# Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps; Correction

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A2021-25539

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Rule
- **Published:** December 2, 2021
- **Citation:** 86 FR 68389

## Text

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Parts 429 and 430
[EERE-2016-BT-TP-0029]
RIN 1904-AD71
Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps; Correction

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule; correcting amendments.

SUMMARY:

On January 5, 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) published a final rule that made two sets of amendments to the test procedure for central air conditioners and heat pumps (“CAC/HPs”): amendments to the existing test procedure required for determining compliance with the current energy conservation standards; and establishment of a new test procedure that would be the basis for making efficiency representations as of the compliance date for any amended energy conservation standards. This document corrects typographical errors, omissions, and incorrect cross-references in the Code of Federal Regulations that resulted from the January 2017 final rule. Neither the errors nor the corrections in this document affect the substance of the rulemaking or any conclusions reached in support of the final rule.

DATES:

Effective December 2, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Catherine Rivest, 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) 586-7335. Email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov.

Mr. Peter 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:
Peter.Cochran@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

On January 5, 2017, DOE published a final rule regarding the Federal test procedure for central air conditioner and heat pumps. 82 FR 1426 (“January 2017 final rule”). The January 2017 final rule amended the test procedure for central air conditioners and heat pumps at title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (“CFR”) part 430 subpart B appendix M (“Appendix M”) and established a new test procedure at 10 CFR part 430 subpart B appendix M1 (“Appendix M1”). 82 FR 1426. Appendix M provides for the measurement of the cooling and heating performance of central air conditioners and heat pumps using the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (“SEER”) metric and heating seasonal performance factor (“HSPF”) metric, respectively. Appendix M1 specifies a revised SEER metric (“SEER2”) and a revised HSPF metric (“HSPF2”). The test procedures as amended and established in the January 2107 final rule for central air conditioners and heat pumps include a number of typographical errors, omissions, and incorrect cross-references, which may result in confusion in executing the test procedures. The errors and corrections are summarized in the Table I.1.

Table 1.1—Summary of Errors and Corrections

CFR section(s)
Description of error and correction
Rationale

10 CFR 429.16(a)(1)

Corrects cross-references regarding represented values related to multi-split systems, multi-circuit systems, and multi-head mini-split systems by:
(1) Replacing “(c)(3)(ii)” with “(c)(3)(iii)”.
(2) Replacing “Additional representations are allowed, as described in paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this section.” with “Additional representations are allowed, as described in paragraphs (c)(3)(i) and (c)(3)(ii) of this section.”.

Cross-references did not get updated when the January 2017 final rule added 10 CFR 429.16(c)(3)(i).

10 CFR 429.16(f)(1)(i)(B), 10 CFR 429.16(f)(2)(ii)(A), and 10 CFR 429.16(f)(4)(i)(B)
Removes the language “(b)(3)(i)(C)” and “(b)(3)(i)(B) and replaces with “(b)(3)(iii)” and “(b)(3)(ii)”, respectively
Transcription error—cross-references not properly updated.

Paragraph a of Section 3.6.4 of Appendix M and Paragraph a of Section 3.6.4 of appendix M1

Corrects the instruction regarding compressor speed for the H1
N
heating mode test

Instructions for compressor speed limitations for H1
N
test incorrectly incorporated.

Paragraphs b and c of Section 3.6.6 of appendix M
Corrects incorrect references to HSPF2 in appendix M. HSPF2 is associated with appendix M1. The revision corrects the reference to “HSPF”
Reference inadvertently made to HSPF2 rather than HSPF.

Section 4.1.3.2 and Section 4.1.4.2 of appendix M

Inserts missing inequalities in the titles, revising “Q

c
k=1
(T
j
) BL(T
j
) Q

c

k=2

(T
j
),” to read “Q

c
k=1
(T
j
) T
cc
” to “T
o
(T
j
) T
CC
,” and adding in its place “where T
o
(T
j
) T
CC
,” and adding in its place ” T
o
(T
j
) <T
CC
,”;

h. In section 4.2.5.2, in the “Case 1” paragraph, by removing “3.1.9” and adding in its place “3.1.10”;

i. In section 4.2.5.3, in the “Case 1” paragraph, by removing “3.1.9” and adding in its place “3.1.10” and in the “Case 2” paragraph by removing “For outdoor bin temperatures where T
o
k=1
(T
j
) T
CC
, determine Q

h
k=1
(T
j
) and E

h
k=1
(T
j
) using” and adding in its place and “For outdoor bin temperatures where T
o
k=1
(T
j
) < T
CC,
determine Q

h
k=1
(T
j
) and E

h
k=1
(T
j
) using”;

j. In paragraph c. of section 4.2.6, by removing “Q

h
k=2
(5)” and adding in its place “Q

h
k=3
(5)”;

k. In section 4.2.6.2, in the heading, by removing “BL(Tj) < Q

h
k=2
(Tj)” and adding in its place “BL(T
j
) ≤ Q

h
k=2
(T
j
)”; and

l. In section 4.2.6.3, in the heading, by removing “Heat Pump Only Operates at High (k=3)” and adding in its place “Heat Pump Only Operates at Booster (k=3)”.
The revisions read as follows:

Appendix M1 to Subpart B of Part 430—Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

1. * * *

1.2 * * *

Minimum-speed-limiting variable-speed heat pump
means a heat pump for which the compressor minimum speed (represented by revolutions per minute or motor power input frequency) is higher than its minimum value for operation in a 47 °F ambient temperature for any bin temperature T
j
for which the calculated heating load is less than the calculated intermediate-speed capacity.

3. * * *

3.6 * * *

3.6.4
Tests for a Heat Pump Having a Variable-Speed Compressor

a. Conduct one maximum temperature test (H0
1
), two high temperature tests (H1
N
and H1
1
), one frost accumulation test (H2
V
), and one low temperature test (H3
2
). Conducting one or more of the following tests is optional: An additional high temperature test (H1
2
), an additional frost accumulation test (H2
2
), and a very low temperature test (H4
2
). Conduct the optional high temperature cyclic (H1C
1
) test to determine the heating mode cyclic-degradation coefficient, C
D
h
. If this optional test is conducted but yields a tested C
D
h
that exceeds the default C
D
h
or if the optional test is not conducted, assign C
D
h
the default value of 0.25. Test conditions for the nine tests are specified in Table 14. The compressor shall operate at the same heating full speed, measured by RPM or power input frequency (Hz), as the maximum speed at which the system controls would operate the compressor in normal operation in 17 °F ambient temperature, for the H1
2
, H2
2
and H3
2
Tests. The compressor shall operate for the H1
N
test at the maximum speed at which the system controls would operate the compressor in normal operation in 47 °F ambient temperature. Additionally, for a cooling/heating heat pump, the compressor shall operate for the H1
N
test at a speed, measured by RPM or power input frequency (Hz), no lower than the speed used in the A2 test if the tested H1
N
heating capacity is less than the tested A2 cooling capacity.

d. * * *

Table 14—Heating Mode Test Conditions for Units Having a Variable-Speed Compressor

Test description

Air entering
indoor unit
temperature
(°F)

Dry bulb
Wet bulb

Air entering
outdoor unit
temperature
(°F)

Dry bulb
Wet bulb
Compressor speed
Heating air volume rate

H0
1
test (required, steady)

70

60
(max)

62
56.5
Heating Minimum

Heating Minimum.
1

H1
2
test (optional, steady)

70

60
(max)

47
43

Heating Full
4

Heating Full-Load.
3

H1
1
test (required, steady)

70

60
(max)

47
43
Heating Minimum

Heating Minimum.
1

H1
N
test (required, steady)

70

60
(max)

47
43

Heating Full
5

Heating Full-Load.
3

H1C
1
test (optional, cyclic)

70

60
(max)

47
43
Heating Minimum

(
2
).

H2
2
test (optional)

70

60
(max)

35
33

Heating Full
4

Heating Full-Load.
3

H2
V
test (required)

70

60
(max)

35
33
Heating Intermediate

Heating Intermediate.
6

H3
2
test (required, steady)

70

60
(max)

17
15

Heating Full
4

Heating Full-Load.
3

H4
2
test (optional, steady)

70

60
(max)

5

3
(max)

Heating Full
7

Heating Full-Load.
3

1
Defined in section 3.1.4.5 of this appendix.

2
Maintain the airflow nozzle(s) static pressure difference or velocity pressure during an ON period at the same pressure or velocity as measured during the H1
1
test.

3
Defined in section 3.1.4.4 of this appendix.

4
Maximum speed that the system controls would operate the compressor in normal operation in 17 °F ambient temperature. The H1
2
test is not needed if the H1
N
test uses this same compressor speed.

5
Maximum speed that the system controls would operate the compressor in normal operation in 47 °F ambient temperature.

6
Defined in section 3.1.4.6 of this appendix.

7
Maximum speed that the system controls would operate the compressor in normal operation at 5 °F ambient temperature.

[FR Doc. 2021-25539 Filed 12-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A2021-25539. Public record. Not legal advice.