[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22538]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 13, 1994]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Public Buildings Service

41 CFR Part 101-20

RIN 3090-AF50

 

Energy Conservation

AGENCY: Public Buildings Service, General Services Administration.

ACTION: Proposed Rule.

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SUMMARY: Since the mid-1970's, the General Services Administration has 
imposed rigid building temperature and air circulation standards in the 
buildings it owns and manages. These standards were established to 
promote energy conservation without appropriate attention to occupant 
comfort and productivity. The results of a recent survey of GSA's 
building occupants showed a low customer satisfaction in the areas of 
building temperatures and indoor air quality. These results, plus the 
introduction of new building energy technologies which provide energy 
conservation without diminution of comfort and service to building 
occupants, allow GSA to eliminate rigid temperature standards.
    This proposed rule will eliminate operating standards and allow for 
building temperatures to be maintained in a manner satisfactory to 
users and consistent with local commercial practices. In addition, it 
will delete the minimum ventilation rate and replace it with the 
ventilation standards specified by the American Society of Heating, 
Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE Standard 62 
Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality). This will improve 
temperature comfort levels, ventilation, and the indoor air quality of 
buildings. This will, in turn, improve customer satisfaction and 
productivity.

DATES: Comments are due on or before November 14, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: General Services 
Administration, Public Buildings Service, Office of Real Property 
Management and Safety, Washington, DC 20405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jim Carelock, Office of Real Property Management and Safety, 
Washington, DC 20405, (202) 501-1563.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 12862--Setting Customer 
Service Standards. Executive Order 12862 states that in order to carry 
out the principles of the National Performance Review, the Federal 
Government must be customer-driven. GSA, in an effort to become more 
customer driven, seeks to improve customer satisfaction, by changing 
regulations that have a direct effect on three areas of low customer 
satisfaction. GSA's customers, building tenants, have indicated by 
their responses to customer surveys that they have very low 
satisfaction levels for the following: ventilation, 42 percent 
satisfied; indoor air quality, 44 percent satisfied; summer 
temperature, 53 percent satisfied; and winter temperature, 56 percent 
satisfied.
    The two sections of the Federal Property Management Regulations 
(FPMR) addressed in this proposal mandate space temperatures and 
ventilation rates that contribute to low customer satisfaction. These 
changes will permit the Buildings Managers to control building 
temperatures and mandate adherence to the latest air ventilation 
guidelines. On April 11, 1994 the Administrator of GSA granted a class 
deviation for the two sections of the FPMR. This action made the 
changes recommended in this proposed rule effective immediately for GSA 
buildings.

Executive Order 12866

    The General Services Administration (GSA) has determined that this 
rule is not a significant regulatory action for the purposes of 
Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    GSA has determined that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 41 CFR Part 101-20

    Blind, Safety, Concessions, Crime, Federal buildings and 
facilities, Fire Prevention, Government property management, Security 
measures.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, it is proposed to amend 41 
CFR Part 101-20 as follows:

PART 101-20--MANAGEMENT OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

    1. The authority citation for Part 101-20 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 205(c), 63 Stat. 390; 40 U.S.C. 486(c).

SUBPART 101-20.1--BUILDING OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, PROTECTION, AND 
ALTERATIONS

    2. Section 101-20.107 is amended by revising paragraph (c) (1) and 
paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec. 101-20.107  Energy conservation.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) To the maximum extent practicable, temperatures will be 
maintained to maximize customer satisfaction by conforming to local 
commercial equivalent temperature levels and operating practices. GSA 
will seek to minimize energy use while operating its buildings in this 
manner. During non-working hours, heating temperatures shall be set no 
higher than 55 degrees Fahrenheit and air-conditioning will not be 
provided except as necessary to return space temperatures to a suitable 
level for the beginning of working hours.
* * * * *
    (e) During working hours in periods of heating and cooling, provide 
ventilation in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 62, Ventilation for 
Acceptable Indoor Air Quality where practical in light of building 
structure, system capacity or other factors relevant to individual 
facilities. Where compliance with this ASHRAE standard is not 
practical, provide the maximum practicable amount of ventilation during 
periods of heating and cooling and pursue opportunities to increase 
ventilation up to the applicable ASHRAE standard.
* * * * *
    Dated: June 2, 1994.
David L. Bibb,
Assistant Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 94-22538 Filed 9-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-23-M