Energy Efficiency Program for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers, 18428-18445 [2011-7728]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18428-18445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7728]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 431

[Docket No. EERE-2010-BT-TP-0036]
RIN 1904-AC38


Energy Efficiency Program for Certain Commercial and Industrial 
Equipment: Test Procedures for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to revise its 
test procedure for automatic commercial ice makers (ACIM) established 
under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. This notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NOPR) proposes to update the incorporation by reference of 
industry test procedures to the most current published versions. The 
current DOE test procedure applies to automatic commercial ice makers 
that produce cube type ice. This NOPR proposes to expand coverage of 
the test procedure to all batch type and continuous type ice makers 
with capacities between 50 and 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours. A 
batch type ice maker is defined as an ice maker with alternate freezing 
and harvesting periods, including machines that produce cube type ice, 
tube type ice, and fragmented ice. A continuous type ice maker is 
defined as an ice maker that continually freezes and harvests ice at 
the same time. Continuous type ice makers primarily produce flake or 
nugget ice. DOE also proposes amendments to standardize test results 
based on ice quality for continuous type ice makers, clarify the test 
methods and reporting requirements for automatic ice makers designed to 
be connected to a remote compressor rack, and provide test methods for 
modulating capacity ice makers. Furthermore, DOE proposes to 
discontinue the use of a clarified energy use equation.
    The test procedure applies to automatic commercial ice makers as 
defined in section 136 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Use of any 
amended test procedures will be required on the compliance date of any 
standards developed in the associated energy conservation standard 
rulemaking. This notice announces a public meeting to discuss and 
receive comments on the proposed test procedure amendments.

DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting in Washington, DC on April 29, 
2011 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additionally, DOE plans to make the public 
meeting available via webinar. See section V, ``Public Participation,'' 
of this NOPR for webinar registration information, participant 
instructions, and information about the capabilities available to 
webinar participants.
    DOE will accept comments, data, and other information regarding 
this NOPR before or after the public meeting, but no later than June 3, 
2011. See section V, ``Public Participation,'' for details.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 8E-089, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585-0121. To attend, please notify Ms. Brenda Edwards 
at (202) 586-2945. Please note that foreign nationals planning to 
participate in the public meeting are subject to advance security 
screening procedures. Any foreign national wishing to participate in 
the meeting should advise DOE as soon as possible by contacting Ms. 
Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 to initiate the necessary procedures.
    Any comments submitted must identify the NOPR for test procedures 
for automatic commercial ice makers, and provide docket number EERE-
2010-BT-TP-0036 or Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 1904-AC38. 
Comments may be submitted using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: ACIM-2010-TP-0036@ee.doe.gov. Include the docket 
number EERE-2010-BT-TP-0036 and/or RIN 1904-AC38 in the subject line of 
the message.
     Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all 
items on CD. It is not necessary to include printed copies.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department 
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 
Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 586-2945. If 
possible, please submit all items on CD. It is not necessary to include 
printed copies.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
proposed rule may be submitted to Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy through the methods listed above and by e-mail to 
Christine_J._Kymn@omb.eop.gov.
    Docket: The docket is available for review at regulations.gov, 
including Federal Register notices, framework documents, public meeting 
attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting 
documents/materials. All documents in the docket are listed in the 
regulations.gov index. However, not all documents listed in the index 
may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt from 
public disclosure. The regulations.gov web page will contain 
instructions on how to access all documents in the docket, including 
public comments.
    The rulemaking web page can be found at: https://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/automatic_ice_making_equipment.html. This web page contains a link 
to the docket for this notice on regulations.gov.
    For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see section V, ``Public 
Participation,'' of this document.
    For further information on how to submit or review public comments, 
participate in the public meeting, or view hard copies of the docket in 
the Resource Room, contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or e-
mail: Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles Llenza, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building 
Technologies, EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0121. Telephone: (202) 586-2192, Charles_Llenza@ee.doe.gov.
    In the Office of General Counsel contact Mr. Ari Altman, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, GC-71, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 287-6307, 
Ari.Altman@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Legal Authority
II. Summary of the Proposed Rule
    A. Proposed Test Procedure Amendments
    B. Association With Energy Conservation Standards Rulemaking
III. Discussion
    A. Summary of the Test Procedure Revisions

[[Page 18429]]

    1. Update References to Industry Standards to Most Current 
Versions
    2. Expand Capacity Range to Larger Capacity Equipment
    3. Include Test Methods for Continuous Type Ice Makers
    a. Standardize Ice Quality for Continuous Type Ice Makers
    4. Measure Potable Water Used To Produce Ice
    a. Test Batch Type Ice Makers at the Highest Purge Setting
    5. Provide a Test Method for Measuring Storage Bin Effectiveness
    6. Provide a Test Method for Remote Condensing Automatic 
Commercial Ice Makers
    7. Provide a Test Method for Modulating Capacity Automatic 
Commercial Ice Makers
    8. Discontinue Use of a Clarified Energy Rate Calculation
    B. Response to Additional Comments Raised by Interested Parties 
at the Framework Document Public Meeting
    1. Treatment of Tube Type Ice Machines
    2. Quantification of Auxiliary Energy Use
    3. Standardization of Water Hardness for Measurement of Potable 
Water Used in Making Ice
IV. 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
    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 the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 1999
    J. Review Under Executive Order 12630
    K. Review Under the Treasury and General Government 
Appropriations Act, 2001
    L. Review Under Executive Order 13211
    M. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration 
Act of 1974
V. Public Participation
    A. Attendance at Public Meeting
    B. Procedure for Submitting Prepared General Statements for 
Distribution
    C. Conduct of Public Meeting
    D. Submission of Comments
    E. Issues on Which DOE Seeks Comment
VI. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

I. Background and Legal Authority

    Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (``EPCA'' or 
``the Act,'' Pub. L. 94-163), as amended by the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (EPACT 2005, Pub. L. 109-58), establishes an energy conservation 
program for certain commercial and industrial equipment. (42 U.S.C. 
6311-6317) This program sets Federal energy conservation standards, 
test procedures, and labeling requirements.
    EPCA prescribes energy conservation standards for automatic 
commercial ice makers that produce cube type ice with capacities 
between 50 and 2,500 pounds of ice per 24-hour period. (42 U.S.C. 
6313(d)(1)) EPCA also requires the Secretary of Energy to review these 
standards and determine, by January 1, 2015, whether amending the 
applicable standards is technically feasible and economically 
justified. (42 U.S.C. 6313(d)(3)) DOE is currently undertaking a 
standards rulemaking, concurrent to this test procedure rulemaking, to 
determine if amended standards are technically feasible and 
economically justified for automatic commercial ice makers covered by 
the standards set in EPACT 2005 (docket number EERE-2010-BT-STD-0037). 
In the energy conservation standards rulemaking, DOE is also proposing, 
under 42 U.S.C. 6313(d)(2), standards for continuous type ice makers, 
tube type ice makers, and equipment with capacities up to 4,000 pounds 
of ice per 24 hours.
    Manufacturers of automatic commercial ice makers must use 
prescribed test procedures to measure energy and, if applicable, water 
use to certify to DOE that equipment complies with the energy 
conservation standards. (42 U.S.C. 6291(6)(A)) Manufacturers must also 
use prescribed test procedures for labeling or making representations 
about the efficiency of those products. (42 U.S.C. 6315(b)) Under 42 
U.S.C. 6314, EPCA sets forth the criteria and procedures DOE must 
follow when prescribing or amending test procedures for covered 
products. EPCA provides in relevant part that ``test procedures 
prescribed in accordance with this section shall be reasonably designed 
to produce test results which reflect energy efficiency, energy use, 
and estimated operating costs of a type of industrial equipment (or 
class thereof) during a representative average use cycle (as determined 
by the Secretary), and shall not be unduly burdensome to conduct.'' (42 
U.S.C. 6314(2))
    EPCA, as amended by EPACT 2005, prescribes that the test procedure 
for automatic commercial ice makers shall be the Air-Conditioning and 
Refrigeration Institute (ARI) Standard 810-2003, ``Performance Rating 
of Automatic Commercial Ice-Makers.'' (42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(7)(A)) 
Pursuant to that section, on December 8, 2006, DOE published a final 
rule (the 2006 test procedure final rule) that adopted the test 
procedure specified in ARI Standard 810-2003, with a revised method for 
calculating energy use. DOE adopted a clarified energy use rate 
equation to specify that the energy use be calculated using the entire 
mass of ice produced during the testing period, normalized to 100 
pounds of ice produced. 71 FR 71340, 71350 (Dec. 8, 2006). ARI Standard 
810-2003 references the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning 
Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 29-1988 (Reaffirmed 2005) (ASHRAE Standard 
29-1988 (RA 2005)), ``Method of Testing Automatic Ice Makers,'' as the 
method of test. The current test procedures for automatic commercial 
ice makers appear at 10 CFR part 431, subpart H, section 134, ``Uniform 
test method for the measurement of energy consumption and water 
consumption of automatic commercial ice makers.''
    Since the publication of the 2006 test procedure final rule, ARI 
merged with the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA) to form 
the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and 
updated its test procedure to reflect changes in the industry. The new 
test procedure, AHRI Standard 810-2007, amends the previous test 
procedure, ARI Standard 810-2003, to:
    1. Expand the capacity range of covered equipment to between 50 and 
4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours at standard rating conditions
    2. Provide definitions and specific test procedures for batch type 
and continuous type ice makers; and
    3. Provide a definition for ice hardness factor, which is a measure 
of ice quality or the percentage of liquid water content in the ice 
product of continuous type ice machines.
    The revised AHRI Standard 810-2007 and ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 
adopt new definitions for a ``batch type ice maker'' (also referred to 
as a cube type ice maker) and a ``continuous type ice maker.'' A batch 
type ice maker is defined as an ice maker that has alternate freezing 
and harvesting periods, including machines that produce cube type ice, 
tube type ice, and fragmented ice. The test procedures further clarify 
that in this definition the word ``cube'' does not refer to the 
specific shape or size of ice produced. A continuous type ice maker is 
defined as an ice maker that continually freezes and harvests ice at 
the same time. Continuous type ice makers primarily produce flake and 
nugget ice.
    EPCA, as amended, provides that if ARI Standard 810-2003 is 
revised, the Secretary shall amend the DOE test procedure as necessary 
to be consistent with the amended ARI Standard unless the Secretary 
determines, by rule, that to do so would not meet the requirements for 
test procedures set forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(7)(B)) Because 
ARI

[[Page 18430]]

Standard 810 has been updated from the 2003 version, DOE must amend the 
DOE test procedure to reflect these updates, unless doing so would not 
meet the definition of a test procedure, as set forth in section 
343(a)(7) of EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(7)(B)(i))
    The commercial test procedure being considered in this rulemaking, 
AHRI Standard 810-2007, references the previous ASHRAE Standard 29-1988 
(RA 2005). However, in 2009, ASHRAE also updated their test procedure 
to include provisions for measuring the performance of batch type and 
continuous type ice makers. The DOE test procedure also references the 
ASHRAE Standard 29-1988 (RA 2005).
    DOE has preliminarily determined that the updated versions are 
consistent with the test procedure currently used in industry, expand 
coverage to additional products that are being proposed in the ongoing 
standard rulemaking, including continuous type and larger capacity ice 
makers with capacities up to 4,000 pounds of ice per day, and would 
meet the above-referenced requirements for a test procedure set forth 
in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(7)(B)) As such, DOE proposes to incorporate 
by reference AHRI Standard 810-2007 as the DOE test procedure, with 
ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 as the referenced method of test.
    DOE is revising the automatic commercial ice maker test procedure 
in part to correspond with changes being proposed in the concurrent 
standard rulemaking process on automatic commercial ice makers (docket 
number EERE-2010-BT-STD-0037). The energy conservation standards 
rulemaking that DOE is proposing under 42 U.S.C. 6313(d)(2) would 
establish energy conservation standards for continuous type ice makers 
and equipment with capacities up to 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours.
    In addition to updating the references to AHRI 810-2007 and ASHRAE 
Standard 29-2009, DOE is proposing revisions to the DOE test procedure 
that:
    1. Expand the scope of the test procedure to include equipment with 
capacities from 50 to 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours;
    2. Provide test methods for continuous type ice makers;
    3. Standardize the measurement of energy and water use for 
continuous type ice makers with respect to ice quality;
    4. Clarify the test method and reporting requirements for remote 
condensing automatic commercial ice makers designed for connection to 
compressor racks;
    5. Specify an optional test method for modulating capacity ice 
makers; and
    6. Discontinue the use of a clarified energy use rate calculation 
and instead calculate energy use per 100 pounds of ice as specified in 
ASHRAE Standard 29-2009.
    DOE believes that these amendments will result in a test procedure 
that more accurately reflects the energy and water use of automatic 
commercial ice makers and more fully complies with the requirements of 
EPCA. This test procedure rulemaking also fulfills DOE's obligation 
under EPCA to review the test procedure for automatic commercial ice 
makers every 7 years. (42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(1)(A))
    EPCA requires that 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. 6314(b))

II. Summary of the Proposed Rule

A. Proposed Test Procedure Amendments

    This NOPR proposes to update the test procedure references to the 
current industry-accepted test procedures, expand the scope to cover 
all continuous and batch type equipment with capacities from 50 to 
4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours, provide a test method to normalize 
energy with respect to ice quality for continuous type ice makers, 
clarify the test method and reporting requirements for remote 
condensing ice makers that are designed to be used with a remote 
compressor rack, provide an optional test method for modulating 
capacity ice makers, and discontinue the use of a clarified energy use 
rate calculation. In the absence of the clarified energy rate equation 
published by DOE as part of the previous DOE test procedure (71 FR 
71340, 71350 (Dec. 8, 2006)), DOE will use the method prescribed in 
ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 to calculate energy use per 100 pounds of ice 
produced. This method is discussed in more detail in section III.A.7 of 
this document. DOE anticipates publishing the final rule amending the 
ACIM test procedures prior to issuing the NOPR for the ACIM energy 
conservation standard.

B. Association With Energy Conservation Standards Rulemaking

    DOE is proposing these revisions to the DOE test procedure be 
consistent with the scope of coverage of the concurrent energy 
conservation standard rulemaking for automatic commercial ice makers 
(docket number EERE-2010-BT-STD-0037). If the scope of coverage changes 
in later stages of the automatic commercial ice maker energy 
conservation standards rulemaking, DOE may add provisions, as 
necessary, to the test procedure so that it is consistent with the 
final scope of coverage of any new or amended standards for automatic 
commercial ice makers.
    EPCA, as amended, requires that any amended test procedures for 
automatic commercial ice makers shall comply with section 6293(e) of 
the same title (42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(7)(C)), which in turn prescribes that 
if any rulemaking amends a test procedure, DOE must determine ``to what 
extent, if any, the proposed test procedure would alter the measured 
energy efficiency * * * of any covered product as determined under the 
existing test procedure.'' (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(1)) Further, if DOE 
determines that the amended test procedure would alter the measured 
efficiency of a covered product, DOE must amend the applicable energy 
conservation standard accordingly. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2))
    In accordance with 42 U.S.C. 6293(e), DOE has analyzed the amended 
test procedure, as proposed in today's NOPR, to determine if it will 
affect the measured energy efficiency of a covered product. When the 
revised ACIM test procedure final rule is promulgated, the energy 
conservation standards set in EPACT 2005 for automatic commercial ice 
makers that produce cube type ice of capacities between 50 and 2,500 
pounds of ice per 24 hours will be in effect.
    DOE believes that the only proposed test procedure amendments 
applicable to automatic commercial ice makers covered under EPACT 2005 
standards are those that update the referenced industry test procedures 
to their most current versions, clarify the test method and reporting 
requirements for automatic commercial ice makers designed to be 
connected to a remote compressor rack, and discontinue the use of a 
clarified energy use rate equation. DOE believes that these amendments 
would not significantly affect the measured energy or water use of 
equipment for which standards are currently in place. The updated 
industry test procedures, AHRI 810-2007 and ASHRAE Standard 29-2009, 
only expand the test procedure to continuous type ice makers and ice 
makers with capacities up to 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours; they do 
not affect the test procedure for ice makers that make cube type ice 
with capacities between 50 and 2,500 pounds of ice per 24 hours. See 
section III.A.1 for more information. The amendments that clarify the 
test method and reporting

[[Page 18431]]

requirements for automatic commercial ice makers designed to be 
connected to a remote compressor rack and discontinue the use of the 
clarified energy use rate equation are primarily editorial in nature 
and do not fundamentally affect the way automatic commercial ice makers 
are tested. These amendments are described in more detail in sections 
III.A.5 and III.A.7, respectively.
    The remaining proposed test procedure amendments are only 
applicable to types of automatic commercial ice makers for which energy 
conservation standards do not currently exist. In the concurrent ACIM 
energy conservation standard rulemaking, DOE is proposing to establish 
energy conservation standards for batch type and continuous type ice 
makers with capacities up to 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours. This 
includes new energy conservation standards for batch type ice makers 
that produce cube type ice with capacities between 2,500 and 4,000 
pounds of ice per 24 hours, batch type ice makers that produce other 
than cube type ice with capacities between 50 and 4,000 pounds of ice 
per 24 hours, and continuous type ice makers with capacities between 50 
and 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours. However, these standards will not 
be promulgated until after the ACIM test procedure final rule is 
issued. Because there currently are no standards for the aforementioned 
types of ice makers, section 6293(e) does not apply to test procedure 
amendments that affect only those equipment types.
    Because DOE does not believe the updated test procedure will alter 
the measured energy or water consumption of automatic commercial ice 
makers that are covered by existing DOE energy conservation standards, 
DOE proposes that use of the amendments be required upon the effective 
date of any test procedure final rule, 30 days after publication in the 
Federal Register.
    DOE requests comment on its determination that the proposed test 
procedure amendments will not affect the measured energy or water 
consumption of automatic commercial ice makers that are currently 
covered under energy conservation standards. DOE also requests comment 
on the proposal that the use of the amended test procedure be required 
upon the effective date of any test procedure final rule, 30 days after 
publication in the Federal Register.

III. Discussion

    As part of the current rulemaking on the energy conservation 
standard for commercial refrigeration equipment, DOE held a public 
meeting on December 16, 2011 to present its Framework Document (https://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/pdfs/acim_framework_2010_11_04.pdf) and to receive comments from 
interested parties. DOE considered the comments received as a result of 
the Framework Document public meeting and incorporated into this 
document certain recommendations, where appropriate. Responses to these 
comments appear throughout the discussion of test procedure amendments. 
The test procedure amendments DOE is proposing in this rulemaking were 
summarized in section II.A and are discussed in further detail in the 
following sections. Responses to comments that are not specifically 
addressed in the discussion of test procedure revisions appear in 
section III.B, which provides responses to comments in the following 
subject areas:

1. Treatment of Tube Type Ice Machines
2. Quantification of Auxiliary Energy Use
3. Measurement of Storage Bin Effectiveness
4. Establishment of a Metric for Potable Water Used in Making Ice
5. Standardization of Water Hardness for Measurement of Potable Water 
Used in Making Ice
6. Testing of Batch Type Ice Makers at the Highest Purge Setting

A. Summary of the Test Procedure Revisions

    Today's proposed rule contains the following proposed changes to 
the test procedure in 10 CFR 431, subpart H.
1. Update References to Industry Standards to Most Current Versions
    The current DOE test procedure for automatic commercial ice makers, 
established in the 2006 test procedure final rule, adopts ARI Standard 
810-2003 as the test procedure used to measure the energy consumption 
of a piece of equipment to establish compliance with energy 
conservation standards set in EPACT 2005. 71 FR 71340, 71350 (Dec. 8, 
2006). The DOE test procedure also references ASHRAE Standard 29-1988 
(RA 2005). AHRI (previously ARI) Standard 810-2007 and ASHRAE Standard 
29-2009 are designed to be used together to test automatic commercial 
ice makers. AHRI Standard 810-2007 specifies the standard rating 
conditions and provides relevant definitions of equipment, scope, and 
calculated or measured values. ASHRAE Standard 29 specifies how to 
conduct the test procedure, including the technical requirements and 
calculations. Since the publication of the 2006 test procedure final 
rule, AHRI has released an updated version of the test procedure, AHRI 
Standard 810-2007. ASHRAE subsequently updated their test procedure in 
2009 to reflect the same changes. AHRI Standard 810-2007 and ASHRAE 
Standard 29-2009 amend the previous test procedures by expanding the 
capacity range to 4,000 pounds per day and providing for the testing of 
continuous type ice makers. In adopting the revised AHRI Standard 810-
2007 and referencing ASHRAE Standard 29-2009, DOE is proposing to 
incorporate all the test procedure changes incorporated in the updated 
versions. At the ACIM Framework Document public meeting, AHRI stated 
its support for this proposal. (AHRI, No. 0016 at p. 139\1\)
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    \1\ In the following discussion, comments will be presented 
along with a notation in the form ``AHRI, No. 0016 at p. 139,'' 
which identifies a written comment DOE received and included in the 
docket of this rulemaking. DOE refers to comments based on when the 
comment was submitted in the rulemaking process. This particular 
notation refers to a comment (1) by AHRI, (2) in document number 
0016 of the docket (available at regulations.gov), and (3) appearing 
on page 139.
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    DOE requests comment on updating the referenced industry test 
procedures to the most current versions.
    In addition, DOE proposes to make additional changes that expand 
the capacity range to larger capacity equipment, up to 4,000 pounds of 
ice per 24 hours, and include additional test methods for continuous 
type ice makers. These two changes are discussed in detail in the 
following two sections.
2. Expand Capacity Range to Larger Capacity Equipment
    AHRI Standard 810-2007 establishes a capacity range of 50 to 4,000 
pounds of ice per 24 hours at standard rating conditions. The previous 
standard, ARI Standard 810-2003, referenced by the current DOE test 
procedure, is limited to a capacity range of 50 to 2,500 pounds of ice 
per 24 hours. AHRI expanded the capacity range due to changes in the 
products offered by manufacturers. Specifically, some manufacturers 
offer larger capacity units that exceed the capacity range of the 
previous test procedure. AHRI's expansion of the capacity range does 
not affect the way ice makers are tested; it only provides for the same 
test procedure to be applied to larger capacity ice makers.
    At the ACIM Framework Document public meeting, some interested 
parties commented that 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours was a natural 
ceiling for commercial equipment. (AHRI, No. 0016 at pp. 65 and 144; 
Manitowoc Ice,

[[Page 18432]]

No. 0016 at p. 66; Scotsman, No. 0016 at p. 68) Stakeholders also 
commented that there did not appear to be any issues in applying the 
test procedure to larger capacity equipment, except perhaps for 
providing enough conditioned air in the environmental chamber to test 
these machines. (Scotsman, No. 0016 at pp. 69 and 144)
    While no manufacturers of equipment with capacities exceeding 4,000 
pounds of ice per 24 hours attended the public meeting, Vogt, the 
primary manufacturer of equipment with capacities larger than 4,000 
pounds per 24 hours, submitted a written comment suggesting that DOE 
expand the capacity limit to include equipment that produces up to 
10,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours. Vogt further commented that this 
leads consumers to believe that larger capacity machines are not as 
efficient, when in fact they are more efficient, and prevents larger 
capacity equipment from participating in rebate programs or other 
energy efficiency programs.\2\
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    \2\ Framework comments submitted by Vogt Ice to Detlef 
Westphalen, Navigant Consulting Inc, February 10, 2011.
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    In analyzing the current ice maker market, DOE has found that 
approximately 99 percent of automatic commercial ice makers have 
capacities between 50 and 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours. However, 
DOE has identified a few automatic commercial ice makers with 
capacities that exceed 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours that are 
currently offered for sale in the United States. Further, DOE found 
that many of these larger capacity machines are marketed as commercial 
products for use in food sales, schools, and other commercial spaces 
and fall within the EPCA definition of an automatic commercial ice 
maker.

     (42 U.S.C. 6311(19))DOE has analyzed the AHRI 810-2007 and ASHRAE 
Standard 29-2009 test procedure methods and believes that there are no 
technical issues with applying these methods to larger capacity 
equipment, up to 10,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours. In fact, this is 
how larger capacity ice makers are currently tested by manufacturers to 
voluntarily determine their energy performance. DOE understands that 
larger capacity ice makers require a larger environmental chamber to 
accommodate their increased physical size and the additional 
conditioned air required to maintain the test room at ambient 
conditions. In addition, there may be other issues related to marketing 
or burden when testing ice makers with capacities between 4,000 and 
10,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours.
    In weighing the various factors for and against establishing a test 
procedure covering ice makers with capacities between 4,000 and 10,000 
pounds per 24 hours, DOE has determined that such test procedures would 
not be warranted at this time. Primarily, DOE does not believe that the 
increased burden association with this significant expansion in scope 
is justified due to the small market share of equipment with capacities 
greater than 4,000 pounds per 24 hours. Therefore, DOE proposes to 
expand the capacity range of the DOE test procedure to only include 
larger capacity automatic commercial ice makers with harvest rates 
between 50 and 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hours.
    DOE requests comment on expanding the capacity range from 50 to 
2,500 pounds of ice per 24 hours to 50 to 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 
hours.
3. Include Test Methods for Continuous Type Ice Makers
    During the public comment period for the 2006 test procedure 
proposed rule, which adopted test procedures for the EPACT 2005 ACIM 
standards, interested parties requested that additional product classes 
be considered. Specifically, Howe Corporation requested that DOE test 
procedures and requirements be amended and expanded to apply a revised 
ARI Standard 810 to all automatic ice makers, regardless of ice-cube 
type. (docket number EE-RM/TP-05-500, Howe, No. 6 at pp. 3-4) \3\ At 
that time, DOE stated that the test procedure for automatic commercial 
ice makers was adopted for two reasons: (1) To adopt methods for 
testing equipment for which EPACT 2005 set energy conservation 
standards and (2) to comply with the requirement that the test 
procedure for such ice makers be ARI Standard 810-2003, which only 
applies to the equipment that produces cube type ice. DOE added that 
expanding the energy conservation standard for automatic commercial ice 
makers to include equipment that produces ice other than cube type ice 
was outside the scope of that rulemaking proceeding. However, DOE noted 
that it is authorized to adopt standards for such other commercial ice 
makers (42 U.S.C. 6313(d)(2)), and that if and when DOE sought to adopt 
such standards, it intended to consider continuous type ice makers that 
produce flake type ice. 71 FR 71340, 71351 (Dec. 8, 2006).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ This notation refers to a comment that was submitted by Howe 
Corporation and is recorded in docket number EE-RM/TP-05-500 as 
comment number 6, and (2) a passage that appears on pages 3 and 4 of 
that document.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AHRI Standard 810-2007 and ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 have been 
amended to allow for the testing of continuous type ice makers. The 
revised AHRI Standard 810-2007 and ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 adopt 
definitions for a ``batch type ice maker'' (also referred to as a cube 
type ice maker) and a ``continuous type ice maker.'' A batch type ice 
maker is defined as an ice maker that has alternate freezing and 
harvesting periods. The standard further clarifies that in this 
definition the word ``cube'' does not refer to the specific shape or 
size of ice produced. A continuous type ice maker is defined as an ice 
maker that continually freezes and harvests ice at the same time. 
Continuous type ice makers primarily produce flake and nugget ice.
    In addition, AHRI Standard 810-2007 and ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 
provide explicit test methods for both batch and continuous type ice 
makers. The previous ARI Standard 810-2003 and ASHRAE Standard 29-
1988(RA 2005), as referenced in the current DOE test procedure, do not 
include a method for testing continuous type ice makers. DOE intends to 
adopt AHRI Standard 810-2007 as the referenced DOE test procedure, 
including referencing ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 as the method of test. 
This would expand the current DOE test procedure to provide a method 
for testing continuous type ice makers, in addition to batch type ice 
makers. The test procedure provisions for testing continuous type ice 
makers would be used in conjunction with standards for automatic 
commercial ice makers that produce flake or nugget ice. These standards 
are being developed in the ongoing ACIM energy conservation standard 
rulemaking.
    DOE requests comment on providing test methods for continuous type 
ice makers.
4. Standardize Ice Quality for Continuous Type Ice Makers
    Continuous type ice makers typically produce ice that is not 
completely frozen. This means that there is some liquid water content 
in the total mass of ice product produced by continuous type ice 
makers. The specific liquid water content can be quantified in terms of 
ice hardness or ice quality and is usually represented in terms of 
percent of completely frozen ice present in the total ice product. Ice 
quality can vary significantly across different machines. DOE 
understands that the percentage of liquid water in the product of 
continuous ice makers is directly related to the measured energy 
consumption of

[[Page 18433]]

these machines. To provide comparability and repeatability of results, 
DOE proposes to standardize the energy consumption of continuous ice 
makers to a total mass of ice that is 32 degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F) 
with no liquid water content. At the December 16, 2010 Framework 
Document public meeting, Scotsman agreed that there may be some reason 
to standardize ice quality to 32 [deg]F with no liquid water content. 
Scotsman further stated that there is also some utility in low quality 
ice. (Scotsman, No. 0016 at p. 160)
    DOE proposes to standardize the ice quality of continuous type ice 
makers using the ``Procedure for Determining Ice Quality'' in section 
A.3 of normative annex A in ASHRAE Standard 29-2009. In this procedure, 
a calorimeter constant is calculated, which is essentially a ratio of 
the heat content of a given mass of 32 [deg]F ice with no liquid water 
content (100 percent ice quality) divided by the heat content of the 
same mass of 32 [deg]F ice and water mixture (less than 100 percent 
quality) produced by a continuous type ice maker. This is the inverse 
of the ice hardness factor, as defined in AHRI 810-2007, presented as a 
decimal. The calorimeter constant will be 1.0 for 100 percent ice 
quality product and greater than 1.0 for ice with some liquid water 
content. The calorimeter constant will be used to determine an 
adjustment factor based on the energy required to cool ice from 70 
[deg]F to 32 [deg]F and produce a given amount of ice, as shown below:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP04AP11.000


    Note: Btu = British thermal units.

    The measured energy consumption per 100 pounds of ice and the 
measured condenser water consumption, as determined using ASHRAE 
Standard 29-2009, will be multiplied by the adjustment factor to yield 
the scaled energy and condenser water consumption values, respectively. 
These values will be reported to DOE to show compliance with the energy 
conservation standard. The measured value of potable water used in 
making ice will not be multiplied by the calorimeter constant because 
all of the potable water is still used to produce usable product for 
continuous type ice makers.
    In response to Scotsman's comment (Scotsman, No. 0016 at p. 160) 
regarding the utility of automatic commercial ice makers that produce 
low quality ice, this test method will not affect the availability of 
automatic commercial ice makers that produce lower quality ice; it will 
simply provide a method by which automatic commercial ice maker energy 
consumption and condenser water use results can be compared to a 
baseline ice quality.
    DOE requests comment on the proposed method to normalize energy and 
condenser water consumption to 32 [deg]F water with no water content 
for continuous type ice makers.
5. Clarify the Test Method and Reporting Requirements for Remote 
Condensing Automatic Commercial Ice Makers
    EPCA establishes energy conservation standards for two types of 
remote condensing automatic commercial ice makers: (1) Remote 
condensing (but not remote compressor) and (2) remote condensing and 
remote compressor. (42 U.S.C. 6313(d)(1)) Remote condensing (but not 
remote compressor) ice makers must be sold and operated with a 
dedicated remote condenser that is in a separate section from the ice-
making mechanism and compressor. Remote condensing and remote 
compressor automatic commercial ice makers may be operated with a 
dedicated remote condensing unit or connected to a remote compressor 
rack. Both of these remote refrigeration systems contain compressors 
and condensers that are in a separate section from the ice-making 
mechanism that they serve.
    In assessing the current DOE and industry test procedures, DOE has 
noticed an inconsistency in the way the energy use of remote condensing 
and remote compressor ice makers that are designed to be connected to a 
remote compressor rack is reported. Remote condensing and remote 
compressor ice makers sold with a dedicated remote condensing unit 
report energy consumption of the total ice maker; including the energy 
consumption of the ice-making mechanism, the compressor, and the remote 
condenser or condensing unit. Ice makers that are meant to be used with 
a remote compressor rack report only the energy use of the ice-making 
mechanism and do not include any energy use associated with the 
compressors and condensers on the remote compressor rack. The 
compressor and condenser energy consumption are excluded because ice 
maker manufacturers do not have control of the energy efficiency of the 
remote compressor rack. In addition, the same remote compressor rack 
typically serves multiple equipment types in addition to automatic 
commercial ice makers, such as commercial refrigeration equipment and 
walk-in coolers and freezers.
    At the Framework Document public meeting, DOE proposed three 
potential options to address this issue:
    1. A calculation method that applies a default factor to the ice-
making mechanism energy consumption that is representative of remote 
compressor rack energy use;
    2. A measurement method that measures the energy use of a remote 
condensing and remote compressor ice maker with a designated remote 
condensing unit and reports the energy use of both the ice-making 
mechanism and the remote condensing unit; or
    3. A measurement method that measures the energy use of a remote 
condensing and remote compressor ice maker with a designated remote 
condensing unit, but continues to report only the energy use associated 
with the ice-making mechanism.
    In response to these options, Manitowoc Ice stated that while 
remote condensing automatic commercial ice makers could technically be 
tested using a default value for compressor efficiency if the 
refrigerant is measured, this would require a new test procedure and 
may not be justified given the market share of this equipment. 
(Manitowoc Ice, No. 0016 at pp. 149 and 153) Scotsman and AHRI 
reiterated that the market share of this equipment was small and was 
not expected to grow significantly. (Scotsman, No. 0016 at pp. 151-152; 
AHRI, No. 0016 at p. 150) Manitowoc Ice also commented that ice-making 
heads designed to be connected to remote condensing rack systems are 
essentially the same as those that are sold with a dedicated remote

[[Page 18434]]

condensing unit. (Manitowoc Ice, No. 0016 at p. 154)
    DOE understands that the market share of this equipment is small. 
However, remote condensing ice makers that are designed to be sold for 
use with a remote rack system are covered equipment pursuant to the 
EPCA definition of an automatic commercial ice maker. (42 U.S.C. 
6311(19)) In addition, as Manitowoc Ice mentioned, remote condensing 
ice makers designed to be connected to remote condensing rack systems 
are essentially the same as those that are sold with a dedicated remote 
condensing unit. Therefore, DOE believes testing remote condensing ice 
makers that are designed to be used with a remote condensing rack could 
be accomplished, without significant additional burden, by testing 
these units with a sufficiently sized dedicated remote condensing unit.
    Option 1 above would require testing of remote condensing ice 
makers that are designed to be used with a remote compressor rack using 
a calculation methodology that would be more representative of the 
energy consumption of the remote compressor rack. This calculation 
method would apply a default factor to the ice-making mechanism which 
would be determined through measurement of the amount of cooling 
supplied to make ice. Information about the amount of cooling supplied 
by the refrigerant is not currently captured in the DOE test procedure. 
DOE believes that this additional testing would result in a significant 
additional burden on manufacturers that would not be warranted given 
the small market share of this equipment. In addition, the remote 
compressor rack is not covered as part of the automatic commercial ice 
maker and, thus, its energy consumption is not required to be captured 
by the DOE test procedure.
    EPCA requires that test procedures ``shall be reasonably designed 
to produce test results which reflect energy efficiency, energy use, 
and estimated operating costs of a type of industrial equipment (or 
class thereof) during a representative average use cycle (as determined 
by the Secretary), and shall not be unduly burdensome to conduct.'' (42 
U.S.C. 6314(2)) DOE believes that testing all remote condensing and 
remote compressor automatic commercial ice makers that are designed to 
be connected to a remote compressor rack with a dedicated remote 
condensing unit will represent the energy consumption of this equipment 
without introducing undue burden. In addition, this method provides a 
straightforward and consistent way to compare the performance of remote 
condensing and remote compressor ice makers, both those sold with 
dedicated remote condensing units and those designed to be used with 
remote compressor rack systems. Therefore, DOE proposes that all remote 
condensing and remote compressor ice makers be tested with a dedicated 
remote condensing unit and report the energy use of the ice-making 
mechanism, the compressor, and the condenser.
    DOE requests comment on the proposal to require testing of all 
remote condensing ice makers with a dedicated remote condensing unit 
and reporting of ice-making mechanism, compressor, and condenser energy 
use.
6. Provide a Test Method for Modulating Capacity Automatic Commercial 
Ice Makers
    An ice maker could be designed for multiple capacity levels, either 
using a single compressor capable of multiple or variable capacities, 
or using multiple compressors. This would be attractive since ice 
makers operate at full capacity for only a small portion of the time, 
if at all. Such a system could produce ice more efficiently at a lower 
capacity level because there would be more surface area available 
relative to the mass flow of refrigerant. There is no evidence that any 
such system has been sold or tested anywhere in the world. However, the 
basic concept is illustrated by the current use of different capacity 
models using the same heat exchangers with different capacity 
compressors. For such product pairs, the lower capacity machine is 
generally more efficient.
    At the Framework Document public meeting, the American Council for 
an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), represented by Adjuvant 
Consulting, stated that two-stage or modulating compressors should not 
be eliminated from the group of design options. (Adjuvant Consulting, 
No. 0016 at pp. 78-79)
    While multiple or variable capacity systems (i.e., a modulating 
system) could become a design feature in the future, DOE recognizes 
that there are currently no commercialized products or prototypes 
available. However, DOE believes that a test procedure can be developed 
that allows measurement of the efficiency benefits of variable capacity 
technologies. Multiple capacity systems can be rated under the current 
test procedure at their maximum capacity rating. This will continue to 
be an option for showing compliance with DOE energy conservation 
standards. Also, an optional test procedure to capture the energy and 
water efficiency benefits of modulating capacity systems could be 
developed to allow systems that use a variable or multiple capacity 
system to claim those savings. Incorporating a test method for 
modulating capacity systems into the test procedure could provide an 
opportunity for and incentivize future development of such systems that 
could use this technology to obtain a higher efficiency rating. This is 
valuable for manufacturers that may wish to qualify units for voluntary 
efficiency programs, such as the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) 
or ENERGY STAR.[supreg]
    To capture the energy and water use of variable or multiple 
capacity systems, a test procedure would need to measure energy use in 
kilowatt-hours per 100 pounds of ice and water use in gallons per 100 
pounds of ice of at least two production rates and calculate weighted 
average energy use and water use values. DOE proposes that, for 
modulating capacity systems, testing can be done at the maximum and 
minimum capacity settings. These values would then be averaged to 
determine the energy consumption and condenser water consumption of the 
ice maker. While equal weighting is perhaps not representative of 
actual utilization factors in the field, DOE would need additional data 
to develop a better informed estimate.
    In addition, DOE proposes that this test procedure for multiple or 
modulating capacity systems be optional. Only testing at the maximum 
capacity setting would be required for modulating capacity systems. 
However, if a manufacturer wished to show increased energy savings due 
to the installation of variable capacity technologies, this test 
procedure also may be used to show compliance with the energy 
conservation standard.
    DOE requests comment on the proposal to allow for optional test 
procedure for modulating capacity automatic commercial ice makers. 
Specifically, DOE requests comment on the weighting of the energy 
consumption at the minimum and maximum capacity settings.
7. Discontinue Use of a Clarified Energy Rate Calculation
    The current DOE test procedure references ARI Standard 810-2003, 
with an amended calculation for determining the energy consumption rate 
for the purposes of compliance with DOE's energy conservation 
standards. ARI Standard 810-2003 references ASHRAE Standard 29-1988 
(RA2005) as the method of test for this equipment, including the 
equations for calculating the energy consumption rate per 100

[[Page 18435]]

pounds of ice produced. In the 2006 test procedure proposed rule, DOE 
found the language in ASHRAE Standard 29-1988 (RA 2005) unclear and 
proposed that the energy consumption rate be normalized to 100 pounds 
of ice instead and be determined as follows. 71 FR 71340, 71350 (Dec. 
8, 2006).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP04AP11.001

    At the September 2006 public meeting for the 2006 test procedure 
proposed rule, ARI commented in support of DOE's proposal to adopt ARI 
Standard 810-2003 as the test procedure for automatic commercial ice 
makers with the revised energy use rate equation. However, ARI further 
stated that the ARI and ASHRAE standards have been used without the 
clarification. 71 FR at 71351 (Dec. 8, 2006).
    The equation contained in ASHRAE Standard 29-1988 (RA 2005), as 
adopted, directs that the energy consumption shall be calculated as the 
weight of ice produced during three specified time periods divided by 
the power consumed during those same three time periods. The specified 
time periods are defined as three complete cycles for batch type ice 
makers and three 14.4-minute periods for continuous type ice makers. 
The verbatim equation from ASHRAE Standard 29-1988 (RA 2005) is as 
follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP04AP11.002

    In the above equation, kWh/100 lb ice refers to the desired energy 
consumption rate normalized per 100 pounds of ice produced; 8.4a refers 
to the section of the standard that describes the data to be recorded 
for the calculation of energy consumption, in this case the energy 
input in kilowatt-hours for the same periods prescribed for measurement 
of capacity; and 8.2a refers to the data to be recorded for the 
capacity test, specifically weight in pounds of ice produced for three 
prescribed periods of collection. This equation did not change in the 
update of ASHRAE Standard 29-1988 (RA 2005) to the most recent ASHRAE 
Standard 29-2009.
    DOE concludes that the existing equation in ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 
is interpreted differently than specified by the amended DOE equation 
for calculation of energy consumption rate. ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 
directs that the energy consumption rate be calculated for each of the 
three periods specified in the test method as the power consumption for 
that period divided by the mass of ice collected in that period, as 
shown below.

For i = 1 to 3:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP04AP11.003

    This result is then averaged and multiplied by 100 to obtain an 
average energy consumption rate:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP04AP11.004

    The previous concern with ambiguity around the energy consumption 
rate equation was based on the possibility that manufacturers might 
discard some ice captured during the periods specified in the capacity 
test and then divide the total energy use, for all three periods, by a 
lesser volume of ice, thereby overstating the energy consumption of the 
equipment. 71 FR 42178, 42184 (July 25, 2006). Although the text in 
ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 did not change between the 1988 and 2009 
versions, DOE has reexamined the energy consumption rate calculations 
contained in the ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 test procedures and concluded 
that the procedure is clear and no ambiguity exists. The ASHRAE 
Standard 29-2009 test procedure clearly states that the mass of ice 
collected will be recorded for each of the three complete periods 
specified. ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 also states that the power 
consumption will be recorded for the same three periods. DOE believes 
that this statement is clear and does not provide opportunity for 
misinterpretation. Additionally, DOE acknowledges that this method may 
show more consistency in the average energy use rate calculation and, 
further, is the method typically used in industry today. DOE proposes 
to remove the clarification for the calculation of energy consumption 
rate in this rulemaking.
    DOE requests comment on its proposal to incorporate AHRI Standard 
810-2007, with reference to ASHRAE Standard 29-2009 as the method of 
test, without specification or clarification of the calculation for 
energy consumption rate.

B. Response to Additional Comments Raised by Interested Parties at the 
Framework Document Public Meeting

    The following sections contain responses to comments received at 
the

[[Page 18436]]

December 16, 2011 Framework Document public meeting that were not 
specifically addressed in the discussion of test procedure revisions, 
including:

1. Treatment of Tube Type Ice Machines
2. Quantification of Auxiliary Energy Use
3. Measurement of Storage Bin Effectiveness
4. Establishment of a Metric for Potable Water Used in Making Ice
5. Standardization of Water Hardness for Measurement of Potable Water 
Used in Making Ice
6. Testing of Batch Type Ice Makers at the Highest Purge Setting
1. Treatment of Tube Type Ice Machines
    At the Framework Document public meeting, the categorization of 
tube type ice machines was discussed. Scotsman commented that tube ice 
could be treated as a batch process in the same equipment class as cube 
ice. (Scotsman, No. 0016 at p. 43) Manitowoc Ice agreed, but cautioned 
against lumping them all together because of the different consumer 
applications and utilities, such as the larger footprint of tube type 
ice machines. (Manitowoc Ice, No. 0016 at pp. 49-50 and 53-54) 
Manitowoc further commented that tube ice can be tested under the 
currently available industry test procedures, but should be treated as 
a separate equipment class. (Manitowoc Ice, No. 0016 at p. 50)
    Tube type automatic commercial ice makers produce cube, flake, or 
nugget ice. In making cube ice, they use a batch process, as do 
conventional cube ice machines. Because tube ice has lower clarity than 
cube ice from conventional machines, tube ice may have a different 
market. There are no tube ice machines of less than 2,000 pounds of ice 
per 24 hours on the market. Manufacturers are currently using the 
existing test procedure for tube ice machines.
    DOE agrees with the comments from Scotsman and Manitowoc Ice 
regarding categorization of tube type ice machines, and finds that tube 
type machines can be tested under the currently available test 
procedures. Therefore, DOE proposes to clarify in the DOE test 
procedure that tube and other batch technologies can be tested by the 
current industry test procedures using the cube type test method.
2. Quantification of Auxiliary Energy Use
    In assessing the operation and energy consumption of automatic 
commercial ice makers, DOE determined that there are potential phases 
of operation during the non-ice making periods that currently are not 
accounted for in the test procedure. Although DOE is not required to 
quantify auxiliary energy use, DOE is not prevented from including them 
in the test procedures and energy conservations standards for automatic 
commercial ice makers, if warranted. DOE examined the significance of 
these auxiliary energy loads for automatic commercial ice makers to 
determine if incorporation into the test procedure and energy 
conservation standard was justified.
    At the Framework Document public meeting, Manitowoc Ice mentioned 
that standby energy use due to sensors could represent an electrical 
load as high as 10 watts in some units. (Manitowoc Ice, No. 0016 at p. 
143) Manitowoc Ice further stated that although such standby electrical 
energy consumption exists in some cases, the overall energy consumption 
was negligible and does not warrant consideration in the test procedure 
or standard rulemakings. (Manitowoc Ice, No. 0016 at pp. 140-141)
    DOE performed a preliminary assessment to corroborate the 
estimations of interested parties and found that energy use due to 
electrical sensors during non-ice-making periods contributed 1 percent 
or less to the total energy consumption of the ice maker. If DOE chose 
to quantify this load, a measurement of electrical consumption during 
non-ice-making times could be incorporated into the test procedure. 
Given the small magnitude of this energy use, DOE believes 
quantification of auxiliary energy use during non-ice-making periods is 
not justified. Note that the provision within EISA that standby mode 
energy usage must be quantified (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) only appears 
in the section that pertains to consumer products, and therefore does 
not apply to commercial equipment.
    DOE requests comment on its determination that an additional test 
procedure to quantify auxiliary energy use during non-ice-making 
periods is not justified.
3. Measurement of Storage Bin Effectiveness
    Energy use that occurs to replace ice that has melted in the ice 
storage bin prior to dispensing or use is currently quantified in the 
Canadian and Australian standards and test procedures for automatic 
commercial ice makers. In addition, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) 
has incorporated storage bin effectiveness into its energy efficiency 
standard as a separate metric that applies only to self-contained 
automatic commercial ice makers. The NRCan standard for storage bin 
effectiveness ranges from 60 to 80 percent, depending on capacity of 
the ice storage bin.\4\ If this range is representative of ice storage 
bin effectiveness, meltage could represent approximately 10 percent 
additional ice production, and thus 10 percent additional energy use, 
per 24 hours. Storage bin effectiveness will similarly impact condenser 
water use.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ CSA C742-08. Energy Performance of automatic icemaker and 
storage bins. Canadian Standards Association, Mississauga, Ontario, 
Canada.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At the Framework Document public meeting, many manufacturers stated 
that energy use associated with ice storage was outside the scope of 
this rulemaking and the ice storage compartments were not refrigerated 
on any ice makers. (AHRI, No. 0016 at p. 84; Scotsman, No. 0016 at p. 
84; Manitowoc Ice, No. 0016 at pp. 84-85) Manufacturers also commented 
that including ice storage bin effectiveness for only some ice makers 
would not be fair or provide an accurate comparison. (Manitowoc Ice, 
No. 0016 at p. 86)
    A common metric used to quantify ice meltage in the ice storage bin 
is storage bin effectiveness. Storage bin effectiveness is defined as a 
theoretical expression of the fraction of ice that under specific 
rating conditions would be expected to remain in the ice storage bin 24 
hours after it is produced, with units of percent. AHRI has a standard, 
AHRI 820-2000, that describes a test method for quantifying the 
effectiveness of ice storage bins. This method, or a similar method, is 
also used in the Canadian and Australian test procedures for automatic 
commercial ice makers to quantify ice storage bin effectiveness.
    While quantifying the additional energy use associated with ice 
storage losses could contribute to additional energy savings, doing so 
would result in an inconsistency between the standards for self-
contained and remote condensing ice makers or ice-making heads, and 
thus an increased burden for manufacturers of self-contained units. DOE 
believes that the additional burden associated with testing storage bin 
effectiveness is not warranted at this time. As such, DOE will not 
include a quantification of meltage in the storage bin in this 
rulemaking.
    DOE requests comments or data related to the impact of storage bin 
effectiveness on the energy and water consumption of automatic 
commercial ice makers. Specifically, DOE requests comment on the 
appropriate test method and metric for storage bin effectiveness and 
the burden associated with adopting such a test method.

[[Page 18437]]

4. Establishment of a Metric for Potable Water Used to Produce Ice
    The current DOE energy conservation standard for automatic 
commercial ice makers established metrics of energy use per 100 pounds 
of ice for all equipment classes, and condenser water use per 100 
pounds of ice produced for water-cooled models only. The current DOE 
test procedure references ARI Standard 810-2003 as the test procedure 
to calculate condenser water use. The updated AHRI Standard 810-2007 
contains the same calculation for condenser water use.
    However, automatic commercial ice makers consume potable water to 
produce ice as well. AHRI Standard 810-2007 defines ``potable water use 
rate'' as the amount of potable water used in making ice, including 
``dump'' water. AHRI Standard 810-2007 defines ``dump water'' as the 
water drainage from an ice maker to control the clarity of ice or to 
prevent scaling. In this document, potable water used to produce ice 
will refer to the water that leaves the machine in the form of ice as 
well as any dump water or other excess that is expelled from the 
machine during the ice-making process.
    While there is generally a positive relationship between energy use 
and potable water use, there may be a point at which the relationship 
between potable water use and energy consumption reverses. At the ACIM 
Framework Document public meeting, Manitowoc Ice and Scotsman both 
indicated that, from a technology standpoint, reducing potable water 
use generally improves energy efficiency, but if potable water use is 
reduced beyond a certain threshold, efficiency could decrease due to 
scaling. (Manitowoc Ice, No. 0016 at pp. 94-95; Scotsman, No. 0016 at 
p. 94) Larger amounts of dump water can benef