Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for Waiver of Vermont Castings, Inc. From the DOE Vented Home Heating Equipment Test Procedure (Case No. DH-006)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Granting of

the Application for Interim Waiver and Publishing of the Petition for

Waiver of Vermont Castings, Inc. From the DOE Vented Home Heating

Equipment Test Procedure (Case No. DH-006)

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

Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Today's notice grants an Interim Waiver to Vermont Castings,

Inc. (Vermont Castings) from the existing Department of Energy (DOE or

Department) test procedure regarding pilot light energy consumption and

weighted average steady-state efficiency for its manually controlled

vented heater, model DV40 (Gas Fired Built In Direct Vent Fireplace).

Today's notice also publishes a ``Petition for Waiver'' from

Vermont Castings. Vermont Castings' Petition for Waiver requests DOE to

grant relief from the DOE vented home heating equipment test procedure

relating to the use of pilot light energy consumption in calculating

the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) and the calculation of

weighted average steady state efficiency of its model DV20 vented

heater. Vermont Castings seeks to delete the required pilot light

measurement (Qp) in the calculation of AFUE when the pilot is off, and

to test at a minimum fuel input rate of two-thirds instead of the

specified 5 percent of 50 percent of the maximum fuel

input rate in the calculation of AFUE. The Department is soliciting

comments, data, and information respecting the Petition for Waiver.

DATES: DOE will accept comments, data, and information not later than

October 10, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements shall be sent to: Department

of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Case No.

DH-006, Mail Stop EE-43, Room 1J-018, Forrestal Building, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-7140.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William W. Hui, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency

and Renewable Energy, Mail Station EE-431, Forrestal Building, 1000

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20585-0121, (202) 586-9145.

Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General

Counsel, Mail Station GC-72, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0103, (202) 586-9507.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Conservation Program for Consumer

Products (other than automobiles) was established pursuant to the

Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA), which requires

DOE to prescribe standardized test procedures to measure the energy

consumption of certain consumer products, including vented home heating

equipment. The intent of the test procedures is to provide a comparable

measure of energy consumption that will assist consumers in making

informed purchasing

[[Page 47742]]

decisions. These test procedures appear at Title 10 CFR Part 430,

Subpart B.

The Department amended the test procedure rules to provide for a

waiver process by adding Sec. 430.27 to Title 10 CFR Part 430. 45 FR

64108, September 26, 1980. Subsequently, DOE amended the waiver process

to allow the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Energy (Assistant Secretary) to grant an Interim Waiver from test

procedure requirements to manufacturers that have petitioned DOE for a

waiver of such prescribed test procedures. Title 10 CFR Part 430,

Sec. 430.27(a)(2).

The waiver process allows the Assistant Secretary to waive

temporarily test procedures for a particular basic model when a

petitioner shows that the basic model contains one or more design

characteristics which prevent testing according to the prescribed test

procedures, or when the prescribed test procedures may evaluate the

basic model in a manner so unrepresentative of its true energy

consumption as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data.

Waivers generally remain in effect until final test procedure

amendments become effective, resolving the problem that is the subject

of the waiver.

An Interim Waiver will be granted if it is determined that the

applicant will experience economic hardship if the Application for

Interim Waiver is denied, if it appears likely that the Petition for

Waiver will be granted, and/or the Assistant Secretary determines that

it would be desirable for public policy reasons to grant immediate

relief pending a determination on the Petition for Waiver. Title 10 CFR

Part 430, Sec. 430.27(g). An Interim Waiver remains in effect for a

period of 180 days, or until DOE issues a determination on the Petition

for Waiver, whichever is sooner, and may be extended for an additional

180 days, if necessary.

On July 12, 1996, Vermont Castings filed an Application for Interim

Waiver and a Petition for Waiver regarding (a) pilot light energy

consumption and (b) weighted average steady state efficiency.

Vermont Castings seeks an Interim Waiver from the DOE test

provisions in section 3.5 of Title 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix

O, that requires measurement of energy input rate of the pilot light

(QP), and the use of this data in section 4.2.6 for the

calculation of AFUE, where:

AFUE=(4400SSuQin-max)/

(4400SSQin-max+2.5(4600)uQP)

Instead, Vermont Castings requests that it be allowed to delete QP

and accordingly, the (2.5(4600)uQP) term in the

calculation of AFUE. Vermont Castings states that instructions to turn

off the transient pilot by the user when the heater is not in use are

in the User Instruction Manual and on a label adjacent to the gas

control valve. Therefore, the additional energy savings that result

when the pilot is turned off (QP = 0) should be credited. Since

the current DOE test procedure does not address pilot light energy

savings, Vermont Castings asks that the Interim Waiver be granted.

Vermont Castings also seeks an Interim Waiver from the DOE test

provisions in section 3.1.1 of Title 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B,

Appendix O, which requires steady state efficiency of manually

controlled vented heaters with various input rates to be determined at

a fuel input rate that is within 5 percent of 50 percent

of the maximum fuel input rate, and the use of this data in section

4.2.4 to determine the weighted average steady state efficiency needed

in the calculation of AFUE. Instead, Vermont Castings requests that it

be allowed to determine steady state efficiency, weighted average

steady state efficiency, and AFUE at a minimum fuel input rate of two-

thirds of the maximum fuel input rate for its manually controlled

vented heaters which do not adjust to an input rate as low as 50

percent. Since the current DOE test procedure does not address steady

state testing for manually controlled vented heaters with various input

rates at fuel input rates other than within 5 percent of

50 percent of the maximum fuel input rate, Vermont Castings asks that

the waiver be granted.

Previous Petitions for Waiver to exclude the pilot light energy

input term in the calculation of AFUE for home heating equipment with a

manual transient pilot control and allowance to determine weighted

average steady state efficiency used in the calculation of AFUE at a

minimum fuel input rate of 65.3 percent of the maximum fuel input rate

instead of the specified 5 percent of 50 percent of the

maximum fuel input rate have been granted by DOE to Appalachian Stove

and Fabricators, Inc., 56 FR 51711, October 15, 1991; Valor

Incorporated, 56 FR 51714, October 15, 1991; CFM International Inc., 61

FR 17287, April 19, 1996; Vermont Castings, Inc., 61 FR 17290, April

19, 1996; and Superior Fireplace Company, 61 FR 17885, April 23, 1996.

Thus, it appears likely that Vermont Castings' Petition for Waiver

for pilot light and weighted average steady state efficiency for home

heating equipment will be granted. In those instances where the likely

success of the Petition for Waiver has been demonstrated based upon DOE

having granted a waiver for a similar product design, it is in the

public interest to have similar products tested and rated for energy

consumption on a comparable basis.

Therefore, based on the above, DOE is granting Vermont Castings an

Interim Waiver for its model DV40 vented heater. Vermont Castings shall

be permitted to test its model DV40 vented heater on the basis of the

test procedures specified in Title 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix

O, with the modifications set forth below:

(i) Delete paragraph 3.5 of Appendix O.

(ii) Delete paragraph 4.2.4 of Appendix O and replace with the

following paragraph:

4.2.4 Weighted Average Steady-State Efficiency. (a) For manually

controlled heaters with various input rates, the weighted average

steady-state efficiency (SS-WT) is:

(1) At 5 percent of 50 percent of the maximum fuel

input rate as measured in either section 3.1.1 to this appendix for

manually controlled gas vented heaters or section 3.1.2 to this

appendix for manually controlled oil vented heaters, or

(2) At the minimum fuel input rate as measured in either section

3.1.1 to this appendix for manually controlled gas vented heaters or

section 3.1.2 to this appendix for manually controlled oil vented

heaters if the design of the heater is such that 5 percent

of 50 percent of the maximum fuel input rate can not be set, provided

the tested input rate is no greater than two-thirds of maximum input

rate of the heater.

(b) For manually controlled heater with one single firing rate, the

weighted average steady-state efficiency is the steady-state efficiency

measured at the single firing rate.

(iii) Delete paragraph 4.2.6 of Appendix O and replace with the

following paragraph:

4.2.6 Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. For manually controlled

vented heaters, calculate the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)

as a percent and defined as:

AFUE = u

where:

u = as defined in section 4.2.5 of this appendix.

(iv) With the exception of the modification set forth above,

Vermont Castings shall comply in all respects with the procedures

specified in Appendix O of Title 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B.

This Interim Waiver is based upon the presumed validity of

statements and all allegations submitted by the company.

[[Page 47743]]

This Interim Waiver may be removed or modified at any time upon a

determination that the factual basis underlying the Application is

incorrect.

This Interim Waiver is effective on the date of issuance by the

Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Energy. 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.

Vermont Castings' Petition for Waiver requests DOE to grant relief

from the DOE vented home heating equipment relating to the pilot light

and weighted average steady state efficiency. Vermont Castings seeks

(a) to exclude the pilot light energy consumption in the calculation of

AFUE, and (b) to determine the weighted average steady state efficiency

used in the calculation of AFUE at a minimum fuel input rate of two-

thirds of the maximum fuel input rate instead of the specified

5 percent of 50 percent of the maximum fuel input rate.

Pursuant to paragraph (b) of Title 10 CFR Part 430.27, the

Department is hereby publishing the ``Petition for Waiver.''

The Department solicits comments, data, and information respecting

the Petition.

Issued in Washington, DC, September 4, 1996.

Christine A. Ervin,

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

[FR Doc. 96-23048 Filed 9-9-96; 8:45 am]

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