[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4022]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 23, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
[Case No. F-067]

 

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

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Today's notice publishes a letter granting an Interim Waiver 
to Goodman Manufacturing Company (Goodman) from the existing Department 
of Energy (DOE) test procedure regarding blower time delay for the 
company's GMN series central furnaces.
    Today's notice also publishes a ``Petition for Waiver'' from 
Goodman. Goodman's Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief 
from the DOE furnace test procedure relating to the blower time delay 
specification. Goodman seeks to test using a blower delay time of 40 
seconds for its GMN series central furnaces instead of the specified 
1.5-minute delay between on-time and blower on-time. The Department is 
soliciting comments, data, and information respecting the Petition for 
Waiver.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than 
March 25, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department 
of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Case No. 
F-067, Mail Stop EE-43, room 5E-066, Forrestal Building, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7140.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cyrus H. Nasseri, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-431, Forrestal 
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 
586-7140.
Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General 
Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program for Consumer 
Products (other than automobiles) was established pursuant to the 
Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), Public Law 94-163, 89 Stat. 
917, as amended by the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA), 
Public Law 95-619, 92 Stat. 3266, the National Appliance Energy 
Conservation Act of 1987 (NAECA), Public Law 100-12, the National 
Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments of 1988 (NAECA 1988), Public 
Law 100-357, and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), Public Law 102-
486, 106 Stat. 2776, which requires DOE to prescribe standardized test 
procedures to measure the energy consumption of certain consumer 
products, including furnaces. The intent of the test procedures is to 
provide a comparable measure of energy consumption that will assist 
consumers in making purchasing decisions. These test procedures appear 
at 10 CFR part 430, Subpart B.
    The Department amended the prescribed test procedures by adding 10 
CFR 430.27 on September 26, 1980, creating the waiver process. 45 FR 
64108. Thereafter, DOE further amended the appliance test procedure 
waiver process to allow the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver 
from test procedure requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned 
DOE for a waiver of such prescribed test procedures. 51 FR 42823, 
November 26, 1986.
    The waiver process allows the Assistant Secretary to waive, 
temporarily, test procedures for a particular basic model when a 
petitioner shows that the basic model contains one or more design 
characteristics which prevent testing according to the prescribed test 
procedures, or when the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the 
basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy 
consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data. 
Waivers generally remain in effect until final test procedure 
amendments become effective, resolving the problem that is the subject 
of the waiver.
    The Interim Waiver provisions added by the 1986 amendment allow the 
Secretary to grant an Interim Waiver when it is determined that the 
applicant will experience economic hardship if the Application for 
Interim Waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the Petition for 
Waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that 
it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate 
relief pending a determination on the Petition for Waiver. An Interim 
Waiver remains in effect for a period of 180 days or until DOE issues 
its determination on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and 
may be extended for an additional 180 days, if necessary.
    On November 29, 1993, Goodman filed an Application for Interim 
Waiver regarding blower time delay. Goodman's Application seeks an 
Interim Waiver from the DOE test provisions that require a 1.5-minute 
time delay between the ignition of the burner and starting of the 
circulating air blower. Instead, Goodman requests the allowance to test 
using a 40-second blower time delay when testing its GMN series central 
furnaces. Goodman states that the 40-second delay is indicative of how 
these furnaces actually operate. Such a delay results in an energy 
savings of 0.6 to 1.0 percent. Since current DOE test procedures do not 
address this variable blower time delay, Goodman asks that the Interim 
Waiver be granted.
    The Department has published a notice of Proposed Rulemaking on 
August 23, 1993, (58 FR 44583) to amend the furnace test procedure, 
which addresses the above issue.
    Previous waivers for this type of time blower delay control have 
been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18, 1985; 
Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem Manufacturing 
Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 56 FR 2920, January 25, 1991, 
57 FR 10166, March 24, 1992, and 57 FR 34560, August 5, 1992; Trane 
Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989, 56 FR 6021, February 14, 1991, 57 FR 
10167, March 24, 1992, and 57 FR 22222, May 27, 1992; Lennox 
Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5, 1990, and 57 FR 49700, November 3, 
1992; Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 FR 51487, December 14, 1990, 
and 56 FR 63945, December 6, 1991; DMO Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 
5, 1991; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 56 FR 6019, February 14, 1991; 
Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018, February 14, 1991, and 57 FR 38830, 
August 27, 1992; Amana Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958, June 18, 1991, 
56 FR 63940, December 6, 1991, and 57 FR 23392, June 3, 1992; Snyder 
General Corporation, 56 FR 54960, September 9, 1991; Goodman 
Manufacturing Corporation, 56 FR 51713, October 15, 1991, and 57 FR 
27970, June 23, 1992; The Ducane Company Inc., 56 FR 63943, December 6, 
1991, and 57 FR 10163, March 24, 1992; Armstrong Air Conditioning, 
Inc., 57 FR 899, January 9, 1992, 57 FR 10160, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 
10161, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 39193, August 28, 1992, and 57 FR 54230, 
November 17, 1992; Thermo Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 9, 1992; 
Consolidated Industries Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27, 1992; Evcon 
Industries, Inc., 57 FR 47847, October 20, 1992; and Bard Manufacturing 
Company, 57 FR 53733, November 12, 1992. Thus, it appears likely that 
the Petition for Waiver will be granted for blower time delay.
    In those instances where the likely success of the Petition for 
Waiver has been demonstrated based upon DOE having granted a waiver for 
a similar product design, it is in the public interest to have similar 
products tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable basis.
    Therefore, based on the above, DOE is granting Goodman an Interim 
Waiver for its GMN series central furnaces. Pursuant to paragraph (e) 
of Section 430.27 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 430, the 
following letter granting the Application for Interim Waiver to Goodman 
was issued.
    Pursuant to paragraph (b) of 10 CFR part 430.27, DOE is hereby 
publishing the ``Petition for Waiver'' in its entirety. The petition 
contains no confidential information. The Department solicits comments, 
data, and information respecting the petition.

    Issued in Washington, DC, February 10, 1994.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
February 14, 1994.

Mr. Peter H. Alexander,
Vice President of Engineering, Goodman Manufacturing Company, 1501 
Seamist, Houston, Texas 77008.

    Dear Mr. Alexander: This is in response to your November 29, 
1993, Application for Interim Waiver and Petition for Waiver from 
the Department of Energy (DOE) test procedure regarding blower time 
delay for Goodman Manufacturing Company (Goodman) GMN series central 
furnaces.
    Previous waivers for this type of timed blower delay control 
have been granted by DOE to Coleman Company, 50 FR 2710, January 18, 
1985; Magic Chef Company, 50 FR 41553, October 11, 1985; Rheem 
Manufacturing Company, 53 FR 48574, December 1, 1988, 56 FR 2920, 
January 25, 1991, 57 FR 10166, March 24, 1992, and 57 FR 34560, 
August 5, 1992; Trane Company, 54 FR 19226, May 4, 1989, 56 FR 6021, 
February 14, 1991, 57 FR 10167, March 24, 1992, and 57 FR 22222, May 
27, 1992; Lennox Industries, 55 FR 50224, December 5, 1990, and 57 
FR 49700, November 3, 1992; Inter-City Products Corporation, 55 FR 
51487, December 14, 1990, and 56 FR 63945, December 6, 1991; DMO 
Industries, 56 FR 4622, February 5, 1991; Heil-Quaker Corporation, 
56 FR 6019, February 14, 1991; Carrier Corporation, 56 FR 6018, 
February 14, 1991, and 57 FR 38830, August 27, 1992; Amana 
Refrigeration Inc., 56 FR 27958, June 18, 1991, 56 FR 63940, 
December 6, 1991, and 57 FR 23392, June 3, 1992; Snyder General 
Corporation, 56 FR 54960, September 9, 1991; Goodman Manufacturing 
Corporation, 56 FR 51713, October 15, 1991, and 57 FR 27970, June 
23, 1992; The Ducane Company Inc., 56 FR 63943, December 6, 1991, 
and 57 FR 10163, March 24, 1992; Armstrong Air Conditioning, Inc., 
57 FR 899, January 9, 1992, 57 FR 10160, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 
10161, March 24, 1992, 57 FR 39193, August 28, 1992, and 57 FR 
54230, November 17, 1992; Thermo Products, Inc., 57 FR 903, January 
9, 1992; Consolidated Industries Corporation, 57 FR 22220, May 27, 
1992; Evcon Industries, Inc., 57 FR 47847, October 20, 1992; and 
Bard Manufacturing Company, 57 FR 53733, November 12, 1992. Thus, it 
appears likely that the Petition for Waiver will be granted for 
blower time delay.
    Goodman's Application for Interim Waiver does not provide 
sufficient information to evaluate what, if any, economic impact or 
competitive disadvantage Goodman will likely experience absent a 
favorable determination on its application. However, in those 
instances where the likely success of the Petition for Waiver has 
been demonstrated, based upon DOE having granted a waiver for a 
similar product design, it is in the public interest to have similar 
products tested and rated for energy consumption on a comparable 
basis.
    Goodman shall be permitted to test its GMN series central 
furnaces on the basis of the test procedures specified in 10 CFR 
Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix N, with the modification set forth 
below:
    (i) Section 3.0 in Appendix N is deleted and replaced with the 
following paragraph:
    3.0 Test Procedure. Testing and measurements shall be as 
specified in Section 9 in ANSI/ASHRAE 103-82 with the exception of 
Sections 9.2.2, 9.3.1, and 9.3.2, and the inclusion of the following 
additional procedures:
    (ii) Add a new paragraph 3.10 in Appendix N as follows:
    3.10 Gas- and Oil-Fueled Central Furnaces. After equilibrium 
conditions are achieved following the cool-down test and the 
required measurements performed, turn on the furnace and measure the 
flue gas temperature, using the thermocouple grid described above, 
at 0.5 and 2.5 minutes after the main burner(s) comes on. After the 
burner start-up, delay the blower start-up by 1.5 minutes (t-) 
unless: (1) The furnace employs a single motor to drive the power 
burner and the indoor air circulation blower, in which case the 
burner and blower shall be started together; or (2) the furnace is 
designed to operate using an unvarying delay time that is other than 
1.5 minutes, in which case the fan control shall be permitted to 
start the blower; or (3) the delay time results in the activation of 
a temperature safety device which shuts off the burner, in which 
case the fan control shall be permitted to start the blower. In the 
latter case, if the fan control is adjustable, set it to start the 
blower at the highest temperature. If the fan control is permitted 
to start the blower, measure time delay (t-) using a stop watch. 
Record the measured temperatures. During the heat-up test for oil-
fueled furnaces, maintain the draft in the flue pipe within 
0.01 inch of water column of the manufacturer's 
recommended on-period draft.
    This Interim Waiver is based upon the presumed validity of 
statements and all allegations submitted by the company. This 
Interim Waiver may be removed or modified at any time upon a 
determination that the factual basis underlying the application is 
incorrect.
    The Interim Waiver shall remain in effect for a period of 180 
days or until DOE acts on the Petition for Waiver, whichever is 
sooner, and may be extended for an additional 180-day period, if 
necessary.
        Sincerely,
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
November 29, 1993.

Assistant Secretary, Conversation and Renewable Energy,
United States Department of Energy,
1000 Independence Ave., SW.,
Washington, DC 20585.

Re: Petition for Waiver and Application for Interim Waiver.

    Gentlemen: This is a Petition for Waiver and Application for 
interim Waiver submitted pursuant to Title 10 CFR 430.27. Waiver is 
requested from the test procedure for measuring Furnace Energy 
Consumption as found in Appendix H to Subpart B of part 430.
    The current test procedure requires a 1.5 minute delay between 
burner ignition and the start of the circulating air blower. Goodman 
Manufacturing Co., L.P. is requesting waiver and authorization to 
use a 40 second delay instead of the specified 1.5 minutes for the 
blower to start after main burner ignition. Goodman Manufacturing 
intends to use a fixed timing control on our GMN series central 
furnaces to gain additional energy savings that are achieved with 
the use of shorter blower on times.
    Test data for these furnaces with a 40 second delay indicated an 
increase in AFUE of 0.6 to 1.0 percentage points. The use of a 40 
second delay reduces the appliance flue losses and therefore 
increases the furnace efficiency. Copies of confidential test data 
confirming this energy savings will be provided to you at your 
request.
    The current test procedure does not give Goodman Manufacturing 
credit for energy savings that can be obtained using fixed blower 
timings. The proposed ASRAE 103-1988 that is under consideration by 
DOE address the use of timed blower operation.
    Goodman Manufacturing is confident that this Waiver will be 
granted, and therefore we request an Interim Waiver be granted until 
a final ruling is made. Goodman, as well as other manufacturers of 
domestic furnaces, have been granted similar waivers.
    Manufacturers that domestically market similar products have 
been sent a copy of this Petition for Waiver and Application for 
Interim Waiver.
        Sincerely,
Goodman Manufacturing Co., L.P.,

Peter H. Alexander,
Vice President of Engineering.
[FR Doc. 94-4022 Filed 2-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P-M