AFUE. (Lennox, No. 32 at p. 3; AHRI, No. 36 at pp. 
3-4; Burnham, No. 35 at pp. 2, 4) AHRI stated that the results of the 
testing of three residential boilers that it conducted at Intertek 
Testing Laboratories indicate that the proposed revised burner setup 
requirements change AFUE by 0.3 percent for each 1 percent difference 
in the CO2 values. (AHRI, No. 36 at pp. 3-4) Burnham stated 
that based on test data that it provided, for an oil-fired hot water 
boiler with an 11.5 to 12.5 percent CO2 adjustment range in 
the I&O manual, DOE's proposed adjustment would reduce AFUE by as much 
as 1.0 percent compared to the rating under the existing test 
procedure. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 2) Burnham stated that the proposed 
change to the requirements for adjusting CO2 will have a 
significant impact on the existing ratings for many boilers, and that 
DOE needs to take this into account when evaluating the burden imposed 
by this rule, as well as promulgating the parallel residential boiler 
standards rulemaking currently underway. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4)
    Carrier, Ingersoll Rand, and Rheem stated that most modern furnaces 
do not have the capability to make combustion air adjustments because 
the practice of including primary air shutters is no longer widely used 
on modern gas furnaces with fan-assisted or power burners. (Carrier, 
No. 34 at pp. 3-4; Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 6; Rheem No. 30 at p. 
3) AHRI and Burnham also stated that for many gas furnaces and boilers 
that use atmospheric burners or other equipment with no means of 
adjusting CO2 in the field, these adjustments to the excess 
air ratio cannot be made. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 3, Burnham, No. 35 at p. 
4) Carrier, Ingersoll Rand, and Burnham stated that DOE needs to 
exclude from these requirements burners that have no capability to make 
combustion air adjustments. (Carrier, No. 34 at pp. 3-4; Ingersoll 
Rand, No. 37 at p. 6; Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4)
    Burnham stated that some type of tolerance is needed for adjusting 
CO2 when the I&O manual provides only a single or maximum 
value, as opposed to a range. To address this issue, Burnham suggested 
adopting the language in section 5.3 of AHRI Standard 1500, which 
essentially sets a fixed tolerance of 0.1 percent and uses 
the CO2 at the top, as opposed to the middle, of the 
manufacturer's specified range.\10\ (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ AHRI Standard 1500 is available at http://ahrinet.org/site/686/Standards/HVACR-Industry-Standards/Search-Standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After reviewing stakeholders' comments on the specific instructions 
for adjusting combustion airflow, DOE concurs that further study is 
needed to determine the impact on AFUE of the CO2 percentage 
proposed in the March 2015 NOPR and the AHRI 1500 requirements 
suggested by certain stakeholders. As such, for this final rule, DOE 
does not adopt the specific instructions for adjusting combustion 
airflow to achieve an excess air ratio, flue O2 percentage, 
or flue CO2 percentage to within the middle 30th percentile 
of the acceptable range specified in the I&O manual. Instead, in 
sections 7.3 and 7.5 of appendix N, DOE retains the instructions in 
accordance with ASHRAE 103-1993 section 8.4.1.1 for gas burners to set 
the primary air shutters to give a good flame with no deposit of carbon 
during the test procedure, and section 8.4.1.2 for oil burners to give 
a CO2 reading as specified in the I&O manual and an hourly 
Btu input within 2% of the normal hourly Btu input rating 
as specified in the I&O manual. DOE understands from stakeholder 
comments that the instructions in the existing test procedure to adjust 
the primary air shutters for gas units are not applicable to many 
modern furnaces and boilers. However, DOE has determined that further 
investigation is required before amending these test procedure 
requirements.
c. Waiver Process for Additional Test Instructions
    In response to DOE's proposal that manufacturers request a test 
procedure waiver from DOE when the DOE test procedure provisions and 
I&O manuals are not sufficient for testing a furnace or boiler, Burnham 
stated that the proposed waiver process is unduly burdensome, given the 
use of increasingly complex control and burner systems. To reduce the 
frequency with which waivers are required, Burnham suggested that DOE 
adopt a repository for ``special test instructions'' similar to that 
which DOE currently has in place for commercial boilers. (Burnham, No. 
35 at p. 5) Lennox and AHRI similarly stated that if DOE is concerned 
about the situation where the manufacturer does not provide any 
recommended settings in the I&O manual, DOE should allow manufacturer 
to provide information on unit setup for testing as part of the 
certification report as is done for commercial and industrial 
equipment. (Lennox, No. 32 at p. 3; AHRI, No. 36 at pp. 4, 6)
    In response to stakeholders' comments, DOE notes that manufacturers 
have control over what information is specified in the I&O manual. 
Furthermore, the test procedure provides defaults for most requirements 
that are based on the I&O manual. As such, DOE believes the 
instructions given in the test procedure and I&O manuals should be 
sufficient for testing in most cases. Therefore, DOE is not amending 
its certification provisions to permit manufacturers to report test-
specific instructions as supplemental information in cases where the 
I&O manual does not provide instructions, and is implementing the 
requirement to request a waiver in section 6.1.a of appendix N. DOE 
also notes that the waiver procedure provides a feedback loop by which 
DOE learns of issues manufacturers are encountering with the test 
procedure and yields amendments to the test procedure through 
rulemaking to address those issues.

[[Page 2637]]

5. Duct Work for Units That Are Installed Without a Return Duct
    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to add a provision in the test 
procedure clarifying that the return (inlet) duct is not required 
during testing for units that, according to the I&O manual, are 
intended to be installed without a return duct. 80 FR 12876, 12902-
12903.
    In response, Rheem, Carrier, and Ingersoll Rand agreed that a unit 
that is intended to be installed without a return duct should be tested 
without a return duct. (Rheem, No. 30 at p. 3; Carrier, No. 34 at p. 6; 
Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 5) In addition, Carrier recommended that 
DOE adopt figure 2 in exhibit 1 of Carrier's comment, which clarifies 
the use of a return duct for gas furnaces. (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 6)
    DOE agrees with stakeholders and adopts the amendment clarifying 
that units intended to be installed without a return duct are not 
required to use the return (inlet) duct during testing. After reviewing 
the figure provided by Carrier, DOE believes that the language is 
sufficient and an additional figure is unnecessary.
6. Testing Requirements for Multi-Position Configurations
    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to require that multi-position 
furnaces be tested using the least-efficient position.\11\ DOE also 
proposed to explicitly allow manufacturers to test multi-position 
furnaces in other configurations and report the AFUE ratings for each 
position. 80 FR 12876, 12886.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ A multi-position furnace is a furnace that can be installed 
in more than one airflow configuration (e.g., upflow or horizontal; 
downflow or horizontal; and upflow, downflow or horizontal).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response, AHRI stated that they believe that manufacturers 
already test in the least-efficient configuration. (AHRI, Public 
Meeting Transcript, No. 23 at p. 123)
    Carrier stated that in the past, it has tested and displayed the 
AFUE by orientation of installation; however, it no longer does so 
because the multiple ratings by position did not give customers any 
benefit. Because the setup requirements of the DOE test procedure 
already cause furnaces to operate at the lowest efficiency, thus making 
AFUE ratings conservative for the average installation, Carrier 
recommended that DOE drop the requirement to test in all positions and 
simplify the testing to be in the most commonly installed position of 
the furnace. If DOE were to require testing in all positions, Carrier 
proposed an alternative to allow single rating that is weighted based 
on percent of applications by configuration and installation location 
to reduce sample testing burden and not confuse consumers with excess 
information. (Carrier, No. 34 at pp. 6-8)
    Lennox disagreed with the testing requirements in multiple 
configurations because of the increased test burden and lack of 
improved test accuracy. (Lennox, No. 32 at pp. 3-4)
    In response to Carrier's and Lennox's concerns about increased test 
burden if required to test in all configurations, DOE clarifies that in 
the March 2015 NOPR, DOE did not propose to require manufacturers to 
test in all positions, but rather to require testing only in the least 
efficient configuration while explicitly allowing manufacturers to test 
in multiple configurations if they wish. DOE notes that, as stated by 
AHRI, it is already common industry practice to test in the least 
efficient configuration; accordingly, DOE anticipates that there will 
be no additional test burden from the clarification to require testing 
in the least efficient configuration. Regarding Carrier's suggestion to 
test in the dominant installed position, DOE believes that testing in 
the least efficient position will provide ratings that are more 
comparable between different models because the dominant position may 
not be the least efficient configuration and may vary among models and 
among manufacturers. DOE believes that Carrier's suggestion of a 
weighted rating is not practicable because DOE is not requiring 
manufacturers to test in all configurations, only the least efficient 
one. Therefore, in section 6.1.b of appendix N and in 10 CFR 429.18, 
DOE amends its regulations to require testing and rating only in the 
least efficient configuration, while still allowing manufacturers the 
ability to test and rate in multiple configurations. In addition, DOE 
includes a definition for multi-position furnace in section 2 of 
appendix N.
    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE also proposed to allow testing of units 
configured for multiple position installations to use the blower access 
door as an option instead of one of the inlet openings. 80 FR 12876, 
12886 (March 11, 2015). In response, Rheem stated that a furnace should 
not be tested in a configuration that is prohibited by the installation 
manual. For example, Rheem stated that its furnace installation manuals 
allow only bottom and side returns. A rear return and a return in place 
of the blower access door are not allowed. (Rheem, No. 30 at p. 4) 
Ingersoll Rand stated that testing of multi-position units using the 
blower access door may not be feasible option for some furnaces, and 
the manufacturer should state whether this is an acceptable test method 
for the furnace model. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 6)
    DOE agrees with Rheem and Ingersoll Rand that units should not be 
required to be tested using the blower access door if not allowed in 
the I&O manual or if not feasible. In an effort to ensure consistent 
and appropriate testing, DOE withdraws its proposal that would have 
explicitly allowed the use of the blower access door for testing of 
multi-position furnaces and boilers that are not shipped with an open 
inlet.
7. AFUE Reporting Precision
    DOE's existing furnaces and boilers test procedure specifies that 
the AFUE rating be rounded to the nearest whole percentage point. 10 
CFR 430.23(n)(2). In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE sought comment on its 
proposal to report AFUE to the nearest tenth of a percentage point. 80 
FR 12876, 12902.
    AHRI, Lochinvar, Lennox, and Burnham support reporting of AFUE to 
the nearest tenth of a percentage point and noted that it reflects the 
current practice. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 6; Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 4; 
Lennox, No. 32 at p. 3; Burnham, No. 35 at p. 6) However, Burnham does 
not agree with the proposal to round to the nearest 0.1 percent, 
stating that it would be a direct violation of 10 CFR 
429.18(a)(2)(i)(B) requiring any representative value of AFUE for which 
consumers would favor higher values to be less than or equal to the 
lower of the mean of the sample or the lower 97.5 percent confidence 
limit (LCL) of the true mean divided by 0.95. Burnham stated that 
rounding up would allow the representative value to potentially be 
higher than allowed by calculation mentioned. Burnham urged DOE to 
prescribe the current industry practice of truncating to 0.1 percent. 
(Burnham, No. 35 at pp. 6-7)
    In contrast, Rheem stated that rating furnaces to the nearest tenth 
of a percentage point will give consumers the impression that one 
furnace is more efficient than another, while in actuality, the test 
procedure tolerances do not result in the proposed level of precision 
that should be required to support reporting AFUE to the nearest tenth 
of a percentage point. (Rheem, No. 30 at p. 3)
    Ingersoll Rand stated that while DOE's CCMS can accommodate 
reporting AFUE to this level, any manufacturer that reports AFUE to the 
whole percentage point will have to submit new certification reports 
and

[[Page 2638]]

relabel products. Ingersoll Rand stated that having to submit new 
certification reports and relabel products will cause an administrative 
burden and cost to manufacturers that was not addressed in the March 
2015 NOPR. Ingersoll Rand requested that DOE consider setting the 
effective date of this requirement to coincide with the effective date 
of any amended energy conservation standard adopted under the March 12, 
2015 energy conservation standards NOPR for residential furnaces. 
(Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 6)
    AHRI stated that it reports to the nearest tenth to DOE for 
furnaces but not for boilers due to Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) and ENERGY STAR requirements. (AHRI, Public Meeting Transcript, 
No. 19 at p. 89) Burnham urged DOE to work with the EPA to 
simultaneously update the ENERGY STAR requirement of rounding to the 
nearest whole percentage point to avoid conflicting values on the DOE 
and ENERGY STAR Web sites. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 7)
    DOE understands that reporting AFUE values to the nearest tenth of 
a percentage point is currently industry practice. Based on 10 CFR 
429.18(a)(2)(i)(B), DOE agrees with Burnham that AFUE should be 
truncated to the tenth of a percentage point. In response to Rheem's 
comment about the test procedure tolerances, DOE notes that in response 
to the January 2013 RFI, Rheem stated that this level of precision has 
been demonstrated to be statistically possible. (Rheem, No. 12 at p. 
9). DOE also observes that Rheem, as well as many other manufacturers, 
reports AFUE to the tenth of a percentage point in DOE's Compliance 
Certification Database and the AHRI directory for some models. In 
response to Ingersoll Rand's comments, DOE notes that AHRI's 
certification directories for both furnaces and boilers as well as 
DOE's Compliance Certification Database already allow manufacturers to 
report AFUE to the nearest tenth of a percentage point. Therefore, DOE 
anticipates this clarification will not require changing the reported 
efficiency in manufacturer literature, nor will it cause significant 
manufacturer burden. Furthermore, in response to AHRI and Burnham, DOE 
notes that EPA must use the method of test, sampling plan, and 
representation requirements adopted by DOE. DOE will work with EPA to 
make sure the language in its specification is harmonized with federal 
regulations. Accordingly, DOE updates the existing requirement for 
residential furnaces and boilers in 10 CFR 430.23(n)(2) to truncate 
AFUE to the tenth of a percentage point. DOE also clarifies in 10 CFR 
429.18 that the represented value of AFUE based on the tested sample 
must be truncated to the tenth of a percentage point.
8. Definitions and Other Changes
    In this final rule, DOE revises the term ``seasonal off switch'' to 
``off switch'' and revises the definitions of ``off mode'' and 
``standby mode'' in section 2 of appendix N to reflect the updated 
definitions found in the second edition of IEC 62301, which was 
incorporated by reference in the December 2012 final rule. DOE also 
revises sections 8.1, 8.2, and 8.4 of the existing appendix N (sections 
8.3, 8.5, and 8.7 of the amended appendix N) to clarify and improve the 
test instructions. DOE also revises sections 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7.3, 
10.9, 10.9.1, and 10.11 of appendix N to improve grammar and 
consistency in formatting throughout the test procedure, and to include 
missing variable definitions. In addition, DOE incorporates the 
previously excluded section 9.7.l of ASHRAE 103-1993 to include 
instructions on the setup of the tracer gas test. DOE updates the 
definition of ``isolated combustion system'' in section 2.5 of the 
existing appendix N (2.8 of the amended appendix N) to reflect the 
updated definition in ASHRAE 103-2007. Finally, DOE modifies section 
8.3 of the existing appendix N (8.6 of the amended appendix N) to 
clarify that the referenced time delay is the blower delay t\+\. DOE 
did not receive comment on any of these revisions where proposed in the 
NOPR.

E. Other Test Procedure Considerations

1. Room Ambient Air Temperature and Humidity Ranges
    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed not to change the test 
procedure regarding room ambient temperature and humidity conditions, 
neither by mathematical correction nor by limiting the existing ambient 
condition range, and requested input on this approach. 80 FR 12876, 
12889.
    Lochinvar and Lennox stated their support for DOE's proposal not to 
further restrict the ambient conditions due to the additional test 
burden it would cause. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 4; Lennox, No. 32 at p. 
4) Rheem stated that they believe that the ambient conditions range 
requires further study. Rheem noted that the room ambient air 
temperature and humidity ranges were developed based on 30-year-old 
laboratory conditions and that laboratory conditions may be more 
carefully controlled today compared to the long past. (Rheem, No. 30 at 
p.1) AHRI noted that the new edition of ASHRAE-103-2016 will be issued 
for public review and one of the proposed amendments is to include 
changes to the definition of room ambient air operating conditions. 
(AHRI, No. 36 at p. 5)
    Burnham stated that they disagree with DOE's assertion in the March 
2015 NOPR that relative humidity (RH) has a minimal impact on the AFUE 
of condensing boilers and stated that the issue should be revisited. 
Burnham provided test data of a condensing boiler which shows a swing 
in AFUE of approximately 1.3 percent when the RH was changed from 
approximately 30 percent to 70 percent. Burnham stated that they expect 
the variation in AFUE as a function of RH to be at least as large for 
boilers as it is for furnaces. Burnham noted that the flue temperature 
of boilers is closely linked to the return water temperature during the 
test (120[emsp14][deg]F), which is close to the typical dew point of 
natural gas flue products. Changes in RH may therefore have a large 
impact on where the temperature of the flue products falls below the 
dew point as they pass through the heat exchanger. Burnham stated that 
if ambient conditions have a significant impact on AFUE, DOE should 
tighten the tolerance for RH to conditions likely to be seen in the 
field, even if this results in an increased burden for manufacturers in 
the form of requiring conditioned lab facilities. (Burnham, No. 35 at 
p. 7)
    DOE agrees with Rheem and Burnham that the impact of ambient 
conditions on AFUE warrants further study. However, at this time DOE 
does not have adequate data to justify the testing burden associated 
with the narrowing of ambient conditions. Therefore, DOE maintains the 
ambient conditions specified in the current test procedure.
2. Full-Fuel-Cycle Energy Metrics
    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE stated that the test procedure 
rulemaking was not the appropriate vehicle for deriving an FFC energy 
descriptor for furnaces (and other products). Specifically, DOE noted 
that if a secondary FFC energy descriptor were included as part of the 
furnace and boiler test procedure, DOE would need to update the test 
procedure annually. DOE indicated its intent to estimate FFC energy 
savings in future energy conservation standards rulemakings for 
furnaces, and to take those savings into account in proposing and 
selecting amended standards. 80 FR 12876, 12896.
    In response to the NOPR, AGA expressed their disagreement with

[[Page 2639]]

DOE's position, stating that the test procedure develops the energy 
efficiency rating for the product and is specifically the correct 
vehicle to be used for determining the FFC energy descriptor. AGA added 
that all that is needed is a mathematical adjustment to the site-based 
energy descriptor now determined by the test procedure. AGA requested 
that the Department reconsider its decision not to include provisions 
for an FFC energy descriptor and incorporate one in the test procedures 
for residential boilers and furnaces. (AGA, No. 27 at p. 3)
    DOE maintains its position outlined in the NOPR that it does not 
believe that a mathematical adjustment to the test procedure to account 
for FFC is appropriate. As noted in the March 2015 NOPR, the 
mathematical adjustment to the site-based energy descriptor relies on 
information that is updated annually. If DOE were to include such an 
adjustment to the test procedure, DOE would be required to update the 
test procedure annually.
3. Oversize Factor Value
    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed to maintain the existing 
oversize factor of 0.7 and sought comment on the appropriateness of 
this strategy.\12\ 80 FR 12876, 12891.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ The ``oversize factor'' accounts for the national average 
oversizing of equipment that occurs when a heating product is sized 
to satisfy more than the heating load of the household. This is 
typically done to size the equipment so that it is able to satisfy 
the days in which the house heating requirements might be exceeded 
and/or to take into account uncertainties regarding house heating 
load. For example, a 0.7 oversize factor is equivalent to 170-
percent oversizing of the heating equipment (i.e., 70 percent 
greater input capacity than is required).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Rheem stated that replacement furnaces are more likely to be 
oversized than a new construction furnace because the unit may not be 
resized when it is replaced with a more efficient unit. Rheem also 
noted that it is more likely for a furnace to be oversized in a climate 
with high variation in outdoor temperature, or if it is installed in an 
area with high airflow requirements for the cooling load. (Rheem, No. 
30 at p. 4)
    DOE agrees with Rheem that a variety of factors, including 
construction type and climate, may influence the magnitude of 
oversizing that occurs in a given installation. DOE did not receive any 
data supporting a change to the existing oversize factor of 0.7. DOE 
has determined the existing value of 0.7 continues to be representative 
of the oversized factor applicable to the average U.S. household and 
therefore maintains that value.
4. Alternative Methods for Furnace/Boiler Efficiency Determination
    In response to the March 2015 NOPR, Carrier questioned the need for 
a test method as precise as ASHRAE 103 due to the advances that have 
been made in reducing cyclical losses. Carrier noted that the 
difference between steady state efficiency and cyclical AFUE is less 
than 1 percent across all model types. Carrier suggested that DOE 
change the AFUE metric for forced-air furnaces to be based on the 
steady-state operation. (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 2) Carrier stated that 
this would simplify the test procedure and relieve significant burden 
from manufacturers. Carrier stated that the lab setup of gas furnaces 
during AFUE testing--including vent length, isolated combustion system 
(ICS) installation, off cycle times, and blower off delay time--rarely 
replicates the actual installation of condensing gas furnaces. 
(Carrier, No. 34 at p. 2)
    DOE agrees that there have been significant advances in the 
minimization of cyclical losses since the inception of the AFUE metric. 
However, including cyclical losses, which are captured in the AFUE 
metric, still provides market differentiation for models that would 
yield the same steady-state values. Furthermore, DOE believes that the 
inclusion of cyclical losses in the AFUE metric has contributed to the 
increases in efficiency noted by Carrier. For these reasons, DOE 
declines to limit the calculation of AFUE to steady-state operation. 
DOE would be willing to work with industry to investigate this further 
to see if moving to a steady-state methodology has merit and meets the 
requirements of the statute.
5. Test Method for Combination Appliance
    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE discussed the possibility of creating a 
test procedure for determining the efficiency of combination products. 
Ultimately DOE did not propose to amend the test procedure to include a 
method of test for combination appliances choosing not to complicate 
the test procedure rulemaking. 80 FR 12876, 12894.
    In response to the NOPR, Ingersoll Rand believes that EPCA 
anticipated products being capable of serving more than one function 
and expects DOE to set separate energy efficiency metrics for each 
major function. Ingersoll Rand noted that EPCA authorizes DOE to ``set 
more than 1 energy conservation standard for each major function.'' (42 
U.S.C. 6295(o)(5)) Ingersoll Rand suggested that establishing a 
combination metric and setting a standard for a combination unit is 
contrary to EPCA. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 6)
    DOE did not propose a combination metric in the NOPR, and does not 
amend the test procedure to include such a metric in this final rule.

F. Test Burden

    EPCA requires that the test procedures DOE prescribes or amends be 
reasonably designed to produce test results that measure the energy 
efficiency, energy use, water use (in the case of showerheads, faucets, 
water closets, and urinals) or estimated annual operating cost of a 
covered product during a representative average use cycle or period of 
use. These procedures must also not be unduly burdensome to conduct. 
(42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3))
    In response to the March 2015 NOPR, Ingersoll Rand stated that the 
testing and reporting burden from the proposals would be far greater 
than the average 20 hours per response that DOE estimates. (Ingersoll 
Rand, No. 37 at p. 9) Weil-McLain expressed concerns that the cost of 
the proposed test is grossly underestimated and that cost analysis for 
all of the testing is fundamentally flawed and incomplete. Weil-McLain 
stated that a more appropriate estimate for the cost to re-test all 
models in DOE's example of average small boiler business with 70 basic 
models would be more than twenty times the estimate shown for various 
reasons, such as the cost of set up for each test, test re-runs if 
parameters are not met, test recording, and analysis time. In addition, 
Weil-McLain stated that: (1) Only the incremental cost related to the 
changes in procedure have been captured when in all likelihood all 
products will have to be retested through the entire test procedure; 
(2) at least two tests per model are required for data submittal; (3) 
initial certification and annual audits require an additional witness 
test by a third-party lab; (4) engineering, facility, or other charges 
were not captured; (5) third-party test agency fees were not 
considered; and (6) the time required to test the number of models for 
the manufacturer and third-party test agency capacity were not 
considered. Weil-McLain also stated that retesting and re-rating would 
take substantially longer than 180 days. (Weil-McLain, No. 31 at pp. 6-
7) Ingersoll Rand stated that to retest all of its current models will 
require more than six months of lab time with a cost of over $400,000. 
(Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 9)
    Weil-McLain questioned why DOE would impose the burden of 
conducting all of the new tests on manufacturers

[[Page 2640]]

when DOE stated that the results from using new test procedures will 
not change when compared to current procedure. (Weil-McLain, No. 31 at 
p. 2)
    Several stakeholders requested more time to conduct re-testing 
after the issuance of the final rule. Weil-McLain stated that the 
process of conducting all the tests, analyzing information, and 
conducting re-certification through the certified labs for hundreds of 
models cannot be completed within 180 days of when the final rule is 
issued. (Weil-McLain, No. 31 at p. 7) Similarly, Burnham expressed 
concern that it has found it impossible to thoroughly evaluate the 
impact of this NOPR, as it asserted that DOE provided only a short 
amount of time and inadequate information and resources during the 
rulemaking process. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 8) Goodman stated that the 
industry needs at least 6 months to assess the impact of the new test 
procedure on existing basic models. (Goodman, No. 33 at p. 2)
    Ingersoll Rand argued that the fact that many of the current models 
may be removed from the market as a result of the separate energy 
conservation standards rulemakings, Fan Energy Rating (FER) standard 
effective in 2019 and AFUE proposed standard effective in 2021, makes 
this retesting effort even more burdensome, unnecessary and wasteful. 
(Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 9) Carrier also stated that recent 
rulemakings, such as the standby power ruling and the recent 
legislation for furnace fans, have increased the test burden for gas 
furnace compliance compared to when the complicated AFUE procedure was 
formulated and first implemented. (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 3)
    The many comments from manufacturers regarding re-testing of all 
models currently in distribution were responding to DOE's proposals to 
incorporate by reference ASHRAE 103-2007 and adjust the CO2 
percentage. Under the amended test procedure, DOE is not incorporating 
by reference ASHRAE 103-2007 or adjusting of the CO2 
percentage, and so manufacturers will not need to re-test their entire 
model line-up, thereby alleviating the concerns expressed by 
manufacturers. DOE has assessed the test burden of the revisions to the 
test procedure it is adopting in this final rule, and has concluded 
that manufacturers will experience no additional burden when performing 
the AFUE test.
    DOE believes that the clarification of the electrical power term PE 
will not add any additional burden on manufacturers, since this is what 
has been required under the existing test procedure. In terms of the 
boiler pump, DOE included a default value in case manufacturers are not 
currently capturing this component, which will minimize test burden.
    Many manufacturers currently perform the tracer gas test to 
determine whether the minimum default draft factor of 0.05 may be used. 
DOE expects that, when establishing the absence of flow through the 
heat exchanger, the use of the smoke stick test will reduce the test 
burden to manufacturers by eliminating, in some cases, the need for the 
tracer gas test.
    The optional provision allowing for the measurement of condensate 
during the establishment of steady-state conditions will provide 
manufacturers of condensing furnaces and boilers time and labor 
savings.
    The inclusion of references to the I&O manual will provide 
additional guidance and clarity to the test procedure. It does not 
impose additional test burden since the information is already 
available in the manufacturers' literature.
    The amendment of the duct work setup for units that are installed 
without a return duct and the requirement to test multi-position units 
in the least efficient position only clarify the testing requirements. 
The duct work setup change reflect current industry practice and does 
not introduce new testing requirements. With respect to the multi-
position unit testing, most manufacturers indicated that the change 
reflects their understanding and current practice. DOE notes that, 
although the test method did not describe the position for testing as 
the ``least efficient position,'' in practice, if following the 
existing method for setup, manufacturers should have tested the least 
efficient position or all testing configurations. DOE also notes that 
AHRI commented that this reflects the common practice of its members, 
which is to test in the least efficient position. (AHRI, Public Meeting 
Transcript, No. 23 at p. 123) Therefore, DOE expects that there would 
be no additional test burden associated with these revisions.
    The requirement to report AFUE to be truncated to the tenth of a 
percentage point and the requirement to report whether a boiler uses a 
burner delay automatic means control strategy will not introduce any 
additional test burden because they do not require retesting; however, 
they may impose a cost on either boiler manufacturers or manufacturers 
who do not currently report AFUE to a tenth of a percentage point, who 
must submit new certification reports and relabel their products. DOE 
discusses this burden in section IV.B.
    For these reasons, DOE concludes that the amended test procedure 
will not be unduly burdensome to conduct.

G. Measured Energy Use

    When DOE modifies test procedures, it must determine to what 
extent, if any, the new test procedure would alter the measured energy 
efficiency or energy use of any covered product. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(1)) 
In the NOPR, DOE stated that the one amendment that might alter the 
AFUE of covered products is the incorporation by reference of ASHRAE 
103-2007. 80 FR 12876, 12897.
    As discussed in section III.C, based on stakeholder comments, DOE 
has declined to incorporate by reference ASHRAE 103-2007 in this final 
rule. Therefore, the amended test procedure will not alter measured 
AFUE ratings.
    As discussed in section III.D.1, certain stakeholders commented 
that the proposed revision in the NOPR regarding the method for 
determining the electrical power consumption would change the power 
measurements. In response to comments, for the Final Rule, DOE decided 
not to change the method for calculating the electrical consumption and 
only clarified the definition of the PE term. This clarification will 
not alter measured AFUE ratings.
    As discussed in section III.D.3, certain stakeholders expressed 
concern that allowing the measurement of condensate during the 
establishment of steady state conditions would have an impact on the 
final calculated AFUE value. In response to comments, DOE clarified for 
the final rule that this is an option rather than a requirement. DOE 
has found through its testing as shown in the test data presented at 
the NOPR public meeting indicating both options produce a similar rate 
of condensate mass production and therefore would have a de minimis 
impact on measured AFUE ratings.
    As discussed in section III.D.4.b, certain stakeholders expressed 
concern that the proposed adjustment of the CO2 percentage 
on gas- and oil-fired boilers would significantly affect AFUE. In 
response to comments, DOE has declined to adopt this proposal for the 
final rule.
    DOE received no comment regarding the impact of measured energy use 
on the remaining test procedure amendments, including the smoke stick 
test, duct work for units that are installed without a return duct, and 
testing requirements for multi-position configurations. The smoke stick 
test serves to verify a condition and does not

[[Page 2641]]

impact ratings. The requirements for units installed without a return 
duct and for multi-position configurations only clarify the testing 
requirements, and therefore will not impact measured energy use or 
efficiency.
    For these reasons, DOE has determined that none of the adopted test 
procedure amendments would alter the projected measured energy 
efficiency or energy use of the covered products that are the subject 
of this rulemaking.

H. Certification and Enforcement

1. Verification Test for Automatic Means for Adjusting the Water 
Temperature in Boilers
    In 2008, DOE published a technical amendment to the 2007 energy 
conservation standards final rule for residential furnaces and boilers 
that added design requirements for boilers consistent with the 
provisions of EISA 2007, including mandating, starting September 1, 
2012, that all gas, oil, and electric hot water boilers (excluding 
those equipped with a tankless domestic water heating coil) be equipped 
with automatic means for adjusting the boiler water temperature 
(``automatic means'') to ensure that an incremental change in inferred 
heat load produces a corresponding incremental change in the 
temperature of water supplied (codified at 42 U.S.C. 6295(f)(3)).\13\ 
73 FR 43611 (July 28, 2008). EISA 2007 further specifies that for 
single-stage hot water boilers, the automatic means requirement may be 
satisfied by incorporating controls that allow the burner or heating 
element to fire only when the automatic means has determined that the 
inferred heat load cannot be met by the residual heat of the water in 
the system. When there is no inferred heat load, the automatic means 
limits the temperature of the water in the boiler to not more than 140 
[deg]F.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ The automatic means requirement excludes boilers that are 
manufactured to operate without any need for electricity. EISA 2007 
also prohibited constant-burning pilot lights for gas-fired hot 
water boilers and gas-fired steam boilers. 73 FR 43611, 43613 (July 
28, 2008).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The existing DOE residential furnace and boiler test procedure does 
not include any method of test for determining compliance with these 
design requirements. In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE proposed the 
introduction of a new test method for the verification of the automatic 
means for adjusting the water temperature in boilers. DOE proposed the 
use of two test methods--one for single-stage boilers and one for two-
stage/modulating boilers--for verification of the functionality of the 
automatic means for adjusting the water temperature supplied by a 
boiler. The proposed test methods were based on draft testing 
methodologies provided by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), as well as 
the California mechanical codes section for non-residential 
boilers.\14\ The two separate tests were developed to accommodate 
various boiler control strategies, including outdoor reset, inferred 
load, and thermal pre-purge (i.e., burner delay).\15\ The proposed test 
methods, as would be specified in 10 CFR 429.134, would be intended for 
use by DOE for assessment and enforcement testing to determine if a 
given basic model complies with the applicable design requirements. 
Therefore, boiler manufacturers would not be required to conduct this 
testing. 80 FR 12876, 12902.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ California Energy Commission, ``Reference Appendices for 
the 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and 
Non-residential Buildings'', p. 332, (Available at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/2008publications/CEC-400-2008-004/CEC-400-2008-004-CMF.PDF) (Last accessed January 16, 2015).
    \15\ See the March 2015 NOPR for further description of the 
different control strategies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several stakeholders commented on the lack of compliance criteria 
for the automatic means test. Burnham asserted that it is legally 
unacceptable for DOE to not specify any objective criteria for 
demonstrating compliance and that DOE does not have authority to 
unilaterally create criteria to determine compliance with the automatic 
means test without notice and comment. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 6) Weil-
McLain stated that it is not clear what this required test criteria or 
procedure would be, but that, once defined, this test will require more 
time and resources to complete. Weil-McLain also asserted that the new 
requirement is arbitrary and capricious because it is so indefinite. 
(Weil-McLain, No. 31 p. 8)
    DOE's automatic means design requirement does not specify how a 
manufacturer must implement the automatic means and does not provide 
compliance criteria for the automatic means testing. DOE interprets the 
design requirement established by EISA 2007 as intending to allow 
manufacturers flexibility when designing control strategies to meet the 
design requirement. DOE believes that the requirement of an incremental 
change in inferred heat load that produces a corresponding incremental 
change in the temperature of water supplied is a sufficient metric for 
evaluation of the functionality of an automatic means for adjusting 
water temperature. DOE designed the tests, as noted in the March 2015 
NOPR, to confirm whether the boiler supply water temperature responds 
to a change in inferred heat load without specifying to what degree the 
temperature must change or for how long that change is present because 
such detail is not required for meeting the design requirement. DOE 
also designed the test methods to accommodate technological 
advancements in controls and designs. For these reasons, DOE does not 
agree with Burnham and Weil-McLain that establishing further criteria 
or thresholds is required beyond the general requirements set forth in 
the 2008 technical amendment to the furnace and boiler final rule.
    Lochinvar stated that while it supports the use of automatic means 
as an effective method of energy conservation, it opposes testing 
controls for compliance for the following reasons: (1) The lack of 
compliance threshold; (2) no guarantee of repeatability or consistency 
in test method or results; (3) difficulty in reasonably measuring the 
effectiveness of different designs; (4) test method may be biased for 
or against certain control methods; and (5) a published simulation-type 
test will lead to manufacturers designing automatic means for the test 
compliance. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 3) AHRI stated that the criterion 
to confirm the functioning of the means is too vague to be meaningful, 
and that DOE should not finalize this proposed procedure and not pursue 
further the concept of adding a test to verify the functioning of the 
automatic means. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 6)
    Several stakeholders commented on technical issues regarding the 
proposed test method. Lochinvar and Burnham stated that single-stage 
products may use options other than ``thermal purge.'' (Lochinvar, No. 
29 at p. 3; Burnham, No. 35 at p. 6) Lochinvar stated that if DOE 
chooses to require automatic means testing, single-stage boilers must 
be allowed to comply by meeting either the proposed test method in 
Sec.  429.134(e)(1) or (e)(2). (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 3)
    Lochinvar also stated that DOE incorrectly states that the 
automatic means will change the heat output of a boiler in response to 
the inferred heat load. Responding to DOE's proposal in the March 31, 
2015 notice of proposed rulemaking for energy conservation standards 
for boilers (``March 2015 ECS Boiler NOPR''), Lochinvar asserted that 
the automatic means would change the temperature of the water supplied, 
not necessarily the heat output. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 4)
    Burnham argued that the water temperatures specified are too low to 
necessarily cause a burner delay. Also responding to the March 2015 ECS 
Boiler NOPR, Burnham suggested that the proposed 10 CFR

[[Page 2642]]

429.134(e)(1)(iii)(C) seems to imply that a delay will always be 
present. However, Burnham asserted that EISA only requires that the 
automatic means delay ignition above 140 [deg]F until it has determined 
that the inferred heat load cannot be met by the residual heat in the 
boiler. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 6)
    Burnham stated that the proposed 10 CFR 429.134(e)(2)(ii)(B)(1) 
specifies that the supply water temperature be maintained at ``the 
lowest supply water temperature (4 [deg]F),'' which may not 
be possible if the boiler's minimum input is greater than the 
corresponding load, resulting in burner cycling. Burnham stated that a 
similar problem is possible in the proposed 10 CFR 
429.134(e)(2)(ii)(C)(2), where a ``boost function'' (a control strategy 
commonly used that shifts the y-intercept of the reset curve upward 
during extended calls for heat) might make it impossible to hold the 
required 3 [deg]F tolerance for the boiler supply water 
temperature. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 6)
    Burnham stated that some of the control strategies currently in use 
require multiple burner cycles to determine the inferred heat load, 
which does not seem to be taken into account by DOE's proposed 
verification method. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 6)
    DOE makes several changes to the proposed verification of automatic 
means tests to address the technical comments received from Lochinvar 
and Burnham. DOE revised the two tests for the verification of 
automatic means presented in the NOPR such that the test previously 
identified as the two-stage/modulating boilers test will apply to all 
boilers, with the exception of single-stage boilers that employ a 
burner delay control strategy. The test for all boiler products 
monitors water temperature settings from the inferential load 
controller and/or monitors supply water temperature to determine 
whether the supply water temperature changes in response to changes in 
the inferred load. This test method allows for establishing the 
necessary conditions that may lead to a change in inferred load, for 
example, a change in outdoor air temperature, a change in thermostat 
patterns, and/or a change in boiler cycling.
    DOE is adopting the test previously identified as the single-stage 
boilers test as the test method for single-stage boilers that employ a 
burner delay control strategy to fulfill the automatic means design 
requirement as specified in 42 U.S.C. 6295(f)(3)(B)(ii). The test for 
single-stage boilers that employ a burner delay control strategy 
captures the delayed burner reaction following a call for heating when 
residual heat is present within the boiler.
    DOE agrees with Burnham and Lochinvar's comments that help to 
clarify the test method and allow for accommodating variations in the 
control strategies. Therefore, DOE adopts revisions that include 
removing the minimum supply water temperature tolerance requirement to 
allow variations in temperature when burner cycling occurs; increasing 
the inlet water temperature from 120 [deg]F (2 [deg]F) to 
140 [deg]F (2 [deg]F) for the test method for single-stage 
boilers that employ a burner delay control strategy so that it is high 
enough to cause burner delay; and making terminology related to inlet 
water consistent throughout the test method. However, DOE disagrees 
with Burnham's comment that the tolerance range for determining a 
stabilized supply water temperature could not be met under a specific 
control strategy, such as the boost mode where an extended call for 
heating occurs until the heat demand is satisfied. In such a case, 
DOE's test method would be implemented when either the heat demand is 
satisfied or the high boiler water temperature limit is reached.
    As discussed in the March 2015 NOPR, DOE also adds a definition for 
``controlling parameter.'' DOE has placed this definition in 10 CFR 
430.2 rather than appendix N as it applies to DOE enforcement 
regulations rather than manufacturer testing. Controlling parameter is 
defined as a measurable quantity for a residential boiler (such as 
temperature or usage pattern) used for inferring heating load, which 
would then result in incremental changes in supply water temperature.
2. Compliance Dates for the Amended Test Procedure
    This document amends 10 CFR 429.18, 10 CFR 429.134, 10 CFR 430.2, 
10 CFR 430.3, 10 CFR 430.23, and 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix 
N. When DOE modifies test procedures, it must determine to what extent, 
if any, the new test procedure would alter the measured energy 
efficiency or energy use of any covered product. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(1)) 
For the reasons described previously, DOE has determined that none of 
the test procedure amendments would alter the measured energy 
efficiency or energy use of the covered products that are the subject 
of this rulemaking. The changes made to appendix N through this final 
rule, as listed in section III.D, clarify the manner in which the test 
is conducted, or otherwise represent minor changes or additions to the 
test or reporting requirements that do not affect measured energy use. 
Therefore, these amendments become effective 30 days after publication 
of this final rule in the Federal Register. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 
6293(c)(2), 180 days after DOE prescribes or establishes a new or 
amended test procedure, manufacturers must make representations of 
energy efficiency, including certifications of compliance, using that 
new or amended test procedure.

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review

A. Review Under Executive Order 12866

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined that test 
procedure rulemakings do not constitute ``significant regulatory 
actions'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory 
Planning and Review,'' 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly, this 
action was not subject to review under the Executive Order by the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in OMB.

B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended by 
the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Act of 1996) requires 
preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) for 
any rule that by law must be proposed for public comment, unless the 
agency certifies that the rule, if promulgated, will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
As required by Executive Order 13272, ``Proper Consideration of Small 
Entities in Agency Rulemaking,'' 67 FR 53461 (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 Web site: http://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel.
    DOE reviewed this final rule under the provisions of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act and the procedures and policies published on February 
19, 2003. 68 FR 7990. This final rule amends DOE's test procedure by 
providing clarifications regarding relevant test procedure provisions 
and revising the definitions of some terms. DOE has concluded that this 
final rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial number 
of small entities. The factual basis for this certification is as 
follows:

[[Page 2643]]

    The Small Business Administration (SBA) considers a business entity 
to be a small business if, together with its affiliates, it employs 
less than a threshold number of workers specified in 13 CFR part 121. 
These size standards and codes are established by the North American 
Industry Classification System (NAICS) and are available at http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf. 
Residential boiler manufacturing is classified under NAICS 333414, 
``Heating Equipment (Except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing,'' for 
which the maximum size threshold is 500 employees or fewer. Residential 
furnace manufacturing is classified under NAICS 333415, ``Air-
conditioning and warm air heating equipment and commercial and 
industrial refrigeration equipment manufacturing'' for which the 
maximum size threshold is 750 employees or fewer. To estimate the 
number of companies that could be small business manufacturers of 
products covered by this rulemaking, DOE conducted a market survey 
using available public information to identify potential small 
manufacturers. DOE's research involved reviewing several industry trade 
association membership directories (e.g., AHRI \16\), SBA 
databases,\17\ individual company Web sites, and marketing research 
tools (e.g., Hoovers \18\ reports) to create a list of all domestic 
small business manufacturers of residential furnaces and boilers 
covered by this rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ For more information on the boiler and furnace directories, 
see http://www.ahridirectory.org/ahridirectory/pages/home.aspx.
    \17\ For more information see: http://dsbs.sba.gov/dsbs/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm.
    \18\ For more information see: http://www.hoovers.com/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After DOE identified manufacturers of residential furnaces and 
consumer boilers, DOE then consulted publically-available data and 
contacted companies, as necessary, to determine if they both meet the 
SBA's definition of a ``small business'' manufacturer and have their 
manufacturing facilities located within the United States. DOE screened 
out companies that did not offer products covered by this rulemaking, 
did not meet the definition of a ``small business,'' or are foreign-
owned and operated. Based on this analysis, DOE identified 9 small 
businesses that manufacture residential furnaces and 9 small businesses 
that manufacture residential boilers (two of which also manufacture 
residential furnaces), for a total of 16 small businesses potentially 
impacted by this rulemaking.
    This document amends DOE's test procedure by incorporating several 
changes that modify the existing test procedure or reporting 
requirements for furnaces and boilers. This includes the following 
changes that could potentially impact manufacturers: (1) Clarified 
definition of electrical power term PE; (2) a smoke stick method for 
determining whether the minimum default draft factor may be used; (3) a 
provision to allow for the measurement of condensate under steady-state 
conditions; (4) reference to manufacturers' I&O manuals; (5) 
specification of ductwork for units that are installed without a return 
duct; (6) specification of testing requirements for multi-position 
units; (7) revised reporting precision for AFUE to the nearest tenth of 
a percentage point; and (8) requirement to report the use of a burner 
delay automatic means control strategy in certification reports. The 
estimated costs of testing/rating and potential impact to manufacturer 
burden resulting from use of the amended test procedure are discussed 
subsequently. The estimated costs and potential impacts apply to all 
manufacturers, including the manufacturers identified as small 
businesses.
    DOE believes that explicitly listing the components encompassed in 
the definition of PE does not change the definition of the electrical 
power term PE but rather only clarifies it, and will not impose any 
additional test burden.
    The adoption of the smoke stick method for determining whether the 
minimum default draft factor may be used is intended to reduce the test 
burden to manufacturers. DOE estimated that the smoke stick method for 
determining the minimum default draft factor would reduce the overall 
duration of the test by about 15 minutes for units designed to have no 
flow through the heat exchanger. However, DOE does not have sufficient 
information to support estimating the fraction of units that have been 
designed such that there is no flow through the heat exchanger. 
Therefore, DOE has not included the cost savings associated with the 
smoke stick.
    The addition of the optional provision to allow for the measurement 
of condensate prior to the establishment of steady state conditions 
will result in a lowering of test burden for manufacturers of 
condensing furnaces and boilers. Manufacturers of condensing furnaces 
and boilers will benefit from the time and labor savings attributed to 
the measurement of condensate during the establishment of steady-state 
conditions. However, DOE does not have sufficient information to 
support estimating the fraction of units that would be tested under the 
optional provision. Therefore, DOE has not included the cost savings 
associated with the optional provision to allow for the measurement of 
condensate prior to the establishment of steady state conditions.
    The clarification of duct work requirements for units that are 
installed without a return duct and clarification of the test 
requirements for multi-position units do not present any additional 
test burden to manufacturers, as the two amendments do not change the 
existing testing requirements or conflict with current industry 
practice.
    Revision of AFUE reporting precision and the requirement to report 
the use of a burner delay automatic means control strategy in the 
certification report do not present any additional test burden to 
manufacturers, as the two amendments do not change testing 
requirements. However, both amendments may require some manufacturers 
to submit new certification reports and relabel their products. DOE 
estimates that for affected parties, submitting new certification 
reports and relabeling products will take 30 minutes per unit. At an 
assumed cost of $40 per hour, the cost to recertify and relabel is $20 
per unit.
    To determine the potential cost of the test procedure amendments on 
small furnace and boiler manufacturers, DOE estimated the cost of 
recertifying and relabeling per basic model and the savings from the 
optional provision to measure condensate during the establishment of 
steady state conditions, as described above. DOE estimated that on 
average, each furnace small business would have 51 basic models, and 
each boiler small business would have 70 basic models. Based on 
residential furnace and boiler model data, DOE assumed that 
approximately 70 percent of all furnace and 60 percent of all boiler 
manufacturers will need to recertify and relabel due to the revision of 
the AFUE reporting precision. Based on residential boiler model data, 
DOE assumed that about 75 percent of boilers are single-stage boilers; 
furthermore, DOE assumed that about two-thirds of single-stage boilers 
employ a burner delay automatic means control strategy. Thus, DOE 
assumed that half of all boiler models will employ a burner delay 
automatic means control strategy. The additional recertification and 
relabeling cost associated with the test procedure amendments was 
multiplied by the estimated fraction of affected basic models produced 
by a small manufacturer. DOE has estimated a total added cost from the 
test procedure amendments of $714 per furnace

[[Page 2644]]

manufacturer and a total added cost of about $1,120 per boiler 
manufacturer for manufacturers that currently do not report AFUE to the 
nearest tenth of a percentage point or for manufacturers of single-
stage boilers that employ a burner delay automatic means control 
strategy.
    For the reasons stated previously, DOE certifies that this rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.

C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    Manufacturers of residential furnaces and boilers must certify to 
DOE that their products comply with all applicable energy conservation 
standards. In certifying compliance with applicable performance 
standards, manufacturers must test their products according to the DOE 
test procedures for residential furnaces and boilers, including any 
amendments adopted for those test procedures. Manufacturers must also 
ensure their products comply with applicable design standards. DOE has 
established regulations for the certification and recordkeeping 
requirements for all covered consumer products and commercial 
equipment, including residential furnaces and boilers. See generally 10 
CFR part 429. The collection-of-information requirement for 
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 30 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.
    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 final rule, DOE amends its test procedure for residential 
furnaces and boilers. DOE has determined that this rule falls into a 
class of actions that are categorically excluded from review under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and 
DOE's implementing regulations at 10 CFR part 1021. Specifically, this 
rule amends an existing rule without affecting the amount, quality or 
distribution of energy usage, and, therefore, will not result in any 
environmental impacts. Thus, this rulemaking is covered by Categorical 
Exclusion A5 under 10 CFR part 1021, subpart D, which applies to any 
rulemaking that interprets or amends an existing rule without changing 
the environmental effect of that rule. 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 (August 10, 
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 examined this final 
rule and determined that it will not have a substantial direct effect 
on the States, on the relationship between the national government and 
the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among 
the various levels of government. EPCA governs and prescribes Federal 
preemption of State regulations as to energy conservation for the 
products that are the subject of this final rule. States can petition 
DOE for exemption from such preemption to the extent, and based on 
criteria, set forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) No further action is 
required by Executive Order 13132.

F. Review Under Executive Order 12988

    Regarding the review of existing regulations and the promulgation 
of new regulations, section 3(a) of Executive Order 12988, ``Civil 
Justice Reform,'' 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996), imposes on Federal 
agencies the general duty to adhere to the following requirements: (1) 
Eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity; (2) write regulations to 
minimize litigation; (3) provide a clear legal standard for affected 
conduct rather than a general standard; and (4) promote simplification 
and burden reduction. Section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988 
specifically requires that Executive agencies make every reasonable 
effort to ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the 
preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly specifies any effect on existing 
Federal law or regulation; (3) provides a clear legal standard for 
affected conduct while promoting simplification and burden reduction; 
(4) specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately defines 
key terms; and (6) addresses other important issues affecting clarity 
and general draftsmanship under any guidelines issued by the Attorney 
General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order 12988 requires Executive 
agencies to review regulations in light of applicable standards in 
sections 3(a) and 3(b) to determine whether they are met or it is 
unreasonable to meet one or more of them. DOE has completed the 
required review and determined that, to the extent permitted by law, 
this final 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 regulatory action resulting 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. (This policy is 
also available at http://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel). DOE 
examined this final rule according to UMRA and its statement of policy 
and determined that the rule

[[Page 2645]]

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 rule will 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

    Pursuant to Executive Order 12630, ``Governmental Actions and 
Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights,'' 53 FR 
8859 (March 18, 1988), DOE has determined that this regulation will not 
result in any takings that might require compensation under the Fifth 
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

J. Review Under Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 
2001

    Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides for agencies to review most 
disseminations of information to the public under guidelines 
established by each agency pursuant to general guidelines issued by 
OMB. OMB's guidelines were published at 67 FR 8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and 
DOE's guidelines were published at 67 FR 62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has 
reviewed this final 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 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 significant energy action, the 
agency must give a detailed statement of any adverse effects on energy 
supply, distribution, or use if the regulation is implemented, and of 
reasonable alternatives to the action and their expected benefits on 
energy supply, distribution, and use.
    This regulatory action is not a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866. Moreover, it would not have a significant 
adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy, nor has 
it been designated as a significant energy action by the Administrator 
of OIRA. Therefore, it is not a significant energy action, and, 
accordingly, DOE has not prepared a Statement of Energy Effects.

L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 
1974

    Under section 301 of the Department of Energy Organization Act 
(Pub. L. 95-91; 42 U.S.C. 7101), DOE must comply with section 32 of the 
Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, as amended by the Federal 
Energy Administration Authorization Act of 1977 (Pub. L. 95-70). (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.
    This final rule incorporates testing methods contained in the 
following commercial standard: ASTM D2156-09 (Reapproved 2013). While 
this test procedure is not exclusively based on this standard, the DOE 
test procedure adopts several provisions from this standard without 
amendment. DOE has evaluated this standard and is unable to conclude 
whether it fully complies with the requirements of section 32(b) of the 
FEAA (i.e., that it was developed in a manner that fully provides for 
public participation, comment, and review). DOE has consulted with the 
Attorney General and the Chairwoman of the FTC concerning the impact of 
these test procedures on competition and has received no comments 
objecting to their use.

M. Description of Materials Incorporated by Reference

    In this final rule, DOE incorporates by reference the ASTM test 
standard ``Standard Test Method for Smoke Density in Flue Gases from 
Burning Distillate Fuels,'' ASTM D2156-09 (Reapproved 2013). ASTM D2156 
is an industry accepted test procedure that establishes uniform test 
methods for the evaluation of smoke density in the flue gases from 
burning distillate fuels. The test procedure established in this final 
rule references ASTM D2156 in its entirety, which includes terminology, 
methods of testing, materials, apparatus, procedures, reporting, and 
precision and bias, to determine the allowable smoke in the flue of oil 
furnaces and boilers. ASTM D2156-09 is available on ASTM's Web site at 
http://www.astm.org/Standards/D2156.htm.

N. Congressional Notification

    As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will report to Congress on the 
promulgation of this rule prior to its effective date. The report will 
state that it has been determined that the rule is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this final 
rule.

List of Subjects

10 CFR Part 429

    Confidential business information, Energy conservation, Household 
appliances, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

10 CFR Part 430

    Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business 
information, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Imports, 
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Small 
businesses.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 29, 2015.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy.
    For the reasons stated in the preamble, DOE amends parts 429 and 
430 of chapter II, subchapter D 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

0
1. The authority citation for part 429 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291-6317.


[[Page 2646]]



0
2. Amend Sec.  429.18 by adding paragraphs (a)(2)(vii) and (b)(4) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  429.18  Residential furnaces.

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (vii) Reported values. The represented value of annual fuel 
utilization efficiency must be truncated to the one-tenth of a 
percentage point.
    (b) * * *
    (4) For multi-position furnaces, the annual fuel utilization 
efficiency (AFUE) reported for each basic model must be based on 
testing in the least efficient configuration. Manufacturers may also 
report and make representations of additional AFUE values based on 
testing in other configurations.

0
3. Amend Sec.  429.134 by adding paragraph (h) to read as follows:


Sec.  429.134  Product-specific enforcement provisions

* * * * *
    (h) Residential boilers--test protocols for functional verification 
of automatic means for adjusting water temperature. These tests are 
intended to verify the functionality of the design requirement that a 
boiler has an automatic means for adjusting water temperature for 
single-stage, two-stage, and modulating boilers. These test methods are 
intended to permit the functional testing of a range of control 
strategies used to fulfill this design requirement. Section 2, 
Definitions, and paragraph 6.1.a of appendix N to subpart B of part 430 
of this chapter apply for the purposes of this paragraph (h).
    (1) Test protocol for all products other than single-stage products 
employing burner delay. This test is intended to verify whether an 
automatic means for adjusting water temperature other than burner delay 
produces an incremental change in water supply temperature in response 
to an incremental change in inferred heat load.
    (i) Boiler setup--(A) Boiler installation. Boiler installation in 
the test room shall be in accordance with the setup and apparatus 
requirements of section 6 of appendix N to subpart B of 10 CFR part 
430.
    (B) Establishing flow rate and temperature rise. Start the boiler 
without enabling the means for adjusting water temperature. Establish a 
water flow rate that allows for a water temperature rise of greater 
than or equal to 20[emsp14][deg]F at maximum input rate.
    (C) Temperature stabilization. Temperature stabilization is deemed 
to be obtained when the boiler supply water temperature does not vary 
by more than 3[emsp14][deg]F over a period of five minutes.
    (D) Adjust the inferential load controller. (1) Adjust the boiler 
controls (in accordance with the I&O manual) to the default setting 
that allows for activation of the means for adjusting water 
temperature. For boiler controls that do not allow for control 
adjustment during active mode operation, terminate call for heat and 
adjust the inferential load controller in accordance with the I&O 
manual and then reinitiate call for heat.
    (2) If the means for adjusting water temperature uses outdoor 
temperature reset, the maximum outdoor temperature setting (if 
equipped) should be set to a temperature high enough that the boiler 
operates continuously during the duration of this test (i.e., if the 
conditions in paragraph (h)(1)(ii)(A) of this section equal room 
ambient temperature, then the maximum outdoor temperature should be set 
at a temperature greater than the ambient air temperature during the 
test).
    (ii) Establish low inferred load conditions at minimum boiler 
supply water temperature--(A) Establish low inferred load conditions. 
(1) Establish the inferred load conditions (simulated using a 
controlling parameter, such as outdoor temperature, thermostat 
patterns, or boiler cycling) so that the supply water temperature is 
maintained at the minimum supply water temperature prescribed by the 
boiler manufacturer's temperature reset control strategy found in the 
I&O manual.
    (2) The minimum supply water temperature of the default temperature 
reset curve is usually provided in the I&O manual. If there is no 
recommended minimum supply water temperature, set the minimum supply 
water temperature equal to 20 [deg]F less than the high supply water 
temperature specified in paragraph (h)(1)(iii)(A) of this section.
    (B) Supply water temperature stabilization at low inferred load. 
(1) Maintain the call for heat until the boiler supply water 
temperature has stabilized. Temperature stabilization is deemed to be 
obtained when the boiler supply water temperature does not vary by more 
than 3 [deg]F over a period of five minutes. The duration 
of time required to stabilize the supply water, following the procedure 
in paragraph (h)(1)(ii)(A) of this section, is dependent on the reset 
strategy and may vary from model to model.
    (2) Record the boiler supply water temperature while the 
temperature is stabilized.
    (iii) Establish high inferred load conditions at maximum boiler 
supply water temperature--(A) Establish high inferred load conditions. 
Establish the inferred load conditions so that the supply water 
temperature is set to the maximum allowable supply water temperature as 
prescribed in the I&O manual, or if there is no recommendation, set to 
a temperature greater than 170 [deg]F.
    (B) Supply water temperature stabilization at high inferred load. 
(1) Maintain the call for heat until the boiler supply water 
temperature has stabilized. Temperature stabilization is deemed to be 
obtained when the boiler supply water temperature does not vary by more 
than 3[emsp14][deg]F over a period of five minutes. The 
duration of time required to stabilize the supply water, following the 
procedure in paragraph (h)(1)(iii)(A) of this section, is dependent on 
the reset strategy and may vary from model to model.
    (2) Record the boiler supply water temperature while the 
temperature is stabilized.
    (3) Terminate the call for heat.
    (iv) [Reserved]
    (2) Test protocol for single-stage products employing burner delay. 
This test will be used in place of paragraph (h)(1) of this section for 
products manufacturers have certified to DOE under Sec.  429.18(b)(3) 
as employing a burner delay automatic means strategy. This test 
verifies whether the automatic means in single-stage boiler products 
establishes a burner delay upon a call for heat until the means has 
determined that the inferred heat load cannot be met by the residual 
heat of the water in the system.
    (i) Boiler setup--(A) Boiler installation. Boiler installation in 
the test room shall be in accordance with the setup and apparatus 
requirements by section 6.0 of appendix N to subpart B of 10 CFR part 
430.
    (B) Activation of controls. Adjust the boiler controls in 
accordance with the I&O manual at the default setting that allows for 
activation of the means for adjusting water temperature.
    (C) Adjustment of water flow and temperature. The flow and 
temperature of inlet water to the boiler shall be capable of being 
adjusted manually.
    (ii) Boiler heat-up--(A) Boiler start-up. Power up the boiler and 
initiate a call for heat.
    (B) Adjustment of firing rate. Adjust the boiler's firing rate to 
within 5% of its maximum rated input.
    (C) Establishing flow rate and temperature rise. Adjust the water 
flow through the boiler to achieve a [Delta]T of 20[emsp14][deg]F 
(2 [deg]F) or greater with an inlet water temperature equal 
to 140[emsp14][deg]F (2[emsp14][deg]F).

[[Page 2647]]

    (D) Terminate the call for heating. Terminate the call for heat, 
stop the flow of water through the boiler, and record the time at 
termination.
    (iii) Verify burner delay--(A) Reinitiate call for heat. Within 
three (3) minutes of termination (paragraph (h)(2)(ii)(D) of this 
section) and without adjusting the inlet water flow rate or temperature 
as specified in paragraph (h)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, reinitiate the 
call for heat and water flow and record the time.
    (B) Verify burner ignition. At 15-second intervals, record time and 
supply water temperature until the main burner ignites.
    (C) Terminate the call for heat.
    (iv) [Reserved]

PART 430--ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS

0
4. The authority citation for part 430 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 6291-6309; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.


0
5. Amend Sec.  430.2 by adding in alphabetical order a definition of 
``Controlling parameter'' and revising the definition of ``Furnace'' to 
read as follows:


Sec.  430.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Controlling parameter means a measurable quantity or an algorithm 
(such as temperature or usage pattern) used for inferring heating load 
to a residential boiler, which would then result in incremental changes 
in boiler supply water temperature.
* * * * *
    Furnace means a product which utilizes only single-phase electric 
current, or single-phase electric current or DC current in conjunction 
with natural gas, propane, or home heating oil, and which--
    (1) Is designed to be the principal heating source for the living 
space of a residence;
    (2) Is not contained within the same cabinet with a central air 
conditioner whose rated cooling capacity is above 65,000 Btu per hour;
    (3) Is an electric central furnace, electric boiler, forced-air 
central furnace, gravity central furnace, or low-pressure steam or hot 
water boiler; and
    (4) Has a heat input rate of less than 300,000 Btu per hour for 
electric boilers and low-pressure steam or hot water boilers and less 
than 225,000 Btu per hour for forced-air central furnaces, gravity 
central furnaces, and electric central furnaces.
* * * * *

0
6. Amend Sec.  430.3 by revising paragraph (g)(11) and adding paragraph 
(j)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  430.3  Materials incorporated by reference.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (11) ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103-1993, (``ASHRAE 103-1993''), Methods 
of Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of Residential 
Central Furnaces and Boilers, (with Errata of October 24, 1996), except 
for sections 7.1, 7.2.2.2, 7.2.2.5, 7.2.3.1, 7.8, 8.2.1.3, 8.3.3.1, 
8.4.1.1, 8.4.1.1.2, 8.4.1.2, 8.4.2.1.4, 8.4.2.1.6, 8.6.1.1, 8.7.2, 
8.8.3, 9.1.2.2.1, 9.1.2.2.2, 9.5.1.1, 9.5.1.2.1, 9.5.1.2.2, 9.5.2.1, 
9.7.1, 9.7.4, 9.7.6, 9.10, 11.5.11.1, 11.5.11.2 and appendices B and C, 
approved October 4, 1993, IBR approved for Sec.  430.23 and appendix N 
to subpart B.
* * * * *
    (j) * * *
    (2) ASTM D2156-09 (Reapproved 2013) (``ASTM D2156R13''), Standard 
Test Method for Smoke Density in Flue Gases from Burning Distillate 
Fuels, approved October 1, 2013, IBR approved for appendix N to subpart 
B.
* * * * *

0
7. Amend Sec.  430.23 by revising paragraph (n)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  430.23  Test procedures for the measurement of energy and water 
consumption.

* * * * *
    (n) * * *
    (2) The annual fuel utilization efficiency for furnaces, expressed 
in percent, is the ratio of the annual fuel output of useful energy 
delivered to the heated space to the annual fuel energy input to the 
furnace determined according to section 10.1 of appendix N of this 
subpart for gas and oil furnaces and determined in accordance with 
section 11.1 of the American National Standards Institute/American 
Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers 
(ANSI/ASHRAE) Standard 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  
430.3) for electric furnaces. Truncate the annual fuel utilization 
efficiency to one-tenth of a percentage point.
* * * * *

0
8. Revise appendix N to subpart B to read as follows:

Appendix N to Subpart B of Part 430--Uniform Test Method for Measuring 
the Energy Consumption of Furnaces and Boilers

    Note: Prior to July 13, 2016, representations with respect to 
the energy use or efficiency of residential furnaces and boilers, 
including compliance certifications, must be based on testing 
conducted in accordance with either this appendix as it now appears 
or appendix N as it appeared at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B revised 
as of January 1, 2016.
    After July 13, 2016, representations with respect to energy use 
or efficiency of residential furnaces and boilers, including 
compliance certifications, must be based on testing conducted in 
accordance with this appendix.
    1.0 Scope. The scope of this appendix is as specified in section 
2 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3).
    For purposes of this appendix, the Department of Energy 
incorporates by reference several industry standards, either in 
whole or in part, as listed in Sec.  430.3. In cases where there is 
a conflict, the language of the test procedure in this appendix 
takes precedence over the incorporated standards.
    2.0 Definitions. Definitions include those specified in section 
3 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3) 
and the following additional and modified definitions.
    2.1 Active mode means the condition in which the furnace or 
boiler is connected to the power source, and at least one of the 
burner, electric resistance elements, or any electrical auxiliaries 
such as blowers or pumps, are activated.
    2.2 Boiler pump means a pump installed on a boiler and that is 
separate from the circulating water pump.
    2.3 Control means a device used to regulate the operation of a 
piece of equipment and the supply of fuel, electricity, air, or 
water.
    2.4 Draft inducer means a fan incorporated in the furnace or 
boiler that either draws or forces air into the combustion chamber.
    2.5 Gas valve means an automatic or semi-automatic device 
consisting essentially of a valve and operator that controls the gas 
supply to the burner(s) during normal operation of an appliance. The 
operator may be actuated by application of gas pressure on a 
flexible diaphragm, by electrical means, by mechanical means or by 
other means.
    2.6 Installation and operation (I&O) manual means instructions 
for installing, commissioning, and operating the furnace or boiler, 
which are supplied with the product when shipped by the 
manufacturer.
    2.7 Isolated combustion system means a system where a unit is 
installed within the structure, but isolated from the heated space. 
A portion of the jacket heat from the unit is lost, and air for 
ventilation, combustion and draft control comes from outside the 
heated space.
    2.8 Multi-position furnace means a furnace that can be installed 
in more than one airflow configuration (i.e., upflow or horizontal; 
downflow or horizontal; upflow or downflow; and upflow, or downflow, 
or horizontal).
    2.9 Off mode means a mode in which the furnace or boiler is 
connected to a mains power source and is not providing any active 
mode or standby mode function, and where the mode may persist for an 
indefinite time. The existence of an off switch in off position

[[Page 2648]]

(a disconnected circuit) is included within the classification of 
off mode.
    2.10 Off switch means the switch on the furnace or boiler that, 
when activated, results in a measurable change in energy consumption 
between the standby and off modes.
    2.11 Oil control valve means an automatically or manually 
operated device consisting of an oil valve for controlling the fuel 
supply to a burner to regulate burner input.
    2.12 Standby mode means any mode in which the furnace or boiler 
is connected to a mains power source and offers one or more of the 
following space heating functions that may persist:
    a. To facilitate the activation of other modes (including 
activation or deactivation of active mode) by remote switch 
(including thermostat or remote control), internal or external 
sensors, or timer;
    b. Continuous functions, including information or status 
displays or sensor based functions.
    2.13 Thermal stack damper means a type of stack damper that 
relies exclusively upon the changes in temperature in the stack 
gases to open or close the damper.
    3.0 Classifications. Classifications are as specified in section 
4 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3).
    4.0 Requirements. Requirements are as specified in section 5 of 
ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3).
    5.0 Instruments. Instruments must be as specified in section 6 
of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3).
    6.0 Apparatus. The apparatus used in conjunction with the 
furnace or boiler during the testing must be as specified in section 
7 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3) 
except for sections 7.1, 7.2.2.2, 7.2.2.5, 7.2.3.1, and 7.8; and as 
specified in sections 6.1 through 6.5 of this appendix.
    6.1 General.
    a. Install the furnace or boiler in the test room in accordance 
with the I&O manual, as defined in section 2.6 of this appendix, 
except that if provisions within this appendix are specified, then 
the provisions herein drafted and prescribed by DOE govern. If the 
I&O manual and any additional provisions of this appendix are not 
sufficient for testing a furnace or boiler, the manufacturer must 
request a waiver from the test procedure pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27.
    b. If the I&O manual indicates the unit should not be installed 
with a return duct, then the return (inlet) duct specified in 
section 7.2.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see 
Sec.  430.3) is not required.
    c. Test multi-position furnaces in the least efficient 
configuration. Testing of multi-position furnaces in other 
configurations is permitted if energy use or efficiency is 
represented pursuant to the requirements in 10 CFR part 429.
    d. The apparatuses described in section 6 of this appendix are 
used in conjunction with the furnace or boiler during testing. Each 
piece of apparatus shall conform to material and construction 
specifications listed in this appendix and in ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3), and the reference 
standards cited in this appendix and in ASHRAE 103-1993.
    e. Test rooms containing equipment must have suitable facilities 
for providing the utilities (including but not limited to 
environmental controls, sufficient fluid source(s), applicable 
measurement equipment, and any other technology or tools) necessary 
for performance of the test and must be able to maintain conditions 
within the limits specified in section 6 of this appendix.
    6.2 Forced-air central furnaces (direct vent and direct 
exhaust).
    a. Units not equipped with a draft hood or draft diverter must 
be provided with the minimum-length vent configuration recommended 
in the I&O manual or a 5-ft flue pipe if there is no recommendation 
provided in the I&O manual (see Figure 4 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)). For a direct exhaust 
system, insulate the minimum-length vent configuration or the 5-ft 
flue pipe with insulation having an R-value not less than 7 and an 
outer layer of aluminum foil. For a direct vent system, see section 
7.5 of ASHRAE 103-1993 for insulation requirements.
    b. For units with power burners, cover the flue collection box 
with insulation having an R-value of not less than 7 and an outer 
layer of aluminum foil before the cool-down and heat-up tests 
described in sections 9.5 and 9.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated 
by reference, see Sec.  430.3), respectively. However, do not apply 
the insulation for the jacket loss test (if conducted) described in 
section 8.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 or the steady-state test described in 
section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993.
    c. For power-vented units, insulate the shroud surrounding the 
blower impeller with insulation having an R-value of not less than 7 
and an outer layer of aluminum foil before the cool-down and heat-up 
tests described in sections 9.5 and 9.6, respectively, of ASHRAE 
103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3). Do not apply 
the insulation for the jacket loss test (if conducted) described in 
section 8.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 or the steady-state test described in 
section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993. Do not insulate the blower motor or 
block the airflow openings that facilitate the cooling of the 
combustion blower motor or bearings.
    6.3 Downflow furnaces. Install an internal section of vent pipe 
the same size as the flue collar for connecting the flue collar to 
the top of the unit, if not supplied by the manufacturer. Do not 
insulate the internal vent pipe during the jacket loss test (if 
conducted) described in section 8.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated 
by reference, see Sec.  430.3) or the steady-state test described in 
section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993. Do not insulate the internal vent 
pipe before the cool-down and heat-up tests described in sections 
9.5 and 9.6, respectively, of ASHRAE 103-1993. If the vent pipe is 
surrounded by a metal jacket, do not insulate the metal jacket. 
Install a 5-ft test stack of the same cross-sectional area or 
perimeter as the vent pipe above the top of the furnace. Tape or 
seal around the junction connecting the vent pipe and the 5-ft test 
stack. Insulate the 5-ft test stack with insulation having an R-
value not less than 7 and an outer layer of aluminum foil. (See 
Figure 3-E of ASHRAE 103-1993.)
    6.4 Units with draft hoods or draft diverters. Install the stack 
damper in accordance with the I&O manual. Install 5 feet of stack 
above the damper.
    a. For units with an integral draft diverter, cover the 5-ft 
stack with insulation having an R-value of not less than 7 and an 
outer layer of aluminum foil.
    b. For units with draft hoods, insulate the flue pipe between 
the outlet of the furnace and the draft hood with insulation having 
an R-value of not less than 7 and an outer layer of aluminum foil.
    c. For units with integral draft diverters that are mounted in 
an exposed position (not inside the overall unit cabinet), cover the 
diverter boxes (excluding any openings through which draft relief 
air flows) before the beginning of any test (including jacket loss 
test) with insulation having an R-value of not less than 7 and an 
outer layer of aluminum foil.
    d. For units equipped with integral draft diverters that are 
enclosed within the overall unit cabinet, insulate the draft 
diverter box with insulation as described in section 6.4.c before 
the cool-down and heat-up tests described in sections 9.5 and 9.6, 
respectively, of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see 
Sec.  430.3). Do not apply the insulation for the jacket loss test 
(if conducted) described in section 8.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 or the 
steady-state test described in section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993.
    6.5 Condensate collection. Attach condensate drain lines to the 
unit as specified in the I&O manual. Maintain a continuous downward 
slope of drain lines from the unit. Additional precautions (such as 
eliminating any line configuration or position that would otherwise 
restrict or block the flow of condensate or checking to ensure a 
proper connection with condensate drain spout that allows for 
unobstructed flow) must be taken to facilitate uninterrupted flow of 
condensate during the test. Collection containers must be glass or 
polished stainless steel to facilitate removal of interior deposits. 
The collection container must have a vent opening to the atmosphere.
    7.0 Testing conditions. The testing conditions must be as 
specified in section 8 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by 
reference, see Sec.  430.3), except for section 8.2.1.3, 8.3.3.1, 
8.4.1.1, 8.4.1.1.2, 8.4.1.2, 8.4.2.1.4, 8.4.2.1.6, 8.6.1.1, 8.7.2, 
and 8.8.3; and as specified in sections 7.1 to 7.10 of this 
appendix, respectively.
    7.1 Fuel supply, gas. In conducting the tests specified herein, 
gases with characteristics as shown in Table 1 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3) shall be used. Maintain 
the gas supply, ahead of all controls for a furnace, at a test 
pressure between the normal and increased values shown in Table 1 of 
ASHRAE 103-1993. Maintain the regulator outlet pressure at a level 
approximating that recommended in the I&O

[[Page 2649]]

manual, as defined in section 2.6 of this appendix, or, in the 
absence of such recommendation, to the nominal regulator settings 
used when the product is shipped by the manufacturer. Use a gas 
having a specific gravity as shown in Table 1 of ASHRAE 103-1993 and 
with a higher heating value within 5% of the higher 
heating value shown in Table 1 of ASHRAE 103-1993. Determine the 
actual higher heating value in Btu per standard cubic foot for the 
gas to be used in the test within an error no greater than 1%.
    7.2 Installation of piping. Install piping equipment in 
accordance with the I&O manual. In the absence of such 
specification, install piping in accordance with section 8.3.1.1 of 
ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3).
    7.3 Gas burner. Adjust the burners of gas-fired furnaces and 
boilers to their maximum Btu input ratings at the normal test 
pressure specified by section 7.1 of this appendix. Correct the 
burner input rate to reflect gas characteristics at a temperature of 
60 [deg]F and atmospheric pressure of 30 in of Hg and adjust down to 
within 2 percent of the hourly Btu nameplate input 
rating specified by the manufacturer as measured during the steady-
state performance test in section 8 of this appendix. Set the 
primary air shutters in accordance with the I&O manual to give a 
good flame at this condition. If, however, the setting results in 
the deposit of carbon on the burners during any test specified 
herein, the tester shall adjust the shutters and burners until no 
more carbon is deposited and shall perform the tests again with the 
new settings (see Figure 9 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by 
reference, see Sec.  430.3)). After the steady-state performance 
test has been started, do not make additional adjustments to the 
burners during the required series of performance tests specified in 
section 9 of ASHRAE 103-1993. If a vent-limiting means is provided 
on a gas pressure regulator, keep it in place during all tests.
    7.4 Modulating gas burner adjustment at reduced input rate. For 
gas-fired furnaces and boilers equipped with modulating-type 
controls, adjust the controls to operate the unit at the nameplate 
minimum input rate. If the modulating control is of a non-automatic 
type, adjust the control to the setting recommended in the I&O 
manual. In the absence of such recommendation, the midpoint setting 
of the non-automatic control shall be used as the setting for 
determining the reduced fuel input rate. Start the furnace or boiler 
by turning the safety control valve to the ``ON'' position. For 
boilers, use a supply water temperature that will allow for 
continuous operation without shutoff by the control. If necessary to 
achieve such continuous operation, supply water may be increased 
above 120 [deg]F; in such cases, gradually increase the supply water 
temperature to determine what minimum supply water temperature, with 
a 20 [deg]F temperature rise across the boiler, will be needed to 
adjust for the minimum input rate at the reduced input rate control 
setting. Monitor regulated gas pressure out of the modulating 
control valve (or entering the burner) to determine when no further 
reduction of gas pressure results. The flow rate of water through 
the boiler shall be adjusted to achieve a 20 [deg]F temperature 
rise.
    7.5 Oil burner. Adjust the burners of oil-fired furnaces or 
boilers to give a CO2 reading specified in the I&O manual 
and an hourly Btu input during the steady-state performance test 
described in section 8 of this appendix. Ensure the hourly BTU input 
is within 2% of the normal hourly Btu input rating as 
specified in the I&O manual. Smoke in the flue may not exceed a No. 
1 smoke during the steady-state performance test as measured by the 
procedure in ASTM D2156R13 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  
430.3). Maintain the average draft over the fire and in the flue 
during the steady-state performance test at the value specified in 
the I&O manual. Do not allow draft fluctuations exceeding 0.005 in. 
water. Do not make additional adjustments to the burner during the 
required series of performance tests. The instruments and measuring 
apparatus for this test are described in section 6 of this appendix 
and shown in Figure 8 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, 
see Sec.  430.3).
    7.6 Adjust air throughputs to achieve a temperature rise that is 
the higher of a and b, below, unless c applies. A tolerance of 
2 [deg]F is permitted.
    a. 15 [deg]F less than the nameplate maximum temperature rise or
    b. 15 [deg]F higher than the minimum temperature rise specified 
in the I&O manual.
    c. A furnace with a non-adjustable air temperature rise range 
and an automatically controlled airflow that does not permit a 
temperature rise range of 30[deg]F or more must be tested at the 
midpoint of the rise range.
    7.7 Establish the temperature rise specified in section 7.6 of 
this appendix by adjusting the circulating airflow. This adjustment 
must be accomplished by symmetrically restricting the outlet air 
duct and varying blower speed selection to obtain the desired 
temperature rise and minimum external static pressure, as specified 
in Table 4 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  
430.3). If the required temperature rise cannot be obtained at the 
minimum specified external static pressure by adjusting blower speed 
selection and duct outlet restriction, then the following applies.
    a. If the resultant temperature rise is less than the required 
temperature rise, vary the blower speed by gradually adjusting the 
blower voltage so as to maintain the minimum external static 
pressure listed in Table 4 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by 
reference, see Sec.  430.3). The airflow restrictions shall then 
remain unchanged. If static pressure must be varied to prevent 
unstable blower operation, then increase the static pressure until 
blower operation is stabilized, except that the static pressure must 
not exceed the maximum external static pressure as specified by the 
manufacturer in the I&O manual.
    b. If the resultant temperature rise is greater than the 
required temperature rise, then the unit can be tested at a higher 
temperature rise value, but one not greater than nameplate maximum 
temperature rise. In order not to exceed the maximum temperature 
rise, the speed of a direct-driven blower may be increased by 
increasing the circulating air blower motor voltage.
    7.8 Measurement of jacket surface temperature. Divide the jacket 
of the furnace or boiler into 6-inch squares when practical, and 
otherwise into 36-square-inch regions comprising 4 inch by 9 inch or 
3 inch by 12 inch sections, and determine the surface temperature at 
the center of each square or section with a surface thermocouple. 
Record the surface temperature of the 36-square-inch areas in groups 
where the temperature differential of the 36-square-inch areas is 
less than 10 [deg]F for temperature up to 100 [deg]F above room 
temperature, and less than 20 [deg]F for temperatures more than 100 
[deg]F above room temperature. For forced-air central furnaces, the 
circulating air blower compartment is considered as part of the duct 
system, and no surface temperature measurement of the blower 
compartment needs to be recorded for the purpose of this test. For 
downflow furnaces, measure all cabinet surface temperatures of the 
heat exchanger and combustion section, including the bottom around 
the outlet duct and the burner door, using the 36-square-inch 
thermocouple grid. The cabinet surface temperatures around the 
blower section do not need to be measured (See Figure 3-E of ASHRAE 
103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)).
    7.9 Installation of vent system. Keep the vent or air intake 
system supplied by the manufacturer in place during all tests. Test 
units intended for installation with a variety of vent pipe lengths 
with the minimum vent length as specified in the I&O manual, or a 5-
ft. flue pipe if there are no recommendations in the I&O manual. Do 
not connect a furnace or boiler employing a direct vent system to a 
chimney or induced-draft source. Vent combustion products solely by 
using the venting incorporated in the furnace or boiler and the vent 
or air intake system supplied by the manufacturer. For units that 
are not designed to significantly preheat the incoming air, see 
section 7.5 of this appendix and Figure 4a or 4b of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3). For units that do 
significantly preheat the incoming air, see Figure 4c or 4d of 
ASHRAE 103-1993.
    7.10 Additional optional method of testing for determining DP 
and DF for furnaces and boilers. On units whose design is such that 
there is no measurable airflow through the combustion chamber and 
heat exchanger when the burner(s) is (are) off as determined by the 
optional test procedure in section 7.10.1 of this appendix, 
DF and DP may be set equal to 0.05.
    7.10.1 Optional test method for indicating the absence of flow 
through the heat exchanger. Manufacturers may use the following test 
protocol to determine whether air flows through the combustion 
chamber and heat exchanger when the burner(s) is (are) off. The 
minimum default draft factor (as allowed per sections 8.8.3 and 9.10 
of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)) may 
be used only for units determined pursuant to this protocol to have 
no airflow through the combustion chamber and heat exchanger.
    7.10.1.1 Test apparatus. Use a smoke stick that produces smoke 
that is easily visible and has a density less than or approximately 
equal to air. Use a smoke stick that produces smoke that is non-
toxic to the test personnel and produces gas that is

[[Page 2650]]

unreactive with the environment in the test chamber.
    7.10.1.2 Test conditions. Minimize all air currents and drafts 
in the test chamber, including turning off ventilation if the test 
chamber is mechanically ventilated. Wait at least two minutes 
following the termination of the furnace or boiler on-cycle before 
beginning the optional test method for indicating the absence of 
flow through the heat exchanger.
    7.10.1.3 Location of the test apparatus. After all air currents 
and drafts in the test chamber have been eliminated or minimized, 
position the smoke stick based on the following equipment 
configuration: (a) For horizontal combustion air intakes, 
approximately 4 inches from the vertical plane at the termination of 
the intake vent and 4 inches below the bottom edge of the combustion 
air intake; or (b) for vertical combustion air intakes, 
approximately 4 inches horizontal from vent perimeter at the 
termination of the intake vent and 4 inches down (parallel to the 
vertical axis of the vent). In the instance where the boiler 
combustion air intake is closer than 4 inches to the floor, place 
the smoke device directly on the floor without impeding the flow of 
smoke.
    7.10.1.4 Duration of test. Establish the presence of smoke from 
the smoke stick and then monitor the direction of the smoke flow for 
no less than 30 seconds.
    7.10.1.5 Test results. During visual assessment, determine 
whether there is any draw of smoke into the combustion air intake 
vent.
    If absolutely no smoke is drawn into the combustion air intake, 
the furnace or boiler meets the requirements to allow use of the 
minimum default draft factor pursuant to section 8.8.3 and/or 
section 9.10 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see 
Sec.  430.3).
    If there is any smoke drawn into the intake, proceed with the 
methods of testing as prescribed in section 8.8 of ASHRAE 103-1993.
    8.0 Test procedure. Conduct testing and measurements as 
specified in section 9 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by 
reference, see Sec.  430.3) except for sections 9.1.2.2.1, 
9.1.2.2.2, 9.5.1.1, 9.5.1.2.1, 9.5.1.2.2, 9.5.2.1, 9.7.4, and 9.10; 
and as specified in sections 8.1 through 8.11 of this appendix. 
Section 8.4 of this appendix may be used in lieu of section 9.2 of 
ASHRAE 103-1993.
    8.1 Fuel input. For gas units, measure and record the steady-
state gas input rate in Btu/hr, including pilot gas, corrected to 
standard conditions of 60 [deg]F and 30 in. Hg. Use measured values 
of gas temperature and pressure at the meter and barometric pressure 
to correct the metered gas flow rate to the above standard 
conditions. For oil units, measure and record the steady-state fuel 
input rate.
    8.2 Electrical input. For furnaces and boilers, during the 
steady-state test, perform a single measurement of all of the 
electrical power involved in burner operation (PE), including 
energizing the ignition system, controls, gas valve or oil control 
valve, and draft inducer, if applicable. For boilers, the 
measurement of PE must include the boiler pump if so equipped. If 
the boiler pump does not operate during the measurement of PE, add 
the boiler pump nameplate power to the measurement of PE. If the 
boiler pump nameplate power is not available, use 0.13 kW.
    For furnaces, during the steady-state test, perform a single 
measurement of the electrical power to the circulating air blower 
(BE). For hot water boilers, use the circulating water pump 
nameplate power for BE, or if the pump nameplate power is not 
available, use 0.13 kW.
    8.3 Input to interrupted ignition device. For burners equipped 
with an interrupted ignition device, record the nameplate electric 
power used by the ignition device, PEIG, or record that 
PEIG = 0.4 kW if no nameplate power input is provided. 
Record the nameplate ignition device on-time interval, 
tIG, or, if the nameplate does not provide the ignition 
device on-time interval, measure the on-time interval with a 
stopwatch at the beginning of the test, starting when the burner is 
turned on. Set tIG = 0 and PEIG = 0 if the 
device on-time interval is less than or equal to 5 seconds after the 
burner is on.
    8.4 Optional test procedures for condensing furnaces and 
boilers, measurement of condensate during the establishment of 
steady-state conditions. For units with step-modulating or two-stage 
controls, conduct the test at both the maximum and reduced inputs. 
In lieu of collecting the condensate immediately after the steady 
state conditions have been reached as required by section 9.2 of 
ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3), 
condensate may be collected during the establishment of steady state 
conditions as defined by section 9.1.2.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993. Perform 
condensate collection for at least 30 minutes. Measure condensate 
mass immediately at the end of the collection period to prevent 
evaporation loss from the sample. Record fuel input for the 30-
minute condensate collection test period. Observe and record fuel 
higher heating value (HHV), temperature, and pressures necessary for 
determining fuel energy input (Qc,ss). Measure the fuel quantity and 
HHV with errors no greater than 1%. The humidity for the room air 
shall at no time exceed 80%. Determine the mass of condensate for 
the establishment of steady state conditions (Mc,ss) in pounds by 
subtracting the tare container weight from the total container and 
condensate weight measured at the end of the 30-minute condensate 
collection test period.
    8.5 Cool-down test for gas- and oil-fueled gravity and forced-
air central furnaces without stack dampers. Turn off the main burner 
after completing steady-state testing, and measure the flue gas 
temperature by means of the thermocouple grid described in section 
7.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3) 
at 1.5 minutes (TF,OFF(t3)) and 9 minutes 
(TF,OFF(t4)) after shutting off the burner. 
When taking these temperature readings, the integral draft diverter 
must remain blocked and insulated, and the stack restriction must 
remain in place. On atmospheric systems with an integral draft 
diverter or draft hood and equipped with either an electromechanical 
inlet damper or an electromechanical flue damper that closes within 
10 seconds after the burner shuts off to restrict the flow through 
the heat exchanger in the off-cycle, bypass or adjust the control 
for the electromechanical damper so that the damper remains open 
during the cool-down test.
    For furnaces that employ post-purge, measure the length of the 
post-purge period with a stopwatch. Record the time from burner 
``OFF'' to combustion blower ``OFF'' (electrically de-energized) as 
tP. If the measured tP is less than or equal 
to 30 seconds, set tP at 0 and conduct the cool-down test 
as if there is no post-purge. If tP is prescribed by the 
I&O manual or measured to be greater than 180 seconds, stop the 
combustion blower at 180 seconds and use that value for 
tP. Measure the flue gas temperature by means of the 
thermocouple grid described in section 7.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 at the 
end of the post-purge period, tP(TF,OFF 
(tP)), and at the time (1.5 + tP) minutes 
(TF,OFF(t3)) and (9.0 + tP) minutes 
(TF,OFF(t4)) after the main burner shuts off.
    8.6 Cool-down test for gas- and oil-fueled gravity and forced-
air central furnaces without stack dampers and with adjustable fan 
control. For a furnace with adjustable fan control, measure the time 
delay between burner shutdown and blower shutdown, t\+\. This time 
delay, t\+\, will be 3.0 minutes for non-condensing furnaces or 1.5 
minutes for condensing furnaces or until the supply air temperature 
drops to a value of 40[emsp14][deg]F above the inlet air 
temperature, whichever results in the longest fan on-time. For a 
furnace without adjustable fan control or with the type of 
adjustable fan control whose range of adjustment does not allow for 
the time delay, t\+\, specified above, bypass the fan control and 
manually control the fan to allow for the appropriate delay time as 
specified in section 9.5.1.2 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by 
reference, see Sec.  430.3). For a furnace that employs a single 
motor to drive both the power burner and the indoor air circulating 
blower, the power burner and indoor air circulating blower must be 
stopped at the same time
    8.7 Cool-down test for gas- and oil-fueled boilers without stack 
dampers. After steady-state testing has been completed, turn the 
main burner(s) ``OFF'' and measure the flue gas temperature at 3.75 
minutes (temperature designated as TF,OFF(t3)) 
and 22.5 minutes (temperature designated as 
TF,OFF(t4)) after the burner shut-off using 
the thermocouple grid described in section 7.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3).
    a. During this off-period, for units that do not have pump delay 
after shut-off, do not allow any water to circulate through the hot 
water boilers.
    b. For units that have pump delay on shut-off, except those 
having pump controls sensing water temperature, the unit control 
must stop the pump. Measure and record the time between burner shut-
off and pump shut-off (t\+\) to the nearest second.
    c. For units having pump delay controls that sense water 
temperature, operate the pump for 15 minutes and record t\+\ as 15 
minutes. While the pump is operating, maintain the inlet water 
temperature and

[[Page 2651]]

flow rate at the same values as used during the steady-state test, 
as specified in sections 9.1 and 8.4.2.3 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3).
    d. For boilers that employ post-purge, measure the length of the 
post-purge period with a stopwatch. Record the time from burner 
``OFF'' to combustion blower ``OFF'' (electrically de-energized) as 
tP. If tP is prescribed by the I&O manual or 
measured to be greater than 180 seconds, stop the combustion blower 
at 180 seconds and use that value for tP. Measure the 
flue gas temperature by means of the thermocouple grid described in 
section 7.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 at the end of the post-purge period 
tP (TF,OFF(tP)) and at (3.75 + 
tP) minutes (TF,OFF(t3)) and (22.5 
+ tP) minutes (TF,OFF(t4)) after 
the main burner shuts off. If the measured tP is less 
than or equal to 30 seconds, record tP as 0 and conduct 
the cool-down test as if there is no post-purge.
    8.8 Direct measurement of off-cycle losses testing method. 
[Reserved.]
    8.9 Calculation options. The rate of the flue gas mass flow 
through the furnace and the factors DP, DF, 
and DS are calculated by the equations in sections 
11.6.1, 11.6.2, 11.6.3, 11.6.4, 11.7.1, and 11.7.2 of ASHRAE 103-
1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3). On units whose 
design is such that there is no measurable airflow through the 
combustion chamber and heat exchanger when the burner(s) is (are) 
off (as determined by the optional test procedure in section 7.10 of 
this appendix), DF and DP may be set equal to 
0.05.
    8.10 Optional test procedures for condensing furnaces and 
boilers that have no off-period flue losses. For units that have 
applied the test method in section 7.10 of this appendix to 
determine that no measurable airflow exists through the combustion 
chamber and heat exchanger during the burner off-period and having 
post-purge periods of less than 5 seconds, the cool-down and heat-up 
tests specified in sections 9.5 and 9.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3) may be omitted. In lieu 
of conducting the cool-down and heat-up tests, the tester may use 
the losses determined during the steady-state test described in 
section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993 when calculating heating seasonal 
efficiency, EffyHS.
    8.11 Measurement of electrical standby and off mode power.
    8.11.1 Standby power measurement. With all electrical 
auxiliaries of the furnace or boiler not activated, measure the 
standby power (PW,SB) in accordance with the procedures 
in IEC 62301 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3), except 
that section 8.5, Room Ambient Temperature, of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3) and the voltage 
provision of section 8.2.1.4, Electrical Supply, of ASHRAE 103-1993 
shall apply in lieu of the corresponding provisions of IEC 62301 at 
section 4.2, Test room, and the voltage specification of section 
4.3, Power supply. Frequency shall be 60Hz. Clarifying further, IEC 
62301 section 4.4, Power measurement instruments, and section 5, 
Measurements, apply in lieu of ASHRAE 103-1993 section 6.10, Energy 
Flow Rate. Measure the wattage so that all possible standby mode 
wattage for the entire appliance is recorded, not just the standby 
mode wattage of a single auxiliary. Round the recorded standby power 
(PW,SB) to the second decimal place, except for loads 
greater than or equal to 10W, which must be recorded to at least 
three significant figures.
    8.11.2 Off mode power measurement. If the unit is equipped with 
an off switch or there is an expected difference between off mode 
power and standby mode power, measure off mode power 
(PW,OFF) in accordance with the standby power 
procedures in IEC 62301 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  
430.3), except that section 8.5, Room Ambient Temperature, of ASHRAE 
103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3) and the 
voltage provision of section 8.2.1.4, Electrical Supply, of ASHRAE 
103-1993 shall apply in lieu of the corresponding provisions of IEC 
62301 at section 4.2, Test room, and the voltage specification of 
section 4.3, Power supply. Frequency shall be 60Hz. Clarifying 
further, IEC 62301 section 4.4, Power measurement instruments, and 
section 5, Measurements, apply for this measurement in lieu of 
ASHRAE 103-1993 section 6.10, Energy Flow Rate. Measure the wattage 
so that all possible off mode wattage for the entire appliance is 
recorded, not just the off mode wattage of a single auxiliary. If 
there is no expected difference in off mode power and standby mode 
power, let PW,OFF = PW,SB, in which case no 
separate measurement of off mode power is necessary. Round the 
recorded off mode power (PW,OFF) to the second decimal 
place, except for loads greater than or equal to 10W, in which case 
round the recorded value to at least three significant figures.
    9.0 Nomenclature. Nomenclature includes the nomenclature 
specified in section 10 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by 
reference, see Sec.  430.3) and the following additional variables:

Effmotor = Efficiency of power burner motor
PEIG = Electrical power to the interrupted ignition 
device, kW
RT,a = RT,F if flue gas is measured
    = RT,S if stack gas is measured
RT,F = Ratio of combustion air mass flow rate to 
stoichiometric air mass flow rate
RT,S = Ratio of the sum of combustion air and relief air 
mass flow rate to stoichiometric air mass flow rate
tIG = Electrical interrupted ignition device on-time, 
min.
Ta,SS,X = TF,SS,X if flue gas temperature is 
measured, [deg]F
    = TS,SS,X if stack gas temperature is measured, 
[deg]F
yIG = Ratio of electrical interrupted ignition device on-
time to average burner on-time
yP = Ratio of power burner combustion blower on-time to 
average burner on-time
ESO = Average annual electric standby mode and off mode 
energy consumption, in kilowatt-hours
PW,OFF = Furnace or boiler off mode power, in watts
PW,SB = Furnace or boiler standby mode power, in watts

    10.0 Calculation of derived results from test measurements. 
Perform calculations as specified in section 11 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3), except for sections 
11.5.11.1, 11.5.11.2, and appendices B and C; and as specified in 
sections 10.1 through 10.11 and Figure 1 of this appendix.
    10.1 Annual fuel utilization efficiency. The annual fuel 
utilization efficiency (AFUE) is as defined in sections 11.2.12 
(non-condensing systems), 11.3.12 (condensing systems), 11.4.12 
(non-condensing modulating systems) and 11.5.12 (condensing 
modulating systems) of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, 
see Sec.  430.3), except for the definition for the term 
EffyHS in the defining equation for AFUE. 
EffyHS is defined as:

EffyHS = heating seasonal efficiency as defined in 
sections 11.2.11 (non-condensing systems), 11.3.11 (condensing 
systems), 11.4.11 (non-condensing modulating systems) and 11.5.11 
(condensing modulating systems) of ASHRAE 103-1993, except that for 
condensing modulating systems sections 11.5.11.1 and 11.5.11.2 are 
replaced by sections 10.2 and 10.3 of this appendix. 
EffyHS is based on the assumptions that all weatherized 
warm air furnaces or boilers are located outdoors, that non-
weatherized warm air furnaces are installed as isolated combustion 
systems, and that non-weatherized boilers are installed indoors.

    10.2 Part-load efficiency at reduced fuel input rate. If the 
option in section 8.10 of this appendix is not employed, calculate 
the part-load efficiency at the reduced fuel input rate, 
EffyU,R, for condensing furnaces and boilers equipped 
with either step-modulating or two-stage controls, expressed as a 
percent and defined as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15JA16.016


[[Page 2652]]


    If the option in section 8.10 of this appendix is employed, 
calculate EffyU,R as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15JA16.017

Where:
LL,A = value as defined in section 11.2.7 of ASHRAE 103-
1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)
LG = value as defined in section 11.3.11.1 of ASHRAE 103-
1993, at reduced input rate,
LC = value as defined in section 11.3.11.2 of ASHRAE 103-
1993 at reduced input rate,
LJ = value as defined in section 11.4.8.1.1 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at maximum input rate,
tON = value as defined in section 11.4.9.11 of ASHRAE 
103-1993,
QP = pilot fuel input rate determined in accordance with 
section 9.2 of ASHRAE 103-1993 in Btu/h,
QIN = value as defined in section 11.4.8.1.1 of ASHRAE 
103-1993,
tOFF = value as defined in section 11.4.9.12 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at reduced input rate,
LS,ON = value as defined in section 11.4.10.5 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at reduced input rate,
LS,OFF = value as defined in section 11.4.10.6 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at reduced input rate,
LI,ON = value as defined in section 11.4.10.7 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at reduced input rate,
LI,OFF = value as defined in section 11.4.10.8 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at reduced input rate,
CJ = jacket loss factor and equal to:
    = 0.0 for furnaces or boilers intended to be installed indoors
    = 1.7 for furnaces intended to be installed as isolated 
combustion systems
    = 2.4 for boilers (other than finned-tube boilers) intended to 
be installed as isolated combustion systems
    = 3.3 for furnaces intended to be installed outdoors
    = 4.7 for boilers (other than finned-tube boilers) intended to 
be installed outdoors
    = 1.0 for finned-tube boilers intended to be installed outdoors
    = 0.5 for finned-tube boilers intended to be installed in 
isolated combustion system applications
LS,SS = value as defined in section 11.4.6 of ASHRAE 103-
1993 at reduced input rate,
CS = value as defined in section 11.3.10.1 of ASHRAE 103-
1993 at reduced input rate.

    10.3 Part-Load Efficiency at Maximum Fuel Input Rate. If the 
option in section 8.10 of this appendix is not employed, calculate 
the part-load efficiency at maximum fuel input rate, 
EffyU,H, for condensing furnaces and boilers equipped 
with two-stage controls, expressed as a percent and defined as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15JA16.014

    If the option in section 8.10 of this appendix is employed, 
calculate EffyU,H as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15JA16.015

Where:

LL,A = value as defined in section 11.2.7 of ASHRAE 103-
1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3),
LG = value as defined in section 11.3.11.1 of ASHRAE 103-
1 at maximum input rate,
LC = value as defined in section 11.3.11.2 of ASHRAE 103-
1993 at maximum input rate,
LJ = value as defined in section 11.4.8.1.1 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at maximum input rate,
tON = value as defined in section 11.4.9.11 of ASHRAE 
103-1993,
QP = pilot fuel input rate determined in accordance with 
section 9.2 of ASHRAE 103-1993 in Btu/h,
QIN = value as defined in section 11.4.8.1.1 of ASHRAE 
103-1993,
tOFF = value as defined in section 11.4.9.12 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at maximum input rate,
LS,ON = value as defined in section 11.4.10.5 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at maximum input rate,
LS,OFF = value as defined in section 11.4.10.6 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at maximum input rate,
LI,ON = value as defined in section 11.4.10.7 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at maximum input rate,
LI,OFF = value as defined in section 11.4.10.8 of ASHRAE 
103-1993 at maximum input rate,
CJ = value as defined in section 10.2 of this appendix,
LS,SS = value as defined in section 11.4.6 of ASHRAE 103-
1993 at maximum input rate,
CS = value as defined in section 11.4.10.1 of ASHRAE 103-
1993 at maximum input rate.

    10.4 National average burner operating hours, average annual 
fuel energy consumption, and average annual auxiliary electrical 
energy consumption for gas or oil furnaces and boilers.
    10.4.1 National average number of burner operating hours. For 
furnaces and boilers equipped with single-stage controls, the 
national average number of burner operating hours is defined as:


[[Page 2653]]


BOHSS = 2,080 (0.77) (A) DHR - 2,080 (B)

Where:

2,080 = national average heating load hours
0.77 = adjustment factor to adjust the calculated design heating 
requirement and heating load hours to the actual heating load 
experienced by the heating system
A = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE + yIG 
PEIG + y BE) + (QIN - QP) 
EffyHS], for forced draft unit, indoors
    = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE Effmotor + 
yIG PEIG + y BE) + (QIN - 
QP) EffyHS], for forced draft unit, isolated 
combustion system,
    = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE (1 - Effmotor) + 
yIG PEIG + y BE) + (QIN - 
QP) EffyHS], for induced draft unit, indoors, 
and
    = 100,000/[341,300 (yIG PEIG + y BE) + 
(QIN - QP) EffyHS], for induced 
draft unit, isolated combustion system.
DHR = typical design heating requirements as listed in Table 8 (in 
kBtu/h) of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated by reference, see Sec.  
430.3), using the proper value of QOUT defined in 
11.2.8.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993.
B = 2 QP (EffyHS) (A)/100,000

Where:

Effmotor = nameplate power burner motor efficiency 
provided by the manufacturer,
    = 0.50, an assumed default power burner efficiency if not 
provided by the manufacturer.
100,000 = factor that accounts for percent and kBtu
yP = ratio of induced or forced draft blower on-time to 
average burner on-time, as follows:
    1 for units without post-purge;
    1 + (tP/3.87) for single stage furnaces with post 
purge;
    1 + (tP/10) for two-stage and step modulating 
furnaces with post purge;
    1 + (tP/9.68) for single stage boilers with post 
purge; or
    1 + (tP/15) for two stage and step modulating boilers 
with post purge.
PE = all electrical power related to burner operation at full load 
steady-state operation, including electrical ignition device if 
energized, controls, gas valve or oil control valve, draft inducer, 
and boiler pump, as determined in section 8.2 of this appendix.
yIG = ratio of burner interrupted ignition device on-time 
to average burner on-time, as follows:
    0 for burners not equipped with interrupted ignition device;
    (tIG/3.87) for single-stage furnaces or boilers;
    (tIG/10) for two-stage and step modulating furnaces;
    (tIG/9.68) for single stage boilers; or
    (tIG/15) for two stage and step modulating boilers.
PEIG = electrical input rate to the interrupted ignition 
device on burner (if employed), as defined in section 8.3 of this 
appendix
y = ratio of blower or pump on-time to average burner on-time, as 
follows:
    1 for furnaces without fan delay or boilers without a pump 
delay;
    1 + (t\+\ - t-)/3.87 for single-stage furnaces with 
fan delay;
    1 + (t\+\ - t-)/10 for two-stage and step modulating 
furnaces with fan delay;
    1 + (t\+\/9.68) for single-stage boilers with pump delay;
    1 + (t\+\/1.5) for two-stage and step modulating boilers with 
pump delay.
BE = circulating air fan or water pump electrical energy input rate 
at full-load steady-state operation as defined in section 8.2 of 
this appendix.
tP = post-purge time as defined in section 8.5 (furnace) 
or section 8.7 (boiler) of this appendix
    = 0 if tP is equal to or less than 30 second
tIG = on-time of the burner interrupted ignition device, 
as defined in section 8.3 of this appendix
QIN = as defined in section 11.2.8.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993
QP = as defined in section 11.2.11 of ASHRAE 103-1993
EffyHS = as defined in section 11.2.11 (non-condensing 
systems) or section 11.3.11.3 (condensing systems) of ASHRAE 103-
1993, percent, and calculated on the basis of:
    isolated combustion system installation, for non-weatherized 
warm air furnaces;
    indoor installation, for non-weatherized boilers; or
    outdoor installation, for furnaces and boilers that are 
weatherized.
2 = ratio of the average length of the heating season in hours to 
the average heating load hours
t\+\ = delay time between burner shutoff and the blower or pump 
shutoff measured as defined in section 9.5.1.2 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(furnace) or section 8.7 of this appendix (boiler).
t- = as defined in section 9.6.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993

    10.4.1.1 For furnaces and boilers equipped with two stage or 
step modulating controls the average annual energy used during the 
heating season, EM, is defined as:

EM = (QIN - QP) BOHSS + 
(8,760 - 4,600) QP

Where:

QIN = as defined in 11.4.8.1.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)
QP = as defined in 11.4.12 of ASHRAE 103-1993
BOHSS = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix, in 
which the weighted EffyHS as defined in 11.4.11.3 or 
11.5.11.3 of ASHRAE 103-1993 is used for calculating the values of A 
and B, the term DHR is based on the value of QOUT defined 
in 11.4.8.1.1 or 11.5.8.1.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993, and the term 
(yPPE + yIGPEIG + yBE) in the 
factor A is increased by the factor R, which is defined as:
R = 2.3 for two stage controls
    = 2.3 for step modulating controls when the ratio of minimum-to-
maximum output is greater than or equal to 0.5
    = 3.0 for step modulating controls when the ratio of minimum-to-
maximum output is less than 0.5
A = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE + yIG 
PEIG + y BE) R + (QIN - QP) 
EffyHS], for forced draft unit, indoors
    = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE Effmotor + 
yIG PEIG + y BE) R + (QIN - 
QP) EffyHS], for forced draft unit, isolated 
combustion system,
    = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE (1 - Effmotor) + 
yIG PEIG + y BE) R + (QIN - 
QP) EffyHS], for induced draft unit, indoors, 
and
    = 100,000/[341,300 (yIG PEIG + y BE) R + 
(QIN - QP) EffyHS], for induced 
draft unit, isolated combustion system.

Where:

Effmotor = nameplate power burner motor efficiency 
provided by the manufacturer,
    = 0.50, an assumed default power burner efficiency if not 
provided by the manufacturer.
EffyHS = as defined in 11.4.11.3 or 11.5.11.3 of ASHRAE 
103-1993, and calculated on the basis of:
    isolated combustion system installation, for non-weatherized 
warm air furnaces;
    indoor installation, for non-weatherized boilers; or
    outdoor installation, for furnaces and boilers that are 
weatherized.
8,760 = total number of hours per year
4,600 = as defined in 11.4.12 of ASHRAE 103-1993
    10.4.1.2 For furnaces and boilers equipped with two-stage or 
step-modulating controls, the national average number of burner 
operating hours at the reduced operating mode (BOHR) is 
defined as:

BOHR = XR EM/QIN,R

Where:

XR = as defined in 11.4.8.7 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)
EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this appendix
QIN,R = as defined in 11.4.8.1.2 of ASHRAE 103-1993

    10.4.1.3 For furnaces and boilers equipped with two-stage 
controls, the national average number of burner operating hours at 
the maximum operating mode (BOHH) is defined as:

BOHH = XH EM/QIN

Where:

XH = as defined in 11.4.8.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)
EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this appendix
QIN = as defined in section 11.4.8.1.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993

    10.4.1.4 For furnaces and boilers equipped with step-modulating 
controls, the national average number of burner operating hours at 
the modulating operating mode (BOHM) is defined as:

BOHM = XH EM/QIN,M

Where:

XH = as defined in 11.4.8.6 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)
EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this appendix
QIN,M = QOUT,M/(EffySS,M/100)
QOUT,M = as defined in 11.4.8.10 or 11.5.8.10 of ASHRAE 
103-1993, as appropriate
EffySS,M = as defined in 11.4.8.8 or 11.5.8.8 of ASHRAE 
103-1993, as appropriate, in percent

[[Page 2654]]

100 = factor that accounts for percent

    10.4.2 Average annual fuel energy consumption for gas or oil 
fueled furnaces or boilers. For furnaces or boilers equipped with 
single-stage controls, the average annual fuel energy consumption 
(EF) is expressed in Btu per year and defined as:

EF = BOHSS (QIN - QP) + 
8,760 QP

Where:

BOHSS = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
QIN = as defined in section 11.2.8.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)
QP = as defined in section 11.2.11 of ASHRAE 103-1993
8,760 = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this appendix

    10.4.2.1 For furnaces or boilers equipped with either two-stage 
or step modulating controls, EF is defined as:

EF = EM + 4,600 QP

Where:

EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this appendix
4,600 = as defined in section 11.4.12 of ASHRAE 103-1993
QP = as defined in section 11.2.11 of ASHRAE 103-1993

    10.4.3 Average annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
for gas or oil-fueled furnaces or boilers. For furnaces and boilers 
equipped with single-stage controls, the average annual auxiliary 
electrical consumption (EAE) is expressed in kilowatt-
hours and defined as:

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

Where:

BOHSS = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
yP = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
PE = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
yIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
PEIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
y = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
BE = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this appendix

    10.4.3.1 For furnaces or boilers equipped with two-stage 
controls, EAE is defined as:

EAE = BOHR (yP PER + 
yIG PEIG + yBER) + BOHH 
(yP PEH + yIG PEIG + y 
BEH) + ESO

Where:

BOHR = as defined in section 10.4.1.2 of this appendix
yP = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
PER = as defined in section 8.2 of this appendix and 
measured at the reduced fuel input rate
yIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
PEIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
y = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
BER = as defined in section 8.2 of this appendix and 
measured at the reduced fuel input rate
BOHH = as defined in section 10.4.1.3 of this appendix
PEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this appendix and 
measured at the maximum fuel input rate
BEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this appendix and 
measured at the maximum fuel input rate
ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this appendix

    10.4.3.2 For furnaces or boilers equipped with step-modulating 
controls, EAE is defined as:

EAE = BOHR (yP PER + 
yIG PEIG + y BER) + BOHM 
(yP PEH + yIG PEIG + y 
BEH) + ESO

Where:

BOHR = as defined in section 10.4.1.2 of this appendix
yP = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
PER = as defined in section 8.2 of this appendix and 
measured at the reduced fuel input rate
yIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
PEIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
y = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
BER = as defined in section 8.2 of this appendix and 
measured at the reduced fuel input rate
BOHM = as defined in 10.4.1.4 of this appendix
PEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this appendix and 
measured at the maximum fuel input rate
BEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this appendix and 
measured at the maximum fuel input rate
ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this appendix

    10.5 Average annual electric energy consumption for electric 
furnaces or boilers. For electric furnaces and boilers, the average 
annual electrical energy consumption (EE) is expressed in 
kilowatt-hours and defined as:

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

Where:

100 = to express a percent as a decimal
2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
0.77 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
DHR = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
3.412 = conversion factor from watt-hours to Btu
AFUE = as defined in section 11.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993 (incorporated 
by reference, see Sec.  430.3), in percent, and calculated on the 
basis of:
    isolated combustion system installation, for non-weatherized 
warm air furnaces;
    indoor installation, for non-weatherized boilers; or
    outdoor installation, for furnaces and boilers that are 
weatherized.
ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this appendix.

    10.6 Energy factor.
    10.6.1 Energy factor for gas or oil furnaces and boilers. 
Calculate the energy factor, EF, for gas or oil furnaces and boilers 
defined as, in percent:

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

Where:

EF = average annual fuel consumption as defined in 
section 10.4.2 of this appendix
4,600 = as defined in section 11.4.12 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)
QP = pilot fuel input rate determined in accordance with 
section 9.2 of ASHRAE 103-1993 in Btu/h
EffyHS = annual fuel utilization efficiency as defined in 
sections 11.2.11, 11.3.11, 11.4.11 or 11.5.11 of ASHRAE 103-1993, in 
percent, and calculated on the basis of:
    isolated combustion system installation, for non-weatherized 
warm air furnaces;
    indoor installation, for non-weatherized boilers; or
    outdoor installation, for furnaces and boilers that are 
weatherized.
3,412 = conversion factor from kW to Btu/h
EAE = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this appendix

    10.6.2 Energy factor for electric furnaces and boilers. The 
energy factor, EF, for electric furnaces and boilers is defined as:

EF = AFUE

Where:

AFUE = annual fuel utilization efficiency as defined in section 
10.4.3 of this appendix, in percent

    10.7 Average annual energy consumption for furnaces and boilers 
located in a different geographic region of the United States and in 
buildings with different design heating requirements.
    10.7.1 Average annual fuel energy consumption for gas or oil-
fueled furnaces and boilers located in a different geographic region 
of the United States and in buildings with different design heating 
requirements. For gas or oil-fueled furnaces and boilers, the 
average annual fuel energy consumption for a specific geographic 
region and a specific typical design heating requirement 
(EFR) is expressed in Btu per year and defined as:

EFR = (EF - 8,760 QP) (HLH/2,080) + 
8,760 QP

Where:

EF = as defined in section 10.4.2 of this appendix
8,760 = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this appendix
QP = as defined in section 11.2.11 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)
HLH = heating load hours for a specific geographic region determined 
from the heating load hour map in Figure 1 of this appendix
2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix

    10.7.2 Average annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
for gas or oil-fueled furnaces and boilers located in a different 
geographic region of the United States and in

[[Page 2655]]

buildings with different design heating requirements. For gas or 
oil-fueled furnaces and boilers, the average annual auxiliary 
electrical energy consumption for a specific geographic region and a 
specific typical design heating requirement (EAER) is 
expressed in kilowatt-hours and defined as:

EAER = (EAE - ESO) (HLH/2080) + 
ESOR

Where:

EAE = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this appendix
ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this appendix
HLH = as defined in section 10.7.1 of this appendix
2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
ESOR = as defined in section 10.7.3 of this appendix.

    10.7.3 Average annual electric energy consumption for electric 
furnaces and boilers located in a different geographic region of the 
United States and in buildings with different design heating 
requirements. For electric furnaces and boilers, the average annual 
electric energy consumption for a specific geographic region and a 
specific typical design heating requirement (EER) is 
expressed in kilowatt-hours and defined as:

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

Where:

100 = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this appendix
0.77 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
DHR = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
HLH = as defined in section 10.7.1 of this appendix
3.412 = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this appendix
AFUE = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this appendix
ESOR = ESO as defined in section 10.11 of this 
appendix, except that in the equation for ESO, the term 
BOH is multiplied by the expression (HLH/2080) to get the 
appropriate regional accounting of standby mode and off mode loss.

    10.8 Annual energy consumption for mobile home furnaces
    10.8.1 National average number of burner operating hours for 
mobile home furnaces (BOHSS). BOHSS is the same as in 
section 10.4.1 of this appendix, except that the value of 
EffyHS in the calculation of the burner operating hours, 
BOHSS, is calculated on the basis of a direct vent unit 
with system number 9 or 10.
    10.8.2 Average annual fuel energy for mobile home furnaces (EF). 
EF is same as in section 10.4.2 of this appendix except 
that the burner operating hours, BOHSS, is calculated as 
specified in section 10.8.1 of this appendix.
    10.8.3 Average annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption 
for mobile home furnaces (EAE). EAE is the same as in 
section 10.4.3 of this appendix, except that the burner operating 
hours, BOHSS, is calculated as specified in section 
10.8.1 of this appendix.
    10.9 Calculation of sales weighted average annual energy 
consumption for mobile home furnaces. To reflect the distribution of 
mobile homes to geographical regions with average HLHMHF 
values different from 2,080, adjust the annual fossil fuel and 
auxiliary electrical energy consumption values for mobile home 
furnaces using the following adjustment calculations.
    10.9.1 For mobile home furnaces, the sales weighted average 
annual fossil fuel energy consumption is expressed in Btu per year 
and defined as:
EF,MHF = (EF - 8,760 QP) 
HLHMHF/2,080 + 8,760 QP

Where:

EF = as defined in section 10.8.2 of this appendix
8,760 = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this appendix
QP = as defined in section 10.2 of this appendix
HLHMHF = 1880, sales weighted average heating load hours 
for mobile home furnaces
2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix

    10.9.2 For mobile home furnaces, the sales-weighted-average 
annual auxiliary electrical energy consumption is expressed in 
kilowatt-hours and defined as:

EAE,MHF = EAE HLHMHF/2,080

Where:

EAE = as defined in section 10.8.3 of this appendix
HLHMHF = as defined in section 10.9.1 of this appendix
2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix

    10.10 Direct determination of off-cycle losses for furnaces and 
boilers equipped with thermal stack dampers. [Reserved.]
    10.11 Average annual electrical standby mode and off mode energy 
consumption. Calculate the annual electrical standby mode and off 
mode energy consumption (ESO) in kilowatt-hours, defined 
as:

ESO = (PW,SB (4160 - BOH) + 4600 
PW,OFF) K
Where:

PW,SB = furnace or boiler standby mode power, in watts, 
as measured in section 8.11.1 of this appendix
4,160 = average heating season hours per year
BOH = total burner operating hours as calculated in section 10.4 of 
this appendix for gas or oil-fueled furnaces or boilers. Where for 
gas or oil-fueled furnaces and boilers equipped with single-stage 
controls, BOH = BOHSS; for gas or oil-fueled furnaces and 
boilers equipped with two-stage controls, BOH = (BOHR + 
BOHH); and for gas or oil-fueled furnaces and boilers 
equipped with step-modulating controls, BOH = (BOHR + 
BOHM). For electric furnaces and boilers, BOH = 
100(2080)(0.77)DHR/(Ein 3.412(AFUE))
4,600 = as defined in section 11.4.12 of ASHRAE 103-1993 
(incorporated by reference, see Sec.  430.3)
PW,OFF = furnace or boiler off mode power, in watts, as 
measured in section 8.11.2 of this appendix
K = 0.001 kWh/Wh, conversion factor from watt-hours to kilowatt-
hours

Where:

100 = to express a percent as a decimal
2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
0.77 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
DHR = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this appendix
Ein = steady-state electric rated power, in kilowatts, 
from section 9.3 of ASHRAE 103-1993
3.412 = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this appendix
AFUE = as defined in section 11.1 of ASHRAE 103-1993 in percent

[[Page 2656]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15JA16.018

[FR Doc. 2016-00040 Filed 1-14-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P



                                             2628               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                       A link to the docket Web page can be                  6. Testing Requirements for Multi-Position
                                                                                                     found at: http://www.regulations.gov/                       Configurations
                                             10 CFR Parts 429 and 430                                #!docketDetail;D=EERE-2012-BT-TP-                        7. AFUE Reporting Precision
                                                                                                                                                              8. Definitions and Other Changes
                                             [Docket No. EERE–2012–BT–TP–0024]                       0024. This Web page contains a link to                   E. Other Test Procedure Considerations
                                                                                                     the docket for this final rule on the                    1. Room Ambient Air Temperature and
                                             RIN 1904–AC79                                           www.regulations.gov site. The                               Humidity Ranges
                                                                                                     www.regulations.gov Web page contains                    2. Full-Fuel-Cycle Energy Metrics
                                             Energy Conservation Program for                         simple instructions on how to access all                 3. Oversize Factor Value
                                             Consumer Products: Test Procedures                      documents, including public comments,                    4. Alternative Methods for Furnace/Boiler
                                             for Residential Furnaces and Boilers                    in the docket.                                              Efficiency Determination
                                                                                                                                                              5. Test Method for Combination Appliance
                                             AGENCY:  Office of Energy Efficiency and                   For further information on how to
                                                                                                                                                              F. Test Burden
                                             Renewable Energy, Department of                         review the docket, contact Ms. Brenda                    G. Measured Energy Use
                                             Energy.                                                 Edwards at (202) 586–2945 or by email:                   H. Certification and Enforcement
                                             ACTION: Final rule.                                     Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.                               1. Verification Test for Automatic Means
                                                                                                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.                        for Adjusting the Water Temperature in
                                             SUMMARY:   The U.S. Department of                       Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department of                        Boilers
                                             Energy (DOE) amends its test procedure                                                                           2. Compliance Dates for the Amended Test
                                                                                                     Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and                     Procedure
                                             for residential furnaces and boilers                    Renewable Energy, Building
                                             established under the Energy Policy and                                                                        IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review
                                                                                                     Technologies Office, EE–5B, 1000                         A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
                                             Conservation Act. This rulemaking will                  Independence Avenue SW.,                                 B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility
                                             fulfill DOE’s obligation to review its test             Washington, DC 20585–0121.                                  Act
                                             procedures for covered products at least                Telephone: (202) 586–6590. Email:                        C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction
                                             once every seven years. The revisions                   Ashley.Armstrong@ee.doe.gov.                                Act of 1995
                                             include: Clarifying the components                         Mr. Pete Cochran, U.S. Department of                  D. Review Under the National
                                             included in the burner electrical power                                                                             Environmental Policy Act of 1969
                                                                                                     Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
                                             input term (PE); adopting a method for                                                                           E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
                                                                                                     GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue                          F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
                                             determining whether a minimum draft                     SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.                          G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates
                                             factor can be applied, and how the                      Telephone: (202) 586–9496. Email:                           Reform Act of 1995
                                             conditions are to be verified; allowing                 peter.cochran@hq.doe.gov.                                H. Review Under the Treasury and General
                                             optional measurement of condensate                                                                                  Government Appropriations Act, 1999
                                                                                                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final
                                             collection during establishment of                                                                               I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
                                                                                                     rule incorporates by reference into part
                                             steady state; updating references to the                                                                         J. Review Under Treasury and General
                                                                                                     430 the following industry standard:                        Government Appropriations Act, 2001
                                             applicable installation and operating
                                                                                                        ASTM D2156–09 (Reapproved 2013)                       K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
                                             manual and providing clarifications
                                                                                                     (‘‘ASTM D2156R13’’), Standard Test                       L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal
                                             when the installation and operation
                                                                                                     Method for Smoke Density in Flue Gases                      Energy Administration Act of 1974
                                             (I&O) manual does not specify test
                                                                                                     from Burning Distillate Fuels, approved                  M. Description of Materials Incorporated
                                             setup; clarifying the testing of units                                                                              by Reference
                                                                                                     October 1, 2013.
                                             intended to be installed without a return                                                                      V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
                                                                                                        Copies of ASTM D2156R13 can be
                                             duct; adopting a provision clarifying the
                                                                                                     obtained from ASTM. American Society                   I. Authority and Background
                                             testing of multi-position units; revising
                                                                                                     of Testing and Materials, ASTM
                                             the required reporting precision for                                                                              Title III, Part B 1 of the Energy Policy
                                                                                                     Headquarters, 100 Barr Harbor Drive,
                                             annual fuel utilization efficiency                                                                             and Conservation Act of 1975 (‘‘EPCA’’
                                                                                                     P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA
                                             (AFUE); and adopting a verification                                                                            or ‘‘the Act’’), Public Law 94–163 (42
                                                                                                     19428–2959, (877) 909–2786 or (610)
                                             method for determining whether a                                                                               U.S.C. 6291–6309, as codified) sets forth
                                                                                                     832–9585, or by going to http://
                                             boiler incorporates an automatic means                                                                         a variety of provisions designed to
                                                                                                     www.astm.org. See section IV.M for
                                             for adjusting water temperature and                                                                            improve energy efficiency and
                                                                                                     further discussion of this standard.
                                             whether this design requirement                                                                                established the Energy Conservation
                                             functions as required.                                  Table of Contents                                      Program for Consumer Products Other
                                             DATES: The effective date of this rule is               I. Authority and Background                            Than Automobiles.2 These products
                                             February 16, 2016. The final rule                       II. Summary of the Final Rule                          include residential furnaces and boilers,
                                             changes will be mandatory for                           III. Discussion                                        the subject of this notice.3
                                             representations made on or after July 13,                  A. Products Within Scope of the Final Rule             Under EPCA, DOE’s energy
                                             2016. The incorporation by reference of                    B. General Comments                                 conservation program generally consists
                                             certain material listed in this rule is                    1. Statutory Deadline                               of four parts: (1) Testing; (2) labeling; (3)
                                             approved by the Director of the Federal                    2. Simultaneous Changes in Test Procedure           Federal energy conservation standards;
                                                                                                           and Standards                                    and (4) certification and enforcement
                                             Register as of February 16, 2016.                          3. Lack of Data Availability
                                             ADDRESSES: The docket, which includes                                                                          procedures. The testing requirements
                                                                                                        C. Proposed Incorporation by Reference of
                                             Federal Register notices, public meeting                                                                       consist of test procedures that
                                                                                                           ASHRAE Standard 103–2007
                                             attendee lists and transcripts,                            D. Test Procedure Amendments                        manufacturers of covered products must
                                             comments, and other supporting                             1. Electrical Power of Components
                                                                                                                                                              1 For editorial reasons, Part B was codified as Part
                                             documents/materials, is available for                      2. Smoke Stick Test for Determining Use of
                                                                                                           Minimum Default Off-Cycle and Power              A in the U.S. Code.
                                             review at www.regulations.gov. All
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                                                                                                                                                              2 All references to EPCA in this document refer
                                             documents in the docket are listed in                         Burner Draft Factors
                                                                                                                                                            to the statute as amended through the Energy
                                                                                                        3. Condensate Collection During the
                                             the www.regulations.gov index.                                Establishment of Steady State Conditions
                                                                                                                                                            Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, Public Law
                                             However, not all documents listed in                                                                           114–11 (Apr. 30, 2015).
                                                                                                        4. Installation and Operation Manual                  3 Under 42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(5), the statute
                                             the index may be publicly available,                          Reference                                        establishes ‘‘furnaces’’ as covered products, and 42
                                             such as information that is exempt from                    5. Duct Work for Units That Are Installed           U.S.C. 6291(23) defines furnaces as inclusive of
                                             public disclosure.                                            Without a Return Duct                            boilers.



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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                            2629

                                             use as the basis for: (1) Certifying to                    The existing DOE test procedure for                   On January 4, 2013, DOE initiated this
                                             DOE that their products comply with                     determining the AFUE of residential                    rulemaking to examine all aspects of the
                                             the applicable energy conservation                      furnaces and boilers is located at 10 CFR              DOE test procedure by publishing a
                                             standards adopted pursuant to EPCA,                     part 430, subpart B, appendix N,                       request for information (RFI) (January
                                             and (2) making other representations                    Uniform Test Method for Measuring the                  2013 RFI) in the Federal Register. 78 FR
                                             about the efficiency of those products.                 Energy Consumption of Furnaces and                     675. On March 11, 2015, DOE published
                                             (42 U.S.C. 6293(c); 42 U.S.C. 6295(s))                  Boilers. The existing DOE test procedure               a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR)
                                             Similarly, DOE must use these test                      for residential furnaces and boilers was               (March 2015 NOPR) in the Federal
                                             procedures to determine whether the                     established by a final rule published in               Register to amend the test procedure for
                                             products comply with any relevant                       the Federal Register on May 12, 1997,                  residential furnaces and boilers. 80 FR
                                             standards promulgated under EPCA. (42                   and it incorporates by reference the                   12876. In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE
                                             U.S.C. 6295(s))                                         American National Standards Institute/                 proposed to amend the residential
                                                EPCA sets forth the criteria and                     American Society of Heating,                           furnaces and boilers test procedure by
                                             procedures that DOE must follow when                    Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning                    incorporating by reference ANSI/
                                             prescribing or amending test procedures                 Engineers (ANSI/ASHRAE) Standard                       ASHRAE Standard 103–2007 (ASHRAE
                                             for covered products. EPCA provides, in                 103–1993, Method of Testing for Annual                 103–2007) in place of ASHRAE 103–
                                             relevant part, that any test procedures                 Fuel Utilization Efficiency of Residential             1993, which currently is referenced in
                                             prescribed or amended under this                        Central Furnaces and Boilers (ASHRAE                   the existing test procedure. In addition,
                                             section shall be reasonably designed to                 103–1993). 62 FR 26140, 26157                          the March 2015 NOPR proposed to
                                             produce test results which measure                      (incorporated by reference at 10 CFR                   adopt modifications that would
                                             energy efficiency, energy use, or                       430.3(f)(10)). On October 14, 1997, DOE                establish revised test procedures for
                                             estimated annual operating cost of a                    published an interim final rule in the                 two-stage and modulating products, as
                                             covered product during a representative                 Federal Register to revise a provision                 well as for boilers with long post-purge
                                             average use cycle or period of use, and                 concerning the insulation of the flue                  times that would not otherwise be
                                             shall not be unduly burdensome to                       collector box in order to ensure the                   included in the incorporation by
                                             conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3))                         updated test procedure would not affect                reference of ASHRAE 103–2007.
                                                In addition, if DOE determines that a                the measured AFUE of existing furnaces                   DOE also proposed to amend the test
                                             test procedure amendment is warranted,                  and boilers. 62 FR 53508. This interim                 procedure to: (1) Allow the
                                             it must publish proposed test                           final rule was adopted without change                  measurement of condensate during the
                                             procedures and offer the public an                      in a final rule published in the Federal               establishment of steady-state rather than
                                             opportunity to present oral and written                 Register on February 24, 1998. 63 FR                   require an additional 30 minutes of
                                             comments on them. (42 U.S.C.                            9390.                                                  testing after steady-state conditions are
                                             6293(b)(2)) Finally, in any rulemaking to                                                                      established; (2) revise annual electricity
                                             amend a test procedure, DOE must                           On October 20, 2010, DOE amended                    consumption equations to account for
                                             determine to what extent, if any, the                   its test procedure for furnaces and                    additional electrical components; (3)
                                             proposed test procedure would alter the                 boilers to establish a method for                      revise test procedure references to
                                             product’s measured energy efficiency as                 measuring the electrical energy use in                 ‘‘manufacturer recommendations’’ or
                                             determined under the existing test                      standby mode and off mode for gas-                     ‘‘manufacturer’s instructions’’ that do
                                             procedure. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(1))                       fired and oil-fired furnaces and boilers,              not explicitly identify the source of the
                                                EISA 2007 amended EPCA to require                    as required by EISA 2007. 75 FR 64621.                 recommendations or instructions; (4)
                                             that, at least once every 7 years, DOE                  These test procedure amendments                        include a test protocol for determining
                                             must review test procedures for all                     incorporated by reference, and were                    the functionality of the automatic means
                                             covered products and either amend the                   based primarily on, provisions of the                  for adjusting water temperature; (5)
                                             test procedures (if the Secretary                       International Electrotechnical                         include a test method to indicate the
                                             determines that amended test                            Commission (IEC) Standard 62301 (First                 absence or presence of air flow to
                                             procedures would more accurately or                     Edition), Household electrical                         determine whether the minimum
                                             fully comply with the requirements of                   appliances—Measurement of standby                      default draft factor may be used; (6)
                                             42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) or publish a notice               power. On December 31, 2012, DOE                       revise the required reporting precision
                                             in the Federal Register of any                          published a final rule (December 2012                  for AFUE; (7) specify testing
                                             determination not to amend a test                       final rule) in the Federal Register that               requirements for units that are installed
                                             procedure. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A))                    updated the incorporation by reference                 without a return duct; and (8) specify
                                             Under this requirement, DOE must                        of the standby mode and off mode test                  testing requirements for units with
                                             review the test procedure for residential               procedure provisions to refer to the                   multi-position configurations. 80 FR
                                             furnaces and boilers not later than                     latest edition of IEC Standard 62301                   12876.
                                             December 19, 2014 (i.e., 7 years after the              (Second Edition). 77 FR 76831. On July
                                             publication of EISA 2007 on December                    10, 2013, DOE published a final rule                   II. Summary of the Final Rule
                                             19, 2007).                                              (July 2013 final rule) in the Federal                     The final rule amends the existing
                                                DOE’s current energy conservation                    Register that amended its test procedure               DOE test procedure for residential
                                             standards for residential furnaces and                  for residential furnaces and boilers by                furnaces and boilers to improve the
                                             boilers are expressed as minimum                        adopting needed equations that allow                   consistency and accuracy of test results
                                             annual fuel utilization efficiency                      manufacturers the option to omit the                   generated using the DOE test procedure
                                             (AFUE). AFUE is an annualized fuel                      heat-up and cool-down tests and still                  and to reduce test burden. In particular,
                                             efficiency metric that accounts for fuel                generate a valid AFUE measurement. 78                  these modifications include: (1)
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                                             consumption in active, standby, and off                 FR 41265. On August 30, 2013, DOE                      Clarifying the definition of the electrical
                                             modes. The following discussion                         published a correction to the July 2013                power term PE; (2) adopting a smoke
                                             provides a brief history of the                         final rule that corrected errors in the                stick test for determining use of
                                             rulemakings underlying the existing test                redesignations of affected subsections                 minimum default draft factors; (3)
                                             procedure for residential furnaces and                  within section 10 of appendix N. 78 FR                 allowing for the measurement of
                                             boilers.                                                53625.                                                 condensate under steady-state


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                                             2630               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             conditions; (4) referencing the                         paraphrase provides the location of the                   combustion of gas or oil is transferred to
                                             manufacturer’s installation and                         item in the public record.4                               the air within a casing by conduction
                                             operation (I&O) manual and providing                                                                              through heat exchange surfaces and is
                                                                                                     A. Products Within Scope of the Final
                                             clarifications when the I&O manual                                                                                circulated through the duct system by
                                                                                                     Rule
                                             does not specify test setup; (5)                                                                                  means of a fan or blower.
                                             specifying ductwork requirements for                       The test procedure amendments apply                       (4) Gravity central furnace means a
                                             units that are installed without a return               to products that meet the definitions for                 gas-fueled furnace which depends
                                             duct; (6) specifying testing requirements               residential furnaces and boilers (see                     primarily on natural convection for
                                             for units with multi-position                           DOE’s regulations at 10 CFR 430.2). A                     circulation of heated air and which is
                                             configurations; and (7) revising the                    ‘‘furnace’’ is defined as a product that:                 designed to be used in conjunction with
                                                                                                     (1) Utilizes only single-phase electric                   a system of ducts.
                                             AFUE reporting precision. DOE has also
                                                                                                     current, or single-phase electric current                    (5) Low pressure steam or hot water
                                             revised the definitions of several terms
                                                                                                     or direct current (DC) in conjunction                     boiler is an electric, gas, or oil-burning
                                             in the test procedure and added an
                                                                                                     with natural gas, propane, or home                        furnace designed to supply low pressure
                                             enforcement provision to provide a                      heating oil; (2) is designed to be the
                                             method of test for DOE to determine                                                                               steam or hot water for space heating
                                                                                                     principal heating source for the living                   applications. A low pressure steam
                                             compliance with the automatic means                     space of a residence; (3) is not contained                boiler operates at or below 15 psig steam
                                             design requirement mandated by EISA                     within the same cabinet with a central                    pressure; a hot water boiler operates at
                                             2007.                                                   air conditioner whose rated cooling                       or below 160 psig water pressure and
                                                DOE has withdrawn or modified all                    capacity is above 65,000 Btu per hour;                    250 °F water temperature.
                                             test procedure amendment proposals in                   (4) is an electric central furnace, electric                 (6) Mobile home furnace means a
                                             the March 2015 NOPR for which                           boiler, forced-air central furnace, gravity               direct vent furnace that is designed for
                                             stakeholders expressed concern                          central furnace, or low pressure steam                    use only in mobile homes.
                                             regarding the effect of the proposed                    or hot water boiler; and (5) has a heat                      (7) Outdoor furnace or boiler is a
                                             amendments on the measured energy                       input rate of less than 300,000 Btu per                   furnace or boiler normally intended for
                                             efficiency of residential furnaces and                  hour for electric boilers and low                         installation out-of-doors or in an
                                             boilers when compared to the current                    pressure steam or hot water boilers and                   unheated space (such as an attic or a
                                             test procedure. In particular, as                       less than 225,000 Btu per hour for                        crawl space).
                                             discussed in section III.C, DOE has                     forced-air central furnaces, gravity                         (8) Weatherized warm air furnace or
                                             withdrawn its proposal to incorporate                   central furnaces, and electric central                    boiler means a furnace or boiler
                                             by reference ASHRAE 103–2007.                           furnaces.5                                                designed for installation outdoors,
                                                                                                        The individual products within the                     approved for resistance to wind, rain,
                                             III. Discussion                                         scope of this test procedure and the                      and snow, and supplied with its own
                                                                                                     definition of each (see DOE’s regulations                 venting system.
                                               The following sections discuss the                    at 10 CFR 430.2) are listed below:
                                             products within the scope of this                          (1) Electric boiler means an                           B. General Comments
                                             rulemaking, the test procedure                          electrically powered furnace designed to                    Stakeholders submitted general
                                             amendments, other test procedure                        supply low pressure steam or hot water                    comments regarding the test procedure
                                             considerations, test burden, measured                   for space heating application. A low                      and parallel energy conservation
                                             energy use, and changes to certification                pressure steam boiler operates at or                      standards rulemaking timeline and the
                                             and enforcement provisions.                             below 15 pounds per square inch gauge                     availability of data related to this
                                               In response to the March 2015 NOPR,                   (psig) steam pressure; a hot water boiler                 proceeding. DOE discusses and
                                             the following twelve interested parties                 operates at or below 160 psig water                       responds to these comments in the
                                             submitted written comments: The                         pressure and 250 °F water temperature.                    following subsections.
                                                                                                        (2) Electric central furnace means a
                                             American Gas Association (AGA); the                                                                               1. Statutory Deadline
                                                                                                     furnace that is designed to supply heat
                                             Air-Conditioning, Heating and
                                                                                                     through a system of ducts with air as the                    As noted in section I, EISA 2007
                                             Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); Burnham                 heating medium, in which heat                             requires that DOE must review test
                                             Holdings, Inc. (Burnham); Carrier                       generated by one or more electric                         procedures for all covered products and
                                             Corporation (Carrier); John Cockerill                   resistance heating elements is circulated                 amend the test procedures or publish a
                                             (Cockerill); Goodman Global, Inc.                       by means of a fan or blower.                              notice in the Federal Register of any
                                             (Goodman); Lennox Industries Inc.                          (3) Forced-air central furnace means a                 determination not to amend test
                                             (Lennox); Lochinvar, LLC (Lochinvar);                   furnace that burns gas or oil and is                      procedures at least once every seven
                                             Rheem Manufacturing Company                             designed to supply heat through a                         years. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A)).
                                             (Rheem); Ingersoll Rand Residential                     system of ducts with air as the heating                      AHRI asserted that the start date for
                                             Solutions (Ingersoll Rand); Laclede                     medium. The heat generated by                             the obligation to review efficiency test
                                             Group; and Weil-McLain. Interested                                                                                procedures at least once every seven
                                             parties provided comments on a range                       4 The parenthetical reference provides a reference
                                                                                                                                                               years has been reset by the July 2013
                                             of issues, including those DOE                          for information located in the docket of DOE’s
                                                                                                     rulemaking to amend the test procedures for               Final Rule. And, therefore, by its
                                             identified in the March 2015 NOPR, as                   residential furnaces and boilers. (Docket No. EERE–       estimation, DOE has approximately five
                                             well as issues related to the proposed                  2012–BT–TP–0024, which is maintained at http://           more years to review and amend, as
                                             test procedure changes. The issues on                   www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2012-           needed, the test procedures for
                                             which DOE received comments, as well                    BT-TP-0024). The references are arranged as
                                                                                                                                                               residential furnaces and boilers. AHRI
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                                                                                                     follows: (commenter name, comment docket ID
                                             as DOE’s responses to those comments                    number, page of that document).                           added that this would be ample time to
                                             and the resulting changes to the test                      5 The definition of ‘‘furnace’’ currently in the CFR   manage DOE’s rulemaking activities
                                             procedure proposals presented in the                    at 10 CFR 430.2 mistakenly repeats the terms              such that proposed revisions to
                                             NOPR, are discussed in the subsequent                   ‘‘gravity central furnaces, and electric central
                                                                                                     furnaces’’ at the end of the definition. In this final
                                                                                                                                                               efficiency standards and test procedures
                                             sections. A parenthetical reference at                  rule, DOE is correcting this error to remove the          are not considered concurrently. (AHRI,
                                             the end of a comment quotation or                       duplicative language.                                     No. 36 at p. 2)


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                                   2631

                                               DOE notes that the July 2013 Final                       In response to AHRI, DOE does not                   adopting standards for residential
                                             Rule was limited in scope and only                      believe that the timing of the test                    furnaces and boilers; or (2) suspend the
                                             intended to remedy a specific concern                   procedure and standards rulemakings                    test procedure rulemaking until the
                                             articulated by stakeholders. Specifically,              has negatively impacted stakeholders’                  standards rulemaking has been
                                             the July 2013 Final Rule adopted                        ability to provide meaningful comment                  completed.
                                             needed equations to allow                               on this test procedure rulemaking. DOE                    Ingersoll Rand and Goodman stated
                                             manufacturers the option to omit the                    allowed four months for public                         their concern that two-stage, condensing
                                             heat up and cool down tests and still                   comment on the test procedure NOPR.                    furnaces that would meet the March 12,
                                             generate a valid AFUE measurement for                   Additionally, DOE’s original proposal                  2015 furnace proposed rule of 92-
                                             certain condensing products. 78 FR                      included an update to the latest                       percent AFUE under the current test
                                             41265, 41266. DOE considers the seven                   industry standard (i.e., ASHARE 103–                   procedure would not meet the 92-
                                             year look back provision to include a                   2007), which was developed by a                        percent AFUE standard under the
                                             comprehensive review of the entire test                 consensus-based ASHRAE process, and                    proposed DOE test procedure. Ingersoll
                                             procedure. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A))                    was released in 2007. DOE believes that                Rand noted that the two test procedures
                                             DOE did not conduct a comprehensive                     industry was involved in developing                    were assumed to be identical in the
                                             review for the July 2013 Final Rule.                    that standard and had experience with                  March 12, 2015 residential furnace
                                             Furthermore, DOE stated in the July                     the changes in the 2007 version of                     standard NOPR technical support
                                             2013 Final Rule that it was initiating a                ASHRAE Standard 103. Lastly,                           document. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p.
                                             separate rulemaking that was broader in                 stakeholders provided detailed,                        2; Goodman, No. 33 at p. 1) Similarly,
                                             scope to examine all aspects of the DOE                 insightful comments on all aspects of                  Weil-McLain suggested that the
                                             test procedure for residential furnaces                 the proposal, including submitting                     uncertainty caused by the simultaneous
                                             and boilers. 78 FR 41265, 41266.                        select test data in response to DOE’s                  test procedure rulemaking amplifies
                                             Therefore, DOE maintains that the July                  proposal, which shows that industry                    venting issues present in the residential
                                             2013 final rule did not meet the                        was able to carefully consider the                     boiler standards NOPR. (Weil-McLain,
                                             requirements outlined in 42 U.S.C.                      proposed method and how it compared                    No. 31 at p. 3)
                                             6293(b)(1)(A). In contrast, DOE has                     to the current Federal method of test. In                 In response to Ingersoll Rand and
                                             conducted a comprehensive review as                     addition, DOE has taken AHRI’s                         Goodman, as discussed in section III.C,
                                             part of the current rulemaking, which                   concerns regarding the potential impact                DOE declines to adopt the latest
                                             satisfies the requirements of 42 U.S.C.                 of test procedure changes on measured                  industry standard of ASHRAE 103–
                                             6293(b)(1)(A).                                          energy use into account in its                         2007, which is the only amendment
                                                                                                     determinations of which test procedure                 proposed in the March 2015 NOPR that
                                             2. Simultaneous Changes in Test
                                                                                                     proposals to finalize in this rulemaking.              manufacturers claimed could alter the
                                             Procedure and Standards                                    AHRI and Goodman stated that by                     AFUE for two-stage and modulating
                                                Several stakeholders cited legal and                 publishing the March 2015 NOPR                         condensing products. In response to
                                             practical concerns regarding the timing                 within weeks of the proposed efficiency                Weil-McLain, DOE notes that none of
                                             of proposed revisions to the test                       standard, DOE has failed to abide by the               the proposed test procedure provisions
                                             procedures and standards for residential                procedures located at 10 CFR part 430,                 that had the potential to result in a
                                             furnaces and boilers. Stakeholders                      subpart C, appendix A (7)(b). (AHRI, No.               change in measured AFUE are adopted
                                             requested that DOE delay any further                    36 at p. 2; Goodman, No. 33 at p. 2)
                                             work on the rulemakings to amend                                                                               in this test procedure final rule, as
                                                                                                     AHRI stated that the Administrative
                                             efficiency standards for these products                                                                        discussed in section III.G.
                                                                                                     Procedure Act (APA) requires agencies
                                             until after the finalization of the test                to abide by their policies and                         3. Lack of Data Availability
                                             procedure. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 1; Weil-                 procedures, especially where those rules                  In response the March 2015 NOPR,
                                             McLain, No. 31 at p. 2; Ingersoll Rand,                 have a substantive effect. AHRI asserted               interested parties submitted comments
                                             No. 37 at p. 5)                                         that the non-final test procedure has the
                                                AHRI stated that it believes the non-                                                                       regarding lack of data availability. For
                                                                                                     substantive effect of increasing costs to              example, the March 2015 NOPR
                                             final status of the test procedure inhibits             stakeholders and diminishing their
                                             stakeholders’ fair evaluation of the                                                                           included several references to a testing
                                                                                                     ability to comment on the efficiency                   report. 80 FR 12876, 12878. Burnham
                                             standard. AHRI stressed the importance                  standards. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 2; Weil-
                                             of having a known efficiency test                                                                              stated that in spite of requests from
                                                                                                     McLain, No. 31 at p. 7)
                                             procedure. AHRI noted that when a test                                                                         commenters, the testing report was not
                                                                                                        In response to the comments from
                                             procedure is in flux, manufacturers                                                                            available in the public docket as of July
                                                                                                     AHRI and Goodman asserting that DOE
                                             must spend resources collecting                         has failed to abide by its procedures at               8, 2015. Burnham added that the lack of
                                             potentially unusable data which                         10 CFR 430, subpart C, appendix A                      access to the testing report has made it
                                             undermines their ability to provide                     (7)(b), DOE notes that appendix A                      impossible to properly review the
                                             input on the proposed efficiency                        establishes procedures, interpretations,               impact of ambient conditions on AFUE
                                             standards. Similarly, AHRI added that                   and policies to guide DOE in the                       during the public comment period.
                                             when a test procedure is not finalized,                 consideration and promulgation of new                  Burnham requested that the comment
                                             a manufacturer has no way of                            or revised appliance efficiency                        period be extended to allow comment
                                             determining whether the test procedure                  standards under EPCA. (See section 1 of                on this document which should be
                                             will affect its ability to comply with a                10 CFR part 430, subpart C, appendix A)                disclosed immediately. (Burnham, No.
                                             proposed revised standard. AHRI noted                   Those procedures are a general guide to                35 at p. 7)
                                             that DOE is required to give                            the steps DOE typically follows in                        DOE made the test results available
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                                             stakeholders the opportunity to provide                 promulgating energy conservation                       during the test procedure public
                                             meaningful comments and asserted that                   standards. The guidance recognizes that                meeting.6 The slide deck presented at
                                             the joint proposal of test procedures and               DOE can and will, on occasion, deviate                   6 Test results included in the slide deck for the
                                             standards diminishes that opportunity                   from the typical process. Accordingly,                 public meeting include those for proposed changes
                                             (see 42 U.S.C. 6295(p)(2), 6306(a)).                    DOE has concluded that there is no                     related to AFUE determination for two-stage/
                                             (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 1)                                  basis to either: (1) Delay the final rules                                                        Continued




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                                             2632                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             the public meeting was posted to the                    p. 7) Carrier suggested that DOE not                   proposed in the March 2015 NOPR
                                             docket on March 26, 2015, along with                    update to ASHRAE 103–2007, but                         changes the value of EAE substantially
                                             the transcript of the public meeting.                   change the AFUE metric for forced-air                  from ¥8.5 percent to +13.5 percent.
                                             (Public Meeting Presentation Slides, No.                furnaces to be based on the steady-state               Ingersoll Rand noted that this change,
                                             21) Therefore, stakeholders were                        operation, as discussed in section                     along with the proposal to include the
                                             presented with an opportunity to review                 III.E.4. (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 2)                     electrical consumption of additional
                                             and discuss the data with the                              Several commenters suggested that                   components is significant enough that
                                             Department at the public meeting and to                 that the updating to ASHRAE 103–2007                   all current furnaces would have to be
                                             review the results during the comment                   would result in more significant                       retested and recertified. Ingersoll Rand
                                             period, which was open until July 10,                   changes to AFUE ratings than suggested                 requested that DOE reconsider its
                                             2015.                                                   by DOE in the March 2015 NOPR.                         finding that the amended test procedure
                                                                                                     (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 3; Lennox, No.                  would have a ‘‘de minimis impact on
                                             C. Proposed Incorporation by Reference                  32 at p. 2; AGA, No. 27 at p. 4; AHRI,                 the products’ measured energy use’’ and
                                             of ASHRAE Standard 103–2007                             No. 36 at p. 4; Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at              instead find that the proposed test
                                                In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE                          p. 2) Of these commenters, only AHRI                   procedure amendment has a significant
                                             proposed amendments to reduce                           provided test data, which indicated                    impact on measured electricity
                                             variability, eliminate ambiguity, and                   small changes in AFUE as a result of                   consumption. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at
                                             address discrepancies between the test                  changes to the cyclical condensate test                p. 5)
                                             procedure and actual field conditions,                  for modulating condensing boilers.                        Several commenters stated that the
                                             and DOE requested comment on its                        (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 17)                                changes to AFUE caused by updating to
                                             proposals. 80 FR 12876, 12902. One of                      Burnham and Ingersoll Rand                          ASHRAE 103–2007 would lead to
                                             these proposals was to update its                       suggested that the impact to AFUE                      additional testing burden. (Burnham,
                                             incorporation by reference of the                       resulting from the changes in cycle                    No. 35 at p. 3; Lennox, No. 32 at p. 2;
                                             industry test standard ASHRAE 103–                      times is still uncertain. Therefore, it is             AHRI, No. 36 at p. 4) AHRI stated that
                                             1993 to ASHRAE 103–2007.                                not possible to conclude that the effect               the change to use calculated values for
                                                DOE received several comments in                     of this proposed change to the                         tON and tOFF will at a minimum require
                                             response to its proposal to update the                  procedure is insignificant. (Burnham,                  retesting for any step-modulating
                                             incorporation by reference in the DOE                   No. 35 at p. 3; Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at              models at the reduced input rate and for
                                             test procedure to ASHRAE 103–2007.                      p. 2) Ingersoll Rand noted that as a                   many two stage models at both the
                                             Lochinvar and AGA responded to the                      result of adopting ASHRAE 103–2007,                    maximum and reduced input rates.
                                             NOPR in favor of adopting ASHRAE                        two-stage and modulating non-                          (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 4)
                                             103–2007 provided that DOE make                         condensing furnaces will have a higher                    Given this expected test burden,
                                             adequate allowances for the resulting                   AFUE rating, and condensing furnaces                   Lochinvar argued that if DOE is to adopt
                                             test burden and the impact that the                     will have lower AFUE ratings. Ingersoll                ASHRAE 103–2007, DOE must declare
                                             change would have on existing                           Rand noted that the changes in AFUE                    in writing that products certified
                                             efficiency claims. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at                are higher than the uncertainty of the                 according to ASHRAE 103–1993 that
                                             p. 1; AGA, No. 27 at p. 4) Similarly,                   test procedure reported by DOE and                     were on the market prior to updating the
                                             Burnham stated that they are not                        therefore this change to the test                      test procedure are not required to be
                                             opposed to the update provided test                     procedure cannot be considered de                      retested and recertified unless the
                                             burden is reduced. (Burnham, No. 35 at                  minimis. Ingersoll Rand also noted that                design is changed in a way that affects
                                             p. 3)                                                   the test results are limited and have                  efficiency. Lochinvar suggested that
                                                Ingersoll Rand and Rheem stated their                high variability. Ingersoll Rand                       future audit tests of pre-existing
                                             support only for certain provisions of                  suggested that the change not be                       products could still be conducted
                                             ASHRAE 103–2007. Specifically,                          adopted until the variability is better                according to ASHRAE 103–2007 but
                                             Ingersoll Rand supported requiring only                 understood. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p.              that manufacturers should not be
                                             reduced fire testing (and not high-fire                 2) AGA suggested that the Department                   required to do new tests on existing
                                             testing) when the calculated balance                    substantially increase the amount of                   models for certification reporting to
                                             point temperature is less than or equal                 testing using the modified test                        DOE’s Compliance Certification
                                             to five degrees. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37                procedure to ensure that the resulting                 Management System (CCMS).
                                             at p. 4) Rheem stated their support for                 efficiency rating for both furnaces and                (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 1)
                                             the elimination of table 8 and the                      boilers are accurate and repeatable.                      Burnham also commented that their
                                             average design heating requirements in                  (AGA, No. 27 at p. 4)                                  efforts to explore the impact of adoption
                                             ASHRAE 103–1993. (Rheem, No. 30 at                         Similarly, Ingersoll Rand suggested                 of ASHRAE 103–2007 have been
                                             p. 2)                                                   the calculation to account for post purge              hampered by the lack of generally
                                                Lennox and Weil-McLain suggested                     times longer than three minutes not be                 available, National Institute of
                                             DOE not update to ASHRAE 103–2007                       adopted without test data indicating the               Standards and Technology (NIST)
                                             at this time. (Lennox, No. 32 at p. 2;                  adjustment to AFUE that would result                   validated software tools for calculating
                                             Weil-McLain, No. 31 at p. 7) AHRI and                   from this update. Ingersoll Rand stated                AFUE (and intermediate values) based
                                             Weil-McLain suggested that DOE wait to                  that without test data they cannot                     on ASHRAE 103–2007. Burnham argued
                                             modify the test procedure until                         determine if the new readings would be                 that the lack of software is a significant
                                             ASHRAE 103–2016 is issued. (AHRI,                       representative of a unit’s performance.                departure from past practice during
                                             No. 36 at p. 8; Weil-McLain, No. 31 at                  (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 4)                       comparable rulemakings. Burnham also
                                                                                                        In response to the March 2015 NOPR,                 asserted that this constituted a lack of
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                                             modulating products, measurement of condensate          Ingersoll Rand requested that DOE not                  transparency that would violate basic
                                             under steady state conditions, electric consumption     adopt the proposed changes to the                      administrative law precepts and would
                                             of components, and verification test for automatic      calculation of annual auxiliary electrical             be arbitrary and capricious. (Burnham,
                                             means for adjusting the water temperature in
                                             boilers. DOE did not provide test results for ambient
                                                                                                     energy consumption (EAE) caused by the                 No. 35 at p. 3)
                                             conditions or other testing for which no changes        update to ASHRAE 103–2007. Ingersoll                      After considering these comments,
                                             were proposed in the NOPR.                              Rand stated that the calculation of EAE                DOE agrees that further evaluation is


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                                     2633

                                             needed to determine the impact of                       requirements for units with multi-                     measurement of EAE. AHRI stated that
                                             adopting ASHRAE 103–2007 on the                         position configurations; (7) AFUE                      the typical gas burner will not operate
                                             AFUE ratings of residential furnace and                 reporting precision; (8) room ambient                  unless both the ignition system and gas
                                             boiler models currently distributed in                  temperature and humidity ranges; (9)                   control (e.g., automatic valves) are
                                             commerce. As a result, DOE does not                     full-fuel-cycle (FFC) energy metrics in                energized, which DOE acknowledges by
                                             adopt ASHRAE 103–2007 in this final                     the AFUE test; (10) oversize factor                    including the power of the energized
                                             rule. Instead, DOE retains the reference                values; (11) alternative methods for                   electric ignition device in the definition
                                             in the existing test procedure to                       furnace and boiler efficiency                          of PE. AHRI stated that the definition of
                                             ASHRAE 103–1993, both related to                        determination; and (12) test method for                PE should be clarified to include all
                                             AFUE and EAE. However, DOE believes                     combination appliances. DOE amends                     electrical energy consumption that
                                             ASHRAE 103–2007 better accounts for                     the test procedure for residential                     relates to the functions of igniting and
                                             the operation of two-stage and                          furnaces and boilers regarding issues                  operating the burner during the on
                                             modulating equipment and may further                    (1)–(7), which are addressed in further                cycle. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 5)
                                             evaluate adoption of ASHRAE 103–                        detail below. Issues (8)–(12), for which                  Burnham supported DOE’s proposal
                                             2007, or a successor standard, in future                DOE does not amend the test procedure                  to measure all electrical consumption
                                             rulemakings. In addition to retaining the               in this final rule, are discussed in                   associated with operating the burner
                                             reference to ASHRAE 103–1993, DOE                       section III.E. DOE also received                       (PE), which should include the power
                                             revises the list of excluded ASHRAE                     comments on the verification test for                  consumption of any additional pump
                                             103–1993 sections to reflect test                       automatic means for adjusting water                    which is needed to provide adequate
                                             procedure amendments (as discussed in                   temperature, which are discussed in                    flow through the boiler itself without
                                             section III.D) and to more accurately                   section III.H.1.                                       also providing significant flow through
                                             identify the excluded sections.                                                                                the heating system. (Burnham, No. 35 at
                                               DOE does not agree with Burnham’s                     1. Electrical Power of Components                      p. 4)
                                             assertion that the lack of an automated                    In the January 2013 RFI and March                      Lochinvar stated that, in its
                                             software program implementing the                       2015 NOPR, DOE noted that the specific                 experience, all electrical power
                                             equations presented in DOE’s proposal                   method of electrical measurement                       consumption measurements made
                                             hampered stakeholder’s ability to                       prescribed in the existing DOE test                    during an AFUE test are made at the
                                             comment on the practicability and the                   procedure does not explicitly capture                  power supply connection to the boiler
                                             impact of the adoption of ASHRAE 103–                   the electrical power associated with all               and account for all auxiliary
                                             2007. DOE does not endorse specific                     auxiliary components. The method                       components. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 2)
                                             calculations tools commonly developed                   identifies PE as the electrical power                  Lochinvar stated that while the
                                             by industry or third-party test                         used to operate the burner but only                    proposed change in the measurement of
                                             laboratories that automate the equations                explicitly mentions measurements of                    electrical consumption seems
                                             provided in DOE’s regulations.                          the power supplied to the power burner                 unnecessary, it does not object to the
                                             Furthermore, DOE does not need to                       motor, the ignition device, and the                    revision.
                                             provide software for interested parties to              circulation water pump, but does not                      After reviewing the comments on the
                                             be able to perform the calculations in                  explicitly identify other devices that use             March 2015 NOPR, DOE agrees with the
                                             proposed test procedure amendments                      power during the active mode, such as                  alternative approach suggested by AHRI
                                             and believes the simplified equations                   the gas valve, safety and operating                    to make explicit that all of the electrical
                                             provided in the proposed rule can be                    controls, and a secondary pump for                     energy provided to the burner is
                                             easily implemented through a desktop-                   boilers (i.e., boiler pump) used to                    captured in the EAE measurement.
                                             software calculation tool such as a                     maintain a minimum flow rate through                   Rather than including the additional
                                             commonly available spreadsheet                          the boiler heat exchanger, which is most               terms in the equation for EAE as
                                             application. Lastly, DOE disagrees with                 typically associated with condensing                   proposed in the NOPR, DOE clarifies the
                                             Burnham’s assertion that the proposed                   boiler designs. 78 FR 675, 678; 80 FR                  definition of PE to include all of the
                                             rule was not sufficiently clear to provide              12876, 12882. In response to the January               electrical power that relates to burner
                                             an opportunity for interested parties to                2013 RFI, several stakeholders,                        operation, including energizing the
                                             understand the proposal and provide                     including Lennox, Rheem, and AHRI,                     ignition system, controls, gas valve or
                                             meaningful comment because each of                      stated that manufacturers already                      oil control valve, and draft inducer, if
                                             the equations utilized was presented in                 measure all electrical power associated                applicable.7 In addition, DOE agrees
                                             the regulatory text within the proposed                 with the additional components DOE                     with Burnham that the electrical power
                                             rule in a step-by-step fashion.                         listed in the January 2013 RFI. (Lennox,               of the boiler pump, if present, should be
                                                                                                     No. 6 at p. 3; Rheem, No. 12 at p. 10;                 accounted for in the electrical
                                             D. Test Procedure Amendments                            AHRI, No. 13 at p. 6) Therefore, to                    measurements for boilers. Therefore,
                                               In response to the March 2015 NOPR,                   clarify which components are included                  DOE further amends the definition of PE
                                             DOE received input on a variety of test                 in the power measurements, in the                      for boilers to include the electrical
                                             procedure issues beyond incorporation                   March 2015 NOPR DOE proposed to add                    power of the boiler pump. In cases
                                             of ASHRAE 103–2007, including: (1)                      two new terms to the calculations of the               where the boiler pump power might not
                                             Electrical power of additional                          average annual auxiliary electrical                    be captured in the electrical power
                                             components; (2) smoke stick test for                    energy consumption (EAE) to capture the                measurement because it is not operating
                                             determining use of minimum default                      electrical power of the boiler pump                    at that time, DOE will require the
                                             draft factors; (3) measurement of                       (BES) and the gas valve and controls                   nameplate power to be added to PE, and
                                             condensate under steady-state                           (EO), if present. DOE requested comment                if nameplate power is not available,
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                                             conditions; (4) I&O manual reference                    on these proposed amendments. 80 FR                    then manufacturers must include a
                                             and proposed clarifications when the                    12876, 12902.
                                             I&O manual does not specify test setup;                    AHRI expressed the view that the                      7 The existing DOE test procedure states in

                                             (5) specifying ductwork requirements                    proposed changes over-complicate this                  section 10.4.1 that PE is the ‘‘burner electrical
                                                                                                                                                            power input at full load steady-state operation,
                                             for units that are installed without a                  issue and that the proposed                            including electrical ignition device if energized, as
                                             return duct; (6) specifying testing                     measurements will change the                           defined in 9.1.2.2 of ASHRAE 103–1993.’’



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                                             2634               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             default value of 0.13 kW. This is the                   commonly incorporated into burners.                    did not receive any comments on this
                                             same as the current default value for a                 Further, as noted in many other                        issue, and does not amend the default
                                             circulating water pump, and DOE                         stakeholder comments, most                             draft factor values for this final rule.
                                             understands that the power of the boiler                manufacturers already measure the                         In addition, to determine if a unit has
                                             pump is similar to that of a typical                    electrical power of all the auxiliary                  no measureable airflow through the heat
                                             circulating water pump. DOE revises                     components that are listed in the                      exchanger such that manufacturers may
                                             sections 8.1, 8.2, and 10.4 of appendix                 revised definition of PE. Therefore,                   use the minimum default draft factors,
                                             N to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 to                    clarifying the additional components in                DOE proposed in the March 2015 NOPR
                                             reflect the clarification of the definition             the definition of PE will not affect                   to incorporate a test based on the use of
                                             of PE.                                                  ENERGY STAR ratings for most                           a smoke stick to establish the absence of
                                                The revised section 2 of appendix N                  furnaces. Furthermore, the clarification               flow through the heat exchanger. DOE
                                             defines the individual components that                  of the definition of PE ensures more                   requested input on whether, in addition
                                             are measured as part of PE:                             accurate and consistent reporting of                   to the proposed smoke stick test, other
                                                • Control means a device used to                     energy consumption in the residential                  options exist for indicating the absence
                                             regulate the operation of a piece of                    furnaces and boilers market.                           of flow through the heat exchanger. 80
                                             equipment and the supply of fuel,                          Weil-McLain stated that the new                     FR 12876, 12902.
                                             electricity, air, or water.                             electrical testing requirements would                     Lochinvar stated that it appreciates
                                                • Draft inducer means a fan                          not allow the manufacturer to                          and supports the DOE’s affirmation of
                                             incorporated in the furnace or boiler                   interpolate results from tests because                 the use of smoke for visual
                                             that either draws or forces air into the                the electrical load will not scale in the              determination of no-flow conditions in
                                             combustion chamber.                                     same manner as other aspects of a                      the vent. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 4)
                                                • Gas valve means an automatic or                    boiler. This means hundreds of new                     Similarly, Rheem stated that although
                                             semi-automatic device consisting                        tests will need to be run, imposing                    the proposed procedure is not
                                             essentially of a valve and operator that                substantial cost and burden. (Weil-                    quantitative, it is more definitive than
                                             controls the gas supply to the burner(s)                McLain, No. 31 at p. 6)                                ‘‘absolutely no chance of airflow
                                             during normal operation of an                              In response to Weil-McLain’s                        through the combustion chamber and
                                             appliance. The operator may be actuated                 comment, DOE notes that only cast iron                 heat exchanger when the burner is off.’’
                                             by application of gas pressure on a                     sectional boilers may be certified based               (Rheem, No. 30 at p. 3)
                                             flexible diaphragm, by electrical means,                on linear interpolation, as specified in                  Ingersoll Rand and Carrier stated that
                                             by mechanical means or by other means.                  10 CFR 429.18(b)(3). As stated                         the proposed procedure requires a
                                                • Oil control valve means an                         previously, the amendment of the                       detailed definition of the ‘‘smoke stick
                                             automatically or manually operated                      definition of PE will not impose                       device’’ and test method to be created
                                             device consisting of an oil valve for                   additional burden because it does not                  and made available. (Ingersoll Rand, No.
                                             controlling the fuel supply to a burner                 change the definition but merely                       37 at p. 5; Carrier, No. 34 at p. 5)
                                             to regulate burner input.                               clarifies the components included in                   Ingersoll Rand stated that the test
                                                • Boiler pump means a pump                           measurement of PE. In addition, DOE’s                  method and materials to be used need
                                             installed on a boiler that maintains                    understanding is that cast iron sectional              to be explicitly documented to ensure
                                             adequate water flow through the boiler                  boilers are typically non-condensing                   that all test labs generate repeatable and
                                             heat exchanger and that is separate from                models that do not have boiler pumps.                  reproducible test results. (Ingersoll
                                             the circulating water pump.                                Burnham recommended that DOE                        Rand, No. 37 at p. 5) Carrier also
                                                Although these definitions were not                  provide regulatory provisions to ensure                requested additional information as to
                                             explicitly proposed in the NOPR, they                   that electrical consumption is measured                where smoke sticks can be obtained
                                             provide additional clarity about the                    with the controls normally shipped with                commercially. (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 5)
                                             definition of PE, consistent with the                   the boiler. Such provisions are required                  DOE agrees with Rheem that the test
                                             proposal in the NOPR to improve the                     because in many cases it is impossible                 procedure is not quantitative; however,
                                             regulatory text to reflect that PE                      to perform the AFUE test using controls                the purpose of the test is to provide a
                                             includes the electrical power of all                    having an automatic means of adjusting                 visual assessment of no airflow, not a
                                             auxiliary components.                                   water temperature, making replacement                  quantitative measure of airflow.
                                                Carrier noted that DOE in the past had               of the standard controls during the                    Regarding the Ingersoll Rand and
                                             held to the policy of not making changes                AFUE test mandatory. (Burnham, No. 35                  Carrier request to provide a detailed
                                             that will negatively impact present                     at p. 4) DOE notes that the electrical                 definition of the smoke stick device,
                                             ratings. The electrically-efficient                     power measurement during the steady-                   DOE notes that smoke sticks are
                                             furnaces ratio, known as ‘‘e’’, will                    state test does not account for electrical             commercially available and routinely
                                             increase with the additional                            power outside of normal steady-state                   used for visualization purposes, and
                                             requirement, making some products lose                  operation. Therefore, any controls                     DOE does not endorse a specific type of
                                             their ENERGY STAR® qualification.                       operation outside of the steady-state                  smoke stick device. In addition, DOE
                                             Carrier stated that including additional                test, such as automatic means for                      believes that the exact amount of smoke
                                             electrical components along with the                    adjusting water temperature, are not                   produced by the smoke stick is not
                                             blower electrical consumption is                        included in the electrical power                       essential to the reproducibility of the
                                             equivalent to changing the ENERGY                       measurement.                                           results.
                                             STAR qualifying standard without                                                                                  Ingersoll Rand expressed concern
                                             justifying the value. (Carrier, No. 34 at               2. Smoke Stick Test for Determining Use                about air flow in the lab and if
                                             p. 4)                                                   of Minimum Default Off-Cycle and                       manufacturers can fix their venting such
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                                                In response to Carrier’s concerns, DOE               Power Burner Draft Factors                             that air does not flow through it.
                                             notes that the definition of PE has                        In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE                         (Ingersoll Rand, Public Meeting
                                             always been the electrical energy input                 proposed to leave the default draft factor             Transcript, No. 23 at p. 117) Similarly,
                                             to the burner and that the amendments                   values for furnaces and boilers                        Carrier requested DOE to add
                                             adopted in this rule merely make                        unchanged from the existing text                       clarification to the procedure to ensure
                                             explicit additional components that are                 procedure. 80 FR 12876, 12885. DOE                     that the smoke stick is not affected by


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                                         2635

                                             the ventilation system when used.                       DOE investigated the difference in                     4. Installation and Operation Manual
                                             Carrier also expressed concern about the                condensate mass collected and the rate                 Reference
                                             use of a smoke-generating device in a                   of condensate production during the                       The existing DOE test procedure
                                             lab area that is not appropriately                      two separate periods (i.e., during the                 language, which refers in some locations
                                             ventilated. (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 5)                   establishment of steady-state conditions               to ‘‘manufacturer recommendations’’ or
                                                In response to Ingersoll Rand, DOE                   and after steady-state conditions have                 ‘‘manufacturer instructions’’, can lead to
                                             already specified that all air currents                 been reached) and determined that there                the use of ad hoc instructions derived
                                             and drafts be minimized for the smoke                   is no significant difference in the mass               solely for testing purposes. To clarify
                                             stick test in the March 2015 NOPR. For                  of condensate collected or the rate of                 the test procedure language, DOE
                                             this final rule, DOE explicitly states that             condensate production during the two                   proposed in the March 2015 NOPR that
                                             ventilation should be turned off if the                 separate timeframes.                                   testing recommendations should be
                                             test area is mechanically ventilated, and                                                                      drawn from each product’s I&O manual.
                                             to minimize air currents if there is no                    In response to the March 2015 NOPR,
                                                                                                     Lennox, Lochinvar and AHRI stated                      DOE also provided alternate
                                             mechanical ventilation. To address                                                                             instructions if the I&O manual did not
                                             Carrier’s safety concerns, DOE clarifies                their support for the allowance to
                                                                                                     measure condensate during the                          contain the necessary testing
                                             that the smoke produced by the smoke                                                                           recommendations. 80 FR 12876, 12883.
                                             stick must be non-toxic to the test                     establishment of steady-state conditions.
                                                                                                                                                            Lastly, in the March 2015 NOPR, DOE
                                             personnel. DOE is confident that the                    (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 2; Lennox, No.
                                                                                                                                                            proposed to require manufacturers to
                                             smoke stick test as proposed in the                     32 at p. 3; AHRI, No. 36 at p.5; Ingersoll
                                                                                                                                                            request a test procedure waiver from
                                             NOPR and modified based on the                          Rand, No. 37 at p. 5) However, Lennox,
                                                                                                                                                            DOE when the DOE test procedure
                                             clarifications recommended by                           AHRI and Ingersoll Rand each noted                     provisions and I&O manuals are not
                                             stakeholders will ensure repeatable and                 that to avoid an unintended                            sufficient for testing a furnace or boiler.
                                             reproducible test results. Therefore,                   consequence of causing manufacturers                   Id. These proposals, comments received,
                                             DOE adopts the modified optional                        to retest existing models, this change                 and responses are discussed in the
                                             smoke stick test to determine the                       should be clearly identified as an option              following sub-sections.
                                             absence of flow through the heat                        to the current procedure. (Lennox, No.
                                             exchanger.                                              32 at p. 3 Lennox, No. 32 at p. 3; AHRI,               a. Reference to I&O Manual
                                                In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE also                     No. 36 at p.5; Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at                  DOE did not receive any comments
                                             proposed to include revisions to the                    p. 5) Carrier also agreed that the                     objecting to reference the
                                             requirements of sections 8.8.3 and 9.10                 condensate collection can be done                      manufacturer’s I&O manuals instead of
                                             of ASHRAE 103–2007 to accommodate                       during the steady state period, so long                ‘‘manufacturer’s instructions’’ or
                                             the use of the smoke stick test, and, to                as clarification is added to prevent                   ‘‘manufacturer’s recommendations.’’
                                             reduce redundancy, to eliminate use of                  testing with dry heat exchangers.                      Therefore, DOE replaces all references
                                             the term ‘‘absolutely’’ from ‘‘absolutely               (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 4)                              to ‘‘manufacturer’s instructions’’ or
                                             no chance of airflow’’ in sections 8.8.3                                                                       ‘‘manufacturer’s recommendations’’ in
                                             and 9.7.4 of ASHRAE 103–2007. 80 FR                        On the other hand, Rheem did not
                                                                                                                                                            ASHRAE 103–1993 with ‘‘I&O manual’’
                                             12876, 12902. DOE received no                           support allowing the measurement of
                                                                                                                                                            in appendix N.8 However, in response
                                             comment on these proposals. Even                        condensate during the establishment of
                                                                                                                                                            to the March 2015 NOPR, Burnham
                                             though DOE has decided not to adopt                     steady state conditions. (Rheem, No. 30
                                                                                                                                                            suggested revising the definition of I&O
                                             ASHRAE 103–2007 and instead retain                      at p.1) Rheem argued that condensate
                                                                                                                                                            manual in section 2.7 because many oil
                                             reference to ASHRAE 103–1993, the                       measurements have a significant impact
                                                                                                                                                            boilers do not carry a safety listing as a
                                             relevant sections do not differ between                 on the final calculated AFUE value and                 packaged unit; rather, they are
                                             the two versions. Therefore, DOE is                     that additional variation in the                       comprised of separately listed
                                             adding sections 7.10 and 8.10 to                        condensate measurement procedure will                  components. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 5)
                                             appendix N and revising sections 10.2                   add variation to the test procedure.                   DOE agrees with Burnham that some
                                             and 10.3 of appendix N to accommodate                   Rheem believes that the time spent to                  boilers do not carry safety listings as
                                             the use of the smoke stick test and is                  establish steady-state conditions is                   packaged units and thus excludes the
                                             eliminating the use of the term                         worthwhile and should not be                           reference to the product’s safety listing
                                             ‘‘absolutely’’ from ‘‘absolutely no                     eliminated. (Rheem, No. 30 at p.1)                     in the adopted definition of I&O manual
                                             chance of airflow’’ in sections 8.8.3 and                  DOE understands commenters’                         in section 2 of appendix N.
                                             9.7.4 of ASHRAE 103–1993 (included as                   concerns regarding the test burden
                                             sections 7.10 and 8.9 of appendix N) for                                                                       b. Proposed Specific Instructions for
                                                                                                     associated with the need to retest                     Adjusting Combustion Airflow
                                             determining the use of the minimum                      existing models to the new test
                                             default draft factors.                                  procedure. Therefore, DOE has made the                    In the NOPR, DOE proposed specific
                                             3. Condensate Collection During the                     ability to measure condensate during                   instructions for adjusting combustion
                                             Establishment of Steady State                           the establishment of steady-state                      airflow to achieve an excess air ratio,
                                             Conditions                                              conditions an option, not a requirement.               flue O2 percentage, or flue CO2
                                                                                                     This change is incorporated in section                 percentage to within the middle 30th
                                                In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE                                                                                 percentile of the acceptable range
                                             proposed to allow for the condensate                    8.4 of appendix N.
                                                                                                                                                            specified in the I&O manual. AHRI
                                             mass to be measured during the                             In response to Rheem, DOE notes that                stated that the specification of ‘‘the 30th
                                             establishment of steady-state conditions,               test data indicate a similar rate of                   percentile of the acceptable range’’ is
                                             rather than after steady-state has been                 condensate mass production in both the
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                                                                                                                                                            confusing. The 30th percentile is a
                                             achieved. 80 FR 12876, 12881. Section                   establishment of steady-state, and
                                             9.2 of ASHRAE 103–1993 requires that                    measurement of condensate test                           8 DOE replaced references in sections 7.1, 7.2.2.2,

                                             the measurement of condensate shall be                  intervals. Therefore, DOE does not                     7.2.2.5, 7.2.3.1, 7.8, 8.2.1.3, 8.3.3.1, 8.4.1.1,
                                             conducted during the 30-minute period                   expect any impact on AFUE to result                    8.4.1.1.2, 8.4.1.2, 8.4.2.1.4, 8.4.2.1.6, 8.7.2, and
                                                                                                                                                            9.5.1.1 of ASHRAE 103–1993 with sections 6.1, 6.2,
                                             after steady-state conditions have been                 from the allowance of this optional                    6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.9, and
                                             established. For the March 2015 NOPR,                   procedure.                                             8.5 of appendix N, respectively.



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                                             2636               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             single value so it is not clear what is                 promulgating the parallel residential                  normal hourly Btu input rating as
                                             meant by ‘‘the middle of the 30th                       boiler standards rulemaking currently                  specified in the I&O manual. DOE
                                             percentile.’’ (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 3)                    underway. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4)                    understands from stakeholder
                                             Ingersoll Rand stated that the proposed                    Carrier, Ingersoll Rand, and Rheem                  comments that the instructions in the
                                             burner adjustments are more restrictive                 stated that most modern furnaces do not                existing test procedure to adjust the
                                             than both the current test procedure and                have the capability to make combustion                 primary air shutters for gas units are not
                                             the specifications found in ASHRAE                      air adjustments because the practice of                applicable to many modern furnaces
                                             Standard 103–2007. (Ingersoll Rand, No.                 including primary air shutters is no                   and boilers. However, DOE has
                                             37 at p. 6) Burnham stated that while it                longer widely used on modern gas                       determined that further investigation is
                                             supports DOE’s effort to more closely tie               furnaces with fan-assisted or power                    required before amending these test
                                             air fuel ratio used during the test with                burners. (Carrier, No. 34 at pp. 3–4;                  procedure requirements.
                                             what can be expected in the field, DOE                  Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 6; Rheem
                                             needs to recognize that the industry                    No. 30 at p. 3) AHRI and Burnham also                  c. Waiver Process for Additional Test
                                             practice has been to use the CO2 at the                 stated that for many gas furnaces and                  Instructions
                                             top end of the range (or in some cases                  boilers that use atmospheric burners or
                                             even higher) in the I&O manual.                         other equipment with no means of                          In response to DOE’s proposal that
                                             (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4) Lochinvar                     adjusting CO2 in the field, these                      manufacturers request a test procedure
                                             objected to the proposed changes,                       adjustments to the excess air ratio                    waiver from DOE when the DOE test
                                             stating that forcing boiler manufacturers               cannot be made. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 3,                 procedure provisions and I&O manuals
                                             to test at the maximum input rate and                   Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4) Carrier,                      are not sufficient for testing a furnace or
                                             the middle air-fuel ratio is not typical of             Ingersoll Rand, and Burnham stated that                boiler, Burnham stated that the
                                             field installations, is inconsistent with               DOE needs to exclude from these                        proposed waiver process is unduly
                                             past rating methods, and will force                     requirements burners that have no                      burdensome, given the use of
                                             manufacturers to rerate boilers based on                capability to make combustion air                      increasingly complex control and
                                             this test procedure change. Lochinvar                   adjustments. (Carrier, No. 34 at pp. 3–                burner systems. To reduce the frequency
                                             suggested adopting language from                        4; Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 6;                     with which waivers are required,
                                             section 5.3 of AHRI Standard 1500,                      Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4)                               Burnham suggested that DOE adopt a
                                             which uses the CO2 at the top of the                       Burnham stated that some type of                    repository for ‘‘special test instructions’’
                                             manufacturer’s specified range, to                      tolerance is needed for adjusting CO2                  similar to that which DOE currently has
                                             provide improved clarity and specificity                when the I&O manual provides only a                    in place for commercial boilers.
                                             regarding the air-fuel adjustment and to                single or maximum value, as opposed to                 (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 5) Lennox and
                                             be more consistent with current                         a range. To address this issue, Burnham                AHRI similarly stated that if DOE is
                                             industry practice, with much less                       suggested adopting the language in                     concerned about the situation where the
                                             potential to force manufacturers to retest              section 5.3 of AHRI Standard 1500,                     manufacturer does not provide any
                                             and rerate existing products.9                          which essentially sets a fixed tolerance               recommended settings in the I&O
                                             (Lochinvar, No. 29 at pp. 2–3)                          of ±0.1 percent and uses the CO2 at the                manual, DOE should allow
                                                Lennox, AHRI, and Burnham noted                      top, as opposed to the middle, of the                  manufacturer to provide information on
                                             that the proposed adjustment of the CO2                 manufacturer’s specified range.10                      unit setup for testing as part of the
                                             percentage on gas- and oil-fired boilers                (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 4)                              certification report as is done for
                                             would significantly affect AFUE.                           After reviewing stakeholders’                       commercial and industrial equipment.
                                             (Lennox, No. 32 at p. 3; AHRI, No. 36                   comments on the specific instructions                  (Lennox, No. 32 at p. 3; AHRI, No. 36
                                             at pp. 3–4; Burnham, No. 35 at pp. 2, 4)                for adjusting combustion airflow, DOE                  at pp. 4, 6)
                                             AHRI stated that the results of the                     concurs that further study is needed to                   In response to stakeholders’
                                             testing of three residential boilers that it            determine the impact on AFUE of the                    comments, DOE notes that
                                             conducted at Intertek Testing                           CO2 percentage proposed in the March                   manufacturers have control over what
                                             Laboratories indicate that the proposed                 2015 NOPR and the AHRI 1500                            information is specified in the I&O
                                             revised burner setup requirements                       requirements suggested by certain                      manual. Furthermore, the test procedure
                                             change AFUE by 0.3 percent for each 1                   stakeholders. As such, for this final rule,            provides defaults for most requirements
                                             percent difference in the CO2 values.                   DOE does not adopt the specific                        that are based on the I&O manual. As
                                             (AHRI, No. 36 at pp. 3–4) Burnham                       instructions for adjusting combustion                  such, DOE believes the instructions
                                             stated that based on test data that it                  airflow to achieve an excess air ratio,                given in the test procedure and I&O
                                             provided, for an oil-fired hot water                    flue O2 percentage, or flue CO2                        manuals should be sufficient for testing
                                             boiler with an 11.5 to 12.5 percent CO2                 percentage to within the middle 30th                   in most cases. Therefore, DOE is not
                                             adjustment range in the I&O manual,                     percentile of the acceptable range                     amending its certification provisions to
                                             DOE’s proposed adjustment would                         specified in the I&O manual. Instead, in
                                                                                                                                                            permit manufacturers to report test-
                                             reduce AFUE by as much as 1.0 percent                   sections 7.3 and 7.5 of appendix N, DOE
                                                                                                                                                            specific instructions as supplemental
                                             compared to the rating under the                        retains the instructions in accordance
                                                                                                                                                            information in cases where the I&O
                                             existing test procedure. (Burnham, No.                  with ASHRAE 103–1993 section 8.4.1.1
                                                                                                                                                            manual does not provide instructions,
                                             35 at p. 2) Burnham stated that the                     for gas burners to set the primary air
                                                                                                                                                            and is implementing the requirement to
                                             proposed change to the requirements for                 shutters to give a good flame with no
                                                                                                                                                            request a waiver in section 6.1.a of
                                             adjusting CO2 will have a significant                   deposit of carbon during the test
                                                                                                                                                            appendix N. DOE also notes that the
                                             impact on the existing ratings for many                 procedure, and section 8.4.1.2 for oil
                                                                                                                                                            waiver procedure provides a feedback
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                                             boilers, and that DOE needs to take this                burners to give a CO2 reading as
                                                                                                                                                            loop by which DOE learns of issues
                                             into account when evaluating the                        specified in the I&O manual and an
                                                                                                                                                            manufacturers are encountering with
                                             burden imposed by this rule, as well as                 hourly Btu input within ±2% of the
                                                                                                                                                            the test procedure and yields
                                               9 AHRI Standard 1500 is available at http://            10 AHRI Standard 1500 is available at http://        amendments to the test procedure
                                             ahrinet.org/site/686/Standards/HVACR-Industry-          ahrinet.org/site/686/Standards/HVACR-Industry-         through rulemaking to address those
                                             Standards/Search-Standards.                             Standards/Search-Standards.                            issues.


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                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                          2637

                                             5. Duct Work for Units That Are                         alternative to allow single rating that is             testing of multi-position units using the
                                             Installed Without a Return Duct                         weighted based on percent of                           blower access door may not be feasible
                                                In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE                          applications by configuration and                      option for some furnaces, and the
                                             proposed to add a provision in the test                 installation location to reduce sample                 manufacturer should state whether this
                                             procedure clarifying that the return                    testing burden and not confuse                         is an acceptable test method for the
                                             (inlet) duct is not required during                     consumers with excess information.                     furnace model. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37
                                             testing for units that, according to the                (Carrier, No. 34 at pp. 6–8)                           at p. 6)
                                                                                                        Lennox disagreed with the testing                      DOE agrees with Rheem and Ingersoll
                                             I&O manual, are intended to be installed
                                                                                                     requirements in multiple configurations                Rand that units should not be required
                                             without a return duct. 80 FR 12876,
                                                                                                     because of the increased test burden and               to be tested using the blower access
                                             12902–12903.
                                                In response, Rheem, Carrier, and                     lack of improved test accuracy. (Lennox,               door if not allowed in the I&O manual
                                             Ingersoll Rand agreed that a unit that is               No. 32 at pp. 3–4)                                     or if not feasible. In an effort to ensure
                                                                                                        In response to Carrier’s and Lennox’s               consistent and appropriate testing, DOE
                                             intended to be installed without a return
                                                                                                     concerns about increased test burden if                withdraws its proposal that would have
                                             duct should be tested without a return
                                                                                                     required to test in all configurations,                explicitly allowed the use of the blower
                                             duct. (Rheem, No. 30 at p. 3; Carrier, No.
                                                                                                     DOE clarifies that in the March 2015                   access door for testing of multi-position
                                             34 at p. 6; Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p.
                                                                                                     NOPR, DOE did not propose to require                   furnaces and boilers that are not
                                             5) In addition, Carrier recommended                     manufacturers to test in all positions,                shipped with an open inlet.
                                             that DOE adopt figure 2 in exhibit 1 of                 but rather to require testing only in the
                                             Carrier’s comment, which clarifies the                  least efficient configuration while                    7. AFUE Reporting Precision
                                             use of a return duct for gas furnaces.                  explicitly allowing manufacturers to test                 DOE’s existing furnaces and boilers
                                             (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 6)                               in multiple configurations if they wish.               test procedure specifies that the AFUE
                                                DOE agrees with stakeholders and                                                                            rating be rounded to the nearest whole
                                                                                                     DOE notes that, as stated by AHRI, it is
                                             adopts the amendment clarifying that                                                                           percentage point. 10 CFR 430.23(n)(2).
                                                                                                     already common industry practice to
                                             units intended to be installed without a                                                                       In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE sought
                                                                                                     test in the least efficient configuration;
                                             return duct are not required to use the                 accordingly, DOE anticipates that there                comment on its proposal to report AFUE
                                             return (inlet) duct during testing. After               will be no additional test burden from                 to the nearest tenth of a percentage
                                             reviewing the figure provided by                        the clarification to require testing in the            point. 80 FR 12876, 12902.
                                             Carrier, DOE believes that the language                 least efficient configuration. Regarding                  AHRI, Lochinvar, Lennox, and
                                             is sufficient and an additional figure is               Carrier’s suggestion to test in the                    Burnham support reporting of AFUE to
                                             unnecessary.                                            dominant installed position, DOE                       the nearest tenth of a percentage point
                                             6. Testing Requirements for Multi-                      believes that testing in the least efficient           and noted that it reflects the current
                                             Position Configurations                                 position will provide ratings that are                 practice. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 6;
                                                                                                     more comparable between different                      Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 4; Lennox, No.
                                                In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE                                                                                 32 at p. 3; Burnham, No. 35 at p. 6)
                                                                                                     models because the dominant position
                                             proposed to require that multi-position                                                                        However, Burnham does not agree with
                                                                                                     may not be the least efficient
                                             furnaces be tested using the least-                                                                            the proposal to round to the nearest 0.1
                                                                                                     configuration and may vary among
                                             efficient position.11 DOE also proposed                                                                        percent, stating that it would be a direct
                                                                                                     models and among manufacturers. DOE
                                             to explicitly allow manufacturers to test                                                                      violation of 10 CFR 429.18(a)(2)(i)(B)
                                                                                                     believes that Carrier’s suggestion of a
                                             multi-position furnaces in other                                                                               requiring any representative value of
                                                                                                     weighted rating is not practicable
                                             configurations and report the AFUE                                                                             AFUE for which consumers would favor
                                                                                                     because DOE is not requiring
                                             ratings for each position. 80 FR 12876,                                                                        higher values to be less than or equal to
                                                                                                     manufacturers to test in all
                                             12886.                                                  configurations, only the least efficient               the lower of the mean of the sample or
                                                In response, AHRI stated that they                                                                          the lower 97.5 percent confidence limit
                                                                                                     one. Therefore, in section 6.1.b of
                                             believe that manufacturers already test                                                                        (LCL) of the true mean divided by 0.95.
                                                                                                     appendix N and in 10 CFR 429.18, DOE
                                             in the least-efficient configuration.                                                                          Burnham stated that rounding up would
                                                                                                     amends its regulations to require testing
                                             (AHRI, Public Meeting Transcript, No.                                                                          allow the representative value to
                                                                                                     and rating only in the least efficient
                                             23 at p. 123)                                                                                                  potentially be higher than allowed by
                                                                                                     configuration, while still allowing
                                                Carrier stated that in the past, it has
                                                                                                     manufacturers the ability to test and rate             calculation mentioned. Burnham urged
                                             tested and displayed the AFUE by
                                                                                                     in multiple configurations. In addition,               DOE to prescribe the current industry
                                             orientation of installation; however, it
                                                                                                     DOE includes a definition for multi-                   practice of truncating to 0.1 percent.
                                             no longer does so because the multiple
                                                                                                     position furnace in section 2 of                       (Burnham, No. 35 at pp. 6–7)
                                             ratings by position did not give                                                                                  In contrast, Rheem stated that rating
                                                                                                     appendix N.
                                             customers any benefit. Because the                         In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE also                    furnaces to the nearest tenth of a
                                             setup requirements of the DOE test                      proposed to allow testing of units                     percentage point will give consumers
                                             procedure already cause furnaces to                     configured for multiple position                       the impression that one furnace is more
                                             operate at the lowest efficiency, thus                  installations to use the blower access                 efficient than another, while in
                                             making AFUE ratings conservative for                    door as an option instead of one of the                actuality, the test procedure tolerances
                                             the average installation, Carrier                       inlet openings. 80 FR 12876, 12886                     do not result in the proposed level of
                                             recommended that DOE drop the                           (March 11, 2015). In response, Rheem                   precision that should be required to
                                             requirement to test in all positions and                stated that a furnace should not be                    support reporting AFUE to the nearest
                                             simplify the testing to be in the most                  tested in a configuration that is                      tenth of a percentage point. (Rheem, No.
                                             commonly installed position of the                      prohibited by the installation manual.                 30 at p. 3)
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                                             furnace. If DOE were to require testing                 For example, Rheem stated that its                        Ingersoll Rand stated that while
                                             in all positions, Carrier proposed an                   furnace installation manuals allow only                DOE’s CCMS can accommodate
                                                11 A multi-position furnace is a furnace that can
                                                                                                     bottom and side returns. A rear return                 reporting AFUE to this level, any
                                             be installed in more than one airflow configuration
                                                                                                     and a return in place of the blower                    manufacturer that reports AFUE to the
                                             (e.g., upflow or horizontal; downflow or horizontal;    access door are not allowed. (Rheem,                   whole percentage point will have to
                                             and upflow, downflow or horizontal).                    No. 30 at p. 4) Ingersoll Rand stated that             submit new certification reports and


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                                             2638               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             relabel products. Ingersoll Rand stated                 percentage point. DOE also clarifies in                the long past. (Rheem, No. 30 at p.1)
                                             that having to submit new certification                 10 CFR 429.18 that the represented                     AHRI noted that the new edition of
                                             reports and relabel products will cause                 value of AFUE based on the tested                      ASHRAE–103–2016 will be issued for
                                             an administrative burden and cost to                    sample must be truncated to the tenth                  public review and one of the proposed
                                             manufacturers that was not addressed in                 of a percentage point.                                 amendments is to include changes to
                                             the March 2015 NOPR. Ingersoll Rand                                                                            the definition of room ambient air
                                             requested that DOE consider setting the                 8. Definitions and Other Changes                       operating conditions. (AHRI, No. 36 at
                                             effective date of this requirement to                      In this final rule, DOE revises the term            p. 5)
                                             coincide with the effective date of any                 ‘‘seasonal off switch’’ to ‘‘off switch’’                 Burnham stated that they disagree
                                             amended energy conservation standard                    and revises the definitions of ‘‘off                   with DOE’s assertion in the March 2015
                                             adopted under the March 12, 2015                        mode’’ and ‘‘standby mode’’ in section                 NOPR that relative humidity (RH) has a
                                             energy conservation standards NOPR for                  2 of appendix N to reflect the updated                 minimal impact on the AFUE of
                                             residential furnaces. (Ingersoll Rand,                  definitions found in the second edition                condensing boilers and stated that the
                                             No. 37 at p. 6)                                         of IEC 62301, which was incorporated                   issue should be revisited. Burnham
                                                AHRI stated that it reports to the                   by reference in the December 2012 final                provided test data of a condensing
                                             nearest tenth to DOE for furnaces but                   rule. DOE also revises sections 8.1, 8.2,              boiler which shows a swing in AFUE of
                                             not for boilers due to Environmental                    and 8.4 of the existing appendix N                     approximately 1.3 percent when the RH
                                             Protection Agency (EPA) and ENERGY                      (sections 8.3, 8.5, and 8.7 of the                     was changed from approximately 30
                                             STAR requirements. (AHRI, Public                        amended appendix N) to clarify and                     percent to 70 percent. Burnham stated
                                             Meeting Transcript, No. 19 at p. 89)                    improve the test instructions. DOE also                that they expect the variation in AFUE
                                             Burnham urged DOE to work with the                      revises sections 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7.3,             as a function of RH to be at least as large
                                             EPA to simultaneously update the                        10.9, 10.9.1, and 10.11 of appendix N to               for boilers as it is for furnaces. Burnham
                                             ENERGY STAR requirement of rounding                     improve grammar and consistency in                     noted that the flue temperature of
                                             to the nearest whole percentage point to                formatting throughout the test                         boilers is closely linked to the return
                                             avoid conflicting values on the DOE and                 procedure, and to include missing                      water temperature during the test
                                             ENERGY STAR Web sites. (Burnham,                        variable definitions. In addition, DOE                 (120 °F), which is close to the typical
                                             No. 35 at p. 7)                                         incorporates the previously excluded                   dew point of natural gas flue products.
                                                DOE understands that reporting AFUE                  section 9.7.l of ASHRAE 103–1993 to                    Changes in RH may therefore have a
                                             values to the nearest tenth of a                        include instructions on the setup of the               large impact on where the temperature
                                             percentage point is currently industry                  tracer gas test. DOE updates the                       of the flue products falls below the dew
                                             practice. Based on 10 CFR                               definition of ‘‘isolated combustion                    point as they pass through the heat
                                             429.18(a)(2)(i)(B), DOE agrees with                     system’’ in section 2.5 of the existing                exchanger. Burnham stated that if
                                             Burnham that AFUE should be                             appendix N (2.8 of the amended                         ambient conditions have a significant
                                             truncated to the tenth of a percentage                  appendix N) to reflect the updated                     impact on AFUE, DOE should tighten
                                             point. In response to Rheem’s comment                   definition in ASHRAE 103–2007.                         the tolerance for RH to conditions likely
                                             about the test procedure tolerances,                    Finally, DOE modifies section 8.3 of the               to be seen in the field, even if this
                                             DOE notes that in response to the                       existing appendix N (8.6 of the amended                results in an increased burden for
                                             January 2013 RFI, Rheem stated that this                appendix N) to clarify that the                        manufacturers in the form of requiring
                                             level of precision has been                             referenced time delay is the blower                    conditioned lab facilities. (Burnham,
                                             demonstrated to be statistically possible.              delay t+. DOE did not receive comment                  No. 35 at p. 7)
                                             (Rheem, No. 12 at p. 9). DOE also                       on any of these revisions where                           DOE agrees with Rheem and Burnham
                                             observes that Rheem, as well as many                    proposed in the NOPR.                                  that the impact of ambient conditions
                                             other manufacturers, reports AFUE to                                                                           on AFUE warrants further study.
                                             the tenth of a percentage point in DOE’s                E. Other Test Procedure Considerations                 However, at this time DOE does not
                                             Compliance Certification Database and                   1. Room Ambient Air Temperature and                    have adequate data to justify the testing
                                             the AHRI directory for some models. In                                                                         burden associated with the narrowing of
                                                                                                     Humidity Ranges
                                             response to Ingersoll Rand’s comments,                                                                         ambient conditions. Therefore, DOE
                                             DOE notes that AHRI’s certification                       In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE                          maintains the ambient conditions
                                             directories for both furnaces and boilers               proposed not to change the test                        specified in the current test procedure.
                                             as well as DOE’s Compliance                             procedure regarding room ambient
                                             Certification Database already allow                    temperature and humidity conditions,                   2. Full-Fuel-Cycle Energy Metrics
                                             manufacturers to report AFUE to the                     neither by mathematical correction nor                    In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE stated
                                             nearest tenth of a percentage point.                    by limiting the existing ambient                       that the test procedure rulemaking was
                                             Therefore, DOE anticipates this                         condition range, and requested input on                not the appropriate vehicle for deriving
                                             clarification will not require changing                 this approach. 80 FR 12876, 12889.                     an FFC energy descriptor for furnaces
                                             the reported efficiency in manufacturer                   Lochinvar and Lennox stated their                    (and other products). Specifically, DOE
                                             literature, nor will it cause significant               support for DOE’s proposal not to                      noted that if a secondary FFC energy
                                             manufacturer burden. Furthermore, in                    further restrict the ambient conditions                descriptor were included as part of the
                                             response to AHRI and Burnham, DOE                       due to the additional test burden it                   furnace and boiler test procedure, DOE
                                             notes that EPA must use the method of                   would cause. (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 4;               would need to update the test procedure
                                             test, sampling plan, and representation                 Lennox, No. 32 at p. 4) Rheem stated                   annually. DOE indicated its intent to
                                             requirements adopted by DOE. DOE will                   that they believe that the ambient                     estimate FFC energy savings in future
                                             work with EPA to make sure the                          conditions range requires further study.               energy conservation standards
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                                             language in its specification is                        Rheem noted that the room ambient air                  rulemakings for furnaces, and to take
                                             harmonized with federal regulations.                    temperature and humidity ranges were                   those savings into account in proposing
                                             Accordingly, DOE updates the existing                   developed based on 30-year-old                         and selecting amended standards. 80 FR
                                             requirement for residential furnaces and                laboratory conditions and that                         12876, 12896.
                                             boilers in 10 CFR 430.23(n)(2) to                       laboratory conditions may be more                         In response to the NOPR, AGA
                                             truncate AFUE to the tenth of a                         carefully controlled today compared to                 expressed their disagreement with


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                          2639

                                             DOE’s position, stating that the test                     4. Alternative Methods for Furnace/                   combination metric and setting a
                                             procedure develops the energy                             Boiler Efficiency Determination                       standard for a combination unit is
                                             efficiency rating for the product and is                     In response to the March 2015 NOPR,                contrary to EPCA. (Ingersoll Rand, No.
                                             specifically the correct vehicle to be                    Carrier questioned the need for a test                37 at p. 6)
                                             used for determining the FFC energy                                                                               DOE did not propose a combination
                                                                                                       method as precise as ASHRAE 103 due
                                             descriptor. AGA added that all that is                                                                          metric in the NOPR, and does not
                                                                                                       to the advances that have been made in
                                             needed is a mathematical adjustment to                                                                          amend the test procedure to include
                                                                                                       reducing cyclical losses. Carrier noted
                                             the site-based energy descriptor now                                                                            such a metric in this final rule.
                                                                                                       that the difference between steady state
                                             determined by the test procedure. AGA                     efficiency and cyclical AFUE is less                  F. Test Burden
                                             requested that the Department
                                                                                                       than 1 percent across all model types.                   EPCA requires that the test
                                             reconsider its decision not to include
                                                                                                       Carrier suggested that DOE change the                 procedures DOE prescribes or amends
                                             provisions for an FFC energy descriptor
                                                                                                       AFUE metric for forced-air furnaces to                be reasonably designed to produce test
                                             and incorporate one in the test
                                                                                                       be based on the steady-state operation.               results that measure the energy
                                             procedures for residential boilers and
                                                                                                       (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 2) Carrier stated              efficiency, energy use, water use (in the
                                             furnaces. (AGA, No. 27 at p. 3)
                                                DOE maintains its position outlined                    that this would simplify the test                     case of showerheads, faucets, water
                                             in the NOPR that it does not believe that                 procedure and relieve significant                     closets, and urinals) or estimated annual
                                             a mathematical adjustment to the test                     burden from manufacturers. Carrier                    operating cost of a covered product
                                             procedure to account for FFC is                           stated that the lab setup of gas furnaces             during a representative average use
                                             appropriate. As noted in the March 2015                   during AFUE testing—including vent                    cycle or period of use. These procedures
                                             NOPR, the mathematical adjustment to                      length, isolated combustion system                    must also not be unduly burdensome to
                                             the site-based energy descriptor relies                   (ICS) installation, off cycle times, and              conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3))
                                             on information that is updated annually.                  blower off delay time—rarely replicates                  In response to the March 2015 NOPR,
                                             If DOE were to include such an                            the actual installation of condensing gas             Ingersoll Rand stated that the testing
                                             adjustment to the test procedure, DOE                     furnaces. (Carrier, No. 34 at p. 2)                   and reporting burden from the proposals
                                                                                                          DOE agrees that there have been                    would be far greater than the average 20
                                             would be required to update the test
                                                                                                       significant advances in the                           hours per response that DOE estimates.
                                             procedure annually.
                                                                                                       minimization of cyclical losses since the             (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 9) Weil-
                                             3. Oversize Factor Value                                  inception of the AFUE metric. However,                McLain expressed concerns that the cost
                                                In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE                            including cyclical losses, which are                  of the proposed test is grossly
                                             proposed to maintain the existing                         captured in the AFUE metric, still                    underestimated and that cost analysis
                                             oversize factor of 0.7 and sought                         provides market differentiation for                   for all of the testing is fundamentally
                                             comment on the appropriateness of this                    models that would yield the same                      flawed and incomplete. Weil-McLain
                                             strategy.12 80 FR 12876, 12891.                           steady-state values. Furthermore, DOE                 stated that a more appropriate estimate
                                                Rheem stated that replacement                          believes that the inclusion of cyclical               for the cost to re-test all models in
                                             furnaces are more likely to be oversized                  losses in the AFUE metric has                         DOE’s example of average small boiler
                                             than a new construction furnace                           contributed to the increases in                       business with 70 basic models would be
                                             because the unit may not be resized                       efficiency noted by Carrier. For these                more than twenty times the estimate
                                             when it is replaced with a more efficient                 reasons, DOE declines to limit the                    shown for various reasons, such as the
                                             unit. Rheem also noted that it is more                    calculation of AFUE to steady-state                   cost of set up for each test, test re-runs
                                             likely for a furnace to be oversized in a                 operation. DOE would be willing to                    if parameters are not met, test recording,
                                             climate with high variation in outdoor                    work with industry to investigate this                and analysis time. In addition, Weil-
                                             temperature, or if it is installed in an                  further to see if moving to a steady-state            McLain stated that: (1) Only the
                                             area with high airflow requirements for                   methodology has merit and meets the                   incremental cost related to the changes
                                             the cooling load. (Rheem, No. 30 at p.                    requirements of the statute.                          in procedure have been captured when
                                             4)                                                                                                              in all likelihood all products will have
                                                                                                       5. Test Method for Combination                        to be retested through the entire test
                                                DOE agrees with Rheem that a variety                   Appliance
                                             of factors, including construction type                                                                         procedure; (2) at least two tests per
                                             and climate, may influence the                               In the March 2015 NOPR, DOE                        model are required for data submittal;
                                             magnitude of oversizing that occurs in                    discussed the possibility of creating a               (3) initial certification and annual audits
                                             a given installation. DOE did not receive                 test procedure for determining the                    require an additional witness test by a
                                             any data supporting a change to the                       efficiency of combination products.                   third-party lab; (4) engineering, facility,
                                             existing oversize factor of 0.7. DOE has                  Ultimately DOE did not propose to                     or other charges were not captured; (5)
                                             determined the existing value of 0.7                      amend the test procedure to include a                 third-party test agency fees were not
                                             continues to be representative of the                     method of test for combination                        considered; and (6) the time required to
                                             oversized factor applicable to the                        appliances choosing not to complicate                 test the number of models for the
                                             average U.S. household and therefore                      the test procedure rulemaking. 80 FR                  manufacturer and third-party test
                                             maintains that value.                                     12876, 12894.                                         agency capacity were not considered.
                                                                                                          In response to the NOPR, Ingersoll                 Weil-McLain also stated that retesting
                                                12 The ‘‘oversize factor’’ accounts for the national   Rand believes that EPCA anticipated                   and re-rating would take substantially
                                             average oversizing of equipment that occurs when          products being capable of serving more                longer than 180 days. (Weil-McLain, No.
                                             a heating product is sized to satisfy more than the       than one function and expects DOE to                  31 at pp. 6–7) Ingersoll Rand stated that
                                             heating load of the household. This is typically
                                                                                                       set separate energy efficiency metrics for            to retest all of its current models will
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                                             done to size the equipment so that it is able to
                                             satisfy the days in which the house heating               each major function. Ingersoll Rand                   require more than six months of lab
                                             requirements might be exceeded and/or to take into        noted that EPCA authorizes DOE to ‘‘set               time with a cost of over $400,000.
                                             account uncertainties regarding house heating load.       more than 1 energy conservation                       (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 9)
                                             For example, a 0.7 oversize factor is equivalent to
                                             170-percent oversizing of the heating equipment
                                                                                                       standard for each major function.’’ (42                  Weil-McLain questioned why DOE
                                             (i.e., 70 percent greater input capacity than is          U.S.C. 6295(o)(5)) Ingersoll Rand                     would impose the burden of conducting
                                             required).                                                suggested that establishing a                         all of the new tests on manufacturers


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                                             2640               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             when DOE stated that the results from                   procedure. In terms of the boiler pump,                products. DOE discusses this burden in
                                             using new test procedures will not                      DOE included a default value in case                   section IV.B.
                                             change when compared to current                         manufacturers are not currently                          For these reasons, DOE concludes that
                                             procedure. (Weil-McLain, No. 31 at p. 2)                capturing this component, which will                   the amended test procedure will not be
                                                Several stakeholders requested more                  minimize test burden.                                  unduly burdensome to conduct.
                                             time to conduct re-testing after the                       Many manufacturers currently                        G. Measured Energy Use
                                             issuance of the final rule. Weil-McLain                 perform the tracer gas test to determine
                                             stated that the process of conducting all               whether the minimum default draft                         When DOE modifies test procedures,
                                             the tests, analyzing information, and                   factor of 0.05 may be used. DOE expects                it must determine to what extent, if any,
                                             conducting re-certification through the                 that, when establishing the absence of                 the new test procedure would alter the
                                             certified labs for hundreds of models                   flow through the heat exchanger, the use               measured energy efficiency or energy
                                             cannot be completed within 180 days of                  of the smoke stick test will reduce the                use of any covered product. (42 U.S.C.
                                             when the final rule is issued. (Weil-                   test burden to manufacturers by                        6293(e)(1)) In the NOPR, DOE stated
                                             McLain, No. 31 at p. 7) Similarly,                      eliminating, in some cases, the need for               that the one amendment that might alter
                                             Burnham expressed concern that it has                   the tracer gas test.                                   the AFUE of covered products is the
                                             found it impossible to thoroughly                                                                              incorporation by reference of ASHRAE
                                                                                                        The optional provision allowing for
                                             evaluate the impact of this NOPR, as it                                                                        103–2007. 80 FR 12876, 12897.
                                                                                                     the measurement of condensate during                      As discussed in section III.C, based on
                                             asserted that DOE provided only a short                 the establishment of steady-state
                                             amount of time and inadequate                                                                                  stakeholder comments, DOE has
                                                                                                     conditions will provide manufacturers                  declined to incorporate by reference
                                             information and resources during the                    of condensing furnaces and boilers time
                                             rulemaking process. (Burnham, No. 35                                                                           ASHRAE 103–2007 in this final rule.
                                                                                                     and labor savings.                                     Therefore, the amended test procedure
                                             at p. 8) Goodman stated that the                           The inclusion of references to the I&O
                                             industry needs at least 6 months to                                                                            will not alter measured AFUE ratings.
                                                                                                     manual will provide additional                            As discussed in section III.D.1, certain
                                             assess the impact of the new test                       guidance and clarity to the test
                                             procedure on existing basic models.                                                                            stakeholders commented that the
                                                                                                     procedure. It does not impose additional               proposed revision in the NOPR
                                             (Goodman, No. 33 at p. 2)                               test burden since the information is
                                                Ingersoll Rand argued that the fact                                                                         regarding the method for determining
                                                                                                     already available in the manufacturers’                the electrical power consumption would
                                             that many of the current models may be
                                                                                                     literature.                                            change the power measurements. In
                                             removed from the market as a result of
                                             the separate energy conservation                           The amendment of the duct work                      response to comments, for the Final
                                             standards rulemakings, Fan Energy                       setup for units that are installed without             Rule, DOE decided not to change the
                                             Rating (FER) standard effective in 2019                 a return duct and the requirement to test              method for calculating the electrical
                                             and AFUE proposed standard effective                    multi-position units in the least efficient            consumption and only clarified the
                                             in 2021, makes this retesting effort even               position only clarify the testing                      definition of the PE term. This
                                             more burdensome, unnecessary and                        requirements. The duct work setup                      clarification will not alter measured
                                             wasteful. (Ingersoll Rand, No. 37 at p. 9)              change reflect current industry practice               AFUE ratings.
                                             Carrier also stated that recent                         and does not introduce new testing                        As discussed in section III.D.3, certain
                                             rulemakings, such as the standby power                  requirements. With respect to the multi-               stakeholders expressed concern that
                                             ruling and the recent legislation for                   position unit testing, most                            allowing the measurement of
                                             furnace fans, have increased the test                   manufacturers indicated that the change                condensate during the establishment of
                                             burden for gas furnace compliance                       reflects their understanding and current               steady state conditions would have an
                                             compared to when the complicated                        practice. DOE notes that, although the                 impact on the final calculated AFUE
                                             AFUE procedure was formulated and                       test method did not describe the                       value. In response to comments, DOE
                                             first implemented. (Carrier, No. 34 at p.               position for testing as the ‘‘least efficient          clarified for the final rule that this is an
                                             3)                                                      position,’’ in practice, if following the              option rather than a requirement. DOE
                                                The many comments from                               existing method for setup,                             has found through its testing as shown
                                             manufacturers regarding re-testing of all               manufacturers should have tested the                   in the test data presented at the NOPR
                                             models currently in distribution were                   least efficient position or all testing                public meeting indicating both options
                                             responding to DOE’s proposals to                        configurations. DOE also notes that                    produce a similar rate of condensate
                                             incorporate by reference ASHRAE 103–                    AHRI commented that this reflects the                  mass production and therefore would
                                             2007 and adjust the CO2 percentage.                     common practice of its members, which                  have a de minimis impact on measured
                                             Under the amended test procedure, DOE                   is to test in the least efficient position.            AFUE ratings.
                                             is not incorporating by reference                       (AHRI, Public Meeting Transcript, No.                     As discussed in section III.D.4.b,
                                             ASHRAE 103–2007 or adjusting of the                     23 at p. 123) Therefore, DOE expects                   certain stakeholders expressed concern
                                             CO2 percentage, and so manufacturers                    that there would be no additional test                 that the proposed adjustment of the CO2
                                             will not need to re-test their entire                   burden associated with these revisions.                percentage on gas- and oil-fired boilers
                                             model line-up, thereby alleviating the                     The requirement to report AFUE to be                would significantly affect AFUE. In
                                             concerns expressed by manufacturers.                    truncated to the tenth of a percentage                 response to comments, DOE has
                                             DOE has assessed the test burden of the                 point and the requirement to report                    declined to adopt this proposal for the
                                             revisions to the test procedure it is                   whether a boiler uses a burner delay                   final rule.
                                             adopting in this final rule, and has                    automatic means control strategy will                     DOE received no comment regarding
                                             concluded that manufacturers will                       not introduce any additional test burden               the impact of measured energy use on
                                             experience no additional burden when                    because they do not require retesting;                 the remaining test procedure
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                                             performing the AFUE test.                               however, they may impose a cost on                     amendments, including the smoke stick
                                                DOE believes that the clarification of               either boiler manufacturers or                         test, duct work for units that are
                                             the electrical power term PE will not                   manufacturers who do not currently                     installed without a return duct, and
                                             add any additional burden on                            report AFUE to a tenth of a percentage                 testing requirements for multi-position
                                             manufacturers, since this is what has                   point, who must submit new                             configurations. The smoke stick test
                                             been required under the existing test                   certification reports and relabel their                serves to verify a condition and does not


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                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                         2641

                                             impact ratings. The requirements for                    temperature supplied by a boiler. The                  load without specifying to what degree
                                             units installed without a return duct                   proposed test methods were based on                    the temperature must change or for how
                                             and for multi-position configurations                   draft testing methodologies provided by                long that change is present because such
                                             only clarify the testing requirements,                  Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), as                   detail is not required for meeting the
                                             and therefore will not impact measured                  well as the California mechanical codes                design requirement. DOE also designed
                                             energy use or efficiency.                               section for non-residential boilers.14                 the test methods to accommodate
                                               For these reasons, DOE has                            The two separate tests were developed                  technological advancements in controls
                                             determined that none of the adopted test                to accommodate various boiler control                  and designs. For these reasons, DOE
                                             procedure amendments would alter the                    strategies, including outdoor reset,                   does not agree with Burnham and Weil-
                                             projected measured energy efficiency or                 inferred load, and thermal pre-purge                   McLain that establishing further criteria
                                             energy use of the covered products that                 (i.e., burner delay).15 The proposed test              or thresholds is required beyond the
                                             are the subject of this rulemaking.                     methods, as would be specified in 10                   general requirements set forth in the
                                                                                                     CFR 429.134, would be intended for use                 2008 technical amendment to the
                                             H. Certification and Enforcement                                                                               furnace and boiler final rule.
                                                                                                     by DOE for assessment and enforcement
                                             1. Verification Test for Automatic                      testing to determine if a given basic                     Lochinvar stated that while it
                                             Means for Adjusting the Water                           model complies with the applicable                     supports the use of automatic means as
                                             Temperature in Boilers                                  design requirements. Therefore, boiler                 an effective method of energy
                                                                                                     manufacturers would not be required to                 conservation, it opposes testing controls
                                                In 2008, DOE published a technical                                                                          for compliance for the following
                                             amendment to the 2007 energy                            conduct this testing. 80 FR 12876,
                                                                                                     12902.                                                 reasons: (1) The lack of compliance
                                             conservation standards final rule for                                                                          threshold; (2) no guarantee of
                                                                                                        Several stakeholders commented on
                                             residential furnaces and boilers that                                                                          repeatability or consistency in test
                                                                                                     the lack of compliance criteria for the
                                             added design requirements for boilers                                                                          method or results; (3) difficulty in
                                                                                                     automatic means test. Burnham asserted
                                             consistent with the provisions of EISA                                                                         reasonably measuring the effectiveness
                                                                                                     that it is legally unacceptable for DOE
                                             2007, including mandating, starting                                                                            of different designs; (4) test method may
                                                                                                     to not specify any objective criteria for
                                             September 1, 2012, that all gas, oil, and                                                                      be biased for or against certain control
                                                                                                     demonstrating compliance and that DOE
                                             electric hot water boilers (excluding                                                                          methods; and (5) a published
                                                                                                     does not have authority to unilaterally
                                             those equipped with a tankless domestic                                                                        simulation-type test will lead to
                                                                                                     create criteria to determine compliance
                                             water heating coil) be equipped with                                                                           manufacturers designing automatic
                                                                                                     with the automatic means test without
                                             automatic means for adjusting the boiler                                                                       means for the test compliance.
                                                                                                     notice and comment. (Burnham, No. 35
                                             water temperature (‘‘automatic means’’)                                                                        (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 3) AHRI stated
                                                                                                     at p. 6) Weil-McLain stated that it is not
                                             to ensure that an incremental change in                                                                        that the criterion to confirm the
                                                                                                     clear what this required test criteria or
                                             inferred heat load produces a                                                                                  functioning of the means is too vague to
                                                                                                     procedure would be, but that, once
                                             corresponding incremental change in                                                                            be meaningful, and that DOE should not
                                                                                                     defined, this test will require more time
                                             the temperature of water supplied                                                                              finalize this proposed procedure and
                                                                                                     and resources to complete. Weil-McLain
                                             (codified at 42 U.S.C. 6295(f)(3)).13 73                                                                       not pursue further the concept of adding
                                                                                                     also asserted that the new requirement
                                             FR 43611 (July 28, 2008). EISA 2007                                                                            a test to verify the functioning of the
                                                                                                     is arbitrary and capricious because it is
                                             further specifies that for single-stage hot                                                                    automatic means. (AHRI, No. 36 at p. 6)
                                                                                                     so indefinite. (Weil-McLain, No. 31 p. 8)
                                             water boilers, the automatic means                         DOE’s automatic means design                           Several stakeholders commented on
                                             requirement may be satisfied by                         requirement does not specify how a                     technical issues regarding the proposed
                                             incorporating controls that allow the                   manufacturer must implement the                        test method. Lochinvar and Burnham
                                             burner or heating element to fire only                  automatic means and does not provide                   stated that single-stage products may
                                             when the automatic means has                            compliance criteria for the automatic                  use options other than ‘‘thermal purge.’’
                                             determined that the inferred heat load                  means testing. DOE interprets the design               (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 3; Burnham, No.
                                             cannot be met by the residual heat of the               requirement established by EISA 2007                   35 at p. 6) Lochinvar stated that if DOE
                                             water in the system. When there is no                   as intending to allow manufacturers                    chooses to require automatic means
                                             inferred heat load, the automatic means                 flexibility when designing control                     testing, single-stage boilers must be
                                             limits the temperature of the water in                  strategies to meet the design                          allowed to comply by meeting either the
                                             the boiler to not more than 140 °F.                     requirement. DOE believes that the                     proposed test method in § 429.134(e)(1)
                                                The existing DOE residential furnace                                                                        or (e)(2). (Lochinvar, No. 29 at p. 3)
                                                                                                     requirement of an incremental change in
                                             and boiler test procedure does not                                                                                Lochinvar also stated that DOE
                                                                                                     inferred heat load that produces a
                                             include any method of test for                                                                                 incorrectly states that the automatic
                                                                                                     corresponding incremental change in
                                             determining compliance with these                                                                              means will change the heat output of a
                                                                                                     the temperature of water supplied is a
                                             design requirements. In the March 2015                                                                         boiler in response to the inferred heat
                                                                                                     sufficient metric for evaluation of the
                                             NOPR, DOE proposed the introduction                                                                            load. Responding to DOE’s proposal in
                                                                                                     functionality of an automatic means for
                                             of a new test method for the verification                                                                      the March 31, 2015 notice of proposed
                                                                                                     adjusting water temperature. DOE
                                             of the automatic means for adjusting the                                                                       rulemaking for energy conservation
                                                                                                     designed the tests, as noted in the
                                             water temperature in boilers. DOE                                                                              standards for boilers (‘‘March 2015 ECS
                                                                                                     March 2015 NOPR, to confirm whether
                                             proposed the use of two test methods—                                                                          Boiler NOPR’’), Lochinvar asserted that
                                                                                                     the boiler supply water temperature
                                             one for single-stage boilers and one for                                                                       the automatic means would change the
                                                                                                     responds to a change in inferred heat
                                             two-stage/modulating boilers—for                                                                               temperature of the water supplied, not
                                             verification of the functionality of the                  14 California Energy Commission, ‘‘Reference
                                                                                                                                                            necessarily the heat output. (Lochinvar,
                                             automatic means for adjusting the water                                                                        No. 29 at p. 4)
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                                                                                                     Appendices for the 2008 Building Energy Efficiency
                                                                                                     Standards for Residential and Non-residential             Burnham argued that the water
                                               13 The automatic means requirement excludes           Buildings’’, p. 332, (Available at: http://            temperatures specified are too low to
                                             boilers that are manufactured to operate without        www.energy.ca.gov/2008publications/CEC-400-            necessarily cause a burner delay. Also
                                             any need for electricity. EISA 2007 also prohibited     2008-004/CEC-400-2008-004-CMF.PDF) (Last
                                             constant-burning pilot lights for gas-fired hot water   accessed January 16, 2015).                            responding to the March 2015 ECS
                                             boilers and gas-fired steam boilers. 73 FR 43611,         15 See the March 2015 NOPR for further               Boiler NOPR, Burnham suggested that
                                             43613 (July 28, 2008).                                  description of the different control strategies.       the proposed 10 CFR


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                                             2642               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             429.134(e)(1)(iii)(C) seems to imply that               for heating when residual heat is                      measured energy use. Therefore, these
                                             a delay will always be present.                         present within the boiler.                             amendments become effective 30 days
                                             However, Burnham asserted that EISA                        DOE agrees with Burnham and                         after publication of this final rule in the
                                             only requires that the automatic means                  Lochinvar’s comments that help to                      Federal Register. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
                                             delay ignition above 140 °F until it has                clarify the test method and allow for                  6293(c)(2), 180 days after DOE
                                             determined that the inferred heat load                  accommodating variations in the control                prescribes or establishes a new or
                                             cannot be met by the residual heat in                   strategies. Therefore, DOE adopts                      amended test procedure, manufacturers
                                             the boiler. (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 6)                   revisions that include removing the                    must make representations of energy
                                                Burnham stated that the proposed 10                  minimum supply water temperature                       efficiency, including certifications of
                                             CFR 429.134(e)(2)(ii)(B)(1) specifies that              tolerance requirement to allow                         compliance, using that new or amended
                                             the supply water temperature be                         variations in temperature when burner                  test procedure.
                                             maintained at ‘‘the lowest supply water                 cycling occurs; increasing the inlet
                                                                                                     water temperature from 120 °F (±2 °F)                  IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory
                                             temperature (±4 °F),’’ which may not be                                                                        Review
                                             possible if the boiler’s minimum input                  to 140 °F (±2 °F) for the test method for
                                             is greater than the corresponding load,                 single-stage boilers that employ a burner              A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
                                             resulting in burner cycling. Burnham                    delay control strategy so that it is high
                                             stated that a similar problem is possible               enough to cause burner delay; and                         The Office of Management and Budget
                                             in the proposed 10 CFR                                  making terminology related to inlet                    (OMB) has determined that test
                                             429.134(e)(2)(ii)(C)(2), where a ‘‘boost                water consistent throughout the test                   procedure rulemakings do not constitute
                                             function’’ (a control strategy commonly                 method. However, DOE disagrees with                    ‘‘significant regulatory actions’’ under
                                             used that shifts the y-intercept of the                 Burnham’s comment that the tolerance                   section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866,
                                             reset curve upward during extended                      range for determining a stabilized                     ‘‘Regulatory Planning and Review,’’ 58
                                             calls for heat) might make it impossible                supply water temperature could not be                  FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly,
                                             to hold the required ±3 °F tolerance for                met under a specific control strategy,                 this action was not subject to review
                                             the boiler supply water temperature.                    such as the boost mode where an                        under the Executive Order by the Office
                                             (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 6)                               extended call for heating occurs until                 of Information and Regulatory Affairs
                                                Burnham stated that some of the                      the heat demand is satisfied. In such a                (OIRA) in OMB.
                                             control strategies currently in use                     case, DOE’s test method would be
                                                                                                                                                            B. Review Under the Regulatory
                                                                                                     implemented when either the heat
                                             require multiple burner cycles to                                                                              Flexibility Act
                                                                                                     demand is satisfied or the high boiler
                                             determine the inferred heat load, which
                                                                                                     water temperature limit is reached.                       The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
                                             does not seem to be taken into account                     As discussed in the March 2015
                                             by DOE’s proposed verification method.                                                                         U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended by the
                                                                                                     NOPR, DOE also adds a definition for                   Small Business Regulatory Fairness Act
                                             (Burnham, No. 35 at p. 6)                               ‘‘controlling parameter.’’ DOE has
                                                DOE makes several changes to the                                                                            of 1996) requires preparation of an
                                                                                                     placed this definition in 10 CFR 430.2                 initial regulatory flexibility analysis
                                             proposed verification of automatic                      rather than appendix N as it applies to
                                             means tests to address the technical                                                                           (IRFA) for any rule that by law must be
                                                                                                     DOE enforcement regulations rather                     proposed for public comment, unless
                                             comments received from Lochinvar and                    than manufacturer testing. Controlling
                                             Burnham. DOE revised the two tests for                                                                         the agency certifies that the rule, if
                                                                                                     parameter is defined as a measurable                   promulgated, will not have a significant
                                             the verification of automatic means                     quantity for a residential boiler (such as
                                             presented in the NOPR such that the test                                                                       economic impact on a substantial
                                                                                                     temperature or usage pattern) used for                 number of small entities. As required by
                                             previously identified as the two-stage/                 inferring heating load, which would
                                             modulating boilers test will apply to all                                                                      Executive Order 13272, ‘‘Proper
                                                                                                     then result in incremental changes in
                                             boilers, with the exception of single-                                                                         Consideration of Small Entities in
                                                                                                     supply water temperature.
                                             stage boilers that employ a burner delay                                                                       Agency Rulemaking,’’ 67 FR 53461
                                             control strategy. The test for all boiler               2. Compliance Dates for the Amended                    (August 16, 2002), DOE published
                                             products monitors water temperature                     Test Procedure                                         procedures and policies on February 19,
                                             settings from the inferential load                         This document amends 10 CFR                         2003, to ensure that the potential
                                             controller and/or monitors supply water                 429.18, 10 CFR 429.134, 10 CFR 430.2,                  impacts of its rules on small entities are
                                             temperature to determine whether the                    10 CFR 430.3, 10 CFR 430.23, and 10                    properly considered during the DOE
                                             supply water temperature changes in                     CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix N.                   rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE
                                             response to changes in the inferred load.               When DOE modifies test procedures, it                  has made its procedures and policies
                                             This test method allows for establishing                must determine to what extent, if any,                 available on the Office of the General
                                             the necessary conditions that may lead                  the new test procedure would alter the                 Counsel’s Web site: http://energy.gov/
                                             to a change in inferred load, for                       measured energy efficiency or energy                   gc/office-general-counsel.
                                             example, a change in outdoor air                        use of any covered product. (42 U.S.C.                    DOE reviewed this final rule under
                                             temperature, a change in thermostat                     6293(e)(1)) For the reasons described                  the provisions of the Regulatory
                                             patterns, and/or a change in boiler                     previously, DOE has determined that                    Flexibility Act and the procedures and
                                             cycling.                                                none of the test procedure amendments                  policies published on February 19,
                                                DOE is adopting the test previously                  would alter the measured energy                        2003. 68 FR 7990. This final rule
                                             identified as the single-stage boilers test             efficiency or energy use of the covered                amends DOE’s test procedure by
                                             as the test method for single-stage                     products that are the subject of this                  providing clarifications regarding
                                             boilers that employ a burner delay                      rulemaking. The changes made to                        relevant test procedure provisions and
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                                             control strategy to fulfill the automatic               appendix N through this final rule, as                 revising the definitions of some terms.
                                             means design requirement as specified                   listed in section III.D, clarify the manner            DOE has concluded that this final rule
                                             in 42 U.S.C. 6295(f)(3)(B)(ii). The test for            in which the test is conducted, or                     will not have a significant impact on a
                                             single-stage boilers that employ a burner               otherwise represent minor changes or                   substantial number of small entities.
                                             delay control strategy captures the                     additions to the test or reporting                     The factual basis for this certification is
                                             delayed burner reaction following a call                requirements that do not affect                        as follows:


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                           2643

                                                The Small Business Administration                    changes that modify the existing test                  that would be tested under the optional
                                             (SBA) considers a business entity to be                 procedure or reporting requirements for                provision. Therefore, DOE has not
                                             a small business if, together with its                  furnaces and boilers. This includes the                included the cost savings associated
                                             affiliates, it employs less than a                      following changes that could potentially               with the optional provision to allow for
                                             threshold number of workers specified                   impact manufacturers: (1) Clarified                    the measurement of condensate prior to
                                             in 13 CFR part 121. These size standards                definition of electrical power term PE;                the establishment of steady state
                                             and codes are established by the North                  (2) a smoke stick method for                           conditions.
                                             American Industry Classification                        determining whether the minimum                           The clarification of duct work
                                             System (NAICS) and are available at                     default draft factor may be used; (3) a                requirements for units that are installed
                                             http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/                 provision to allow for the measurement                 without a return duct and clarification
                                             files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf.                         of condensate under steady-state                       of the test requirements for multi-
                                             Residential boiler manufacturing is                     conditions; (4) reference to                           position units do not present any
                                             classified under NAICS 333414,                          manufacturers’ I&O manuals; (5)                        additional test burden to manufacturers,
                                             ‘‘Heating Equipment (Except Warm Air                    specification of ductwork for units that               as the two amendments do not change
                                             Furnaces) Manufacturing,’’ for which                    are installed without a return duct; (6)               the existing testing requirements or
                                             the maximum size threshold is 500                       specification of testing requirements for              conflict with current industry practice.
                                             employees or fewer. Residential furnace                 multi-position units; (7) revised                         Revision of AFUE reporting precision
                                             manufacturing is classified under                       reporting precision for AFUE to the                    and the requirement to report the use of
                                             NAICS 333415, ‘‘Air-conditioning and                    nearest tenth of a percentage point; and               a burner delay automatic means control
                                             warm air heating equipment and                          (8) requirement to report the use of a                 strategy in the certification report do not
                                             commercial and industrial refrigeration                 burner delay automatic means control                   present any additional test burden to
                                             equipment manufacturing’’ for which                     strategy in certification reports. The                 manufacturers, as the two amendments
                                             the maximum size threshold is 750                       estimated costs of testing/rating and                  do not change testing requirements.
                                             employees or fewer. To estimate the                     potential impact to manufacturer                       However, both amendments may require
                                             number of companies that could be                       burden resulting from use of the                       some manufacturers to submit new
                                             small business manufacturers of                         amended test procedure are discussed                   certification reports and relabel their
                                             products covered by this rulemaking,                    subsequently. The estimated costs and                  products. DOE estimates that for
                                             DOE conducted a market survey using                     potential impacts apply to all                         affected parties, submitting new
                                             available public information to identify                manufacturers, including the                           certification reports and relabeling
                                             potential small manufacturers. DOE’s                    manufacturers identified as small                      products will take 30 minutes per unit.
                                             research involved reviewing several                     businesses.                                            At an assumed cost of $40 per hour, the
                                             industry trade association membership                      DOE believes that explicitly listing                cost to recertify and relabel is $20 per
                                             directories (e.g., AHRI 16), SBA                        the components encompassed in the                      unit.
                                             databases,17 individual company Web                     definition of PE does not change the                      To determine the potential cost of the
                                             sites, and marketing research tools (e.g.,              definition of the electrical power term                test procedure amendments on small
                                             Hoovers 18 reports) to create a list of all             PE but rather only clarifies it, and will              furnace and boiler manufacturers, DOE
                                             domestic small business manufacturers                   not impose any additional test burden.                 estimated the cost of recertifying and
                                             of residential furnaces and boilers                        The adoption of the smoke stick                     relabeling per basic model and the
                                             covered by this rulemaking.                             method for determining whether the                     savings from the optional provision to
                                                After DOE identified manufacturers of                minimum default draft factor may be                    measure condensate during the
                                             residential furnaces and consumer                       used is intended to reduce the test                    establishment of steady state conditions,
                                             boilers, DOE then consulted publically-                 burden to manufacturers. DOE                           as described above. DOE estimated that
                                             available data and contacted companies,                 estimated that the smoke stick method                  on average, each furnace small business
                                             as necessary, to determine if they both                 for determining the minimum default                    would have 51 basic models, and each
                                             meet the SBA’s definition of a ‘‘small                  draft factor would reduce the overall                  boiler small business would have 70
                                             business’’ manufacturer and have their                  duration of the test by about 15 minutes               basic models. Based on residential
                                             manufacturing facilities located within                 for units designed to have no flow                     furnace and boiler model data, DOE
                                             the United States. DOE screened out                     through the heat exchanger. However,                   assumed that approximately 70 percent
                                             companies that did not offer products                   DOE does not have sufficient                           of all furnace and 60 percent of all
                                             covered by this rulemaking, did not                     information to support estimating the                  boiler manufacturers will need to
                                             meet the definition of a ‘‘small                        fraction of units that have been designed              recertify and relabel due to the revision
                                             business,’’ or are foreign-owned and                    such that there is no flow through the                 of the AFUE reporting precision. Based
                                             operated. Based on this analysis, DOE                   heat exchanger. Therefore, DOE has not                 on residential boiler model data, DOE
                                             identified 9 small businesses that                      included the cost savings associated                   assumed that about 75 percent of boilers
                                             manufacture residential furnaces and 9                  with the smoke stick.                                  are single-stage boilers; furthermore,
                                             small businesses that manufacture                          The addition of the optional provision              DOE assumed that about two-thirds of
                                             residential boilers (two of which also                  to allow for the measurement of                        single-stage boilers employ a burner
                                             manufacture residential furnaces), for a                condensate prior to the establishment of               delay automatic means control strategy.
                                             total of 16 small businesses potentially                steady state conditions will result in a               Thus, DOE assumed that half of all
                                             impacted by this rulemaking.                            lowering of test burden for                            boiler models will employ a burner
                                                This document amends DOE’s test                      manufacturers of condensing furnaces                   delay automatic means control strategy.
                                             procedure by incorporating several                      and boilers. Manufacturers of                          The additional recertification and
                                                                                                     condensing furnaces and boilers will                   relabeling cost associated with the test
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                                               16 For more information on the boiler and furnace     benefit from the time and labor savings                procedure amendments was multiplied
                                             directories, see http://www.ahridirectory.org/          attributed to the measurement of                       by the estimated fraction of affected
                                             ahridirectory/pages/home.aspx.
                                               17 For more information see: http://dsbs.sba.gov/
                                                                                                     condensate during the establishment of                 basic models produced by a small
                                             dsbs/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm.                               steady-state conditions. However, DOE                  manufacturer. DOE has estimated a total
                                               18 For more information see: http://                  does not have sufficient information to                added cost from the test procedure
                                             www.hoovers.com/.                                       support estimating the fraction of units               amendments of $714 per furnace


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                                             2644               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             manufacturer and a total added cost of                  existing rule without affecting the                    standard; and (4) promote simplification
                                             about $1,120 per boiler manufacturer for                amount, quality or distribution of                     and burden reduction. Section 3(b) of
                                             manufacturers that currently do not                     energy usage, and, therefore, will not                 Executive Order 12988 specifically
                                             report AFUE to the nearest tenth of a                   result in any environmental impacts.                   requires that Executive agencies make
                                             percentage point or for manufacturers of                Thus, this rulemaking is covered by                    every reasonable effort to ensure that the
                                             single-stage boilers that employ a burner               Categorical Exclusion A5 under 10 CFR                  regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the
                                             delay automatic means control strategy.                 part 1021, subpart D, which applies to                 preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly
                                                For the reasons stated previously,                   any rulemaking that interprets or                      specifies any effect on existing Federal
                                             DOE certifies that this rule will not have              amends an existing rule without                        law or regulation; (3) provides a clear
                                             a significant economic impact on a                      changing the environmental effect of                   legal standard for affected conduct
                                             substantial number of small entities.                   that rule. Accordingly, neither an                     while promoting simplification and
                                             C. Review Under the Paperwork                           environmental assessment nor an                        burden reduction; (4) specifies the
                                             Reduction Act of 1995                                   environmental impact statement is                      retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately
                                                                                                     required.                                              defines key terms; and (6) addresses
                                               Manufacturers of residential furnaces                                                                        other important issues affecting clarity
                                             and boilers must certify to DOE that                    E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
                                                                                                                                                            and general draftsmanship under any
                                             their products comply with all                             Executive Order 13132, ‘‘Federalism,’’              guidelines issued by the Attorney
                                             applicable energy conservation                          64 FR 43255 (August 10, 1999) imposes                  General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order
                                             standards. In certifying compliance with                certain requirements on agencies                       12988 requires Executive agencies to
                                             applicable performance standards,                       formulating and implementing policies                  review regulations in light of applicable
                                             manufacturers must test their products                  or regulations that preempt State law or               standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b) to
                                             according to the DOE test procedures for                that have Federalism implications. The                 determine whether they are met or it is
                                             residential furnaces and boilers,                       Executive Order requires agencies to                   unreasonable to meet one or more of
                                             including any amendments adopted for                    examine the constitutional and statutory               them. DOE has completed the required
                                             those test procedures. Manufacturers                    authority supporting any action that                   review and determined that, to the
                                             must also ensure their products comply                  would limit the policymaking discretion                extent permitted by law, this final rule
                                             with applicable design standards. DOE                   of the States, and to carefully assess the             meets the relevant standards of
                                             has established regulations for the                     necessity for such actions. The                        Executive Order 12988.
                                             certification and recordkeeping                         Executive Order also requires agencies
                                             requirements for all covered consumer                   to have an accountable process to                      G. Review under the Unfunded
                                             products and commercial equipment,                      ensure meaningful and timely input by                  Mandates Reform Act of 1995
                                             including residential furnaces and                      State and local officials in the                         Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
                                             boilers. See generally 10 CFR part 429.                 development of regulatory policies that                Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) requires
                                             The collection-of-information                           have Federalism implications. On                       each Federal agency to assess the effects
                                             requirement for certification and                       March 14, 2000, DOE published a                        of Federal regulatory actions on State,
                                             recordkeeping is subject to review and                  statement of policy describing the                     local, and Tribal governments and the
                                             approval by OMB under the Paperwork                     intergovernmental consultation process                 private sector. Public Law 104–4, sec.
                                             Reduction Act (PRA). This requirement                   it will follow in the development of                   201 (codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531). For a
                                             has been approved by OMB under OMB                      such regulations. 65 FR 13735. DOE                     regulatory action resulting in a rule that
                                             control number 1910–1400. Public                        examined this final rule and determined                may cause the expenditure by State,
                                             reporting burden for the certification is               that it will not have a substantial direct             local, and Tribal governments, in the
                                             estimated to average 30 hours per                       effect on the States, on the relationship              aggregate, or by the private sector of
                                             response, including the time for                        between the national government and                    $100 million or more in any one year
                                             reviewing instructions, searching                       the States, or on the distribution of                  (adjusted annually for inflation), section
                                             existing data sources, gathering and                    power and responsibilities among the                   202 of UMRA requires a Federal agency
                                             maintaining the data needed, and                        various levels of government. EPCA                     to publish a written statement that
                                             completing and reviewing the collection                 governs and prescribes Federal                         estimates the resulting costs, benefits,
                                             of information.                                         preemption of State regulations as to                  and other effects on the national
                                               Notwithstanding any other provision                   energy conservation for the products                   economy. (2 U.S.C. 1532(a), (b)) The
                                             of the law, no person is required to                    that are the subject of this final rule.               UMRA also requires a Federal agency to
                                             respond to, nor shall any person be                     States can petition DOE for exemption                  develop an effective process to permit
                                             subject to a penalty for failure to comply              from such preemption to the extent, and                timely input by elected officers of State,
                                             with, a collection of information subject               based on criteria, set forth in EPCA. (42              local, and Tribal governments on a
                                             to the requirements of the PRA, unless                  U.S.C. 6297(d)) No further action is                   proposed ‘‘significant intergovernmental
                                             that collection of information displays a               required by Executive Order 13132.                     mandate,’’ and requires an agency plan
                                             currently valid OMB Control Number.                                                                            for giving notice and opportunity for
                                                                                                     F. Review Under Executive Order 12988                  timely input to potentially affected
                                             D. Review Under the National                               Regarding the review of existing                    small governments before establishing
                                             Environmental Policy Act of 1969                        regulations and the promulgation of                    any requirements that might
                                               In this final rule, DOE amends its test               new regulations, section 3(a) of                       significantly or uniquely affect small
                                             procedure for residential furnaces and                  Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil Justice                 governments. On March 18, 1997, DOE
                                             boilers. DOE has determined that this                   Reform,’’ 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996),                   published a statement of policy on its
                                             rule falls into a class of actions that are             imposes on Federal agencies the general                process for intergovernmental
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                                             categorically excluded from review                      duty to adhere to the following                        consultation under UMRA. 62 FR
                                             under the National Environmental                        requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting                   12820. (This policy is also available at
                                             Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et                   errors and ambiguity; (2) write                        http://energy.gov/gc/office-general-
                                             seq.) and DOE’s implementing                            regulations to minimize litigation; (3)                counsel). DOE examined this final rule
                                             regulations at 10 CFR part 1021.                        provide a clear legal standard for                     according to UMRA and its statement of
                                             Specifically, this rule amends an                       affected conduct rather than a general                 policy and determined that the rule


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                             2645

                                             contains neither an intergovernmental                   Administrator of OIRA as a significant                 ‘‘Standard Test Method for Smoke
                                             mandate, nor a mandate that may result                  energy action. For any significant energy              Density in Flue Gases from Burning
                                             in the expenditure of $100 million or                   action, the agency must give a detailed                Distillate Fuels,’’ ASTM D2156–09
                                             more in any year, so these requirements                 statement of any adverse effects on                    (Reapproved 2013). ASTM D2156 is an
                                             do not apply.                                           energy supply, distribution, or use if the             industry accepted test procedure that
                                                                                                     regulation is implemented, and of                      establishes uniform test methods for the
                                             H. Review Under the Treasury and
                                                                                                     reasonable alternatives to the action and              evaluation of smoke density in the flue
                                             General Government Appropriations                       their expected benefits on energy                      gases from burning distillate fuels. The
                                             Act, 1999                                               supply, distribution, and use.                         test procedure established in this final
                                               Section 654 of the Treasury and                          This regulatory action is not a                     rule references ASTM D2156 in its
                                             General Government Appropriations                       significant regulatory action under                    entirety, which includes terminology,
                                             Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105–277) requires                    Executive Order 12866. Moreover, it                    methods of testing, materials, apparatus,
                                             Federal agencies to issue a Family                      would not have a significant adverse                   procedures, reporting, and precision
                                             Policymaking Assessment for any rule                    effect on the supply, distribution, or use             and bias, to determine the allowable
                                             that may affect family well-being. This                 of energy, nor has it been designated as               smoke in the flue of oil furnaces and
                                             rule will not have any impact on the                    a significant energy action by the                     boilers. ASTM D2156–09 is available on
                                             autonomy or integrity of the family as                  Administrator of OIRA. Therefore, it is                ASTM’s Web site at http://
                                             an institution. Accordingly, DOE has                    not a significant energy action, and,                  www.astm.org/Standards/D2156.htm.
                                             concluded that it is not necessary to                   accordingly, DOE has not prepared a
                                             prepare a Family Policymaking                           Statement of Energy Effects.                           N. Congressional Notification
                                             Assessment.                                             L. Review Under Section 32 of the                        As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will
                                             I. Review Under Executive Order 12630                   Federal Energy Administration Act of                   report to Congress on the promulgation
                                                                                                     1974                                                   of this rule prior to its effective date.
                                                Pursuant to Executive Order 12630,                                                                          The report will state that it has been
                                             ‘‘Governmental Actions and Interference                    Under section 301 of the Department                 determined that the rule is not a ‘‘major
                                             with Constitutionally Protected Property                of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95–                rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
                                             Rights,’’ 53 FR 8859 (March 18, 1988),                  91; 42 U.S.C. 7101), DOE must comply
                                             DOE has determined that this regulation                 with section 32 of the Federal Energy                  V. Approval of the Office of the
                                             will not result in any takings that might               Administration Act of 1974, as amended                 Secretary
                                             require compensation under the Fifth                    by the Federal Energy Administration                     The Secretary of Energy has approved
                                             Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.                     Authorization Act of 1977 (Pub. L. 95–                 publication of this final rule.
                                                                                                     70). (15 U.S.C. 788; FEAA) Section 32
                                             J. Review Under Treasury and General                    essentially provides in relevant part                  List of Subjects
                                             Government Appropriations Act, 2001                     that, where a proposed rule authorizes                 10 CFR Part 429
                                                Section 515 of the Treasury and                      or requires use of commercial standards,
                                             General Government Appropriations                       the notice of proposed rulemaking must                   Confidential business information,
                                             Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides                inform the public of the use and                       Energy conservation, Household
                                             for agencies to review most                             background of such standards. In                       appliances, Imports, Reporting and
                                             disseminations of information to the                    addition, section 32(c) requires DOE to                recordkeeping requirements.
                                             public under guidelines established by                  consult with the Attorney General and                  10 CFR Part 430
                                             each agency pursuant to general                         the Chairman of the Federal Trade
                                             guidelines issued by OMB. OMB’s                                                                                  Administrative practice and
                                                                                                     Commission (FTC) concerning the
                                             guidelines were published at 67 FR                                                                             procedure, Confidential business
                                                                                                     impact of the commercial or industry
                                             8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and DOE’s                                                                                information, Energy conservation,
                                                                                                     standards on competition.
                                             guidelines were published at 67 FR                         This final rule incorporates testing                Household appliances, Imports,
                                             62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has reviewed                  methods contained in the following                     Incorporation by reference,
                                             this final rule under the OMB and DOE                   commercial standard: ASTM D2156–09                     Intergovernmental relations, Small
                                             guidelines and has concluded that it is                 (Reapproved 2013). While this test                     businesses.
                                             consistent with applicable policies in                  procedure is not exclusively based on                    Issued in Washington, DC, on December
                                             those guidelines.                                       this standard, the DOE test procedure                  29, 2015.
                                                                                                     adopts several provisions from this                    Kathleen B. Hogan,
                                             K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
                                                                                                     standard without amendment. DOE has                    Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy
                                                Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions                     evaluated this standard and is unable to               Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
                                             Concerning Regulations That                             conclude whether it fully complies with                Energy.
                                             Significantly Affect Energy Supply,                     the requirements of section 32(b) of the                 For the reasons stated in the
                                             Distribution, or Use,’’ 66 FR 28355 (May                FEAA (i.e., that it was developed in a                 preamble, DOE amends parts 429 and
                                             22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to                 manner that fully provides for public                  430 of chapter II, subchapter D of title
                                             prepare and submit to OMB, a                            participation, comment, and review).                   10, Code of Federal Regulations, as set
                                             Statement of Energy Effects for any                     DOE has consulted with the Attorney                    forth below:
                                             significant energy action. A ‘‘significant              General and the Chairwoman of the FTC
                                             energy action’’ is defined as any action                concerning the impact of these test                    PART 429—CERTIFICATION,
                                             by an agency that promulgated or is                     procedures on competition and has                      COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT
                                             expected to lead to promulgation of a                                                                          FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND
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                                                                                                     received no comments objecting to their
                                             final rule, and that: (1) Is a significant              use.                                                   COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
                                             regulatory action under Executive Order                                                                        EQUIPMENT
                                             12866, or any successor order; and (2)                  M. Description of Materials
                                             is likely to have a significant adverse                 Incorporated by Reference                              ■ 1. The authority citation for part 429
                                             effect on the supply, distribution, or use                In this final rule, DOE incorporates by              continues to read as follows:
                                             of energy; or (3) is designated by the                  reference the ASTM test standard                           Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6317.



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                                             2646               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             ■ 2. Amend § 429.18 by adding                           more than ±3 °F over a period of five                  water temperature—(A) Establish high
                                             paragraphs (a)(2)(vii) and (b)(4) to read               minutes.                                               inferred load conditions. Establish the
                                             as follows:                                                (D) Adjust the inferential load                     inferred load conditions so that the
                                                                                                     controller. (1) Adjust the boiler controls             supply water temperature is set to the
                                             § 429.18   Residential furnaces.                        (in accordance with the I&O manual) to                 maximum allowable supply water
                                                (a) * * *                                            the default setting that allows for                    temperature as prescribed in the I&O
                                                (2) * * *                                            activation of the means for adjusting                  manual, or if there is no
                                                (vii) Reported values. The represented               water temperature. For boiler controls                 recommendation, set to a temperature
                                             value of annual fuel utilization                        that do not allow for control adjustment               greater than 170 °F.
                                             efficiency must be truncated to the one-                during active mode operation, terminate                   (B) Supply water temperature
                                             tenth of a percentage point.                            call for heat and adjust the inferential               stabilization at high inferred load. (1)
                                                (b) * * *                                            load controller in accordance with the                 Maintain the call for heat until the
                                                (4) For multi-position furnaces, the                 I&O manual and then reinitiate call for                boiler supply water temperature has
                                             annual fuel utilization efficiency                      heat.                                                  stabilized. Temperature stabilization is
                                             (AFUE) reported for each basic model                       (2) If the means for adjusting water                deemed to be obtained when the boiler
                                             must be based on testing in the least                   temperature uses outdoor temperature                   supply water temperature does not vary
                                             efficient configuration. Manufacturers                  reset, the maximum outdoor                             by more than ±3 °F over a period of five
                                             may also report and make                                temperature setting (if equipped) should               minutes. The duration of time required
                                             representations of additional AFUE                      be set to a temperature high enough that               to stabilize the supply water, following
                                             values based on testing in other                        the boiler operates continuously during                the procedure in paragraph (h)(1)(iii)(A)
                                             configurations.                                         the duration of this test (i.e., if the                of this section, is dependent on the reset
                                             ■ 3. Amend § 429.134 by adding                          conditions in paragraph (h)(1)(ii)(A) of               strategy and may vary from model to
                                             paragraph (h) to read as follows:                       this section equal room ambient                        model.
                                                                                                     temperature, then the maximum                             (2) Record the boiler supply water
                                             § 429.134 Product-specific enforcement                  outdoor temperature should be set at a
                                             provisions                                                                                                     temperature while the temperature is
                                                                                                     temperature greater than the ambient air               stabilized.
                                             *     *     *     *     *                               temperature during the test).                             (3) Terminate the call for heat.
                                               (h) Residential boilers—test protocols                   (ii) Establish low inferred load                       (iv) [Reserved]
                                             for functional verification of automatic                conditions at minimum boiler supply                       (2) Test protocol for single-stage
                                             means for adjusting water temperature.                  water temperature—(A) Establish low                    products employing burner delay. This
                                             These tests are intended to verify the                  inferred load conditions. (1) Establish                test will be used in place of paragraph
                                             functionality of the design requirement                 the inferred load conditions (simulated                (h)(1) of this section for products
                                             that a boiler has an automatic means for                using a controlling parameter, such as                 manufacturers have certified to DOE
                                             adjusting water temperature for single-                 outdoor temperature, thermostat                        under § 429.18(b)(3) as employing a
                                             stage, two-stage, and modulating boilers.               patterns, or boiler cycling) so that the               burner delay automatic means strategy.
                                             These test methods are intended to                      supply water temperature is maintained                 This test verifies whether the automatic
                                             permit the functional testing of a range                at the minimum supply water                            means in single-stage boiler products
                                             of control strategies used to fulfill this              temperature prescribed by the boiler                   establishes a burner delay upon a call
                                             design requirement. Section 2,                          manufacturer’s temperature reset                       for heat until the means has determined
                                             Definitions, and paragraph 6.1.a of                     control strategy found in the I&O                      that the inferred heat load cannot be met
                                             appendix N to subpart B of part 430 of                  manual.                                                by the residual heat of the water in the
                                             this chapter apply for the purposes of                     (2) The minimum supply water                        system.
                                             this paragraph (h).                                     temperature of the default temperature                    (i) Boiler setup—(A) Boiler
                                               (1) Test protocol for all products other              reset curve is usually provided in the                 installation. Boiler installation in the
                                             than single-stage products employing                    I&O manual. If there is no recommended                 test room shall be in accordance with
                                             burner delay. This test is intended to                  minimum supply water temperature, set                  the setup and apparatus requirements
                                             verify whether an automatic means for                   the minimum supply water temperature                   by section 6.0 of appendix N to subpart
                                             adjusting water temperature other than                  equal to 20 °F less than the high supply               B of 10 CFR part 430.
                                             burner delay produces an incremental                    water temperature specified in                            (B) Activation of controls. Adjust the
                                             change in water supply temperature in                   paragraph (h)(1)(iii)(A) of this section.              boiler controls in accordance with the
                                             response to an incremental change in                       (B) Supply water temperature                        I&O manual at the default setting that
                                             inferred heat load.                                     stabilization at low inferred load. (1)                allows for activation of the means for
                                               (i) Boiler setup—(A) Boiler                           Maintain the call for heat until the                   adjusting water temperature.
                                             installation. Boiler installation in the                boiler supply water temperature has                       (C) Adjustment of water flow and
                                             test room shall be in accordance with                   stabilized. Temperature stabilization is               temperature. The flow and temperature
                                             the setup and apparatus requirements of                 deemed to be obtained when the boiler                  of inlet water to the boiler shall be
                                             section 6 of appendix N to subpart B of                 supply water temperature does not vary                 capable of being adjusted manually.
                                             10 CFR part 430.                                        by more than ±3 °F over a period of five                  (ii) Boiler heat-up—(A) Boiler start-
                                               (B) Establishing flow rate and                        minutes. The duration of time required                 up. Power up the boiler and initiate a
                                             temperature rise. Start the boiler                      to stabilize the supply water, following               call for heat.
                                             without enabling the means for                          the procedure in paragraph (h)(1)(ii)(A)                  (B) Adjustment of firing rate. Adjust
                                             adjusting water temperature. Establish a                of this section, is dependent on the reset             the boiler’s firing rate to within ±5% of
                                             water flow rate that allows for a water                                                                        its maximum rated input.
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                                                                                                     strategy and may vary from model to
                                             temperature rise of greater than or equal               model.                                                    (C) Establishing flow rate and
                                             to 20 °F at maximum input rate.                            (2) Record the boiler supply water                  temperature rise. Adjust the water flow
                                               (C) Temperature stabilization.                        temperature while the temperature is                   through the boiler to achieve a DT of
                                             Temperature stabilization is deemed to                  stabilized.                                            20 °F (±2 °F) or greater with an inlet
                                             be obtained when the boiler supply                         (iii) Establish high inferred load                  water temperature equal to 140 °F
                                             water temperature does not vary by                      conditions at maximum boiler supply                    (±2 °F).


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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                              2647

                                                (D) Terminate the call for heating.                  ■  6. Amend § 430.3 by revising                        boilers, including compliance certifications,
                                             Terminate the call for heat, stop the                   paragraph (g)(11) and adding paragraph                 must be based on testing conducted in
                                             flow of water through the boiler, and                   (j)(2) to read as follows:                             accordance with either this appendix as it
                                                                                                                                                            now appears or appendix N as it appeared at
                                             record the time at termination.
                                                                                                     § 430.3 Materials incorporated by                      10 CFR part 430, subpart B revised as of
                                                (iii) Verify burner delay—(A)
                                                                                                     reference.                                             January 1, 2016.
                                             Reinitiate call for heat. Within three (3)                                                                        After July 13, 2016, representations with
                                             minutes of termination (paragraph                       *      *    *      *     *
                                                                                                                                                            respect to energy use or efficiency of
                                             (h)(2)(ii)(D) of this section) and without                (g) * * *                                            residential furnaces and boilers, including
                                             adjusting the inlet water flow rate or                    (11) ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 103–                       compliance certifications, must be based on
                                             temperature as specified in paragraph                   1993, (‘‘ASHRAE 103–1993’’), Methods                   testing conducted in accordance with this
                                             (h)(2)(ii)(C) of this section, reinitiate the           of Testing for Annual Fuel Utilization                 appendix.
                                             call for heat and water flow and record                 Efficiency of Residential Central                         1.0 Scope. The scope of this appendix is
                                             the time.                                               Furnaces and Boilers, (with Errata of                  as specified in section 2 of ASHRAE 103–
                                                (B) Verify burner ignition. At 15-                   October 24, 1996), except for sections                 1993 (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3).
                                                                                                     7.1, 7.2.2.2, 7.2.2.5, 7.2.3.1, 7.8, 8.2.1.3,             For purposes of this appendix, the
                                             second intervals, record time and                                                                              Department of Energy incorporates by
                                             supply water temperature until the main                 8.3.3.1, 8.4.1.1, 8.4.1.1.2, 8.4.1.2,
                                                                                                                                                            reference several industry standards, either
                                             burner ignites.                                         8.4.2.1.4, 8.4.2.1.6, 8.6.1.1, 8.7.2, 8.8.3,           in whole or in part, as listed in § 430.3. In
                                                (C) Terminate the call for heat.                     9.1.2.2.1, 9.1.2.2.2, 9.5.1.1, 9.5.1.2.1,              cases where there is a conflict, the language
                                                (iv) [Reserved]                                      9.5.1.2.2, 9.5.2.1, 9.7.1, 9.7.4, 9.7.6, 9.10,         of the test procedure in this appendix takes
                                                                                                     11.5.11.1, 11.5.11.2 and appendices B                  precedence over the incorporated standards.
                                             PART 430—ENERGY CONSERVATION                            and C, approved October 4, 1993, IBR                      2.0 Definitions. Definitions include those
                                             PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER                                    approved for § 430.23 and appendix N                   specified in section 3 of ASHRAE 103–1993
                                             PRODUCTS                                                to subpart B.                                          (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3) and
                                                                                                                                                            the following additional and modified
                                             ■ 4. The authority citation for part 430                *      *    *      *     *                             definitions.
                                             continues to read as follows:                             (j) * * *                                               2.1 Active mode means the condition in
                                                                                                       (2) ASTM D2156–09 (Reapproved                        which the furnace or boiler is connected to
                                               Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6309; 28 U.S.C.             2013) (‘‘ASTM D2156R13’’), Standard
                                             2461 note.                                                                                                     the power source, and at least one of the
                                                                                                     Test Method for Smoke Density in Flue                  burner, electric resistance elements, or any
                                             ■  5. Amend § 430.2 by adding in                        Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels,                   electrical auxiliaries such as blowers or
                                             alphabetical order a definition of                      approved October 1, 2013, IBR approved                 pumps, are activated.
                                             ‘‘Controlling parameter’’ and revising                  for appendix N to subpart B.                              2.2 Boiler pump means a pump installed
                                             the definition of ‘‘Furnace’’ to read as                                                                       on a boiler and that is separate from the
                                                                                                     *      *    *      *     *
                                                                                                                                                            circulating water pump.
                                             follows:                                                ■ 7. Amend § 430.23 by revising                           2.3 Control means a device used to
                                             § 430.2   Definitions.
                                                                                                     paragraph (n)(2) to read as follows:                   regulate the operation of a piece of
                                                                                                                                                            equipment and the supply of fuel, electricity,
                                             *     *     *      *    *                               § 430.23 Test procedures for the                       air, or water.
                                               Controlling parameter means a                         measurement of energy and water                           2.4 Draft inducer means a fan
                                             measurable quantity or an algorithm                     consumption.                                           incorporated in the furnace or boiler that
                                             (such as temperature or usage pattern)                  *      *    *     *     *                              either draws or forces air into the combustion
                                             used for inferring heating load to a                       (n) * * *                                           chamber.
                                             residential boiler, which would then                       (2) The annual fuel utilization                        2.5 Gas valve means an automatic or
                                             result in incremental changes in boiler                 efficiency for furnaces, expressed in                  semi-automatic device consisting essentially
                                             supply water temperature.                               percent, is the ratio of the annual fuel               of a valve and operator that controls the gas
                                                                                                     output of useful energy delivered to the               supply to the burner(s) during normal
                                             *     *     *      *    *                                                                                      operation of an appliance. The operator may
                                               Furnace means a product which                         heated space to the annual fuel energy
                                                                                                                                                            be actuated by application of gas pressure on
                                             utilizes only single-phase electric                     input to the furnace determined
                                                                                                                                                            a flexible diaphragm, by electrical means, by
                                             current, or single-phase electric current               according to section 10.1 of appendix N                mechanical means or by other means.
                                             or DC current in conjunction with                       of this subpart for gas and oil furnaces                  2.6 Installation and operation (I&O)
                                             natural gas, propane, or home heating                   and determined in accordance with                      manual means instructions for installing,
                                             oil, and which—                                         section 11.1 of the American National                  commissioning, and operating the furnace or
                                               (1) Is designed to be the principal                   Standards Institute/American Society of                boiler, which are supplied with the product
                                             heating source for the living space of a                Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-                       when shipped by the manufacturer.
                                             residence;                                              Conditioning Engineers (ANSI/                             2.7 Isolated combustion system means a
                                               (2) Is not contained within the same                  ASHRAE) Standard 103–1993                              system where a unit is installed within the
                                             cabinet with a central air conditioner                                                                         structure, but isolated from the heated space.
                                                                                                     (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3)
                                                                                                                                                            A portion of the jacket heat from the unit is
                                             whose rated cooling capacity is above                   for electric furnaces. Truncate the                    lost, and air for ventilation, combustion and
                                             65,000 Btu per hour;                                    annual fuel utilization efficiency to one-             draft control comes from outside the heated
                                               (3) Is an electric central furnace,                   tenth of a percentage point.                           space.
                                             electric boiler, forced-air central                     *      *    *     *     *                                 2.8 Multi-position furnace means a
                                             furnace, gravity central furnace, or low-               ■ 8. Revise appendix N to subpart B to                 furnace that can be installed in more than
                                             pressure steam or hot water boiler; and                 read as follows:                                       one airflow configuration (i.e., upflow or
                                               (4) Has a heat input rate of less than                                                                       horizontal; downflow or horizontal; upflow
                                             300,000 Btu per hour for electric boilers               Appendix N to Subpart B of Part 430—                   or downflow; and upflow, or downflow, or
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                                             and low-pressure steam or hot water                     Uniform Test Method for Measuring the                  horizontal).
                                             boilers and less than 225,000 Btu per                   Energy Consumption of Furnaces and                        2.9 Off mode means a mode in which the
                                                                                                                                                            furnace or boiler is connected to a mains
                                             hour for forced-air central furnaces,                   Boilers
                                                                                                                                                            power source and is not providing any active
                                             gravity central furnaces, and electric                    Note: Prior to July 13, 2016,                        mode or standby mode function, and where
                                             central furnaces.                                       representations with respect to the energy             the mode may persist for an indefinite time.
                                             *     *     *      *    *                               use or efficiency of residential furnaces and          The existence of an off switch in off position



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                                             2648               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             (a disconnected circuit) is included within             (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3), and          the furnace. Tape or seal around the junction
                                             the classification of off mode.                         the reference standards cited in this                  connecting the vent pipe and the 5-ft test
                                                2.10 Off switch means the switch on the              appendix and in ASHRAE 103–1993.                       stack. Insulate the 5-ft test stack with
                                             furnace or boiler that, when activated, results            e. Test rooms containing equipment must             insulation having an R-value not less than 7
                                             in a measurable change in energy                        have suitable facilities for providing the             and an outer layer of aluminum foil. (See
                                             consumption between the standby and off                 utilities (including but not limited to                Figure 3–E of ASHRAE 103–1993.)
                                             modes.                                                  environmental controls, sufficient fluid                  6.4 Units with draft hoods or draft
                                                2.11 Oil control valve means an                      source(s), applicable measurement                      diverters. Install the stack damper in
                                             automatically or manually operated device               equipment, and any other technology or                 accordance with the I&O manual. Install 5
                                             consisting of an oil valve for controlling the          tools) necessary for performance of the test           feet of stack above the damper.
                                             fuel supply to a burner to regulate burner              and must be able to maintain conditions                   a. For units with an integral draft diverter,
                                             input.                                                  within the limits specified in section 6 of this       cover the 5-ft stack with insulation having an
                                                2.12 Standby mode means any mode in                  appendix.                                              R-value of not less than 7 and an outer layer
                                             which the furnace or boiler is connected to                6.2 Forced-air central furnaces (direct             of aluminum foil.
                                             a mains power source and offers one or more             vent and direct exhaust).                                 b. For units with draft hoods, insulate the
                                             of the following space heating functions that              a. Units not equipped with a draft hood or          flue pipe between the outlet of the furnace
                                             may persist:                                            draft diverter must be provided with the               and the draft hood with insulation having an
                                                a. To facilitate the activation of other             minimum-length vent configuration                      R-value of not less than 7 and an outer layer
                                             modes (including activation or deactivation             recommended in the I&O manual or a 5-ft                of aluminum foil.
                                             of active mode) by remote switch (including             flue pipe if there is no recommendation                   c. For units with integral draft diverters
                                             thermostat or remote control), internal or              provided in the I&O manual (see Figure 4 of            that are mounted in an exposed position (not
                                             external sensors, or timer;                             ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                       inside the overall unit cabinet), cover the
                                                b. Continuous functions, including                   reference, see § 430.3)). For a direct exhaust         diverter boxes (excluding any openings
                                             information or status displays or sensor                system, insulate the minimum-length vent               through which draft relief air flows) before
                                             based functions.                                        configuration or the 5-ft flue pipe with               the beginning of any test (including jacket
                                                2.13 Thermal stack damper means a type               insulation having an R-value not less than 7           loss test) with insulation having an R-value
                                             of stack damper that relies exclusively upon            and an outer layer of aluminum foil. For a             of not less than 7 and an outer layer of
                                             the changes in temperature in the stack gases           direct vent system, see section 7.5 of                 aluminum foil.
                                             to open or close the damper.                            ASHRAE 103–1993 for insulation                            d. For units equipped with integral draft
                                                3.0 Classifications. Classifications are as          requirements.                                          diverters that are enclosed within the overall
                                             specified in section 4 of ASHRAE 103–1993                  b. For units with power burners, cover the          unit cabinet, insulate the draft diverter box
                                             (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3).               flue collection box with insulation having an          with insulation as described in section 6.4.c
                                                4.0 Requirements. Requirements are as                R-value of not less than 7 and an outer layer          before the cool-down and heat-up tests
                                             specified in section 5 of ASHRAE 103–1993               of aluminum foil before the cool-down and              described in sections 9.5 and 9.6,
                                             (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3).               heat-up tests described in sections 9.5 and            respectively, of ASHRAE 103–1993
                                                5.0 Instruments. Instruments must be as              9.6 of ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3). Do
                                             specified in section 6 of ASHRAE 103–1993               reference, see § 430.3), respectively.                 not apply the insulation for the jacket loss
                                             (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3).               However, do not apply the insulation for the           test (if conducted) described in section 8.6 of
                                                6.0 Apparatus. The apparatus used in                 jacket loss test (if conducted) described in           ASHRAE 103–1993 or the steady-state test
                                             conjunction with the furnace or boiler during           section 8.6 of ASHRAE 103–1993 or the                  described in section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103–
                                             the testing must be as specified in section 7           steady-state test described in section 9.1 of          1993.
                                             of ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                     ASHRAE 103–1993.                                          6.5 Condensate collection. Attach
                                             reference, see § 430.3) except for sections 7.1,           c. For power-vented units, insulate the             condensate drain lines to the unit as
                                             7.2.2.2, 7.2.2.5, 7.2.3.1, and 7.8; and as              shroud surrounding the blower impeller with            specified in the I&O manual. Maintain a
                                             specified in sections 6.1 through 6.5 of this           insulation having an R-value of not less than          continuous downward slope of drain lines
                                             appendix.                                               7 and an outer layer of aluminum foil before           from the unit. Additional precautions (such
                                                6.1 General.                                         the cool-down and heat-up tests described in           as eliminating any line configuration or
                                                a. Install the furnace or boiler in the test         sections 9.5 and 9.6, respectively, of                 position that would otherwise restrict or
                                             room in accordance with the I&O manual, as              ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                       block the flow of condensate or checking to
                                             defined in section 2.6 of this appendix,                reference, see § 430.3). Do not apply the              ensure a proper connection with condensate
                                             except that if provisions within this                   insulation for the jacket loss test (if                drain spout that allows for unobstructed
                                             appendix are specified, then the provisions             conducted) described in section 8.6 of                 flow) must be taken to facilitate
                                             herein drafted and prescribed by DOE                    ASHRAE 103–1993 or the steady-state test               uninterrupted flow of condensate during the
                                             govern. If the I&O manual and any additional            described in section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103–                test. Collection containers must be glass or
                                             provisions of this appendix are not sufficient          1993. Do not insulate the blower motor or              polished stainless steel to facilitate removal
                                             for testing a furnace or boiler, the                    block the airflow openings that facilitate the         of interior deposits. The collection container
                                             manufacturer must request a waiver from the             cooling of the combustion blower motor or              must have a vent opening to the atmosphere.
                                             test procedure pursuant to 10 CFR 430.27.               bearings.                                                 7.0 Testing conditions. The testing
                                                b. If the I&O manual indicates the unit                 6.3 Downflow furnaces. Install an internal          conditions must be as specified in section 8
                                             should not be installed with a return duct,             section of vent pipe the same size as the flue         of ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by
                                             then the return (inlet) duct specified in               collar for connecting the flue collar to the top       reference, see § 430.3), except for section
                                             section 7.2.1 of ASHRAE 103–1993                        of the unit, if not supplied by the                    8.2.1.3, 8.3.3.1, 8.4.1.1, 8.4.1.1.2, 8.4.1.2,
                                             (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3) is not         manufacturer. Do not insulate the internal             8.4.2.1.4, 8.4.2.1.6, 8.6.1.1, 8.7.2, and 8.8.3;
                                             required.                                               vent pipe during the jacket loss test (if              and as specified in sections 7.1 to 7.10 of this
                                                c. Test multi-position furnaces in the least         conducted) described in section 8.6 of                 appendix, respectively.
                                             efficient configuration. Testing of multi-              ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                          7.1 Fuel supply, gas. In conducting the
                                             position furnaces in other configurations is            reference, see § 430.3) or the steady-state test       tests specified herein, gases with
                                             permitted if energy use or efficiency is                described in section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103–                characteristics as shown in Table 1 of
                                             represented pursuant to the requirements in             1993. Do not insulate the internal vent pipe           ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by
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                                             10 CFR part 429.                                        before the cool-down and heat-up tests                 reference, see § 430.3) shall be used.
                                                d. The apparatuses described in section 6            described in sections 9.5 and 9.6,                     Maintain the gas supply, ahead of all controls
                                             of this appendix are used in conjunction with           respectively, of ASHRAE 103–1993. If the               for a furnace, at a test pressure between the
                                             the furnace or boiler during testing. Each              vent pipe is surrounded by a metal jacket, do          normal and increased values shown in Table
                                             piece of apparatus shall conform to material            not insulate the metal jacket. Install a 5-ft test     1 of ASHRAE 103–1993. Maintain the
                                             and construction specifications listed in this          stack of the same cross-sectional area or              regulator outlet pressure at a level
                                             appendix and in ASHRAE 103–1993                         perimeter as the vent pipe above the top of            approximating that recommended in the I&O



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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                                2649

                                             manual, as defined in section 2.6 of this                  7.5 Oil burner. Adjust the burners of oil-          or boiler into 6-inch squares when practical,
                                             appendix, or, in the absence of such                    fired furnaces or boilers to give a CO2 reading        and otherwise into 36-square-inch regions
                                             recommendation, to the nominal regulator                specified in the I&O manual and an hourly              comprising 4 inch by 9 inch or 3 inch by 12
                                             settings used when the product is shipped by            Btu input during the steady-state                      inch sections, and determine the surface
                                             the manufacturer. Use a gas having a specific           performance test described in section 8 of             temperature at the center of each square or
                                             gravity as shown in Table 1 of ASHRAE 103–              this appendix. Ensure the hourly BTU input             section with a surface thermocouple. Record
                                             1993 and with a higher heating value within             is within ±2% of the normal hourly Btu input           the surface temperature of the 36-square-inch
                                             ±5% of the higher heating value shown in                rating as specified in the I&O manual. Smoke           areas in groups where the temperature
                                             Table 1 of ASHRAE 103–1993. Determine the               in the flue may not exceed a No. 1 smoke               differential of the 36-square-inch areas is less
                                             actual higher heating value in Btu per                  during the steady-state performance test as            than 10 °F for temperature up to 100 °F above
                                             standard cubic foot for the gas to be used in           measured by the procedure in ASTM                      room temperature, and less than 20 °F for
                                             the test within an error no greater than 1%.            D2156R13 (incorporated by reference, see               temperatures more than 100 °F above room
                                                7.2 Installation of piping. Install piping           § 430.3). Maintain the average draft over the          temperature. For forced-air central furnaces,
                                             equipment in accordance with the I&O                    fire and in the flue during the steady-state           the circulating air blower compartment is
                                             manual. In the absence of such specification,           performance test at the value specified in the         considered as part of the duct system, and no
                                             install piping in accordance with section               I&O manual. Do not allow draft fluctuations            surface temperature measurement of the
                                             8.3.1.1 of ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated                exceeding 0.005 in. water. Do not make                 blower compartment needs to be recorded for
                                             by reference, see § 430.3).                             additional adjustments to the burner during            the purpose of this test. For downflow
                                                7.3 Gas burner. Adjust the burners of gas-           the required series of performance tests. The          furnaces, measure all cabinet surface
                                             fired furnaces and boilers to their maximum             instruments and measuring apparatus for this           temperatures of the heat exchanger and
                                             Btu input ratings at the normal test pressure           test are described in section 6 of this                combustion section, including the bottom
                                             specified by section 7.1 of this appendix.              appendix and shown in Figure 8 of ASHRAE               around the outlet duct and the burner door,
                                             Correct the burner input rate to reflect gas            103–1993 (incorporated by reference, see               using the 36-square-inch thermocouple grid.
                                             characteristics at a temperature of 60 °F and           § 430.3).                                              The cabinet surface temperatures around the
                                             atmospheric pressure of 30 in of Hg and                    7.6 Adjust air throughputs to achieve a             blower section do not need to be measured
                                             adjust down to within ±2 percent of the                 temperature rise that is the higher of a and           (See Figure 3–E of ASHRAE 103–1993
                                             hourly Btu nameplate input rating specified             b, below, unless c applies. A tolerance of ±2          (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3)).
                                             by the manufacturer as measured during the              °F is permitted.                                          7.9 Installation of vent system. Keep the
                                             steady-state performance test in section 8 of              a. 15 °F less than the nameplate maximum            vent or air intake system supplied by the
                                             this appendix. Set the primary air shutters in          temperature rise or                                    manufacturer in place during all tests. Test
                                             accordance with the I&O manual to give a                   b. 15 °F higher than the minimum                    units intended for installation with a variety
                                             good flame at this condition. If, however, the          temperature rise specified in the I&O manual.          of vent pipe lengths with the minimum vent
                                             setting results in the deposit of carbon on the            c. A furnace with a non-adjustable air
                                                                                                                                                            length as specified in the I&O manual, or a
                                             burners during any test specified herein, the           temperature rise range and an automatically
                                                                                                                                                            5-ft. flue pipe if there are no
                                             tester shall adjust the shutters and burners            controlled airflow that does not permit a
                                                                                                                                                            recommendations in the I&O manual. Do not
                                             until no more carbon is deposited and shall             temperature rise range of 30°F or more must
                                                                                                                                                            connect a furnace or boiler employing a
                                             perform the tests again with the new settings           be tested at the midpoint of the rise range.
                                                                                                                                                            direct vent system to a chimney or induced-
                                             (see Figure 9 of ASHRAE 103–1993                           7.7 Establish the temperature rise
                                                                                                                                                            draft source. Vent combustion products
                                             (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3)).              specified in section 7.6 of this appendix by
                                             After the steady-state performance test has             adjusting the circulating airflow. This                solely by using the venting incorporated in
                                             been started, do not make additional                    adjustment must be accomplished by                     the furnace or boiler and the vent or air
                                             adjustments to the burners during the                   symmetrically restricting the outlet air duct          intake system supplied by the manufacturer.
                                             required series of performance tests specified          and varying blower speed selection to obtain           For units that are not designed to
                                             in section 9 of ASHRAE 103–1993. If a vent-             the desired temperature rise and minimum               significantly preheat the incoming air, see
                                             limiting means is provided on a gas pressure            external static pressure, as specified in Table        section 7.5 of this appendix and Figure 4a or
                                             regulator, keep it in place during all tests.           4 of ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                  4b of ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by
                                                7.4 Modulating gas burner adjustment at              reference, see § 430.3). If the required               reference, see § 430.3). For units that do
                                             reduced input rate. For gas-fired furnaces              temperature rise cannot be obtained at the             significantly preheat the incoming air, see
                                             and boilers equipped with modulating-type               minimum specified external static pressure             Figure 4c or 4d of ASHRAE 103–1993.
                                             controls, adjust the controls to operate the            by adjusting blower speed selection and duct              7.10 Additional optional method of
                                             unit at the nameplate minimum input rate. If            outlet restriction, then the following applies.        testing for determining DP and DF for
                                             the modulating control is of a non-automatic               a. If the resultant temperature rise is less        furnaces and boilers. On units whose design
                                             type, adjust the control to the setting                 than the required temperature rise, vary the           is such that there is no measurable airflow
                                             recommended in the I&O manual. In the                   blower speed by gradually adjusting the                through the combustion chamber and heat
                                             absence of such recommendation, the                     blower voltage so as to maintain the                   exchanger when the burner(s) is (are) off as
                                             midpoint setting of the non-automatic control           minimum external static pressure listed in             determined by the optional test procedure in
                                             shall be used as the setting for determining            Table 4 of ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated               section 7.10.1 of this appendix, DF and DP
                                             the reduced fuel input rate. Start the furnace          by reference, see § 430.3). The airflow                may be set equal to 0.05.
                                             or boiler by turning the safety control valve           restrictions shall then remain unchanged. If              7.10.1 Optional test method for
                                             to the ‘‘ON’’ position. For boilers, use a              static pressure must be varied to prevent              indicating the absence of flow through the
                                             supply water temperature that will allow for            unstable blower operation, then increase the           heat exchanger. Manufacturers may use the
                                             continuous operation without shutoff by the             static pressure until blower operation is              following test protocol to determine whether
                                             control. If necessary to achieve such                   stabilized, except that the static pressure            air flows through the combustion chamber
                                             continuous operation, supply water may be               must not exceed the maximum external static            and heat exchanger when the burner(s) is
                                             increased above 120 °F; in such cases,                  pressure as specified by the manufacturer in           (are) off. The minimum default draft factor
                                             gradually increase the supply water                     the I&O manual.                                        (as allowed per sections 8.8.3 and 9.10 of
                                             temperature to determine what minimum                      b. If the resultant temperature rise is             ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by
                                             supply water temperature, with a 20 °F                  greater than the required temperature rise,            reference, see § 430.3)) may be used only for
                                             temperature rise across the boiler, will be             then the unit can be tested at a higher                units determined pursuant to this protocol to
                                             needed to adjust for the minimum input rate             temperature rise value, but one not greater            have no airflow through the combustion
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                                             at the reduced input rate control setting.              than nameplate maximum temperature rise.               chamber and heat exchanger.
                                             Monitor regulated gas pressure out of the               In order not to exceed the maximum                        7.10.1.1 Test apparatus. Use a smoke
                                             modulating control valve (or entering the               temperature rise, the speed of a direct-driven         stick that produces smoke that is easily
                                             burner) to determine when no further                    blower may be increased by increasing the              visible and has a density less than or
                                             reduction of gas pressure results. The flow             circulating air blower motor voltage.                  approximately equal to air. Use a smoke stick
                                             rate of water through the boiler shall be                  7.8 Measurement of jacket surface                   that produces smoke that is non-toxic to the
                                             adjusted to achieve a 20 °F temperature rise.           temperature. Divide the jacket of the furnace          test personnel and produces gas that is



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                                             2650               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             unreactive with the environment in the test             measurement of PE must include the boiler              inlet damper or an electromechanical flue
                                             chamber.                                                pump if so equipped. If the boiler pump does           damper that closes within 10 seconds after
                                                7.10.1.2 Test conditions. Minimize all air           not operate during the measurement of PE,              the burner shuts off to restrict the flow
                                             currents and drafts in the test chamber,                add the boiler pump nameplate power to the             through the heat exchanger in the off-cycle,
                                             including turning off ventilation if the test           measurement of PE. If the boiler pump                  bypass or adjust the control for the
                                             chamber is mechanically ventilated. Wait at             nameplate power is not available, use 0.13             electromechanical damper so that the damper
                                             least two minutes following the termination             kW.                                                    remains open during the cool-down test.
                                             of the furnace or boiler on-cycle before                   For furnaces, during the steady-state test,            For furnaces that employ post-purge,
                                             beginning the optional test method for                  perform a single measurement of the                    measure the length of the post-purge period
                                             indicating the absence of flow through the              electrical power to the circulating air blower         with a stopwatch. Record the time from
                                             heat exchanger.                                         (BE). For hot water boilers, use the                   burner ‘‘OFF’’ to combustion blower ‘‘OFF’’
                                                7.10.1.3 Location of the test apparatus.             circulating water pump nameplate power for             (electrically de-energized) as tP. If the
                                             After all air currents and drafts in the test           BE, or if the pump nameplate power is not              measured tP is less than or equal to 30
                                             chamber have been eliminated or minimized,              available, use 0.13 kW.                                seconds, set tP at 0 and conduct the cool-
                                             position the smoke stick based on the                      8.3 Input to interrupted ignition device.           down test as if there is no post-purge. If tP
                                             following equipment configuration: (a) For              For burners equipped with an interrupted               is prescribed by the I&O manual or measured
                                             horizontal combustion air intakes,                      ignition device, record the nameplate electric         to be greater than 180 seconds, stop the
                                             approximately 4 inches from the vertical                power used by the ignition device, PEIG, or            combustion blower at 180 seconds and use
                                             plane at the termination of the intake vent             record that PEIG = 0.4 kW if no nameplate              that value for tP. Measure the flue gas
                                             and 4 inches below the bottom edge of the               power input is provided. Record the                    temperature by means of the thermocouple
                                             combustion air intake; or (b) for vertical              nameplate ignition device on-time interval,            grid described in section 7.6 of ASHRAE
                                             combustion air intakes, approximately 4                 tIG, or, if the nameplate does not provide the         103–1993 at the end of the post-purge period,
                                             inches horizontal from vent perimeter at the            ignition device on-time interval, measure the          tP(TF,OFF (tP)), and at the time (1.5 + tP)
                                             termination of the intake vent and 4 inches             on-time interval with a stopwatch at the               minutes (TF,OFF(t3)) and (9.0 + tP) minutes
                                             down (parallel to the vertical axis of the              beginning of the test, starting when the               (TF,OFF(t4)) after the main burner shuts off.
                                             vent). In the instance where the boiler                 burner is turned on. Set tIG = 0 and PEIG =               8.6 Cool-down test for gas- and oil-fueled
                                             combustion air intake is closer than 4 inches           0 if the device on-time interval is less than          gravity and forced-air central furnaces
                                             to the floor, place the smoke device directly           or equal to 5 seconds after the burner is on.          without stack dampers and with adjustable
                                             on the floor without impeding the flow of                  8.4 Optional test procedures for                    fan control. For a furnace with adjustable fan
                                             smoke.                                                  condensing furnaces and boilers,                       control, measure the time delay between
                                                7.10.1.4 Duration of test. Establish the             measurement of condensate during the                   burner shutdown and blower shutdown, t+.
                                             presence of smoke from the smoke stick and              establishment of steady-state conditions. For          This time delay, t+, will be 3.0 minutes for
                                             then monitor the direction of the smoke flow            units with step-modulating or two-stage                non-condensing furnaces or 1.5 minutes for
                                             for no less than 30 seconds.                            controls, conduct the test at both the                 condensing furnaces or until the supply air
                                                7.10.1.5 Test results. During visual                 maximum and reduced inputs. In lieu of                 temperature drops to a value of 40 °F above
                                             assessment, determine whether there is any              collecting the condensate immediately after            the inlet air temperature, whichever results
                                             draw of smoke into the combustion air intake            the steady state conditions have been reached          in the longest fan on-time. For a furnace
                                             vent.                                                   as required by section 9.2 of ASHRAE 103–              without adjustable fan control or with the
                                                If absolutely no smoke is drawn into the             1993 (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3),         type of adjustable fan control whose range of
                                             combustion air intake, the furnace or boiler            condensate may be collected during the                 adjustment does not allow for the time delay,
                                             meets the requirements to allow use of the              establishment of steady state conditions as            t+, specified above, bypass the fan control
                                             minimum default draft factor pursuant to                defined by section 9.1.2.1 of ASHRAE 103–              and manually control the fan to allow for the
                                             section 8.8.3 and/or section 9.10 of ASHRAE             1993. Perform condensate collection for at             appropriate delay time as specified in section
                                             103–1993 (incorporated by reference, see                least 30 minutes. Measure condensate mass              9.5.1.2 of ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated
                                             § 430.3).                                               immediately at the end of the collection               by reference, see § 430.3). For a furnace that
                                                If there is any smoke drawn into the intake,         period to prevent evaporation loss from the            employs a single motor to drive both the
                                             proceed with the methods of testing as                  sample. Record fuel input for the 30-minute            power burner and the indoor air circulating
                                             prescribed in section 8.8 of ASHRAE 103–                condensate collection test period. Observe             blower, the power burner and indoor air
                                             1993.                                                   and record fuel higher heating value (HHV),            circulating blower must be stopped at the
                                                8.0 Test procedure. Conduct testing and              temperature, and pressures necessary for               same time
                                             measurements as specified in section 9 of               determining fuel energy input (Qc,ss).                    8.7 Cool-down test for gas- and oil-fueled
                                             ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                        Measure the fuel quantity and HHV with                 boilers without stack dampers. After steady-
                                             reference, see § 430.3) except for sections             errors no greater than 1%. The humidity for            state testing has been completed, turn the
                                             9.1.2.2.1, 9.1.2.2.2, 9.5.1.1, 9.5.1.2.1,               the room air shall at no time exceed 80%.              main burner(s) ‘‘OFF’’ and measure the flue
                                             9.5.1.2.2, 9.5.2.1, 9.7.4, and 9.10; and as             Determine the mass of condensate for the               gas temperature at 3.75 minutes (temperature
                                             specified in sections 8.1 through 8.11 of this          establishment of steady state conditions               designated as TF,OFF(t3)) and 22.5 minutes
                                             appendix. Section 8.4 of this appendix may              (Mc,ss) in pounds by subtracting the tare              (temperature designated as TF,OFF(t4)) after
                                             be used in lieu of section 9.2 of ASHRAE                container weight from the total container and          the burner shut-off using the thermocouple
                                             103–1993.                                               condensate weight measured at the end of the           grid described in section 7.6 of ASHRAE
                                                8.1 Fuel input. For gas units, measure and           30-minute condensate collection test period.           103–1993 (incorporated by reference, see
                                             record the steady-state gas input rate in Btu/             8.5 Cool-down test for gas- and oil-fueled          § 430.3).
                                             hr, including pilot gas, corrected to standard          gravity and forced-air central furnaces                   a. During this off-period, for units that do
                                             conditions of 60 °F and 30 in. Hg. Use                  without stack dampers. Turn off the main               not have pump delay after shut-off, do not
                                             measured values of gas temperature and                  burner after completing steady-state testing,          allow any water to circulate through the hot
                                             pressure at the meter and barometric pressure           and measure the flue gas temperature by                water boilers.
                                             to correct the metered gas flow rate to the             means of the thermocouple grid described in               b. For units that have pump delay on shut-
                                             above standard conditions. For oil units,               section 7.6 of ASHRAE 103–1993                         off, except those having pump controls
                                             measure and record the steady-state fuel                (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3) at 1.5        sensing water temperature, the unit control
                                             input rate.                                             minutes (TF,OFF(t3)) and 9 minutes (TF,OFF(t4))        must stop the pump. Measure and record the
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                                                8.2 Electrical input. For furnaces and               after shutting off the burner. When taking             time between burner shut-off and pump shut-
                                             boilers, during the steady-state test, perform          these temperature readings, the integral draft         off (t+) to the nearest second.
                                             a single measurement of all of the electrical           diverter must remain blocked and insulated,               c. For units having pump delay controls
                                             power involved in burner operation (PE),                and the stack restriction must remain in               that sense water temperature, operate the
                                             including energizing the ignition system,               place. On atmospheric systems with an                  pump for 15 minutes and record t+ as 15
                                             controls, gas valve or oil control valve, and           integral draft diverter or draft hood and              minutes. While the pump is operating,
                                             draft inducer, if applicable. For boilers, the          equipped with either an electromechanical              maintain the inlet water temperature and



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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                                2651

                                             flow rate at the same values as used during             provision of section 8.2.1.4, Electrical               RT,S = Ratio of the sum of combustion air and
                                             the steady-state test, as specified in sections         Supply, of ASHRAE 103–1993 shall apply in                   relief air mass flow rate to stoichiometric
                                             9.1 and 8.4.2.3 of ASHRAE 103–1993                      lieu of the corresponding provisions of IEC                 air mass flow rate
                                             (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3).               62301 at section 4.2, Test room, and the               tIG = Electrical interrupted ignition device
                                                d. For boilers that employ post-purge,               voltage specification of section 4.3, Power                 on-time, min.
                                             measure the length of the post-purge period             supply. Frequency shall be 60Hz. Clarifying            Ta,SS,X = TF,SS,X if flue gas temperature is
                                             with a stopwatch. Record the time from                  further, IEC 62301 section 4.4, Power                       measured, °F
                                             burner ‘‘OFF’’ to combustion blower ‘‘OFF’’             measurement instruments, and section 5,                   = TS,SS,X if stack gas temperature is
                                             (electrically de-energized) as tP. If tP is             Measurements, apply in lieu of ASHRAE                       measured, °F
                                             prescribed by the I&O manual or measured to             103–1993 section 6.10, Energy Flow Rate.               yIG = Ratio of electrical interrupted ignition
                                             be greater than 180 seconds, stop the                                                                               device on-time to average burner on-time
                                                                                                     Measure the wattage so that all possible
                                             combustion blower at 180 seconds and use                                                                       yP = Ratio of power burner combustion
                                                                                                     standby mode wattage for the entire
                                             that value for tP. Measure the flue gas                                                                             blower on-time to average burner on-
                                                                                                     appliance is recorded, not just the standby
                                             temperature by means of the thermocouple                                                                            time
                                             grid described in section 7.6 of ASHRAE                 mode wattage of a single auxiliary. Round the
                                                                                                     recorded standby power (PW,SB) to the second           ESO = Average annual electric standby mode
                                             103–1993 at the end of the post-purge period                                                                        and off mode energy consumption, in
                                             tP (TF,OFF(tP)) and at (3.75 + tP) minutes              decimal place, except for loads greater than
                                                                                                     or equal to 10W, which must be recorded to                  kilowatt-hours
                                             (TF,OFF(t3)) and (22.5 + tP) minutes (TF,OFF(t4))                                                              PW,OFF = Furnace or boiler off mode power,
                                             after the main burner shuts off. If the                 at least three significant figures.
                                                                                                                                                                 in watts
                                             measured tP is less than or equal to 30                    8.11.2 Off mode power measurement. If
                                                                                                                                                            PW,SB = Furnace or boiler standby mode
                                             seconds, record tP as 0 and conduct the cool-           the unit is equipped with an off switch or
                                                                                                                                                                 power, in watts
                                             down test as if there is no post-purge.                 there is an expected difference between off
                                                                                                     mode power and standby mode power,                        10.0 Calculation of derived results from
                                                8.8 Direct measurement of off-cycle losses
                                                                                                     measure off mode power (PW,OFF) in                     test measurements. Perform calculations as
                                             testing method. [Reserved.]
                                                8.9 Calculation options. The rate of the             accordance with the standby power                      specified in section 11 of ASHRAE 103–1993
                                             flue gas mass flow through the furnace and              procedures in IEC 62301 (incorporated by               (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3),
                                             the factors DP, DF, and DS are calculated by            reference, see § 430.3), except that section           except for sections 11.5.11.1, 11.5.11.2, and
                                             the equations in sections 11.6.1, 11.6.2,               8.5, Room Ambient Temperature, of                      appendices B and C; and as specified in
                                             11.6.3, 11.6.4, 11.7.1, and 11.7.2 of ASHRAE            ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                       sections 10.1 through 10.11 and Figure 1 of
                                             103–1993 (incorporated by reference, see                reference, see § 430.3) and the voltage                this appendix.
                                             § 430.3). On units whose design is such that                                                                      10.1 Annual fuel utilization efficiency.
                                                                                                     provision of section 8.2.1.4, Electrical
                                             there is no measurable airflow through the                                                                     The annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE)
                                                                                                     Supply, of ASHRAE 103–1993 shall apply in
                                             combustion chamber and heat exchanger                                                                          is as defined in sections 11.2.12 (non-
                                                                                                     lieu of the corresponding provisions of IEC
                                             when the burner(s) is (are) off (as determined                                                                 condensing systems), 11.3.12 (condensing
                                                                                                     62301 at section 4.2, Test room, and the
                                             by the optional test procedure in section 7.10                                                                 systems), 11.4.12 (non-condensing
                                                                                                     voltage specification of section 4.3, Power
                                             of this appendix), DF and DP may be set equal                                                                  modulating systems) and 11.5.12 (condensing
                                                                                                     supply. Frequency shall be 60Hz. Clarifying            modulating systems) of ASHRAE 103–1993
                                             to 0.05.                                                further, IEC 62301 section 4.4, Power
                                                8.10 Optional test procedures for                                                                           (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3),
                                                                                                     measurement instruments, and section 5,                except for the definition for the term EffyHS
                                             condensing furnaces and boilers that have no            Measurements, apply for this measurement
                                             off-period flue losses. For units that have                                                                    in the defining equation for AFUE. EffyHS is
                                                                                                     in lieu of ASHRAE 103–1993 section 6.10,               defined as:
                                             applied the test method in section 7.10 of              Energy Flow Rate. Measure the wattage so
                                             this appendix to determine that no                                                                             EffyHS = heating seasonal efficiency as
                                                                                                     that all possible off mode wattage for the
                                             measurable airflow exists through the                                                                               defined in sections 11.2.11 (non-
                                                                                                     entire appliance is recorded, not just the off
                                             combustion chamber and heat exchanger                                                                               condensing systems), 11.3.11
                                                                                                     mode wattage of a single auxiliary. If there
                                             during the burner off-period and having post-                                                                       (condensing systems), 11.4.11 (non-
                                                                                                     is no expected difference in off mode power                 condensing modulating systems) and
                                             purge periods of less than 5 seconds, the               and standby mode power, let PW,OFF = PW,SB,
                                             cool-down and heat-up tests specified in                                                                            11.5.11 (condensing modulating systems)
                                                                                                     in which case no separate measurement of off                of ASHRAE 103–1993, except that for
                                             sections 9.5 and 9.6 of ASHRAE 103–1993                 mode power is necessary. Round the
                                             (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3) may                                                                        condensing modulating systems sections
                                                                                                     recorded off mode power (PW,OFF) to the                     11.5.11.1 and 11.5.11.2 are replaced by
                                             be omitted. In lieu of conducting the cool-
                                                                                                     second decimal place, except for loads                      sections 10.2 and 10.3 of this appendix.
                                             down and heat-up tests, the tester may use
                                                                                                     greater than or equal to 10W, in which case                 EffyHS is based on the assumptions that
                                             the losses determined during the steady-state
                                                                                                     round the recorded value to at least three                  all weatherized warm air furnaces or
                                             test described in section 9.1 of ASHRAE 103–
                                                                                                     significant figures.                                        boilers are located outdoors, that non-
                                             1993 when calculating heating seasonal
                                                                                                        9.0 Nomenclature. Nomenclature                           weatherized warm air furnaces are
                                             efficiency, EffyHS.
                                                8.11 Measurement of electrical standby               includes the nomenclature specified in                      installed as isolated combustion systems,
                                             and off mode power.                                     section 10 of ASHRAE 103–1993                               and that non-weatherized boilers are
                                                8.11.1 Standby power measurement. With               (incorporated by reference, see § 430.3) and                installed indoors.
                                             all electrical auxiliaries of the furnace or            the following additional variables:                       10.2 Part-load efficiency at reduced fuel
                                             boiler not activated, measure the standby               Effmotor = Efficiency of power burner motor            input rate. If the option in section 8.10 of this
                                             power (PW,SB) in accordance with the                    PEIG = Electrical power to the interrupted             appendix is not employed, calculate the part-
                                             procedures in IEC 62301 (incorporated by                     ignition device, kW                               load efficiency at the reduced fuel input rate,
                                             reference, see § 430.3), except that section            RT,a = RT,F if flue gas is measured                    EffyU,R, for condensing furnaces and boilers
                                             8.5, Room Ambient Temperature, of                          = RT,S if stack gas is measured                     equipped with either step-modulating or two-
                                             ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                        RT,F = Ratio of combustion air mass flow rate          stage controls, expressed as a percent and
                                             reference, see § 430.3) and the voltage                      to stoichiometric air mass flow rate              defined as:
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                                             2652               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                               If the option in section 8.10 of this
                                             appendix is employed, calculate EffyU,R as
                                             follows:




                                             Where:                                                  LS,ON = value as defined in section 11.4.10.5            = 4.7 for boilers (other than finned-tube
                                             LL,A = value as defined in section 11.2.7 of                 of ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input                    boilers) intended to be installed outdoors
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                        rate,                                               = 1.0 for finned-tube boilers intended to be
                                                  reference, see § 430.3)                            LS,OFF = value as defined in section 11.4.10.6              installed outdoors
                                             LG = value as defined in section 11.3.11.1 of                of ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input                 = 0.5 for finned-tube boilers intended to be
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993, at reduced input                       rate,
                                                  rate,                                                                                                          installed in isolated combustion system
                                                                                                     LI,ON = value as defined in section 11.4.10.7               applications
                                             LC = value as defined in section 11.3.11.2 of                of ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input                                                                          LS,SS = value as defined in section 11.4.6 of
                                                                                                          rate,                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input
                                                  rate,
                                                                                                     LI,OFF = value as defined in section 11.4.10.8
                                             LJ = value as defined in section 11.4.8.1.1 of                                                                      rate,
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input                        of ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input
                                                                                                                                                            CS = value as defined in section 11.3.10.1 of
                                                  rate,                                                   rate,
                                                                                                     CJ = jacket loss factor and equal to:                       ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input
                                             tON = value as defined in section 11.4.9.11 of                                                                      rate.
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993,                                      = 0.0 for furnaces or boilers intended to be
                                             QP = pilot fuel input rate determined in                     installed indoors                                   10.3 Part-Load Efficiency at Maximum
                                                  accordance with section 9.2 of ASHRAE                 = 1.7 for furnaces intended to be installed         Fuel Input Rate. If the option in section 8.10
                                                  103–1993 in Btu/h,                                      as isolated combustion systems                    of this appendix is not employed, calculate
                                             QIN = value as defined in section 11.4.8.1.1               = 2.4 for boilers (other than finned-tube           the part-load efficiency at maximum fuel
                                                  of ASHRAE 103–1993,                                     boilers) intended to be installed as              input rate, EffyU,H, for condensing furnaces
                                             tOFF = value as defined in section 11.4.9.12                 isolated combustion systems                       and boilers equipped with two-stage controls,
                                                  of ASHRAE 103–1993 at reduced input                   = 3.3 for furnaces intended to be installed         expressed as a percent and defined as:
                                                  rate,                                                   outdoors




                                               If the option in section 8.10 of this
                                             appendix is employed, calculate EffyU,H as
                                             follows:




                                             Where:                                                  QIN = value as defined in section 11.4.8.1.1           CJ = value as defined in section 10.2 of this
                                             LL,A = value as defined in section 11.2.7 of                 of ASHRAE 103–1993,                                    appendix,
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                   tOFF = value as defined in section 11.4.9.12           LS,SS = value as defined in section 11.4.6 of
                                                  reference, see § 430.3),                                of ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input                    ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input
                                                                                                          rate,                                                  rate,
                                             LG = value as defined in section 11.3.11.1 of
                                                                                                     LS,ON = value as defined in section 11.4.10.5          CS = value as defined in section 11.4.10.1 of
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1 at maximum input rate,
                                                                                                                                                                 ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input
                                             LC = value as defined in section 11.3.11.2 of                of ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input
                                                                                                                                                                 rate.
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                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input                        rate,
                                                                                                     LS,OFF = value as defined in section 11.4.10.6           10.4 National average burner operating
                                                  rate,
                                                                                                                                                            hours, average annual fuel energy
                                             LJ = value as defined in section 11.4.8.1.1 of               of ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input
                                                                                                                                                            consumption, and average annual auxiliary
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                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input                        rate,
                                                                                                                                                            electrical energy consumption for gas or oil
                                                  rate,                                              LI,ON = value as defined in section 11.4.10.7          furnaces and boilers.
                                             tON = value as defined in section 11.4.9.11 of               of ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input                 10.4.1 National average number of burner
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993,                                        rate,                                             operating hours. For furnaces and boilers
                                             QP = pilot fuel input rate determined in                LI,OFF = value as defined in section 11.4.10.8         equipped with single-stage controls, the
                                                  accordance with section 9.2 of ASHRAE                   of ASHRAE 103–1993 at maximum input               national average number of burner operating
                                                                                                                                                                                                              ER15JA16.017</GPH>




                                                  103–1993 in Btu/h,                                      rate,                                             hours is defined as:



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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                             2653

                                             BOHSS = 2,080 (0.77) (A) DHR ¥ 2,080 (B)                   1 + (t+ ¥ t¥)/10 for two-stage and step               = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE Effmotor + yIG
                                             Where:                                                       modulating furnaces with fan delay;                   PEIG + y BE) R + (QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS], for
                                                                                                        1 + (t+/9.68) for single-stage boilers with             forced draft unit, isolated combustion
                                             2,080 = national average heating load hours
                                                                                                          pump delay;                                           system,
                                             0.77 = adjustment factor to adjust the
                                                                                                        1 + (t+/1.5) for two-stage and step                   = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE (1 ¥ Effmotor) +
                                                  calculated design heating requirement
                                                                                                          modulating boilers with pump delay.                   yIG PEIG + y BE) R + (QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS],
                                                  and heating load hours to the actual
                                                                                                     BE = circulating air fan or water pump                     for induced draft unit, indoors, and
                                                  heating load experienced by the heating
                                                                                                          electrical energy input rate at full-load           = 100,000/[341,300 (yIG PEIG + y BE) R +
                                                  system
                                                                                                          steady-state operation as defined in                  (QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS], for induced draft
                                             A = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE + yIG PEIG + y
                                                                                                          section 8.2 of this appendix.                         unit, isolated combustion system.
                                                  BE) + (QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS], for forced draft
                                                  unit, indoors                                      tP = post-purge time as defined in section 8.5         Where:
                                               = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE Effmotor + yIG                   (furnace) or section 8.7 (boiler) of this         Effmotor = nameplate power burner motor
                                                  PEIG + y BE) + (QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS], for                  appendix                                              efficiency provided by the manufacturer,
                                                  forced draft unit, isolated combustion                = 0 if tP is equal to or less than 30 second          = 0.50, an assumed default power burner
                                                  system,                                            tIG = on-time of the burner interrupted                    efficiency if not provided by the
                                               = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE (1 ¥ Effmotor) +                 ignition device, as defined in section 8.3            manufacturer.
                                                  yIG PEIG + y BE) + (QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS],                  of this appendix                                  EffyHS = as defined in 11.4.11.3 or 11.5.11.3
                                                  for induced draft unit, indoors, and               QIN = as defined in section 11.2.8.1 of                    of ASHRAE 103–1993, and calculated on
                                               = 100,000/[341,300 (yIG PEIG + y BE) + (QIN                ASHRAE 103–1993                                       the basis of:
                                                  ¥ QP) EffyHS], for induced draft unit,             QP = as defined in section 11.2.11 of                    isolated combustion system installation,
                                                  isolated combustion system.                             ASHRAE 103–1993                                       for non-weatherized warm air furnaces;
                                             DHR = typical design heating requirements as            EffyHS = as defined in section 11.2.11 (non-             indoor installation, for non-weatherized
                                                  listed in Table 8 (in kBtu/h) of ASHRAE                 condensing systems) or section 11.3.11.3              boilers; or
                                                  103–1993 (incorporated by reference, see                (condensing systems) of ASHRAE 103–                 outdoor installation, for furnaces and
                                                  § 430.3), using the proper value of QOUT                1993, percent, and calculated on the                  boilers that are weatherized.
                                                  defined in 11.2.8.1 of ASHRAE 103–                      basis of:                                         8,760 = total number of hours per year
                                                  1993.                                                 isolated combustion system installation,            4,600 = as defined in 11.4.12 of ASHRAE
                                             B = 2 QP (EffyHS) (A)/100,000                                for non-weatherized warm air furnaces;                103–1993
                                             Where:                                                     indoor installation, for non-weatherized              10.4.1.2 For furnaces and boilers
                                                                                                          boilers; or                                       equipped with two-stage or step-modulating
                                             Effmotor = nameplate power burner motor
                                                                                                        outdoor installation, for furnaces and              controls, the national average number of
                                                  efficiency provided by the manufacturer,
                                                                                                          boilers that are weatherized.                     burner operating hours at the reduced
                                               = 0.50, an assumed default power burner
                                                                                                     2 = ratio of the average length of the heating         operating mode (BOHR) is defined as:
                                                  efficiency if not provided by the
                                                  manufacturer.                                           season in hours to the average heating            BOHR = XR EM/QIN,R
                                             100,000 = factor that accounts for percent                   load hours                                        Where:
                                                  and kBtu                                           t+ = delay time between burner shutoff and
                                                                                                                                                            XR = as defined in 11.4.8.7 of ASHRAE 103–
                                             yP = ratio of induced or forced draft blower                 the blower or pump shutoff measured as
                                                                                                                                                                1993 (incorporated by reference, see
                                                  on-time to average burner on-time, as                   defined in section 9.5.1.2 of ASHRAE
                                                                                                                                                                § 430.3)
                                                  follows:                                                103–1993 (furnace) or section 8.7 of this
                                                                                                                                                            EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this
                                               1 for units without post-purge;                            appendix (boiler).
                                                                                                                                                                appendix
                                               1 + (tP/3.87) for single stage furnaces with          t¥ = as defined in section 9.6.1 of ASHRAE
                                                                                                                                                            QIN,R = as defined in 11.4.8.1.2 of ASHRAE
                                                  post purge;                                             103–1993
                                                                                                                                                                103–1993
                                               1 + (tP/10) for two-stage and step                       10.4.1.1 For furnaces and boilers
                                                                                                                                                              10.4.1.3 For furnaces and boilers
                                                  modulating furnaces with post purge;               equipped with two stage or step modulating             equipped with two-stage controls, the
                                               1 + (tP/9.68) for single stage boilers with           controls the average annual energy used                national average number of burner operating
                                                  post purge; or                                     during the heating season, EM, is defined as:          hours at the maximum operating mode
                                               1 + (tP/15) for two stage and step                    EM = (QIN ¥ QP) BOHSS + (8,760 ¥ 4,600)                (BOHH) is defined as:
                                                  modulating boilers with post purge.                     QP
                                             PE = all electrical power related to burner                                                                    BOHH = XH EM/QIN
                                                                                                     Where:                                                 Where:
                                                  operation at full load steady-state
                                                  operation, including electrical ignition           QIN = as defined in 11.4.8.1.1 of ASHRAE               XH = as defined in 11.4.8.6 of ASHRAE 103–
                                                  device if energized, controls, gas valve or             103–1993 (incorporated by reference, see              1993 (incorporated by reference, see
                                                  oil control valve, draft inducer, and                   § 430.3)                                              § 430.3)
                                                  boiler pump, as determined in section              QP = as defined in 11.4.12 of ASHRAE 103–              EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this
                                                  8.2 of this appendix.                                   1993                                                  appendix
                                             yIG = ratio of burner interrupted ignition              BOHSS = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this           QIN = as defined in section 11.4.8.1.1 of
                                                  device on-time to average burner on-                    appendix, in which the weighted EffyHS                ASHRAE 103–1993
                                                  time, as follows:                                       as defined in 11.4.11.3 or 11.5.11.3 of
                                                                                                                                                              10.4.1.4 For furnaces and boilers
                                               0 for burners not equipped with                            ASHRAE 103–1993 is used for
                                                                                                                                                            equipped with step-modulating controls, the
                                                  interrupted ignition device;                            calculating the values of A and B, the
                                                                                                                                                            national average number of burner operating
                                               (tIG/3.87) for single-stage furnaces or                    term DHR is based on the value of QOUT
                                                                                                                                                            hours at the modulating operating mode
                                                  boilers;                                                defined in 11.4.8.1.1 or 11.5.8.1.1 of
                                                                                                                                                            (BOHM) is defined as:
                                               (tIG/10) for two-stage and step modulating                 ASHRAE 103–1993, and the term (yPPE
                                                                                                          + yIGPEIG + yBE) in the factor A is               BOHM = XH EM/QIN,M
                                                  furnaces;
                                               (tIG/9.68) for single stage boilers; or                    increased by the factor R, which is               Where:
                                               (tIG/15) for two stage and step modulating                 defined as:                                       XH = as defined in 11.4.8.6 of ASHRAE 103–
                                                  boilers.                                           R = 2.3 for two stage controls                             1993 (incorporated by reference, see
                                             PEIG = electrical input rate to the interrupted            = 2.3 for step modulating controls when                 § 430.3)
                                                  ignition device on burner (if employed),                the ratio of minimum-to-maximum                   EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this
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                                                  as defined in section 8.3 of this appendix              output is greater than or equal to 0.5                appendix
                                             y = ratio of blower or pump on-time to                     = 3.0 for step modulating controls when             QIN,M = QOUT,M/(EffySS,M/100)
                                                  average burner on-time, as follows:                     the ratio of minimum-to-maximum                   QOUT,M = as defined in 11.4.8.10 or 11.5.8.10
                                               1 for furnaces without fan delay or boilers                output is less than 0.5                               of ASHRAE 103–1993, as appropriate
                                                  without a pump delay;                              A = 100,000/[341,300 (yP PE + yIG PEIG + y             EffySS,M = as defined in 11.4.8.8 or 11.5.8.8
                                               1 + (t+ ¥ t¥)/3.87 for single-stage furnaces               BE) R + (QIN ¥ QP) EffyHS], for forced                of ASHRAE 103–1993, as appropriate, in
                                                  with fan delay;                                         draft unit, indoors                                   percent



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                                             2654               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                             100 = factor that accounts for percent                  BER = as defined in section 8.2 of this                   10.6 Energy factor.
                                               10.4.2 Average annual fuel energy                          appendix and measured at the reduced                 10.6.1 Energy factor for gas or oil
                                             consumption for gas or oil fueled furnaces or                fuel input rate                                   furnaces and boilers. Calculate the energy
                                             boilers. For furnaces or boilers equipped with          BOHH = as defined in section 10.4.1.3 of this          factor, EF, for gas or oil furnaces and boilers
                                             single-stage controls, the average annual fuel               appendix                                          defined as, in percent:
                                             energy consumption (EF) is expressed in Btu             PEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this                EF = (EF ¥ 4,600 (QP))(EffyHS)/(EF + 3,412
                                             per year and defined as:                                     appendix and measured at the maximum                   (EAE))
                                                                                                          fuel input rate                                   Where:
                                             EF = BOHSS (QIN ¥ QP) + 8,760 QP
                                                                                                     BEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this
                                             Where:                                                                                                         EF = average annual fuel consumption as
                                                                                                          appendix and measured at the maximum
                                                                                                                                                                 defined in section 10.4.2 of this
                                             BOHSS = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                 fuel input rate
                                                                                                                                                                 appendix
                                                  appendix                                           ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this
                                                                                                                                                            4,600 = as defined in section 11.4.12 of
                                             QIN = as defined in section 11.2.8.1 of                      appendix
                                                                                                                                                                 ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                     10.4.3.2 For furnaces or boilers equipped                 reference, see § 430.3)
                                                  reference, see § 430.3)                            with step-modulating controls, EAE is defined          QP = pilot fuel input rate determined in
                                             QP = as defined in section 11.2.11 of                   as:                                                         accordance with section 9.2 of ASHRAE
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993                                    EAE = BOHR (yP PER + yIG PEIG + y BER) +                    103–1993 in Btu/h
                                             8,760 = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this               BOHM (yP PEH + yIG PEIG + y BEH) + ESO            EffyHS = annual fuel utilization efficiency as
                                                  appendix                                                                                                       defined in sections 11.2.11, 11.3.11,
                                                                                                     Where:
                                               10.4.2.1 For furnaces or boilers equipped                                                                         11.4.11 or 11.5.11 of ASHRAE 103–1993,
                                             with either two-stage or step modulating                BOHR = as defined in section 10.4.1.2 of this
                                                                                                                                                                 in percent, and calculated on the basis
                                             controls, EF is defined as:                                  appendix
                                                                                                                                                                 of:
                                                                                                     yP = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this
                                             EF = EM + 4,600 QP                                                                                                isolated combustion system installation,
                                                                                                          appendix                                               for non-weatherized warm air furnaces;
                                             Where:                                                  PER = as defined in section 8.2 of this                   indoor installation, for non-weatherized
                                             EM = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this                  appendix and measured at the reduced                   boilers; or
                                                  appendix                                                fuel input rate                                      outdoor installation, for furnaces and
                                             4,600 = as defined in section 11.4.12 of                yIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                  boilers that are weatherized.
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993                                         appendix                                          3,412 = conversion factor from kW to Btu/h
                                             QP = as defined in section 11.2.11 of                   PEIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this            EAE = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this
                                                  ASHRAE 103–1993                                         appendix                                               appendix
                                               10.4.3 Average annual auxiliary electrical            y = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this
                                                                                                          appendix                                             10.6.2 Energy factor for electric furnaces
                                             energy consumption for gas or oil-fueled                                                                       and boilers. The energy factor, EF, for electric
                                             furnaces or boilers. For furnaces and boilers           BER = as defined in section 8.2 of this
                                                                                                                                                            furnaces and boilers is defined as:
                                             equipped with single-stage controls, the                     appendix and measured at the reduced
                                                                                                          fuel input rate                                   EF = AFUE
                                             average annual auxiliary electrical
                                             consumption (EAE) is expressed in kilowatt-             BOHM = as defined in 10.4.1.4 of this                  Where:
                                             hours and defined as:                                        appendix                                          AFUE = annual fuel utilization efficiency as
                                                                                                     PEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this                     defined in section 10.4.3 of this
                                             EAE = BOHSS (yP PE + yIG PEIG + yBE) + ESO
                                                                                                          appendix and measured at the maximum                   appendix, in percent
                                             Where:                                                       fuel input rate                                      10.7 Average annual energy consumption
                                             BOHSS = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this            BEH = as defined in section 8.2 of this                for furnaces and boilers located in a different
                                                  appendix                                                appendix and measured at the maximum              geographic region of the United States and in
                                             yP = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                    fuel input rate                                   buildings with different design heating
                                                  appendix                                           ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this              requirements.
                                             PE = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                    appendix                                             10.7.1 Average annual fuel energy
                                                  appendix                                             10.5 Average annual electric energy                  consumption for gas or oil-fueled furnaces
                                             yIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this              consumption for electric furnaces or boilers.          and boilers located in a different geographic
                                                  appendix                                           For electric furnaces and boilers, the average         region of the United States and in buildings
                                             PEIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this             annual electrical energy consumption (EE) is           with different design heating requirements.
                                                  appendix                                           expressed in kilowatt-hours and defined as:            For gas or oil-fueled furnaces and boilers, the
                                             y = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                                                                       average annual fuel energy consumption for
                                                                                                     EE = 100 (2,080) (0.77) DHR/(3.412 AFUE) +
                                                  appendix                                                                                                  a specific geographic region and a specific
                                                                                                          ESO
                                             BE = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                                                                      typical design heating requirement (EFR) is
                                                  appendix                                           Where:
                                                                                                                                                            expressed in Btu per year and defined as:
                                             ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this               100 = to express a percent as a decimal
                                                                                                                                                            EFR = (EF ¥ 8,760 QP) (HLH/2,080) + 8,760
                                                  appendix                                           2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this
                                                                                                                                                                 QP
                                               10.4.3.1 For furnaces or boilers equipped                  appendix
                                                                                                     0.77 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this            Where:
                                             with two-stage controls, EAE is defined as:
                                                                                                          appendix                                          EF = as defined in section 10.4.2 of this
                                             EAE = BOHR (yP PER + yIG PEIG + yBER) +                                                                             appendix
                                                                                                     DHR = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this
                                                  BOHH (yP PEH + yIG PEIG + y BEH) + ESO                                                                    8,760 = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this
                                                                                                          appendix
                                             Where:                                                  3.412 = conversion factor from watt-hours to                appendix
                                             BOHR = as defined in section 10.4.1.2 of this                Btu                                               QP = as defined in section 11.2.11 of
                                                  appendix                                           AFUE = as defined in section 11.1 of                        ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by
                                             yP = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                    ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by                       reference, see § 430.3)
                                                  appendix                                                reference, see § 430.3), in percent, and          HLH = heating load hours for a specific
                                             PER = as defined in section 8.2 of this                      calculated on the basis of:                            geographic region determined from the
                                                  appendix and measured at the reduced                 isolated combustion system installation,                  heating load hour map in Figure 1 of this
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                                                  fuel input rate                                         for non-weatherized warm air furnaces;                 appendix
                                             yIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                indoor installation, for non-weatherized             2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this
                                                  appendix                                                boilers; or                                            appendix
                                             PEIG = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this               outdoor installation, for furnaces and                  10.7.2 Average annual auxiliary electrical
                                                  appendix                                                boilers that are weatherized.                     energy consumption for gas or oil-fueled
                                             y = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this              furnaces and boilers located in a different
                                                  appendix                                                appendix.                                         geographic region of the United States and in



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                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                               2655

                                             buildings with different design heating                 10.4.1 of this appendix, except that the value         2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this
                                             requirements. For gas or oil-fueled furnaces            of EffyHS in the calculation of the burner                  appendix
                                             and boilers, the average annual auxiliary               operating hours, BOHSS, is calculated on the             10.10 Direct determination of off-cycle
                                             electrical energy consumption for a specific            basis of a direct vent unit with system                losses for furnaces and boilers equipped with
                                             geographic region and a specific typical                number 9 or 10.                                        thermal stack dampers. [Reserved.]
                                             design heating requirement (EAER) is                      10.8.2 Average annual fuel energy for                  10.11 Average annual electrical standby
                                             expressed in kilowatt-hours and defined as:             mobile home furnaces (EF). EF is same as in            mode and off mode energy consumption.
                                             EAER = (EAE ¥ ESO) (HLH/2080) + ESOR                    section 10.4.2 of this appendix except that
                                                                                                                                                            Calculate the annual electrical standby mode
                                             Where:                                                  the burner operating hours, BOHSS, is
                                                                                                                                                            and off mode energy consumption (ESO) in
                                                                                                     calculated as specified in section 10.8.1 of
                                             EAE = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this                                                                     kilowatt-hours, defined as:
                                                                                                     this appendix.
                                                  appendix                                             10.8.3 Average annual auxiliary electrical           ESO = (PW,SB (4160 ¥ BOH) + 4600 PW,OFF)
                                             ESO = as defined in section 10.11 of this               energy consumption for mobile home                          K
                                                  appendix                                                                                                  Where:
                                                                                                     furnaces (EAE). EAE is the same as in section
                                             HLH = as defined in section 10.7.1 of this
                                                                                                     10.4.3 of this appendix, except that the               PW,SB = furnace or boiler standby mode
                                                  appendix
                                                                                                     burner operating hours, BOHSS, is calculated                power, in watts, as measured in section
                                             2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this
                                                                                                     as specified in section 10.8.1 of this                      8.11.1 of this appendix
                                                  appendix
                                                                                                     appendix.                                              4,160 = average heating season hours per year
                                             ESOR = as defined in section 10.7.3 of this
                                                                                                       10.9 Calculation of sales weighted                   BOH = total burner operating hours as
                                                  appendix.
                                                                                                     average annual energy consumption for                       calculated in section 10.4 of this
                                               10.7.3 Average annual electric energy                 mobile home furnaces. To reflect the
                                             consumption for electric furnaces and boilers                                                                       appendix for gas or oil-fueled furnaces or
                                                                                                     distribution of mobile homes to geographical                boilers. Where for gas or oil-fueled
                                             located in a different geographic region of the         regions with average HLHMHF values different
                                             United States and in buildings with different                                                                       furnaces and boilers equipped with
                                                                                                     from 2,080, adjust the annual fossil fuel and               single-stage controls, BOH = BOHSS; for
                                             design heating requirements. For electric               auxiliary electrical energy consumption
                                             furnaces and boilers, the average annual                                                                            gas or oil-fueled furnaces and boilers
                                                                                                     values for mobile home furnaces using the
                                             electric energy consumption for a specific                                                                          equipped with two-stage controls, BOH =
                                                                                                     following adjustment calculations.
                                             geographic region and a specific typical                                                                            (BOHR + BOHH); and for gas or oil-fueled
                                                                                                        10.9.1 For mobile home furnaces, the
                                             design heating requirement (EER) is expressed           sales weighted average annual fossil fuel                   furnaces and boilers equipped with step-
                                             in kilowatt-hours and defined as:                       energy consumption is expressed in Btu per                  modulating controls, BOH = (BOHR +
                                             EER = 100 (0.77) DHR HLH/(3.412 AFUE) +                 year and defined as:                                        BOHM). For electric furnaces and boilers,
                                                  ESOR                                               EF,MHF = (EF ¥ 8,760 QP) HLHMHF/2,080 +                     BOH = 100(2080)(0.77)DHR/(Ein
                                                                                                          8,760 QP                                               3.412(AFUE))
                                             Where:
                                                                                                                                                            4,600 = as defined in section 11.4.12 of
                                             100 = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this              Where:                                                      ASHRAE 103–1993 (incorporated by
                                                  appendix                                           EF = as defined in section 10.8.2 of this                   reference, see § 430.3)
                                             0.77 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                  appendix                                          PW,OFF = furnace or boiler off mode power,
                                                  appendix                                           8,760 = as defined in section 10.4.1.1 of this              in watts, as measured in section 8.11.2
                                             DHR = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this                   appendix                                               of this appendix
                                                  appendix                                           QP = as defined in section 10.2 of this                K = 0.001 kWh/Wh, conversion factor from
                                             HLH = as defined in section 10.7.1 of this                   appendix                                               watt-hours to kilowatt-hours
                                                  appendix                                           HLHMHF = 1880, sales weighted average
                                             3.412 = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this                                                                   Where:
                                                                                                          heating load hours for mobile home
                                                  appendix                                                furnaces                                          100 = to express a percent as a decimal
                                             AFUE = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this             2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this           2,080 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this
                                                  appendix                                                appendix                                               appendix
                                             ESOR = ESO as defined in section 10.11 of this                                                                 0.77 = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this
                                                                                                       10.9.2 For mobile home furnaces, the
                                                  appendix, except that in the equation for                                                                      appendix
                                                                                                     sales-weighted-average annual auxiliary
                                                  ESO, the term BOH is multiplied by the                                                                    DHR = as defined in section 10.4.1 of this
                                                                                                     electrical energy consumption is expressed in
                                                  expression (HLH/2080) to get the                                                                               appendix
                                                                                                     kilowatt-hours and defined as:
                                                  appropriate regional accounting of                                                                        Ein = steady-state electric rated power, in
                                                  standby mode and off mode loss.                    EAE,MHF = EAE HLHMHF/2,080                                  kilowatts, from section 9.3 of ASHRAE
                                               10.8 Annual energy consumption for                    Where:                                                      103–1993
                                             mobile home furnaces                                    EAE = as defined in section 10.8.3 of this             3.412 = as defined in section 10.4.3 of this
                                               10.8.1 National average number of burner                   appendix                                               appendix
                                             operating hours for mobile home furnaces                HLHMHF = as defined in section 10.9.1 of this          AFUE = as defined in section 11.1 of
                                             (BOHSS). BOHSS is the same as in section                     appendix                                               ASHRAE 103–1993 in percent
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                                             2656               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2016 / Rules and Regulations




                                             [FR Doc. 2016–00040 Filed 1–14–16; 8:45 am]
                                             BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
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                                                                                                                                                                             ER15JA16.018</GPH>




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Document Created: 2018-02-02 12:32:07
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 12:32:07
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThe effective date of this rule is February 16, 2016. The final rule changes will be mandatory for representations made on or after July 13, 2016. The incorporation by reference of certain material listed in this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of February 16, 2016.
ContactMs. Ashley Armstrong, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-6590. Email: [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 2628 
RIN Number1904-AC79
CFR Citation10 CFR 429
10 CFR 430
CFR AssociatedConfidential Business Information; Energy Conservation; Household Appliances; Imports; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Administrative Practice and Procedure; Incorporation by Reference; Intergovernmental Relations and Small Businesses

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