Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures for Residential and Commercial Water Heaters, 40541-40588 [2014-15656]
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Vol. 79
Friday,
No. 133
July 11, 2014
Part IV
Department of Energy
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10 CFR Parts 429, 430, and 431
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Certain
Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures for Residential and
Commercial Water Heaters; Final Rule
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Parts 429, 430, and 431
[Docket No. EERE–2011–BT–TP–0042]
RIN 1904–AC53
Energy Conservation Program for
Consumer Products and Certain
Commercial and Industrial Equipment:
Test Procedures for Residential and
Commercial Water Heaters
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
On November 4, 2013, the
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued
a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR)
to amend its test procedures established
under the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act for residential water
heaters and certain commercial water
heaters, which serves as the basis for
today’s action. This rulemaking fulfills
DOE’s statutory obligation for
residential and certain commercial
water heaters to review its test
procedure for covered products and
equipment at least once every seven
years. In addition, this rulemaking
satisfies DOE’s statutory obligation to
develop a uniform efficiency descriptor
for residential and commercial water
heaters. The test method applies the
same efficiency descriptor to all
residential and certain commercial
water heaters, and extends coverage to
eliminate certain gaps in the current
residential test procedure, updates the
simulated-use-test draw pattern, and
updates the outlet water temperature
requirement.
DATES: The effective date of this rule is
July 13, 2015. Compliance will be
mandatory starting one year after the
publication in the Federal Register of a
mathematical conversion factor to
convert from the existing efficiency
ratings to efficiency ratings under the
test procedure adopted by this final
rule, or December 31, 2015, whichever
is later.
The incorporation by reference of
certain publications listed in this rule is
approved by the Director of the Federal
Register as of July 13, 2015. Other
publications referenced were approved
on March 23, 2009, and May 16, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this
rulemaking is available for review at
www.regulations.gov, including Federal
Register notices, public meeting
attendee lists and transcripts,
comments, and other supporting
documents/materials. All documents in
the docket are listed in the
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SUMMARY:
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www.regulations.gov index. However,
not all documents listed in the index
may be publicly available, such as
information that is exempt from public
disclosure.
A link to the docket on the
www.regulations.gov Web page can be
found at: https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2011-BT-TP0042. The www.regulations.gov Web
page contains simple instructions on
how to access all documents, including
public comments, in the docket.
For further information on how to
review the docket, contact Ms. Brenda
Edwards at (202) 586–2945 or by email:
Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Ashley Armstrong, 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) 586–6590. Email:
Ashley.Armstrong@ee.doe.gov.
Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
GC–71, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–9507. Email:
Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final
rule incorporates by reference the
following industry standards into
subpart B of 10 CFR part 430:
ASTM D2156–09, (‘‘ASTM D2156’’),
Standard Test Method for Smoke
Density in Flue Gases from Burning
Distillate Fuels.
Copies of ASTM D2156–09 can be
obtained from the American Society for
Testing and Materials International, 100
Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West
Conshohocken, PA 19428–2959, or go to
https://www.astm.org.
Table of Contents
I. Authority and Background
II. Summary of the Final Rule
III. Discussion
A. Scope
1. Coverage Range of Uniform Metric and
Test Procedure
2. Storage Capacity Limits
3. Input Capacity Limits
4. Electric Instantaneous Water Heaters,
Gas-Fired Heat Pump Water Heaters, and
Oil-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters
B. Uniform Efficiency Descriptor
Nomenclature
C. Draw Pattern
D. Instrumentation
E. Test Conditions
1. Outlet Water Temperature
2. Ambient Temperature and Relative
Humidity
3. Laboratory Airflow
F. Storage Tank Pre-Conditioning
G. Operational Mode Selection
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H. Annual Energy Consumption
Calculation
I. Conversion of Existing Energy Factor
Ratings
J. Full Fuel Cycle
K. Certification, Compliance, and
Enforcement IssuesC
1. Storage Volume Requirements
2. First-Hour Rating and Maximum GPM
Requirements
3. Ratings for Untested Models
L. Reference Standards
M. Compliance With Other EPCA
Requirements
N. Other Issues
IV. Procedural Issues and 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 of 1969
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 Executive Order 12630
J. Review Under Treasury and General
Government Appropriations Act, 2001
K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal
Energy Administration Act of 1974
M. Congressional Notification
V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
I. Authority and Background
Title III, Part B 1 of the Energy Policy
and Conservation Act of 1975 (‘‘EPCA’’
or ‘‘the Act’’), Public Law 94–163 (42
U.S.C. 6291–6309, as codified) sets forth
a variety of provisions designed to
improve energy efficiency and
established the Energy Conservation
Program for Consumer Products Other
Than Automobiles.2 These include
residential water heaters, one subject of
this rulemaking. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(4))
Title III, Part C 3 of EPCA, Public Law
94–163 (42 U.S.C. 6311–6317, as
codified), added by Public Law 95–619,
Title IV, Sec. 441(a), established the
Energy Conservation Program for
Certain Industrial Equipment, which
includes the commercial water-heating
equipment that is another subject of this
rulemaking. (42 U.S.C. 6311(1)(K))
Under EPCA, energy conservation
programs generally consist of four parts:
(1) Testing; (2) labeling; (3) establishing
Federal energy conservation standards;
and (4) certification and enforcement
procedures. The testing requirements
1 For editorial reasons, upon codification in the
U.S. Code, Part B was redesignated as Part A.
2 All references to EPCA in this document refer
to the statute as amended through the American
Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act
(AEMTCA), Public Law 112–210 (Dec. 18, 2012).
3 For editorial reasons, upon codification in the
U.S. Code, Part C was redesignated Part A–1.
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
consist of test procedures that
manufacturers of covered products and
equipment must use as the basis for
certifying to DOE that their products
and equipment comply with the
applicable energy conservation
standards adopted pursuant to EPCA
and for making other representations
about the efficiency of those products.
(42 U.S.C. 6293(c); 42 U.S.C. 6295(s); 42
U.S.C. 6314) Similarly, DOE must use
these test requirements to determine
whether the products comply with any
relevant standards promulgated under
EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(s))
Under 42 U.S.C. 6293, EPCA sets forth
the criteria and procedures that DOE
must follow when prescribing or
amending test procedures for residential
water heaters. EPCA provides, in
relevant part, that any test procedures
prescribed or amended under this
section must be reasonably designed to
produce test results which measure
energy efficiency, energy use, or
estimated annual operating cost of a
covered product during a representative
average use cycle or period of use, and
must not be unduly burdensome to
conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) In
addition, 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. 6293(b)(2))
For commercial water heaters, EPCA
requires that if the test procedure
referenced in the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating, and AirConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Standard 90.1, ‘‘Energy Standard for
Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential
Buildings,’’ is updated, DOE must
amend its test procedure to be
consistent with the updated test
procedure unless DOE determines by
rule published in the Federal Register
and supported by clear and convincing
evidence that the amended test
procedure is not reasonably designed to
produce test results which reflect the
energy efficiency, energy use, or
estimated operating costs of that type of
ASHRAE equipment during a
representative average use cycle. In
addition, DOE must determine that the
amended test procedure is not unduly
burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C.
6314(a)(2) and (4))
In any rulemaking to amend a test
procedure, DOE must determine to what
extent, if any, the proposed test
procedure would alter the product’s
measured energy efficiency. (42 U.S.C.
6293(e)(1)) If DOE determines that the
amended test procedure would alter the
measured efficiency of a covered
product, DOE must amend the
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applicable energy conservation standard
accordingly. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2))
Further, the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007)
amended EPCA to require that DOE
must review test procedures for all
covered products at least once every
seven years and either amend test
procedures (if the Secretary determines
that amended test procedures would
more accurately or fully comply with
the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)
for residential products or 42 U.S.C.
6314(a)(2)–(3) for commercial
equipment) or publish notice in the
Federal Register of any determination
not to amend a test procedure. (42
U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A); 42 U.S.C.
6314(a)(1)(A)) Under this requirement,
DOE must review the test procedures for
residential water heaters not later than
December 19, 2014 (seven years after the
enactment of EISA 2007), and DOE must
review the test procedures for
commercial water heaters not later than
May 16, 2019 (seven years after the last
final rule for commercial water heater
test procedures 4). The final rule
resulting from this rulemaking will
satisfy the requirement to review the
test procedures for residential and
certain commercial water heaters every
seven years.
DOE’s test procedure for residential
water heaters is found in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 10 CFR
430.23(e) and 10 CFR part 430, subpart
B, appendix E. The test procedure
includes provisions for determining the
energy efficiency (energy factor (EF)), as
well as the annual energy consumption
of these products. DOE’s test procedure
for commercial water heaters is found at
10 CFR 431.106. That test procedure
incorporates by reference American
National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Z21.10.3, Gas Water Heaters—Volume
III, Storage Water Heaters With Input
Ratings Above 75,000 Btu Per Hour,
Circulating and Instantaneous, and
provides a method for determining the
thermal efficiency and standby loss of
this equipment.
In addition to the test procedure
review provision discussed above, EISA
2007 also amended EPCA to require
DOE to amend its test procedures for all
covered consumer products to include
measurement of standby mode and off
mode energy consumption. (42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(2)(A)) Consequently, DOE
recently completed a rulemaking to
consider amending its test procedure for
residential water heaters to include
provisions for measuring the standby
mode and off mode energy consumption
of those products. Pursuant to the
requirements of EPCA, DOE published a
notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR)
in the Federal Register on August 30,
2010, for three different residential
heating products (water heaters, pool
heaters, and direct heating equipment)
related to standby mode and off mode
energy consumption, but the NOPR
proposed no amendments to the DOE
test procedure for residential water
heaters because DOE tentatively
concluded that standby mode and off
mode energy consumption was already
accounted for in the existing DOE test
method.5 75 FR 52892, 52895.
Subsequently, DOE published a final
rule in the Federal Register on
December 17, 2012, which affirmed its
conclusion that no changes were needed
to the existing test procedure for
residential water heaters. 77 FR 74559,
74561–62. However, that rulemaking
was limited to consideration of test
procedure amendments to address the
above-referenced standby mode and off
mode requirements; it did not address
other issues regarding DOE’s existing
test procedure for residential water
heaters. DOE addresses these issues in
this final rule.
On October 12, 2011, DOE published
in the Federal Register a request for
information (RFI) that identified and
requested comment on a number of
issues regarding the test procedures for
residential water heaters. 76 FR 63211.
DOE accepted comments and
information on the RFI until November
28, 2011. Key issues discussed in the
RFI include the scope, draw patterns,
and test conditions for residential water
heaters. The RFI began the process of
fulfilling DOE’s obligation to
periodically review its test procedures
under 42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A) by
initiating a rulemaking to examine all
aspects of the DOE test procedure.
On December 18, 2012, the American
Energy Manufacturing Technical
Corrections Act (AEMTCA), Public Law
112–210, was signed into law. In
relevant part, it amended EPCA to
require that DOE publish a final rule
establishing a uniform efficiency
descriptor and accompanying test
methods for covered residential water
heaters and commercial water-heating
equipment within one year of the
enactment of AEMTCA. (42 U.S.C.
6295(e)(5)(B)) The final rule must
replace the current energy factor,
thermal efficiency, and standby loss
metrics with a uniform efficiency
4 On May 16, 2012, DOE published a final rule in
the Federal Register amending the test procedures
for commercial water heaters. 77 FR 28928.
5 For more information, please visit DOE’s Web
site at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/
appliance_standards/residential/waterheaters.html.
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
descriptor. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(C))
AEMTCA requires that, beginning one
year after the date of publication of
DOE’s final rule establishing the
uniform descriptor, the efficiency
standards for covered water heaters
must be denominated according to the
uniform efficiency descriptor
established in the final rule (42 U.S.C.
6295(e)(5)(D)), and that DOE must
develop a mathematical factor for
converting the measurement of
efficiency for covered water heaters
from the test procedures and metrics
currently in effect to the new uniform
energy descriptor. (42 U.S.C.
6295(e)(5)(E)(i)–(ii)) After the effective
date of the final rule, covered water
heaters shall be considered to comply
with the final rule and with any revised
labeling requirements established by the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to
carry out the final rule, if the covered
water heater was manufactured prior to
the effective date of the final rule and
complies with the efficiency standards
and labeling requirements in effect prior
to the final rule. (42 U.S.C.
6295(e)(5)(K))
AEMTCA also requires that the
uniform efficiency descriptor and
accompanying test method apply, to the
maximum extent practicable, to all
water-heating technologies currently in
use and to future water-heating
technologies. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(H))
AEMTCA allows DOE to provide an
exclusion from the uniform efficiency
descriptor for specific categories of
otherwise covered water heaters that do
not have residential uses, that can be
clearly described, and that are
effectively rated using the current
thermal efficiency and standby loss
descriptors. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(F))
AEMTCA outlines DOE’s various
options for establishing a new uniform
efficiency descriptor for water heaters,
including: (1) A revised version of the
energy factor descriptor currently in
use; (2) the thermal efficiency and
standby loss descriptors currently in
use; (3) a revised version of the thermal
efficiency and standby loss descriptors;
(4) a hybrid of descriptors; or (5) a new
approach. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(G))
Lastly, AEMTCA requires that DOE
invite stakeholders to participate in the
rulemaking process, and that DOE
contract with the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST), as
necessary, to conduct testing and
simulation of alternative descriptors
identified for consideration. (42 U.S.C.
6295(e)(5)(I)–(J))
On January 11, 2013, DOE published
in the Federal Register an RFI
(hereinafter the ‘‘January 2013 RFI’’)
that requested comment on its
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interpretation of the requirements for
developing a uniform efficiency
descriptor in AEMTCA. DOE also
sought comment on how to implement
those requirements. 78 FR 2340. DOE
accepted comments and information on
the RFI until February 11, 2013.
On November 4, 2013, DOE published
a NOPR in the Federal Register
(hereinafter the ‘‘November 2013
NOPR’’) regarding the test procedure for
residential and certain commercial
water heaters. DOE accepted comments
and information on the NOPR until
January 21, 2014. The November 2013
NOPR proposed to modify the current
test procedures for residential water
heaters and certain commercial water
heaters to be more representative of
conditions encountered in the field
(including modifications to both the test
conditions and the draw patterns) and
to expand the scope of the test
procedure to apply to certain
commercial water heaters and certain
residential water heaters that are not
covered by the current test procedure.
The proposal also included a number of
other improvements identified by
commenters in response to both the
October 2011 RFI and the January 2013
RFI. On December 6, 2013, DOE held a
public meeting to discuss the test
procedure proposals outlined in the
November 2013 NOPR. The feedback
received from stakeholders was taken
into consideration and is discussed
further in section III of this final rule.
II. Summary of the Final Rule
Through this final rule, DOE amends
its test procedure for residential water
heaters and certain commercial water
heaters. The amendments will modify
the test procedure to be more
representative of conditions
encountered in the field (including
modifications to the test conditions and
the draw patterns) and expand the scope
of the test procedure to apply to certain
commercial water heaters and certain
residential water heaters that are not
covered by the current test procedure.
The following paragraphs summarize
these changes.
DOE also modifies the test procedure
for water heaters to establish a uniform
descriptor that can be applied to: (1) All
residential water heaters (including
certain residential water heaters that are
covered products under EPCA’s
definition of ‘‘water heater’’ at 42 U.S.C.
6291(27), but that are not covered under
the current test procedure); and (2) to
certain commercial water heaters that
have residential applications. These
modifications include the establishment
of test procedure provisions that are
applicable to water heaters with storage
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volumes between 2 gallons (7.6 L) and
20 gallons (76 L), and the creation of a
definition for ‘‘electric instantaneous
water heater.’’ In addition, DOE
establishes a new equipment class of
commercial water heaters and
corresponding definition for
‘‘residential-duty commercial water
heater.’’ DOE will require water heaters
that are classified as ‘‘residential-duty
commercial’’ to be tested using the test
procedure for the uniform efficiency
descriptor established in this final rule.
In addition, DOE establishes the use
of multiple draw patterns for testing
water heaters, with certain draw
patterns prescribed as a function of
equipment capacity. Further, DOE
establishes updates to the water heater
draw pattern to be more reflective of
actual field usage based on recent field
test data. Lastly, DOE modifies the
outlet water temperature requirement to
better reflect conditions encountered in
typical field installations.
III. Discussion
In response to the November 2013
NOPR, DOE received 24 written
comments from the following interested
parties: Thomas Harman, Seisco,
Applied Energy Technology (AET), two
separate comments from Heat Transfer
Products, Inc. (HTP), the National
Propane Gas Association (NPGA),
Bradford White, A.O. Smith, Edison
Electric Institute (EEI), a joint comment
from Northwest Energy Efficiency
Alliance (NEEA) and Northwest Power
and Conservation Council (NPCC)
(NEEA and NPCC), Sequentric Energy
Systems, LLC (SES), Stone Mountain
Technologies (SMT), six separate
comments from Affiliated International
Management, LLC (AIM), the American
Gas Association (AGA), Rheem
Manufacturing Company (Rheem), the
Air-Conditioning, Heating, and
Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), Giant
Factories, Inc. (Giant), a joint comment
submitted by the American Council for
an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
(Joint Comment),6 and General Electric
Company (GE).
These interested parties commented
on a range of issues, including those
identified by DOE in the October 2011
RFI, the January 2013 RFI, and the
November 2013 NOPR, as well as
several other pertinent issues. The
issues on which DOE received
comment, as well as DOE’s response to
6 ACEEE submitted a joint comment on behalf of
ACEEE, the Appliance Standards Awareness Project
(ASAP), the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE),
Consumers Union (CU), the National Consumer
Law Center (NCLC), the Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC), and the Northeast Energy
Efficiency Partnership (NEEP).
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those comments and the resulting
changes to the test procedures for water
heaters, are discussed in the subsections
immediately below.
A. Scope
DOE’s current test procedures for
residential water heaters codified at 10
CFR 430.23(e) and 10 CFR part 430,
subpart B, appendix E address gas-fired,
electric, and oil-fired storage-type (i.e.,
storage volume not less than 20 gallons
(76 L)) and gas-fired and electric
instantaneous type (i.e., storage volume
less than 2 gallons (7.6 L)) water heaters.
However, the current DOE test
procedure does not define ‘‘electric
instantaneous water heater.’’ In
addition, it does not address the
following types of products: (1) Gasfired water heaters that have a storage
volume at or above 2 gallons and less
than 20 gallons (76 L); (2) electric
storage water heaters with storage
volume less than 20 gallons (76 L); and
(3) storage water heaters with very large
storage capacities, including oil-fired
water heaters with storage volumes
greater than 50 gallons (190 L), gas-fired
water heaters with storage volumes
above 100 gallons (380 L), and electric
water heaters with storage volumes
above 120 gallons (450 L). In the NOPR,
DOE proposed an expansion of the
scope of coverage of its test method so
that it applies to all products that meet
the definition of residential water
heater, including those products listed
above that are not addressed by the
existing DOE test method. 78 FR 66202,
66205 (Nov. 4, 2013). DOE also
proposed revising 10 CFR 430.32(d) to
clarify the applicability of the existing
standards with respect to the expanded
test procedure scope. Id. As discussed
below, DOE adopts the proposed
changes along with several clarifications
based on comments received from
interested parties.
DOE’s test procedures for commercial
water heaters are found at 10 CFR
431.106. In terms of capacity, the
procedures for commercial water
heaters cover storage water heaters with
an input rating up to 4,000 British
thermal units (Btu) per hour (Btu/h) per
gallon of stored water, instantaneous
water heaters with input ratings not less
than 4,000 Btu/h per gallon of stored
water, and hot water supply boilers with
input ratings from 300,000 Btu/h to
12,500,000 Btu/h and of at least 4,000
Btu/h per gallon of stored water. Models
using natural gas, oil, or electricity are
covered by these test methods.
EPCA includes definitions for both
residential and commercial water
heaters that set the scope of DOE’s
authority for these products. (42 U.S.C.
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6291(27); 42 U.S.C. 6311(12)) As
required by AEMTCA, by this final rule,
DOE establishes a uniform metric and
test method for all covered water
heaters,7 regardless of whether a
particular water heater falls under the
scope of residential water heaters or
commercial water heaters as defined in
EPCA. In doing so, DOE also expands
the scope of the test procedure to
include test methods for certain product
types that are not covered by the current
DOE test procedure. DOE identified
these topics as issues for comment in
the October 2011 RFI, the January 2013
RFI, and the November 2013 NOPR. 76
FR 63211, 63212–13 (Oct. 12, 2011); 78
FR 2340, 2344–2346 (Jan. 11, 2013); 78
FR 66202, 66205–66224 (Nov. 4, 2013).
1. Coverage Range of Uniform Metric
and Test Procedure
As proposed in the November 2013
NOPR, and in accordance with
AEMTCA (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(F)), DOE
excludes from the uniform efficiency
descriptor any specific categories of
covered water heaters that do not have
a residential use, can be clearly
described in the final rule, and are
effectively rated using the current
thermal efficiency and standby loss
descriptors. In the November 2013
NOPR, DOE proposed to define a new
classification of commercial water
heaters for which the uniform efficiency
descriptor would apply, which DOE
believes can be clearly distinguished
from the commercial water heaters for
which the uniform descriptor would not
apply under this final rule; DOE
proposed to name the new classification
‘‘light commercial water heater.’’ 78 FR
66202, 66206 (Nov. 4, 2013). DOE
received 4 comments on this proposal in
response to the NOPR. AHRI, AIM, A.O.
Smith, and NEEA and NPCC suggested
that the proposed name could lead to
confusion. (AHRI, No. 75 at p. 2; AIM,
No. 67 at p. 1; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p.
1; NEEA and NPCC No. 64 at p. 3).8
Further, AHRI and A.O. Smith
suggested that a more appropriate name
for this product classification would be
‘‘residential-duty water heater.’’ (AHRI,
No. 75 p. 2; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 1)
DOE considered this comment and
7 As provided by 42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(F), DOE is
excluding from the uniform efficiency descriptor
certain commercial water heaters that do not have
a residential use, can be clearly described in the
final rule, and are effectively rated using the
thermal efficiency and standby loss descriptors. The
water heaters that DOE is excluding are discussed
further in section III.A.1.
8 All references to comments received in response
to the November 2013 NOPR identify the
commenter, the identification number applied by
DOE, and the page of the comment package on
which the particular point has been discussed.
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agrees that ‘‘light commercial’’ is a term
already used in industry and that using
this term in this context could cause
stakeholder and consumer confusion.
Thus, DOE adopts a new name for the
classification, as suggested by
commenters, and creates a ‘‘residentialduty’’ commercial water heater
classification.9
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
proposed three characteristics to
distinguish water heaters intended only
for commercial use: (1) For models
requiring electricity, uses three-phase
power supply; (2) is capable of
delivering hot water at temperatures of
180 °F or above; and/or (3) bears a Code
Symbol Stamp signifying compliance
with the requirements of the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers
(ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code. DOE did not propose input and
storage capacity criteria to differentiate
commercial water heaters that would
only be used in non-residential
applications from commercial water
heaters that could have residential
applications, given that changes to the
input and storage capacity criteria
would likely occur over time and
require updating. 78 FR 66202, 66206–
66207 (Nov. 4, 2013).
No comments were received opposing
the proposal to exclude from the
‘‘residential-duty commercial water
heater’’ classification any water heater
which uses three-phase power, so DOE
has decided to retain that characteristic
in this final rule.
Five comments (AHRI, A.O. Smith,
Bradford White, Giant, Joint Comment)
requested that the language ‘‘capable of
delivering’’ water at 180 °F or more
should be changed to ‘‘designed to
deliver,’’ given that the delivery
temperature of a water heater is a result
of the field conditions and usage. These
commenters also pointed out that even
a water heater that is not designed to
deliver water at or above 180 °F might
be capable of doing so. (AHRI, No. 75
at pp. 1–2; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 5;
Bradford White, No. 61 at pp. 2–3;
Giant, No. 76 at p. 1; Joint Comment,
No. 77 at p. 5)
Four commenters (AHRI, A.O. Smith,
Giant, Joint Comment) stated that the
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Stamp
is not required in all jurisdictions and
would not adequately classify a water
heater as a commercial water heater
9 As discussed in the NOPR, DOE determined that
the current metrics for commercial water heaters
that are used only in commercial settings (i.e., non‘‘residential-duty’’ commercial water heaters) are
appropriate and adequate to characterize the
performance of such commercial water heaters due
to the typical operating patterns of such equipment.
78 FR 66202, 66206 (Nov. 4, 2013).
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without a residential application.
(AHRI, No. 75 at p. 2; A.O. Smith, No.
62 at p. 4; Giant, No. 76 at p. 1; Joint
Comment, No. 77 at p. 5)
Nine comments (AHRI, A.O. Smith,
EEI, Giant, NEEA and NPCC, Joint
Comment, Rheem, SMT, Seisco)
suggested the addition of input and
storage capacity criteria, stating that the
three criteria listed above do not
adequately distinguish water heaters not
intended for residential use. (AHRI, No.
75 at p. 2; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 4;
EEI, No. 63 at p. 5; Giant, No. 76 at pp.
1–2; NEEA and NPCC, No. 64 at p. 3;
Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 4; Rheem,
No. 69 at p. 2; SMT, No. 66 at p. 1;
Seisco, No. 57 at p. 11) The suggested
criteria are presented in Table III.1 and
are grouped by water heater type.
TABLE III.1—SUGGESTED CAPACITY CRITERIA FOR DEFINING NON-RESIDENTIAL WATER HEATERS
Water heater type
Indicator of non-residential application by commenter
Gas-fired Storage ....
Oil-fired Storage ......
AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem: Rated input >100 kBtu/h; Rated storage volume >100 gallons.
AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem: Rated input >140 kBtu/h; Rated storage volume >50 gallons.
NEEA and NPCC: Rated input >105 kBtu/h; Rated storage volume >120 gallons.
AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem: Rated input >12kW; Rated storage volume >120 gallons.
NEEA and NPCC: Rated input >12kW; Rated storage volume <2 gallons and >120 gallons.
AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem: Rated current >24 A at a rated voltage of not greater than 250 V; Rated storage volume >120 gallons.
NEEA and NPCC; Rated Input >15 kW; Rated current >24 A at a rated voltage of not greater than 250 V; Rated storage
volume >120 gallons.
AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem: Rated input >200 kBtu/h; Rated storage volume < 1 gallon per 4000 Btu/h of input.
NEEA and NPCC: Rated input >200 kBtu/h; Rated storage volume <2 gallons.
AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem: Rated input >25 kW; Rated storage volume >2 gallons.
NEEA and NPCC: Rated input >58.6 kW; Rated storage volume >2 gallons.
Siesco: Rated input >56 kW (at a minimum).
AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem: Rated input >210 kBtu/h; Rated storage volume >2 gallons.
Electric Storage .......
Heat Pump with
Storage.
Gas-fired Instantaneous.
Electric Instantaneous.
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Oil-fired Instantaneous.
Upon considering these comments,
DOE decided to modify the criteria for
distinguishing water heaters intended
only for non-residential, commercial
use. First, upon examining the
commercial water heaters available on
the market, DOE found that many water
heaters that are marketed for residential
applications and would otherwise be
classified as ‘‘residential-duty’’ would
be exempted from coverage under the
uniform efficiency descriptor because of
the requirement that ‘‘residential-duty’’
units be capable of delivering water at
temperatures only up to 180 °F. (In the
November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed
that ‘‘residential-duty’’ units would be
capable of delivery water temperature
up to but not including 180 °F. 78 FR
66202, 66246 (Nov. 4, 2013).) As stated
in section I, AEMTCA requires that the
test method apply, to the maximum
extent practicable, to all water-heating
technologies currently in use (42 U.S.C.
6295(e)(5)(H)), except for specific
categories of water heaters that do not
have residential uses, that can be clearly
described, and that are effectively rated
using the current thermal efficiency and
standby loss descriptors (42 U.S.C.
6295(e)(5)(F)). DOE believes that the
proposed criteria to distinguish water
heaters intended only for commercial
use based on the capability to deliver
hot water at temperatures of 180 °F or
above would have inappropriately
excluded commercial water heaters
marketed for residential applications,
because such models are designed to
include 180 °F as the maximum delivery
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temperature. However, DOE believes
that including 180 °F as the maximum
delivery temperature of ‘‘residentialduty’’ commercial water heaters is still
a valuable distinguishing feature
between water heaters intended for
residential use and those that are not.
DOE also agrees with commenters to
adjust the language of the 180 °F
delivery temperature criteria to read
‘‘designed to deliver’’ as opposed to
‘‘capable of delivering,’’ because a water
heater that is ‘‘designed to deliver’’ hot
water at or below 180 °F might be
capable of delivering hot water in excess
of 180 °F depending on the field
conditions and usage. DOE is aware of
situations where a water heater could be
subjected to a series of several short
draws, which can cause an influx of
cold water at the bottom of the tank.
Due to stratification, the water at the
bottom of the tank near the thermostat
may be colder than the water at the top
of the tank, causing the burner or
elements to turn on and heat the water
to a temperature above that for which
the water heater is designed. DOE
considers a water heater that is
‘‘designed to deliver’’ water at or below
180 °F as one that has a user-operable
temperature control device with a
maximum setting of 180 °F or a
maximum setting that would deliver
water at or below 180 °F under the
conditions defined by the test method.
In order to more closely match the
language of the test procedure when
defining water heaters, DOE is slightly
changing the wording from ‘‘designed to
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deliver water’’ to ‘‘designed to provide
outlet water.’’
Second, because the ASME Boiler and
Pressure Vessel Stamp criterion is not
required in all jurisdictions and because
this criterion is not a definitive
identifier of whether a unit is truly
commercial, DOE does not adopt this
proposed requirement. Rather, as
suggested by commenters, DOE adopts
limitations on input rating and storage
capacity. (Additional comments related
to storage capacity and input capacity
limitations are discussed in the
subsections immediately following this
section.) DOE agrees that water-heating
units exist in the current marketplace
that are not intended for residential use
that do not meet the three criteria
proposed in the November 2013 NOPR
(and listed above) and, thus, establishes
input and storage capacity criteria based
on water heater type as shown in Table
III.2. Although DOE still believes that
changes to the input and storage
capacity criteria could occur over time
and require these criteria to be updated,
DOE has concluded that these criteria
are necessary to properly classify the
scope of the uniform efficiency
descriptor.
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TABLE III.2—CAPACITY CRITERIA FOR 430 continue to apply; and they must be
DEFINING NON-RESIDENTIAL WATER certified as consumer products under 10
CFR part 429.
HEATERS
Water heater
type
Indicator of non-residential
application
Gas-fired Storage.
Rated input >105 kBtu/h;
Rated storage volume
>120 gallons.
Rated input >140 kBtu/h;
Rated storage volume
>120 gallons.
Rated input >12 kW; Rated
storage volume >120 gallons.
Rated input >15 kW; Rated
current >24 A at a rated
voltage of not greater than
250 V; Rated storage volume >120 gallons.
Rated input >200 kBtu/h;
Rated storage volume >2
gallons.
Rated input >58.6 kW;
Rated storage volume >2
gallons.
Rated input >210 kBtu/h;
Rated storage volume >2
gallons.
Oil-fired Storage.
Electric Storage.
Heat Pump
with Storage.
Gas-fired Instantaneous.
Electric Instantaneous.
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Oil-fired Instantaneous.
DOE establishes a definition of
‘‘residential-duty commercial water
heater’’ at 10 CFR 431.102 that defines
a ‘‘residential-duty commercial water
heater’’ as any gas-fired, electric, or oil
storage or instantaneous commercial
water heater that meets the following
conditions:
(1) For models requiring electricity,
uses single-phase external power
supply;
(2) Is not designed to provide outlet
hot water at temperatures greater than
180 °F; and
(3) Is not excluded by the specified
limitations regarding rated input and
storage volume as described in Table
III.2 above.
Although residential-duty commercial
water heaters could have residential
applications, DOE notes that the new
‘‘residential-duty commercial water
heater’’ definition represents a type of
water heater that, to a significant extent,
is distributed in commerce for industrial
or commercial use. These water heaters
were and continue to be covered
industrial equipment, and will continue
to be subject to the applicable energy
conservation standards in 10 CFR part
431 and the certification requirements
for commercial and industrial
equipment in 10 CFR part 429.
Similarly, although DOE recognizes that
some consumer water heaters may be
installed in a commercial setting, those
water heaters are covered consumer
products for the purposes of DOE
regulations; the applicable energy
conservation standards in 10 CFR part
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If a commercial water heater does not
meet all of the three conditions
discussed above, it would be classified
as a commercial water heater that would
not be expected to be used in residential
applications and would be subject to the
current test methods prescribed in 10
CFR 431.106 and the certification
requirements for commercial and
industrial equipment in 10 CFR part
429. If a commercial water heater meets
all three criteria, DOE will consider it a
‘‘residential-duty commercial water
heater,’’ which would be subject to the
uniform efficiency descriptor and test
method established in this final rule.
Accordingly, DOE is adding a row to
Table 1 of 10 CFR 431.106 specifying 10
CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E as
the test method for this type of
equipment.
As stated in the November 2013
NOPR, DOE has determined that certain
commercial equipment, including
unfired storage tanks, add-on heat pump
water heaters, and hot water supply
boilers, are not appropriately rated
using the uniform descriptor applicable
to other water heaters. 78 FR 66202,
66207 (Nov. 4, 2013). Unfired storage
tanks are not complete water-heating
systems and require additional
equipment in the field to operate. As
such, their performance as part of a
complete water-heating system is
dependent upon other components of
the system so that use of the uniform
descriptor may be unrepresentative of
its performance as part of a complete
water-heating system. In a similar vein,
DOE previously determined that
residential add-on heat pump water
heaters are not covered residential
products. 75 FR 20112, 20127 (Apr. 16,
2010). DOE has authority to cover
commercial add-on heat pumps;
however, this equipment does not have
residential applications and, therefore,
is not suitable for application of the
uniform efficiency descriptor. DOE also
determined that hot water supply
boilers are more appropriately rated
using the existing metrics for
commercial water heaters, as this
equipment has very high input ratings
and their use is similar to that of other
commercial water heaters in commercial
applications. 78 FR 66202, 66207 (Nov.
4, 2013). DOE will address the types of
commercial water-heating equipment
that are excluded from the uniform
descriptor (e.g., unfired storage tanks,
add-on heat pump water heaters, and
hot water supply boilers) in a
subsequent test procedure rulemaking.
DOE did not receive any comments
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40547
regarding the exclusion of unfired
storage tanks, add-on heat pump water
heaters, and hot water supply boilers
from coverage under the uniform
descriptor.
2. Storage Capacity Limits
As noted above, under the existing
regulatory definitions, DOE’s current
residential water heater test procedures
are not applicable to gas or electric
water heaters with storage tanks that are
at or above 2 gallons (7.6 L) and less
than 20 gallons (76 L). The current DOE
test procedure for residential water
heaters only applies to gas-fired water
heaters with storage volumes less than
or equal to 100 gallons (380 L), electric
resistance and heat pump storage water
heaters with storage volumes less than
or equal to 120 gallons (450 L), and oilfired water heaters with storage volumes
less than or equal to 50 gallons (190 L).
10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E,
sections 1.12.1, 1.12.2, and 1.12.4.
The definitions in the current DOE
test procedure specify that gas
instantaneous water heaters have a
storage volume of less than two gallons
(7.6 L) and that electric or gas storagetype water heaters have a storage
volume of 20 gallons (76 L) or more. The
storage capacity of oil water heaters in
the test method is not restricted by a
lower limit, with the specification
stating that an oil-fired storage water
heater simply has a rated capacity less
than or equal to 50 gallons (190 L). 10
CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E,
sections 1.7 and 1.12. The definitions
for ‘‘Electric Instantaneous Water
Heater’’ and ‘‘Storage-type Water Heater
of More than 2 Gallons (7.6 Liters) and
Less than 20 Gallons (76 Liters)’’ are
currently reserved. Id. at section 1.12.5.
In the 1998 rulemaking establishing
test procedures for residential water
heaters, DOE proposed to include units
with storage volumes between 2 and 20
gallons, but commenters raised concerns
that the test procedure demand of 64.3
gallons per day was not appropriate for
these small units. 63 FR 25996, 26000
(May 11, 1998). At that time, DOE
concluded that the data necessary to
determine an appropriate representative
daily hot water consumption for water
heaters with these storage volumes did
not exist and that alternative procedures
proposed by commenters were not fully
evaluated. For these reasons, the
Department tabled consideration of the
inclusion of these water heaters until a
future revision of the DOE test
procedure.
As proposed in the November 2013
NOPR, DOE has decided to expand the
scope of the water heater test procedure
for the uniform efficiency descriptor to
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include water heaters with storage
volumes between 2 and 20 gallons. 78
FR 66202, 66208 (Nov. 4, 2013). Rheem
supported the expansion of the scope to
include units between 2 and 20 gallons,
but asserted that these products should
not be covered by the current energy
conservation standards. (Rheem, No. 69
at pp. 7–8) Bradford White requested
clarification as to whether products
between 2 and 20 gallons would be
covered by the current energy
conservation standards or test procedure
only. (Bradford White, No. 61 at p. 2)
AHRI stated that, although DOE is
developing a test method for water
heaters with storage volumes between 2
and 20 gallons, the current DOE
minimum efficiency standards for
residential water heaters do not and
should not apply to models having rated
storage volumes less than 20 gallons,
and AHRI requested information
regarding DOE activities with regard to
standards for these products. (AHRI, No.
80 at pp. 2–3)
The test procedure modifications for
water heaters with a storage volume
between 2 and 20 gallons specify the
method of test set-up (including
instrumenting such water heaters), a test
method to assess the delivery capacity,
and the draw pattern to be used to
determine the energy efficiency of such
units. The amendments for water
heaters with storage volumes between 2
and 20 gallons are discussed in detail in
section III.C of this final rule. Currently,
there are no minimum energy
conservation standards applicable to
water heater products with a storage
volume between 2 and 20 gallons,
which will be the case until DOE
conducts a rulemaking to establish such
standards. DOE clarifies this point in
this final rule’s amendments to 10 CFR
430.32(d).
AEMTCA requires DOE to reconsider
the scope of all water heater test
procedures. AEMTCA amended EPCA
to require that the new uniform metric
apply to the extent possible to all waterheating technologies. (42 U.S.C.
6295(e)(5)(F) and (H))
In considering the upper limit to the
storage capacity range, DOE is not aware
of any residential water heaters
available on the market with storage
volumes above 100 gallons, 120 gallons,
and 50 gallons for gas-fired, electric
(resistance and heat pump), and oilfired water heaters, respectively, that
would be covered as residential
products under EPCA. AHRI, A.O.
Smith, Giant, and Rheem supported the
continued use of the current maximum
storage capacity limits. (AHRI, No. 75 at
p. 2; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 4; Giant,
No. 76 at p. 2; Rheem, No. 69 at p. 2)
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In contrast, as AET stated in response
to the January 2013 RFI, the ASME
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
requires that vessels intended to store
fluids under pressure must individually
undergo a rigorous test and inspection
procedure if they have volumes greater
than 120 gallons. AET noted that
because these test and certification
procedures are expensive,
manufacturers will avoid making
products intended for residential use
that require an ASME inspection and
code stamp. For this reason, AET
commented that the upper limit of 120
gallons would be appropriate for all
residential water heaters. (AET, No. 22
at pp. 6–7)
DOE has reconsidered the water
heater test procedure scope and expands
the scope of the test procedure to
include all covered water heaters that
could have residential applications and
adjusts the current limitations on
maximum storage volume in the
residential test procedure for gas-fired,
electric, and oil storage water heaters to
120 gallons for all three types. DOE
concludes that the amended test method
adopted in today’s final rule adequately
addresses water heaters regardless of
storage volume, provided that they meet
the definition of a ‘‘residential water
heater’’ or a ‘‘residential-duty
commercial water heater.’’
Consequently, DOE’s uniform descriptor
test procedure will apply to residential
storage water heaters and ‘‘residentialduty commercial water heaters’’ with
storage volumes up to 120 gallons. As
noted previously in section III.A.1, DOE
excludes non-residential (commercial)
water heaters, and DOE agrees with AET
that a storage capacity limit of 120
gallons adequately separates residential
and commercial units of all water heater
types.
3. Input Capacity Limits
AEMTCA requires that the new
uniform efficiency descriptor apply to
the maximum extent practical to all
water-heating technologies in use now
or in the future. (42 U.S.C.
6295(e)(5)(H)) DOE’s current residential
water heater test procedure is not
applicable to gas-fired instantaneous
water heaters with input capacities at or
below 50,000 Btu/h or at or above
200,000 Btu/h. 10 CFR part 430, subpart
B, appendix E, section 1.7.2. In
addition, the existing test procedure is
not applicable to gas-fired storage water
heaters with input capacities above
75,000 Btu/h, electric storage water
heaters with input ratings above 12 kW,
and oil-fired storage water heaters with
input ratings above 105,000 Btu/h. 10
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CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E,
section 1.12.
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
proposed to eliminate the minimum
limit on the firing rate of instantaneous
gas water heaters of 50,000 Btu/h. 78 FR
66202, 66209 (Nov. 4, 2013). As
discussed in section III.C, DOE adopts
multiple draw patterns that vary based
on the delivery capacity of the water
heater. Because the draw pattern is
dependent upon delivery capacity, gasfired instantaneous units with a firing
rate below 50,000 Btu/h can be tested
under the new procedure. Thus, DOE
has concluded that there is no reason to
retain this lower limit on gas-fired
instantaneous water heater delivery
capacity. No comments were received
opposing this measure.
Similarly, DOE proposed to remove
the maximum input ratings for gas-fired,
electric, and oil-fired storage water
heaters and for gas-fired instantaneous
water heaters from the test procedure
(although maximum input ratings
specified in EPCA would still apply for
the purposes of equipment
classification). Because draw patterns
vary based on delivery capacity, the
new test procedure applies to models
with input capacities above those
included in the current residential water
heater test procedure. Although these
maximum input limitations were based
upon EPCA’s ‘‘water heater’’ definition
at 42 U.S.C. 6291(27), because the
AEMTCA amendments require that the
new metric apply to all water-heating
technologies except those that do not
have a residential use, DOE believes that
such limits are no longer controlling or
appropriate in terms of the scope of the
water heaters test procedure. DOE did
not receive any comments in response
to the NOPR related specifically to the
inclusion of input limitations on
residential products in the test
procedure, but did receive comments
regarding the application of the test
procedure to commercial models and
suggesting input capacity limitations.
Those comments are discussed in
section III.A.1. As discussed in section
III.A.1, input rating limitations are
useful to distinguish water heaters
without a residential use. Therefore,
although DOE will remove the input
capacity limitations from the scope of
the test method, DOE establishes input
capacity limits to define which units
would qualify as ‘‘residential-duty’’
commercial units and, thus, be required
to be tested using the uniform descriptor
test method. These input capacity
limitations are shown in Table III.2
above.
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4. Electric Instantaneous Water Heaters,
Gas-Fired Heat Pump Water Heaters,
and Oil-Fired Instantaneous Water
Heaters
As discussed in the November 2013
NOPR, DOE’s test procedures do not
contain a definition for ‘‘electric
instantaneous water heater,’’ but rather
have a space reserved to define that
term (10 CFR part 430, subpart B,
appendix E, section 1.7.1). 78 FR 66202,
66209 (Nov. 4, 2013). EPCA defines
‘‘electric instantaneous water heater’’ as
containing no more than one gallon of
water per 4,000 Btu per hour of input
and having an input capacity of 12
kilowatts (kW) or less. (42 U.S.C.
6291(27)(B)) As noted in the November
2013 NOPR, the heating power required
for electric instantaneous water heaters
intended for whole-home applications
typically is much higher than the power
capability commonly found in storagetype electric water heaters. 78 FR 66202,
66209 (Nov. 4, 2013). In the November
2013 NOPR, DOE proposed to amend its
water heater test procedure to include
applicable provisions for electric
instantaneous water heaters, and to
define the term ‘‘electric instantaneous
water heater.’’ Id. at 66210.
AIM commented that DOE needs to be
more inclusive of all types of water
heaters when defining the types of water
heaters that will be covered by the
uniform descriptor. (AIM No. 70 at p. 2)
DOE agrees in principle that all
existing types of water heaters should be
defined and, thus, adopts definitions of
‘‘gas-fired heat pump water heater’’ and
‘‘oil-fired instantaneous water heater,’’
in addition to a definition for ‘‘electric
instantaneous water heater.’’ While not
yet commercially available, DOE is
aware that manufacturers are currently
developing gas-fired heat pump water
heaters and oil-fired instantaneous
water heaters. Further, the new test
procedure applies to these types of
water heaters. Accordingly, DOE adds
definitions for these types of water
heaters at 10 CFR 430.2. (In addition, as
proposed in the November 2013 NOPR,
DOE is moving all other definitions
pertaining to defining the types of water
heaters to 10 CFR 430.2.) All three
definitions reflect the definitions of
these products as set forth in EPCA (42
U.S.C. 6291(27)) and are based on the
current definitions for other types of
water heaters. The definition for
‘‘electric instantaneous water heater’’
has been altered slightly from the
definition proposed in the November
2013 NOPR to better align with the
requirements of EPCA for these
products. These definitions read as
follows:
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Gas-fired Heat Pump Water Heater
means a water heater that uses gas as the
main energy source, has a nameplate
input rating of 75,000 Btu/h (79 MJ/h)
or less, has a maximum current rating of
24 amperes (including all auxiliary
equipment such as fans, pumps,
controls, and, if on the same circuit, any
resistive elements) at an input voltage of
no greater than 250 volts, has a rated
storage capacity of 120 gallons (450
liters) or less, and is designed to transfer
thermal energy from one temperature
level to a higher temperature level to
deliver water at a thermostaticallycontrolled temperature less than or
equal to 180 °F (82 °C).
Oil-fired Instantaneous Water Heater
means a water heater that uses oil as the
main energy source, has a nameplate
input rating of 210,000 Btu/h (220 MJ/
h) or less, contains no more than one
gallon of water per 4,000 Btu per hour
of input, and is designed to provide
outlet water at a controlled temperature
less than or equal to 180 °F (82 °C). The
unit may use a fixed or variable burner
input.
Electric Instantaneous Water Heater
means a water heater that uses
electricity as the energy source, has a
nameplate input rating of 12 kW (40,956
Btu/h) or less, contains no more than
one gallon of water per 4,000 Btu per
hour of input, and is designed to
provide outlet water at a controlled
temperature less than or equal to 180 °F
(82 °C). The unit may use a fixed or
variable burner input.
DOE notes that the definition of
‘‘electric instantaneous water heater’’
being added to 10 CFR 430.2
encompasses only electric instantaneous
water heaters that are residential (i.e.,
with an input capacity of 12 kW or less).
However, as discussed in section III.A.1,
commercial (i.e., with an input capacity
greater than 12 kW) electric
instantaneous water heaters with input
ratings up to 58.6 kW are considered
‘‘residential-duty commercial water
heaters,’’ and because water heaters
both above and below 12 kW have
residential applications, both types
would be covered by the uniform
efficiency descriptor.
In response to the November 2013
NOPR, Seisco and Thomas Harman
commented that 12 kW is not an
appropriate cutoff for electric
instantaneous water heaters because
there are many electric instantaneous
water heaters designed for and used in
residences that have input ratings above
12 kW. (Harman, No. 53 at p. 1; Seisco,
No. 57 at pp. 10–11) In response, DOE
notes that the 12 kW limit is defined by
EPCA and it is not at DOE’s discretion
to change. However, the 12 kW criteria
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40549
will apply only insofar as determining
the applicable minimum energy
conservation standard. As such, it
remains the point above which electric
instantaneous models would be
classified as ‘‘commercial’’ equipment
for the basis of determining the
applicable energy conservation
standards. Limits on the application of
the uniform efficiency descriptor
pursuant to the new test procedure
based on input and volume capacities
are set forth in Table III.2, above.
This final rule also provides for a
maximum flow rate test for electric
instantaneous water heaters and a test to
determine the energy efficiency
expressed in terms of uniform energy
factor for these products. (As discussed
in section III.B, the energy efficiency
metric for water heaters will be changed
from ‘‘energy factor’’ to ‘‘uniform energy
factor.’’) These tests are identical to
those provided for gas-fired
instantaneous water heaters.
B. Uniform Efficiency Descriptor
Nomenclature
AEMTCA provided the following
options for the uniform efficiency
descriptor metric: (1) A revised version
of the energy factor descriptor currently
in use; (2) the thermal efficiency and
standby loss descriptors currently in
use; (3) a revised version of the thermal
efficiency and standby loss descriptors;
(4) a hybrid of descriptors; or (5) a new
approach. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(G))
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
proposed to use a revised version of the
energy factor as the uniform efficiency
descriptor. 78 FR 66202, 66210 (Nov. 4,
2013). DOE received no comments
opposing the continued use of the
energy factor metric in response to the
November 2013 NOPR. However, DOE
received four comments (A.O. Smith,
Bradford White, EEI, Joint Comment)
suggesting that the ‘‘energy factor’’
nomenclature be adjusted to distinguish
the old energy factor from the new.
Additionally, the four commenters
suggest that the new ‘‘energy factor’’
nomenclature be differentiated by class
(i.e., subscripts with the draw
classification). (A.O. Smith No. 62 at p.
3; Bradford White No. 61 at p. 6; EEI No.
63 at p. 4; Joint Comment No. 77 at p.
2) NEEA and NPCC commented that the
‘‘energy factor’’ nomenclature as it
currently stands is appropriate and that
changes to the test procedure are not
significant enough to warrant a new
descriptor. (NEEA and NPCC No. 64 at
p. 1) NEEA and NPCC and the Joint
Comment stated that the new ‘‘energy
factor’’ nomenclature should not be
distinguished by fuel type or technology
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group. (NEEA and NPCC No. 64 at p. 16;
Joint Comment No. 77 at p. 2)
DOE agrees with commenters that
confusion could occur if the name of the
metric remains unchanged between the
current and amended test procedures.
Because the existing and new ratings are
determined under different test
conditions, which can result in a
different rating, DOE believes it is
necessary to adopt a new name to
distinguish between the efficiency result
under the existing test procedure and
the result under the amended test
procedure. As a result, DOE adopts a
‘‘uniform energy factor,’’ to be denoted
as ‘‘UEF’’ in the test procedure, as
distinguished from the ‘‘Ef’’ rating
determined under the current test
procedure.
C. Draw Pattern
The term ‘‘draw pattern’’ describes
the number, flow rate, length, and
timing of hot water removal from the
water heater during testing. Primary
decisions in developing draw patterns
include the total amount of water to be
removed during the test and the number
of draws during the test. The total
amount of water taken in each draw,
which is a function of the flow rate and
the length of the draw, must also be
specified. Finally, the spacing between
those draws is needed to complete the
specification of the draw pattern.
DOE proposed to modify the draw
pattern that is used in the existing test
procedure in the November 2013 NOPR.
78 FR 66202, 66210–17 (Nov. 4, 2013).
Under DOE’s proposal, the single draw
pattern that is currently applied during
the 24-hour simulated use test would be
replaced with one of four patterns that
is more representative of the demand
put on a water heater of different
delivery capacity. These four draw
patterns were termed ‘‘point-of-use,’’
‘‘low usage,’’ ‘‘medium usage,’’ and
‘‘high usage.’’ The selection of the draw
pattern to be used in the simulated-use
test would be based upon the results of
the first-hour rating test or the
maximum GPM (gallons per minute)
rating test.
DOE received seven comments in
general support of the move to four
different draw patterns. (HTP No. 59 at
p. 2; A.O. Smith No. 62 at p. 2; EEI No.
63 at p. 4; NEEA and NPCC No. 64 at
p. 3; AHRI No. 75 at p. 3; Giant No. 76
at p. 3; Joint Comment No. 77 at p. 6)
HTP recommended that DOE consider
altering the total water drawn in the
medium-usage pattern to 64.8 gallons to
assist in correlating between current
metrics and the proposed metrics. NEEA
and NPCC indicated a slight preference
for draw patterns proposed as part of the
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deliberations for ASHRAE 118.2,
‘‘Method of Testing for Rating
Residential Water Heaters,’’ because
those draws are more consistent with
the daily hot water use found in their
field data. AHRI indicated that the
proposed draw patterns were
appropriate but that it preferred the
draw patterns submitted in its comment
to the January 2013 RFI. (AHRI No. 46
at p. 5)
DOE received one comment that
supported the move to multiple draw
patterns but that recommended five
draw patterns instead of four and
provided alternative bases for
developing the patterns. (AET No. 58 at
p. 3) AET commented that the proposed
draw patterns could result in water
being delivered during the simulateduse test that may be considered to be too
cold for typical uses and recommended
that a fifth category termed ‘‘Sink’’ be
created that would apply to the smallest
water heaters. AET discussed how the
amount of water that can be withdrawn
in a continuous draw can be estimated
from the first-hour rating and stated that
the maximum draw volumes imposed in
the proposed draw patterns may yield
an ‘‘invalid test.’’ Particular emphasis
was placed on the point-of-use category,
in which a 2-gallon water heater would
be expected to deliver a 2-gallon draw.
Another concern expressed by AET is
that water heaters with the same storage
volume but with slightly different input
rates would be tested according to
different draw patterns. AET suggested
that selection of the draw pattern used
for the simulated-use test should be
based on two factors: the measured
storage volume and the first-hour rating.
AET recommended the largest draw
volume that should be implemented in
each draw pattern to meet the
capabilities of the water heaters in that
category. AET estimated that the first
draw delivery capability of a storage
water heater is 0.95*0.85*(Rated Storage
Volume), where 0.95 represents the
currently allowed tolerance on storage
volume and 0.85 accounts for mixing of
hot and cold water during draws. Id.
DOE received three comments from
AET, SMT, and Bradford White related
to the details in the proposed test
procedure of determining the standby
loss coefficient, ‘‘UA,’’ which is used to
adjust the daily energy consumption to
account for deviations from nominal
conditions. AET expressed concern that,
with water heaters having very slow
recoveries, the test could result in a
water heater with drastically different
stored water temperature at the start of
the test than at the end, thereby
necessitating a major correction to the
energy consumed. AET recommended
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extending the test beyond 24 hours for
such water heaters, ending the test only
after a recovery occurs. Energy
consumption during the test would be
modified to normalize to a 24-hour time
period by removing the estimated
standby loss during the time exceeding
24 hours. AET commented that it is
much more accurate to normalize to a
common time period than it is to end
the test prior to a recovery occurring.
AET stated that this approach would
ensure that a recovery occurs during the
period of the test when the UA value is
determined and that it would result in
an average tank temperature that
changes less from the start of the test to
the end of the test. (AET No. 58 at p. 1).
SMT expressed concern that largecapacity models may not initiate
recovery during the first draw cluster of
tests or may initiate a recovery during
a standby portion of the test. In these
cases, SMT commented that
determination of the UA may not be
possible. SMT suggested that the test
should start with a fully-charged water
heater and that the first draw cluster
should start eight hours after this point.
According to SMT, the UA value would
be determined during this eight-hour
period. (SMT No. 66 at p. 2). Bradford
White commented that the new test
procedure can take standby loss
readings when the water heater is
recovering and/or when water is being
drawn, which would lead to inaccurate
measures of standby loss. (Bradford
White No. 61 at p. 8).
After consideration of these
comments, DOE has decided to adopt
the modifications to the draw patterns
as originally proposed in the November
2013 NOPR. DOE has reviewed the total
amount of water drawn per day in each
draw pattern and has observed that
those values match well with field data
collated by the Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory.10 DOE
acknowledges that a medium-use draw
pattern having the same daily draw
volume as that prescribed in the current
test procedure would remove some
uncertainty in converting from the
existing efficiency metric to the new
uniform metric since the total daily
draw volume would not impact the
rating. However, DOE has decided to
maintain a lower daily draw volume in
the new draw schedule to better match
10 Lutz, JD, Renaldi, Lekov A, Qin Y, and Melody
M., ‘‘Hot Water Draw Patterns in Single Family
Houses: Findings from Field Studies,’’ Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory Report number
LBNL–4830E (May 2011) (Available at https://
www.escholarship.org/uc/item/2k24v1kj) (last
accessed June 17, 2014).
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field data available for a medium-usage
situation.
DOE considered adding a fifth draw
pattern as recommended by AET, but a
review of data from testing of lowvolume water heaters indicate that the
efficiency can be accurately determined
using the four proposed draw patterns.
While delivery temperatures did drop
below 120 °F during some draws of
these tests, DOE has concluded that the
efficiency is still accurately determined
using this test procedure and that the
added complexity of an additional draw
pattern is not warranted.
DOE will continue to use the firsthour rating to assign a draw pattern for
use during the simulated-use test. DOE
examined using a combination of firsthour rating and storage volume to
categorize the water heater for assigning
a draw pattern, as suggested by AET, but
is concerned that some water heaters
may not fit into any category because
their storage volumes would correspond
to one draw pattern while their firsthour ratings would correspond to a
different one. Additionally, as noted
above, AET estimates that the first draw
delivery capability of a storage water
heater is 0.95*0.85*(Rated Storage
Volume), which accounts for the
tolerance currently afforded
manufacturers on storage volume and
the effect of mixing of hot and cold
water within the storage water heater
during draws. DOE agrees that this
method for estimating first draw
delivery capacity is appropriate for
conventional electric storage water
heaters. However, the Department is
concerned that the effect of mixing hot
and cold water within the unit during
draws is not well understood for the
emerging water-heating technologies
that are noted by the commenter.
Therefore, basing the categorization of
water heaters into usage bins (i.e., very
small, low, medium, and high) to
determine the appropriate draw pattern
based on this uncertain number is likely
to lead to miscategorization for some
water heaters. In the end, DOE has
decided that the first-hour rating is the
best metric available for determining
water heater size classification for
purposes of efficiency testing.
DOE is adopting the draw volumes
proposed in the November 2013 NOPR.
Test results 11 indicate that the draw
volumes incorporated into the proposed
patterns, while resulting in delivery
temperatures that may not match the
11 Test results from DOE testing for the NOPR are
summarized in the November 2013 Water Heater
Test Procedure Rulemaking Development Testing
Preliminary Report, available in the rulemaking
docket at: https://www.regulations.gov/
#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2011-BT-TP-0042-0052.
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nominal outlet temperatures, provide a
sufficiently accurate estimate of the
energy efficiency and that these draw
patterns will result in an accurate
estimate of the efficiency of water
heaters within each size classification.
The flow rates and volumes specified in
the November 2013 NOPR represent the
best alternative for characterizing water
heaters at both the lower and upper
limits of a size category.
In response to the comment from
Bradford White stating concern that the
standby loss coefficient (UA) can be
determined while a recovery is
occurring, DOE notes that there is a
possibility of a recovery taking place
during the portion of the test when data
are collected to determine UA, just as
there is the possibility in the current test
method. The determination of UA,
however, may require a reheat to
maintain the stored water temperature
to obtain a valid estimate of UA. As for
the standby time period during which
energy loss to the ambient is corrected,
DOE notes that time when draws are
taking place are omitted from the
calculation. See section 6.3.5 of
appendix E as adopted in this final rule.
Therefore, DOE is making no changes in
response to the comment.
DOE considered amending the timing
of the simulated-use test, as suggested
by some commenters, to improve the
determination of UA. DOE examined
data from a range of simulated-use tests
and decided that the test procedure
requires modification to improve the
determination of UA for some special
cases.
The first modification responds to
concerns expressed about the
determination of UA for water heaters
with low recovery rates. DOE observed
that the first recovery may not begin
until several hours into the designated
standby period and could extend into
the second draw cluster. DOE examined
data from tests on such water heaters
and modified the test procedure
provisions for determining UA in the
event that a recovery does not begin
during the first draw cluster.
As proposed in the November 2013
NOPR, the standby period for
determination of UA was intended to
occupy the majority of the period
between the end of the first draw cluster
and the start of the second draw cluster.
78 FR 66202, 66217, 66236 (Nov. 4,
2013). However, because the standby
period is supposed to start at the end of
the first recovery under the proposed
procedure, the standby period may not
start until well into the 24-hour test for
water heaters with a very slow recovery
rate. For one tested water heater, DOE
observed that the first recovery did not
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40551
begin until several hours past the end of
the first draw cluster and ended after
subsequent draws occurred during the
test. Under the proposed test procedure,
the standby period started at the end of
this first recovery period and continued
until the next draw started. This
procedure could result in a very short
time period for determination of UA,
which might lead to erroneous results.
To address this issue, DOE amends
the proposed test procedure by starting
the standby period five minutes
following the last draw of the first draw
cluster if a recovery is not occurring, as
opposed to waiting until after the first
recovery period ends. The end point of
the standby period will remain as
proposed in the November 2013 NOPR.
This change ensures an accurate
determination of UA for all units,
including those with low recovery rates
and those that delay onset of heating
until after the first cluster of draws.
The second clarification addresses
water heaters that undergo a recovery
that begins at the end of the first draw
cluster and continues over the entire
standby period between the first and
second draw clusters. In these instances,
the standby period continues past the
end of the 24-hour test. To address this
issue, DOE amends the test procedure to
initiate the standby period at the end of
the first recovery following the final
draw and to continue measurements for
eight hours from that point.
DOE concludes that the approaches
implemented in the final rule will
determine a standby loss coefficient that
accurately adjusts the daily energy
consumption when the ambient
temperature deviates from the nominal
value during testing. The Department is
adopting this approach, as opposed to
the one presented by AET, in order to
maintain a test duration of 24 hours for
nearly all water heaters while providing
accurate representation of the water
heater’s energy efficiency.
DOE received one comment
requesting a change in the name of the
‘‘point-of-use’’ draw pattern, stating that
the term ‘‘point-of-use’’ describes the
installed location of a water heater as
opposed to the delivery capacity, which
is the characteristic described by the
other three category names (i.e., ‘‘low,’’
‘‘medium,’’ and ‘‘high’’). (AIM No. 71 at
p. 1) AIM suggested a name of ‘‘very
small’’ for this category. DOE agrees in
principle with this comment and has
decided to change the name of the
‘‘point-of-use’’ category to ‘‘very-smallusage.’’
Bradford White commented that the
tolerances of +/¥0.25 gallons for the
volume removed in each draw in the
proposed test procedure could lead to
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large discrepancies in the overall
volume removed, which could in turn
necessitate a test laboratory to skip a
final draw to achieve the overall
tolerance of +/¥1 gallon for the daily
water delivery. (Bradford White No. 61
at pp. 8–9) DOE agrees with this
observation and is tightening the
tolerances on some draws in the final
rule. For draws taken at a nominal flow
rate of 1.7 GPM or less, DOE is requiring
that those draws have a tolerance of
+/¥0.1 gallons. With the data
acquisition rate during draws set to 3
seconds, DOE believes that this level of
tolerance is achievable. At the nominal
flow rate of 3 GPM, however, the
frequency of data collection may not
DOE acknowledges that, given the
tolerances on individual draws, a
situation may arise whereby the volume
of the final draw would need to be
adjusted downward so much that a
draw volume of zero may be required to
meet the overall tolerance on the daily
draw volume. DOE concludes that this
scenario would result in an invalid test
and has inserted a statement in the test
procedure indicating that ‘‘if this
adjustment to the volume drawn in the
last draw results in no draw taking
place, the test is considered invalid.’’
Table III.3 through Table III.6 show the
draw patterns that DOE is adopting.
allow for such tight control of draw
volumes during each draw, so DOE is
maintaining the tolerance of +/¥0.25
GPM for those draws. DOE is already
increasing the frequency of data
collection and does not believe it is
necessary to increase it further to allow
for a stricter tolerance on 3 GPM draws.
DOE notes that only the high-usage
pattern contains draws with a flow rate
of 3 GPM, and only 3 of the 14 draws
are at that flow rate. As a result, DOE
expects that the overall tolerance of
+/¥1 gallon for the daily water delivery
can be achieved because the tighter
tolerance applies to the remaining 11
draws.
TABLE III.3—VERY-SMALL-USAGE DRAW PATTERN
Time during test
[hh:mm]
Draw No.
1 * .........................................................................................................................
2 * .........................................................................................................................
3 * .........................................................................................................................
4 * .........................................................................................................................
5 * .........................................................................................................................
6 ...........................................................................................................................
7 ...........................................................................................................................
8 ...........................................................................................................................
9 ...........................................................................................................................
Volume
[gallons (L)]
0:00
1:00
1:05
1:10
1:15
8:00
8:15
9:00
9:15
2.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
2.0
1.5
1.0
(7.6)
(3.8)
(1.9)
(1.9)
(1.9)
(3.8)
(7.6)
(5.7)
(3.8)
Flow rate **
[GPM (L/min)]
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 10 gallons (38 L)
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
** Should the water heater have a maximum GPM rating less than 1 GPM (3.8 L/min), then all draws shall be implemented at a flow rate equal
to the rated maximum GPM.
TABLE III.4—LOW-USAGE DRAW PATTERN
Time during test
[hh:mm]
Draw No.
1 * .........................................................................................................................
2 * .........................................................................................................................
3 * .........................................................................................................................
4 ...........................................................................................................................
5 ...........................................................................................................................
6 ...........................................................................................................................
7 ...........................................................................................................................
8 ...........................................................................................................................
9 ...........................................................................................................................
10 .........................................................................................................................
11 .........................................................................................................................
Volume
[gallons (liters)]
0:00
0:30
1:00
10:30
11:30
12:00
12:45
12:50
16:15
16:45
17:00
15.0 (56.8)
2.0 (7.6)
1.0 (3.8)
6.0 (22.7)
4.0 (15.1)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
2.0 (7.6)
2.0 (7.6)
3.0 (11.4)
Flow rate
[GPM (L/min)]
1.7
1
1
1.7
1.7
1
1
1
1
1.7
1.7
(6.4)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(6.4)
(6.4)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(6.4)
(6.4)
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 38 gallons (144 L)
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
TABLE III.5—MEDIUM-USAGE DRAW PATTERN
Time during test
[hh:mm]
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Draw No.
1 * .........................................................................................................................
2 * .........................................................................................................................
3 * .........................................................................................................................
4 ...........................................................................................................................
5 ...........................................................................................................................
6 ...........................................................................................................................
7 ...........................................................................................................................
8 ...........................................................................................................................
9 ...........................................................................................................................
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Volume
[gallons (liters)]
0:00
0:30
1:40
10:30
11:30
12:00
12:45
12:50
16:00
E:\FR\FM\11JYR2.SGM
15.0 (56.8)
2.0 (7.6)
9.0 (34.1)
9.0 (34.1)
5.0 (18.9)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
11JYR2
Flow rate
[GPM (L/min)]
1.7
1
1.7
1.7
1.7
1
1
1
1
(6.4)
(3.8)
(6.4)
(6.4)
(6.4)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
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TABLE III.5—MEDIUM-USAGE DRAW PATTERN—Continued
Time during test
[hh:mm]
Draw No.
10 .........................................................................................................................
11 .........................................................................................................................
12 .........................................................................................................................
Volume
[gallons (liters)]
16:15
16:45
17:00
Flow rate
[GPM (L/min)]
2.0 (7.6)
2.0 (7.6)
7.0 (26.5)
1 (3.8)
1.7 (6.4)
1.7 (6.4)
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 55 gallons (208 L)
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
TABLE III.6—HIGH-USAGE DRAW PATTERN
Time during test
[hh:mm]
Draw No.
1 * .........................................................................................................................
2 * .........................................................................................................................
3 * .........................................................................................................................
4 * .........................................................................................................................
5 ...........................................................................................................................
6 ...........................................................................................................................
7 ...........................................................................................................................
8 ...........................................................................................................................
9 ...........................................................................................................................
10 .........................................................................................................................
11 .........................................................................................................................
12 .........................................................................................................................
13 .........................................................................................................................
14 .........................................................................................................................
Volume
[gallons (liters)]
0:00
0:30
0:40
1:40
10:30
11:30
12:00
12:45
12:50
16:00
16:15
16:30
16:45
17:00
Flow rate
[GPM (L/min)]
27.0 (102)
2.0 (7.6)
1.0 (3.8)
9.0 (34.1)
15.0 (56.8)
5.0 (18.9)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
2.0 (7.6)
2.0 (7.6)
2.0 (7.6)
2.0 (7.6)
14.0 (53.0)
3 (11.4)
1 (3.8)
1 (3.8)
1.7 (6.4)
3 (11.4)
1.7 (6.4)
1 (3.8)
1 (3.8)
1 (3.8)
1 (3.8)
1 (3.8)
1.7 (6.4)
1.7 (6.4)
3 (11.4)
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 84 gallons (318 L)
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
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D. Instrumentation
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
proposed to maintain the
instrumentation installation
requirements and piping configuration
as currently specified in the residential
water heater test procedure. 78 FR
66202, 66217 (Nov. 4, 2013). For storage
water heaters having a rated volume
below 20 gallons, which are not covered
in the existing DOE test method, DOE
proposed that the average tank
temperature be determined based on
three temperature sensors located at the
vertical midpoints of three sections of
equal volume within the storage tank, as
opposed to the currently required six
sensors for storage water heaters having
a rated volume above 20 gallons. Id. No
comments were received opposing this
approach, but AET requested that
guidance should be provided regarding
the unspecified horizontal lengths of
pipe in the figures. (AET No. 58 at p. 20)
For the final rule, DOE has modified
Figures 1 through 4 of the test procedure
to include those dimensions.
DOE proposed in the November 2013
NOPR to tighten the allowed accuracy
on electric power and energy measuring
equipment from the current value of ±1
percent to ±0.5 percent. 78 FR 66202,
66217 (Nov. 4, 2013). A study has
shown the significant effect of the
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accuracy of the electric power
measurements on the uncertainty in the
overall energy factor.12 A similar change
was made in ASHRAE 118.2–2006,
‘‘Method of Testing for Rating
Residential Water Heaters,’’ and DOE
research confirms that equipment
having this tolerance level is readily
available. DOE also proposed in the
November 2013 NOPR that, for mass
measurements greater than or equal to
10 pounds (4.5 kg), a scale that is
accurate within ±0.5 percent of the
reading must be used to make the
measurement. Id. Lastly, DOE proposed
that, for relative humidity
measurements, a sensor that is accurate
within ±1.5 percent of the reading be
used to make the measurement. Id. at
66220. No comments were received
opposing these proposals, so DOE has
incorporated these proposals into the
final rule.
DOE also proposed in the November
2013 NOPR to modify the data
acquisition rate of the inlet and outlet
water temperature during draws. Id. at
66217. Currently, for all water heaters
except variable firing rate instantaneous
water heaters, measurements of the inlet
12 Healy WM, Lutz JD, and Lekov AB.,
‘‘Variability in Energy Factor Test Results for
Residential Electric Water Heaters,’’ HVAC&R
Research, Vol. 9, No. 4 (October 2003).
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and outlet water temperature are taken
at 5-second intervals starting 15 seconds
after the draw commences. For
instantaneous water heaters with a
variable firing rate, inlet and outlet
water temperature measurements are
taken at 5-second intervals starting 5
seconds after the draw commences. The
test procedure amendments call for
temperature data at the inlet and outlet
temperature sensors to be recorded at 3second intervals starting 5 seconds after
commencement of the draw for all water
heaters. Accordingly, DOE also
proposed that the time constant of the
instruments used to measure the inlet
and outlet water temperatures be no
greater than 2 seconds. DOE anticipates
that this approach will better capture
the energy impact of water heater
startup and cycling. Id. at 66217. No
comments were received opposing these
measures, so DOE has incorporated
these proposals into the final rule.
E. Test Conditions
1. Outlet Water Temperature
The current residential water heater
test procedure calls for the temperature
of the tank to be set so that the average
hot water temperature within the
storage tank is at 135 °F ± 5 °F (57.2 °C
± 2.8 °C). 10 CFR part 430, subpart B,
appendix E, section 2.4. The set point
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impacts the performance of various
types of water heaters differently, so
DOE reexamined in the proposed test
procedure the set point specification
and how it is determined. In the
November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed
to use a measurement of the temperature
of the delivered water, rather than mean
tank temperature, for setting the
temperature for storage-type water
heaters, and also proposed that the set
point temperature of all residential
water heaters be reduced to 125 °F +/¥
5 °F (51.7 °C +/¥ 2.8 °C). 78 FR 66202,
66219–20 (Nov. 4, 2013). This value was
primarily selected based on data
available in DOE’s analysis for the April
2010 energy conservation standards
final rule, which found that the average
set point temperature for residential
water heaters in the field is 124.2 °F
(51.2 °C). Additionally, the recent
compilation of field data across the
United States and southern Ontario by
LBNL (referenced above) found a
median daily outlet water temperature
of 122.7 °F (50.4 °C), which supports
specifying a test set point temperature of
125 °F. DOE proposed that this new
value would apply to first-hour rating
tests for storage water heaters,
maximum flow rate tests for
instantaneous water heaters, and energy
factor tests for all water heaters. DOE
also tentatively concluded that a set
point of 125 °F in the test method would
not result in safety concerns related to
the growth of Legionella. Further, DOE
noted that water heaters are commonly
set to temperatures in the range of
120 °F to 125 °F even though the current
set point in the test method is 135 °F.
78 FR 66202, 66219 (Nov. 4, 2013).
DOE received five comments (AET,
EEI, HTP, NEEA and NPCC, Joint
Comment) in response to DOE’s outlet
water temperature proposals in the
November 2013 NOPR supporting the
switch to a set point temperature of
125 °F for the first-hour rating and
maximum flow rate tests and the 24hour simulated-use test. (AET, No. 58 at
p. 5; EEI, No. 63 at p. 5; HTP, No. 59
at pp. 1–3; NEEA and NPCC, No. 64 at
p. 9; Joint Comment, No. 77 at pp. 6–
7) Advocates for the 125 °F outlet water
temperature argue that it is the most
representative of actual use in the field
and, thus, should be used to determine
performance under representative
conditions. Additionally, AET and HTP
suggested that specifying an outlet water
temperature, as opposed to a stored
water temperature, is more appropriate
for evaluating water heaters using
certain controls that purposely keep the
stored water temperature at a low value.
(AET No. 58 at p. 1; HTP, No. 59 at p.
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3) DOE received five comments (AIM,
AHRI, A.O. Smith, GE, and Giant) in
favor of keeping the set point
temperature at 135 °F for the first-hour
rating test or increasing it for both the
first-hour rating/maximum flow rate test
and the 24-hour simulated-use test.
(AIM, No. 72 at p. 3; AHRI, No. 75 at
pp. 3–4; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 2; GE,
No. 78 at p. 1; Giant, No. 76 at pp. 2–
3) Four of the commenters who opposed
the decrease in set point (AHRI, A.O.
Smith, GE, Giant) argue that the burden
of reestablishing the draw pattern bin
categories using first-hour rating and
maximum GPM values under the lower
set point is too great because the change
in first-hour ratings will add additional
uncertainty to the establishment of the
bins. AIM argued that the set point
temperature should be increased
because when the temperature is
decreased in the field, the water heater
will see a boost in energy efficiency.
Rheem acknowledged that many water
heaters are operated at lower
temperatures than the set point
specified in the current DOE test
procedure and suggested that the 24hour simulated-use test and associated
draws would be more representative at
the 125 °F set point temperature.
However, based on test data, Rheem
argued that the changes to the first-hour
rating values from the change in set
point are too unpredictable to serve as
a basis for determining the draw pattern
bin categories and suggested that the
first-hour rating test should continue to
be performed at 135 °F, as is current
practice. (Rheem, No. 69 at pp. 3, 5)
DOE has carefully considered these
comments and concludes that a
delivered water temperature of 125 °F
will be applied to first-hour rating tests
for storage water heaters, maximum
flow rate tests for flow-activated water
heaters, and energy factor tests for all
water heaters. DOE is required to
establish test procedures that are
representative of how a covered product
would be used in the field, and based
on the data discussed previously, DOE
concludes that 125 °F is the most
representative temperature for the
United States market. DOE has
determined that the test should be
conducted at a typical operating
temperature and should not penalize
those units optimized for such typical
conditions. Moreover, DOE has
determined that conducting the
simulated-use test at a different
temperature from the delivery capacity
tests would add an undue burden on
manufacturers and would result in
ratings that would not be representative
of typical usage in the field. While
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maintaining the test temperature at the
value currently used in the test
procedure could eliminate one source of
uncertainty in converting existing
energy factors to new uniform energy
factors, DOE has determined that this
conversion is feasible and that the
benefits of testing at a representative
temperature outweigh the short-term
challenges in converting existing
ratings.
In response to the concerns expressed
by AHRI, A.O. Smith, GE, and Giant
regarding uncertainties in converting
first-hour ratings values obtained at
135 °F to comparable values at 125 °F,
DOE revisited the values that were used
to place water heaters into bins for
uniform energy factor testing. In the
November 2013 NOPR, DOE based these
breakpoint values on information
present in the current plumbing code
that indicate appropriate water heaters
for various home configurations based
on their first hour rating values obtained
under the existing test procedure. 78 FR
66202, 66214 (Nov. 4, 2013).
Preliminary testing by DOE indicated
that the first-hour ratings obtained
under the new procedure were
comparable to those obtained under the
existing test procedure, so DOE
proposed to maintain the breakpoints
between bins despite the change in the
conditions for the first-hour rating test.
DOE requested data to demonstrate
the effect of modifying the first-hour
rating test conditions and received data
from Rheem and Bradford White.
(Rheem No. 69 at p. 3; Bradford White
No. 61 at p. 8) Rheem presented actual
first-hour rating values under both the
current test and the proposed test,
whereas Bradford White simply
provided the percentage change in the
first-hour rating between the two test
procedures. Both data sets suggest an
overall downward trend of first-hour
rating under the proposed test
procedure but that there is variability in
the results. Based on these data and
additional data collected by DOE, the
Department concludes that numerous
characteristics of a water heater affect
the change in its first-hour rating
obtained at 135 °F, as compared to that
obtained at 125 °F. The uncertainty in
how the ratings change, however, does
not justify abandoning the 125 °F test
temperature. Since DOE has determined
that the most representative delivery
temperature is 125 °F and no comments
were received that refuted the method
applied to obtain the first-hour rating at
that temperature, DOE concludes that
the first-hour rating test, as proposed,
provides an appropriate measure of the
delivery capacity of a water heater as
would be observed in the field.
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DOE maintains that the breakpoint
values used to place water heaters into
bins for uniform energy factor testing
presented in the NOPR are appropriate
for tests conducted at 135 °F, but
acknowledges that some adjustments
may be needed for tests conducted at
125 °F since first-hour rating values may
change at this temperature. To better
account for the change in the first-hour
rating procedure, DOE used the
expanded set of available experimental
data to reassess the proposed breakpoint
values of first-hour ratings for placing
water heaters into sizing bins for the
simulated-use test. DOE examined
different regressions using the data
submitted by Rheem and those collected
by the Department and found that the
ratings at 125 °F and those at 135 °F
could be modeled as functions of
storage volume and the product of input
rate and recovery efficiency. The
recovery efficiency for data presented by
Rheem was estimated based on the
description of the water heater being
tested. These regressions were then used
to determine what breakpoint values
would result in nearly the same
classification for a particular water
heater tested at 125 °F as it would have
when tested at 135 °F, based on its
storage volume, recovery efficiency, and
input rate. Based on this analysis, DOE
decreased the breakpoint values for each
size classification for testing at 125 °F
under the new test procedure, as
compared to the breakpoint values
proposed in the NOPR.13 The new limits
of first-hour ratings (FHR) for each
category are as follows:
Very Small: FHR < 18 gallons
Low: 18 <= FHR < 51 gallons
Medium: 51 <= FHR < 75 gallons
High: FHR >= 75 gallons
For the first-hour rating test, DOE
proposed in the November 2013 NOPR
that draws would terminate when the
outlet temperature drops 15 °F (8.3 °C)
from its maximum outlet temperature
during the draw, as opposed to the drop
of 25 °F (13.9 °C) implemented in the
current test procedure. This change
would ensure that water delivered
meets the nominal useful temperature of
110 °F (43.3 °C). AET and AIM
supported this proposal. (AET, No. 58 at
p. 6; AIM, No. 72 at p. 1) AET suggested
that water delivered at a temperature
lower than the minimum useful
temperature of 110 °F should not be
counted in the first-hour rating test.
13 In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed
the following breakpoints for each size
classification for testing at 125 °F. Point-of-use
(since renamed ‘‘very small’’): < 20 gallons; low: 20
<= FHR < 55 gallons; medium: 55 <= FHR < 80
gallons; and high: >= 80 gallons. 78 FR 66202,
66235 (Nov. 4, 2013).
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AIM suggested that useful hot water
delivered be measured separately from
total water delivered. AET and AIM also
suggested that water delivered below
110 °F should not be counted as useful
delivered hot water in the 24-hour
simulated use test. (AET No. 58 at p. 7;
AIM No. 72 at p.1)
DOE concludes that the lower
temperature limit of useful hot water at
110 °F is appropriate for the first-hour
rating test and establishes that draws
during the test will terminate when the
delivery temperature drops to 15 °F
below the outlet water temperature
(which is nominally 125 °F), resulting in
a draw termination temperature of
approximately 110 °F for draws during
the first-hour test. For the simulated-use
test, however, DOE does not restrict
outlet water temperature to at or above
110 °F. While it strongly considered the
comments made by AET and AIM in
this regard, in DOE’s view, the
simulated-use test, which provides a
measure of energy efficiency rather than
delivery capability, is best conducted
without regard to water outlet
temperature. A standard cutoff
temperature of 110 °F is necessary for
the first-hour rating test in order to
determine the appropriate draw pattern,
but no minimum temperature is
necessary to estimate energy efficiency.
Although DOE has selected its draw
patterns to ensure that a water heater
can deliver hot water during all draws,
DOE recognizes that there may be cases
where water heaters on the lower end of
the capacity limit in each bin deliver
water at a lower temperature than a
consumer might desire. In these cases,
DOE believes that accounting for water
delivered at temperatures below 110 °F
would be representative of water heater
energy performance in the field. DOE
uses correction factors in the test
procedure’s calculation routines to
adjust the daily energy consumption to
estimate energy consumption at a
nominal outlet temperature of 125 °F
since daily energy consumption will
differ based on the outlet temperature of
the water provided.
As noted above, in addition to
proposing to change the temperature
setting at which the test occurs, DOE
also proposed in the November 2013
NOPR to change the methodology for
setting the temperature of storage-type
units to rely on outlet water temperature
rather than mean tank temperature. For
water heaters with a single thermostat,
DOE proposed to specify a set point
based on the outlet water temperature
during a draw. For water heaters with
multiple thermostats, DOE proposed to
maintain the procedure currently
prescribed in the residential water
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heater test method, which specifies the
set point based on water temperature
inside the tank. 78 FR 66202, 66219–20
(Nov. 4, 2013).
In response, DOE received three
comments that supported the proposed
approach for specifying the set point
based on the temperature of delivered
water for water heaters with a single
thermostat in the tank. However these
commenters argued that the same
approach should be applied for water
heaters with multiple thermostats.
(AET, HTP, A.O. Smith) Specifically,
AET and HTP cautioned that the
terminology used in the NOPR that
provides a procedure for water heaters
with multiple ‘‘thermostats’’ could be
problematic because some water heaters
utilize multiple temperature sensors
(i.e., thermostats) that are not available
to the user for modifying the delivery
temperature but that are instead
installed to relay data to a single
controller that determines whether or
not to activate heating. (AET No. 58 at
p. 2; HTP No. 59 at p. 3). AET and HTP
both submitted recommendations for
setting the temperature controllers on
water heaters with multiple control
points. (AET No. 58 at p. 14; HTP No.
59 at p. 4) AET urged DOE to utilize the
first-hour rating test to verify that the
temperature controllers are set to their
proper value. According to AET, the
temperature controls on a unit with
multiple controllers would be
determined to be within their proper
settings if all of the following conditions
are met: (1) At least 50 percent of the
water drawn during the first draw of the
first-hour rating test was delivered at a
temperature between 120 °F and 130 °F;
(2) no water is delivered with a
temperature above 130 °F during the
first-hour rating test; and (3) the initial
delivery temperature of second and
subsequent draws of the first-hour rating
test is between 120 °F and 130 °F. AET
asserts that, if these three conditions are
met, then the water heater has the
correct set-point and the results from
the temperature set-point test can be
used to determine the first-hour rating.
On this topic, HTP suggested a method
that progressively disables the
thermostats, and uses draws of onefourth of the total volume, taken after
full recovery of each of the heat inputs
being controlled by the active
thermostats, to determine if the delivery
temperature falls within the requisite
125 °F +/¥ 5 °F range. If the water
heater does not achieve the required
delivery temperature within five
iterations, the test laboratory would
resort to the technique proposed in the
NOPR.
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DOE also received several comments
opposed to the proposed approach. DOE
received one comment (Rheem) that
opposed the approach of specifying a set
point for a water heater with a single
thermostat in the tank based on outlet
temperature, arguing that this method
mischaracterizes the stored energy
inside the tank. (Rheem No. 69 at p. 5)
DOE does not agree with this claim
since the stored energy inside the tank
is measured in the proposed procedure
in the same manner as is done in the
current procedure and because setting
the outlet temperature or stored water
temperature is independent of the
determination of stored energy. AHRI
and Giant stated that they do not agree
with the proposed method because ‘‘the
method used when the model has more
than one thermostat should follow the
basic principles of the procedure for
setting thermostats in the current test
method.’’ (AHRI No. 75 at p.4; Giant No.
76 at p.3) On the point raised by AHRI
and Giant, DOE notes that the method
for models with more than one
thermostat proposed in the November
2013 NOPR already matches the
approach specified in the current test
method.
After careful consideration of the
comments, DOE has decided to adopt
several changes to the method to
determine set point temperature for
storage-type water heaters. First, in
response to comments regarding the use
of the terminology ‘‘thermostat,’’ DOE
has changed the description from
thermostat to ‘‘temperature controller’’
and has added a definition of
temperature controller as ‘‘a device that
is available to the user to adjust the
temperature of the water inside a
storage-type water heater or the outlet
water temperature.’’ This change in
terminology should eliminate any
confusion on the part of the user of the
test procedure between the useraccessible temperature controls and
temperature sensors that are used in the
water heater but may not be directly
accessible to the user for making
temperature adjustments.
Second, DOE has decided to maintain
its stated approach in the NOPR for
setting the temperature for water heaters
with a single temperature controller. In
the final rule, DOE specifies that the set
point be based on outlet water
temperature. DOE determined that some
water heaters would be disadvantaged
by requiring an average tank
temperature of 125 °F—due to
stratification, a tank with an average
temperature of 125 °F would deliver
water at a temperature higher than
125 °F. Such a setting could have an
unrepresentative detrimental effect on
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efficiency compared to its intended
operation in the field if the design of the
water heating system relies on the
average temperature of the stored water
being at a lower temperature than the
temperature of the water delivered to
the user.
Third, DOE incorporates the method
suggested by AET to specify the set
point of a water heater with multiple
temperature controllers because it can
be performed in conjunction with the
first-hour rating test. However, DOE has
modified one aspect of AET’s suggested
method by allowing water delivered
during a final draw of the first-hour
rating test that begins at the end of the
test to fall below 120 °F because the
water heater may not have recovered
fully when the final draw is initiated.
This approach ensures proper
temperature settings and will be less
burdensome than the alternate
technique proposed by HTP because it
can be performed in conjunction with
the first-hour rating test.
Finally, DOE eliminates
normalization of the daily water-heating
energy consumption to a nominal stored
water temperature, as provided in the
current test procedure. DOE received
two comments recommending that,
because of the proposed technique to
base the temperature setting of the water
heater on the outlet water temperature,
the test procedure should not normalize
the energy consumption of any storage
water heater to a nominal stored water
temperature of 125 °F. (AET No. 58 at p.
14; SMT No. 66 at p. 3) AET indicated
that normalizing to a nominal stored
water temperature penalizes advanced
control technologies that manipulate
storage temperature to reduce heat
losses and improve performance. SMT
commented that some water heater
models are designed to operate with
stratified tanks and that many utilize
control algorithms that purposely
manage the water temperature at the
middle and lower levels differently from
the top of the tank. DOE agrees with
these comments. DOE is concerned that
the temperature setting on the water
heater could be lowered during the
simulated-use test to an unrealistic
value that would result in delivered
water that is below a usable level. To
avoid this situation, the final rule
provides that the temperature control
settings shall not be changed for the
duration of the delivery capacity test
and the simulated-use test once they are
determined pursuant to the test
procedure. Additionally, the final rule
includes language that will allow a test
laboratory to verify that the temperature
settings are appropriate throughout the
test by conducting a second 24-hour
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simulated-use test immediately after the
test used to determine the uniform
energy factor and with an identical draw
pattern. If the average delivered
temperature during this second 24-hour
test is within the temperature bounds
specified by the test procedure, then the
temperature control scheme meets the
requirements of the test procedure in
providing the required outlet water
temperature.
2. Ambient Temperature and Relative
Humidity
The residential water heater test
procedure requires that testing be
performed in an environment with an
ambient air temperature fixed at 67.5 °F
± 2.5 °F (19.7 °C ± 1.4 °C). 10 CFR part
430, subpart B, appendix E, section 2.2.
For heat pump water heaters, however,
the environmental conditions are more
tightly constrained, with an ambient air
temperature requirement of 67.5 °F ±
1 °F (19.7 °C ± 0.6 °C) and a relative
humidity requirement of 50 percent ± 1
percent. Id. These specifications for heat
pump water heaters reflect the fact that
heat pump water heater energy use is
highly dependent on the ambient
temperature and relative humidity.
Because water heaters are placed in a
wide variety of locations within and
outside of a home, and given the large
impact of these factors on heat pump
water heater efficiency, DOE considered
potential revisions to the ambient air
test conditions set forth in the DOE test
procedure in order to assess whether the
currently-specified conditions are
representative of conditions typically
encountered in residential installations.
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
proposed not to change the current
ambient dry bulb temperature of
between 65 °F and 70 °F when testing
water heaters other than heat pump
water heaters and at 67.5 °F ± 1 °F when
testing heat pump water heaters. DOE
also proposed to include the current
relative humidity of 50 percent for heat
pump water heaters, but to relax the
tolerance to ± 2 percent relative
humidity. DOE believes these
conditions are representative of typical
field conditions encountered by water
heaters installed in the U.S. and has not
found any data to justify changing these
conditions. DOE proposed to relax the
tolerance for relative humidity because
research indicates that commonly-used,
laboratory-grade relative humidity
sensors have uncertainties on the order
of 1 to 1.5 percent (78 FR 66202, 66220
(Nov. 4, 2013)), and the tolerance cannot
exceed the accuracy of the measuring
equipment. It should be noted that the
relative humidity can be obtained from
measurements of dry bulb and wet bulb
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temperatures and the determination of
relative humidity through these
temperature measurements would result
in a measure of relative humidity with
much lower uncertainty because dry
bulb and wet bulb temperatures can be
measured with high accuracy. However,
most laboratories use relative humidity
sensors that provide an accurate
measurement of relative humidity
through a less burdensome method.
DOE received one comment from SMT
suggesting that imposing the same dry
bulb air temperature for all water
heaters that is imposed for heat pump
water heaters could eliminate the
necessity of correcting the energy
consumption for differences between
the measured air temperature and the
nominal temperature. (SMT No. 66 at
p.3) DOE is not adopting this
recommendation because it may
necessitate significant changes in
laboratory environmental conditioning
equipment that would be very costly to
manufacturers and testing laboratories.
DOE believes the current method for
accounting for ambient temperature
allows for sufficiently accurate test
results.
Regarding heat pump water heaters,
NEEA and NPCC urged DOE to require
testing under a variety of conditions due
to differing average temperature and
humidity conditions found in the
northern climates. (NEEA and NPCC,
No. 64 at p. 10) HTP submitted a
comment stating that heat pump water
heaters should be tested at a range of
ambient conditions due to their
sensitivity to temperature and humidity.
(HTP, No. 59 at pp. 6–7) The Joint
Comment suggested a representative
temperature of 50 °F ‘‘with
appropriately high humidity levels,’’
thereby reflecting installations in cool
basements and garages. (Joint Comment,
No. 77 at p. 5)
After carefully considering these
comments, DOE has decided to
maintain the current ambient dry bulb
temperature of 67.5 °F ± 1 °F and adopt
the proposed relative humidity of 50
percent ± 2 percent for heat pump water
heaters. DOE recognizes that regional
differences in ambient dry bulb
temperature and relative humidity exist
and that these differences can have an
effect on the efficiency of heat pump
water heaters. However, DOE has
determined that the conditions
established in this final rule are
representative of the country as a whole
and that testing of heat pump water
heaters at various temperature and
humidity conditions is unnecessary to
determine the efficiency under a
representative set of conditions. DOE
also notes that adding multiple rating
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points for heat pump water heaters
would increase test burden
significantly.
3. Laboratory Airflow
The existing test procedure specifies
that the water heater shall be set up in
an area that is protected from drafts. To
clarify this statement, DOE proposed in
the November 2013 NOPR to require
that the area be protected from drafts of
more than 50 ft/min (2.5 m/s). 78 FR
66202, 66220 (Nov. 4, 2013). This value
is in accordance with specifications in
Canadian Standard 745–03, ‘‘Energy
Efficiency of Electric Storage Tank
Water Heaters and Heat Pump Water
Heaters.’’ DOE did not receive any
comments opposing this proposal, but
the Department did receive one
comment indicating that a typographical
error was present in the NOPR’s
conversion from ft/min to m/s. (A.O.
Smith No. 62 at p. 5) DOE is adopting
the provision in its corrected form,
which requires that the area be
protected from drafts of more than 50 ft/
min (0.25 m/s).
F. Storage Tank Pre-Conditioning
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
tentatively concluded that initiating
draw patterns on two consecutive days,
with measurements only taking place
during the second 24-hour period would
lead to more consistent results since the
state of the water heater at the beginning
of the 24-hour test period on the second
day will be similar to that at the end of
that test period. 78 FR 66202, 66221
(Nov. 4, 2013). Thus, DOE tentatively
proposed to require storage water
heaters to be pre-conditioned in this
manner.
DOE received ten comments in
response to the November 2013 NOPR
regarding the proposed water heater preconditioning requirements. AET and the
Joint Comment stated there was no
significant burden associated with a 24hour simulated-use-test
preconditioning. However, AHRI, A.O.
Smith, Giant, HTP, NEEA and NPCC,
Rheem, and SMT stated that there is a
significant burden associated with this
requirement. (AET, No. 58 at p. 12;
AHRI, No. 75 at p. 3; A.O. Smith, No.
62 at p. 3; Giant, No. 76 at p. 3; HTP,
No. 59 at p. 2; NEEA and NPCC, No. 64
at p. 4; Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 6;
Rheem, No. 69 at p. 4) Bradford White
(referring to comments submitted by
AHRI in response to the January 2013
RFI that suggested the adoption of the
pre-conditioning period proposed in the
NOPR) commented that the AHRI
comments were originally proposed in
an effort to remove use of an internal
tank temperature probe, which is no
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longer included in the test procedure.
(Bradford White, No. 61 at p. 9) Eight
commenters (AHRI, A.O. Smith,
Bradford White, Giant, HTP, NEEA and
NPCC, Joint Comment, Rheem)
recommended continuing the use of the
current preconditioning procedures.
DOE notes that these commenters
include AHRI, the commenter that
originally suggested the 24-hour
simulated-use-preconditioning. (AHRI,
No. 75 at p. 3; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p.
3; Bradford White, No. 61 at p. 9; Giant,
No. 76 at p. 3; HTP, No. 59 at p. 2;
NEEA and NPCC, No. 64 at p. 4; Joint
Comment, No. 77 at p. 6; Rheem, No. 69
at p. 4)
DOE has considered these comments
and has determined that the added
burden of mandating a 24-hour
preconditioning as described above
outweighs the potential benefits that
could be provided by such an approach.
However, DOE has determined that
some specification of test preparation is
needed to improve the reproducibility
of the test results. First, DOE has found
that a storage water heater must be
maintained with its stored water at a
temperature typically seen during
normal operation for a period of time (a
‘‘soak-in period’’) prior to the start of
any test to ensure that the materials
making up the water heater reach a
relatively steady temperature.
Comments from the December 2013
Public Meeting indicated that such an
approach is currently a best practice in
testing water heaters and that this soakin period can be conducted while the
water heater is not connected to a test
apparatus. (Public Meeting Transcript,
No. 81 at p. 82) This latter point reduces
the need for an additional test apparatus
to maintain the rate of testing that is
currently achieved in laboratories and
will, therefore, minimize the need to
purchase additional test equipment to
meet the requirements of the new test
procedure. After a computational
analysis of heat transfer through the
walls of a storage water heater, DOE has
determined that a soak-in period of at
least 12 hours will minimize transient
heat transfer effects. Therefore, DOE
adopts a requirement that a storage
water heater (including heat pump
water heaters with storage volume) sit in
an idle state (i.e., no water draws) with
water stored in it for a minimum of 12
hours following the end of recovery
from a cold start prior to conducting
either a first-hour rating test or a
simulated-use test.
Second, DOE has found that a water
heater must not undergo a recovery
immediately prior to the start of the 24hour simulated-use test because the
recovery will add significant
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uncertainty to the critical measurement
of average tank temperature at the start
of the test. Consequently, DOE adopts a
requirement that the 24-hour simulateduse test be preceded by at least a onehour period during which all heat
sources to the water in the tank do not
energize. DOE concludes that
incorporating these requirements will
help ensure reproducible test results
without being unduly burdensome.
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G. Operational Mode Selection
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
noted that heat pump water heaters that
have recently entered the market
typically have multiple operational
modes and that selection of the
operational mode could impact the
results of energy efficiency testing. 78
FR 66202, 66234 (Nov. 4, 2013). As a
result, DOE proposed that water heaters
should be tested under the default or
‘‘out-of-the-box’’ mode of operation
when both obtaining the first-hour
rating and determining the energy
factor. In addition, DOE proposed
several clarifications for testing of units
with multiple operational modes but no
default mode. The clarifications are
consistent with guidance issued by DOE
on June 12, 2012 (see: https://
www1.eere.energy.gov/guidance/
detail_search.aspx?
IDQuestion=623&pid=2&spid=1). DOE
did not receive any comments related to
this proposal in response to the
November 2013 NOPR and adopts the
proposed requirements without change.
H. Annual Energy Consumption
Calculation
The annual energy consumption is
calculated for residential water heaters
in the existing test procedure based on
the daily energy consumption
multiplied by 365 days. As discussed in
the November 2013 NOPR, AHRI
submitted a letter to the FTC on
September 16, 2013, pointing out that
calculating the annual energy
consumption based on the daily energy
consumption can lead to differing
annual energy consumption, and
consequently, differing estimated yearly
operating costs, for different water
heater models with the same energy
factor rating. 78 FR 66202, 66220–21
(Nov. 4, 2013). AHRI provided an
example of two water heaters with
differing daily energy consumption
values but with energy factor values that
would round to the same value based on
the DOE rounding requirements
provided in 10 CFR 430.23(e). AHRI
stated that having slightly different
yearly operating cost estimates for two
water heaters with the same efficiency
rating can be confusing to consumers
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and somewhat misleading based on the
accuracy of the test method. AHRI
suggested revising the calculation of the
annual energy consumption so that it is
based on the energy factor rating.
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
proposed to adopt the calculation
method suggested by AHRI for annual
energy consumption, which is based on
the nominal energy consumed during
the test and the energy factor rating
rather than the daily energy
consumption. Id. at 66221. NEEA and
NPCC strongly opposed any calculation
of annual energy use for water heaters,
arguing that the calculation of annual
energy use is misleading in a large
number of instances due to wide
variations in annual household hot
water use. (NEEA and NPCC, No. 64 at
p. 16)
Although DOE agrees with NEEA and
NPCC that the actual annual energy
consumption of water heaters can vary
widely based on variations in field
conditions, DOE believes that
calculating an estimated annual energy
consumption based on the results of the
test procedure can provide consumers
with valuable information for
comparing two water heaters under a
standard set of conditions (i.e., those
conditions defined in the DOE test
procedure). DOE believes that this
additional metric can provide
consumers who are unfamiliar with the
uniform energy factor metric with a
more familiar and easier-to-understand
metric for comparing water heater
performance. For this reason, DOE
chooses to retain the calculation of
annual energy consumption proposed in
the November 2013 NOPR.
I. Conversion of Existing Energy Factor
Ratings
AEMTCA amended EPCA to require
that, along with developing a uniform
descriptor, DOE must also develop a
mathematical conversion factor to
translate the results based upon use of
the efficiency metric under the existing
test procedure to the new uniform
descriptor. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(E))
AEMTCA provided that a manufacturer
may apply the conversion factor to
rerate existing models of covered water
heaters manufactured prior to the
effective date of the final rule
establishing the uniform descriptor.
Further, the conversion factor must not
affect the minimum efficiency
requirements for covered water heaters,
and, as a result, would not lead to a
change in measured energy efficiency
for existing products. DOE interprets
these requirements to mean that DOE
must translate existing ratings from the
current metrics to the new metric, while
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maintaining the stringency of the
current standards.
In response to the November 2013
NOPR, DOE received three comments
(AHRI, BWC, Joint Comment) regarding
the conversion of existing ratings.
(AHRI, No. 75 at p. 6–7; BWC, No. 61
at p. 7; Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 2)
AHRI and BWC suggested water heater
types to test and urged DOE to release
a schedule and process for the
development of the conversion factor as
soon as possible. The Joint Comment
suggested that the sensitivity of the
energy factor to draw pattern should be
investigated and that systematic
differences between ‘‘old’’ and ‘‘new’’
values were expected for several
technologies.
DOE notes these comments regarding
the conversion factor and will consider
them fully once the test procedure is
finalized to assist in developing the
conversion factor. DOE plans to conduct
a separate rulemaking to establish the
conversion factor once the test method
is finalized. DOE also plans to translate
its current energy conservation
standards to equivalent standards
denominated in the new uniform
efficiency metric in a separate
rulemaking. Should it become apparent
in the rulemaking to establish the
conversion factor that changes may be
required in the test procedure, DOE will
address these issues at that time.
J. Full Fuel Cycle
In response to the November 2013
NOPR, DOE received additional
comments related to source-based
metrics. EEI stated that, consistent with
other Federal laws, any new descriptor
or conversion factor should only be
based on point-of-use metrics. (EEI, No.
63 at p. 4) AGA and NPGA supported
a metric based on the full fuel cycle that
would provide a complete accounting of
energy consumption from extraction,
processing, and transportation of
energy. (AGA, No. 68 at p. 1; NPGA, No.
60 at p. 1)
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
responded in detail to similar concerns
brought forth by stakeholders in
response to the January 2013 RFI. In
short, DOE reviewed the proposed water
heater test procedure in relation to the
Department’s newly established full fuel
cycle (FFC) policy, and tentatively
concluded that no substantive
amendments are needed to the water
heater test procedure to accommodate
the FFC policy. 78 FR 66202, 66222
(Nov. 4, 2013). However, for the
purposes of representations, DOE
tentatively concluded that some small
improvements to the water heater test
procedure are appropriate to
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accommodate the FFC policy. DOE
proposed in the November 2013 NOPR
to define new terms in the test
procedure to make it possible to
quantify daily electric energy
consumption separately from fossil fuel
energy consumption and to add separate
estimates of annual fossil fuel energy
consumption and annual electrical
energy consumption in addition to the
overall annual energy consumption.
This separation allows the user of the
test procedure to estimate the
operational cost of water heaters that
use both fossil fuel and electricity based
on the prices of those different energy
sources. From a consumer’s perspective,
annual operating cost is particularly
useful for the products that have dual
fuel inputs. DOE believes this consumer
cost perspective is reasonably reflected
in the FFC (i.e., the source/site factors
recommended by the commenter are
essentially numerically identical to the
fuel cost ratios published biennially by
the Secretary).
In response to the November 2013
NOPR, DOE received seven comments
regarding the addition of terms to
quantify daily electric energy
consumption separately from fossil fuel
energy consumption and adding
separate estimates of annual fossil fuel
energy consumption and annual
electrical energy consumption in
addition to the overall annual energy
consumption. Four commenters
supported the addition of these terms
(AET, AIM, Joint Comment, NPGA),
while three commenters did not (EEI,
HTP, AHRI). (AET, No. 58 at p. 15; AIM,
No. 74 at p. 1; EEI, No. 63 at p. 4; HTP,
No. 59 at p. 5; Joint Comment, No. 77
at p. 7; NPGA, No. 60 at p. 1–2; AHRI
No. 80 at p. 2) EEI stated that it is not
clear whether a separation by fuel type
will be meaningful to the customer; HTP
and AHRI argued that these terms are
unnecessary.
After considering these comments,
DOE has decided to include terms to
quantify daily electric energy
consumption separately from fossil fuel
energy consumption and to add separate
estimates of annual fossil fuel energy
consumption and annual electrical
energy consumption (in addition to the
overall annual energy consumption).
DOE believes these added terms will
provide consumers with more accurate
information for comparing various water
heating technologies without
significantly adding to the overall test
burden.
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K. Certification, Compliance, and
Enforcement Issues
1. Storage Volume Requirements
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
proposed to make several changes to its
certification, compliance, and
enforcement regulations at 10 CFR part
429. First, DOE proposed to add
requirements to 10 CFR 429.17 that the
rated value of storage tank volume must
equal the mean of the measured storage
volumes of the units in the sample. 78
FR 66202, 66223 (Nov. 4, 2013). DOE
notes that there are currently no
requirements from the Department
limiting the allowable difference
between the tested (i.e., measured)
storage volume and the ‘‘rated’’ storage
volume that is specified by the
manufacturer. DOE has tested 65
residential storage-type water heaters,
including 44 gas-fired water heaters, 19
electric water heaters, and 2 oil-fired
water heaters. Through this testing, DOE
has found that water heaters are
consistently rated at storage volumes
above their measured storage volume.
For gas-fired water heaters, the rated
volume ranged from 1.5 percent to 15.6
percent above the measured volume,
with the mean being 4.8 percent. For
electric water heaters, the rated volume
ranged from 5.0 to 10.6 percent above
the measured volume, with the mean
being 9.4 percent. DOE notes that its
minimum energy conservation
standards are based on the rated storage
volume and decrease as rated storage
volume increases. DOE believes
consumers often look to storage volume
as a key factor in choosing a storage
water heater. Consequently, DOE
proposed to adopt requirements that the
rated value must be the mean of the
measured values. In addition, DOE
proposed to specify that for DOEinitiated testing, the measured storage
volume must be within five percent of
the rated volume in order to use the
rated storage volume in downstream
calculations. Id. If the measured storage
volume is more than five percent
different than the rated value, then DOE
proposed to use the measured value in
downstream calculations. DOE
proposed to specify similar
requirements for residential-duty
commercial water heaters.
AHRI, A.O. Smith, Bradford White,
HTP, the Joint Comment, and Rheem
opposed the proposal to require that the
rated storage value be the mean of the
measured values. (AHRI, No. 75 at p. 4;
A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 3; Bradford
White, No. 61 at p. 10; HTP, No. 59 at
p. 8; Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 3;
Rheem, No. 69 at p. 6) AHRI argued that
the proposal is unnecessary and not an
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efficiency-related matter, but a safety
matter. As such, AHRI argued that it is
outside the scope of the DOE’s authority
and has been adequately addressed in
ANSI Z21 and the UL standards for
water heaters. AHRI stated that there are
currently no units on the market that
would allow the difference between
rated and measured volume to dodge
the minimum efficiency standards. A.O.
Smith and Bradford White noted that
adding this requirement would make a
water heater which was legal under the
old test procedure illegal, which in turn
would necessitate updating the
minimum efficiency standards. HTP
stated that the five-percent tolerance on
the measured storage volume as
compared to rated storage volume is too
stringent and would impose a
significant re-design burden upon
manufacturers. HTP instead suggests a
ten-percent tolerance to reduce the
manufacturer’s burden.
After carefully considering these
comments, DOE has decided to require
that the rated storage volume be based
on the mean of the measured values.
The efficiency of a water heater is
clearly related to the rated storage
volume and, therefore, within DOE’s
authority to regulate. DOE seeks to
eliminate any potential incentives for
manufacturers to continue the current
practice of exaggerating the storage
volume of water heaters currently on the
market by inflating the rated volume as
compared to the actual measured
volume. While DOE acknowledges
AHRI’s assessment that no current water
heaters on the market could evade
minimum efficiency standards, this
does not rule out the possibility that
future water heaters could do so; the
revised approach adopted in this final
rule addresses this concern going
forward. Regarding the comment from
A.O. Smith and Bradford White that
adding this requirement would make a
water heater which was legal under the
old test procedure illegal, DOE notes
that if AHRI’s comment about the
current water heater market is correct,
the difference between rated and
measured volume should not cause any
water heaters to be subject to different
energy conservation standards, thereby
rendering such concerns theoretical.
Furthermore, there will be a
mathematical conversion for water
heater models that are currently
compliant to transition from results
generated under the old test procedure
to the new test procedure. Additionally,
DOE-initiated testing will require that
all measured storage volumes be within
±5 percent of the rated storage volume
to be considered valid. DOE agrees with
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HTP that the 5 percent tolerance will
result in manufacturers having to rerate
certain models at an additional burden.
However, DOE has concluded that any
tolerance greater than 5 percent will not
have the desired effect of harmonizing
rated and measured storage volume
values, and it is likely that a significant
gap would persist between the values if
a larger tolerance were adopted. If an
invalid storage volume is found, the
measured storage volume will be used
in determining the applicable minimum
energy conservation standard and
calculations within the test procedure.
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2. First-Hour Rating and Maximum GPM
Requirements
Because the first-hour and maximum
GPM ratings will determine the
applicable draw pattern for use during
the uniform energy factor test, DOE
proposed in the November 2013 NOPR
to include rating requirements for those
values. 78 FR 66202, 66223 (Nov. 4,
2013). DOE proposed that the first-hour
rating or maximum GPM rating, as
applicable, must be the mean of the
measured values of the sample used for
certifying the basic model’s efficiency.
For DOE testing, the rated value will be
considered valid if it is within five
percent of the measured value. In such
a case, DOE proposed that the rated
value would be used for the purposes of
choosing the appropriate draw pattern
for the uniform energy factor test. In the
case of an invalid rating (i.e., the firsthour rating or maximum GPM rating is
more than five percent different from
the measured value), DOE proposed to
use the measured value to determine the
applicable draw pattern for the uniform
energy factor test. DOE did not receive
any comments objecting to these
proposals, and, thus, DOE is adopting
them in this final rule.
3. Ratings for Untested Models
In reviewing the current test
procedure, DOE has concluded that 10
CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E,
section 7.0, ‘‘Ratings for Untested
Models,’’ is more appropriately
addressed in 10 CFR part 429, which
deals with requirements for certification
of residential water heaters, than in the
test procedure. In the November 2013
NOPR, DOE proposed to remove this
section from Appendix E and place a
similar section in 10 CFR 429.17. 78 FR
66202, 66223–24 (Nov. 4, 2013). DOE
proposed to maintain the same
requirements for gas water heaters in 10
CFR 429.17 that were previously in
section 7.0, which allow units using
propane gas that have an input rating
within 10 percent of an otherwise
identical natural gas unit to use the
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rating for the natural gas unit in lieu of
separate testing. DOE did not receive
any comments related to this proposal,
and thus, DOE adopts it in this final
rule; however, DOE has moved the
provision to 10 CFR 429.70 to reflect
that this is an alternative method of
determining efficiency (in lieu of
testing).
DOE also proposed to eliminate the
provisions for electric water heaters that
currently allow a manufacturer of
electric water heaters that are identical
except with different input ratings to
designate a standard input rating at
which to test the water heater. 78 FR
66202, 66224 (Nov. 4, 2013). Under the
current procedure, the manufacturer of
electric water heaters may designate the
standard input rating that would apply
to all models that are identical with the
exception of the power input to the
heating element and test only at a single
standard input rating. It also provides
instructions for specifying the first-hour
rating of units with higher and lower
input ratings than the standard rating.
The procedure also provides that the
energy factor can be assumed to be the
same across all input ratings. As noted
above, DOE proposed to remove these
provisions due to the proposed
revisions in the test method for the firsthour rating and energy factor tests. The
first-hour rating would be expected to
vary based on the power input to the
electric heating element. Under the
revised test procedure, the applicable
draw pattern for the uniform energy
factor test is based on the first-hour
rating. Thus, the first-hour rating must
be accurate for the tested model to
ensure accurate test results for the
uniform energy factor test.
In response to the November 2013
NOPR, DOE received five comments
(AHRI, BWC, Giant, Joint Comment,
Rheem) opposing the proposal to
remove the manufacturer’s ability to
designate electric water heaters that are
identical except for their respective
input ratings as having a standard input,
and one comment was received from
HTP suggesting alternate methods of
testing the units with different input
ratings. (AHRI, No. 75 at p. 7; BWC, No.
61 at p. 10–11; Giant, No. 76 at p. 3–4;
HTP, No. 79 at p. 1–6; Joint Comment,
No. 77 at p. 7; Rheem, No. 69 at p. 7).
The five opposing comments stated that
there would be a significant undue test
burden associated with testing each
model with a different input rating. Id.
AHRI and Giant stated that the only case
where a different input rating might be
a concern is if the change in input rating
results in a lower first-hour rating such
that the unit would be tested under a
different draw pattern than the unit
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with a ‘‘standard’’ input rating. (AHRI,
No. 75 at p. 7; Giant, No. 76 at p. 3–4).
DOE agrees that removing the
provisions for rating electric water
heaters with different input ratings
could cause significant additional test
burden for manufacturers. Thus, DOE is
adopting the following requirements,
which are roughly based on the method
recommended by HTP to lessen burden
while still ensuring that the ratings are
representative of a model’s efficiency
and capacity. DOE is adopting
provisions in 10 CFR 429.70 that will
allow manufacturers to use the firsthour rating and uniform energy factor
determined by testing one basic model
to rate other basic models, in certain,
limited circumstances. Untested basic
models with input ratings higher than
the rating of the tested basic model can
be assumed to have the same first-hour
rating and uniform energy factor and
may be rated as such. For untested basic
models that only differ from the tested
basic model in that they contain heating
elements with input ratings below the
tested basic model, the untested basic
model with the lowest input rating for
all heating elements must be tested for
first-hour rating. If that untested basic
model has a first-hour rating that would
group it in the same draw pattern bin as
the tested basic model, then all basic
models with lower input ratings than
the tested basic model may be assumed
to have the same uniform energy factor
as the tested basic model. These
untested basic models can be assigned
a first-hour rating equivalent to the
volume removed in the first draw of the
first-hour rating test of the tested basic
model of electric water heater. However,
if the unit with the lowest input rating
has a first-hour rating that would result
in classification in a draw pattern with
a lower total volume drawn per day for
the simulated-use test, the unit must be
tested according to that lower draw
pattern. At this point, the manufacturer
may choose to test a second basic model
that would represent water heaters in
the lower sizing bin and apply the same
principles noted above to determine the
uniform energy factor and first-hour
rating.
DOE notes that the alternative
efficiency determination method
(AEDM) provisions for these consumer
water heaters and residential-duty
commercial water heaters are quite
different from AEDM provisions for
other types of covered products and
equipment for which use of an AEDM
is authorized. Specifically, these AEDM
provisions do not permit any type of
modeling or calculations of efficiency;
they only permit use of a rating
determined by testing to be used for
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other basic models that meet certain
criteria. In addition, DOE notes that the
tested basic model will be indicated in
a certification report with the number of
units tested, while the untested basic
models will be indicated in a
certification report as having been
certified using an AEDM.
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L. Reference Standards
DOE’s test procedure for residential
water heaters currently references two
industry standards: (1) American
Society for Testing and Measurement
(ASTM) D2156–80, ‘‘Smoke Density in
Flue Gases from Burning Distillate
Fuels, Test Method for’’ and (2)
ASHRAE Standard 41.1–1986,
‘‘Standard Measurement Guide: Section
on Temperature Measurements.’’
DOE retains these references in the
uniform efficiency descriptor test
method, but updates the referenced
standards to the most recent versions:
(1) ASTM D2156–09, ‘‘Standard Test
Method for Smoke Density in Flue
Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels’’
and (2) ASHRAE Standard 41.1–1986
(RA2006), ‘‘Standard Method for
Temperature Measurement.’’ For the
November 2013 NOPR, DOE reviewed
both of the updated standards and
concluded that their adoption would
not substantially impact the revised test
method. 78 FR 66202, 66224 (Nov. 4,
2013). DOE did not receive any
comments on this issue in response to
the NOPR, and consequently, DOE
incorporates these industry standards by
reference into DOE’s regulations for the
water heaters test procedure.
M. Compliance With Other EPCA
Requirements
As mentioned above, in amending a
test procedure, EPCA directs DOE to
determine to what extent, if any, the test
procedure would alter the measured
energy efficiency or measured energy
use of a covered product. (42 U.S.C.
6293(e)(1)) If the amended test
procedure alters the measured energy
efficiency or measured energy use, the
Secretary must amend the applicable
energy conservation standard to the
extent the amended test procedure
changes the energy efficiency of
products that minimally comply with
the existing standard. (42 U.S.C.
6293(e)(2)) The current energy
conservation standards for residential
water heaters are based on energy factor,
and the energy conservation standards
for commercial water heaters are based
on thermal efficiency and standby loss.
DOE believes that the conversion factor
(or factors) required by AEMTCA (as
discussed in section III.I) and developed
in a subsequent rulemaking will ensure
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that there is no change in measured
energy efficiency.
Consistent with 42 U.S.C. 6293(c),
DOE typically requires that any
representations of energy consumption
of covered products must be based on
any final amended test procedures 180
days after the publication of the test
procedure final rule. However, in this
instance, the statute specifically
provides for an effective date of the test
procedure final rule which is one year
after the date of the publication of the
final rule. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(D)(ii)) In
addition, AEMTCA provides for the use
of a conversion factor that will apply
beginning on the date of publication of
the conversion factor in the Federal
Register and ending on the later of one
year after the date of publication of the
conversion factor or December 31, 2015.
(42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(E)(v)) Thus, the
test procedure final rule will become
effective one year after its publication,
and manufacturers may at their
discretion make representations of
energy efficiency based either (a) on the
final amended test procedures or (b) on
the previous test procedures after
applying the conversion factor until
such time as use of the amended test
procedure is required. The current test
procedures for residential water heaters
are set forth at 10 CFR part 430, subpart
B, appendix E as contained in 10 CFR
parts 200 to 499 edition revised as of
January 1, 2014. The current test
procedures for commercial water
heating equipment are set forth at 10
CFR 431.106 as contained in 10 CFR
parts 200 to 499 edition revised as of
January 1, 2014. As required by
AEMTCA, the conversion factor may be
used until the later of one year after the
publication of the factor, or December
31, 2015, after which time all testing
must be conducted in accordance with
the new amended test procedure. (Note,
in this final rule, DOE provides that the
conversion factor may be used until
December 31, 2015, but DOE will amend
that date, if necessary, upon publication
of the conversion factor final rule.) DOE
notes that during the interim period,
manufacturers must use the same
version of the test procedure for all
representations of energy efficiency,
including certifications of compliance.
N. Other Issues
At the December 6, 2013 public
meeting, AIM and EEI requested
clarification on the applicability of the
first-hour rating and maximum GPM test
for water heaters that may have a storage
volume above 2 gallons but which also
have heating elements or burners that
are designed to deliver a continuous
flow of hot water. (Public transcript, p.
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80–81, 84–86, 121–122) After
considering these comments, DOE
acknowledges that it may be possible to
improve the test procedure’s
specifications as to which tests must be
conducted on each water heater, so the
Department is clarifying the proper
implementation of the applicable tests
as part of this final rule.
The proposed test procedure stated
that storage water heaters should be
tested to obtain a first-hour rating and
that instantaneous water heaters be
tested to obtain a maximum GPM rating.
78 FR 66202, 66234–36 (Nov. 4, 2013).
As noted by AIM, ‘‘flow-dominated’’ or
‘‘heat-on-demand’’ water heaters exist
that have very large burners but have
some storage volume as a buffer. (AIM
No. 70 at p. 2) DOE believes that the
delivery capacity of such water heaters
is best captured by a maximum GPM
rating and is, thus, requiring water
heaters with a heating input that is
activated by the flow of water through
them to be tested according to the
maximum GPM test procedure
regardless of storage volume. For all
other storage water heaters, the firsthour rating test is to be applied to
determine delivery capacity. DOE is
using the term ‘‘flow-activated’’ in this
final rule and is adding a definition for
that term in the test procedure that is
consistent with the definition of
‘‘instantaneous water heater’’ currently
at 10 CFR 430.2.
For determining the uniform energy
factor, DOE believes that any water
heater with a storage volume greater
than or equal to 2 gallons must be tested
to account for the storage volume, even
if they meet EPCA’s definition of an
instantaneous water heater, which does
not limit the stored volume. (42 U.S.C.
6291(27)(B)) The reason for this
determination is that changes in the
stored energy in the water heater and
variations in the heat loss from the
water heater to the ambient can affect
the uniform energy factor, and the test
procedure proposed for storage water
heaters captures these effects while that
for instantaneous water heaters does
not. While it might be possible to
include such terms in the proposed test
procedure for instantaneous water
heaters, such a step would add no
benefit for instantaneous water heaters
with minimal storage volume and could
be considered as adding an undue
burden to the testing of those units.
Therefore, DOE clarifies the
applicability of the simulated-use test
based on rated storage volume instead of
by the terminology of ‘‘storage’’ versus
‘‘instantaneous’’ in section 5 of
appendix E.
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DOE also clarifies the determination
of the UA value to account for situations
where the maximum tank temperature is
achieved immediately following the
recovery following the first draw
cluster. As noted above, test data
suggest that starting the standby period
immediately following a recovery can
lead to erroneous results due to the
challenges in determining the average
stored water temperature at that time.
DOE has adjusted the start of the period
used to determine the UA so that it must
begin no less than five minutes
following the end of the first recovery
following the first draw cluster.
IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory
Review
A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
The Office of Management and Budget
has determined that test procedure
rulemakings do not constitute
‘‘significant regulatory actions’’ under
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866,
‘‘Regulatory Planning and Review,’’ 58
FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly,
this action was not subject to review
under the Executive Order by the Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs
(OIRA) in the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB).
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B. Review Under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended by the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996) requires
preparation of an initial regulatory
flexibility analysis (IFRA) for any rule
that by law must be proposed for public
comment and a final regulatory
flexibility analysis (FRFA) for any such
rule that an agency adopts as a final
rule, unless the agency certifies that the
rule, if promulgated, will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. A
regulatory flexibility analysis examines
the impact of the rule on small entities
and considers alternative ways of
reducing negative effects. Also, as
required by Executive Order 13272,
‘‘Proper Consideration of Small Entities
in Agency Rulemaking,’’ 67 FR 53461
(August 16, 2002), DOE published
procedures and policies on February 19,
2003, to ensure that the potential
impacts of its rules on small entities are
properly considered during the DOE
rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE
has made its procedures and policies
available on the Office of the General
Counsel’s Web site: https://energy.gov/
gc/office-general-counsel.
This final rule prescribes test
procedure amendments used to
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determine compliance with energy
conservation standards for residential
water heaters and certain commercial
water heaters. For residential water
heaters and certain commercial water
heaters, the amendments establish a
uniform efficiency descriptor which is
more representative of conditions
encountered in the field (including
modifications to both the test conditions
and the draw patterns), and expand the
scope of the test procedure to apply to
certain residential water heaters and
certain commercial water heaters that
are currently not covered by the test
procedure. DOE reviewed this final rule
under the provisions of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act and the policies and
procedures published on February 19,
2003. 68 FR 7990.
For the manufacturers of the covered
water heater products, the Small
Business Administration (SBA) has set a
size threshold, which defines those
entities classified as ‘‘small businesses’’
for the purposes of the statute. DOE
used the SBA’s small business size
standards to determine whether any
small entities would be subject to the
requirements of the rule. The SBA size
standards, listed by North American
Industry Classification System (NAICS)
code and industry description, are
codified at 13 CFR part 121 and are
available at https://www.sba.gov/content/
table-small-business-size-standards.
Residential water heater manufacturing
is classified under NAICS 335228—
‘‘Other Major Household Appliance
Manufacturing.’’ The SBA sets a
threshold of 500 employees or less for
an entity to be considered as a small
business. Commercial water heaters are
classified under NAICS 333318—‘‘Other
Commercial and Service Industry
Machinery Manufacturing,’’ for which
SBA also sets a size threshold of 1,000
employees or fewer for being considered
a small business.
DOE has identified 19 manufacturers
of residential water heaters (including
manufacturers of products that fall
under the expanded scope) that can be
considered small businesses. DOE
identified seven manufacturers of
‘‘residential-duty’’ water heaters that
can be considered small businesses. Six
of the ‘‘residential-duty’’ water heater
manufacturers also manufacture
residential water heaters, so the total
number of water heater manufacturers
impacted by this rule would be 20.
DOE’s research involved reviewing
several industry trade association
membership directories (e.g., AHRI),
product databases (e.g., AHRI, CEC, and
ENERGY STAR databases), individual
company Web sites, and marketing
research tools (e.g., Hoovers reports) to
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create a list of all domestic small
business manufacturers of products
covered by this rulemaking.
For the reasons explained below, DOE
has concluded that the test procedure
amendments contained in this final rule
would not have a significant economic
impact on any manufacturer, including
small manufacturers.
For residential water heaters, the
amendments adopted in this final rule
apply primarily to the draw pattern and
outlet water temperature. Under DOE’s
existing test procedure, manufacturers
must perform a simulated-use test
consisting of 6 draws of equal lengths
with a water heater delivery
temperature of 135 °F. This final rule
will require manufacturers to perform a
simulated-use test consisting of 9 to 14
draws of varied length, depending on
the capacity of the water heater, at an
outlet water temperature of 125 °F. The
change in outlet water temperature
requires no additional effort or expense
for the manufacturer, because
establishing the test temperature is
simply a matter of choosing the
appropriate setting on the water heater.
Likewise, the change in the number of
draws would also result in very little
burden on manufacturers. The length
and timing of draws for the existing test
procedure are largely controlled
automatically by computer control. The
changes will likely result in
manufacturers having to reprogram the
computer test programs to account for
the new draw patterns. DOE estimates
that this effort would take
approximately one week to program and
confirm operation of the amended test.
It is estimated that approximately two
days of a programmer’s time would be
needed at a cost of $1,000, including
overhead and benefits. This one-time
cost is comparable to that charged by a
third-party test laboratory for a single
test, so it is not considered burdensome
for water heater manufacturers. Since
the simulated-use test takes 24 hours
under both the existing and new test
method, the length of the test would not
change. The new test method does
specify a 12-hour soak-in period prior to
the 24-hour test for storage water
heaters, however, which would add to
the time required to conduct the test.
This extra test time would not require
extra personnel and would not
necessitate the development of
additional test platforms. DOE
understands that a preconditioning
period is already implemented by
manufacturers as a best practice to allow
the water heater to achieve operational
temperature, so the added burden from
the 12-hour soak-in would be minimal.
In addition, these tests can be
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conducted in the same facilities used for
the current energy testing of these
products, so there would be no
additional facility costs required by the
final rule.
Lastly, the only potential
instrumentation upgrade required to
conduct the test would be electric
power and energy measuring equipment
that meets the accuracy levels that have
changed from ± 1 percent to ± 0.5
percent. DOE believes that equipment
meeting these tolerances is already the
industry standard. Purchase of a new
instrument, if needed, would be
expected to cost approximately $1,000.
For certain commercial water heaters
included in the scope of this
rulemaking, the efficiency test required
for equipment would change from the
thermal efficiency and standby loss tests
specified in the current DOE test
method, to the simulated-use test for
uniform energy factor in this final rule.
The uniform energy factor test is
inherently more complex than the
thermal efficiency and standby loss
tests, and, thus, it may be more difficult
to implement. However, the standby
loss test takes a significant amount of
time, which is comparable to the 24hour simulated-use test. Accordingly,
overall testing time should remain fairly
constant. DOE understands that the
complexity of the uniform energy factor
test would impose additional costs on
manufacturers due to the need to
automate draw patterns, as compared to
the thermal efficiency test. In addition,
some hardware purchases may be
needed to allow for computer-controlled
draws of hot water that are required in
a simulated use test. However, DOE
notes that many commercial water
heater manufacturers also manufacture
residential water heaters, and may
already have this equipment from
testing of residential units. Nonetheless,
DOE estimates that this hardware could
cost approximately $1,000, assuming
that the laboratory already has a
computer-controlled data acquisition
system to collect data during the
thermal efficiency and standby loss tests
currently required. DOE estimates the
costs for a programmer to create a
computer program that automatically
controls the hot water draws would be
similar to the costs above, but that the
time required may be slightly longer if
the program is being developed from
scratch. Under such circumstances, DOE
estimates that 5 days of programmer
time would be needed for a cost of
$2,500, including overhead and
benefits.
Lastly, DOE considered the impacts
on small businesses that manufacture
residential water heaters that fall into
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categories that were previously not
covered by the DOE residential water
heater test procedure (e.g., models with
storage volumes between 2 and 20
gallons). In reviewing the market for
these products, DOE did not identify
any manufacturers that did not also
manufacture other types of water
heating equipment. Thus, DOE believes
that these manufacturers would already
have the needed equipment and
computer programs to conduct the
current DOE test. For the reasons stated
previously, DOE does not believe the
updates will cause significant additional
burdens for these manufacturers.
Accordingly, DOE concludes and
certifies that this final rule would not
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities,
so DOE has not prepared a regulatory
flexibility analysis for this rulemaking.
DOE has provided its certification and
supporting statement of factual basis to
the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
SBA for review under 5 U.S.C. 605(b).
C. Review Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995
Manufacturers of water heaters must
certify to DOE that their products
comply with all applicable energy
conservation standards. In certifying
compliance, manufacturers must test
their products according to the DOE test
procedures for water heaters, including
any amendments adopted for the test
procedure on the date that compliance
is required. DOE has established
regulations for the certification and
recordkeeping requirements for all
covered consumer products and
commercial equipment, including
residential and commercial water
heaters. 76 FR 12422 (March 7, 2011).
The collection-of-information
requirement for the certification and
recordkeeping is subject to review and
approval by OMB under the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA). This requirement
has been approved by OMB under OMB
control number 1910–1400. Public
reporting burden for the certification is
estimated to average 20 hours per
response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection
of information.
Notwithstanding any other provision
of the law, no person is required to
respond to, nor shall any person be
subject to a penalty for failure to comply
with, a collection of information subject
to the requirements of the PRA, unless
that collection of information displays a
currently valid OMB Control Number.
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D. Review Under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
In this final rule, DOE amends its test
procedure for residential and
commercial water heaters. DOE has
determined that this rule falls into a
class of actions that are categorically
excluded from review under the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and DOE’s
implementing regulations at 10 CFR part
1021. Specifically, this rule amends an
existing rule without affecting the
amount, quality or distribution of
energy usage, and, therefore, will not
result in any environmental impacts.
Thus, this rulemaking is covered by
Categorical Exclusion A5 under 10 CFR
part 1021, subpart D, which applies to
any rulemaking that interprets or
amends an existing rule without
changing the environmental effect of
that rule. Accordingly, neither an
environmental assessment nor an
environmental impact statement is
required.
E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
Executive Order 13132, ‘‘Federalism,’’
64 FR 43255 (August 10, 1999), imposes
certain requirements on agencies
formulating and implementing policies
or regulations that preempt State law or
that have Federalism implications. The
Executive Order requires agencies to
examine the constitutional and statutory
authority supporting any action that
would limit the policymaking discretion
of the States and to carefully assess the
necessity for such actions. The
Executive Order also requires agencies
to have an accountable process to
ensure meaningful and timely input by
State and local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that
have Federalism implications. On
March 14, 2000, DOE published a
statement of policy describing the
intergovernmental consultation process
it will follow in the development of
such regulations. 65 FR 13735. DOE
examined this final rule and determined
that it will not have a substantial direct
effect on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and
the States, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government. EPCA
governs and prescribes Federal
preemption of State regulations as to
energy conservation for the products
that are the subject of this final rule.
States can petition DOE for exemption
from such preemption to the extent, and
based on criteria, set forth in EPCA. (42
U.S.C. 6297(d)) No further action is
required by Executive Order 13132.
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F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
Regarding the review of existing
regulations and the promulgation of
new regulations, section 3(a) of
Executive Order 12988, ‘‘Civil Justice
Reform,’’ 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996),
imposes on Federal agencies the general
duty to adhere to the following
requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting
errors and ambiguity; (2) write
regulations to minimize litigation; (3)
provide a clear legal standard for
affected conduct rather than a general
standard; and (4) promote simplification
and burden reduction. Regarding the
review required by section 3(a), section
3(b) of Executive Order 12988
specifically requires that Executive
agencies make every reasonable effort to
ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly
specifies the preemptive effect, if any;
(2) clearly specifies any effect on
existing Federal law or regulation; (3)
provides a clear legal standard for
affected conduct while promoting
simplification and burden reduction; (4)
specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5)
adequately defines key terms; and (6)
addresses other important issues
affecting clarity and general
draftsmanship under any guidelines
issued by the Attorney General. Section
3(c) of Executive Order 12988 requires
Executive agencies to review regulations
in light of applicable standards in
sections 3(a) and 3(b) to determine
whether they are met or it is
unreasonable to meet one or more of
them. DOE has completed the required
review and determined that, to the
extent permitted by law, this final rule
meets the relevant standards of
Executive Order 12988.
G. Review Under the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) requires
each Federal agency to assess the effects
of Federal regulatory actions on State,
local, and Tribal governments and the
private sector. Pub. L. 104–4, sec. 201
(codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531). For a
regulatory action resulting in a rule that
may cause the expenditure by State,
local, and Tribal governments, in the
aggregate, or by the private sector of
$100 million or more in any one year
(adjusted annually for inflation), section
202 of UMRA requires a Federal agency
to publish a written statement that
estimates the resulting costs, benefits,
and other effects on the national
economy. (2 U.S.C. 1532(a), (b)) The
UMRA also requires a Federal agency to
develop an effective process to permit
timely input by elected officers of State,
local, and Tribal governments on a
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‘‘significant intergovernmental
mandate,’’ and requires an agency plan
for giving notice and opportunity for
timely input to potentially affected
small governments before establishing
any requirements that might
significantly or uniquely affect them. On
March 18, 1997, DOE published a
statement of policy on its process for
intergovernmental consultation under
UMRA. 62 FR 12820. (This policy is
also available at https://energy.gov/gc/
office-general-counsel.) DOE examined
this final rule according to UMRA and
its statement of policy and has
determined that the rule contains
neither an intergovernmental mandate,
nor a mandate that may result in the
expenditure by State, local, and Tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector, of $100 million or more
in any year. Accordingly, no further
assessment or analysis is required under
UMRA.
H. Review Under the Treasury and
General Government Appropriations
Act, 1999
Section 654 of the Treasury and
General Government Appropriations
Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105–277) requires
Federal agencies to issue a Family
Policymaking Assessment for any rule
that may affect family well-being. This
final rule will not have any impact on
the autonomy or integrity of the family
as an institution. Accordingly, DOE has
concluded that it is not necessary to
prepare a Family Policymaking
Assessment.
I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
Pursuant to Executive Order 12630,
‘‘Governmental Actions and Interference
with Constitutionally Protected Property
Rights,’’ 53 FR 8859 (March 18, 1988),
DOE has determined that this regulation
will not result in any takings that might
require compensation under the Fifth
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
J. Review Under Treasury and General
Government Appropriations Act, 2001
Section 515 of the Treasury and
General Government Appropriations
Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides
for agencies to review most
disseminations of information to the
public under information quality
guidelines established by each agency
pursuant to general guidelines issued by
OMB. OMB’s guidelines were published
at 67 FR 8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and
DOE’s guidelines were published at 67
FR 62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has
reviewed this final rule under the OMB
and DOE guidelines and has concluded
that it is consistent with applicable
policies in those guidelines.
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K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use,’’ 66 FR 28355 (May
22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to
prepare and submit to OIRA at OMB, a
Statement of Energy Effects for any
significant energy action. A ‘‘significant
energy action’’ is defined as any action
by an agency that promulgates or is
expected to lead to promulgation of a
final rule, and that: (1) Is a significant
regulatory action under Executive Order
12866, or any successor order; and (2)
is likely to have a significant adverse
effect on the supply, distribution, or use
of energy; or (3) is designated by the
Administrator of OIRA as a significant
energy action. For any significant energy
action, the agency must give a detailed
statement of any adverse effects on
energy supply, distribution, or use if the
regulation is implemented, and of
reasonable alternatives to the action and
their expected benefits on energy
supply, distribution, and use.
This regulatory action to amend the
test procedure for measuring the energy
efficiency of residential and certain
commercial water heaters is not a
significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866 or any successor
order. Moreover, it would not have a
significant adverse effect on the supply,
distribution, or use of energy, nor has it
been designated as a significant energy
action by the Administrator of OIRA.
Therefore, it is not a significant energy
action, and, accordingly, DOE has not
prepared a Statement of Energy Effects
for this rulemaking.
L. Review Under Section 32 of the
Federal Energy Administration Act of
1974
Under section 301 of the Department
of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95–
91; 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), DOE must
comply with all laws applicable to the
former Federal Energy Administration,
including section 32 of the Federal
Energy Administration Act of 1974
(Pub. L. 93–275), as amended by the
Federal Energy Administration
Authorization Act of 1977 (Pub. L. 95–
70). (15 U.S.C. 788; FEAA) Section 32
essentially provides in relevant part
that, where a proposed rule authorizes
or requires use of commercial standards,
the notice of proposed rulemaking must
inform the public of the use and
background of such standards. In
addition, section 32(c) requires DOE to
consult with the Attorney General and
the Chairman of the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) concerning the
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impact of the commercial or industry
standards on competition.
The modifications to the test
procedures addressed by this action
incorporate testing methods contained
in the following commercial standards:
(1) ASTM D2156 09, ‘‘Standard Test
Method for Smoke Density in Flue
Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels’’;
and (2) ASHRAE Standard 41.1–1986
(RA 2006), ‘‘Standard Method for
Temperature Measurement.’’ While this
test procedure is not exclusively based
on these standards, components of the
test procedures are adopted directly
from these standards without
amendment. The Department has
evaluated these standards and is unable
to conclude whether they fully comply
with the requirements of section 32(b) of
the FEAA, (i.e., that they were
developed in a manner that fully
provides for public participation,
comment, and review). DOE has
consulted with the Attorney General
and the Chairman of the FTC
concerning the impact on competition
of requiring manufacturers to use the
test methods contained in these
standards and has received no
comments objecting to their use.
M. Congressional Notification
As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will
report to Congress on the promulgation
of this rule before its effective date. The
report will state that it has been
determined that the rule is not a ‘‘major
rule’’ as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
V. Approval of the Office of the
Secretary
List of Subjects
10 CFR Part 429
Confidential business information,
Energy conservation, Household
appliances, Imports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
10 CFR Part 430
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES2
Administrative practice and
procedure, Confidential business
information, Energy conservation,
Household appliances, Imports,
Incorporation by reference,
Intergovernmental relations, Small
businesses.
10 CFR Part 431
Administrative practice and
procedure, Confidential business
information, Test procedures,
Incorporation by reference, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements.
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For the reasons stated in the
preamble, DOE amends parts 429, 430,
and 431 of Chapter II, Subchapter D of
Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, as
set forth below:
PART 429—CERTIFICATION,
COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT
FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
EQUIPMENT
1. The authority citation for part 429
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6317.
2. Section 429.17 is amended by:
a. Revising paragraphs (a)
introductory text and (a)(1);
■ b. Redesignating paragraphs—
i. (a)(2)(i) introductory text as
(a)(1)(ii)(A);
ii. (a)(2)(i)(A) as (a)(1)(ii)(A)(1);
iii. (a)(2)(1)(B) as (a)(1)(ii)(A)(2);
iv. (a)(2)(ii) introductory text as
(a)(1)(ii)(B);
v. (a)(2)(ii)(A) as (a)(1)(ii)(B)(1); and
vi. (a)(2)(ii)(B) as (a)(1)(ii)(B)(2);
■ c. Adding paragraphs (a)(1)(ii)(C), and
(D);
■ d. Revising paragraph (a)(2); and
■ e. Revising paragraph (b)(2).
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
■
■
§ 429.17
The Secretary of Energy has approved
publication of this final rule.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 27,
2014.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy
Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.
Residential water heaters.
(a) Determination of represented
value. Manufacturers must determine
the represented value, which includes
the certified rating, for each basic model
of residential water heater either by
testing, in conjunction with the
applicable sampling provisions, or by
applying an alternative efficiency
determination method (AEDM)
approved for use by DOE.
(1) Units to be tested. (i) If the
represented value is determined through
testing, the general requirements of
§ 429.11 are applicable; and
(ii) For each basic model selected for
testing, a sample of sufficient size shall
be randomly selected and tested to
ensure that—
*
*
*
*
*
(C) Any represented value of the rated
storage volume must be equal to the
mean of the measured storage volumes
of all the units within the sample.
(D) Any represented value of firsthour rating or maximum gallons per
minute (GPM) must be equal to the
mean of the measured first-hour ratings
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or measured maximum GPM ratings,
respectively, of all the units within the
sample.
(2) Alternative efficiency
determination methods. In lieu of
testing, represented values for a basic
model must be determined through the
application of an AEDM pursuant to the
requirements of § 429.70.
(b) * * *
(2) Pursuant to § 429.12(b)(13), a
certification report shall include the
following public product-specific
information: The uniform energy factor
(UEF, rounded to the nearest 0.01), rated
storage volume in gallons (gal), firsthour rating or maximum gallons per
minute (GPM), and recovery efficiency
(percent).
■ 3. Section 429.44 is amended by:
■ a. Redesignating paragraphs (a), (b),
and (c) as (b), (c), and (d), respectively.
■ b. Adding new paragraph (a); and
■ c. Revising newly redesignated
paragraph (b).
The revisions and additions read as
follows:
§ 429.44 Commercial water heating
equipment.
(a) For residential-duty commercial
water heaters, all represented values
must be determined in accordance with
§ 429.17.
(b) Determination of Represented
Value for All Types of Commercial
Water Heaters Except Residential-Duty
Commercial Water Heaters.
Manufacturers must determine the
represented value, which includes the
certified rating, for each basic model of
commercial water heating equipment
except residential-duty commercial
water heaters, either by testing, in
conjunction with the applicable
sampling provisions, or by applying an
AEDM as set forth in § 429.70.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 4. Section 429.70 is amended by
adding paragraph (g) to read as follows:
§ 429.70 Alternative methods for
determining energy efficiency and energy
use
*
*
*
*
*
(g) Alternative determination of
ratings for untested basic models of
residential water heaters and
residential-duty commercial water
heaters. For models of water heaters that
differ only in fuel type or power input,
ratings for untested basic models may be
established in accordance with the
following procedures in lieu of testing.
This method allows only for the use of
ratings identical to those of a tested
basic model as provided below;
simulations or other modeling
predictions for ratings of the uniform
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that differ from tested basic models only
in whether the basic models use natural
gas or propane gas, the represented
value of uniform energy factor, firsthour rating, and maximum gallons per
minute for an untested basic model is
the same as that for a tested basic
model, as long as the input ratings of the
tested and untested basic models are
within ±10%, that is:
(2) Electric Storage Water Heaters.
Rate an untested basic model of an
electric storage type water heater using
the first-hour rating and the uniform
energy factor obtained from a tested
basic model as a basis for ratings of
basic models with other input ratings,
provided that certain conditions are
met:
(i) For an untested basic model, the
represented value of the first-hour rating
and the uniform energy factor is the
same as that of a tested basic model,
provided that each heating element of
the untested basic model is rated at or
above the input rating for the
corresponding heating element of the
tested basic model.
(ii) For an untested basic model
having any heating element with an
input rating that is lower than that of
the corresponding heating element in
the tested basic model, the represented
value of the first-hour rating and the
uniform energy factor is the same as that
of a tested basic model, provided that
the first-hour rating for the untested
basic model results in the same draw
pattern specified in Table I of appendix
E for the simulated-use test as was
applied to the tested basic model. To
establish whether this condition is met,
determine the first-hour ratings for the
tested and the untested basic models in
accordance with the procedure
described in section 5.3.3 of 10 CFR part
430, subpart B, appendix E, then
compare the appropriate draw pattern
specified in Table I of appendix E for
the first-hour rating of the tested basic
model with that for the untested basic
model. If this condition is not met, then
the untested basic model must be tested
and the appropriate sampling provisions
applied to determine its uniform energy
factor in accordance with appendix E
and this part.
■ 5. Section 429.134 is amended by
removing and reserving paragraph (c)
and adding paragraph (d) to read as
follows:
rating and maximum GPM rating. The
first-hour rating or maximum gallons
per minute (GPM) rating of the basic
model will be measured pursuant to the
test requirements of 10 CFR part 430 for
each unit tested. The mean of the
measured values will be compared to
the rated values of first-hour rating or
maximum GPM rating as certified by the
manufacturer. The certified rating will
be considered valid only if the
measurement is within five percent of
the certified rating.
(i) If the rated value of first-hour
rating or maximum GPM rating is found
to be within 5 percent of the mean of the
measured values, then the rated value
will be used as the basis for determining
the applicable draw pattern pursuant to
the test requirements of 10 CFR part 430
for each unit tested.
(ii) If the rated value of first-hour
rating or maximum GPM rating is found
to vary more than 5 percent from the
measured values, then the mean of the
measured values will serve as the basis
for determining the applicable draw
pattern pursuant to the test
requirements of 10 CFR part 430 for
each unit tested.
(2) Verification of rated storage
volume. The storage volume of the basic
model will be measured pursuant to the
test requirements of 10 CFR part 430 for
each unit tested. The mean of the
measured values will be compared to
the rated storage volume as certified by
the manufacturer. The rated value will
be considered valid only if the
measurement is within five percent of
the certified rating.
(i) If the rated storage volume is found
to be within 5 percent of the mean of the
measured value of storage volume, then
that value will be used as the basis for
calculation of the required uniform
energy factor for the basic model.
(ii) If the rated storage volume is
found to vary more than 5 percent from
the mean of the measured values, then
the mean of the measured values will be
used as the basis for calculation of the
required uniform energy factor for the
basic model.
PART 430—ENERGY CONSERVATION
PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER
PRODUCTS
§ 429.134 Product-specific enforcement
provisions.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) Residential Water Heaters and
Residential-Duty Commercial Water
Heaters—(1) Verification of first-hour
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22:39 Jul 10, 2014
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6. The authority citation for part 430
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6309; 28 U.S.C.
2461 note.
7. Section 430.2 is amended by adding
the definitions of ‘‘Electric heat pump
water heater,’’ ‘‘Electric instantaneous
water heater,’’ ‘‘Electric storage water
heater,’’ ‘‘Gas-fired instantaneous water
heater,’’ ‘‘Gas-fired storage water
heater,’’ ‘‘Gas-fired heat pump water
heater,’’ ‘‘Oil-fired instantaneous water
heater,’’ and ‘‘Oil-fired storage water
heater’’ in alphabetical order to read as
follows:
■
§ 430.2
Definitions.
*
*
*
*
*
Electric heat pump water heater
means a water heater that uses
electricity as the energy source, has a
maximum current rating of 24 amperes
(including the compressor and all
auxiliary equipment such as fans,
pumps, controls, and, if on the same
circuit, any resistive elements) at an
input voltage of no greater than 250
volts, has a rated storage capacity of 120
gallons (450 liters) or less, is designed
to transfer thermal energy from one
temperature level to a higher
temperature level for the purpose of
heating water, including all ancillary
equipment such as fans, storage tanks,
pumps, or controls necessary for the
device to perform its function, and is
designed to heat and store water at a
thermostatically-controlled temperature
less than or equal to 180 °F (82 °C).
*
*
*
*
*
Electric instantaneous water heater
means a water heater that uses
electricity as the energy source, has a
nameplate input rating of 12 kW (40,956
Btu/h) or less, contains no more than
one gallon of water per 4,000 Btu per
hour of input, and is designed to
provide outlet water at a controlled
temperature less than or equal to 180 °F
(82 °C). The unit may use a fixed or
variable burner input.
*
*
*
*
*
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energy factor, volume, first-hour rating,
or maximum gallons per minute (GPM)
are not permitted.
(1) Gas Water Heaters. For untested
basic models of gas-fired water heaters
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Electric storage water heater means a
water heater that uses electricity as the
energy source, has a nameplate input
rating of 12 kW (40,956 Btu/h) or less,
has a rated storage capacity of 120
gallons (450 liters) or less, contains
more than one gallon of water per 4,000
Btu per hour of input, and may be
designed to heat and store water at a
thermostatically-controlled temperature
less than or equal to 180 °F (82 °C).
*
*
*
*
*
Gas-fired heat pump water heater
means a water heater that uses gas as the
main energy source, has a nameplate
input rating of 75,000 Btu/h (79 MJ/h)
or less, has a maximum current rating of
24 amperes (including all auxiliary
equipment such as fans, pumps,
controls, and, if on the same circuit, any
resistive elements) at an input voltage of
no greater than 250 volts, has a rated
storage volume not more than 120
gallons (450 liters), and is designed to
transfer thermal energy from one
temperature level to a higher
temperature level to deliver water at a
thermostatically controlled temperature
less than or equal to 180 °F (82 °C).
Gas-fired instantaneous water heater
means a water heater that uses gas as the
main energy source, has a nameplate
input rating less than 200,000 Btu/h
(210 MJ/h), contains no more than one
gallon of water per 4,000 Btu per hour
of input, and is designed to provide
outlet water at a controlled temperature
less than or equal to 180 °F (82 °C). The
unit may use a fixed or variable burner
input.
Gas-fired storage water heater means
a water heater that uses gas as the main
energy source, has a nameplate input
rating of 75,000 Btu/h (79 MJ/h) or less,
has a rated storage capacity of 120
gallons (450 liters) or less, contains
more than one gallon of water per 4,000
Btu per hour of input, and is designed
to heat and store water at a
thermostatically-controlled temperature
less than or equal to 180 °F (82 °C).
*
*
*
*
*
Oil-fired instantaneous water heater
means a water heater that uses oil as the
main energy source, has a nameplate
input rating of 210,000 Btu/h (220 MJ/
h) or less, contains no more than one
gallon of water per 4,000 Btu per hour
of input, and is designed to provide
outlet water at a controlled temperature
less than or equal to 180 °F (82 °C). The
unit may use a fixed or variable burner
input.
Oil-fired storage water heater means a
water heater that uses oil as the main
energy source, has a nameplate input
rating of 105,000 Btu/h (110 MJ/h) or
less, has a rated storage capacity of 120
VerDate Mar<15>2010
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40567
gallons (450 liters) or less, contains
more than one gallon of water per 4,000
Btu per hour of input, and is designed
to heat and store water at a
thermostatically-controlled temperature
less than or equal to 180 °F (82 °C).
*
*
*
*
*
■ 8. Section 430.3 is amended by:
■ a. Redesignating paragraphs (h)
through (t) as (i) through (u),
respectively; and
■ b. Adding a new paragraph (h).
The addition reads as follows:
(2) For an individual test, the tested
uniform energy factor for a water heater
shall be—
(i) For a gas or oil water heater, as
determined by section 6.1.7 or 6.2.4 of
appendix E of this subpart rounded to
the nearest 0.01.
(ii) For an electric water heater, as
determined by section 6.1.7 or 6.2.4 of
appendix E of this subpart rounded to
the nearest 0.01.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 10. Appendix E to Subpart B of Part
430 is revised to read as follows:
§ 430.3 Materials incorporated by
reference.
Appendix E to Subpart B of Part 430–
Uniform Test Method for Measuring the
Energy Consumption of Water Heaters
*
*
*
*
*
(h) ASTM. American Society for
Testing and Materials International, 100
Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West
Conshohocken, PA 19428–2959
(www.astm.org).
(1) ASTM D 2156–09 (‘‘ASTM
D2156’’), Standard Test Method for
Smoke Density in Flue Gases from
Burning Distillate Fuels, approved
December 1, 2009, IBR approved for
appendix E to subpart B.
(2) [Reserved].
*
*
*
*
*
■ 9. Section 430.23 is amended by
revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:
§ 430.23 Test procedures for the
measurement of energy and water
consumption.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) Water Heaters. (1) The estimated
annual operating cost for water heaters
shall be—
(i) For a gas or oil water heater, the
sum of: the product of the annual gas or
oil energy consumption, determined
according to section 6.1.10 or 6.2.7 of
appendix E of this subpart, times the
representative average unit cost of gas or
oil, as appropriate, in dollars per Btu as
provided by the Secretary; plus the
product of the annual electric energy
consumption, determined according to
section 6.1.9 or 6.2.6 of appendix E of
this subpart, times the representative
average unit cost of electricity in dollars
per kilowatt-hour as provided by the
Secretary, the resulting sum then being
rounded off to the nearest dollar per
year.
(ii) For an electric water heater, the
product of the annual energy
consumption, determined according to
section 6.1.9 or 6.2.6 of appendix E of
this subpart, times the representative
average unit cost of electricity in dollars
per kilowatt-hour as provided by the
Secretary, the resulting product then
being rounded off to the nearest dollar
per year.
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Note: After December 31, 2015, any
representations made with respect to the
energy use or efficiency of residential water
heaters and commercial water heaters
covered by this test method must be made in
accordance with the results of testing
pursuant to this appendix. (Because the
statute permits use of a conversion factor
until the later of December 31, 2015 or one
year after publication of a conversion factor
final rule, DOE may amend the mandatory
compliance date for use of this amended test
procedure, as necessary.)
Manufacturers conducting tests of
residential water heaters and commercial
water heaters covered by this test method
after July 13, 2015, and prior to December 31,
2015, must conduct such test in accordance
with either this appendix or the previous test
method. For residential water heaters, the
previous test method is appendix E as it
appeared at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B,
appendix E, in the 10 CFR parts 200 to 499
edition revised as of January 1, 2014. For
commercial water heaters, the previous test
method is 10 CFR 431.106 in the 10 CFR
parts 200 to 499 edition revised as of January
1, 2014. Any representations made with
respect to the energy use or efficiency of such
water heaters must be in accordance with
whichever version is selected.
1. Definitions.
1.1. Cut-in means the time when or water
temperature at which a water heater control
or thermostat acts to increase the energy or
fuel input to the heating elements,
compressor, or burner.
1.2. Cut-out means the time when or water
temperature at which a water heater control
or thermostat acts to reduce to a minimum
the energy or fuel input to the heating
elements, compressor, or burner.
1.3. Design Power Rating means the
nominal power rating that a water heater
manufacturer assigns to a particular design of
water heater, expressed in kilowatts or Btu
(kJ) per hour as appropriate.
1.4. Draw Cluster means a collection of
water draws initiated during the simulateduse test during which no successive draws
are separated by more than 2 hours.
1.5. First-Hour Rating means an estimate of
the maximum volume of ‘‘hot’’ water that a
storage-type water heater can supply within
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an hour that begins with the water heater
fully heated (i.e., with all thermostats
satisfied). It is a function of both the storage
volume and the recovery rate.
1.6. Flow-activated describes an
operational scheme in which a water heater
initiates and terminates heating based on
sensing flow.
1.7. Heat Trap means a device that can be
integrally connected or independently
attached to the hot and/or cold water pipe
connections of a water heater such that the
device will develop a thermal or mechanical
seal to minimize the recirculation of water
due to thermal convection between the water
heater tank and its connecting pipes.
1.8. Maximum GPM (L/min) Rating means
the maximum gallons per minute (liters per
minute) of hot water that can be supplied by
an instantaneous water heater while
maintaining a nominal temperature rise of
67 °F (37.3 °C) during steady-state operation,
as determined by testing in accordance with
section 5.3.2 of this appendix.
1.9. Rated Storage Volume means the water
storage capacity of a water heater, in gallons
(liters), as certified by the manufacturer
pursuant to 10 CFR part 429.
1.10. Recovery Efficiency means the ratio of
energy delivered to the water to the energy
content of the fuel consumed by the water
heater.
1.11. Recovery Period means the time when
the main burner of a storage water heater is
raising the temperature of the stored water.
1.12. Standby means the time, in hours,
during which water is not being withdrawn
from the water heater. There are two standby
time intervals used within this test
procedure: tstby,1 represents the elapsed time
between the time at which the maximum
mean tank temperature is observed after the
first draw cluster and the minute prior to the
start of the first draw following the end of the
first draw cluster of the 24-hour simulateduse test; tstby,2 represents the total time
during the 24-hour simulated-use test when
water is not being withdrawn from the water
heater.
1.13. Symbol Usage. The following identity
relationships are provided to help clarify the
symbology used throughout this procedure:
Cp—specific heat of water
Eannual—annual energy consumption of a
water heater
Eannual,e—annual electrical energy
consumption of a water heater
Eannual,f—annual fossil-fuel energy
consumption of a water heater
Fhr—first-hour rating of a storage-type water
heater
Fmax—maximum GPM (L/min) rating of an
instantaneous water heater rated at a
temperature rise of 67 °F (37.3 °C)
i—a subscript to indicate the draw number
during a test
Mi—mass of water removed during the ith
draw of the 24-hour simulated-use test
M*i—for storage-type water heaters, mass of
water removed during the ith draw
during the first-hour rating test
M10m—for instantaneous water heaters, mass
of water removed continuously during a
10-minute interval in the maximum GPM
(L/min) rating test
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n—for storage-type water heaters, total
number of draws during the first-hour
rating test
N—total number of draws during the 24-hour
simulated-use test
Q—total fossil fuel and/or electric energy
consumed during the entire 24-hour
simulated-use test
Qd—daily water heating energy consumption
adjusted for net change in internal
energy
Qda—Qd with adjustment for variation of tank
to ambient air temperature difference
from nominal value
Qdm—overall adjusted daily water heating
energy consumption including Qda and
QHWD
Qe—total electrical energy used during the
24-hour simulated-use test
Qf—total fossil fuel energy used by the water
heater during the 24-hour simulated-use
test
Qhr—hourly standby losses
QHW—daily energy consumption to heat
water at the measured average
temperature rise across the water heater
QHW,67 °F—daily energy consumption to heat
quantity of water removed during test
over a temperature rise of 67 °F (37.3 °C)
QHWD—adjustment to daily energy
consumption, QHW, due to variation of
the temperature rise across the water
heater not equal to the nominal value of
67 °F
Qr—energy consumption of water heater
from the beginning of the test to the end
of the first recovery period following the
first draw, which may extend beyond
subsequent draws
Qstby—total energy consumed by the water
heater during the standby time interval
tstby,1
Qsu,0—total fossil fuel and/or electric energy
consumed from the beginning of the test
to the end of the cutout following the
first draw cluster
Qsu,f—total fossil fuel and/or electric energy
consumed from the beginning of the test
to the initiation of the first draw
following the first draw cluster
T0—mean tank temperature at the beginning
of the 24-hour simulated-use test
T24—mean tank temperature at the end of the
24-hour simulated-use test
Ta,stby—average ambient air temperature
during standby periods of the 24-hour
simulated-use test
Tdel—for flow-activated water heaters,
average outlet water temperature during
a 10-minute continuous draw interval in
the maximum GPM (L/min) rating test
Tdel,i—average outlet water temperature
during the ith draw of the 24-hour
simulated-use test
Tin—for flow-activated water heaters, average
inlet water temperature during a 10minute continuous draw interval in the
maximum GPM (L/min) rating test
Tin,i—average inlet water temperature during
the ith draw of the 24-hour simulateduse test
Tmax,1—maximum measured mean tank
temperature after cut-out following the
first draw of the 24-hour simulated-use
test
Tsu,0—maximum measured mean tank
temperature at the beginning of the
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standby period which occurs after cutout following the final draw of the first
draw cluster
Tsu,f—measured mean tank temperature at the
end of the standby period which occurs
at the minute prior to commencement of
the first draw that follows the end of the
first draw cluster
T*del,i—for storage-type water heaters,
average outlet water temperature during
the ith draw (i = 1 to n) of the first-hour
rating test
T*max,i—for storage-type water heaters,
maximum outlet water temperature
observed during the ith draw (i = 1 to n)
of the first-hour rating test
T*min,i—for storage-type water heaters,
minimum outlet water temperature to
terminate the ith draw (i = 1 to n) of the
first-hour rating test
UA—standby loss coefficient of a storagetype water heater
UEF—uniform energy factor of a water heater
Vi—volume of water removed during the ith
draw (i = 1 to N) of the 24-hour
simulated-use test
V*i—volume of water removed during the ith
draw (i = 1 to n) of the first-hour rating
test
V10m—for flow-activated water heaters,
volume of water removed continuously
during a 10-minute interval in the
maximum GPM (L/min) rating test
Vst—measured storage volume of the storage
tank
Wf—weight of storage tank when completely
filled with water
Wt—tare weight of storage tank when
completely empty of water
hr—recovery efficiency
r—density of water
tstby,1—elapsed time between the time the
maximum mean tank temperature is
observed after the first draw cluster and
the minute prior to the start of the first
draw following the first draw cluster
tstby,2—overall time of standby periods when
no water is withdrawn during the 24hour simulated-use test
1.14. Temperature controller means a
device that is available to the user to adjust
the temperature of the water inside a storagetype water heater or the outlet water
temperature.
1.15. Uniform Energy Factor means the
measure of water heater overall efficiency.
2. Test Conditions.
2.1 Installation Requirements. Tests shall
be performed with the water heater and
instrumentation installed in accordance with
section 4 of this appendix.
2.2 Ambient Air Temperature. The
ambient air temperature shall be maintained
between 65.0 °F and 70.0 °F (18.3 °C and 21.1
°C) on a continuous basis. For heat pump
water heaters, the dry bulb temperature shall
be maintained at 67.5 °F ± 1 °F (19.7 °C ± 0.6
°C) and the relative humidity shall be
maintained at 50% ± 2% throughout the test.
2.3 Supply Water Temperature. The
temperature of the water being supplied to
the water heater shall be maintained at 58 °F
± 2 °F (14.4 °C ± 1.1 °C) throughout the test.
2.4 Outlet Water Temperature. The
temperature controllers of a storage-type
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water heater shall be set so that water is
delivered at a temperature of 125 °F ± 5 °F
(51.7 °C ± 2.8 °C).
2.5 Set Point Temperature. The
temperature controller of instantaneous water
heaters shall be set to deliver water at a
temperature of 125 °F ± 5 °F (51.7 °C ± 2.8
°C).
2.6 Supply Water Pressure. During the
test when water is not being withdrawn, the
supply pressure shall be maintained between
40 psig (275 kPa) and the maximum
allowable pressure specified by the water
heater manufacturer.
2.7 Electrical and/or Fossil Fuel Supply.
2.7.1 Electrical. Maintain the electrical
supply voltage to within ±1% of the center
of the voltage range specified by the water
heater and/or heat pump manufacturer.
2.7.2 Natural Gas. Maintain the supply
pressure in accordance with the
manufacturer’s specifications. If the supply
pressure is not specified, maintain a supply
pressure of 7–10 inches of water column
(1.7–2.5 kPa). If the water heater is equipped
with a gas appliance pressure regulator, the
regulator outlet pressure shall be within ±
10% of the manufacturer’s specified
manifold pressure. For all tests, use natural
gas having a heating value of approximately
1,025 Btu per standard cubic foot (38,190 kJ
per standard cubic meter).
2.7.3 Propane Gas. Maintain the supply
pressure in accordance with the
manufacturer’s specifications. If the supply
pressure is not specified, maintain a supply
pressure of 11–13 inches of water column
(2.7–3.2 kPa). If the water heater is equipped
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with a gas appliance pressure regulator, the
regulator outlet pressure shall be within ±
10% of the manufacturer’s specified
manifold pressure. For all tests, use propane
gas with a heating value of approximately
2,500 Btu per standard cubic foot (93,147 kJ
per standard cubic meter).
2.7.4 Fuel Oil Supply. Maintain an
uninterrupted supply of fuel oil. Use fuel oil
having a heating value of approximately
138,700 Btu per gallon (38,660 kJ per liter).
3. Instrumentation
3.1 Pressure Measurements. Pressuremeasuring instruments shall have an error no
greater than the following values:
Item measured
Instrument accuracy
Gas pressure .....................................................
Atmospheric pressure ........................................
Water pressure ..................................................
±0.1 inch of water column (±0.025 kPa) ..........
±0.1 inch of mercury column (±0.34 kPa) .......
±1.0 pounds per square inch (±6.9 kPa) .........
±0.05 inch of water column (±0.012 kPa).
±0.05 inch of mercury column (±0.17 kPa).
±0.50 pounds per square inch (±3.45 kPa).
3.2 Temperature Measurement
3.2.1 Measurement. Temperature
measurements shall be made in accordance
with the Standard Method for Temperature
Measurement, ASHRAE 41.1–1986
(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3).
3.2.2 Accuracy and Precision. The
accuracy and precision of the instruments,
including their associated readout devices,
shall be within the following limits:
Item measured
Instrument precision
Instrument accuracy
Instrument precision
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Air dry bulb temperature ....................................
Air wet bulb temperature ...................................
Inlet and outlet water temperatures ...................
Storage tank temperatures ................................
±0.2°F
±0.2°F
±0.2°F
±0.5°F
3.2.3 Scale Division. In no case shall the
smallest scale division of the instrument or
instrument system exceed 2 times the
specified precision.
3.2.4 Temperature Difference
Temperature difference between the entering
and leaving water may be measured with any
of the following:
a. A thermopile
b. Calibrated resistance thermometers
c. Precision thermometers
d. Calibrated thermistors
e. Calibrated thermocouples
f. Quartz thermometers
3.2.5 Thermopile Construction. If a
thermopile is used, it shall be made from
calibrated thermocouple wire taken from a
single spool. Extension wires to the recording
device shall also be made from that same
spool.
3.2.6 Time Constant. The time constant of
the instruments used to measure the inlet
and outlet water temperatures shall be no
greater than 2 seconds.
3.3 Liquid Flow Rate Measurement. The
accuracy of the liquid flow rate
measurement, using the calibration if
furnished, shall be equal to or less than ±1%
of the measured value in mass units per unit
time.
3.4 Electrical Energy. The electrical
energy used shall be measured with an
instrument and associated readout device
that is accurate within ±0.5% of the reading.
3.5 Fossil Fuels. The quantity of fuel used
by the water heater shall be measured with
an instrument and associated readout device
that is accurate within ±1% of the reading.
3.6 Mass Measurements. For mass
measurements greater than or equal to 10
pounds (4.5 kg), a scale that is accurate
within ±0.5% of the reading shall be used to
make the measurement. For mass
measurements less than 10 pounds (4.5 kg),
the scale shall provide a measurement that is
accurate within ±0.1 pound (0.045 kg).
3.7 Heating Value. The higher heating
value of the natural gas, propane, or fuel oil
shall be measured with an instrument and
associated readout device that is accurate
within ±1% of the reading. The heating
values of natural gas and propane must be
corrected from those reported at standard
temperature and pressure conditions to
provide the heating value at the temperature
and pressure measured at the fuel meter.
3.8 Time. The elapsed time
measurements shall be measured with an
instrument that is accurate within ±0.5
seconds per hour.
3.9 Volume. Volume measurements shall
be measured with an accuracy of ±2% of the
total volume.
3.10 Relative Humidity. If a relative
humidity (RH) transducer is used to measure
the relative humidity of the surrounding air
while testing heat pump water heaters, the
relative humidity shall be measured with an
accuracy of ±1.5% RH.
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(±0.1°C)
(±0.1°C)
(±0.1°C)
(±0.3°C)
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................................................
................................................
................................................
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±0.1°F (±0.06°C).
±0.1°F (±0.06°C).
±0.1°F (±0.06°C).
±0.25°F (±0.14°C).
4. Installation
4.1 Water Heater Mounting. A water
heater designed to be freestanding shall be
placed on a 3⁄4 inch (2 cm) thick plywood
platform supported by three 2 x 4 inch (5 cm
x 10 cm) runners. If the water heater is not
approved for installation on combustible
flooring, suitable non-combustible material
shall be placed between the water heater and
the platform. Counter-top water heaters shall
be placed against a simulated wall section.
Wall-mounted water heaters shall be
supported on a simulated wall in accordance
with the manufacturer-published installation
instructions. When a simulated wall is used,
the construction shall be 2 x 4 inch (5 cm x
10 cm) studs, faced with 3⁄4 inch (2 cm)
plywood. For heat pump water heaters not
delivered as a single package, the units shall
be connected in accordance with the
manufacturer-published installation
instructions and the overall system shall be
placed on the above-described plywood
platform. If installation instructions are not
provided by the heat pump manufacturer,
uninsulated 8 foot (2.4 m) long connecting
hoses having an inside diameter of 5/8 inch
(1.6 cm) shall be used to connect the storage
tank and the heat pump water heater. The
testing of the water heater shall occur in an
area that is protected from drafts of more
than 50 ft/min (0.25 m/s) from room
ventilation registers, windows, or other
external sources of air movement.
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4.2 Water Supply. Connect the water
heater to a water supply capable of delivering
water at conditions as specified in sections
2.3 and 2.6 of this appendix.
4.3 Water Inlet and Outlet Configuration.
For freestanding water heaters that are taller
than 36 inches (91.4 cm), inlet and outlet
piping connections shall be configured in a
manner consistent with Figures 1 and 2 of
section 6.4.6 of this appendix. Inlet and
outlet piping connections for wall-mounted
water heaters shall be consistent with Figure
3 of section 6.4.6 of this appendix. For
freestanding water heaters that are 36 inches
or less in height and not supplied as part of
a counter-top enclosure (commonly referred
to as an under-the-counter model), inlet and
outlet piping shall be installed in a manner
consistent with Figures 4, 5, or 6 of section
6.4.6 of this appendix. For water heaters that
are supplied with a counter-top enclosure,
inlet and outlet piping shall be made in a
manner consistent with Figures 7a and 7b of
section 6.4.6 of this appendix, respectively.
The vertical piping noted in Figures 7a and
7b shall be located (whether inside the
enclosure or along the outside in a recessed
channel) in accordance with the
manufacturer-published installation
instructions.
All dimensions noted in Figures 1 through
7 of section 6.4.6 of this appendix must be
achieved. All piping between the water
heater and inlet and outlet temperature
sensors, noted as TIN and TOUT in the figures,
shall be Type ‘‘L’’ hard copper having the
same diameter as the connections on the
water heater. Unions may be used to facilitate
installation and removal of the piping
arrangements. Install a pressure gauge and
diaphragm expansion tank in the supply
water piping at a location upstream of the
inlet temperature sensor. Install an
appropriately rated pressure and temperature
relief valve on all water heaters at the port
specified by the manufacturer. Discharge
piping for the relief valve must be nonmetallic. If heat traps, piping insulation, or
pressure relief valve insulation are supplied
with the water heater, they must be installed
for testing. Except when using a simulated
wall, provide sufficient clearance such that
none of the piping contacts other surfaces in
the test room.
4.4 Fuel and/or Electrical Power and
Energy Consumption. Install one or more
instruments that measure, as appropriate, the
quantity and rate of electrical energy and/or
fossil fuel consumption in accordance with
section 3 of this appendix.
4.5 Internal Storage Tank Temperature
Measurements. For water heaters with rated
storage volumes greater than or equal to 20
gallons, install six temperature measurement
sensors inside the water heater tank with a
vertical distance of at least 4 inches (100 mm)
between successive sensors. For water
heaters with rated storage volumes between
2 and 20 gallons, install three temperature
measurement sensors inside the water heater
tank. Position a temperature sensor at the
vertical midpoint of each of the six equal
volume nodes within a tank larger than 20
gallons or the three equal volume nodes
within a tank between 2 and 20 gallons.
Nodes designate the equal volumes used to
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evenly partition the total volume of the tank.
As much as is possible, the temperature
sensor should be positioned away from any
heating elements, anodic protective devices,
tank walls, and flue pipe walls. If the tank
cannot accommodate six temperature sensors
and meet the installation requirements
specified above, install the maximum
number of sensors that comply with the
installation requirements. Install the
temperature sensors through: (1) The anodic
device opening; (2) the relief valve opening;
or (3) the hot water outlet. If installed
through the relief valve opening or the hot
water outlet, a tee fitting or outlet piping, as
applicable, must be installed as close as
possible to its original location. If the relief
valve temperature sensor is relocated, and it
no longer extends into the top of the tank,
install a substitute relief valve that has a
sensing element that can reach into the tank.
If the hot water outlet includes a heat trap,
install the heat trap on top of the tee fitting.
Cover any added fittings with thermal
insulation having an R value between 4 and
8 h·ft2·°F/Btu (0.7 and 1.4 m2·°C/W).
4.6 Ambient Air Temperature
Measurement. Install an ambient air
temperature sensor at the vertical mid-point
of the water heater and approximately 2 feet
(610 mm) from the surface of the water
heater. Shield the sensor against radiation.
4.7 Inlet and Outlet Water Temperature
Measurements. Install temperature sensors in
the cold-water inlet pipe and hot-water outlet
pipe as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7a,
and 7b of section 6.4.6 of this appendix, as
applicable.
4.8 Flow Control. Install a valve or valves
to provide flow as specified in sections 5.3
and 5.4 of this appendix.
4.9 Flue Requirements.
4.9.1 Gas-Fired Water Heaters. Establish a
natural draft in the following manner. For
gas-fired water heaters with a vertically
discharging draft hood outlet, connect to the
draft hood outlet a 5-foot (1.5-meter) vertical
vent pipe extension with a diameter equal to
the largest flue collar size of the draft hood.
For gas-fired water heaters with a
horizontally discharging draft hood outlet,
connect to the draft hood outlet a 90-degree
elbow with a diameter equal to the largest
flue collar size of the draft hood, connect a
5-foot (1.5-meter) length of vent pipe to that
elbow, and orient the vent pipe to discharge
vertically upward. Install direct-vent gasfired water heaters with venting equipment
specified in the manufacturer’s instructions
using the minimum vertical and horizontal
lengths of vent pipe recommended by the
manufacturer.
4.9.2 Oil-Fired Water Heaters. Establish a
draft at the flue collar at the value specified
in the manufacturer’s instructions. Establish
the draft by using a sufficient length of vent
pipe connected to the water heater flue
outlet, and directed vertically upward. For an
oil-fired water heater with a horizontally
discharging draft hood outlet, connect to the
draft hood outlet a 90-degree elbow with a
diameter equal to the largest flue collar size
of the draft hood, connect to the elbow fitting
a length of vent pipe sufficient to establish
the draft, and orient the vent pipe to
discharge vertically upward. Direct-vent oil-
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fired water heaters should be installed with
venting equipment as specified in the
manufacturer’s instructions, using the
minimum vertical and horizontal lengths of
vent pipe recommended by the manufacturer.
5. Test Procedures
5.1 Operational Mode Selection. For
water heaters that allow for multiple userselected operational modes, all procedures
specified in this appendix shall be carried
out with the water heater in the same
operational mode (i.e., only one mode). This
operational mode shall be the default mode
(or similarly-named, suggested mode for
normal operation) as defined by the
manufacturer in its product literature for
giving selection guidance to the consumer.
For heat pump water heaters, if a default
mode is not defined in the product literature,
each test shall be conducted under an
operational mode in which both the heat
pump and any electric resistance backup
heating element(s) are activated by the unit’s
control scheme, and which can achieve the
internal storage tank temperature specified in
this test procedure; if multiple operational
modes meet these criteria, the water heater
shall be tested under the most energyintensive mode. If no default mode is
specified and the unit does not offer an
operational mode that utilizes both the heat
pump and the electric resistance backup
heating element(s), the first-hour rating test
and the simulated-use test shall be tested in
heat-pump-only mode. For other types of
water heaters where a default mode is not
specified, test the unit in all modes and rate
the unit using the results of the most energyintensive mode.
5.2 Water Heater Preparation.
5.2.1 Determination of Storage Tank
Volume. For water heaters with a rated
storage volume greater than or equal to 2
gallons, determine the storage capacity, Vst, of
the water heater under test, in gallons (liters),
by subtracting the tare weight—measured
while the tank is empty—from the gross
weight of the storage tank when completely
filled with water (with all air eliminated and
line pressure applied as described in section
2.5 of this appendix) and dividing the
resulting net weight by the density of water
at the measured temperature.
5.2.2 Setting the Outlet Discharge
Temperature.
5.2.2.1 Flow-Activated Water Heaters,
including certain instantaneous water
heaters and certain storage-type water
heaters. Initiate normal operation of the
water heater at the full input rating for
electric water heaters and at the maximum
firing rate specified by the manufacturer for
gas or oil water heaters. Monitor the
discharge water temperature and set to a
value of 125 °F ± 5 °F (51.7 °C ± 2.8 °C) in
accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions. If the water heater is not capable
of providing this discharge temperature when
the flow rate is 1.7 gallons ± 0.25 gallons per
minute (6.4 liters ± 0.95 liters per minute),
then adjust the flow rate as necessary to
achieve the specified discharge water
temperature. Once the proper temperature
control setting is achieved, the setting must
remain fixed for the duration of the
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maximum GPM test and the simulated-use
test.
5.2.2.2 Storage-Type Water Heaters that
Are Not Flow-Activated.
5.2.2.2.1 Tanks with a Single
Temperature Controller.
5.2.2.2.1.1 Water Heaters with Rated
Volumes Less than 20 Gallons. Starting with
a tank at the supply water temperature,
initiate normal operation of the water heater.
After cut-out, initiate a draw from the water
heater at a flow rate of 1.0 gallon ± 0.25
gallons per minute (3.8 liters ± 0.95 liters per
minute) for 2 minutes. Starting 15 seconds
after commencement of draw, record the
outlet temperature at 15-second intervals
until the end of the 2-minute period.
Determine whether the maximum outlet
temperature is within the range of 125 °F ±
5 °F (51.7 °C ± 2.8 °C). If not, turn off the
water heater, adjust the temperature
controller, and then drain and refill the tank
with supply water. Then, once again, initiate
normal operation of the water heater, and
repeat the 2-minute outlet temperature test
following cut-out. Repeat this sequence until
the maximum outlet temperature during the
2-minute test is within 125 °F ± 5 °F (51.7 °C
± 2.8 °C). Once the proper temperature
control setting is achieved, the setting must
remain fixed for the duration of the first-hour
rating test and the simulated-use test such
that a second identical simulated-use test run
immediately following the one specified in
section 5.4 would result in average delivered
water temperatures that are within the
bounds specified in section 2.4 of this
appendix.
5.2.2.2.1.2 Water Heaters with Rated
Volumes Greater than or Equal to 20 Gallons.
Starting with a tank at the supply water
temperature, initiate normal operation of the
water heater. After cut-out, initiate a draw
from the water heater at a flow rate of 1.7
gallons ± 0.25 gallons per minute (6.4 liters
± 0.95 liters per minute) for 5 minutes.
Starting 15 seconds after commencement of
draw, record the outlet temperature at 15second intervals until the end of the 5minute period. Determine whether the
maximum outlet temperature is within the
range of 125 °F ± 5 °F (51.7 °C ± 2.8 °C). If
not, turn off the water heater, adjust the
temperature controller, and then drain and
refill the tank with supply water. Then, once
again, initiate normal operation of the water
heater, and repeat the 5-minute outlet
temperature test following cut-out. Repeat
this sequence until the maximum outlet
temperature during the 5-minute test is
within of 125 °F ± 5 °F (51.7 °C ± 2.8 °C).
Once the proper temperature control setting
is achieved, the setting must remain fixed for
the duration of the first-hour rating test and
the simulated-use test such that a second
identical simulated-use test run immediately
following the one specified in section 5.4
would result in average delivered water
temperatures that are within the bounds
specified in section 2.4 of this appendix.
5.2.2.2.2 Tanks with Two or More
Temperature Controllers. Verify the
temperature controller set-point while
removing water in accordance with the
procedure set forth for the first-hour rating
test in section 5.3.3 of this appendix. The
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following criteria must be met to ensure that
all temperature controllers are set to deliver
water at 125 °F ± 5 °F (51.7 °C ± 2.8 °C):
(a) At least 50 percent of the water drawn
during the first draw of the first-hour rating
test procedure shall be delivered at a
temperature of 125 °F ± 5 °F (51.7 °C ± 2.8
°C).
(b) No water is delivered above 130 °F
(54.4 °C) during first-hour rating test.
(c) The delivery temperature measured 15
seconds after commencement of each draw
begun prior to an elapsed time of 60 minutes
from the start of the test shall be at 125 °F
± 5 °F (51.7 °C ± 2.8 °C).
If these conditions are not met, turn off the
water heater, adjust the temperature
controllers, and then drain and refill the tank
with supply water. Repeat the procedure
described at the start of section 5.2.2.2.2 until
the criteria for setting the temperature
controllers is met.
If the conditions stated above are met, the
data obtained during the process of verifying
the temperature control set-points may be
used in determining the first-hour rating
provided that all other conditions and
methods required in sections 2 and 5.2.4 in
preparing the water heater were followed.
5.2.3 Power Input Determination. For all
water heaters except electric types, initiate
normal operation (as described in section 5.1)
and determine the power input, P, to the
main burners (including pilot light power, if
any) after 15 minutes of operation. If the
water heater is equipped with a gas appliance
pressure regulator, the regulator outlet
pressure shall be set within ±10% of that
recommended by the manufacturer. For oilfired water heaters, the fuel pump pressure
shall be within ±10% of the manufacturer’s
specified pump pressure. Adjust all burners
to achieve an hourly Btu (kJ) rating that is
within ±2% of the value specified by the
manufacturer. For an oil-fired water heater,
adjust the burner to give a CO2 reading
recommended by the manufacturer and an
hourly Btu (kJ) rating that is within ±2% of
that specified by the manufacturer. Smoke in
the flue may not exceed No. 1 smoke as
measured by the procedure in ASTM D2156
(incorporated by reference, see § 430.3).
5.2.4 Soak-In Period for Water Heaters
with Rated Storage Volumes Greater than or
Equal to 2 Gallons. For storage-type water
heaters and instantaneous water heaters
having greater than 2 gallons (7.6 liters) of
storage (including heat pump water heaters
having greater than 2 gallons of storage), the
water heater must sit filled with water and
without any draws taking place for at least
12 hours after initially being energized so as
to achieve the nominal temperature set-point
within the tank and with the unit connected
to a power source.
5.3 Delivery Capacity Tests.
5.3.1 General. For flow-activated water
heaters, conduct the maximum GPM test, as
described in section 5.3.2, Maximum GPM
Rating Test for Flow-Activated Water
Heaters, of this appendix. For all other water
heaters, conduct the first-hour rating test as
described in section 5.3.3 of this appendix.
5.3.2 Maximum GPM Rating Test for
Flow-Activated Water Heaters. Establish
normal water heater operation at the full
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input rate for electric water heaters and at the
maximum firing rate for gas or oil water
heaters with the discharge water temperature
set in accordance with section 5.2.2.1 of this
appendix.
For this 10-minute test, either collect the
withdrawn water for later measurement of
the total mass removed or use a water meter
to directly measure the water volume
removed. Initiate water flow through the
water heater and record the inlet and outlet
water temperatures beginning 15 seconds
after the start of the test and at subsequent
5-second intervals throughout the duration of
the test. At the end of 10 minutes, turn off
the water. Determine and record the mass of
water collected, M10m, in pounds (kilograms),
or the volume of water, V10m, in gallons
(liters).
5.3.3 First-Hour Rating Test.
5.3.3.1 General. During hot water draws
for water heaters with rated storage volumes
greater than or equal to 20 gallons, remove
water at a rate of 3.0 ± 0.25 gallons per
minute (11.4 ± 0.95 liters per minute). During
hot water draws for storage-type water
heaters with rated storage volumes below 20
gallons, remove water at a rate of 1.0 ± 0.25
gallon per minute (3.8 ± 0.95 liters per
minute). Collect the water in a container that
is large enough to hold the volume removed
during an individual draw and is suitable for
weighing at the termination of each draw to
determine the total volume of water
withdrawn. As an alternative to collecting
the water, a water meter may be used to
directly measure the water volume(s)
withdrawn.
5.3.3.2 Draw Initiation Criteria. Begin the
first-hour rating test by starting a draw on the
storage-type water heater. After completion
of this first draw, initiate successive draws
based on the following criteria. For gas-fired
and oil-fired water heaters, initiate
successive draws when the temperature
controller acts to reduce the supply of fuel
to the main burner. For electric water heaters
having a single element or multiple elements
that all operate simultaneously, initiate
successive draws when the temperature
controller acts to reduce the electrical input
supplied to the element(s). For electric water
heaters having two or more elements that do
not operate simultaneously, initiate
successive draws when the applicable
temperature controller acts to reduce the
electrical input to the energized element
located vertically highest in the storage tank.
For heat pump water heaters that do not use
supplemental, resistive heating, initiate
successive draws immediately after the
electrical input to the compressor is reduced
by the action of the water heater’s
temperature controller. For heat pump water
heaters that use supplemental resistive
heating, initiate successive draws
immediately after the electrical input to the
first of either the compressor or the vertically
highest resistive element is reduced by the
action of the applicable water heater
temperature controller. This draw initiation
criterion for heat pump water heaters that use
supplemental resistive heating, however,
shall only apply when the water located
above the thermostat at cut-out is heated to
125 °F ± 5 °F (51.7 °C ± 2.8 °C). If this
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criterion is not met, then the next draw
should be initiated once the heat pump
compressor cuts out.
5.3.3.3 Test Sequence. Establish normal
water heater operation. If the water heater is
not presently operating, initiate a draw. The
draw may be terminated any time after cutin occurs. After cut-out occurs (i.e., all
temperature controllers are satisfied), record
the internal storage tank temperature at each
sensor described in section 4.5 of this
appendix every one minute, and determine
the mean tank temperature by averaging the
values from these sensors.
Initiate a draw after a maximum mean tank
temperature (the maximum of the mean
temperatures of the individual sensors) has
been observed following a cut-out. Record
the time when the draw is initiated and
designate it as an elapsed time of zero (t* =
0). (The superscript * is used to denote
variables pertaining to the first-hour rating
test). Record the outlet water temperature
beginning 15 seconds after the draw is
initiated and at 5-second intervals thereafter
until the draw is terminated. Determine the
maximum outlet temperature that occurs
during this first draw and record it as T*max,1.
For the duration of this first draw and all
successive draws, in addition, monitor the
inlet temperature to the water heater to
ensure that the required 58 °F ± 2 °F (14.4 °C
± 1.1 °C) test condition is met. Terminate the
hot water draw when the outlet temperature
decreases to T*max,1 ¥ 15 °F (T*max,1 ¥ 8.3
°C). (Note, if the outlet temperature does not
decrease to T*max,1 ¥ 15 °F (T*max,1 ¥ 8.3 °C)
during the draw, then hot water would be
drawn continuously for the duration of the
test. In this instance, the test would end
when the temperature decreases to T*max,1¥
15 °F (T*max,1 ¥ 8.3 °C) after the electrical
power and/or fuel supplied to the water
heater is shut off, as described in the
following paragraphs.) Record this
temperature as T*min,1. Following draw
termination, determine the average outlet
water temperature and the mass or volume
removed during this first draw and record
them as T*del,i and M*1 or V*1, respectively.
Initiate a second and, if applicable,
successive draw(s) each time the applicable
draw initiation criteria described in section
5.3.3.2 are satisfied. As required for the first
draw, record the outlet water temperature 15
seconds after initiating each draw and at 5second intervals thereafter until the draw is
terminated. Determine the maximum outlet
temperature that occurs during each draw
and record it as T*max,i, where the subscript
i refers to the draw number. Terminate each
hot water draw when the outlet temperature
decreases to T*max,i ¥ 15 °F (T*max,i ¥ 8.3
°C). Record this temperature as T*min,i.
Calculate and record the average outlet
temperature and the mass or volume
removed during each draw (T*del,i and M*i or
V*i, respectively). Continue this sequence of
draw and recovery until one hour after the
start of the test, then shut off the electrical
power and/or fuel supplied to the water
heater.
If a draw is occurring at one hour from the
start of the test, continue this draw until the
outlet temperature decreases to T*max,n ¥ 15
°F (T*max,n ¥ 8.3 °C), at which time the draw
shall be immediately terminated. (The
subscript n shall be used to denote
measurements associated with the final
draw.) If a draw is not occurring one hour
after the start of the test, initiate a final draw
at one hour, regardless of whether the criteria
described in section 5.3.3.2 of this appendix
are satisfied. This draw shall proceed for a
minimum of 30 seconds and shall terminate
when the outlet temperature first indicates a
value less than or equal to the cut-off
temperature used for the previous draw
(T*min,n¥1). If an outlet temperature greater
than T*min,n¥1 is not measured within 30
seconds of initiation of the draw, zero
additional credit shall be given towards firsthour rating (i.e., M*n = 0 or V*n = 0) based
on the final draw. After the final draw is
terminated, calculate and record the average
outlet temperature and the mass or volume
removed during the final draw (T*del,n and
M*n or V*n, respectively).
5.4 24-Hour Simulated Use Test.
5.4.1 Selection of Draw Pattern. The
water heater will be tested under a draw
profile that depends upon the first-hour
rating obtained following the test prescribed
in section 5.3.3 of this appendix, or the
maximum GPM rating obtained following the
test prescribed in section 5.3.2 of this
appendix, whichever is applicable. For water
heaters that have been tested according to the
first-hour rating procedure, one of four
different patterns shall be applied based on
the measured first-hour rating, as shown in
Table I of this section. For water heater that
have been tested according to the maximum
GPM rating procedure, one of four different
patterns shall be applied based on the
maximum GPM, as shown in Table II of this
section.
TABLE I—DRAW PATTERN TO BE USED BASED ON FIRST-HOUR RATING
First-hour rating greater than or equal to:
... and first-hour rating less than:
Draw pattern to be used in simulated-use test
0 gallons ....................................................................
18 gallons ..................................................................
51 gallons ..................................................................
75 gallons ..................................................................
18 gallons ..................................................................
51 gallons ..................................................................
75 gallons ..................................................................
No upper limit ............................................................
Very-Small-Usage (Table III.1).
Low-Usage (Table III.2).
Medium-Usage (Table III.3).
High-Usage (Table III.4).
TABLE II—DRAW PATTERN TO BE USED BASED ON MAXIMUM GPM RATING
and maximum GPM rating less than:
Draw pattern to be used in simulated-use test
0 gallons/minute ........................................................
1.7 gallons/minute .....................................................
2.8 gallons/minute .....................................................
4 gallons/minute ........................................................
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Maximum GPM rating greater than or equal to:
1.7 gallons/minute .....................................................
2.8 gallons/minute .....................................................
4 gallons/minute ........................................................
No upper limit ............................................................
Very-Small-Usage (Table III.1).
Low-Usage (Table III.2).
Medium-Usage (Table III.3).
High-Usage (Table III.4).
The draw patterns are provided in Tables
III.1 through III.4 in section 5.5 of this
appendix. Use the appropriate draw pattern
when conducting the test sequence provided
in section 5.4.2 of this appendix for water
heaters with rated storage volumes greater
than or equal to 2 gallons or section 5.4.3 of
this appendix for water heaters with rated
storage volumes less than 2 gallons.
5.4.2 Test Sequence for Water Heaters
with Rated Storage Volumes Greater Than or
Equal to 2 Gallons. If the water heater is
turned off, fill the water heater with supply
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water and maintain supply water pressure as
described in section 2.6 of this appendix.
Turn on the water heater and associated heat
pump unit, if present. If turned on in this
fashion, the soak-in period described in
section 5.2.4 of this appendix shall be
implemented. If the water heater has
undergone a first-hour rating test prior to
conduct of the simulated-use test, allow the
water heater to fully recover after completion
of that test such that the main burner, heating
elements, or heat pump compressor of the
water heater are no longer raising the
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temperature of the stored water. In all cases,
the water heater shall sit idle for 1 hour prior
to the start of the 24-hour test; during which
time no water is drawn from the unit and
there is no energy input to the main heating
elements, heat pump compressor, and/or
burners. At the end of this period, the 24hour simulated-use test will begin.
At the start of the 24-hour test, record the
mean tank temperature (T0), and the
electrical and/or fuel measurement readings,
as appropriate. Begin the 24-hour simulated
use test by withdrawing the volume specified
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in the appropriate table in section 5.5 of this
appendix (i.e., Table III.1, Table III.2, Table
III.3, or Table III.4, depending on the firsthour rating or maximum GPM rating) for the
first draw at the flow rate specified in the
applicable table. Record the time when this
first draw is initiated and assign it as the test
elapsed time (t) of zero (0). Record the
average storage tank and ambient
temperature every minute throughout the 24hour simulated-use test. At the elapsed times
specified in the applicable draw pattern table
in section 5.5 of this appendix for a
particular draw pattern, initiate additional
draws pursuant to the draw pattern,
removing the volume of hot water at the
prescribed flow rate specified by the table.
The maximum allowable deviation from the
specified volume of water removed for any
single draw taken at a nominal flow rate of
1 GPM or 1.7 GPM is ±0.1 gallons (±0.4
liters). The maximum allowable deviation
from the specified volume of water removed
for any single draw taken at a nominal flow
rate of 3 GPM is ±0.25 gallons (0.9 liters). The
quantity of water withdrawn during the last
draw shall be increased or decreased as
necessary such that the total volume of water
withdrawn equals the prescribed daily
amount for that draw pattern ±1.0 gallon
(±3.8 liters). If this adjustment to the volume
drawn during the last draw results in no
draw taking place, the test is considered
invalid.
All draws during the 24-hour simulateduse test shall be made at the flow rates
specified in the applicable draw pattern table
in section 5.5 of this appendix, within a
tolerance of ±0.25 gallons per minute (±0. 9
liters per minute). Measurements of the inlet
and outlet temperatures shall be made 5
seconds after the draw is initiated and at
every subsequent 3-second interval
throughout the duration of each draw.
Calculate and record the mean of the hot
water discharge temperature and the cold
water inlet temperature for each draw Tdel,i
and Tin,i). Determine and record the net mass
or volume removed (Mi or Vi), as appropriate,
after each draw.
At the end of the first recovery period
following the first draw, which may extend
beyond subsequent draws, record the
maximum mean tank temperature observed
after cut-out, Tmax,1, and the energy
consumed by an electric resistance, gas, or
oil-fired water heater (including electrical
energy), from the beginning of the test, Qr.
For heat pump water heaters, the total energy
consumed during the first recovery by the
heat pump (including compressor, fan,
controls, pump, etc.) and, if applicable, by
the resistive element(s) shall be recorded as
Qr.
The start of the portion of the test during
which the standby loss coefficient is
determined depends upon whether the unit
has fully recovered from the first draw
cluster. If a recovery is occurring at or within
five minutes of the end of the final draw in
the first draw cluster, as identified in the
applicable draw pattern table in section 5.5
of this appendix, then the standby period
starts when a maximum average tank
temperature is observed starting five minutes
after the end of the recovery period that
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follows that draw. If a recovery does not
occur at or within five minutes of the end of
the final draw in the first draw cluster, as
identified in the applicable draw pattern
table in section 5.5 of this appendix, then the
standby period starts five minutes after the
end of that draw. Determine and record the
total electrical energy and/or fossil fuel
consumed from the beginning of the test to
the start of the standby period, Qsu,0.
In preparation for determining the energy
consumed during standby, record the reading
given on the electrical energy (watt-hour)
meter, the gas meter, and/or the scale used
to determine oil consumption, as
appropriate. Record the mean tank
temperature at the start of the standby period
as Tsu,0. At 1-minute intervals, record the
mean tank temperature and the electric and/
or fuel instrument readings until the next
draw is initiated. Just prior to initiation of the
next draw, record the mean tank temperature
as Tsu,f. If the water heater is undergoing
recovery when the next draw is initiated,
record the mean tank temperature Tsu,f at the
minute prior to the start of the recovery. The
time at which this value occurs is the end of
the standby period. Determine the total
electrical energy and/or fossil fuel energy
consumption from the beginning of the test
to this time and record as Qsu,f. Record the
time interval between the start of the standby
period and the end of the standby period as
tstby,1. Record the time during which water is
not being withdrawn from the water heater
during the entire 24-hour period as tstby,2.
In the event that the recovery period
continues from the end of the last draw of the
first draw cluster until the subsequent draw,
the standby period will start after the end of
the first recovery period after the last draw
of the simulated-use test, when the
temperature reaches the maximum average
tank temperature, though no sooner than five
minutes after the end of this recovery period.
The standby period shall last eight hours, so
testing will extend beyond the 24-hour
duration of the simulated-use test. Determine
and record the total electrical energy and/or
fossil fuel consumed from the beginning of
the simulated-use test to the start of the 8hour standby period, Qsu,0. In preparation for
determining the energy consumed during
standby, record the reading(s) given on the
electrical energy (watt-hour) meter, the gas
meter, and/or the scale used to determine oil
consumption, as appropriate. Record the
mean tank temperature at the start of the
standby period as Tsu,0. Record the mean tank
temperature, the ambient temperature, and
the electric and/or fuel instrument readings
until the end of the 8 hour period. Record the
mean tank temperature at the end of the 8
hour standby period as Tsu,f. If the water
heater is undergoing recovery at the end of
the standby period, record the mean tank
temperature Tsu,f at the minute prior to the
start of the recovery, which will mark the end
of the standby period. Determine the total
electrical energy and/or fossil fuel energy
consumption from the beginning of the test
to the end of the standby period and record
this value as Qsu,f. Record the time interval
between the start of the standby period and
the end of the standby period as tstby,1.
Following the final draw of the prescribed
draw pattern and subsequent recovery, allow
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40573
the water heater to remain in the standby
mode until exactly 24 hours have elapsed
since the start of the simulated-use test (i.e.,
since t = 0). During the last hour of the
simulated-use test, power to the main burner,
heating element, or compressor shall be
disabled. At 24 hours, record the reading
given by the gas meter, oil meter, and/or the
electrical energy meter as appropriate.
Determine the fossil fuel and/or electrical
energy consumed during the entire 24-hour
simulated-use test and designate the quantity
as Q.
5.4.3 Test Sequence for Water Heaters
With Rated Storage Volume Less Than 2
Gallons.
Establish normal operation with the
discharge water temperature at 125 °F ± 5 °F
(51.7 °C ± 2.8 °C) and set the flow rate as
determined in section 5.2 of this appendix.
Prior to commencement of the 24-hour
simulated-use test, the unit shall remain in
an idle state in which controls are active but
no water is drawn through the unit for a
period of one hour. With no draw occurring,
record the reading given by the gas meter
and/or the electrical energy meter as
appropriate. Begin the 24-hour simulated-use
test by withdrawing the volume specified in
Tables III.1 through III.4 of section 5.5 of this
appendix for the first draw at the flow rate
specified. Record the time when this first
draw is initiated and designate it as an
elapsed time, t, of 0. At the elapsed times
specified in Tables III.1 through III.4 for a
particular draw pattern, initiate additional
draws, removing the volume of hot water at
the prescribed flow rate specified in Tables
III.1 through III.4. The maximum allowable
deviation from the specified volume of water
removed for any single draw taken at a
nominal flow rate less than or equal to 1.7
GPM (6.4 L/min) is ±0.1 gallons (±0.4 liters).
The maximum allowable deviation from the
specified volume of water removed for any
single draw taken at a nominal flow rate of
3 GPM (11.4 L/min) is ±0.25 gallons (0.9
liters). The quantity of water drawn during
the final draw shall be increased or decreased
as necessary such that the total volume of
water withdrawn equals the prescribed daily
amount for that draw pattern ±1.0 gallon
(±3.8 liters). If this adjustment to the volume
drawn in the last draw results in no draw
taking place, the test is considered invalid.
Measurements of the inlet and outlet water
temperatures shall be made 5 seconds after
the draw is initiated and at every 3-second
interval thereafter throughout the duration of
the draw. Calculate the mean of the hot water
discharge temperature and the cold water
inlet temperature for each draw. Record the
mass of the withdrawn water or the water
meter reading, as appropriate, after each
draw. At the end of the recovery period
following the first draw, determine and
record the fossil fuel and/or electrical energy
consumed, Qr. Following the final draw and
subsequent recovery, allow the water heater
to remain in the standby mode until exactly
24 hours have elapsed since the start of the
test (i.e., since t = 0). At 24 hours, record the
reading given by the gas meter, oil meter,
and/or the electrical energy meter, as
appropriate. Determine the fossil fuel and/or
electrical energy consumed during the entire
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24-hour simulated-use test and designate the
quantity as Q.
5.5 Draw Patterns. The draw patterns to
be imposed during 24-hour simulated-use
tests are provided in Tables III.1 through
III.4. Subject each water heater under test to
volume of water in gallons (liters) that is to
be removed during each draw, and the flow
rate at which each draw is to be taken, in
gallons (liters) per minute.
one of these draw patterns based on its firsthour rating or maximum GPM rating, as
discussed in section 5.4.1 of this appendix.
Each draw pattern specifies the elapsed time
in hours and minutes during the 24-hour test
when a draw is to commence, the total
TABLE III.1—VERY-SMALL-USAGE DRAW PATTERN
Time during test
[hh:mm]
Draw No.
1 * .........................................................................................................................
2 * .........................................................................................................................
3 * .........................................................................................................................
4 * .........................................................................................................................
5 * .........................................................................................................................
6 ...........................................................................................................................
7 ...........................................................................................................................
8 ...........................................................................................................................
9 ...........................................................................................................................
Volume
[gallons (L)]
0:00
1:00
1:05
1:10
1:15
8:00
8:15
9:00
9:15
2.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
2.0
1.5
1.0
(7.6)
(3.8)
(1.9)
(1.9)
(1.9)
(3.8)
(7.6)
(5.7)
(3.8)
Flow Rate **
[GPM (L/min)]
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 10 gallons (38 L)
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
** Should the water heater have a maximum GPM rating less than 1 GPM (3.8 L/min), then all draws shall be implemented at a flow rate equal
to the rated maximum GPM.
TABLE III.2—LOW-USAGE DRAW PATTERN
Time during test
[hh:mm]
Draw No.
1 * .........................................................................................................................
2 * .........................................................................................................................
3 * .........................................................................................................................
4 ...........................................................................................................................
5 ...........................................................................................................................
6 ...........................................................................................................................
7 ...........................................................................................................................
8 ...........................................................................................................................
9 ...........................................................................................................................
10 .........................................................................................................................
11 .........................................................................................................................
Volume
[gallons (liters)]
0:00
0:30
1:00
10:30
11:30
12:00
12:45
12:50
16:15
16:45
17:00
15.0 (56.8)
2.0 (7.6)
1.0 (3.8)
6.0 (22.7)
4.0 (15.1)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
2.0 (7.6)
2.0 (7.6)
3.0 (11.4)
Flow rate
[GPM (L/min)]
1.7
1
1
1.7
1.7
1
1
1
1
1.7
1.7
(6.4)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(6.4)
(6.4)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(6.4)
(6.4)
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 38 gallons (144 L)
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
TABLE III.3—MEDIUM-USAGE DRAW PATTERN
Time during test
[hh:mm]
Draw No.
1 * .........................................................................................................................
2 * .........................................................................................................................
3 * .........................................................................................................................
4 ...........................................................................................................................
5 ...........................................................................................................................
6 ...........................................................................................................................
7 ...........................................................................................................................
8 ...........................................................................................................................
9 ...........................................................................................................................
10 .........................................................................................................................
11 .........................................................................................................................
12 .........................................................................................................................
Volume
[gallons (liters)]
0:00
0:30
1:40
10:30
11:30
12:00
12:45
12:50
16:00
16:15
16:45
17:00
15.0 (56.8)
2.0 (7.6)
9.0 (34.1)
9.0 (34.1)
5.0 (18.9)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
2.0 (7.6)
2.0 (7.6)
7.0 (26.5)
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES2
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 55 gallons (208 L)
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
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11JYR2
Flow rate
[GPM (L/min)]
1.7
1
1.7
1.7
1.7
1
1
1
1
1
1.7
1.7
(6.4)
(3.8)
(6.4)
(6.4)
(6.4)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(3.8)
(6.4)
(6.4)
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40575
TABLE III.4—HIGH-USAGE DRAW PATTERN
Time during test
[hh:mm]
Draw No.
1 * .........................................................................................................................
2 * .........................................................................................................................
3 * .........................................................................................................................
4 * .........................................................................................................................
5 ...........................................................................................................................
6 ...........................................................................................................................
7 ...........................................................................................................................
8 ...........................................................................................................................
9 ...........................................................................................................................
10 .........................................................................................................................
11 .........................................................................................................................
12 .........................................................................................................................
13 .........................................................................................................................
14 .........................................................................................................................
Volume
[gallons (liters)]
0:00
0:30
0:40
1:40
10:30
11:30
12:00
12:45
12:50
16:00
16:15
16:30
16:45
17:00
27.0 (102)
2.0 (7.6)
1.0 (3.8)
9.0 (34.1)
15.0 (56.8)
5.0 (18.9)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
1.0 (3.8)
2.0 (7.6)
2.0 (7.6)
2.0 (7.6)
2.0 (7.6)
14.0 (53.0)
Flow rate
[GPM (L/min)]
3 (11.4)
1 (3.8)
1 (3.8)
1.7 (6.4)
3 (11.4)
1.7 (6.4)
1 (3.8)
1 (3.8)
1 (3.8)
1 (3.8)
1 (3.8)
1.7 (6.4)
1.7 (6.4)
3 (11.4)
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 84 gallons (318 L)
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
6. Computations
6.1 First-Hour Rating Computation. For
the case in which the final draw is initiated
at or prior to one hour from the start of the
test, the first-hour rating, Fhr, shall be
computed using,
Where:
n = the number of draws that are completed
during the first-hour rating test.
V*i = the volume of water removed during
the ith draw of the first-hour rating test,
gal (L) or, if the mass of water is being
measured,
Where:
(n¥1)th draw of the first-hour rating test,
°F (°C).
6.2 Maximum GPM (L/min) Rating
Computation. Compute the maximum GPM
(L/min) rating, Fmax, as:
ER11JY14.068</GPH> ER11JY14.069</GPH>
(n¥1)th draw of the first-hour rating test,
°F (°C).
T*del,n = the average water outlet temperature
measured during the nth (final) draw of
the first-hour rating test, °F (°C).
T*min,n¥1 = the minimum water outlet
temperature measured during the
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where n and V*i are the same quantities as
defined above, and
V*n = the volume of water drawn during the
nth (final) draw of the first-hour rating
test, gal (L).
T*del,n¥1 = the average water outlet
temperature measured during the
M*i = the mass of water removed during the
ith draw of the first-hour rating test, lb
(kg).
r = the water density corresponding to the
average outlet temperature measured
during the ith draw, (T*del,i), lb/gal (kg/
L).
For the case in which a draw is not in
progress at one hour from the start of the test
and a final draw is imposed at the elapsed
time of one hour, the first-hour rating shall
be calculated using
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Where:
M10m = the mass of water collected during the
10-minute test, lb (kg).
Where:
Vst = the storage capacity of the water heater,
gal (L)
Wf = the weight of the storage tank when
completely filled with water, lb (kg)
r = the density of water at the average
delivery temperature, lb/gal (kg/L).
If a water meter is used, the maximum
GPM (L/min) rating is computed as:
Wt = the (tare) weight of the storage tank
when completely empty, lb (kg)
r = the density of water used to fill the tank
measured at the temperature of the
water, lb/gal (kg/L)
6.3.2 Recovery Efficiency. The recovery
efficiency for gas, oil, and heat pump storagetype water heaters, hr, is computed as:
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V1 = total volume removed from the start of
the 24-hour simulated-use test to the end
of the first recovery period, gal (L).
r1 = density of the water at the water
temperature measured at the point where
the flow volume is measured, lb/gal (kg/
L).
PO 00000
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Cp1 = specific heat of the withdrawn water
evaluated at (Tdel,1 + Tin,1)/2, Btu/(lb·°F)
(kJ/(kg·°C))
Tdel,1 = average water outlet temperature
measured during the draws from the start
of the 24-hour simulated-use test to the
end of the first recovery period, °F (°C).
Tin,1 = average water inlet temperature
measured during the draws from the start
E:\FR\FM\11JYR2.SGM
11JYR2
ER11JY14.071</GPH> ER11JY14.072</GPH>
Where:
M1 = total mass removed from the start of the
24-hour simulated-use test to the end of
the first recovery period, lb (kg), or, if the
volume of water is being measured,
M1 = V1r1
Where:
ER11JY14.070</GPH>
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ER11JY14.073</GPH>
Where:
V10m = the volume of water measured during
the 10-minute test, gal (L).
Tdel = as defined in this section.
Tin = as defined in this section.
6.3 Computations for Water Heaters with
a Rated Storage Volume Greater Than or
Equal to 2 Gallons.
6.3.1 Storage Tank Capacity. The storage
tank capacity, Vst, is computed as follows:
Tdel = the average delivery temperature, °F
(°C).
Tin = the average inlet temperature, °F (°C).
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
40577
of the 24-hour simulated-use test to the
end of the first recovery period, °F (°C).
Vst = as defined in section 6.3.1.
r2 = density of stored hot water evaluated at
(Tmax,1 + To)/2, lb/gal (kg/L).
Cp2 = specific heat of stored hot water
evaluated at (Tmax,1 + To)/2, Btu/(lb·°F)
(kJ/(kg·°C).
Tmax,1 = maximum mean tank temperature
recorded after cut-out following the first
recovery of the 24-hour simulated use
test, °F (°C).
To = maximum mean tank temperature
recorded prior to the first draw of the 24hour simulated-use test, °F (°C).
Qr = the total energy used by the water heater
between cut-out prior to the first draw
and cut-out following the first recovery
period, including auxiliary energy such
as pilot lights, pumps, fans, etc., Btu (kJ).
(Electrical auxiliary energy shall be
converted to thermal energy using the
following conversion: 1 kWh = 3412
Btu).
The recovery efficiency for electric water
heaters with immersed heating elements is
assumed to be 98 percent.
6.3.3 Hourly Standby Losses. The energy
consumed as part of the standby loss test of
the 24-hour simulated-use test, Qstby, is
computed as:
Qstby = Qsu,f - Qsu,o
Where:
Qsu,0 = cumulative energy consumption of
the water heater from the start of the 24-hour
simulated-use test to the time at which the
maximum mean tank temperature is attained
starting five minutes after the recovery
following the end of the first draw cluster,
Btu (kJ).
Qsu,f = cumulative energy consumption of
the water heater from the start of the 24-hour
simulated-use test to the minute prior to the
start of the draw following the end of the first
draw cluster or the minute prior to a recovery
occurring at the start of the draw following
the end of the first draw cluster, Btu (kJ).
The hourly standby energy losses are
computed as:
Where:
Qhr = the hourly standby energy losses of the
water heater, Btu/h (kJ/h).
Vst = as defined in section 6.3.1 of this
appendix.
r = density of stored hot water, (Tsu,f + Tsu,0)/
2, lb/gal (kg/L).
Cp = specific heat of the stored water, (Tsu,f
+ Tsu,0)/2, Btu/(lb·F), (kJ/(kg·K))
Tsu,f = the mean tank temperature observed
at the minute prior to the start of the
draw following the first draw cluster or
the minute prior to a recovery occurring
at the start of the draw following the end
of the first draw cluster, °F (°C).
Tsu,0 = the maximum mean tank temperature
observed starting five minutes after the
first recovery following the final draw of
the first draw cluster, °F (°C).
hr = as defined in section 6.3.2 of this
appendix.
tstby,1 = elapsed time between the time at
which the maximum mean tank
temperature is observed starting five
minutes after recovery from the first
draw cluster and the minute prior to the
start of the first draw following the end
of the first draw cluster of the 24-hour
simulated-use test or the minute prior to
a recovery occurring at the start of the
draw following the end of the first draw
cluster, h.
The standby heat loss coefficient for the
tank is computed as:
Where:
UA = standby heat loss coefficient of the
storage tank, Btu/(h·°F), (kJ/(h·°C).
Tt,stby,1 = overall average storage tank
temperature between the time when the
maximum mean tank temperature is
observed starting five minutes after cutout following the first draw cluster and
the minute prior to commencement of
the next draw following the first draw
cluster of the 24-hour simulated-use test
or the minute prior to a recovery
occurring at the start of the draw
following the end of the first draw
cluster, °F (°C).
Ta,stby,1 = overall average ambient temperature
between the time when the maximum
mean tank temperature is observed
starting five minutes after cut-out
following the first draw cluster and the
minute prior to commencement of the
next draw following the first draw
cluster of the 24-hour simulated-use test
or the minute prior to a recovery
occurring at the start of the draw
following the end of the first draw
cluster, °F (°C).
6.3.4 Daily Water Heating Energy
Consumption. The daily water heating energy
consumption, Qd, is computed as:
pilot lights, pumps, fans, etc., Btu (kJ).
(Electrical energy shall be converted to
thermal energy using the following
conversion: 1kWh = 3412 Btu.)
Qf = total fossil fuel energy used by the water
heater during the 24-hour simulated-use
test, Btu (kJ).
Qe = total electrical energy used during the
24-hour simulated-use test, Btu (kJ).
Vst = as defined in section 6.3.1 of this
appendix.
r = density of the stored hot water, evaluated
at (T24 + T0)/2, lb/gal (kg/L)
Cp = specific heat of the stored water,
evaluated at (T24 + T0)/2, Btu/(lb·F), (kJ/
(kg·K)).
T24 = mean tank temperature at the end of the
24-hour simulated-use test, °F (°C).
T0 = mean tank temperature at the beginning
of the 24-hour simulated-use test,
recorded one minute before the first
draw is initiated, °F (°C).
hr = as defined in section 6.3.2 of this
appendix.
6.3.5 Adjusted Daily Water Heating
Energy Consumption. The adjusted daily
water heating energy consumption, Qda, takes
into account that the ambient temperature
may differ from the nominal value of 67.5 °F
(19.7°C) due to the allowable variation in
surrounding ambient temperature of 65 °F
(18.3 °C) to 70 °C (21.1°C). The adjusted daily
water heating energy consumption is
computed as:
ER11JY14.076</GPH> ER11JY14.077</GPH>
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Where:
Q = Qf + Qe = total energy used by the water
heater during the 24-hour simulated-use
test, including auxiliary energy such as
40578
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
Where:
Qda = the adjusted daily water heating energy
consumption, Btu (kJ).
Qd = as defined in section 6.3.4 of this
appendix.
Ta,stby,2 = the average ambient temperature
during the total standby portion, tstby,2, of
the 24-hour simulated-use test, °F (°C).
UA = as defined in section 6.3.3 of this
appendix.
tstby,2 = the number of hours during the 24hour simulated-use test when water is
not being withdrawn from the water
heater.
A modification is also needed to take into
account that the temperature difference
between the outlet water temperature and
supply water temperature may not be
equivalent to the nominal value of 67 °F
(125 °F–58 °F) or 37.3 °C (51.7 °C–14.4 °C).
The following equations adjust the
experimental data to a nominal 67 °F
(37.3 °C) temperature rise.
The energy used to heat water, Btu/day (kJ/
day), may be computed as:
Where:
N = total number of draws in the draw
pattern.
Mi = the mass withdrawn for the ith draw (i
= 1 to N), lb (kg)
Cpi = the specific heat of the water of the ith
draw evaluated at (Tdel,i + Tin,i)/2, Btu/
(lb·°F) (kJ/(kg·°C)).
Tdel,i = the average water outlet temperature
measured during the ith draw (i = 1 to
N), °F (°C).
Tin,i = the average water inlet temperature
measured during the ith draw (i = 1 to
N), °F (°C).
hr = as defined in section 6.3.2 of this
appendix.
The energy required to heat the same
quantity of water over a 67 °F (37.3 °C)
temperature rise, Btu/day (kJ/day), is:
consumption value. Thus, the daily energy
consumption value which takes into account
that the ambient temperature may not be 67.5
°F (19.7 °C) and that the temperature rise
across the storage tank may not be 67 °F (37.3
°C) is:
Qdm = Qda + QHWD
6.3.6 Uniform Energy Factor. The
uniform energy factor, UEF, is computed as:
Where:
N = total number of draws in the draw
pattern
Qdm = the modified daily water heating
energy consumption as computed in
accordance with section 6.3.5 of this
appendix, Btu (kJ)
Mi = the mass withdrawn for the ith draw (i
= 1 to N), lb (kg)
Cpi = the specific heat of the water of the ith
draw, evaluated at (125 °F + 58 °F)/2 =
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ER11JY14.082</GPH>
The difference between these two values is:
QHWD = QHW,67 °F ¥ QHW
or QHWD = QHW,37.3°C ¥ QHW
This difference (QHWD) must be added to the
adjusted daily water heating energy
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
91.5 °F ((51.7 °C + 14.4 °C)/2 = 33 °C),
Btu/(lb· °F) (kJ/(kg· °C)).
6.3.7 Annual Energy Consumption. The
annual energy consumption for water heaters
with rated storage volumes greater than or
equal to 2 gallons is computed as:
Where:
M1 = total mass removed during the first
draw of the 24-hour simulated-use test,
lb (kg), or, if the volume of water is being
measured, M1 = V1 · r
Where:
V1 = total volume removed during the first
draw of the 24-hour simulated-use test,
gal (L).
r = density of the water at the water
temperature measured at the point where
the flow volume is measured, lb/gal
(kg/L).
Cp1 = specific heat of the withdrawn water,
(Tdel,1 û Tin,1)/2, Btu/(lb · °F) (kJ/(kg ·
°C)).
Tdel,1 = average water outlet temperature
measured during the first draw of the 24hour simulated-use test, °F (°C).
Tin,1 = average water inlet temperature
measured during the first draw of the 24hour simulated-use test, °F (°C).
Qr = the total energy used by the water heater
between cut-out prior to the first draw
and cut-out following the first draw,
including auxiliary energy such as pilot
lights, pumps, fans, etc., Btu (kJ).
(Electrical auxiliary energy shall be
converted to thermal energy using the
following conversion: 1 kWh = 3412
Btu.)
6.4.2 Daily Water Heating Energy
Consumption. The daily water heating energy
consumption, Qd, is computed as:
Qd = Q
Where:
Q = Qf + Qe = the energy used by the water
heater during the 24-hour simulated-use
test.
Qf = total fossil fuel energy used by the water
heater during the 24-hour simulated-use
test, Btu (kJ).
Qe = total electrical energy used during the
24-hour simulated-use test, Btu (kJ).
A modification is needed to take into
account that the temperature difference
between the outlet water temperature and
supply water temperature may not be
equivalent to the nominal value of 67 °F (125
°F–58 °F) or 37.3 °C (51.7 °C–14.4 °C). The
following equations adjust the experimental
data to a nominal 67 °F (37.3 °C) temperature
rise.
The energy used to heat water may be
computed as:
Where:
N = total number of draws in the draw
pattern
Mi = the mass withdrawn for the ith draw
(i = 1 to N), lb (kg)
Cpi = the specific heat of the water of the ith
draw evaluated at (Tdel,i + Tin,i)/2, Btu/(lb
· °F) (kJ/(kg · °C)).
Tdel,i = the average water outlet temperature
measured during the ith draw (i = 1 to
N), °F (°C).
Tin,i = the average water inlet temperature
measured during the ith draw (i = 1 to
N), °F (°C).
hr = as defined in section 6.4.1 of this
appendix.
The energy required to heat the same
quantity of water over a 67 °F (37.3 °C)
temperature rise is:
ER11JY14.084</GPH> ER11JY14.085</GPH>
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11JYR2
ER11JY14.083</GPH>
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ER11JY14.086</GPH>
Where:
UEF = the uniform energy factor as computed
in accordance with section 6.3.6 of this
appendix
365 = the number of days in a year
V = the volume of hot water drawn during
the applicable draw pattern, gallons
= 10 for the very-small-usage draw pattern
= 38 for the low-usage draw pattern
= 55 for the medium-usage draw pattern
= 84 for high-usage draw pattern
r = 8.24 lbm/gallon, the density of water at
125 °F
CP = 1.00 Btu/lbm °F, the specific heat of
water at 91.5 °F
67 = the nominal temperature difference
between inlet and outlet water
6.3.8 Annual Electrical Energy
Consumption. The annual electrical energy
consumption in kilowatt-hours for water
heaters with rated storage volumes greater
than or equal to 2 gallons, Eannual,e, is
computed as:
Eannual,e = Eannual*(Qe/Q)/3412
Where:
Eannual = the annual energy consumption as
determined in accordance with section
6.3.7, Btu (kJ)
Qe = the daily electrical energy consumption
as defined in section 6.3.4 of this
appendix, Btu (kJ).
Q = total energy used by the water heater
during the 24-hour simulated-use test in
accordance with section 6.3.4 of this
appendix, Btu (kJ)
3412 = conversion factor from Btu to kWh
6.3.9 Annual Fossil Fuel Energy
Consumption. The annual fossil fuel energy
consumption for water heaters with rated
storage volumes greater than or equal to 2
gallons, Eannual,f, is computed as:
Eannual,f = Eannual ¥ (Eannual,e × 3412)
Where:
Eannual = the annual energy consumption as
determined in accordance with section
6.3.7 of this appendix, Btu (kJ)
Eannual,e = the annual electrical energy
consumption as determined in
accordance with section 6.3.8 of this
appendix, kWh
3412 = conversion factor from kWh to Btu
6.4 Computations for Water Heaters With
Rated Storage Volume Less Than 2 Gallons.
6.4.1 Recovery Efficiency. The recovery
efficiency, hr, is computed as:
40579
40580
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
The difference between these two values is:
Where:
N = total number of draws in the draw
pattern
Mi = the mass withdrawn during the ith
draw, lb (kg)
Cpi = the specific heat of water of the ith
draw, Btu/(lb · °F) (kJ/(kg · °C))
hr = as defined in section 6.4.1 of this
appendix.
Where:
N = total number of draws in the draw
pattern
Qdm = the modified daily water heating
energy consumption as computed in
accordance with section 6.4.2 of this
appendix, Btu (kJ)
Mi = the mass withdrawn for the ith draw
(i = 1 to N), lb (kg)
Cpi = the specific heat of the water at the ith
draw, evaluated at (125 °F + 58 °F)/2 =
91.5 °F ((51.7 °C + 14.4 °C)/2 = 33.1 °C),
Btu/(lb · °F) (kJ/(kg · °C)).
6.4.4 Annual Energy Consumption. The
annual energy consumption for water heaters
with rated storage volumes less than 2
gallons, Eannual, is computed as:
ER11JY14.087</GPH> ER11JY14.088</GPH>
Q = total energy used by the water heater
during the 24-hour simulated-use test in
accordance with section 6.4.2 of this
appendix, Btu (kJ)
Qdm = the modified daily water heating
energy consumption as computed in
accordance with section 6.4.2 of this
appendix, Btu (kJ)
3412 = conversion factor from Btu to kWh
6.4.6 Annual Fossil Fuel Energy
Consumption. The annual fossil fuel energy
consumption for water heaters with rated
storage volumes less than 2 gallons, Eannual,f,
is computed as:
Eannual,f = Eannual¥(Eannual,e × 3412)
Where:
Eannual,e = the annual electrical energy
consumption as defined in section 6.4.5
of this appendix, kWh.
Eannual = the annual energy consumption as
defined in section 6.4.4 of this appendix,
Btu (kJ)
3412 = conversion factor from kWh to Btu
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ER11JY14.095</GPH>
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Where:
UEF = the uniform energy factor as computed
in accordance with section 6.4.3 of this
appendix
365 = the number of days in a year.
V = the volume of hot water drawn during
the applicable draw pattern, gallons
= 10 for the very-small-usage draw pattern
= 38 for the low-usage draw pattern
= 55 for the medium-usage draw pattern
= 84 for high-usage draw pattern
r = 8.24 lbm/gallon, the density of water at
125 °F
CP = 1.00 Btu/lbm °F, the specific heat of
water at 91.5 °F
67 = the nominal temperature difference
between inlet and outlet water
6.4.5 Annual Electrical Energy
Consumption. The annual electrical energy
consumption in kilowatt–hours for water
heaters with rated storage volumes less than
2 gallons, Eannual, e, is computed as:
Eannual,e = Eannual*(Qe/Q)/3412
Where:
Qe = the daily electrical energy consumption
as defined in section 6.4.2 of this
appendix, Btu (kJ)
Eannual = the annual energy consumption as
determined in accordance with section
6.4.4 of this appendix, Btu (kJ)
This difference (QHWD) must be added to the
daily water heating energy consumption
value. Thus, the daily energy consumption
value, which takes into account that the
temperature rise across the water heater may
not be 67 °F (37.3 °C), is:
Qdm = Qd + QHWD
6.4.3 Uniform Energy Factor. The
uniform energy factor, UEF, is computed as:
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
40581
Tom
-6"
tO SCALE
OR
WATER
METER
..,._ c::lilic::lilc::::r:.J
FLOW
REGULATOR
EXPANSION
TANK
WATER SUPPLY
MAIN
Figure 1.
Tour
IOSCALIE
OR
WATEIJ
MEI'ER
4111- d~ilia:::tc:J
-
fOO'ANSION
TANK
ER11JY14.090</GPH>
•
Figure 2.
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FLOW
REGULATOR
40582
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
TO SCALE
OR
WATER
METER
.....-&::~PC::A::C.J
X
X
EXPANSION
:x: distance from pOrt to edge of unit plus2"'
WATER SUPPLY
TANK
MAIIII
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Figure 3.
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
40583
6"
6"
Tour
TO SCALE
OR
WATER
METER
....,._ ~¢::::=1i'<t:=CJ
Fl.OW
REGULATOR
EXPANSION
TANK
WATER SUPPLY
MAIN
Figure 4.
ii"
TO SCALE
OR
EXPANSION
TANK
WATER
METER
WATER SUPPLY
MAIN
............ Qlic:lilil::r!J
FLOW
REGULATOR
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Figure 5.
40584
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
x = distance from the center of
r.;.,.
the outlet to the edge of the
tank, plus two inches
TO SCALE
OR
WATER
METER
EXPANSION
8''
WATEM SUPPLY
MAIN
FLOW
REGULATOR
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Figure 6.
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES2
Product class
Gas-fired Storage Water
Heater.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
22:39 Jul 10, 2014
§ 430.32 Energy and water conservation
standards and their compliance dates.
*
*
*
≥20 gallons and ≤100 gallons.
PO 00000
*
Energy factor as of
January 20, 2004
Storage volume
Jkt 232001
*
0.67¥(0.0019 × Rated
Storage Volume in gallons).
Frm 00045
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(d) Water heaters. The energy factor of
water heaters shall not be less than the
following for products manufactured on
or after the indicated dates.
Energy factor as of April 16, 2015
For tanks with a Rated Storage Volume at or below 55
gallons: EF = 0.675¥(0.0015 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons). For tanks with a Rated Storage
Volume above 55 gallons: EF = 0.8012¥(0.00078 ×
Rated Storage Volume in gallons).
E:\FR\FM\11JYR2.SGM
11JYR2
ER11JY14.094</GPH>
11. Section 430.32 is amended by
revising paragraph (d) to read as
follows:
■
40585
40586
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
Product class
Energy factor as of
January 20, 2004
Storage volume
Oil-fired Storage Water
Heater.
≤50 gallons ........................
Electric Storage Water Heater.
≥20 gallons and ≤120 gallons.
Tabletop Water Heater ........
≥20 gallons and ≤120 gallons.
Instantaneous Gas-fired
Water Heater.
<2 gallons ..........................
Instantaneous Electric Water
Heater.
<2 gallons ..........................
0.59¥(0.0019 × Rated
Storage Volume in gallons).
0.97¥(0.00132 × Rated
Storage Volume in gallons).
0.93¥(0.00132 × Rated
Storage Volume in gallons).
0.62¥(0.0019 × Rated
Storage Volume in gallons).
0.93¥(0.00132 × Rated
Storage Volume in gallons).
Energy factor as of April 16, 2015
EF = 0.68¥(0.0019 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).
For tanks with a Rated Storage Volume at or below 55
gallons: EF = 0.960¥(0.0003 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons). For tanks with a Rated Storage
Volume above 55 gallons: EF = 2.057¥(0.00113 ×
Rated Storage Volume in gallons).
EF = 0.93¥(0.00132 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).
EF = 0.82¥(0.0019 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).
EF = 0.93¥(0.00132 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).
Note: The Rated Storage Volume equals the water storage capacity of a water heater, in gallons, as certified by the manufacturer.
Exclusions: The energy conservation
standards shown in this paragraph do
not apply to the following types of water
heaters: gas-fired, oil-fired, and electric
water heaters at or above 2 gallons
storage volume and below 20 gallons
storage volume; gas-fired water heaters
above 100 gallons storage volume; oilfired water heaters above 50 gallons
storage volume; electric water heaters
above 120 gallons storage volume; gasfired instantaneous water heaters at or
below 50,000 Btu/h.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 431—ENERGY EFFICIENCY
PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
EQUIPMENT
12. The authority citation for part 431
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291–6317.
13. Section 431.102 is amended by
adding the definition of ‘‘Residentialduty commercial water heater’’ in
alphabetical order to read as follows:
■
§ 431.102 Definitions concerning
commercial water heaters, hot water supply
boilers, and unfired hot water storage
tanks.
*
*
*
*
Residential-duty commercial water
heater means any gas-fired, electric, or
oil storage or instantaneous commercial
water heater that meets the following
conditions:
(1) For models requiring electricity,
uses single-phase external power
supply;
(2) Is not designed to provide outlet
hot water at temperatures greater than
180 °F; and
(3) Does not meet any of the following
criteria:
*
Water heater type
Indicator of non-residential application
Gas-fired Storage .....................................................................................
Oil-fired Storage .......................................................................................
Electric Storage ........................................................................................
Heat Pump with Storage ..........................................................................
Rated input >105 kBtu/h; Rated storage volume >120 gallons.
Rated input >140 kBtu/h; Rated storage volume >120 gallons.
Rated input >12 kW; Rated storage volume >120 gallons.
Rated input >12 kW; Rated current >24 A at a rated voltage of not
greater than 250 V; Rated storage volume >120 gallons.
Rated input >200 kBtu/h; Rated storage volume >2 gallons.
Rated input >58.6 kW; Rated storage volume >2 gallons.
Rated input >210 kBtu/h; Rated storage volume >2 gallons.
Gas-fired Instantaneous ...........................................................................
Electric Instantaneous ..............................................................................
Oil-fired Instantaneous .............................................................................
*
*
*
*
*
14. In § 431.106, paragraph (b), Table
2, is revised to read as follows:
■
§ 431.106 Uniform test method for the
measurement of energy efficiency of
commercial water heaters and hot water
supply boilers (other than commercial heat
pump water heaters).
*
*
*
*
(b) * * *
*
TABLE 2 TO § 431.106—TEST PROCEDURES FOR COMMERCIAL WATER HEATERS AND HOT WATER SUPPLY BOILERS
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES2
[Other Than Commercial Heat Pump Water Heaters]
Equipment type
Energy efficiency
descriptor
Residential-Duty Commercial Water Heater.
Uniform Energy Factor.
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required for
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and after
December 31, 2015***
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40587
TABLE 2 TO § 431.106—TEST PROCEDURES FOR COMMERCIAL WATER HEATERS AND HOT WATER SUPPLY BOILERS—
Continued
[Other Than Commercial Heat Pump Water Heaters]
Equipment type
Energy efficiency
descriptor
Test procedure
Gas-fired Storage and
Instantaneous Water
Heaters and Hot
Water Supply
Boilers*.
Thermal Efficiency .....
Use test set-up,
equipment, and procedures in subsection labeled
‘‘Method of Test’’ of
ANSI Z21.10.3–
2011**, Exhibit G1.
Use test set-up,
equipment, and procedures in subsection labeled
‘‘Method of Test’’ of
ANSI Z21.10.3–
2011**, Exhibit G2.
ANSI Z21.10.3–
2011**, Exhibit G1.
Use test set-up,
equipment, and procedures in subsection labeled
‘‘Method of Test’’ of
ANSI Z21.10.3–
2011**, Exhibit G2.
Standby Loss ............
Oil-fired Storage and
Instantaneous Water
Heaters and Hot
Water Supply
Boilers*.
Thermal Efficiency .....
Standby Loss ............
Electric Storage and
Instantaneous Water
Heaters.
Standby Loss ............
Use test set-up,
equipment, and procedures in subsection labeled
‘‘Method of Test’’ of
ANSI Z21.10.3–
2011**, Exhibit G2.
Test procedure
required for
compliance on
and after
May 13, 2013 ............
May 13, 2013 ............
May 13, 2013 ............
May 13, 2013 ............
May 13, 2013 ............
With these additional stipulations
A. For all products, the duration of the standby loss test shall be until whichever of the
following occurs first after you begin to
measure the fuel and/or electric consumption: (1) The first cut-out after 24 hours or
(2) 48 hours, if the water heater is not in
the heating mode at that time.
B. For oil and gas products, the standby loss
in Btu per hour must be calculated as follows: SL (Btu per hour) = S (% per hour) ×
8.25 (Btu/gal-F) × Measured Volume (gal)
× 70 (degrees F).
C. For oil-fired products, apply the following
in conducting the thermal efficiency and
standby loss tests: (1) Venting Requirements—Connect a vertical length of flue
pipe to the flue gas outlet of sufficient
height so as to meet the minimum draft
specified by the manufacturer. (2) Oil Supply—Adjust the burner rate so that: (a)
The hourly Btu input rate lies within ±2
percent of the manufacturer’s specified
input rate, (b) the CO2 reading shows the
value specified by the manufacturer, (c)
smoke in the flue does not exceed No. 1
smoke as measured by the procedure in
ASTM–D2156–80 (reference for guidance
only, see § 431.104), and (d) fuel pump
pressure lies within ±10 percent of manufacturer’s specifications.
D. For electric products, apply the following
in conducting the standby loss test: (1) Assume that the thermal efficiency (Et) of
electric water heaters with immersed heating elements is 98 percent. (2) Maintain
the electrical supply voltage to within ±5
percent of the center of the voltage range
specified on the water heater nameplate.
(3) If the set up includes multiple adjustable thermostats, set the highest one first
to yield a maximum water temperature in
the specified range as measured by the
topmost tank thermocouple. Then set the
lower thermostat(s) to yield a maximum
mean tank temperature within the specified range.
E. Install water-tube water heaters as shown
in Figure 2, ‘‘Arrangement for Testing
Water-tube Type Instantaneous and Circulating Water Heaters.’’
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* As to hot water supply boilers with a capacity of less than 10 gallons, these test methods become mandatory on October 21, 2005. Prior to
that time, you may use for these products either (1) these test methods if you rate the product for thermal efficiency, or (2) the test methods in
subpart E if you rate the product for combustion efficiency as a commercial packaged boiler.
** Incorporated by reference, see § 431.105.
*** Because the statute permits use of a conversion factor until the later of December 31, 2015 or one year after publication of a conversion
factor final rule, DOE may amend the mandatory compliance date for use of this amended test procedure, as necessary.
15. Section 431.107 is added to read
as follows:
■
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TABLE 1 TO § 431.107—TEST PROCEDURES FOR COMMERCIAL HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS
Equipment type
Energy efficiency descriptor
Use test set-up, equipment, and
procedures in subsection labeled
‘‘Method of Test’’ of
Test procedure required for compliance on and after
Residential-Duty Heat Pump Water
Heater with Integrated Storage
Tank.
Uniform Energy Factor .................
10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix E.
December 31, 2015*.
All Other Types ..............................
[Reserved] ....................................
[Reserved] ....................................
[Reserved].
* Because the statute permits use of a conversion factor until the later of December 31, 2015 or one year after publication of a conversion factor final rule, DOE may amend the mandatory compliance date for use of this amended test procedure, as necessary.
[FR Doc. 2014–15656 Filed 7–10–14; 8:45 a.m.]
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BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40541-40588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15656]
[[Page 40541]]
Vol. 79
Friday,
No. 133
July 11, 2014
Part IV
Department of Energy
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CFR Parts 429, 430, and 431
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Certain
Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures for Residential
and Commercial Water Heaters; Final Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 133 / Friday, July 11, 2014 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 40542]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Parts 429, 430, and 431
[Docket No. EERE-2011-BT-TP-0042]
RIN 1904-AC53
Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Certain
Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures for Residential
and Commercial Water Heaters
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On November 4, 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to amend its test
procedures established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act for
residential water heaters and certain commercial water heaters, which
serves as the basis for today's action. This rulemaking fulfills DOE's
statutory obligation for residential and certain commercial water
heaters to review its test procedure for covered products and equipment
at least once every seven years. In addition, this rulemaking satisfies
DOE's statutory obligation to develop a uniform efficiency descriptor
for residential and commercial water heaters. The test method applies
the same efficiency descriptor to all residential and certain
commercial water heaters, and extends coverage to eliminate certain
gaps in the current residential test procedure, updates the simulated-
use-test draw pattern, and updates the outlet water temperature
requirement.
DATES: The effective date of this rule is July 13, 2015. Compliance
will be mandatory starting one year after the publication in the
Federal Register of a mathematical conversion factor to convert from
the existing efficiency ratings to efficiency ratings under the test
procedure adopted by this final rule, or December 31, 2015, whichever
is later.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in
this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of
July 13, 2015. Other publications referenced were approved on March 23,
2009, and May 16, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this rulemaking is available for review at
www.regulations.gov, including Federal Register notices, public meeting
attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting
documents/materials. All documents in the docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. However, not all documents listed in the
index may be publicly available, such as information that is exempt
from public disclosure.
A link to the docket on the www.regulations.gov Web page can be
found at: https://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EERE-2011-BT-TP-
0042. The www.regulations.gov Web page contains simple instructions on
how to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket.
For further information on how to review the docket, contact Ms.
Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or by email:
Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ashley Armstrong, 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) 586-6590. Email:
Ashley.Armstrong@ee.doe.gov.
Mr. Eric Stas, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General
Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Telephone: (202) 586-9507. Email: Eric.Stas@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule incorporates by reference
the following industry standards into subpart B of 10 CFR part 430:
ASTM D2156-09, (``ASTM D2156''), Standard Test Method for Smoke
Density in Flue Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels.
Copies of ASTM D2156-09 can be obtained from the American Society
for Testing and Materials International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O.
Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, or go to https://www.astm.org.
Table of Contents
I. Authority and Background
II. Summary of the Final Rule
III. Discussion
A. Scope
1. Coverage Range of Uniform Metric and Test Procedure
2. Storage Capacity Limits
3. Input Capacity Limits
4. Electric Instantaneous Water Heaters, Gas-Fired Heat Pump
Water Heaters, and Oil-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters
B. Uniform Efficiency Descriptor Nomenclature
C. Draw Pattern
D. Instrumentation
E. Test Conditions
1. Outlet Water Temperature
2. Ambient Temperature and Relative Humidity
3. Laboratory Airflow
F. Storage Tank Pre-Conditioning
G. Operational Mode Selection
H. Annual Energy Consumption Calculation
I. Conversion of Existing Energy Factor Ratings
J. Full Fuel Cycle
K. Certification, Compliance, and Enforcement IssuesC
1. Storage Volume Requirements
2. First-Hour Rating and Maximum GPM Requirements
3. Ratings for Untested Models
L. Reference Standards
M. Compliance With Other EPCA Requirements
N. Other Issues
IV. Procedural Issues and 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 of 1969
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 Executive Order 12630
J. Review Under Treasury and General Government Appropriations
Act, 2001
K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration
Act of 1974
M. Congressional Notification
V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
I. Authority and Background
Title III, Part B \1\ of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of
1975 (``EPCA'' or ``the Act''), Public Law 94-163 (42 U.S.C. 6291-6309,
as codified) sets forth a variety of provisions designed to improve
energy efficiency and established the Energy Conservation Program for
Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles.\2\ These include residential
water heaters, one subject of this rulemaking. (42 U.S.C. 6292(a)(4))
Title III, Part C \3\ of EPCA, Public Law 94-163 (42 U.S.C. 6311-6317,
as codified), added by Public Law 95-619, Title IV, Sec. 441(a),
established the Energy Conservation Program for Certain Industrial
Equipment, which includes the commercial water-heating equipment that
is another subject of this rulemaking. (42 U.S.C. 6311(1)(K))
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code,
Part B was redesignated as Part A.
\2\ All references to EPCA in this document refer to the statute
as amended through the American Energy Manufacturing Technical
Corrections Act (AEMTCA), Public Law 112-210 (Dec. 18, 2012).
\3\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code,
Part C was redesignated Part A-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under EPCA, energy conservation programs generally consist of four
parts: (1) Testing; (2) labeling; (3) establishing Federal energy
conservation standards; and (4) certification and enforcement
procedures. The testing requirements
[[Page 40543]]
consist of test procedures that manufacturers of covered products and
equipment must use as the basis for certifying to DOE that their
products and equipment comply with the applicable energy conservation
standards adopted pursuant to EPCA and for making other representations
about the efficiency of those products. (42 U.S.C. 6293(c); 42 U.S.C.
6295(s); 42 U.S.C. 6314) Similarly, DOE must use these test
requirements to determine whether the products comply with any relevant
standards promulgated under EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(s))
Under 42 U.S.C. 6293, EPCA sets forth the criteria and procedures
that DOE must follow when prescribing or amending test procedures for
residential water heaters. EPCA provides, in relevant part, that any
test procedures prescribed or amended under this section must be
reasonably designed to produce test results which measure energy
efficiency, energy use, or estimated annual operating cost of a covered
product during a representative average use cycle or period of use, and
must not be unduly burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)) In
addition, 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. 6293(b)(2))
For commercial water heaters, EPCA requires that if the test
procedure referenced in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating,
and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1, ``Energy
Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings,'' is
updated, DOE must amend its test procedure to be consistent with the
updated test procedure unless DOE determines by rule published in the
Federal Register and supported by clear and convincing evidence that
the amended test procedure is not reasonably designed to produce test
results which reflect the energy efficiency, energy use, or estimated
operating costs of that type of ASHRAE equipment during a
representative average use cycle. In addition, DOE must determine that
the amended test procedure is not unduly burdensome to conduct. (42
U.S.C. 6314(a)(2) and (4))
In any rulemaking to amend a test procedure, DOE must determine to
what extent, if any, the proposed test procedure would alter the
product's measured energy efficiency. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(1)) 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))
Further, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA
2007) amended EPCA to require that DOE must review test procedures for
all covered products at least once every seven years and either amend
test procedures (if the Secretary determines that amended test
procedures would more accurately or fully comply with the requirements
of 42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3) for residential products or 42 U.S.C.
6314(a)(2)-(3) for commercial equipment) or publish notice in the
Federal Register of any determination not to amend a test procedure.
(42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A); 42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(1)(A)) Under this
requirement, DOE must review the test procedures for residential water
heaters not later than December 19, 2014 (seven years after the
enactment of EISA 2007), and DOE must review the test procedures for
commercial water heaters not later than May 16, 2019 (seven years after
the last final rule for commercial water heater test procedures \4\).
The final rule resulting from this rulemaking will satisfy the
requirement to review the test procedures for residential and certain
commercial water heaters every seven years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ On May 16, 2012, DOE published a final rule in the Federal
Register amending the test procedures for commercial water heaters.
77 FR 28928.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE's test procedure for residential water heaters is found in the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 10 CFR 430.23(e) and 10 CFR part
430, subpart B, appendix E. The test procedure includes provisions for
determining the energy efficiency (energy factor (EF)), as well as the
annual energy consumption of these products. DOE's test procedure for
commercial water heaters is found at 10 CFR 431.106. That test
procedure incorporates by reference American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) Z21.10.3, Gas Water Heaters--Volume III, Storage Water
Heaters With Input Ratings Above 75,000 Btu Per Hour, Circulating and
Instantaneous, and provides a method for determining the thermal
efficiency and standby loss of this equipment.
In addition to the test procedure review provision discussed above,
EISA 2007 also amended EPCA to require DOE to amend its test procedures
for all covered consumer products to include measurement of standby
mode and off mode energy consumption. (42 U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A))
Consequently, DOE recently completed a rulemaking to consider amending
its test procedure for residential water heaters to include provisions
for measuring the standby mode and off mode energy consumption of those
products. Pursuant to the requirements of EPCA, DOE published a notice
of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) in the Federal Register on August 30,
2010, for three different residential heating products (water heaters,
pool heaters, and direct heating equipment) related to standby mode and
off mode energy consumption, but the NOPR proposed no amendments to the
DOE test procedure for residential water heaters because DOE
tentatively concluded that standby mode and off mode energy consumption
was already accounted for in the existing DOE test method.\5\ 75 FR
52892, 52895. Subsequently, DOE published a final rule in the Federal
Register on December 17, 2012, which affirmed its conclusion that no
changes were needed to the existing test procedure for residential
water heaters. 77 FR 74559, 74561-62. However, that rulemaking was
limited to consideration of test procedure amendments to address the
above-referenced standby mode and off mode requirements; it did not
address other issues regarding DOE's existing test procedure for
residential water heaters. DOE addresses these issues in this final
rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ For more information, please visit DOE's Web site at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/waterheaters.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On October 12, 2011, DOE published in the Federal Register a
request for information (RFI) that identified and requested comment on
a number of issues regarding the test procedures for residential water
heaters. 76 FR 63211. DOE accepted comments and information on the RFI
until November 28, 2011. Key issues discussed in the RFI include the
scope, draw patterns, and test conditions for residential water
heaters. The RFI began the process of fulfilling DOE's obligation to
periodically review its test procedures under 42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A)
by initiating a rulemaking to examine all aspects of the DOE test
procedure.
On December 18, 2012, the American Energy Manufacturing Technical
Corrections Act (AEMTCA), Public Law 112-210, was signed into law. In
relevant part, it amended EPCA to require that DOE publish a final rule
establishing a uniform efficiency descriptor and accompanying test
methods for covered residential water heaters and commercial water-
heating equipment within one year of the enactment of AEMTCA. (42
U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(B)) The final rule must replace the current energy
factor, thermal efficiency, and standby loss metrics with a uniform
efficiency
[[Page 40544]]
descriptor. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(C)) AEMTCA requires that, beginning
one year after the date of publication of DOE's final rule establishing
the uniform descriptor, the efficiency standards for covered water
heaters must be denominated according to the uniform efficiency
descriptor established in the final rule (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(D)), and
that DOE must develop a mathematical factor for converting the
measurement of efficiency for covered water heaters from the test
procedures and metrics currently in effect to the new uniform energy
descriptor. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(E)(i)-(ii)) After the effective date
of the final rule, covered water heaters shall be considered to comply
with the final rule and with any revised labeling requirements
established by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to carry out the
final rule, if the covered water heater was manufactured prior to the
effective date of the final rule and complies with the efficiency
standards and labeling requirements in effect prior to the final rule.
(42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(K))
AEMTCA also requires that the uniform efficiency descriptor and
accompanying test method apply, to the maximum extent practicable, to
all water-heating technologies currently in use and to future water-
heating technologies. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(H)) AEMTCA allows DOE to
provide an exclusion from the uniform efficiency descriptor for
specific categories of otherwise covered water heaters that do not have
residential uses, that can be clearly described, and that are
effectively rated using the current thermal efficiency and standby loss
descriptors. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(F))
AEMTCA outlines DOE's various options for establishing a new
uniform efficiency descriptor for water heaters, including: (1) A
revised version of the energy factor descriptor currently in use; (2)
the thermal efficiency and standby loss descriptors currently in use;
(3) a revised version of the thermal efficiency and standby loss
descriptors; (4) a hybrid of descriptors; or (5) a new approach. (42
U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(G)) Lastly, AEMTCA requires that DOE invite
stakeholders to participate in the rulemaking process, and that DOE
contract with the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST), as necessary, to conduct testing and simulation of alternative
descriptors identified for consideration. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(I)-(J))
On January 11, 2013, DOE published in the Federal Register an RFI
(hereinafter the ``January 2013 RFI'') that requested comment on its
interpretation of the requirements for developing a uniform efficiency
descriptor in AEMTCA. DOE also sought comment on how to implement those
requirements. 78 FR 2340. DOE accepted comments and information on the
RFI until February 11, 2013.
On November 4, 2013, DOE published a NOPR in the Federal Register
(hereinafter the ``November 2013 NOPR'') regarding the test procedure
for residential and certain commercial water heaters. DOE accepted
comments and information on the NOPR until January 21, 2014. The
November 2013 NOPR proposed to modify the current test procedures for
residential water heaters and certain commercial water heaters to be
more representative of conditions encountered in the field (including
modifications to both the test conditions and the draw patterns) and to
expand the scope of the test procedure to apply to certain commercial
water heaters and certain residential water heaters that are not
covered by the current test procedure. The proposal also included a
number of other improvements identified by commenters in response to
both the October 2011 RFI and the January 2013 RFI. On December 6,
2013, DOE held a public meeting to discuss the test procedure proposals
outlined in the November 2013 NOPR. The feedback received from
stakeholders was taken into consideration and is discussed further in
section III of this final rule.
II. Summary of the Final Rule
Through this final rule, DOE amends its test procedure for
residential water heaters and certain commercial water heaters. The
amendments will modify the test procedure to be more representative of
conditions encountered in the field (including modifications to the
test conditions and the draw patterns) and expand the scope of the test
procedure to apply to certain commercial water heaters and certain
residential water heaters that are not covered by the current test
procedure. The following paragraphs summarize these changes.
DOE also modifies the test procedure for water heaters to establish
a uniform descriptor that can be applied to: (1) All residential water
heaters (including certain residential water heaters that are covered
products under EPCA's definition of ``water heater'' at 42 U.S.C.
6291(27), but that are not covered under the current test procedure);
and (2) to certain commercial water heaters that have residential
applications. These modifications include the establishment of test
procedure provisions that are applicable to water heaters with storage
volumes between 2 gallons (7.6 L) and 20 gallons (76 L), and the
creation of a definition for ``electric instantaneous water heater.''
In addition, DOE establishes a new equipment class of commercial water
heaters and corresponding definition for ``residential-duty commercial
water heater.'' DOE will require water heaters that are classified as
``residential-duty commercial'' to be tested using the test procedure
for the uniform efficiency descriptor established in this final rule.
In addition, DOE establishes the use of multiple draw patterns for
testing water heaters, with certain draw patterns prescribed as a
function of equipment capacity. Further, DOE establishes updates to the
water heater draw pattern to be more reflective of actual field usage
based on recent field test data. Lastly, DOE modifies the outlet water
temperature requirement to better reflect conditions encountered in
typical field installations.
III. Discussion
In response to the November 2013 NOPR, DOE received 24 written
comments from the following interested parties: Thomas Harman, Seisco,
Applied Energy Technology (AET), two separate comments from Heat
Transfer Products, Inc. (HTP), the National Propane Gas Association
(NPGA), Bradford White, A.O. Smith, Edison Electric Institute (EEI), a
joint comment from Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) and
Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC) (NEEA and NPCC),
Sequentric Energy Systems, LLC (SES), Stone Mountain Technologies
(SMT), six separate comments from Affiliated International Management,
LLC (AIM), the American Gas Association (AGA), Rheem Manufacturing
Company (Rheem), the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration
Institute (AHRI), Giant Factories, Inc. (Giant), a joint comment
submitted by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
(ACEEE) (Joint Comment),\6\ and General Electric Company (GE).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ ACEEE submitted a joint comment on behalf of ACEEE, the
Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), the Alliance to Save
Energy (ASE), Consumers Union (CU), the National Consumer Law Center
(NCLC), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
These interested parties commented on a range of issues, including
those identified by DOE in the October 2011 RFI, the January 2013 RFI,
and the November 2013 NOPR, as well as several other pertinent issues.
The issues on which DOE received comment, as well as DOE's response to
[[Page 40545]]
those comments and the resulting changes to the test procedures for
water heaters, are discussed in the subsections immediately below.
A. Scope
DOE's current test procedures for residential water heaters
codified at 10 CFR 430.23(e) and 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E
address gas-fired, electric, and oil-fired storage-type (i.e., storage
volume not less than 20 gallons (76 L)) and gas-fired and electric
instantaneous type (i.e., storage volume less than 2 gallons (7.6 L))
water heaters. However, the current DOE test procedure does not define
``electric instantaneous water heater.'' In addition, it does not
address the following types of products: (1) Gas-fired water heaters
that have a storage volume at or above 2 gallons and less than 20
gallons (76 L); (2) electric storage water heaters with storage volume
less than 20 gallons (76 L); and (3) storage water heaters with very
large storage capacities, including oil-fired water heaters with
storage volumes greater than 50 gallons (190 L), gas-fired water
heaters with storage volumes above 100 gallons (380 L), and electric
water heaters with storage volumes above 120 gallons (450 L). In the
NOPR, DOE proposed an expansion of the scope of coverage of its test
method so that it applies to all products that meet the definition of
residential water heater, including those products listed above that
are not addressed by the existing DOE test method. 78 FR 66202, 66205
(Nov. 4, 2013). DOE also proposed revising 10 CFR 430.32(d) to clarify
the applicability of the existing standards with respect to the
expanded test procedure scope. Id. As discussed below, DOE adopts the
proposed changes along with several clarifications based on comments
received from interested parties.
DOE's test procedures for commercial water heaters are found at 10
CFR 431.106. In terms of capacity, the procedures for commercial water
heaters cover storage water heaters with an input rating up to 4,000
British thermal units (Btu) per hour (Btu/h) per gallon of stored
water, instantaneous water heaters with input ratings not less than
4,000 Btu/h per gallon of stored water, and hot water supply boilers
with input ratings from 300,000 Btu/h to 12,500,000 Btu/h and of at
least 4,000 Btu/h per gallon of stored water. Models using natural gas,
oil, or electricity are covered by these test methods.
EPCA includes definitions for both residential and commercial water
heaters that set the scope of DOE's authority for these products. (42
U.S.C. 6291(27); 42 U.S.C. 6311(12)) As required by AEMTCA, by this
final rule, DOE establishes a uniform metric and test method for all
covered water heaters,\7\ regardless of whether a particular water
heater falls under the scope of residential water heaters or commercial
water heaters as defined in EPCA. In doing so, DOE also expands the
scope of the test procedure to include test methods for certain product
types that are not covered by the current DOE test procedure. DOE
identified these topics as issues for comment in the October 2011 RFI,
the January 2013 RFI, and the November 2013 NOPR. 76 FR 63211, 63212-13
(Oct. 12, 2011); 78 FR 2340, 2344-2346 (Jan. 11, 2013); 78 FR 66202,
66205-66224 (Nov. 4, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ As provided by 42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(F), DOE is excluding
from the uniform efficiency descriptor certain commercial water
heaters that do not have a residential use, can be clearly described
in the final rule, and are effectively rated using the thermal
efficiency and standby loss descriptors. The water heaters that DOE
is excluding are discussed further in section III.A.1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Coverage Range of Uniform Metric and Test Procedure
As proposed in the November 2013 NOPR, and in accordance with
AEMTCA (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(F)), DOE excludes from the uniform
efficiency descriptor any specific categories of covered water heaters
that do not have a residential use, can be clearly described in the
final rule, and are effectively rated using the current thermal
efficiency and standby loss descriptors. In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
proposed to define a new classification of commercial water heaters for
which the uniform efficiency descriptor would apply, which DOE believes
can be clearly distinguished from the commercial water heaters for
which the uniform descriptor would not apply under this final rule; DOE
proposed to name the new classification ``light commercial water
heater.'' 78 FR 66202, 66206 (Nov. 4, 2013). DOE received 4 comments on
this proposal in response to the NOPR. AHRI, AIM, A.O. Smith, and NEEA
and NPCC suggested that the proposed name could lead to confusion.
(AHRI, No. 75 at p. 2; AIM, No. 67 at p. 1; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 1;
NEEA and NPCC No. 64 at p. 3).\8\ Further, AHRI and A.O. Smith
suggested that a more appropriate name for this product classification
would be ``residential-duty water heater.'' (AHRI, No. 75 p. 2; A.O.
Smith, No. 62 at p. 1) DOE considered this comment and agrees that
``light commercial'' is a term already used in industry and that using
this term in this context could cause stakeholder and consumer
confusion. Thus, DOE adopts a new name for the classification, as
suggested by commenters, and creates a ``residential-duty'' commercial
water heater classification.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ All references to comments received in response to the
November 2013 NOPR identify the commenter, the identification number
applied by DOE, and the page of the comment package on which the
particular point has been discussed.
\9\ As discussed in the NOPR, DOE determined that the current
metrics for commercial water heaters that are used only in
commercial settings (i.e., non-``residential-duty'' commercial water
heaters) are appropriate and adequate to characterize the
performance of such commercial water heaters due to the typical
operating patterns of such equipment. 78 FR 66202, 66206 (Nov. 4,
2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed three characteristics to
distinguish water heaters intended only for commercial use: (1) For
models requiring electricity, uses three-phase power supply; (2) is
capable of delivering hot water at temperatures of 180[emsp14][deg]F or
above; and/or (3) bears a Code Symbol Stamp signifying compliance with
the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. DOE did not propose input and storage
capacity criteria to differentiate commercial water heaters that would
only be used in non-residential applications from commercial water
heaters that could have residential applications, given that changes to
the input and storage capacity criteria would likely occur over time
and require updating. 78 FR 66202, 66206-66207 (Nov. 4, 2013).
No comments were received opposing the proposal to exclude from the
``residential-duty commercial water heater'' classification any water
heater which uses three-phase power, so DOE has decided to retain that
characteristic in this final rule.
Five comments (AHRI, A.O. Smith, Bradford White, Giant, Joint
Comment) requested that the language ``capable of delivering'' water at
180[emsp14][deg]F or more should be changed to ``designed to deliver,''
given that the delivery temperature of a water heater is a result of
the field conditions and usage. These commenters also pointed out that
even a water heater that is not designed to deliver water at or above
180[emsp14][deg]F might be capable of doing so. (AHRI, No. 75 at pp. 1-
2; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 5; Bradford White, No. 61 at pp. 2-3;
Giant, No. 76 at p. 1; Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 5)
Four commenters (AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Joint Comment) stated
that the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Stamp is not required in all
jurisdictions and would not adequately classify a water heater as a
commercial water heater
[[Page 40546]]
without a residential application. (AHRI, No. 75 at p. 2; A.O. Smith,
No. 62 at p. 4; Giant, No. 76 at p. 1; Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 5)
Nine comments (AHRI, A.O. Smith, EEI, Giant, NEEA and NPCC, Joint
Comment, Rheem, SMT, Seisco) suggested the addition of input and
storage capacity criteria, stating that the three criteria listed above
do not adequately distinguish water heaters not intended for
residential use. (AHRI, No. 75 at p. 2; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 4;
EEI, No. 63 at p. 5; Giant, No. 76 at pp. 1-2; NEEA and NPCC, No. 64 at
p. 3; Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 4; Rheem, No. 69 at p. 2; SMT, No. 66
at p. 1; Seisco, No. 57 at p. 11) The suggested criteria are presented
in Table III.1 and are grouped by water heater type.
Table III.1--Suggested Capacity Criteria for Defining Non-Residential
Water Heaters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicator of non-residential
Water heater type application by commenter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas-fired Storage..................... AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem:
Rated input >100 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >100 gallons.
Oil-fired Storage..................... AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem:
Rated input >140 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >50 gallons.
NEEA and NPCC: Rated input >105
kBtu/h; Rated storage volume
>120 gallons.
Electric Storage...................... AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem:
Rated input >12kW; Rated
storage volume >120 gallons.
NEEA and NPCC: Rated input
>12kW; Rated storage volume <2
gallons and >120 gallons.
Heat Pump with Storage................ AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem:
Rated current >24 A at a rated
voltage of not greater than 250
V; Rated storage volume >120
gallons.
NEEA and NPCC; Rated Input >15
kW; Rated current >24 A at a
rated voltage of not greater
than 250 V; Rated storage
volume >120 gallons.
Gas-fired Instantaneous............... AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem:
Rated input >200 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume < 1 gallon per
4000 Btu/h of input.
NEEA and NPCC: Rated input >200
kBtu/h; Rated storage volume <2
gallons.
Electric Instantaneous................ AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem:
Rated input >25 kW; Rated
storage volume >2 gallons.
NEEA and NPCC: Rated input >58.6
kW; Rated storage volume >2
gallons.
Siesco: Rated input >56 kW (at a
minimum).
Oil-fired Instantaneous............... AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, Rheem:
Rated input >210 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >2 gallons.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon considering these comments, DOE decided to modify the criteria
for distinguishing water heaters intended only for non-residential,
commercial use. First, upon examining the commercial water heaters
available on the market, DOE found that many water heaters that are
marketed for residential applications and would otherwise be classified
as ``residential-duty'' would be exempted from coverage under the
uniform efficiency descriptor because of the requirement that
``residential-duty'' units be capable of delivering water at
temperatures only up to 180[emsp14][deg]F. (In the November 2013 NOPR,
DOE proposed that ``residential-duty'' units would be capable of
delivery water temperature up to but not including 180[emsp14][deg]F.
78 FR 66202, 66246 (Nov. 4, 2013).) As stated in section I, AEMTCA
requires that the test method apply, to the maximum extent practicable,
to all water-heating technologies currently in use (42 U.S.C.
6295(e)(5)(H)), except for specific categories of water heaters that do
not have residential uses, that can be clearly described, and that are
effectively rated using the current thermal efficiency and standby loss
descriptors (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(F)). DOE believes that the proposed
criteria to distinguish water heaters intended only for commercial use
based on the capability to deliver hot water at temperatures of
180[emsp14][deg]F or above would have inappropriately excluded
commercial water heaters marketed for residential applications, because
such models are designed to include 180[emsp14][deg]F as the maximum
delivery temperature. However, DOE believes that including
180[emsp14][deg]F as the maximum delivery temperature of ``residential-
duty'' commercial water heaters is still a valuable distinguishing
feature between water heaters intended for residential use and those
that are not.
DOE also agrees with commenters to adjust the language of the
180[emsp14][deg]F delivery temperature criteria to read ``designed to
deliver'' as opposed to ``capable of delivering,'' because a water
heater that is ``designed to deliver'' hot water at or below
180[emsp14][deg]F might be capable of delivering hot water in excess of
180[emsp14][deg]F depending on the field conditions and usage. DOE is
aware of situations where a water heater could be subjected to a series
of several short draws, which can cause an influx of cold water at the
bottom of the tank. Due to stratification, the water at the bottom of
the tank near the thermostat may be colder than the water at the top of
the tank, causing the burner or elements to turn on and heat the water
to a temperature above that for which the water heater is designed. DOE
considers a water heater that is ``designed to deliver'' water at or
below 180[emsp14][deg]F as one that has a user-operable temperature
control device with a maximum setting of 180[emsp14][deg]F or a maximum
setting that would deliver water at or below 180[emsp14][deg]F under
the conditions defined by the test method. In order to more closely
match the language of the test procedure when defining water heaters,
DOE is slightly changing the wording from ``designed to deliver water''
to ``designed to provide outlet water.''
Second, because the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Stamp criterion
is not required in all jurisdictions and because this criterion is not
a definitive identifier of whether a unit is truly commercial, DOE does
not adopt this proposed requirement. Rather, as suggested by
commenters, DOE adopts limitations on input rating and storage
capacity. (Additional comments related to storage capacity and input
capacity limitations are discussed in the subsections immediately
following this section.) DOE agrees that water-heating units exist in
the current marketplace that are not intended for residential use that
do not meet the three criteria proposed in the November 2013 NOPR (and
listed above) and, thus, establishes input and storage capacity
criteria based on water heater type as shown in Table III.2. Although
DOE still believes that changes to the input and storage capacity
criteria could occur over time and require these criteria to be
updated, DOE has concluded that these criteria are necessary to
properly classify the scope of the uniform efficiency descriptor.
[[Page 40547]]
Table III.2--Capacity Criteria for Defining Non-Residential Water
Heaters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicator of non-residential
Water heater type application
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas-fired Storage...................... Rated input >105 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >120 gallons.
Oil-fired Storage...................... Rated input >140 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >120 gallons.
Electric Storage....................... Rated input >12 kW; Rated
storage volume >120 gallons.
Heat Pump with Storage................. Rated input >15 kW; Rated
current >24 A at a rated
voltage of not greater than
250 V; Rated storage volume
>120 gallons.
Gas-fired Instantaneous................ Rated input >200 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >2 gallons.
Electric Instantaneous................. Rated input >58.6 kW; Rated
storage volume >2 gallons.
Oil-fired Instantaneous................ Rated input >210 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >2 gallons.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE establishes a definition of ``residential-duty commercial water
heater'' at 10 CFR 431.102 that defines a ``residential-duty commercial
water heater'' as any gas-fired, electric, or oil storage or
instantaneous commercial water heater that meets the following
conditions:
(1) For models requiring electricity, uses single-phase external
power supply;
(2) Is not designed to provide outlet hot water at temperatures
greater than 180[emsp14][deg]F; and
(3) Is not excluded by the specified limitations regarding rated
input and storage volume as described in Table III.2 above.
Although residential-duty commercial water heaters could have
residential applications, DOE notes that the new ``residential-duty
commercial water heater'' definition represents a type of water heater
that, to a significant extent, is distributed in commerce for
industrial or commercial use. These water heaters were and continue to
be covered industrial equipment, and will continue to be subject to the
applicable energy conservation standards in 10 CFR part 431 and the
certification requirements for commercial and industrial equipment in
10 CFR part 429. Similarly, although DOE recognizes that some consumer
water heaters may be installed in a commercial setting, those water
heaters are covered consumer products for the purposes of DOE
regulations; the applicable energy conservation standards in 10 CFR
part 430 continue to apply; and they must be certified as consumer
products under 10 CFR part 429.
If a commercial water heater does not meet all of the three
conditions discussed above, it would be classified as a commercial
water heater that would not be expected to be used in residential
applications and would be subject to the current test methods
prescribed in 10 CFR 431.106 and the certification requirements for
commercial and industrial equipment in 10 CFR part 429. If a commercial
water heater meets all three criteria, DOE will consider it a
``residential-duty commercial water heater,'' which would be subject to
the uniform efficiency descriptor and test method established in this
final rule. Accordingly, DOE is adding a row to Table 1 of 10 CFR
431.106 specifying 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E as the test
method for this type of equipment.
As stated in the November 2013 NOPR, DOE has determined that
certain commercial equipment, including unfired storage tanks, add-on
heat pump water heaters, and hot water supply boilers, are not
appropriately rated using the uniform descriptor applicable to other
water heaters. 78 FR 66202, 66207 (Nov. 4, 2013). Unfired storage tanks
are not complete water-heating systems and require additional equipment
in the field to operate. As such, their performance as part of a
complete water-heating system is dependent upon other components of the
system so that use of the uniform descriptor may be unrepresentative of
its performance as part of a complete water-heating system. In a
similar vein, DOE previously determined that residential add-on heat
pump water heaters are not covered residential products. 75 FR 20112,
20127 (Apr. 16, 2010). DOE has authority to cover commercial add-on
heat pumps; however, this equipment does not have residential
applications and, therefore, is not suitable for application of the
uniform efficiency descriptor. DOE also determined that hot water
supply boilers are more appropriately rated using the existing metrics
for commercial water heaters, as this equipment has very high input
ratings and their use is similar to that of other commercial water
heaters in commercial applications. 78 FR 66202, 66207 (Nov. 4, 2013).
DOE will address the types of commercial water-heating equipment that
are excluded from the uniform descriptor (e.g., unfired storage tanks,
add-on heat pump water heaters, and hot water supply boilers) in a
subsequent test procedure rulemaking. DOE did not receive any comments
regarding the exclusion of unfired storage tanks, add-on heat pump
water heaters, and hot water supply boilers from coverage under the
uniform descriptor.
2. Storage Capacity Limits
As noted above, under the existing regulatory definitions, DOE's
current residential water heater test procedures are not applicable to
gas or electric water heaters with storage tanks that are at or above 2
gallons (7.6 L) and less than 20 gallons (76 L). The current DOE test
procedure for residential water heaters only applies to gas-fired water
heaters with storage volumes less than or equal to 100 gallons (380 L),
electric resistance and heat pump storage water heaters with storage
volumes less than or equal to 120 gallons (450 L), and oil-fired water
heaters with storage volumes less than or equal to 50 gallons (190 L).
10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E, sections 1.12.1, 1.12.2, and
1.12.4.
The definitions in the current DOE test procedure specify that gas
instantaneous water heaters have a storage volume of less than two
gallons (7.6 L) and that electric or gas storage-type water heaters
have a storage volume of 20 gallons (76 L) or more. The storage
capacity of oil water heaters in the test method is not restricted by a
lower limit, with the specification stating that an oil-fired storage
water heater simply has a rated capacity less than or equal to 50
gallons (190 L). 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E, sections 1.7
and 1.12. The definitions for ``Electric Instantaneous Water Heater''
and ``Storage-type Water Heater of More than 2 Gallons (7.6 Liters) and
Less than 20 Gallons (76 Liters)'' are currently reserved. Id. at
section 1.12.5.
In the 1998 rulemaking establishing test procedures for residential
water heaters, DOE proposed to include units with storage volumes
between 2 and 20 gallons, but commenters raised concerns that the test
procedure demand of 64.3 gallons per day was not appropriate for these
small units. 63 FR 25996, 26000 (May 11, 1998). At that time, DOE
concluded that the data necessary to determine an appropriate
representative daily hot water consumption for water heaters with these
storage volumes did not exist and that alternative procedures proposed
by commenters were not fully evaluated. For these reasons, the
Department tabled consideration of the inclusion of these water heaters
until a future revision of the DOE test procedure.
As proposed in the November 2013 NOPR, DOE has decided to expand
the scope of the water heater test procedure for the uniform efficiency
descriptor to
[[Page 40548]]
include water heaters with storage volumes between 2 and 20 gallons. 78
FR 66202, 66208 (Nov. 4, 2013). Rheem supported the expansion of the
scope to include units between 2 and 20 gallons, but asserted that
these products should not be covered by the current energy conservation
standards. (Rheem, No. 69 at pp. 7-8) Bradford White requested
clarification as to whether products between 2 and 20 gallons would be
covered by the current energy conservation standards or test procedure
only. (Bradford White, No. 61 at p. 2) AHRI stated that, although DOE
is developing a test method for water heaters with storage volumes
between 2 and 20 gallons, the current DOE minimum efficiency standards
for residential water heaters do not and should not apply to models
having rated storage volumes less than 20 gallons, and AHRI requested
information regarding DOE activities with regard to standards for these
products. (AHRI, No. 80 at pp. 2-3)
The test procedure modifications for water heaters with a storage
volume between 2 and 20 gallons specify the method of test set-up
(including instrumenting such water heaters), a test method to assess
the delivery capacity, and the draw pattern to be used to determine the
energy efficiency of such units. The amendments for water heaters with
storage volumes between 2 and 20 gallons are discussed in detail in
section III.C of this final rule. Currently, there are no minimum
energy conservation standards applicable to water heater products with
a storage volume between 2 and 20 gallons, which will be the case until
DOE conducts a rulemaking to establish such standards. DOE clarifies
this point in this final rule's amendments to 10 CFR 430.32(d).
AEMTCA requires DOE to reconsider the scope of all water heater
test procedures. AEMTCA amended EPCA to require that the new uniform
metric apply to the extent possible to all water-heating technologies.
(42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(F) and (H))
In considering the upper limit to the storage capacity range, DOE
is not aware of any residential water heaters available on the market
with storage volumes above 100 gallons, 120 gallons, and 50 gallons for
gas-fired, electric (resistance and heat pump), and oil-fired water
heaters, respectively, that would be covered as residential products
under EPCA. AHRI, A.O. Smith, Giant, and Rheem supported the continued
use of the current maximum storage capacity limits. (AHRI, No. 75 at p.
2; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 4; Giant, No. 76 at p. 2; Rheem, No. 69 at
p. 2)
In contrast, as AET stated in response to the January 2013 RFI, the
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code requires that vessels intended to
store fluids under pressure must individually undergo a rigorous test
and inspection procedure if they have volumes greater than 120 gallons.
AET noted that because these test and certification procedures are
expensive, manufacturers will avoid making products intended for
residential use that require an ASME inspection and code stamp. For
this reason, AET commented that the upper limit of 120 gallons would be
appropriate for all residential water heaters. (AET, No. 22 at pp. 6-7)
DOE has reconsidered the water heater test procedure scope and
expands the scope of the test procedure to include all covered water
heaters that could have residential applications and adjusts the
current limitations on maximum storage volume in the residential test
procedure for gas-fired, electric, and oil storage water heaters to 120
gallons for all three types. DOE concludes that the amended test method
adopted in today's final rule adequately addresses water heaters
regardless of storage volume, provided that they meet the definition of
a ``residential water heater'' or a ``residential-duty commercial water
heater.'' Consequently, DOE's uniform descriptor test procedure will
apply to residential storage water heaters and ``residential-duty
commercial water heaters'' with storage volumes up to 120 gallons. As
noted previously in section III.A.1, DOE excludes non-residential
(commercial) water heaters, and DOE agrees with AET that a storage
capacity limit of 120 gallons adequately separates residential and
commercial units of all water heater types.
3. Input Capacity Limits
AEMTCA requires that the new uniform efficiency descriptor apply to
the maximum extent practical to all water-heating technologies in use
now or in the future. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(H)) DOE's current
residential water heater test procedure is not applicable to gas-fired
instantaneous water heaters with input capacities at or below 50,000
Btu/h or at or above 200,000 Btu/h. 10 CFR part 430, subpart B,
appendix E, section 1.7.2. In addition, the existing test procedure is
not applicable to gas-fired storage water heaters with input capacities
above 75,000 Btu/h, electric storage water heaters with input ratings
above 12 kW, and oil-fired storage water heaters with input ratings
above 105,000 Btu/h. 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E, section
1.12.
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed to eliminate the minimum
limit on the firing rate of instantaneous gas water heaters of 50,000
Btu/h. 78 FR 66202, 66209 (Nov. 4, 2013). As discussed in section
III.C, DOE adopts multiple draw patterns that vary based on the
delivery capacity of the water heater. Because the draw pattern is
dependent upon delivery capacity, gas-fired instantaneous units with a
firing rate below 50,000 Btu/h can be tested under the new procedure.
Thus, DOE has concluded that there is no reason to retain this lower
limit on gas-fired instantaneous water heater delivery capacity. No
comments were received opposing this measure.
Similarly, DOE proposed to remove the maximum input ratings for
gas-fired, electric, and oil-fired storage water heaters and for gas-
fired instantaneous water heaters from the test procedure (although
maximum input ratings specified in EPCA would still apply for the
purposes of equipment classification). Because draw patterns vary based
on delivery capacity, the new test procedure applies to models with
input capacities above those included in the current residential water
heater test procedure. Although these maximum input limitations were
based upon EPCA's ``water heater'' definition at 42 U.S.C. 6291(27),
because the AEMTCA amendments require that the new metric apply to all
water-heating technologies except those that do not have a residential
use, DOE believes that such limits are no longer controlling or
appropriate in terms of the scope of the water heaters test procedure.
DOE did not receive any comments in response to the NOPR related
specifically to the inclusion of input limitations on residential
products in the test procedure, but did receive comments regarding the
application of the test procedure to commercial models and suggesting
input capacity limitations. Those comments are discussed in section
III.A.1. As discussed in section III.A.1, input rating limitations are
useful to distinguish water heaters without a residential use.
Therefore, although DOE will remove the input capacity limitations from
the scope of the test method, DOE establishes input capacity limits to
define which units would qualify as ``residential-duty'' commercial
units and, thus, be required to be tested using the uniform descriptor
test method. These input capacity limitations are shown in Table III.2
above.
[[Page 40549]]
4. Electric Instantaneous Water Heaters, Gas-Fired Heat Pump Water
Heaters, and Oil-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters
As discussed in the November 2013 NOPR, DOE's test procedures do
not contain a definition for ``electric instantaneous water heater,''
but rather have a space reserved to define that term (10 CFR part 430,
subpart B, appendix E, section 1.7.1). 78 FR 66202, 66209 (Nov. 4,
2013). EPCA defines ``electric instantaneous water heater'' as
containing no more than one gallon of water per 4,000 Btu per hour of
input and having an input capacity of 12 kilowatts (kW) or less. (42
U.S.C. 6291(27)(B)) As noted in the November 2013 NOPR, the heating
power required for electric instantaneous water heaters intended for
whole-home applications typically is much higher than the power
capability commonly found in storage-type electric water heaters. 78 FR
66202, 66209 (Nov. 4, 2013). In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed to
amend its water heater test procedure to include applicable provisions
for electric instantaneous water heaters, and to define the term
``electric instantaneous water heater.'' Id. at 66210.
AIM commented that DOE needs to be more inclusive of all types of
water heaters when defining the types of water heaters that will be
covered by the uniform descriptor. (AIM No. 70 at p. 2)
DOE agrees in principle that all existing types of water heaters
should be defined and, thus, adopts definitions of ``gas-fired heat
pump water heater'' and ``oil-fired instantaneous water heater,'' in
addition to a definition for ``electric instantaneous water heater.''
While not yet commercially available, DOE is aware that manufacturers
are currently developing gas-fired heat pump water heaters and oil-
fired instantaneous water heaters. Further, the new test procedure
applies to these types of water heaters. Accordingly, DOE adds
definitions for these types of water heaters at 10 CFR 430.2. (In
addition, as proposed in the November 2013 NOPR, DOE is moving all
other definitions pertaining to defining the types of water heaters to
10 CFR 430.2.) All three definitions reflect the definitions of these
products as set forth in EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6291(27)) and are based on the
current definitions for other types of water heaters. The definition
for ``electric instantaneous water heater'' has been altered slightly
from the definition proposed in the November 2013 NOPR to better align
with the requirements of EPCA for these products. These definitions
read as follows:
Gas-fired Heat Pump Water Heater means a water heater that uses gas
as the main energy source, has a nameplate input rating of 75,000 Btu/h
(79 MJ/h) or less, has a maximum current rating of 24 amperes
(including all auxiliary equipment such as fans, pumps, controls, and,
if on the same circuit, any resistive elements) at an input voltage of
no greater than 250 volts, has a rated storage capacity of 120 gallons
(450 liters) or less, and is designed to transfer thermal energy from
one temperature level to a higher temperature level to deliver water at
a thermostatically-controlled temperature less than or equal to
180[emsp14][deg]F (82 [deg]C).
Oil-fired Instantaneous Water Heater means a water heater that uses
oil as the main energy source, has a nameplate input rating of 210,000
Btu/h (220 MJ/h) or less, contains no more than one gallon of water per
4,000 Btu per hour of input, and is designed to provide outlet water at
a controlled temperature less than or equal to 180[emsp14][deg]F (82
[deg]C). The unit may use a fixed or variable burner input.
Electric Instantaneous Water Heater means a water heater that uses
electricity as the energy source, has a nameplate input rating of 12 kW
(40,956 Btu/h) or less, contains no more than one gallon of water per
4,000 Btu per hour of input, and is designed to provide outlet water at
a controlled temperature less than or equal to 180[emsp14][deg]F (82
[deg]C). The unit may use a fixed or variable burner input.
DOE notes that the definition of ``electric instantaneous water
heater'' being added to 10 CFR 430.2 encompasses only electric
instantaneous water heaters that are residential (i.e., with an input
capacity of 12 kW or less). However, as discussed in section III.A.1,
commercial (i.e., with an input capacity greater than 12 kW) electric
instantaneous water heaters with input ratings up to 58.6 kW are
considered ``residential-duty commercial water heaters,'' and because
water heaters both above and below 12 kW have residential applications,
both types would be covered by the uniform efficiency descriptor.
In response to the November 2013 NOPR, Seisco and Thomas Harman
commented that 12 kW is not an appropriate cutoff for electric
instantaneous water heaters because there are many electric
instantaneous water heaters designed for and used in residences that
have input ratings above 12 kW. (Harman, No. 53 at p. 1; Seisco, No. 57
at pp. 10-11) In response, DOE notes that the 12 kW limit is defined by
EPCA and it is not at DOE's discretion to change. However, the 12 kW
criteria will apply only insofar as determining the applicable minimum
energy conservation standard. As such, it remains the point above which
electric instantaneous models would be classified as ``commercial''
equipment for the basis of determining the applicable energy
conservation standards. Limits on the application of the uniform
efficiency descriptor pursuant to the new test procedure based on input
and volume capacities are set forth in Table III.2, above.
This final rule also provides for a maximum flow rate test for
electric instantaneous water heaters and a test to determine the energy
efficiency expressed in terms of uniform energy factor for these
products. (As discussed in section III.B, the energy efficiency metric
for water heaters will be changed from ``energy factor'' to ``uniform
energy factor.'') These tests are identical to those provided for gas-
fired instantaneous water heaters.
B. Uniform Efficiency Descriptor Nomenclature
AEMTCA provided the following options for the uniform efficiency
descriptor metric: (1) A revised version of the energy factor
descriptor currently in use; (2) the thermal efficiency and standby
loss descriptors currently in use; (3) a revised version of the thermal
efficiency and standby loss descriptors; (4) a hybrid of descriptors;
or (5) a new approach. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(G))
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed to use a revised version of
the energy factor as the uniform efficiency descriptor. 78 FR 66202,
66210 (Nov. 4, 2013). DOE received no comments opposing the continued
use of the energy factor metric in response to the November 2013 NOPR.
However, DOE received four comments (A.O. Smith, Bradford White, EEI,
Joint Comment) suggesting that the ``energy factor'' nomenclature be
adjusted to distinguish the old energy factor from the new.
Additionally, the four commenters suggest that the new ``energy
factor'' nomenclature be differentiated by class (i.e., subscripts with
the draw classification). (A.O. Smith No. 62 at p. 3; Bradford White
No. 61 at p. 6; EEI No. 63 at p. 4; Joint Comment No. 77 at p. 2) NEEA
and NPCC commented that the ``energy factor'' nomenclature as it
currently stands is appropriate and that changes to the test procedure
are not significant enough to warrant a new descriptor. (NEEA and NPCC
No. 64 at p. 1) NEEA and NPCC and the Joint Comment stated that the new
``energy factor'' nomenclature should not be distinguished by fuel type
or technology
[[Page 40550]]
group. (NEEA and NPCC No. 64 at p. 16; Joint Comment No. 77 at p. 2)
DOE agrees with commenters that confusion could occur if the name
of the metric remains unchanged between the current and amended test
procedures. Because the existing and new ratings are determined under
different test conditions, which can result in a different rating, DOE
believes it is necessary to adopt a new name to distinguish between the
efficiency result under the existing test procedure and the result
under the amended test procedure. As a result, DOE adopts a ``uniform
energy factor,'' to be denoted as ``UEF'' in the test procedure, as
distinguished from the ``Ef'' rating determined under the
current test procedure.
C. Draw Pattern
The term ``draw pattern'' describes the number, flow rate, length,
and timing of hot water removal from the water heater during testing.
Primary decisions in developing draw patterns include the total amount
of water to be removed during the test and the number of draws during
the test. The total amount of water taken in each draw, which is a
function of the flow rate and the length of the draw, must also be
specified. Finally, the spacing between those draws is needed to
complete the specification of the draw pattern.
DOE proposed to modify the draw pattern that is used in the
existing test procedure in the November 2013 NOPR. 78 FR 66202, 66210-
17 (Nov. 4, 2013). Under DOE's proposal, the single draw pattern that
is currently applied during the 24-hour simulated use test would be
replaced with one of four patterns that is more representative of the
demand put on a water heater of different delivery capacity. These four
draw patterns were termed ``point-of-use,'' ``low usage,'' ``medium
usage,'' and ``high usage.'' The selection of the draw pattern to be
used in the simulated-use test would be based upon the results of the
first-hour rating test or the maximum GPM (gallons per minute) rating
test.
DOE received seven comments in general support of the move to four
different draw patterns. (HTP No. 59 at p. 2; A.O. Smith No. 62 at p.
2; EEI No. 63 at p. 4; NEEA and NPCC No. 64 at p. 3; AHRI No. 75 at p.
3; Giant No. 76 at p. 3; Joint Comment No. 77 at p. 6) HTP recommended
that DOE consider altering the total water drawn in the medium-usage
pattern to 64.8 gallons to assist in correlating between current
metrics and the proposed metrics. NEEA and NPCC indicated a slight
preference for draw patterns proposed as part of the deliberations for
ASHRAE 118.2, ``Method of Testing for Rating Residential Water
Heaters,'' because those draws are more consistent with the daily hot
water use found in their field data. AHRI indicated that the proposed
draw patterns were appropriate but that it preferred the draw patterns
submitted in its comment to the January 2013 RFI. (AHRI No. 46 at p. 5)
DOE received one comment that supported the move to multiple draw
patterns but that recommended five draw patterns instead of four and
provided alternative bases for developing the patterns. (AET No. 58 at
p. 3) AET commented that the proposed draw patterns could result in
water being delivered during the simulated-use test that may be
considered to be too cold for typical uses and recommended that a fifth
category termed ``Sink'' be created that would apply to the smallest
water heaters. AET discussed how the amount of water that can be
withdrawn in a continuous draw can be estimated from the first-hour
rating and stated that the maximum draw volumes imposed in the proposed
draw patterns may yield an ``invalid test.'' Particular emphasis was
placed on the point-of-use category, in which a 2-gallon water heater
would be expected to deliver a 2-gallon draw. Another concern expressed
by AET is that water heaters with the same storage volume but with
slightly different input rates would be tested according to different
draw patterns. AET suggested that selection of the draw pattern used
for the simulated-use test should be based on two factors: the measured
storage volume and the first-hour rating. AET recommended the largest
draw volume that should be implemented in each draw pattern to meet the
capabilities of the water heaters in that category. AET estimated that
the first draw delivery capability of a storage water heater is
0.95*0.85*(Rated Storage Volume), where 0.95 represents the currently
allowed tolerance on storage volume and 0.85 accounts for mixing of hot
and cold water during draws. Id.
DOE received three comments from AET, SMT, and Bradford White
related to the details in the proposed test procedure of determining
the standby loss coefficient, ``UA,'' which is used to adjust the daily
energy consumption to account for deviations from nominal conditions.
AET expressed concern that, with water heaters having very slow
recoveries, the test could result in a water heater with drastically
different stored water temperature at the start of the test than at the
end, thereby necessitating a major correction to the energy consumed.
AET recommended extending the test beyond 24 hours for such water
heaters, ending the test only after a recovery occurs. Energy
consumption during the test would be modified to normalize to a 24-hour
time period by removing the estimated standby loss during the time
exceeding 24 hours. AET commented that it is much more accurate to
normalize to a common time period than it is to end the test prior to a
recovery occurring. AET stated that this approach would ensure that a
recovery occurs during the period of the test when the UA value is
determined and that it would result in an average tank temperature that
changes less from the start of the test to the end of the test. (AET
No. 58 at p. 1). SMT expressed concern that large-capacity models may
not initiate recovery during the first draw cluster of tests or may
initiate a recovery during a standby portion of the test. In these
cases, SMT commented that determination of the UA may not be possible.
SMT suggested that the test should start with a fully-charged water
heater and that the first draw cluster should start eight hours after
this point. According to SMT, the UA value would be determined during
this eight-hour period. (SMT No. 66 at p. 2). Bradford White commented
that the new test procedure can take standby loss readings when the
water heater is recovering and/or when water is being drawn, which
would lead to inaccurate measures of standby loss. (Bradford White No.
61 at p. 8).
After consideration of these comments, DOE has decided to adopt the
modifications to the draw patterns as originally proposed in the
November 2013 NOPR. DOE has reviewed the total amount of water drawn
per day in each draw pattern and has observed that those values match
well with field data collated by the Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory.\10\ DOE acknowledges that a medium-use draw pattern having
the same daily draw volume as that prescribed in the current test
procedure would remove some uncertainty in converting from the existing
efficiency metric to the new uniform metric since the total daily draw
volume would not impact the rating. However, DOE has decided to
maintain a lower daily draw volume in the new draw schedule to better
match
[[Page 40551]]
field data available for a medium-usage situation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ Lutz, JD, Renaldi, Lekov A, Qin Y, and Melody M., ``Hot
Water Draw Patterns in Single Family Houses: Findings from Field
Studies,'' Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Report number LBNL-
4830E (May 2011) (Available at https://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/2k24v1kj) (last accessed June 17, 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE considered adding a fifth draw pattern as recommended by AET,
but a review of data from testing of low-volume water heaters indicate
that the efficiency can be accurately determined using the four
proposed draw patterns. While delivery temperatures did drop below
120[emsp14][deg]F during some draws of these tests, DOE has concluded
that the efficiency is still accurately determined using this test
procedure and that the added complexity of an additional draw pattern
is not warranted.
DOE will continue to use the first-hour rating to assign a draw
pattern for use during the simulated-use test. DOE examined using a
combination of first-hour rating and storage volume to categorize the
water heater for assigning a draw pattern, as suggested by AET, but is
concerned that some water heaters may not fit into any category because
their storage volumes would correspond to one draw pattern while their
first-hour ratings would correspond to a different one. Additionally,
as noted above, AET estimates that the first draw delivery capability
of a storage water heater is 0.95*0.85*(Rated Storage Volume), which
accounts for the tolerance currently afforded manufacturers on storage
volume and the effect of mixing of hot and cold water within the
storage water heater during draws. DOE agrees that this method for
estimating first draw delivery capacity is appropriate for conventional
electric storage water heaters. However, the Department is concerned
that the effect of mixing hot and cold water within the unit during
draws is not well understood for the emerging water-heating
technologies that are noted by the commenter. Therefore, basing the
categorization of water heaters into usage bins (i.e., very small, low,
medium, and high) to determine the appropriate draw pattern based on
this uncertain number is likely to lead to miscategorization for some
water heaters. In the end, DOE has decided that the first-hour rating
is the best metric available for determining water heater size
classification for purposes of efficiency testing.
DOE is adopting the draw volumes proposed in the November 2013
NOPR. Test results \11\ indicate that the draw volumes incorporated
into the proposed patterns, while resulting in delivery temperatures
that may not match the nominal outlet temperatures, provide a
sufficiently accurate estimate of the energy efficiency and that these
draw patterns will result in an accurate estimate of the efficiency of
water heaters within each size classification. The flow rates and
volumes specified in the November 2013 NOPR represent the best
alternative for characterizing water heaters at both the lower and
upper limits of a size category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Test results from DOE testing for the NOPR are summarized
in the November 2013 Water Heater Test Procedure Rulemaking
Development Testing Preliminary Report, available in the rulemaking
docket at: https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EERE-2011-
BT-TP-0042-0052.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In response to the comment from Bradford White stating concern that
the standby loss coefficient (UA) can be determined while a recovery is
occurring, DOE notes that there is a possibility of a recovery taking
place during the portion of the test when data are collected to
determine UA, just as there is the possibility in the current test
method. The determination of UA, however, may require a reheat to
maintain the stored water temperature to obtain a valid estimate of UA.
As for the standby time period during which energy loss to the ambient
is corrected, DOE notes that time when draws are taking place are
omitted from the calculation. See section 6.3.5 of appendix E as
adopted in this final rule. Therefore, DOE is making no changes in
response to the comment.
DOE considered amending the timing of the simulated-use test, as
suggested by some commenters, to improve the determination of UA. DOE
examined data from a range of simulated-use tests and decided that the
test procedure requires modification to improve the determination of UA
for some special cases.
The first modification responds to concerns expressed about the
determination of UA for water heaters with low recovery rates. DOE
observed that the first recovery may not begin until several hours into
the designated standby period and could extend into the second draw
cluster. DOE examined data from tests on such water heaters and
modified the test procedure provisions for determining UA in the event
that a recovery does not begin during the first draw cluster.
As proposed in the November 2013 NOPR, the standby period for
determination of UA was intended to occupy the majority of the period
between the end of the first draw cluster and the start of the second
draw cluster. 78 FR 66202, 66217, 66236 (Nov. 4, 2013). However,
because the standby period is supposed to start at the end of the first
recovery under the proposed procedure, the standby period may not start
until well into the 24-hour test for water heaters with a very slow
recovery rate. For one tested water heater, DOE observed that the first
recovery did not begin until several hours past the end of the first
draw cluster and ended after subsequent draws occurred during the test.
Under the proposed test procedure, the standby period started at the
end of this first recovery period and continued until the next draw
started. This procedure could result in a very short time period for
determination of UA, which might lead to erroneous results.
To address this issue, DOE amends the proposed test procedure by
starting the standby period five minutes following the last draw of the
first draw cluster if a recovery is not occurring, as opposed to
waiting until after the first recovery period ends. The end point of
the standby period will remain as proposed in the November 2013 NOPR.
This change ensures an accurate determination of UA for all units,
including those with low recovery rates and those that delay onset of
heating until after the first cluster of draws.
The second clarification addresses water heaters that undergo a
recovery that begins at the end of the first draw cluster and continues
over the entire standby period between the first and second draw
clusters. In these instances, the standby period continues past the end
of the 24-hour test. To address this issue, DOE amends the test
procedure to initiate the standby period at the end of the first
recovery following the final draw and to continue measurements for
eight hours from that point.
DOE concludes that the approaches implemented in the final rule
will determine a standby loss coefficient that accurately adjusts the
daily energy consumption when the ambient temperature deviates from the
nominal value during testing. The Department is adopting this approach,
as opposed to the one presented by AET, in order to maintain a test
duration of 24 hours for nearly all water heaters while providing
accurate representation of the water heater's energy efficiency.
DOE received one comment requesting a change in the name of the
``point-of-use'' draw pattern, stating that the term ``point-of-use''
describes the installed location of a water heater as opposed to the
delivery capacity, which is the characteristic described by the other
three category names (i.e., ``low,'' ``medium,'' and ``high''). (AIM
No. 71 at p. 1) AIM suggested a name of ``very small'' for this
category. DOE agrees in principle with this comment and has decided to
change the name of the ``point-of-use'' category to ``very-small-
usage.''
Bradford White commented that the tolerances of +/-0.25 gallons for
the volume removed in each draw in the proposed test procedure could
lead to
[[Page 40552]]
large discrepancies in the overall volume removed, which could in turn
necessitate a test laboratory to skip a final draw to achieve the
overall tolerance of +/-1 gallon for the daily water delivery.
(Bradford White No. 61 at pp. 8-9) DOE agrees with this observation and
is tightening the tolerances on some draws in the final rule. For draws
taken at a nominal flow rate of 1.7 GPM or less, DOE is requiring that
those draws have a tolerance of +/-0.1 gallons. With the data
acquisition rate during draws set to 3 seconds, DOE believes that this
level of tolerance is achievable. At the nominal flow rate of 3 GPM,
however, the frequency of data collection may not allow for such tight
control of draw volumes during each draw, so DOE is maintaining the
tolerance of +/-0.25 GPM for those draws. DOE is already increasing the
frequency of data collection and does not believe it is necessary to
increase it further to allow for a stricter tolerance on 3 GPM draws.
DOE notes that only the high-usage pattern contains draws with a flow
rate of 3 GPM, and only 3 of the 14 draws are at that flow rate. As a
result, DOE expects that the overall tolerance of +/-1 gallon for the
daily water delivery can be achieved because the tighter tolerance
applies to the remaining 11 draws.
DOE acknowledges that, given the tolerances on individual draws, a
situation may arise whereby the volume of the final draw would need to
be adjusted downward so much that a draw volume of zero may be required
to meet the overall tolerance on the daily draw volume. DOE concludes
that this scenario would result in an invalid test and has inserted a
statement in the test procedure indicating that ``if this adjustment to
the volume drawn in the last draw results in no draw taking place, the
test is considered invalid.'' Table III.3 through Table III.6 show the
draw patterns that DOE is adopting.
Table III.3--Very-Small-Usage Draw Pattern
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time during test Volume [gallons Flow rate ** [GPM
Draw No. [hh:mm] (L)] (L/min)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 *................................................. 0:00 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
2 *................................................. 1:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
3 *................................................. 1:05 0.5 (1.9) 1 (3.8)
4 *................................................. 1:10 0.5 (1.9) 1 (3.8)
5 *................................................. 1:15 0.5 (1.9) 1 (3.8)
6................................................... 8:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
7................................................... 8:15 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
8................................................... 9:00 1.5 (5.7) 1 (3.8)
9................................................... 9:15 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 10 gallons (38 L)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
** Should the water heater have a maximum GPM rating less than 1 GPM (3.8 L/min), then all draws shall be
implemented at a flow rate equal to the rated maximum GPM.
Table III.4--Low-Usage Draw Pattern
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time during test Volume [gallons Flow rate [GPM (L/
Draw No. [hh:mm] (liters)] min)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 *................................................. 0:00 15.0 (56.8) 1.7 (6.4)
2 *................................................. 0:30 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
3 *................................................. 1:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
4................................................... 10:30 6.0 (22.7) 1.7 (6.4)
5................................................... 11:30 4.0 (15.1) 1.7 (6.4)
6................................................... 12:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
7................................................... 12:45 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
8................................................... 12:50 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
9................................................... 16:15 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
10.................................................. 16:45 2.0 (7.6) 1.7 (6.4)
11.................................................. 17:00 3.0 (11.4) 1.7 (6.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 38 gallons (144 L)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
Table III.5--Medium-Usage Draw Pattern
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time during test Volume [gallons Flow rate [GPM (L/
Draw No. [hh:mm] (liters)] min)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 *................................................. 0:00 15.0 (56.8) 1.7 (6.4)
2 *................................................. 0:30 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
3 *................................................. 1:40 9.0 (34.1) 1.7 (6.4)
4................................................... 10:30 9.0 (34.1) 1.7 (6.4)
5................................................... 11:30 5.0 (18.9) 1.7 (6.4)
6................................................... 12:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
7................................................... 12:45 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
8................................................... 12:50 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
9................................................... 16:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
[[Page 40553]]
10.................................................. 16:15 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
11.................................................. 16:45 2.0 (7.6) 1.7 (6.4)
12.................................................. 17:00 7.0 (26.5) 1.7 (6.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 55 gallons (208 L)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
Table III.6--High-Usage Draw Pattern
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time during test Volume [gallons Flow rate [GPM (L/
Draw No. [hh:mm] (liters)] min)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 *................................................. 0:00 27.0 (102) 3 (11.4)
2 *................................................. 0:30 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
3 *................................................. 0:40 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
4 *................................................. 1:40 9.0 (34.1) 1.7 (6.4)
5................................................... 10:30 15.0 (56.8) 3 (11.4)
6................................................... 11:30 5.0 (18.9) 1.7 (6.4)
7................................................... 12:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
8................................................... 12:45 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
9................................................... 12:50 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
10.................................................. 16:00 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
11.................................................. 16:15 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
12.................................................. 16:30 2.0 (7.6) 1.7 (6.4)
13.................................................. 16:45 2.0 (7.6) 1.7 (6.4)
14.................................................. 17:00 14.0 (53.0) 3 (11.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 84 gallons (318 L)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
D. Instrumentation
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed to maintain the
instrumentation installation requirements and piping configuration as
currently specified in the residential water heater test procedure. 78
FR 66202, 66217 (Nov. 4, 2013). For storage water heaters having a
rated volume below 20 gallons, which are not covered in the existing
DOE test method, DOE proposed that the average tank temperature be
determined based on three temperature sensors located at the vertical
midpoints of three sections of equal volume within the storage tank, as
opposed to the currently required six sensors for storage water heaters
having a rated volume above 20 gallons. Id. No comments were received
opposing this approach, but AET requested that guidance should be
provided regarding the unspecified horizontal lengths of pipe in the
figures. (AET No. 58 at p. 20) For the final rule, DOE has modified
Figures 1 through 4 of the test procedure to include those dimensions.
DOE proposed in the November 2013 NOPR to tighten the allowed
accuracy on electric power and energy measuring equipment from the
current value of 1 percent to 0.5 percent. 78
FR 66202, 66217 (Nov. 4, 2013). A study has shown the significant
effect of the accuracy of the electric power measurements on the
uncertainty in the overall energy factor.\12\ A similar change was made
in ASHRAE 118.2-2006, ``Method of Testing for Rating Residential Water
Heaters,'' and DOE research confirms that equipment having this
tolerance level is readily available. DOE also proposed in the November
2013 NOPR that, for mass measurements greater than or equal to 10
pounds (4.5 kg), a scale that is accurate within 0.5
percent of the reading must be used to make the measurement. Id.
Lastly, DOE proposed that, for relative humidity measurements, a sensor
that is accurate within 1.5 percent of the reading be used
to make the measurement. Id. at 66220. No comments were received
opposing these proposals, so DOE has incorporated these proposals into
the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ Healy WM, Lutz JD, and Lekov AB., ``Variability in Energy
Factor Test Results for Residential Electric Water Heaters,'' HVAC&R
Research, Vol. 9, No. 4 (October 2003).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOE also proposed in the November 2013 NOPR to modify the data
acquisition rate of the inlet and outlet water temperature during
draws. Id. at 66217. Currently, for all water heaters except variable
firing rate instantaneous water heaters, measurements of the inlet and
outlet water temperature are taken at 5-second intervals starting 15
seconds after the draw commences. For instantaneous water heaters with
a variable firing rate, inlet and outlet water temperature measurements
are taken at 5-second intervals starting 5 seconds after the draw
commences. The test procedure amendments call for temperature data at
the inlet and outlet temperature sensors to be recorded at 3-second
intervals starting 5 seconds after commencement of the draw for all
water heaters. Accordingly, DOE also proposed that the time constant of
the instruments used to measure the inlet and outlet water temperatures
be no greater than 2 seconds. DOE anticipates that this approach will
better capture the energy impact of water heater startup and cycling.
Id. at 66217. No comments were received opposing these measures, so DOE
has incorporated these proposals into the final rule.
E. Test Conditions
1. Outlet Water Temperature
The current residential water heater test procedure calls for the
temperature of the tank to be set so that the average hot water
temperature within the storage tank is at 135[emsp14][deg]F 5[emsp14][deg]F (57.2 [deg]C 2.8 [deg]C). 10 CFR
part 430, subpart B, appendix E, section 2.4. The set point
[[Page 40554]]
impacts the performance of various types of water heaters differently,
so DOE reexamined in the proposed test procedure the set point
specification and how it is determined. In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
proposed to use a measurement of the temperature of the delivered
water, rather than mean tank temperature, for setting the temperature
for storage-type water heaters, and also proposed that the set point
temperature of all residential water heaters be reduced to
125[emsp14][deg]F +/- 5[emsp14][deg]F (51.7 [deg]C +/- 2.8 [deg]C). 78
FR 66202, 66219-20 (Nov. 4, 2013). This value was primarily selected
based on data available in DOE's analysis for the April 2010 energy
conservation standards final rule, which found that the average set
point temperature for residential water heaters in the field is
124.2[emsp14][deg]F (51.2 [deg]C). Additionally, the recent compilation
of field data across the United States and southern Ontario by LBNL
(referenced above) found a median daily outlet water temperature of
122.7[emsp14][deg]F (50.4 [deg]C), which supports specifying a test set
point temperature of 125[emsp14][deg]F. DOE proposed that this new
value would apply to first-hour rating tests for storage water heaters,
maximum flow rate tests for instantaneous water heaters, and energy
factor tests for all water heaters. DOE also tentatively concluded that
a set point of 125[emsp14][deg]F in the test method would not result in
safety concerns related to the growth of Legionella. Further, DOE noted
that water heaters are commonly set to temperatures in the range of
120[emsp14][deg]F to 125[emsp14][deg]F even though the current set
point in the test method is 135[emsp14][deg]F. 78 FR 66202, 66219 (Nov.
4, 2013).
DOE received five comments (AET, EEI, HTP, NEEA and NPCC, Joint
Comment) in response to DOE's outlet water temperature proposals in the
November 2013 NOPR supporting the switch to a set point temperature of
125[emsp14][deg]F for the first-hour rating and maximum flow rate tests
and the 24-hour simulated-use test. (AET, No. 58 at p. 5; EEI, No. 63
at p. 5; HTP, No. 59 at pp. 1-3; NEEA and NPCC, No. 64 at p. 9; Joint
Comment, No. 77 at pp. 6-7) Advocates for the 125[emsp14][deg]F outlet
water temperature argue that it is the most representative of actual
use in the field and, thus, should be used to determine performance
under representative conditions. Additionally, AET and HTP suggested
that specifying an outlet water temperature, as opposed to a stored
water temperature, is more appropriate for evaluating water heaters
using certain controls that purposely keep the stored water temperature
at a low value. (AET No. 58 at p. 1; HTP, No. 59 at p. 3) DOE received
five comments (AIM, AHRI, A.O. Smith, GE, and Giant) in favor of
keeping the set point temperature at 135[emsp14][deg]F for the first-
hour rating test or increasing it for both the first-hour rating/
maximum flow rate test and the 24-hour simulated-use test. (AIM, No. 72
at p. 3; AHRI, No. 75 at pp. 3-4; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 2; GE, No.
78 at p. 1; Giant, No. 76 at pp. 2-3) Four of the commenters who
opposed the decrease in set point (AHRI, A.O. Smith, GE, Giant) argue
that the burden of reestablishing the draw pattern bin categories using
first-hour rating and maximum GPM values under the lower set point is
too great because the change in first-hour ratings will add additional
uncertainty to the establishment of the bins. AIM argued that the set
point temperature should be increased because when the temperature is
decreased in the field, the water heater will see a boost in energy
efficiency. Rheem acknowledged that many water heaters are operated at
lower temperatures than the set point specified in the current DOE test
procedure and suggested that the 24-hour simulated-use test and
associated draws would be more representative at the 125[emsp14][deg]F
set point temperature. However, based on test data, Rheem argued that
the changes to the first-hour rating values from the change in set
point are too unpredictable to serve as a basis for determining the
draw pattern bin categories and suggested that the first-hour rating
test should continue to be performed at 135[emsp14][deg]F, as is
current practice. (Rheem, No. 69 at pp. 3, 5)
DOE has carefully considered these comments and concludes that a
delivered water temperature of 125[emsp14][deg]F will be applied to
first-hour rating tests for storage water heaters, maximum flow rate
tests for flow-activated water heaters, and energy factor tests for all
water heaters. DOE is required to establish test procedures that are
representative of how a covered product would be used in the field, and
based on the data discussed previously, DOE concludes that
125[emsp14][deg]F is the most representative temperature for the United
States market. DOE has determined that the test should be conducted at
a typical operating temperature and should not penalize those units
optimized for such typical conditions. Moreover, DOE has determined
that conducting the simulated-use test at a different temperature from
the delivery capacity tests would add an undue burden on manufacturers
and would result in ratings that would not be representative of typical
usage in the field. While maintaining the test temperature at the value
currently used in the test procedure could eliminate one source of
uncertainty in converting existing energy factors to new uniform energy
factors, DOE has determined that this conversion is feasible and that
the benefits of testing at a representative temperature outweigh the
short-term challenges in converting existing ratings.
In response to the concerns expressed by AHRI, A.O. Smith, GE, and
Giant regarding uncertainties in converting first-hour ratings values
obtained at 135[emsp14][deg]F to comparable values at
125[emsp14][deg]F, DOE revisited the values that were used to place
water heaters into bins for uniform energy factor testing. In the
November 2013 NOPR, DOE based these breakpoint values on information
present in the current plumbing code that indicate appropriate water
heaters for various home configurations based on their first hour
rating values obtained under the existing test procedure. 78 FR 66202,
66214 (Nov. 4, 2013). Preliminary testing by DOE indicated that the
first-hour ratings obtained under the new procedure were comparable to
those obtained under the existing test procedure, so DOE proposed to
maintain the breakpoints between bins despite the change in the
conditions for the first-hour rating test.
DOE requested data to demonstrate the effect of modifying the
first-hour rating test conditions and received data from Rheem and
Bradford White. (Rheem No. 69 at p. 3; Bradford White No. 61 at p. 8)
Rheem presented actual first-hour rating values under both the current
test and the proposed test, whereas Bradford White simply provided the
percentage change in the first-hour rating between the two test
procedures. Both data sets suggest an overall downward trend of first-
hour rating under the proposed test procedure but that there is
variability in the results. Based on these data and additional data
collected by DOE, the Department concludes that numerous
characteristics of a water heater affect the change in its first-hour
rating obtained at 135[emsp14][deg]F, as compared to that obtained at
125[emsp14][deg]F. The uncertainty in how the ratings change, however,
does not justify abandoning the 125[emsp14][deg]F test temperature.
Since DOE has determined that the most representative delivery
temperature is 125[emsp14][deg]F and no comments were received that
refuted the method applied to obtain the first-hour rating at that
temperature, DOE concludes that the first-hour rating test, as
proposed, provides an appropriate measure of the delivery capacity of a
water heater as would be observed in the field.
[[Page 40555]]
DOE maintains that the breakpoint values used to place water
heaters into bins for uniform energy factor testing presented in the
NOPR are appropriate for tests conducted at 135[emsp14][deg]F, but
acknowledges that some adjustments may be needed for tests conducted at
125[emsp14][deg]F since first-hour rating values may change at this
temperature. To better account for the change in the first-hour rating
procedure, DOE used the expanded set of available experimental data to
reassess the proposed breakpoint values of first-hour ratings for
placing water heaters into sizing bins for the simulated-use test. DOE
examined different regressions using the data submitted by Rheem and
those collected by the Department and found that the ratings at
125[emsp14][deg]F and those at 135[emsp14][deg]F could be modeled as
functions of storage volume and the product of input rate and recovery
efficiency. The recovery efficiency for data presented by Rheem was
estimated based on the description of the water heater being tested.
These regressions were then used to determine what breakpoint values
would result in nearly the same classification for a particular water
heater tested at 125[emsp14][deg]F as it would have when tested at
135[emsp14][deg]F, based on its storage volume, recovery efficiency,
and input rate. Based on this analysis, DOE decreased the breakpoint
values for each size classification for testing at 125[emsp14][deg]F
under the new test procedure, as compared to the breakpoint values
proposed in the NOPR.\13\ The new limits of first-hour ratings (FHR)
for each category are as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed the following
breakpoints for each size classification for testing at
125[emsp14][deg]F. Point-of-use (since renamed ``very small''): < 20
gallons; low: 20 <= FHR < 55 gallons; medium: 55 <= FHR < 80
gallons; and high: >= 80 gallons. 78 FR 66202, 66235 (Nov. 4, 2013).
Very Small: FHR < 18 gallons
Low: 18 <= FHR < 51 gallons
Medium: 51 <= FHR < 75 gallons
High: FHR >= 75 gallons
For the first-hour rating test, DOE proposed in the November 2013
NOPR that draws would terminate when the outlet temperature drops
15[emsp14][deg]F (8.3 [deg]C) from its maximum outlet temperature
during the draw, as opposed to the drop of 25[emsp14] [deg]F (13.9
[deg]C) implemented in the current test procedure. This change would
ensure that water delivered meets the nominal useful temperature of
110[emsp14][deg]F (43.3 [deg]C). AET and AIM supported this proposal.
(AET, No. 58 at p. 6; AIM, No. 72 at p. 1) AET suggested that water
delivered at a temperature lower than the minimum useful temperature of
110[emsp14][deg]F should not be counted in the first-hour rating test.
AIM suggested that useful hot water delivered be measured separately
from total water delivered. AET and AIM also suggested that water
delivered below 110[emsp14][deg]F should not be counted as useful
delivered hot water in the 24-hour simulated use test. (AET No. 58 at
p. 7; AIM No. 72 at p.1)
DOE concludes that the lower temperature limit of useful hot water
at 110[emsp14][deg]F is appropriate for the first-hour rating test and
establishes that draws during the test will terminate when the delivery
temperature drops to 15[emsp14][deg]F below the outlet water
temperature (which is nominally 125[emsp14][deg]F), resulting in a draw
termination temperature of approximately 110[emsp14][deg]F for draws
during the first-hour test. For the simulated-use test, however, DOE
does not restrict outlet water temperature to at or above
110[emsp14][deg]F. While it strongly considered the comments made by
AET and AIM in this regard, in DOE's view, the simulated-use test,
which provides a measure of energy efficiency rather than delivery
capability, is best conducted without regard to water outlet
temperature. A standard cutoff temperature of 110[emsp14][deg]F is
necessary for the first-hour rating test in order to determine the
appropriate draw pattern, but no minimum temperature is necessary to
estimate energy efficiency. Although DOE has selected its draw patterns
to ensure that a water heater can deliver hot water during all draws,
DOE recognizes that there may be cases where water heaters on the lower
end of the capacity limit in each bin deliver water at a lower
temperature than a consumer might desire. In these cases, DOE believes
that accounting for water delivered at temperatures below
110[emsp14][deg]F would be representative of water heater energy
performance in the field. DOE uses correction factors in the test
procedure's calculation routines to adjust the daily energy consumption
to estimate energy consumption at a nominal outlet temperature of
125[emsp14][deg]F since daily energy consumption will differ based on
the outlet temperature of the water provided.
As noted above, in addition to proposing to change the temperature
setting at which the test occurs, DOE also proposed in the November
2013 NOPR to change the methodology for setting the temperature of
storage-type units to rely on outlet water temperature rather than mean
tank temperature. For water heaters with a single thermostat, DOE
proposed to specify a set point based on the outlet water temperature
during a draw. For water heaters with multiple thermostats, DOE
proposed to maintain the procedure currently prescribed in the
residential water heater test method, which specifies the set point
based on water temperature inside the tank. 78 FR 66202, 66219-20 (Nov.
4, 2013).
In response, DOE received three comments that supported the
proposed approach for specifying the set point based on the temperature
of delivered water for water heaters with a single thermostat in the
tank. However these commenters argued that the same approach should be
applied for water heaters with multiple thermostats. (AET, HTP, A.O.
Smith) Specifically, AET and HTP cautioned that the terminology used in
the NOPR that provides a procedure for water heaters with multiple
``thermostats'' could be problematic because some water heaters utilize
multiple temperature sensors (i.e., thermostats) that are not available
to the user for modifying the delivery temperature but that are instead
installed to relay data to a single controller that determines whether
or not to activate heating. (AET No. 58 at p. 2; HTP No. 59 at p. 3).
AET and HTP both submitted recommendations for setting the temperature
controllers on water heaters with multiple control points. (AET No. 58
at p. 14; HTP No. 59 at p. 4) AET urged DOE to utilize the first-hour
rating test to verify that the temperature controllers are set to their
proper value. According to AET, the temperature controls on a unit with
multiple controllers would be determined to be within their proper
settings if all of the following conditions are met: (1) At least 50
percent of the water drawn during the first draw of the first-hour
rating test was delivered at a temperature between 120[emsp14][deg]F
and 130[emsp14][deg]F; (2) no water is delivered with a temperature
above 130[emsp14][deg]F during the first-hour rating test; and (3) the
initial delivery temperature of second and subsequent draws of the
first-hour rating test is between 120[emsp14][deg]F and
130[emsp14][deg]F. AET asserts that, if these three conditions are met,
then the water heater has the correct set-point and the results from
the temperature set-point test can be used to determine the first-hour
rating. On this topic, HTP suggested a method that progressively
disables the thermostats, and uses draws of one-fourth of the total
volume, taken after full recovery of each of the heat inputs being
controlled by the active thermostats, to determine if the delivery
temperature falls within the requisite 125[emsp14][deg]F +/-
5[emsp14][deg]F range. If the water heater does not achieve the
required delivery temperature within five iterations, the test
laboratory would resort to the technique proposed in the NOPR.
[[Page 40556]]
DOE also received several comments opposed to the proposed
approach. DOE received one comment (Rheem) that opposed the approach of
specifying a set point for a water heater with a single thermostat in
the tank based on outlet temperature, arguing that this method
mischaracterizes the stored energy inside the tank. (Rheem No. 69 at p.
5) DOE does not agree with this claim since the stored energy inside
the tank is measured in the proposed procedure in the same manner as is
done in the current procedure and because setting the outlet
temperature or stored water temperature is independent of the
determination of stored energy. AHRI and Giant stated that they do not
agree with the proposed method because ``the method used when the model
has more than one thermostat should follow the basic principles of the
procedure for setting thermostats in the current test method.'' (AHRI
No. 75 at p.4; Giant No. 76 at p.3) On the point raised by AHRI and
Giant, DOE notes that the method for models with more than one
thermostat proposed in the November 2013 NOPR already matches the
approach specified in the current test method.
After careful consideration of the comments, DOE has decided to
adopt several changes to the method to determine set point temperature
for storage-type water heaters. First, in response to comments
regarding the use of the terminology ``thermostat,'' DOE has changed
the description from thermostat to ``temperature controller'' and has
added a definition of temperature controller as ``a device that is
available to the user to adjust the temperature of the water inside a
storage-type water heater or the outlet water temperature.'' This
change in terminology should eliminate any confusion on the part of the
user of the test procedure between the user-accessible temperature
controls and temperature sensors that are used in the water heater but
may not be directly accessible to the user for making temperature
adjustments.
Second, DOE has decided to maintain its stated approach in the NOPR
for setting the temperature for water heaters with a single temperature
controller. In the final rule, DOE specifies that the set point be
based on outlet water temperature. DOE determined that some water
heaters would be disadvantaged by requiring an average tank temperature
of 125[emsp14][deg]F--due to stratification, a tank with an average
temperature of 125[emsp14][deg]F would deliver water at a temperature
higher than 125[emsp14][deg]F. Such a setting could have an
unrepresentative detrimental effect on efficiency compared to its
intended operation in the field if the design of the water heating
system relies on the average temperature of the stored water being at a
lower temperature than the temperature of the water delivered to the
user.
Third, DOE incorporates the method suggested by AET to specify the
set point of a water heater with multiple temperature controllers
because it can be performed in conjunction with the first-hour rating
test. However, DOE has modified one aspect of AET's suggested method by
allowing water delivered during a final draw of the first-hour rating
test that begins at the end of the test to fall below 120[emsp14][deg]F
because the water heater may not have recovered fully when the final
draw is initiated. This approach ensures proper temperature settings
and will be less burdensome than the alternate technique proposed by
HTP because it can be performed in conjunction with the first-hour
rating test.
Finally, DOE eliminates normalization of the daily water-heating
energy consumption to a nominal stored water temperature, as provided
in the current test procedure. DOE received two comments recommending
that, because of the proposed technique to base the temperature setting
of the water heater on the outlet water temperature, the test procedure
should not normalize the energy consumption of any storage water heater
to a nominal stored water temperature of 125[emsp14][deg]F. (AET No. 58
at p. 14; SMT No. 66 at p. 3) AET indicated that normalizing to a
nominal stored water temperature penalizes advanced control
technologies that manipulate storage temperature to reduce heat losses
and improve performance. SMT commented that some water heater models
are designed to operate with stratified tanks and that many utilize
control algorithms that purposely manage the water temperature at the
middle and lower levels differently from the top of the tank. DOE
agrees with these comments. DOE is concerned that the temperature
setting on the water heater could be lowered during the simulated-use
test to an unrealistic value that would result in delivered water that
is below a usable level. To avoid this situation, the final rule
provides that the temperature control settings shall not be changed for
the duration of the delivery capacity test and the simulated-use test
once they are determined pursuant to the test procedure. Additionally,
the final rule includes language that will allow a test laboratory to
verify that the temperature settings are appropriate throughout the
test by conducting a second 24-hour simulated-use test immediately
after the test used to determine the uniform energy factor and with an
identical draw pattern. If the average delivered temperature during
this second 24-hour test is within the temperature bounds specified by
the test procedure, then the temperature control scheme meets the
requirements of the test procedure in providing the required outlet
water temperature.
2. Ambient Temperature and Relative Humidity
The residential water heater test procedure requires that testing
be performed in an environment with an ambient air temperature fixed at
67.5[emsp14][deg]F 2.5[emsp14][deg]F (19.7 [deg]C 1.4 [deg]C). 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E, section
2.2. For heat pump water heaters, however, the environmental conditions
are more tightly constrained, with an ambient air temperature
requirement of 67.5[emsp14][deg]F 1[emsp14][deg]F (19.7
[deg]C 0.6 [deg]C) and a relative humidity requirement of
50 percent 1 percent. Id. These specifications for heat
pump water heaters reflect the fact that heat pump water heater energy
use is highly dependent on the ambient temperature and relative
humidity. Because water heaters are placed in a wide variety of
locations within and outside of a home, and given the large impact of
these factors on heat pump water heater efficiency, DOE considered
potential revisions to the ambient air test conditions set forth in the
DOE test procedure in order to assess whether the currently-specified
conditions are representative of conditions typically encountered in
residential installations.
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed not to change the current
ambient dry bulb temperature of between 65[emsp14][deg]F and
70[emsp14][deg]F when testing water heaters other than heat pump water
heaters and at 67.5[emsp14][deg]F 1[emsp14][deg]F when
testing heat pump water heaters. DOE also proposed to include the
current relative humidity of 50 percent for heat pump water heaters,
but to relax the tolerance to 2 percent relative humidity.
DOE believes these conditions are representative of typical field
conditions encountered by water heaters installed in the U.S. and has
not found any data to justify changing these conditions. DOE proposed
to relax the tolerance for relative humidity because research indicates
that commonly-used, laboratory-grade relative humidity sensors have
uncertainties on the order of 1 to 1.5 percent (78 FR 66202, 66220
(Nov. 4, 2013)), and the tolerance cannot exceed the accuracy of the
measuring equipment. It should be noted that the relative humidity can
be obtained from measurements of dry bulb and wet bulb
[[Page 40557]]
temperatures and the determination of relative humidity through these
temperature measurements would result in a measure of relative humidity
with much lower uncertainty because dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures
can be measured with high accuracy. However, most laboratories use
relative humidity sensors that provide an accurate measurement of
relative humidity through a less burdensome method. DOE received one
comment from SMT suggesting that imposing the same dry bulb air
temperature for all water heaters that is imposed for heat pump water
heaters could eliminate the necessity of correcting the energy
consumption for differences between the measured air temperature and
the nominal temperature. (SMT No. 66 at p.3) DOE is not adopting this
recommendation because it may necessitate significant changes in
laboratory environmental conditioning equipment that would be very
costly to manufacturers and testing laboratories. DOE believes the
current method for accounting for ambient temperature allows for
sufficiently accurate test results.
Regarding heat pump water heaters, NEEA and NPCC urged DOE to
require testing under a variety of conditions due to differing average
temperature and humidity conditions found in the northern climates.
(NEEA and NPCC, No. 64 at p. 10) HTP submitted a comment stating that
heat pump water heaters should be tested at a range of ambient
conditions due to their sensitivity to temperature and humidity. (HTP,
No. 59 at pp. 6-7) The Joint Comment suggested a representative
temperature of 50[emsp14][deg]F ``with appropriately high humidity
levels,'' thereby reflecting installations in cool basements and
garages. (Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 5)
After carefully considering these comments, DOE has decided to
maintain the current ambient dry bulb temperature of 67.5[emsp14][deg]F
1[emsp14][deg]F and adopt the proposed relative humidity
of 50 percent 2 percent for heat pump water heaters. DOE
recognizes that regional differences in ambient dry bulb temperature
and relative humidity exist and that these differences can have an
effect on the efficiency of heat pump water heaters. However, DOE has
determined that the conditions established in this final rule are
representative of the country as a whole and that testing of heat pump
water heaters at various temperature and humidity conditions is
unnecessary to determine the efficiency under a representative set of
conditions. DOE also notes that adding multiple rating points for heat
pump water heaters would increase test burden significantly.
3. Laboratory Airflow
The existing test procedure specifies that the water heater shall
be set up in an area that is protected from drafts. To clarify this
statement, DOE proposed in the November 2013 NOPR to require that the
area be protected from drafts of more than 50 ft/min (2.5 m/s). 78 FR
66202, 66220 (Nov. 4, 2013). This value is in accordance with
specifications in Canadian Standard 745-03, ``Energy Efficiency of
Electric Storage Tank Water Heaters and Heat Pump Water Heaters.'' DOE
did not receive any comments opposing this proposal, but the Department
did receive one comment indicating that a typographical error was
present in the NOPR's conversion from ft/min to m/s. (A.O. Smith No. 62
at p. 5) DOE is adopting the provision in its corrected form, which
requires that the area be protected from drafts of more than 50 ft/min
(0.25 m/s).
F. Storage Tank Pre-Conditioning
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE tentatively concluded that
initiating draw patterns on two consecutive days, with measurements
only taking place during the second 24-hour period would lead to more
consistent results since the state of the water heater at the beginning
of the 24-hour test period on the second day will be similar to that at
the end of that test period. 78 FR 66202, 66221 (Nov. 4, 2013). Thus,
DOE tentatively proposed to require storage water heaters to be pre-
conditioned in this manner.
DOE received ten comments in response to the November 2013 NOPR
regarding the proposed water heater pre-conditioning requirements. AET
and the Joint Comment stated there was no significant burden associated
with a 24-hour simulated-use-test preconditioning. However, AHRI, A.O.
Smith, Giant, HTP, NEEA and NPCC, Rheem, and SMT stated that there is a
significant burden associated with this requirement. (AET, No. 58 at p.
12; AHRI, No. 75 at p. 3; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 3; Giant, No. 76 at
p. 3; HTP, No. 59 at p. 2; NEEA and NPCC, No. 64 at p. 4; Joint
Comment, No. 77 at p. 6; Rheem, No. 69 at p. 4) Bradford White
(referring to comments submitted by AHRI in response to the January
2013 RFI that suggested the adoption of the pre-conditioning period
proposed in the NOPR) commented that the AHRI comments were originally
proposed in an effort to remove use of an internal tank temperature
probe, which is no longer included in the test procedure. (Bradford
White, No. 61 at p. 9) Eight commenters (AHRI, A.O. Smith, Bradford
White, Giant, HTP, NEEA and NPCC, Joint Comment, Rheem) recommended
continuing the use of the current preconditioning procedures. DOE notes
that these commenters include AHRI, the commenter that originally
suggested the 24-hour simulated-use-preconditioning. (AHRI, No. 75 at
p. 3; A.O. Smith, No. 62 at p. 3; Bradford White, No. 61 at p. 9;
Giant, No. 76 at p. 3; HTP, No. 59 at p. 2; NEEA and NPCC, No. 64 at p.
4; Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 6; Rheem, No. 69 at p. 4)
DOE has considered these comments and has determined that the added
burden of mandating a 24-hour preconditioning as described above
outweighs the potential benefits that could be provided by such an
approach. However, DOE has determined that some specification of test
preparation is needed to improve the reproducibility of the test
results. First, DOE has found that a storage water heater must be
maintained with its stored water at a temperature typically seen during
normal operation for a period of time (a ``soak-in period'') prior to
the start of any test to ensure that the materials making up the water
heater reach a relatively steady temperature. Comments from the
December 2013 Public Meeting indicated that such an approach is
currently a best practice in testing water heaters and that this soak-
in period can be conducted while the water heater is not connected to a
test apparatus. (Public Meeting Transcript, No. 81 at p. 82) This
latter point reduces the need for an additional test apparatus to
maintain the rate of testing that is currently achieved in laboratories
and will, therefore, minimize the need to purchase additional test
equipment to meet the requirements of the new test procedure. After a
computational analysis of heat transfer through the walls of a storage
water heater, DOE has determined that a soak-in period of at least 12
hours will minimize transient heat transfer effects. Therefore, DOE
adopts a requirement that a storage water heater (including heat pump
water heaters with storage volume) sit in an idle state (i.e., no water
draws) with water stored in it for a minimum of 12 hours following the
end of recovery from a cold start prior to conducting either a first-
hour rating test or a simulated-use test.
Second, DOE has found that a water heater must not undergo a
recovery immediately prior to the start of the 24-hour simulated-use
test because the recovery will add significant
[[Page 40558]]
uncertainty to the critical measurement of average tank temperature at
the start of the test. Consequently, DOE adopts a requirement that the
24-hour simulated-use test be preceded by at least a one-hour period
during which all heat sources to the water in the tank do not energize.
DOE concludes that incorporating these requirements will help ensure
reproducible test results without being unduly burdensome.
G. Operational Mode Selection
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE noted that heat pump water heaters
that have recently entered the market typically have multiple
operational modes and that selection of the operational mode could
impact the results of energy efficiency testing. 78 FR 66202, 66234
(Nov. 4, 2013). As a result, DOE proposed that water heaters should be
tested under the default or ``out-of-the-box'' mode of operation when
both obtaining the first-hour rating and determining the energy factor.
In addition, DOE proposed several clarifications for testing of units
with multiple operational modes but no default mode. The clarifications
are consistent with guidance issued by DOE on June 12, 2012 (see:
https://www1.eere.energy.gov/guidance/detail_search.aspx?IDQuestion=623&pid=2&spid=1). DOE did not receive any
comments related to this proposal in response to the November 2013 NOPR
and adopts the proposed requirements without change.
H. Annual Energy Consumption Calculation
The annual energy consumption is calculated for residential water
heaters in the existing test procedure based on the daily energy
consumption multiplied by 365 days. As discussed in the November 2013
NOPR, AHRI submitted a letter to the FTC on September 16, 2013,
pointing out that calculating the annual energy consumption based on
the daily energy consumption can lead to differing annual energy
consumption, and consequently, differing estimated yearly operating
costs, for different water heater models with the same energy factor
rating. 78 FR 66202, 66220-21 (Nov. 4, 2013). AHRI provided an example
of two water heaters with differing daily energy consumption values but
with energy factor values that would round to the same value based on
the DOE rounding requirements provided in 10 CFR 430.23(e). AHRI stated
that having slightly different yearly operating cost estimates for two
water heaters with the same efficiency rating can be confusing to
consumers and somewhat misleading based on the accuracy of the test
method. AHRI suggested revising the calculation of the annual energy
consumption so that it is based on the energy factor rating.
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed to adopt the calculation
method suggested by AHRI for annual energy consumption, which is based
on the nominal energy consumed during the test and the energy factor
rating rather than the daily energy consumption. Id. at 66221. NEEA and
NPCC strongly opposed any calculation of annual energy use for water
heaters, arguing that the calculation of annual energy use is
misleading in a large number of instances due to wide variations in
annual household hot water use. (NEEA and NPCC, No. 64 at p. 16)
Although DOE agrees with NEEA and NPCC that the actual annual
energy consumption of water heaters can vary widely based on variations
in field conditions, DOE believes that calculating an estimated annual
energy consumption based on the results of the test procedure can
provide consumers with valuable information for comparing two water
heaters under a standard set of conditions (i.e., those conditions
defined in the DOE test procedure). DOE believes that this additional
metric can provide consumers who are unfamiliar with the uniform energy
factor metric with a more familiar and easier-to-understand metric for
comparing water heater performance. For this reason, DOE chooses to
retain the calculation of annual energy consumption proposed in the
November 2013 NOPR.
I. Conversion of Existing Energy Factor Ratings
AEMTCA amended EPCA to require that, along with developing a
uniform descriptor, DOE must also develop a mathematical conversion
factor to translate the results based upon use of the efficiency metric
under the existing test procedure to the new uniform descriptor. (42
U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(E)) AEMTCA provided that a manufacturer may apply the
conversion factor to rerate existing models of covered water heaters
manufactured prior to the effective date of the final rule establishing
the uniform descriptor. Further, the conversion factor must not affect
the minimum efficiency requirements for covered water heaters, and, as
a result, would not lead to a change in measured energy efficiency for
existing products. DOE interprets these requirements to mean that DOE
must translate existing ratings from the current metrics to the new
metric, while maintaining the stringency of the current standards.
In response to the November 2013 NOPR, DOE received three comments
(AHRI, BWC, Joint Comment) regarding the conversion of existing
ratings. (AHRI, No. 75 at p. 6-7; BWC, No. 61 at p. 7; Joint Comment,
No. 77 at p. 2) AHRI and BWC suggested water heater types to test and
urged DOE to release a schedule and process for the development of the
conversion factor as soon as possible. The Joint Comment suggested that
the sensitivity of the energy factor to draw pattern should be
investigated and that systematic differences between ``old'' and
``new'' values were expected for several technologies.
DOE notes these comments regarding the conversion factor and will
consider them fully once the test procedure is finalized to assist in
developing the conversion factor. DOE plans to conduct a separate
rulemaking to establish the conversion factor once the test method is
finalized. DOE also plans to translate its current energy conservation
standards to equivalent standards denominated in the new uniform
efficiency metric in a separate rulemaking. Should it become apparent
in the rulemaking to establish the conversion factor that changes may
be required in the test procedure, DOE will address these issues at
that time.
J. Full Fuel Cycle
In response to the November 2013 NOPR, DOE received additional
comments related to source-based metrics. EEI stated that, consistent
with other Federal laws, any new descriptor or conversion factor should
only be based on point-of-use metrics. (EEI, No. 63 at p. 4) AGA and
NPGA supported a metric based on the full fuel cycle that would provide
a complete accounting of energy consumption from extraction,
processing, and transportation of energy. (AGA, No. 68 at p. 1; NPGA,
No. 60 at p. 1)
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE responded in detail to similar
concerns brought forth by stakeholders in response to the January 2013
RFI. In short, DOE reviewed the proposed water heater test procedure in
relation to the Department's newly established full fuel cycle (FFC)
policy, and tentatively concluded that no substantive amendments are
needed to the water heater test procedure to accommodate the FFC
policy. 78 FR 66202, 66222 (Nov. 4, 2013). However, for the purposes of
representations, DOE tentatively concluded that some small improvements
to the water heater test procedure are appropriate to
[[Page 40559]]
accommodate the FFC policy. DOE proposed in the November 2013 NOPR to
define new terms in the test procedure to make it possible to quantify
daily electric energy consumption separately from fossil fuel energy
consumption and to add separate estimates of annual fossil fuel energy
consumption and annual electrical energy consumption in addition to the
overall annual energy consumption. This separation allows the user of
the test procedure to estimate the operational cost of water heaters
that use both fossil fuel and electricity based on the prices of those
different energy sources. From a consumer's perspective, annual
operating cost is particularly useful for the products that have dual
fuel inputs. DOE believes this consumer cost perspective is reasonably
reflected in the FFC (i.e., the source/site factors recommended by the
commenter are essentially numerically identical to the fuel cost ratios
published biennially by the Secretary).
In response to the November 2013 NOPR, DOE received seven comments
regarding the addition of terms to quantify daily electric energy
consumption separately from fossil fuel energy consumption and adding
separate estimates of annual fossil fuel energy consumption and annual
electrical energy consumption in addition to the overall annual energy
consumption. Four commenters supported the addition of these terms
(AET, AIM, Joint Comment, NPGA), while three commenters did not (EEI,
HTP, AHRI). (AET, No. 58 at p. 15; AIM, No. 74 at p. 1; EEI, No. 63 at
p. 4; HTP, No. 59 at p. 5; Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 7; NPGA, No. 60
at p. 1-2; AHRI No. 80 at p. 2) EEI stated that it is not clear whether
a separation by fuel type will be meaningful to the customer; HTP and
AHRI argued that these terms are unnecessary.
After considering these comments, DOE has decided to include terms
to quantify daily electric energy consumption separately from fossil
fuel energy consumption and to add separate estimates of annual fossil
fuel energy consumption and annual electrical energy consumption (in
addition to the overall annual energy consumption). DOE believes these
added terms will provide consumers with more accurate information for
comparing various water heating technologies without significantly
adding to the overall test burden.
K. Certification, Compliance, and Enforcement Issues
1. Storage Volume Requirements
In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE proposed to make several changes to
its certification, compliance, and enforcement regulations at 10 CFR
part 429. First, DOE proposed to add requirements to 10 CFR 429.17 that
the rated value of storage tank volume must equal the mean of the
measured storage volumes of the units in the sample. 78 FR 66202, 66223
(Nov. 4, 2013). DOE notes that there are currently no requirements from
the Department limiting the allowable difference between the tested
(i.e., measured) storage volume and the ``rated'' storage volume that
is specified by the manufacturer. DOE has tested 65 residential
storage-type water heaters, including 44 gas-fired water heaters, 19
electric water heaters, and 2 oil-fired water heaters. Through this
testing, DOE has found that water heaters are consistently rated at
storage volumes above their measured storage volume. For gas-fired
water heaters, the rated volume ranged from 1.5 percent to 15.6 percent
above the measured volume, with the mean being 4.8 percent. For
electric water heaters, the rated volume ranged from 5.0 to 10.6
percent above the measured volume, with the mean being 9.4 percent. DOE
notes that its minimum energy conservation standards are based on the
rated storage volume and decrease as rated storage volume increases.
DOE believes consumers often look to storage volume as a key factor in
choosing a storage water heater. Consequently, DOE proposed to adopt
requirements that the rated value must be the mean of the measured
values. In addition, DOE proposed to specify that for DOE-initiated
testing, the measured storage volume must be within five percent of the
rated volume in order to use the rated storage volume in downstream
calculations. Id. If the measured storage volume is more than five
percent different than the rated value, then DOE proposed to use the
measured value in downstream calculations. DOE proposed to specify
similar requirements for residential-duty commercial water heaters.
AHRI, A.O. Smith, Bradford White, HTP, the Joint Comment, and Rheem
opposed the proposal to require that the rated storage value be the
mean of the measured values. (AHRI, No. 75 at p. 4; A.O. Smith, No. 62
at p. 3; Bradford White, No. 61 at p. 10; HTP, No. 59 at p. 8; Joint
Comment, No. 77 at p. 3; Rheem, No. 69 at p. 6) AHRI argued that the
proposal is unnecessary and not an efficiency-related matter, but a
safety matter. As such, AHRI argued that it is outside the scope of the
DOE's authority and has been adequately addressed in ANSI Z21 and the
UL standards for water heaters. AHRI stated that there are currently no
units on the market that would allow the difference between rated and
measured volume to dodge the minimum efficiency standards. A.O. Smith
and Bradford White noted that adding this requirement would make a
water heater which was legal under the old test procedure illegal,
which in turn would necessitate updating the minimum efficiency
standards. HTP stated that the five-percent tolerance on the measured
storage volume as compared to rated storage volume is too stringent and
would impose a significant re-design burden upon manufacturers. HTP
instead suggests a ten-percent tolerance to reduce the manufacturer's
burden.
After carefully considering these comments, DOE has decided to
require that the rated storage volume be based on the mean of the
measured values. The efficiency of a water heater is clearly related to
the rated storage volume and, therefore, within DOE's authority to
regulate. DOE seeks to eliminate any potential incentives for
manufacturers to continue the current practice of exaggerating the
storage volume of water heaters currently on the market by inflating
the rated volume as compared to the actual measured volume. While DOE
acknowledges AHRI's assessment that no current water heaters on the
market could evade minimum efficiency standards, this does not rule out
the possibility that future water heaters could do so; the revised
approach adopted in this final rule addresses this concern going
forward. Regarding the comment from A.O. Smith and Bradford White that
adding this requirement would make a water heater which was legal under
the old test procedure illegal, DOE notes that if AHRI's comment about
the current water heater market is correct, the difference between
rated and measured volume should not cause any water heaters to be
subject to different energy conservation standards, thereby rendering
such concerns theoretical. Furthermore, there will be a mathematical
conversion for water heater models that are currently compliant to
transition from results generated under the old test procedure to the
new test procedure. Additionally, DOE-initiated testing will require
that all measured storage volumes be within 5 percent of
the rated storage volume to be considered valid. DOE agrees with
[[Page 40560]]
HTP that the 5 percent tolerance will result in manufacturers having to
rerate certain models at an additional burden. However, DOE has
concluded that any tolerance greater than 5 percent will not have the
desired effect of harmonizing rated and measured storage volume values,
and it is likely that a significant gap would persist between the
values if a larger tolerance were adopted. If an invalid storage volume
is found, the measured storage volume will be used in determining the
applicable minimum energy conservation standard and calculations within
the test procedure.
2. First-Hour Rating and Maximum GPM Requirements
Because the first-hour and maximum GPM ratings will determine the
applicable draw pattern for use during the uniform energy factor test,
DOE proposed in the November 2013 NOPR to include rating requirements
for those values. 78 FR 66202, 66223 (Nov. 4, 2013). DOE proposed that
the first-hour rating or maximum GPM rating, as applicable, must be the
mean of the measured values of the sample used for certifying the basic
model's efficiency. For DOE testing, the rated value will be considered
valid if it is within five percent of the measured value. In such a
case, DOE proposed that the rated value would be used for the purposes
of choosing the appropriate draw pattern for the uniform energy factor
test. In the case of an invalid rating (i.e., the first-hour rating or
maximum GPM rating is more than five percent different from the
measured value), DOE proposed to use the measured value to determine
the applicable draw pattern for the uniform energy factor test. DOE did
not receive any comments objecting to these proposals, and, thus, DOE
is adopting them in this final rule.
3. Ratings for Untested Models
In reviewing the current test procedure, DOE has concluded that 10
CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E, section 7.0, ``Ratings for
Untested Models,'' is more appropriately addressed in 10 CFR part 429,
which deals with requirements for certification of residential water
heaters, than in the test procedure. In the November 2013 NOPR, DOE
proposed to remove this section from Appendix E and place a similar
section in 10 CFR 429.17. 78 FR 66202, 66223-24 (Nov. 4, 2013). DOE
proposed to maintain the same requirements for gas water heaters in 10
CFR 429.17 that were previously in section 7.0, which allow units using
propane gas that have an input rating within 10 percent of an otherwise
identical natural gas unit to use the rating for the natural gas unit
in lieu of separate testing. DOE did not receive any comments related
to this proposal, and thus, DOE adopts it in this final rule; however,
DOE has moved the provision to 10 CFR 429.70 to reflect that this is an
alternative method of determining efficiency (in lieu of testing).
DOE also proposed to eliminate the provisions for electric water
heaters that currently allow a manufacturer of electric water heaters
that are identical except with different input ratings to designate a
standard input rating at which to test the water heater. 78 FR 66202,
66224 (Nov. 4, 2013). Under the current procedure, the manufacturer of
electric water heaters may designate the standard input rating that
would apply to all models that are identical with the exception of the
power input to the heating element and test only at a single standard
input rating. It also provides instructions for specifying the first-
hour rating of units with higher and lower input ratings than the
standard rating. The procedure also provides that the energy factor can
be assumed to be the same across all input ratings. As noted above, DOE
proposed to remove these provisions due to the proposed revisions in
the test method for the first-hour rating and energy factor tests. The
first-hour rating would be expected to vary based on the power input to
the electric heating element. Under the revised test procedure, the
applicable draw pattern for the uniform energy factor test is based on
the first-hour rating. Thus, the first-hour rating must be accurate for
the tested model to ensure accurate test results for the uniform energy
factor test.
In response to the November 2013 NOPR, DOE received five comments
(AHRI, BWC, Giant, Joint Comment, Rheem) opposing the proposal to
remove the manufacturer's ability to designate electric water heaters
that are identical except for their respective input ratings as having
a standard input, and one comment was received from HTP suggesting
alternate methods of testing the units with different input ratings.
(AHRI, No. 75 at p. 7; BWC, No. 61 at p. 10-11; Giant, No. 76 at p. 3-
4; HTP, No. 79 at p. 1-6; Joint Comment, No. 77 at p. 7; Rheem, No. 69
at p. 7). The five opposing comments stated that there would be a
significant undue test burden associated with testing each model with a
different input rating. Id. AHRI and Giant stated that the only case
where a different input rating might be a concern is if the change in
input rating results in a lower first-hour rating such that the unit
would be tested under a different draw pattern than the unit with a
``standard'' input rating. (AHRI, No. 75 at p. 7; Giant, No. 76 at p.
3-4).
DOE agrees that removing the provisions for rating electric water
heaters with different input ratings could cause significant additional
test burden for manufacturers. Thus, DOE is adopting the following
requirements, which are roughly based on the method recommended by HTP
to lessen burden while still ensuring that the ratings are
representative of a model's efficiency and capacity. DOE is adopting
provisions in 10 CFR 429.70 that will allow manufacturers to use the
first-hour rating and uniform energy factor determined by testing one
basic model to rate other basic models, in certain, limited
circumstances. Untested basic models with input ratings higher than the
rating of the tested basic model can be assumed to have the same first-
hour rating and uniform energy factor and may be rated as such. For
untested basic models that only differ from the tested basic model in
that they contain heating elements with input ratings below the tested
basic model, the untested basic model with the lowest input rating for
all heating elements must be tested for first-hour rating. If that
untested basic model has a first-hour rating that would group it in the
same draw pattern bin as the tested basic model, then all basic models
with lower input ratings than the tested basic model may be assumed to
have the same uniform energy factor as the tested basic model. These
untested basic models can be assigned a first-hour rating equivalent to
the volume removed in the first draw of the first-hour rating test of
the tested basic model of electric water heater. However, if the unit
with the lowest input rating has a first-hour rating that would result
in classification in a draw pattern with a lower total volume drawn per
day for the simulated-use test, the unit must be tested according to
that lower draw pattern. At this point, the manufacturer may choose to
test a second basic model that would represent water heaters in the
lower sizing bin and apply the same principles noted above to determine
the uniform energy factor and first-hour rating.
DOE notes that the alternative efficiency determination method
(AEDM) provisions for these consumer water heaters and residential-duty
commercial water heaters are quite different from AEDM provisions for
other types of covered products and equipment for which use of an AEDM
is authorized. Specifically, these AEDM provisions do not permit any
type of modeling or calculations of efficiency; they only permit use of
a rating determined by testing to be used for
[[Page 40561]]
other basic models that meet certain criteria. In addition, DOE notes
that the tested basic model will be indicated in a certification report
with the number of units tested, while the untested basic models will
be indicated in a certification report as having been certified using
an AEDM.
L. Reference Standards
DOE's test procedure for residential water heaters currently
references two industry standards: (1) American Society for Testing and
Measurement (ASTM) D2156-80, ``Smoke Density in Flue Gases from Burning
Distillate Fuels, Test Method for'' and (2) ASHRAE Standard 41.1-1986,
``Standard Measurement Guide: Section on Temperature Measurements.''
DOE retains these references in the uniform efficiency descriptor
test method, but updates the referenced standards to the most recent
versions: (1) ASTM D2156-09, ``Standard Test Method for Smoke Density
in Flue Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels'' and (2) ASHRAE Standard
41.1-1986 (RA2006), ``Standard Method for Temperature Measurement.''
For the November 2013 NOPR, DOE reviewed both of the updated standards
and concluded that their adoption would not substantially impact the
revised test method. 78 FR 66202, 66224 (Nov. 4, 2013). DOE did not
receive any comments on this issue in response to the NOPR, and
consequently, DOE incorporates these industry standards by reference
into DOE's regulations for the water heaters test procedure.
M. Compliance With Other EPCA Requirements
As mentioned above, in amending a test procedure, EPCA directs DOE
to determine to what extent, if any, the test procedure would alter the
measured energy efficiency or measured energy use of a covered product.
(42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(1)) If the amended test procedure alters the
measured energy efficiency or measured energy use, the Secretary must
amend the applicable energy conservation standard to the extent the
amended test procedure changes the energy efficiency of products that
minimally comply with the existing standard. (42 U.S.C. 6293(e)(2)) The
current energy conservation standards for residential water heaters are
based on energy factor, and the energy conservation standards for
commercial water heaters are based on thermal efficiency and standby
loss. DOE believes that the conversion factor (or factors) required by
AEMTCA (as discussed in section III.I) and developed in a subsequent
rulemaking will ensure that there is no change in measured energy
efficiency.
Consistent with 42 U.S.C. 6293(c), DOE typically requires that any
representations of energy consumption of covered products must be based
on any final amended test procedures 180 days after the publication of
the test procedure final rule. However, in this instance, the statute
specifically provides for an effective date of the test procedure final
rule which is one year after the date of the publication of the final
rule. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(D)(ii)) In addition, AEMTCA provides for
the use of a conversion factor that will apply beginning on the date of
publication of the conversion factor in the Federal Register and ending
on the later of one year after the date of publication of the
conversion factor or December 31, 2015. (42 U.S.C. 6295(e)(5)(E)(v))
Thus, the test procedure final rule will become effective one year
after its publication, and manufacturers may at their discretion make
representations of energy efficiency based either (a) on the final
amended test procedures or (b) on the previous test procedures after
applying the conversion factor until such time as use of the amended
test procedure is required. The current test procedures for residential
water heaters are set forth at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E
as contained in 10 CFR parts 200 to 499 edition revised as of January
1, 2014. The current test procedures for commercial water heating
equipment are set forth at 10 CFR 431.106 as contained in 10 CFR parts
200 to 499 edition revised as of January 1, 2014. As required by
AEMTCA, the conversion factor may be used until the later of one year
after the publication of the factor, or December 31, 2015, after which
time all testing must be conducted in accordance with the new amended
test procedure. (Note, in this final rule, DOE provides that the
conversion factor may be used until December 31, 2015, but DOE will
amend that date, if necessary, upon publication of the conversion
factor final rule.) DOE notes that during the interim period,
manufacturers must use the same version of the test procedure for all
representations of energy efficiency, including certifications of
compliance.
N. Other Issues
At the December 6, 2013 public meeting, AIM and EEI requested
clarification on the applicability of the first-hour rating and maximum
GPM test for water heaters that may have a storage volume above 2
gallons but which also have heating elements or burners that are
designed to deliver a continuous flow of hot water. (Public transcript,
p. 80-81, 84-86, 121-122) After considering these comments, DOE
acknowledges that it may be possible to improve the test procedure's
specifications as to which tests must be conducted on each water
heater, so the Department is clarifying the proper implementation of
the applicable tests as part of this final rule.
The proposed test procedure stated that storage water heaters
should be tested to obtain a first-hour rating and that instantaneous
water heaters be tested to obtain a maximum GPM rating. 78 FR 66202,
66234-36 (Nov. 4, 2013). As noted by AIM, ``flow-dominated'' or ``heat-
on-demand'' water heaters exist that have very large burners but have
some storage volume as a buffer. (AIM No. 70 at p. 2) DOE believes that
the delivery capacity of such water heaters is best captured by a
maximum GPM rating and is, thus, requiring water heaters with a heating
input that is activated by the flow of water through them to be tested
according to the maximum GPM test procedure regardless of storage
volume. For all other storage water heaters, the first-hour rating test
is to be applied to determine delivery capacity. DOE is using the term
``flow-activated'' in this final rule and is adding a definition for
that term in the test procedure that is consistent with the definition
of ``instantaneous water heater'' currently at 10 CFR 430.2.
For determining the uniform energy factor, DOE believes that any
water heater with a storage volume greater than or equal to 2 gallons
must be tested to account for the storage volume, even if they meet
EPCA's definition of an instantaneous water heater, which does not
limit the stored volume. (42 U.S.C. 6291(27)(B)) The reason for this
determination is that changes in the stored energy in the water heater
and variations in the heat loss from the water heater to the ambient
can affect the uniform energy factor, and the test procedure proposed
for storage water heaters captures these effects while that for
instantaneous water heaters does not. While it might be possible to
include such terms in the proposed test procedure for instantaneous
water heaters, such a step would add no benefit for instantaneous water
heaters with minimal storage volume and could be considered as adding
an undue burden to the testing of those units. Therefore, DOE clarifies
the applicability of the simulated-use test based on rated storage
volume instead of by the terminology of ``storage'' versus
``instantaneous'' in section 5 of appendix E.
[[Page 40562]]
DOE also clarifies the determination of the UA value to account for
situations where the maximum tank temperature is achieved immediately
following the recovery following the first draw cluster. As noted
above, test data suggest that starting the standby period immediately
following a recovery can lead to erroneous results due to the
challenges in determining the average stored water temperature at that
time. DOE has adjusted the start of the period used to determine the UA
so that it must begin no less than five minutes following the end of
the first recovery following the first draw cluster.
IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review
A. Review Under Executive Order 12866
The Office of Management and Budget has determined that test
procedure rulemakings do not constitute ``significant regulatory
actions'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory
Planning and Review,'' 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly, this
action was not subject to review under the Executive Order by the
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB).
B. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended by
the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996)
requires preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis
(IFRA) for any rule that by law must be proposed for public comment and
a final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) for any such rule that
an agency adopts as a final rule, unless the agency certifies that the
rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities. A regulatory flexibility analysis
examines the impact of the rule on small entities and considers
alternative ways of reducing negative effects. Also, as required by
Executive Order 13272, ``Proper Consideration of Small Entities in
Agency Rulemaking,'' 67 FR 53461 (August 16, 2002), DOE published
procedures and policies on February 19, 2003, to ensure that the
potential impacts of its rules on small entities are properly
considered during the DOE rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE has made
its procedures and policies available on the Office of the General
Counsel's Web site: https://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel.
This final rule prescribes test procedure amendments used to
determine compliance with energy conservation standards for residential
water heaters and certain commercial water heaters. For residential
water heaters and certain commercial water heaters, the amendments
establish a uniform efficiency descriptor which is more representative
of conditions encountered in the field (including modifications to both
the test conditions and the draw patterns), and expand the scope of the
test procedure to apply to certain residential water heaters and
certain commercial water heaters that are currently not covered by the
test procedure. DOE reviewed this final rule under the provisions of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the policies and procedures
published on February 19, 2003. 68 FR 7990.
For the manufacturers of the covered water heater products, the
Small Business Administration (SBA) has set a size threshold, which
defines those entities classified as ``small businesses'' for the
purposes of the statute. DOE used the SBA's small business size
standards to determine whether any small entities would be subject to
the requirements of the rule. The SBA size standards, listed by North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code and industry
description, are codified at 13 CFR part 121 and are available at
https://www.sba.gov/content/table-small-business-size-standards.
Residential water heater manufacturing is classified under NAICS
335228--``Other Major Household Appliance Manufacturing.'' The SBA sets
a threshold of 500 employees or less for an entity to be considered as
a small business. Commercial water heaters are classified under NAICS
333318--``Other Commercial and Service Industry Machinery
Manufacturing,'' for which SBA also sets a size threshold of 1,000
employees or fewer for being considered a small business.
DOE has identified 19 manufacturers of residential water heaters
(including manufacturers of products that fall under the expanded
scope) that can be considered small businesses. DOE identified seven
manufacturers of ``residential-duty'' water heaters that can be
considered small businesses. Six of the ``residential-duty'' water
heater manufacturers also manufacture residential water heaters, so the
total number of water heater manufacturers impacted by this rule would
be 20. DOE's research involved reviewing several industry trade
association membership directories (e.g., AHRI), product databases
(e.g., AHRI, CEC, and ENERGY STAR databases), individual company Web
sites, and marketing research tools (e.g., Hoovers reports) to create a
list of all domestic small business manufacturers of products covered
by this rulemaking.
For the reasons explained below, DOE has concluded that the test
procedure amendments contained in this final rule would not have a
significant economic impact on any manufacturer, including small
manufacturers.
For residential water heaters, the amendments adopted in this final
rule apply primarily to the draw pattern and outlet water temperature.
Under DOE's existing test procedure, manufacturers must perform a
simulated-use test consisting of 6 draws of equal lengths with a water
heater delivery temperature of 135[emsp14][deg]F. This final rule will
require manufacturers to perform a simulated-use test consisting of 9
to 14 draws of varied length, depending on the capacity of the water
heater, at an outlet water temperature of 125[emsp14][deg]F. The change
in outlet water temperature requires no additional effort or expense
for the manufacturer, because establishing the test temperature is
simply a matter of choosing the appropriate setting on the water
heater. Likewise, the change in the number of draws would also result
in very little burden on manufacturers. The length and timing of draws
for the existing test procedure are largely controlled automatically by
computer control. The changes will likely result in manufacturers
having to reprogram the computer test programs to account for the new
draw patterns. DOE estimates that this effort would take approximately
one week to program and confirm operation of the amended test. It is
estimated that approximately two days of a programmer's time would be
needed at a cost of $1,000, including overhead and benefits. This one-
time cost is comparable to that charged by a third-party test
laboratory for a single test, so it is not considered burdensome for
water heater manufacturers. Since the simulated-use test takes 24 hours
under both the existing and new test method, the length of the test
would not change. The new test method does specify a 12-hour soak-in
period prior to the 24-hour test for storage water heaters, however,
which would add to the time required to conduct the test. This extra
test time would not require extra personnel and would not necessitate
the development of additional test platforms. DOE understands that a
preconditioning period is already implemented by manufacturers as a
best practice to allow the water heater to achieve operational
temperature, so the added burden from the 12-hour soak-in would be
minimal. In addition, these tests can be
[[Page 40563]]
conducted in the same facilities used for the current energy testing of
these products, so there would be no additional facility costs required
by the final rule.
Lastly, the only potential instrumentation upgrade required to
conduct the test would be electric power and energy measuring equipment
that meets the accuracy levels that have changed from 1
percent to 0.5 percent. DOE believes that equipment
meeting these tolerances is already the industry standard. Purchase of
a new instrument, if needed, would be expected to cost approximately
$1,000.
For certain commercial water heaters included in the scope of this
rulemaking, the efficiency test required for equipment would change
from the thermal efficiency and standby loss tests specified in the
current DOE test method, to the simulated-use test for uniform energy
factor in this final rule. The uniform energy factor test is inherently
more complex than the thermal efficiency and standby loss tests, and,
thus, it may be more difficult to implement. However, the standby loss
test takes a significant amount of time, which is comparable to the 24-
hour simulated-use test. Accordingly, overall testing time should
remain fairly constant. DOE understands that the complexity of the
uniform energy factor test would impose additional costs on
manufacturers due to the need to automate draw patterns, as compared to
the thermal efficiency test. In addition, some hardware purchases may
be needed to allow for computer-controlled draws of hot water that are
required in a simulated use test. However, DOE notes that many
commercial water heater manufacturers also manufacture residential
water heaters, and may already have this equipment from testing of
residential units. Nonetheless, DOE estimates that this hardware could
cost approximately $1,000, assuming that the laboratory already has a
computer-controlled data acquisition system to collect data during the
thermal efficiency and standby loss tests currently required. DOE
estimates the costs for a programmer to create a computer program that
automatically controls the hot water draws would be similar to the
costs above, but that the time required may be slightly longer if the
program is being developed from scratch. Under such circumstances, DOE
estimates that 5 days of programmer time would be needed for a cost of
$2,500, including overhead and benefits.
Lastly, DOE considered the impacts on small businesses that
manufacture residential water heaters that fall into categories that
were previously not covered by the DOE residential water heater test
procedure (e.g., models with storage volumes between 2 and 20 gallons).
In reviewing the market for these products, DOE did not identify any
manufacturers that did not also manufacture other types of water
heating equipment. Thus, DOE believes that these manufacturers would
already have the needed equipment and computer programs to conduct the
current DOE test. For the reasons stated previously, DOE does not
believe the updates will cause significant additional burdens for these
manufacturers.
Accordingly, DOE concludes and certifies that this final rule would
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities, so DOE has not prepared a regulatory flexibility analysis for
this rulemaking. DOE has provided its certification and supporting
statement of factual basis to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA
for review under 5 U.S.C. 605(b).
C. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
Manufacturers of water heaters must certify to DOE that their
products comply with all applicable energy conservation standards. In
certifying compliance, manufacturers must test their products according
to the DOE test procedures for water heaters, including any amendments
adopted for the test procedure on the date that compliance is required.
DOE has established regulations for the certification and recordkeeping
requirements for all covered consumer products and commercial
equipment, including residential and commercial water heaters. 76 FR
12422 (March 7, 2011). The collection-of-information requirement for
the certification and recordkeeping is subject to review and approval
by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This requirement has
been approved by OMB under OMB control number 1910-1400. Public
reporting burden for the certification is estimated to average 20 hours
per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays
a currently valid OMB Control Number.
D. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
In this final rule, DOE amends its test procedure for residential
and commercial water heaters. DOE has determined that this rule falls
into a class of actions that are categorically excluded from review
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.) and DOE's implementing regulations at 10 CFR part 1021.
Specifically, this rule amends an existing rule without affecting the
amount, quality or distribution of energy usage, and, therefore, will
not result in any environmental impacts. Thus, this rulemaking is
covered by Categorical Exclusion A5 under 10 CFR part 1021, subpart D,
which applies to any rulemaking that interprets or amends an existing
rule without changing the environmental effect of that rule.
Accordingly, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental
impact statement is required.
E. Review Under Executive Order 13132
Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism,'' 64 FR 43255 (August 10,
1999), imposes certain requirements on agencies formulating and
implementing policies or regulations that preempt State law or that
have Federalism implications. The Executive Order requires agencies to
examine the constitutional and statutory authority supporting any
action that would limit the policymaking discretion of the States and
to carefully assess the necessity for such actions. The Executive Order
also requires agencies to have an accountable process to ensure
meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that have Federalism implications.
On March 14, 2000, DOE published a statement of policy describing the
intergovernmental consultation process it will follow in the
development of such regulations. 65 FR 13735. DOE examined this final
rule and determined that it will not have a substantial direct effect
on the States, on the relationship between the national government and
the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among
the various levels of government. EPCA governs and prescribes Federal
preemption of State regulations as to energy conservation for the
products that are the subject of this final rule. States can petition
DOE for exemption from such preemption to the extent, and based on
criteria, set forth in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d)) No further action is
required by Executive Order 13132.
[[Page 40564]]
F. Review Under Executive Order 12988
Regarding the review of existing regulations and the promulgation
of new regulations, section 3(a) of Executive Order 12988, ``Civil
Justice Reform,'' 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996), imposes on Federal
agencies the general duty to adhere to the following requirements: (1)
Eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity; (2) write regulations to
minimize litigation; (3) provide a clear legal standard for affected
conduct rather than a general standard; and (4) promote simplification
and burden reduction. Regarding the review required by section 3(a),
section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988 specifically requires that
Executive agencies make every reasonable effort to ensure that the
regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the preemptive effect, if any; (2)
clearly specifies any effect on existing Federal law or regulation; (3)
provides a clear legal standard for affected conduct while promoting
simplification and burden reduction; (4) specifies the retroactive
effect, if any; (5) adequately defines key terms; and (6) addresses
other important issues affecting clarity and general draftsmanship
under any guidelines issued by the Attorney General. Section 3(c) of
Executive Order 12988 requires Executive agencies to review regulations
in light of applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b) to determine
whether they are met or it is unreasonable to meet one or more of them.
DOE has completed the required review and determined that, to the
extent permitted by law, this final rule meets the relevant standards
of Executive Order 12988.
G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA)
requires each Federal agency to assess the effects of Federal
regulatory actions on State, local, and Tribal governments and the
private sector. Pub. L. 104-4, sec. 201 (codified at 2 U.S.C. 1531).
For a regulatory action resulting in a rule that may cause the
expenditure by State, local, and Tribal governments, in the aggregate,
or by the private sector of $100 million or more in any one year
(adjusted annually for inflation), section 202 of UMRA requires a
Federal agency to publish a written statement that estimates the
resulting costs, benefits, and other effects on the national economy.
(2 U.S.C. 1532(a), (b)) The UMRA also requires a Federal agency to
develop an effective process to permit timely input by elected officers
of State, local, and Tribal governments on a ``significant
intergovernmental mandate,'' and requires an agency plan for giving
notice and opportunity for timely input to potentially affected small
governments before establishing any requirements that might
significantly or uniquely affect them. On March 18, 1997, DOE published
a statement of policy on its process for intergovernmental consultation
under UMRA. 62 FR 12820. (This policy is also available at https://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel.) DOE examined this final rule
according to UMRA and its statement of policy and has determined that
the rule contains neither an intergovernmental mandate, nor a mandate
that may result in the expenditure by State, local, and Tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100
million or more in any year. Accordingly, no further assessment or
analysis is required under UMRA.
H. Review Under the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act,
1999
Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations
Act, 1999 (Pub. L. 105-277) requires Federal agencies to issue a Family
Policymaking Assessment for any rule that may affect family well-being.
This final rule will not have any impact on the autonomy or integrity
of the family as an institution. Accordingly, DOE has concluded that it
is not necessary to prepare a Family Policymaking Assessment.
I. Review Under Executive Order 12630
Pursuant to Executive Order 12630, ``Governmental Actions and
Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights,'' 53 FR
8859 (March 18, 1988), DOE has determined that this regulation will not
result in any takings that might require compensation under the Fifth
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
J. Review Under Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act,
2001
Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations
Act, 2001 (44 U.S.C. 3516 note) provides for agencies to review most
disseminations of information to the public under information quality
guidelines established by each agency pursuant to general guidelines
issued by OMB. OMB's guidelines were published at 67 FR 8452 (Feb. 22,
2002), and DOE's guidelines were published at 67 FR 62446 (Oct. 7,
2002). DOE has reviewed this final rule under the OMB and DOE
guidelines and has concluded that it is consistent with applicable
policies in those guidelines.
K. Review Under Executive Order 13211
Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use,'' 66 FR 28355
(May 22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to prepare and submit to OIRA
at OMB, a Statement of Energy Effects for any significant energy
action. A ``significant energy action'' is defined as any action by an
agency that promulgates or is expected to lead to promulgation of a
final rule, and that: (1) Is a significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866, or any successor order; and (2) is likely to
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use
of energy; or (3) is designated by the Administrator of OIRA as a
significant energy action. For any significant energy action, the
agency must give a detailed statement of any adverse effects on energy
supply, distribution, or use if the regulation is implemented, and of
reasonable alternatives to the action and their expected benefits on
energy supply, distribution, and use.
This regulatory action to amend the test procedure for measuring
the energy efficiency of residential and certain commercial water
heaters is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order
12866 or any successor order. Moreover, it would not have a significant
adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy, nor has
it been designated as a significant energy action by the Administrator
of OIRA. Therefore, it is not a significant energy action, and,
accordingly, DOE has not prepared a Statement of Energy Effects for
this rulemaking.
L. Review Under Section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration Act of
1974
Under section 301 of the Department of Energy Organization Act
(Pub. L. 95-91; 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), DOE must comply with all laws
applicable to the former Federal Energy Administration, including
section 32 of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L.
93-275), as amended by the Federal Energy Administration Authorization
Act of 1977 (Pub. L. 95-70). (15 U.S.C. 788; FEAA) Section 32
essentially provides in relevant part that, where a proposed rule
authorizes or requires use of commercial standards, the notice of
proposed rulemaking must inform the public of the use and background of
such standards. In addition, section 32(c) requires DOE to consult with
the Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) concerning the
[[Page 40565]]
impact of the commercial or industry standards on competition.
The modifications to the test procedures addressed by this action
incorporate testing methods contained in the following commercial
standards: (1) ASTM D2156 09, ``Standard Test Method for Smoke Density
in Flue Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels''; and (2) ASHRAE Standard
41.1-1986 (RA 2006), ``Standard Method for Temperature Measurement.''
While this test procedure is not exclusively based on these standards,
components of the test procedures are adopted directly from these
standards without amendment. The Department has evaluated these
standards and is unable to conclude whether they fully comply with the
requirements of section 32(b) of the FEAA, (i.e., that they were
developed in a manner that fully provides for public participation,
comment, and review). DOE has consulted with the Attorney General and
the Chairman of the FTC concerning the impact on competition of
requiring manufacturers to use the test methods contained in these
standards and has received no comments objecting to their use.
M. Congressional Notification
As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will report to Congress on the
promulgation of this rule before its effective date. The report will
state that it has been determined that the rule is not a ``major rule''
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
V. Approval of the Office of the Secretary
The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this final
rule.
List of Subjects
10 CFR Part 429
Confidential business information, Energy conservation, Household
appliances, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
10 CFR Part 430
Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business
information, Energy conservation, Household appliances, Imports,
Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations, Small
businesses.
10 CFR Part 431
Administrative practice and procedure, Confidential business
information, Test procedures, Incorporation by reference, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2014.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, DOE amends parts 429, 430,
and 431 of Chapter II, Subchapter D of Title 10, Code of Federal
Regulations, as set forth below:
PART 429--CERTIFICATION, COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT FOR CONSUMER
PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
0
1. The authority citation for part 429 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291-6317.
0
2. Section 429.17 is amended by:
0
a. Revising paragraphs (a) introductory text and (a)(1);
0
b. Redesignating paragraphs--
i. (a)(2)(i) introductory text as (a)(1)(ii)(A);
ii. (a)(2)(i)(A) as (a)(1)(ii)(A)(1);
iii. (a)(2)(1)(B) as (a)(1)(ii)(A)(2);
iv. (a)(2)(ii) introductory text as (a)(1)(ii)(B);
v. (a)(2)(ii)(A) as (a)(1)(ii)(B)(1); and
vi. (a)(2)(ii)(B) as (a)(1)(ii)(B)(2);
0
c. Adding paragraphs (a)(1)(ii)(C), and (D);
0
d. Revising paragraph (a)(2); and
0
e. Revising paragraph (b)(2).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 429.17 Residential water heaters.
(a) Determination of represented value. Manufacturers must
determine the represented value, which includes the certified rating,
for each basic model of residential water heater either by testing, in
conjunction with the applicable sampling provisions, or by applying an
alternative efficiency determination method (AEDM) approved for use by
DOE.
(1) Units to be tested. (i) If the represented value is determined
through testing, the general requirements of Sec. 429.11 are
applicable; and
(ii) For each basic model selected for testing, a sample of
sufficient size shall be randomly selected and tested to ensure that--
* * * * *
(C) Any represented value of the rated storage volume must be equal
to the mean of the measured storage volumes of all the units within the
sample.
(D) Any represented value of first-hour rating or maximum gallons
per minute (GPM) must be equal to the mean of the measured first-hour
ratings or measured maximum GPM ratings, respectively, of all the units
within the sample.
(2) Alternative efficiency determination methods. In lieu of
testing, represented values for a basic model must be determined
through the application of an AEDM pursuant to the requirements of
Sec. 429.70.
(b) * * *
(2) Pursuant to Sec. 429.12(b)(13), a certification report shall
include the following public product-specific information: The uniform
energy factor (UEF, rounded to the nearest 0.01), rated storage volume
in gallons (gal), first-hour rating or maximum gallons per minute
(GPM), and recovery efficiency (percent).
0
3. Section 429.44 is amended by:
0
a. Redesignating paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) as (b), (c), and (d),
respectively.
0
b. Adding new paragraph (a); and
0
c. Revising newly redesignated paragraph (b).
The revisions and additions read as follows:
Sec. 429.44 Commercial water heating equipment.
(a) For residential-duty commercial water heaters, all represented
values must be determined in accordance with Sec. 429.17.
(b) Determination of Represented Value for All Types of Commercial
Water Heaters Except Residential-Duty Commercial Water Heaters.
Manufacturers must determine the represented value, which includes the
certified rating, for each basic model of commercial water heating
equipment except residential-duty commercial water heaters, either by
testing, in conjunction with the applicable sampling provisions, or by
applying an AEDM as set forth in Sec. 429.70.
* * * * *
0
4. Section 429.70 is amended by adding paragraph (g) to read as
follows:
Sec. 429.70 Alternative methods for determining energy efficiency and
energy use
* * * * *
(g) Alternative determination of ratings for untested basic models
of residential water heaters and residential-duty commercial water
heaters. For models of water heaters that differ only in fuel type or
power input, ratings for untested basic models may be established in
accordance with the following procedures in lieu of testing. This
method allows only for the use of ratings identical to those of a
tested basic model as provided below; simulations or other modeling
predictions for ratings of the uniform
[[Page 40566]]
energy factor, volume, first-hour rating, or maximum gallons per minute
(GPM) are not permitted.
(1) Gas Water Heaters. For untested basic models of gas-fired water
heaters that differ from tested basic models only in whether the basic
models use natural gas or propane gas, the represented value of uniform
energy factor, first-hour rating, and maximum gallons per minute for an
untested basic model is the same as that for a tested basic model, as
long as the input ratings of the tested and untested basic models are
within 10%, that is:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.066
(2) Electric Storage Water Heaters. Rate an untested basic model of
an electric storage type water heater using the first-hour rating and
the uniform energy factor obtained from a tested basic model as a basis
for ratings of basic models with other input ratings, provided that
certain conditions are met:
(i) For an untested basic model, the represented value of the
first-hour rating and the uniform energy factor is the same as that of
a tested basic model, provided that each heating element of the
untested basic model is rated at or above the input rating for the
corresponding heating element of the tested basic model.
(ii) For an untested basic model having any heating element with an
input rating that is lower than that of the corresponding heating
element in the tested basic model, the represented value of the first-
hour rating and the uniform energy factor is the same as that of a
tested basic model, provided that the first-hour rating for the
untested basic model results in the same draw pattern specified in
Table I of appendix E for the simulated-use test as was applied to the
tested basic model. To establish whether this condition is met,
determine the first-hour ratings for the tested and the untested basic
models in accordance with the procedure described in section 5.3.3 of
10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E, then compare the appropriate
draw pattern specified in Table I of appendix E for the first-hour
rating of the tested basic model with that for the untested basic
model. If this condition is not met, then the untested basic model must
be tested and the appropriate sampling provisions applied to determine
its uniform energy factor in accordance with appendix E and this part.
0
5. Section 429.134 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph (c)
and adding paragraph (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 429.134 Product-specific enforcement provisions.
* * * * *
(d) Residential Water Heaters and Residential-Duty Commercial Water
Heaters--(1) Verification of first-hour rating and maximum GPM rating.
The first-hour rating or maximum gallons per minute (GPM) rating of the
basic model will be measured pursuant to the test requirements of 10
CFR part 430 for each unit tested. The mean of the measured values will
be compared to the rated values of first-hour rating or maximum GPM
rating as certified by the manufacturer. The certified rating will be
considered valid only if the measurement is within five percent of the
certified rating.
(i) If the rated value of first-hour rating or maximum GPM rating
is found to be within 5 percent of the mean of the measured values,
then the rated value will be used as the basis for determining the
applicable draw pattern pursuant to the test requirements of 10 CFR
part 430 for each unit tested.
(ii) If the rated value of first-hour rating or maximum GPM rating
is found to vary more than 5 percent from the measured values, then the
mean of the measured values will serve as the basis for determining the
applicable draw pattern pursuant to the test requirements of 10 CFR
part 430 for each unit tested.
(2) Verification of rated storage volume. The storage volume of the
basic model will be measured pursuant to the test requirements of 10
CFR part 430 for each unit tested. The mean of the measured values will
be compared to the rated storage volume as certified by the
manufacturer. The rated value will be considered valid only if the
measurement is within five percent of the certified rating.
(i) If the rated storage volume is found to be within 5 percent of
the mean of the measured value of storage volume, then that value will
be used as the basis for calculation of the required uniform energy
factor for the basic model.
(ii) If the rated storage volume is found to vary more than 5
percent from the mean of the measured values, then the mean of the
measured values will be used as the basis for calculation of the
required uniform energy factor for the basic model.
PART 430--ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS
0
6. The authority citation for part 430 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291-6309; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
0
7. Section 430.2 is amended by adding the definitions of ``Electric
heat pump water heater,'' ``Electric instantaneous water heater,''
``Electric storage water heater,'' ``Gas-fired instantaneous water
heater,'' ``Gas-fired storage water heater,'' ``Gas-fired heat pump
water heater,'' ``Oil-fired instantaneous water heater,'' and ``Oil-
fired storage water heater'' in alphabetical order to read as follows:
Sec. 430.2 Definitions.
* * * * *
Electric heat pump water heater means a water heater that uses
electricity as the energy source, has a maximum current rating of 24
amperes (including the compressor and all auxiliary equipment such as
fans, pumps, controls, and, if on the same circuit, any resistive
elements) at an input voltage of no greater than 250 volts, has a rated
storage capacity of 120 gallons (450 liters) or less, is designed to
transfer thermal energy from one temperature level to a higher
temperature level for the purpose of heating water, including all
ancillary equipment such as fans, storage tanks, pumps, or controls
necessary for the device to perform its function, and is designed to
heat and store water at a thermostatically-controlled temperature less
than or equal to 180 [deg]F (82 [deg]C).
* * * * *
Electric instantaneous water heater means a water heater that uses
electricity as the energy source, has a nameplate input rating of 12 kW
(40,956 Btu/h) or less, contains no more than one gallon of water per
4,000 Btu per hour of input, and is designed to provide outlet water at
a controlled temperature less than or equal to 180 [deg]F (82 [deg]C).
The unit may use a fixed or variable burner input.
* * * * *
[[Page 40567]]
Electric storage water heater means a water heater that uses
electricity as the energy source, has a nameplate input rating of 12 kW
(40,956 Btu/h) or less, has a rated storage capacity of 120 gallons
(450 liters) or less, contains more than one gallon of water per 4,000
Btu per hour of input, and may be designed to heat and store water at a
thermostatically-controlled temperature less than or equal to 180
[deg]F (82 [deg]C).
* * * * *
Gas-fired heat pump water heater means a water heater that uses gas
as the main energy source, has a nameplate input rating of 75,000 Btu/h
(79 MJ/h) or less, has a maximum current rating of 24 amperes
(including all auxiliary equipment such as fans, pumps, controls, and,
if on the same circuit, any resistive elements) at an input voltage of
no greater than 250 volts, has a rated storage volume not more than 120
gallons (450 liters), and is designed to transfer thermal energy from
one temperature level to a higher temperature level to deliver water at
a thermostatically controlled temperature less than or equal to 180
[deg]F (82 [deg]C).
Gas-fired instantaneous water heater means a water heater that uses
gas as the main energy source, has a nameplate input rating less than
200,000 Btu/h (210 MJ/h), contains no more than one gallon of water per
4,000 Btu per hour of input, and is designed to provide outlet water at
a controlled temperature less than or equal to 180 [deg]F (82 [deg]C).
The unit may use a fixed or variable burner input.
Gas-fired storage water heater means a water heater that uses gas
as the main energy source, has a nameplate input rating of 75,000 Btu/h
(79 MJ/h) or less, has a rated storage capacity of 120 gallons (450
liters) or less, contains more than one gallon of water per 4,000 Btu
per hour of input, and is designed to heat and store water at a
thermostatically-controlled temperature less than or equal to
180[emsp14][deg]F (82 [deg]C).
* * * * *
Oil-fired instantaneous water heater means a water heater that uses
oil as the main energy source, has a nameplate input rating of 210,000
Btu/h (220 MJ/h) or less, contains no more than one gallon of water per
4,000 Btu per hour of input, and is designed to provide outlet water at
a controlled temperature less than or equal to 180[emsp14][deg]F (82
[deg]C). The unit may use a fixed or variable burner input.
Oil-fired storage water heater means a water heater that uses oil
as the main energy source, has a nameplate input rating of 105,000 Btu/
h (110 MJ/h) or less, has a rated storage capacity of 120 gallons (450
liters) or less, contains more than one gallon of water per 4,000 Btu
per hour of input, and is designed to heat and store water at a
thermostatically-controlled temperature less than or equal to
180[emsp14][deg]F (82 [deg]C).
* * * * *
0
8. Section 430.3 is amended by:
0
a. Redesignating paragraphs (h) through (t) as (i) through (u),
respectively; and
0
b. Adding a new paragraph (h).
The addition reads as follows:
Sec. 430.3 Materials incorporated by reference.
* * * * *
(h) ASTM. American Society for Testing and Materials International,
100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
(www.astm.org).
(1) ASTM D 2156-09 (``ASTM D2156''), Standard Test Method for Smoke
Density in Flue Gases from Burning Distillate Fuels, approved December
1, 2009, IBR approved for appendix E to subpart B.
(2) [Reserved].
* * * * *
0
9. Section 430.23 is amended by revising paragraph (e) to read as
follows:
Sec. 430.23 Test procedures for the measurement of energy and water
consumption.
* * * * *
(e) Water Heaters. (1) The estimated annual operating cost for
water heaters shall be--
(i) For a gas or oil water heater, the sum of: the product of the
annual gas or oil energy consumption, determined according to section
6.1.10 or 6.2.7 of appendix E of this subpart, times the representative
average unit cost of gas or oil, as appropriate, in dollars per Btu as
provided by the Secretary; plus the product of the annual electric
energy consumption, determined according to section 6.1.9 or 6.2.6 of
appendix E of this subpart, times the representative average unit cost
of electricity in dollars per kilowatt-hour as provided by the
Secretary, the resulting sum then being rounded off to the nearest
dollar per year.
(ii) For an electric water heater, the product of the annual energy
consumption, determined according to section 6.1.9 or 6.2.6 of appendix
E of this subpart, times the representative average unit cost of
electricity in dollars per kilowatt-hour as provided by the Secretary,
the resulting product then being rounded off to the nearest dollar per
year.
(2) For an individual test, the tested uniform energy factor for a
water heater shall be--
(i) For a gas or oil water heater, as determined by section 6.1.7
or 6.2.4 of appendix E of this subpart rounded to the nearest 0.01.
(ii) For an electric water heater, as determined by section 6.1.7
or 6.2.4 of appendix E of this subpart rounded to the nearest 0.01.
* * * * *
0
10. Appendix E to Subpart B of Part 430 is revised to read as follows:
Appendix E to Subpart B of Part 430-Uniform Test Method for Measuring
the Energy Consumption of Water Heaters
Note: After December 31, 2015, any representations made with
respect to the energy use or efficiency of residential water heaters
and commercial water heaters covered by this test method must be
made in accordance with the results of testing pursuant to this
appendix. (Because the statute permits use of a conversion factor
until the later of December 31, 2015 or one year after publication
of a conversion factor final rule, DOE may amend the mandatory
compliance date for use of this amended test procedure, as
necessary.)
Manufacturers conducting tests of residential water heaters and
commercial water heaters covered by this test method after July 13,
2015, and prior to December 31, 2015, must conduct such test in
accordance with either this appendix or the previous test method.
For residential water heaters, the previous test method is appendix
E as it appeared at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix E, in the
10 CFR parts 200 to 499 edition revised as of January 1, 2014. For
commercial water heaters, the previous test method is 10 CFR 431.106
in the 10 CFR parts 200 to 499 edition revised as of January 1,
2014. Any representations made with respect to the energy use or
efficiency of such water heaters must be in accordance with
whichever version is selected.
1. Definitions.
1.1. Cut-in means the time when or water temperature at which a
water heater control or thermostat acts to increase the energy or
fuel input to the heating elements, compressor, or burner.
1.2. Cut-out means the time when or water temperature at which a
water heater control or thermostat acts to reduce to a minimum the
energy or fuel input to the heating elements, compressor, or burner.
1.3. Design Power Rating means the nominal power rating that a
water heater manufacturer assigns to a particular design of water
heater, expressed in kilowatts or Btu (kJ) per hour as appropriate.
1.4. Draw Cluster means a collection of water draws initiated
during the simulated-use test during which no successive draws are
separated by more than 2 hours.
1.5. First-Hour Rating means an estimate of the maximum volume
of ``hot'' water that a storage-type water heater can supply within
[[Page 40568]]
an hour that begins with the water heater fully heated (i.e., with
all thermostats satisfied). It is a function of both the storage
volume and the recovery rate.
1.6. Flow-activated describes an operational scheme in which a
water heater initiates and terminates heating based on sensing flow.
1.7. Heat Trap means a device that can be integrally connected
or independently attached to the hot and/or cold water pipe
connections of a water heater such that the device will develop a
thermal or mechanical seal to minimize the recirculation of water
due to thermal convection between the water heater tank and its
connecting pipes.
1.8. Maximum GPM (L/min) Rating means the maximum gallons per
minute (liters per minute) of hot water that can be supplied by an
instantaneous water heater while maintaining a nominal temperature
rise of 67[emsp14][deg]F (37.3 [deg]C) during steady-state
operation, as determined by testing in accordance with section 5.3.2
of this appendix.
1.9. Rated Storage Volume means the water storage capacity of a
water heater, in gallons (liters), as certified by the manufacturer
pursuant to 10 CFR part 429.
1.10. Recovery Efficiency means the ratio of energy delivered to
the water to the energy content of the fuel consumed by the water
heater.
1.11. Recovery Period means the time when the main burner of a
storage water heater is raising the temperature of the stored water.
1.12. Standby means the time, in hours, during which water is
not being withdrawn from the water heater. There are two standby
time intervals used within this test procedure:
[tau]stby,1 represents the elapsed time between the time
at which the maximum mean tank temperature is observed after the
first draw cluster and the minute prior to the start of the first
draw following the end of the first draw cluster of the 24-hour
simulated-use test; [tau]stby,2 represents the total time
during the 24-hour simulated-use test when water is not being
withdrawn from the water heater.
1.13. Symbol Usage. The following identity relationships are
provided to help clarify the symbology used throughout this
procedure:
Cp--specific heat of water
Eannual--annual energy consumption of a water heater
Eannual,e--annual electrical energy consumption of a water heater
Eannual,f--annual fossil-fuel energy consumption of a water heater
Fhr--first-hour rating of a storage-type water heater
Fmax--maximum GPM (L/min) rating of an instantaneous water heater
rated at a temperature rise of 67[emsp14][deg]F (37.3 [deg]C)
i--a subscript to indicate the draw number during a test
Mi--mass of water removed during the ith draw of the 24-hour
simulated-use test
M*i--for storage-type water heaters, mass of water removed during
the ith draw during the first-hour rating test
M10m--for instantaneous water heaters, mass of water removed
continuously during a 10-minute interval in the maximum GPM (L/min)
rating test
n--for storage-type water heaters, total number of draws during the
first-hour rating test
N--total number of draws during the 24-hour simulated-use test
Q--total fossil fuel and/or electric energy consumed during the
entire 24-hour simulated-use test
Qd--daily water heating energy consumption adjusted for net change
in internal energy
Qda--Qd with adjustment for variation of tank to ambient air
temperature difference from nominal value
Qdm--overall adjusted daily water heating energy consumption
including Qda and QHWD
Qe--total electrical energy used during the 24-hour simulated-use
test
Qf--total fossil fuel energy used by the water heater during the 24-
hour simulated-use test
Qhr--hourly standby losses
QHW--daily energy consumption to heat water at the measured average
temperature rise across the water heater
QHW,67[emsp14][deg]F--daily energy consumption to heat quantity of
water removed during test over a temperature rise of
67[emsp14][deg]F (37.3 [deg]C)
QHWD--adjustment to daily energy consumption, QHW, due to
variation of the temperature rise across the water heater not equal
to the nominal value of 67[emsp14][deg]F
Qr--energy consumption of water heater from the beginning of the
test to the end of the first recovery period following the first
draw, which may extend beyond subsequent draws
Qstby--total energy consumed by the water heater during the standby
time interval [tau]stby,1
Qsu,0--total fossil fuel and/or electric energy consumed from the
beginning of the test to the end of the cutout following the first
draw cluster
Qsu,f--total fossil fuel and/or electric energy consumed from the
beginning of the test to the initiation of the first draw following
the first draw cluster
T0--mean tank temperature at the beginning of the 24-hour simulated-
use test
T24--mean tank temperature at the end of the 24-hour simulated-use
test
Ta,stby--average ambient air temperature during standby periods of
the 24-hour simulated-use test
Tdel--for flow-activated water heaters, average outlet water
temperature during a 10-minute continuous draw interval in the
maximum GPM (L/min) rating test
Tdel,i--average outlet water temperature during the ith draw of the
24-hour simulated-use test
Tin--for flow-activated water heaters, average inlet water
temperature during a 10-minute continuous draw interval in the
maximum GPM (L/min) rating test
Tin,i--average inlet water temperature during the ith draw of the
24-hour simulated-use test
Tmax,1--maximum measured mean tank temperature after cut-out
following the first draw of the 24-hour simulated-use test
Tsu,0--maximum measured mean tank temperature at the beginning of
the standby period which occurs after cut-out following the final
draw of the first draw cluster
Tsu,f--measured mean tank temperature at the end of the standby
period which occurs at the minute prior to commencement of the first
draw that follows the end of the first draw cluster
T*del,i--for storage-type water heaters, average outlet water
temperature during the ith draw (i = 1 to n) of the first-hour
rating test
T*max,i--for storage-type water heaters, maximum outlet water
temperature observed during the ith draw (i = 1 to n) of the first-
hour rating test
T*min,i--for storage-type water heaters, minimum outlet water
temperature to terminate the ith draw (i = 1 to n) of the first-hour
rating test
UA--standby loss coefficient of a storage-type water heater
UEF--uniform energy factor of a water heater
Vi--volume of water removed during the ith draw (i = 1 to N) of the
24-hour simulated-use test
V*i--volume of water removed during the ith draw (i = 1 to n) of the
first-hour rating test
V10m--for flow-activated water heaters, volume of water removed
continuously during a 10-minute interval in the maximum GPM (L/min)
rating test
Vst--measured storage volume of the storage tank
Wf--weight of storage tank when completely filled with water
Wt--tare weight of storage tank when completely empty of water
[eta]r--recovery efficiency
[rho]--density of water
[tau]stby,1--elapsed time between the time the maximum mean tank
temperature is observed after the first draw cluster and the minute
prior to the start of the first draw following the first draw
cluster
[tau]stby,2--overall time of standby periods when no water is
withdrawn during the 24-hour simulated-use test
1.14. Temperature controller means a device that is available to
the user to adjust the temperature of the water inside a storage-
type water heater or the outlet water temperature.
1.15. Uniform Energy Factor means the measure of water heater
overall efficiency.
2. Test Conditions.
2.1 Installation Requirements. Tests shall be performed with the
water heater and instrumentation installed in accordance with
section 4 of this appendix.
2.2 Ambient Air Temperature. The ambient air temperature shall
be maintained between 65.0[emsp14][deg]F and 70.0[emsp14][deg]F
(18.3 [deg]C and 21.1 [deg]C) on a continuous basis. For heat pump
water heaters, the dry bulb temperature shall be maintained at
67.5[emsp14][deg]F 1[emsp14][deg]F (19.7 [deg]C 0.6 [deg]C) and the relative humidity shall be maintained at
50% 2% throughout the test.
2.3 Supply Water Temperature. The temperature of the water being
supplied to the water heater shall be maintained at 58[emsp14][deg]F
2[emsp14][deg]F (14.4 [deg]C 1.1 [deg]C)
throughout the test.
2.4 Outlet Water Temperature. The temperature controllers of a
storage-type
[[Page 40569]]
water heater shall be set so that water is delivered at a
temperature of 125[emsp14][deg]F 5[emsp14][deg]F (51.7
[deg]C 2.8 [deg]C).
2.5 Set Point Temperature. The temperature controller of
instantaneous water heaters shall be set to deliver water at a
temperature of 125[emsp14][deg]F 5[emsp14][deg]F (51.7
[deg]C 2.8 [deg]C).
2.6 Supply Water Pressure. During the test when water is not
being withdrawn, the supply pressure shall be maintained between 40
psig (275 kPa) and the maximum allowable pressure specified by the
water heater manufacturer.
2.7 Electrical and/or Fossil Fuel Supply.
2.7.1 Electrical. Maintain the electrical supply voltage to
within 1% of the center of the voltage range specified
by the water heater and/or heat pump manufacturer.
2.7.2 Natural Gas. Maintain the supply pressure in accordance
with the manufacturer's specifications. If the supply pressure is
not specified, maintain a supply pressure of 7-10 inches of water
column (1.7-2.5 kPa). If the water heater is equipped with a gas
appliance pressure regulator, the regulator outlet pressure shall be
within 10% of the manufacturer's specified manifold
pressure. For all tests, use natural gas having a heating value of
approximately 1,025 Btu per standard cubic foot (38,190 kJ per
standard cubic meter).
2.7.3 Propane Gas. Maintain the supply pressure in accordance
with the manufacturer's specifications. If the supply pressure is
not specified, maintain a supply pressure of 11-13 inches of water
column (2.7-3.2 kPa). If the water heater is equipped with a gas
appliance pressure regulator, the regulator outlet pressure shall be
within 10% of the manufacturer's specified manifold
pressure. For all tests, use propane gas with a heating value of
approximately 2,500 Btu per standard cubic foot (93,147 kJ per
standard cubic meter).
2.7.4 Fuel Oil Supply. Maintain an uninterrupted supply of fuel
oil. Use fuel oil having a heating value of approximately 138,700
Btu per gallon (38,660 kJ per liter).
3. Instrumentation
3.1 Pressure Measurements. Pressure-measuring instruments shall
have an error no greater than the following values:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instrument Instrument
Item measured accuracy precision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas pressure.................... 0.1 0.05
inch of water inch of water
column (0.025 kPa). minus>0.012 kPa).
Atmospheric pressure............ 0.1 0.05
inch of mercury inch of mercury
column (0.34 kPa). minus>0.17 kPa).
Water pressure.................. 1.0 0.50
pounds per square pounds per square
inch (6.9 kPa). minus>3.45 kPa).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2 Temperature Measurement
3.2.1 Measurement. Temperature measurements shall be made in
accordance with the Standard Method for Temperature Measurement,
ASHRAE 41.1-1986 (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 430.3).
3.2.2 Accuracy and Precision. The accuracy and precision of the
instruments, including their associated readout devices, shall be
within the following limits:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instrument Instrument
Item measured accuracy precision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air dry bulb temperature........ 0.2[deg]F minus>0.1[deg]F
(0.1[deg]C). minus>0.06[deg]C)
.
Air wet bulb temperature........ 0.2[deg]F minus>0.1[deg]F
(0.1[deg]C). minus>0.06[deg]C)
.
Inlet and outlet water 0.2[deg]F minus>0.1[deg]F
(0.1[deg]C). minus>0.06[deg]C)
.
Storage tank temperatures....... 0.5[deg]F minus>0.25[deg]F
(0.3[deg]C). minus>0.14[deg]C)
.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2.3 Scale Division. In no case shall the smallest scale
division of the instrument or instrument system exceed 2 times the
specified precision.
3.2.4 Temperature Difference Temperature difference between the
entering and leaving water may be measured with any of the
following:
a. A thermopile
b. Calibrated resistance thermometers
c. Precision thermometers
d. Calibrated thermistors
e. Calibrated thermocouples
f. Quartz thermometers
3.2.5 Thermopile Construction. If a thermopile is used, it shall
be made from calibrated thermocouple wire taken from a single spool.
Extension wires to the recording device shall also be made from that
same spool.
3.2.6 Time Constant. The time constant of the instruments used
to measure the inlet and outlet water temperatures shall be no
greater than 2 seconds.
3.3 Liquid Flow Rate Measurement. The accuracy of the liquid
flow rate measurement, using the calibration if furnished, shall be
equal to or less than 1% of the measured value in mass
units per unit time.
3.4 Electrical Energy. The electrical energy used shall be
measured with an instrument and associated readout device that is
accurate within 0.5% of the reading.
3.5 Fossil Fuels. The quantity of fuel used by the water heater
shall be measured with an instrument and associated readout device
that is accurate within 1% of the reading.
3.6 Mass Measurements. For mass measurements greater than or
equal to 10 pounds (4.5 kg), a scale that is accurate within 0.5% of the reading shall be used to make the measurement. For
mass measurements less than 10 pounds (4.5 kg), the scale shall
provide a measurement that is accurate within 0.1 pound
(0.045 kg).
3.7 Heating Value. The higher heating value of the natural gas,
propane, or fuel oil shall be measured with an instrument and
associated readout device that is accurate within 1% of
the reading. The heating values of natural gas and propane must be
corrected from those reported at standard temperature and pressure
conditions to provide the heating value at the temperature and
pressure measured at the fuel meter.
3.8 Time. The elapsed time measurements shall be measured with
an instrument that is accurate within 0.5 seconds per
hour.
3.9 Volume. Volume measurements shall be measured with an
accuracy of 2% of the total volume.
3.10 Relative Humidity. If a relative humidity (RH) transducer
is used to measure the relative humidity of the surrounding air
while testing heat pump water heaters, the relative humidity shall
be measured with an accuracy of 1.5% RH.
4. Installation
4.1 Water Heater Mounting. A water heater designed to be
freestanding shall be placed on a \3/4\ inch (2 cm) thick plywood
platform supported by three 2 x 4 inch (5 cm x 10 cm) runners. If
the water heater is not approved for installation on combustible
flooring, suitable non-combustible material shall be placed between
the water heater and the platform. Counter-top water heaters shall
be placed against a simulated wall section. Wall-mounted water
heaters shall be supported on a simulated wall in accordance with
the manufacturer-published installation instructions. When a
simulated wall is used, the construction shall be 2 x 4 inch (5 cm x
10 cm) studs, faced with \3/4\ inch (2 cm) plywood. For heat pump
water heaters not delivered as a single package, the units shall be
connected in accordance with the manufacturer-published installation
instructions and the overall system shall be placed on the above-
described plywood platform. If installation instructions are not
provided by the heat pump manufacturer, uninsulated 8 foot (2.4 m)
long connecting hoses having an inside diameter of 5/8 inch (1.6 cm)
shall be used to connect the storage tank and the heat pump water
heater. The testing of the water heater shall occur in an area that
is protected from drafts of more than 50 ft/min (0.25 m/s) from room
ventilation registers, windows, or other external sources of air
movement.
[[Page 40570]]
4.2 Water Supply. Connect the water heater to a water supply
capable of delivering water at conditions as specified in sections
2.3 and 2.6 of this appendix.
4.3 Water Inlet and Outlet Configuration. For freestanding water
heaters that are taller than 36 inches (91.4 cm), inlet and outlet
piping connections shall be configured in a manner consistent with
Figures 1 and 2 of section 6.4.6 of this appendix. Inlet and outlet
piping connections for wall-mounted water heaters shall be
consistent with Figure 3 of section 6.4.6 of this appendix. For
freestanding water heaters that are 36 inches or less in height and
not supplied as part of a counter-top enclosure (commonly referred
to as an under-the-counter model), inlet and outlet piping shall be
installed in a manner consistent with Figures 4, 5, or 6 of section
6.4.6 of this appendix. For water heaters that are supplied with a
counter-top enclosure, inlet and outlet piping shall be made in a
manner consistent with Figures 7a and 7b of section 6.4.6 of this
appendix, respectively. The vertical piping noted in Figures 7a and
7b shall be located (whether inside the enclosure or along the
outside in a recessed channel) in accordance with the manufacturer-
published installation instructions.
All dimensions noted in Figures 1 through 7 of section 6.4.6 of
this appendix must be achieved. All piping between the water heater
and inlet and outlet temperature sensors, noted as TIN
and TOUT in the figures, shall be Type ``L'' hard copper
having the same diameter as the connections on the water heater.
Unions may be used to facilitate installation and removal of the
piping arrangements. Install a pressure gauge and diaphragm
expansion tank in the supply water piping at a location upstream of
the inlet temperature sensor. Install an appropriately rated
pressure and temperature relief valve on all water heaters at the
port specified by the manufacturer. Discharge piping for the relief
valve must be non-metallic. If heat traps, piping insulation, or
pressure relief valve insulation are supplied with the water heater,
they must be installed for testing. Except when using a simulated
wall, provide sufficient clearance such that none of the piping
contacts other surfaces in the test room.
4.4 Fuel and/or Electrical Power and Energy Consumption. Install
one or more instruments that measure, as appropriate, the quantity
and rate of electrical energy and/or fossil fuel consumption in
accordance with section 3 of this appendix.
4.5 Internal Storage Tank Temperature Measurements. For water
heaters with rated storage volumes greater than or equal to 20
gallons, install six temperature measurement sensors inside the
water heater tank with a vertical distance of at least 4 inches (100
mm) between successive sensors. For water heaters with rated storage
volumes between 2 and 20 gallons, install three temperature
measurement sensors inside the water heater tank. Position a
temperature sensor at the vertical midpoint of each of the six equal
volume nodes within a tank larger than 20 gallons or the three equal
volume nodes within a tank between 2 and 20 gallons. Nodes designate
the equal volumes used to evenly partition the total volume of the
tank. As much as is possible, the temperature sensor should be
positioned away from any heating elements, anodic protective
devices, tank walls, and flue pipe walls. If the tank cannot
accommodate six temperature sensors and meet the installation
requirements specified above, install the maximum number of sensors
that comply with the installation requirements. Install the
temperature sensors through: (1) The anodic device opening; (2) the
relief valve opening; or (3) the hot water outlet. If installed
through the relief valve opening or the hot water outlet, a tee
fitting or outlet piping, as applicable, must be installed as close
as possible to its original location. If the relief valve
temperature sensor is relocated, and it no longer extends into the
top of the tank, install a substitute relief valve that has a
sensing element that can reach into the tank. If the hot water
outlet includes a heat trap, install the heat trap on top of the tee
fitting. Cover any added fittings with thermal insulation having an
R value between 4 and 8 h[middot]ft\2\[middot][deg]F/Btu (0.7 and
1.4 m\2\[middot][deg]C/W).
4.6 Ambient Air Temperature Measurement. Install an ambient air
temperature sensor at the vertical mid-point of the water heater and
approximately 2 feet (610 mm) from the surface of the water heater.
Shield the sensor against radiation.
4.7 Inlet and Outlet Water Temperature Measurements. Install
temperature sensors in the cold-water inlet pipe and hot-water
outlet pipe as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7a, and 7b of
section 6.4.6 of this appendix, as applicable.
4.8 Flow Control. Install a valve or valves to provide flow as
specified in sections 5.3 and 5.4 of this appendix.
4.9 Flue Requirements.
4.9.1 Gas-Fired Water Heaters. Establish a natural draft in the
following manner. For gas-fired water heaters with a vertically
discharging draft hood outlet, connect to the draft hood outlet a 5-
foot (1.5-meter) vertical vent pipe extension with a diameter equal
to the largest flue collar size of the draft hood. For gas-fired
water heaters with a horizontally discharging draft hood outlet,
connect to the draft hood outlet a 90-degree elbow with a diameter
equal to the largest flue collar size of the draft hood, connect a
5-foot (1.5-meter) length of vent pipe to that elbow, and orient the
vent pipe to discharge vertically upward. Install direct-vent gas-
fired water heaters with venting equipment specified in the
manufacturer's instructions using the minimum vertical and
horizontal lengths of vent pipe recommended by the manufacturer.
4.9.2 Oil-Fired Water Heaters. Establish a draft at the flue
collar at the value specified in the manufacturer's instructions.
Establish the draft by using a sufficient length of vent pipe
connected to the water heater flue outlet, and directed vertically
upward. For an oil-fired water heater with a horizontally
discharging draft hood outlet, connect to the draft hood outlet a
90-degree elbow with a diameter equal to the largest flue collar
size of the draft hood, connect to the elbow fitting a length of
vent pipe sufficient to establish the draft, and orient the vent
pipe to discharge vertically upward. Direct-vent oil-fired water
heaters should be installed with venting equipment as specified in
the manufacturer's instructions, using the minimum vertical and
horizontal lengths of vent pipe recommended by the manufacturer.
5. Test Procedures
5.1 Operational Mode Selection. For water heaters that allow for
multiple user-selected operational modes, all procedures specified
in this appendix shall be carried out with the water heater in the
same operational mode (i.e., only one mode). This operational mode
shall be the default mode (or similarly-named, suggested mode for
normal operation) as defined by the manufacturer in its product
literature for giving selection guidance to the consumer. For heat
pump water heaters, if a default mode is not defined in the product
literature, each test shall be conducted under an operational mode
in which both the heat pump and any electric resistance backup
heating element(s) are activated by the unit's control scheme, and
which can achieve the internal storage tank temperature specified in
this test procedure; if multiple operational modes meet these
criteria, the water heater shall be tested under the most energy-
intensive mode. If no default mode is specified and the unit does
not offer an operational mode that utilizes both the heat pump and
the electric resistance backup heating element(s), the first-hour
rating test and the simulated-use test shall be tested in heat-pump-
only mode. For other types of water heaters where a default mode is
not specified, test the unit in all modes and rate the unit using
the results of the most energy-intensive mode.
5.2 Water Heater Preparation.
5.2.1 Determination of Storage Tank Volume. For water heaters
with a rated storage volume greater than or equal to 2 gallons,
determine the storage capacity, Vst, of the water heater
under test, in gallons (liters), by subtracting the tare weight--
measured while the tank is empty--from the gross weight of the
storage tank when completely filled with water (with all air
eliminated and line pressure applied as described in section 2.5 of
this appendix) and dividing the resulting net weight by the density
of water at the measured temperature.
5.2.2 Setting the Outlet Discharge Temperature.
5.2.2.1 Flow-Activated Water Heaters, including certain
instantaneous water heaters and certain storage-type water heaters.
Initiate normal operation of the water heater at the full input
rating for electric water heaters and at the maximum firing rate
specified by the manufacturer for gas or oil water heaters. Monitor
the discharge water temperature and set to a value of 125 [deg]F
5 [deg]F (51.7 [deg]C 2.8 [deg]C) in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. If the water heater
is not capable of providing this discharge temperature when the flow
rate is 1.7 gallons 0.25 gallons per minute (6.4 liters
0.95 liters per minute), then adjust the flow rate as
necessary to achieve the specified discharge water temperature. Once
the proper temperature control setting is achieved, the setting must
remain fixed for the duration of the
[[Page 40571]]
maximum GPM test and the simulated-use test.
5.2.2.2 Storage-Type Water Heaters that Are Not Flow-Activated.
5.2.2.2.1 Tanks with a Single Temperature Controller.
5.2.2.2.1.1 Water Heaters with Rated Volumes Less than 20
Gallons. Starting with a tank at the supply water temperature,
initiate normal operation of the water heater. After cut-out,
initiate a draw from the water heater at a flow rate of 1.0 gallon
0.25 gallons per minute (3.8 liters 0.95
liters per minute) for 2 minutes. Starting 15 seconds after
commencement of draw, record the outlet temperature at 15-second
intervals until the end of the 2-minute period. Determine whether
the maximum outlet temperature is within the range of
125[emsp14][deg]F 5[emsp14][deg]F (51.7 [deg]C 2.8 [deg]C). If not, turn off the water heater, adjust the
temperature controller, and then drain and refill the tank with
supply water. Then, once again, initiate normal operation of the
water heater, and repeat the 2-minute outlet temperature test
following cut-out. Repeat this sequence until the maximum outlet
temperature during the 2-minute test is within 125[emsp14][deg]F
5[emsp14][deg]F (51.7 [deg]C 2.8 [deg]C).
Once the proper temperature control setting is achieved, the setting
must remain fixed for the duration of the first-hour rating test and
the simulated-use test such that a second identical simulated-use
test run immediately following the one specified in section 5.4
would result in average delivered water temperatures that are within
the bounds specified in section 2.4 of this appendix.
5.2.2.2.1.2 Water Heaters with Rated Volumes Greater than or
Equal to 20 Gallons. Starting with a tank at the supply water
temperature, initiate normal operation of the water heater. After
cut-out, initiate a draw from the water heater at a flow rate of 1.7
gallons 0.25 gallons per minute (6.4 liters 0.95 liters per minute) for 5 minutes. Starting 15 seconds
after commencement of draw, record the outlet temperature at 15-
second intervals until the end of the 5-minute period. Determine
whether the maximum outlet temperature is within the range of
125[emsp14][deg]F 5[emsp14][deg]F (51.7 [deg]C 2.8 [deg]C). If not, turn off the water heater, adjust the
temperature controller, and then drain and refill the tank with
supply water. Then, once again, initiate normal operation of the
water heater, and repeat the 5-minute outlet temperature test
following cut-out. Repeat this sequence until the maximum outlet
temperature during the 5-minute test is within of 125[emsp14][deg]F
5[emsp14][deg]F (51.7 [deg]C 2.8 [deg]C).
Once the proper temperature control setting is achieved, the setting
must remain fixed for the duration of the first-hour rating test and
the simulated-use test such that a second identical simulated-use
test run immediately following the one specified in section 5.4
would result in average delivered water temperatures that are within
the bounds specified in section 2.4 of this appendix.
5.2.2.2.2 Tanks with Two or More Temperature Controllers. Verify
the temperature controller set-point while removing water in
accordance with the procedure set forth for the first-hour rating
test in section 5.3.3 of this appendix. The following criteria must
be met to ensure that all temperature controllers are set to deliver
water at 125[emsp14][deg]F 5[emsp14][deg]F (51.7 [deg]C
2.8 [deg]C):
(a) At least 50 percent of the water drawn during the first draw
of the first-hour rating test procedure shall be delivered at a
temperature of 125 [deg]F 5 [deg]F (51.7 [deg]C 2.8 [deg]C).
(b) No water is delivered above 130 [deg]F (54.4 [deg]C) during
first-hour rating test.
(c) The delivery temperature measured 15 seconds after
commencement of each draw begun prior to an elapsed time of 60
minutes from the start of the test shall be at 125[emsp14][deg]F
5[emsp14][deg]F (51.7 [deg]C 2.8 [deg]C).
If these conditions are not met, turn off the water heater,
adjust the temperature controllers, and then drain and refill the
tank with supply water. Repeat the procedure described at the start
of section 5.2.2.2.2 until the criteria for setting the temperature
controllers is met.
If the conditions stated above are met, the data obtained during
the process of verifying the temperature control set-points may be
used in determining the first-hour rating provided that all other
conditions and methods required in sections 2 and 5.2.4 in preparing
the water heater were followed.
5.2.3 Power Input Determination. For all water heaters except
electric types, initiate normal operation (as described in section
5.1) and determine the power input, P, to the main burners
(including pilot light power, if any) after 15 minutes of operation.
If the water heater is equipped with a gas appliance pressure
regulator, the regulator outlet pressure shall be set within 10% of that recommended by the manufacturer. For oil-fired
water heaters, the fuel pump pressure shall be within 10% of the manufacturer's specified pump pressure. Adjust all
burners to achieve an hourly Btu (kJ) rating that is within 2% of the value specified by the manufacturer. For an oil-
fired water heater, adjust the burner to give a CO2
reading recommended by the manufacturer and an hourly Btu (kJ)
rating that is within 2% of that specified by the
manufacturer. Smoke in the flue may not exceed No. 1 smoke as
measured by the procedure in ASTM D2156 (incorporated by reference,
see Sec. 430.3).
5.2.4 Soak-In Period for Water Heaters with Rated Storage
Volumes Greater than or Equal to 2 Gallons. For storage-type water
heaters and instantaneous water heaters having greater than 2
gallons (7.6 liters) of storage (including heat pump water heaters
having greater than 2 gallons of storage), the water heater must sit
filled with water and without any draws taking place for at least 12
hours after initially being energized so as to achieve the nominal
temperature set-point within the tank and with the unit connected to
a power source.
5.3 Delivery Capacity Tests.
5.3.1 General. For flow-activated water heaters, conduct the
maximum GPM test, as described in section 5.3.2, Maximum GPM Rating
Test for Flow-Activated Water Heaters, of this appendix. For all
other water heaters, conduct the first-hour rating test as described
in section 5.3.3 of this appendix.
5.3.2 Maximum GPM Rating Test for Flow-Activated Water Heaters.
Establish normal water heater operation at the full input rate for
electric water heaters and at the maximum firing rate for gas or oil
water heaters with the discharge water temperature set in accordance
with section 5.2.2.1 of this appendix.
For this 10-minute test, either collect the withdrawn water for
later measurement of the total mass removed or use a water meter to
directly measure the water volume removed. Initiate water flow
through the water heater and record the inlet and outlet water
temperatures beginning 15 seconds after the start of the test and at
subsequent 5-second intervals throughout the duration of the test.
At the end of 10 minutes, turn off the water. Determine and record
the mass of water collected, M10m, in pounds (kilograms),
or the volume of water, V10m, in gallons (liters).
5.3.3 First-Hour Rating Test.
5.3.3.1 General. During hot water draws for water heaters with
rated storage volumes greater than or equal to 20 gallons, remove
water at a rate of 3.0 0.25 gallons per minute (11.4
0.95 liters per minute). During hot water draws for
storage-type water heaters with rated storage volumes below 20
gallons, remove water at a rate of 1.0 0.25 gallon per
minute (3.8 0.95 liters per minute). Collect the water
in a container that is large enough to hold the volume removed
during an individual draw and is suitable for weighing at the
termination of each draw to determine the total volume of water
withdrawn. As an alternative to collecting the water, a water meter
may be used to directly measure the water volume(s) withdrawn.
5.3.3.2 Draw Initiation Criteria. Begin the first-hour rating
test by starting a draw on the storage-type water heater. After
completion of this first draw, initiate successive draws based on
the following criteria. For gas-fired and oil-fired water heaters,
initiate successive draws when the temperature controller acts to
reduce the supply of fuel to the main burner. For electric water
heaters having a single element or multiple elements that all
operate simultaneously, initiate successive draws when the
temperature controller acts to reduce the electrical input supplied
to the element(s). For electric water heaters having two or more
elements that do not operate simultaneously, initiate successive
draws when the applicable temperature controller acts to reduce the
electrical input to the energized element located vertically highest
in the storage tank. For heat pump water heaters that do not use
supplemental, resistive heating, initiate successive draws
immediately after the electrical input to the compressor is reduced
by the action of the water heater's temperature controller. For heat
pump water heaters that use supplemental resistive heating, initiate
successive draws immediately after the electrical input to the first
of either the compressor or the vertically highest resistive element
is reduced by the action of the applicable water heater temperature
controller. This draw initiation criterion for heat pump water
heaters that use supplemental resistive heating, however, shall only
apply when the water located above the thermostat at cut-out is
heated to 125[emsp14][deg]F 5[emsp14][deg]F (51.7
[deg]C 2.8 [deg]C). If this
[[Page 40572]]
criterion is not met, then the next draw should be initiated once
the heat pump compressor cuts out.
5.3.3.3 Test Sequence. Establish normal water heater operation.
If the water heater is not presently operating, initiate a draw. The
draw may be terminated any time after cut-in occurs. After cut-out
occurs (i.e., all temperature controllers are satisfied), record the
internal storage tank temperature at each sensor described in
section 4.5 of this appendix every one minute, and determine the
mean tank temperature by averaging the values from these sensors.
Initiate a draw after a maximum mean tank temperature (the
maximum of the mean temperatures of the individual sensors) has been
observed following a cut-out. Record the time when the draw is
initiated and designate it as an elapsed time of zero ([tau]* = 0).
(The superscript * is used to denote variables pertaining to the
first-hour rating test). Record the outlet water temperature
beginning 15 seconds after the draw is initiated and at 5-second
intervals thereafter until the draw is terminated. Determine the
maximum outlet temperature that occurs during this first draw and
record it as T*max,1. For the duration of this first draw
and all successive draws, in addition, monitor the inlet temperature
to the water heater to ensure that the required 58[emsp14][deg]F
2[emsp14][deg]F (14.4 [deg]C 1.1 [deg]C)
test condition is met. Terminate the hot water draw when the outlet
temperature decreases to T*max,1 - 15 [deg]F
(T*max,1 - 8.3 [deg]C). (Note, if the outlet temperature
does not decrease to T*max,1 - 15 [deg]F
(T*max,1 - 8.3 [deg]C) during the draw, then hot water
would be drawn continuously for the duration of the test. In this
instance, the test would end when the temperature decreases to
T*max,1- 15 [deg]F (T*max,1 - 8.3 [deg]C)
after the electrical power and/or fuel supplied to the water heater
is shut off, as described in the following paragraphs.) Record this
temperature as T*min,1. Following draw termination,
determine the average outlet water temperature and the mass or
volume removed during this first draw and record them as
T*del,i and M*1 or V*1,
respectively.
Initiate a second and, if applicable, successive draw(s) each
time the applicable draw initiation criteria described in section
5.3.3.2 are satisfied. As required for the first draw, record the
outlet water temperature 15 seconds after initiating each draw and
at 5-second intervals thereafter until the draw is terminated.
Determine the maximum outlet temperature that occurs during each
draw and record it as T*max,i, where the subscript i
refers to the draw number. Terminate each hot water draw when the
outlet temperature decreases to T*max,i - 15 [deg]F
(T*max,i - 8.3 [deg]C). Record this temperature as
T*min,i. Calculate and record the average outlet
temperature and the mass or volume removed during each draw
(T*del,i and M*i or V*i,
respectively). Continue this sequence of draw and recovery until one
hour after the start of the test, then shut off the electrical power
and/or fuel supplied to the water heater.
If a draw is occurring at one hour from the start of the test,
continue this draw until the outlet temperature decreases to
T*max,n - 15 [deg]F (T*max,n - 8.3 [deg]C), at
which time the draw shall be immediately terminated. (The subscript
n shall be used to denote measurements associated with the final
draw.) If a draw is not occurring one hour after the start of the
test, initiate a final draw at one hour, regardless of whether the
criteria described in section 5.3.3.2 of this appendix are
satisfied. This draw shall proceed for a minimum of 30 seconds and
shall terminate when the outlet temperature first indicates a value
less than or equal to the cut-off temperature used for the previous
draw (T*min,n-1). If an outlet temperature greater than
T*min,n-1 is not measured within 30 seconds of initiation
of the draw, zero additional credit shall be given towards first-
hour rating (i.e., M*n = 0 or V*n = 0) based
on the final draw. After the final draw is terminated, calculate and
record the average outlet temperature and the mass or volume removed
during the final draw (T*del,n and M*n or
V*n, respectively).
5.4 24-Hour Simulated Use Test.
5.4.1 Selection of Draw Pattern. The water heater will be tested
under a draw profile that depends upon the first-hour rating
obtained following the test prescribed in section 5.3.3 of this
appendix, or the maximum GPM rating obtained following the test
prescribed in section 5.3.2 of this appendix, whichever is
applicable. For water heaters that have been tested according to the
first-hour rating procedure, one of four different patterns shall be
applied based on the measured first-hour rating, as shown in Table I
of this section. For water heater that have been tested according to
the maximum GPM rating procedure, one of four different patterns
shall be applied based on the maximum GPM, as shown in Table II of
this section.
Table I--Draw Pattern To Be Used Based on First-Hour Rating
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First-hour rating greater than or ... and first-hour
equal to: rating less than: Draw pattern to be used in simulated-use test
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 gallons........................... 18 gallons............ Very-Small-Usage (Table III.1).
18 gallons.......................... 51 gallons............ Low-Usage (Table III.2).
51 gallons.......................... 75 gallons............ Medium-Usage (Table III.3).
75 gallons.......................... No upper limit........ High-Usage (Table III.4).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table II--Draw Pattern To Be Used Based on Maximum GPM Rating
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum GPM rating greater than or and maximum GPM rating
equal to: less than: Draw pattern to be used in simulated-use test
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 gallons/minute.................... 1.7 gallons/minute.... Very-Small-Usage (Table III.1).
1.7 gallons/minute.................. 2.8 gallons/minute.... Low-Usage (Table III.2).
2.8 gallons/minute.................. 4 gallons/minute...... Medium-Usage (Table III.3).
4 gallons/minute.................... No upper limit........ High-Usage (Table III.4).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The draw patterns are provided in Tables III.1 through III.4 in
section 5.5 of this appendix. Use the appropriate draw pattern when
conducting the test sequence provided in section 5.4.2 of this
appendix for water heaters with rated storage volumes greater than
or equal to 2 gallons or section 5.4.3 of this appendix for water
heaters with rated storage volumes less than 2 gallons.
5.4.2 Test Sequence for Water Heaters with Rated Storage Volumes
Greater Than or Equal to 2 Gallons. If the water heater is turned
off, fill the water heater with supply water and maintain supply
water pressure as described in section 2.6 of this appendix. Turn on
the water heater and associated heat pump unit, if present. If
turned on in this fashion, the soak-in period described in section
5.2.4 of this appendix shall be implemented. If the water heater has
undergone a first-hour rating test prior to conduct of the
simulated-use test, allow the water heater to fully recover after
completion of that test such that the main burner, heating elements,
or heat pump compressor of the water heater are no longer raising
the temperature of the stored water. In all cases, the water heater
shall sit idle for 1 hour prior to the start of the 24-hour test;
during which time no water is drawn from the unit and there is no
energy input to the main heating elements, heat pump compressor,
and/or burners. At the end of this period, the 24-hour simulated-use
test will begin.
At the start of the 24-hour test, record the mean tank
temperature (T0), and the electrical and/or fuel
measurement readings, as appropriate. Begin the 24-hour simulated
use test by withdrawing the volume specified
[[Page 40573]]
in the appropriate table in section 5.5 of this appendix (i.e.,
Table III.1, Table III.2, Table III.3, or Table III.4, depending on
the first-hour rating or maximum GPM rating) for the first draw at
the flow rate specified in the applicable table. Record the time
when this first draw is initiated and assign it as the test elapsed
time ([tau]) of zero (0). Record the average storage tank and
ambient temperature every minute throughout the 24-hour simulated-
use test. At the elapsed times specified in the applicable draw
pattern table in section 5.5 of this appendix for a particular draw
pattern, initiate additional draws pursuant to the draw pattern,
removing the volume of hot water at the prescribed flow rate
specified by the table. The maximum allowable deviation from the
specified volume of water removed for any single draw taken at a
nominal flow rate of 1 GPM or 1.7 GPM is 0.1 gallons
(0.4 liters). The maximum allowable deviation from the
specified volume of water removed for any single draw taken at a
nominal flow rate of 3 GPM is 0.25 gallons (0.9 liters).
The quantity of water withdrawn during the last draw shall be
increased or decreased as necessary such that the total volume of
water withdrawn equals the prescribed daily amount for that draw
pattern 1.0 gallon (3.8 liters). If this
adjustment to the volume drawn during the last draw results in no
draw taking place, the test is considered invalid.
All draws during the 24-hour simulated-use test shall be made at
the flow rates specified in the applicable draw pattern table in
section 5.5 of this appendix, within a tolerance of 0.25
gallons per minute (0. 9 liters per minute).
Measurements of the inlet and outlet temperatures shall be made 5
seconds after the draw is initiated and at every subsequent 3-second
interval throughout the duration of each draw. Calculate and record
the mean of the hot water discharge temperature and the cold water
inlet temperature for each draw Tdel,i and
Tin,i). Determine and record the net mass or volume
removed (Mi or Vi), as appropriate, after each
draw.
At the end of the first recovery period following the first
draw, which may extend beyond subsequent draws, record the maximum
mean tank temperature observed after cut-out, Tmax,1, and
the energy consumed by an electric resistance, gas, or oil-fired
water heater (including electrical energy), from the beginning of
the test, Qr. For heat pump water heaters, the total
energy consumed during the first recovery by the heat pump
(including compressor, fan, controls, pump, etc.) and, if
applicable, by the resistive element(s) shall be recorded as
Qr.
The start of the portion of the test during which the standby
loss coefficient is determined depends upon whether the unit has
fully recovered from the first draw cluster. If a recovery is
occurring at or within five minutes of the end of the final draw in
the first draw cluster, as identified in the applicable draw pattern
table in section 5.5 of this appendix, then the standby period
starts when a maximum average tank temperature is observed starting
five minutes after the end of the recovery period that follows that
draw. If a recovery does not occur at or within five minutes of the
end of the final draw in the first draw cluster, as identified in
the applicable draw pattern table in section 5.5 of this appendix,
then the standby period starts five minutes after the end of that
draw. Determine and record the total electrical energy and/or fossil
fuel consumed from the beginning of the test to the start of the
standby period, Qsu,0.
In preparation for determining the energy consumed during
standby, record the reading given on the electrical energy (watt-
hour) meter, the gas meter, and/or the scale used to determine oil
consumption, as appropriate. Record the mean tank temperature at the
start of the standby period as Tsu,0. At 1-minute
intervals, record the mean tank temperature and the electric and/or
fuel instrument readings until the next draw is initiated. Just
prior to initiation of the next draw, record the mean tank
temperature as Tsu,f. If the water heater is undergoing
recovery when the next draw is initiated, record the mean tank
temperature Tsu,f at the minute prior to the start of the
recovery. The time at which this value occurs is the end of the
standby period. Determine the total electrical energy and/or fossil
fuel energy consumption from the beginning of the test to this time
and record as Qsu,f. Record the time interval between the
start of the standby period and the end of the standby period as
[tau]stby,1. Record the time during which water is not
being withdrawn from the water heater during the entire 24-hour
period as [tau]stby,2.
In the event that the recovery period continues from the end of
the last draw of the first draw cluster until the subsequent draw,
the standby period will start after the end of the first recovery
period after the last draw of the simulated-use test, when the
temperature reaches the maximum average tank temperature, though no
sooner than five minutes after the end of this recovery period. The
standby period shall last eight hours, so testing will extend beyond
the 24-hour duration of the simulated-use test. Determine and record
the total electrical energy and/or fossil fuel consumed from the
beginning of the simulated-use test to the start of the 8-hour
standby period, Qsu,0. In preparation for determining the
energy consumed during standby, record the reading(s) given on the
electrical energy (watt-hour) meter, the gas meter, and/or the scale
used to determine oil consumption, as appropriate. Record the mean
tank temperature at the start of the standby period as
Tsu,0. Record the mean tank temperature, the ambient
temperature, and the electric and/or fuel instrument readings until
the end of the 8 hour period. Record the mean tank temperature at
the end of the 8 hour standby period as Tsu,f. If the
water heater is undergoing recovery at the end of the standby
period, record the mean tank temperature Tsu,f at the
minute prior to the start of the recovery, which will mark the end
of the standby period. Determine the total electrical energy and/or
fossil fuel energy consumption from the beginning of the test to the
end of the standby period and record this value as Qsu,f.
Record the time interval between the start of the standby period and
the end of the standby period as [tau]stby,1.
Following the final draw of the prescribed draw pattern and
subsequent recovery, allow the water heater to remain in the standby
mode until exactly 24 hours have elapsed since the start of the
simulated-use test (i.e., since [tau] = 0). During the last hour of
the simulated-use test, power to the main burner, heating element,
or compressor shall be disabled. At 24 hours, record the reading
given by the gas meter, oil meter, and/or the electrical energy
meter as appropriate. Determine the fossil fuel and/or electrical
energy consumed during the entire 24-hour simulated-use test and
designate the quantity as Q.
5.4.3 Test Sequence for Water Heaters With Rated Storage Volume
Less Than 2 Gallons.
Establish normal operation with the discharge water temperature
at 125 [deg]F 5 [deg]F (51.7 [deg]C 2.8
[deg]C) and set the flow rate as determined in section 5.2 of this
appendix. Prior to commencement of the 24-hour simulated-use test,
the unit shall remain in an idle state in which controls are active
but no water is drawn through the unit for a period of one hour.
With no draw occurring, record the reading given by the gas meter
and/or the electrical energy meter as appropriate. Begin the 24-hour
simulated-use test by withdrawing the volume specified in Tables
III.1 through III.4 of section 5.5 of this appendix for the first
draw at the flow rate specified. Record the time when this first
draw is initiated and designate it as an elapsed time, [tau], of 0.
At the elapsed times specified in Tables III.1 through III.4 for a
particular draw pattern, initiate additional draws, removing the
volume of hot water at the prescribed flow rate specified in Tables
III.1 through III.4. The maximum allowable deviation from the
specified volume of water removed for any single draw taken at a
nominal flow rate less than or equal to 1.7 GPM (6.4 L/min) is
0.1 gallons (0.4 liters). The maximum
allowable deviation from the specified volume of water removed for
any single draw taken at a nominal flow rate of 3 GPM (11.4 L/min)
is 0.25 gallons (0.9 liters). The quantity of water
drawn during the final draw shall be increased or decreased as
necessary such that the total volume of water withdrawn equals the
prescribed daily amount for that draw pattern 1.0 gallon
(3.8 liters). If this adjustment to the volume drawn in
the last draw results in no draw taking place, the test is
considered invalid.
Measurements of the inlet and outlet water temperatures shall be
made 5 seconds after the draw is initiated and at every 3-second
interval thereafter throughout the duration of the draw. Calculate
the mean of the hot water discharge temperature and the cold water
inlet temperature for each draw. Record the mass of the withdrawn
water or the water meter reading, as appropriate, after each draw.
At the end of the recovery period following the first draw,
determine and record the fossil fuel and/or electrical energy
consumed, Qr. Following the final draw and subsequent
recovery, allow the water heater to remain in the standby mode until
exactly 24 hours have elapsed since the start of the test (i.e.,
since [tau] = 0). At 24 hours, record the reading given by the gas
meter, oil meter, and/or the electrical energy meter, as
appropriate. Determine the fossil fuel and/or electrical energy
consumed during the entire
[[Page 40574]]
24-hour simulated-use test and designate the quantity as Q.
5.5 Draw Patterns. The draw patterns to be imposed during 24-
hour simulated-use tests are provided in Tables III.1 through III.4.
Subject each water heater under test to one of these draw patterns
based on its first-hour rating or maximum GPM rating, as discussed
in section 5.4.1 of this appendix. Each draw pattern specifies the
elapsed time in hours and minutes during the 24-hour test when a
draw is to commence, the total volume of water in gallons (liters)
that is to be removed during each draw, and the flow rate at which
each draw is to be taken, in gallons (liters) per minute.
Table III.1--Very-Small-Usage Draw Pattern
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time during test Volume [gallons Flow Rate ** [GPM
Draw No. [hh:mm] (L)] (L/min)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 *................................................. 0:00 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
2 *................................................. 1:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
3 *................................................. 1:05 0.5 (1.9) 1 (3.8)
4 *................................................. 1:10 0.5 (1.9) 1 (3.8)
5 *................................................. 1:15 0.5 (1.9) 1 (3.8)
6................................................... 8:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
7................................................... 8:15 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
8................................................... 9:00 1.5 (5.7) 1 (3.8)
9................................................... 9:15 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 10 gallons (38 L)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
** Should the water heater have a maximum GPM rating less than 1 GPM (3.8 L/min), then all draws shall be
implemented at a flow rate equal to the rated maximum GPM.
Table III.2--Low-Usage Draw Pattern
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time during test Volume [gallons Flow rate [GPM (L/
Draw No. [hh:mm] (liters)] min)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 *................................................. 0:00 15.0 (56.8) 1.7 (6.4)
2 *................................................. 0:30 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
3 *................................................. 1:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
4................................................... 10:30 6.0 (22.7) 1.7 (6.4)
5................................................... 11:30 4.0 (15.1) 1.7 (6.4)
6................................................... 12:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
7................................................... 12:45 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
8................................................... 12:50 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
9................................................... 16:15 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
10.................................................. 16:45 2.0 (7.6) 1.7 (6.4)
11.................................................. 17:00 3.0 (11.4) 1.7 (6.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 38 gallons (144 L)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
Table III.3--Medium-Usage Draw Pattern
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time during test Volume [gallons Flow rate [GPM (L/
Draw No. [hh:mm] (liters)] min)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 *................................................. 0:00 15.0 (56.8) 1.7 (6.4)
2 *................................................. 0:30 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
3 *................................................. 1:40 9.0 (34.1) 1.7 (6.4)
4................................................... 10:30 9.0 (34.1) 1.7 (6.4)
5................................................... 11:30 5.0 (18.9) 1.7 (6.4)
6................................................... 12:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
7................................................... 12:45 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
8................................................... 12:50 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
9................................................... 16:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
10.................................................. 16:15 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
11.................................................. 16:45 2.0 (7.6) 1.7 (6.4)
12.................................................. 17:00 7.0 (26.5) 1.7 (6.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 55 gallons (208 L)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
[[Page 40575]]
Table III.4--High-Usage Draw Pattern
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time during test Volume [gallons Flow rate [GPM (L/
Draw No. [hh:mm] (liters)] min)]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 *................................................. 0:00 27.0 (102) 3 (11.4)
2 *................................................. 0:30 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
3 *................................................. 0:40 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
4 *................................................. 1:40 9.0 (34.1) 1.7 (6.4)
5................................................... 10:30 15.0 (56.8) 3 (11.4)
6................................................... 11:30 5.0 (18.9) 1.7 (6.4)
7................................................... 12:00 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
8................................................... 12:45 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
9................................................... 12:50 1.0 (3.8) 1 (3.8)
10.................................................. 16:00 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
11.................................................. 16:15 2.0 (7.6) 1 (3.8)
12.................................................. 16:30 2.0 (7.6) 1.7 (6.4)
13.................................................. 16:45 2.0 (7.6) 1.7 (6.4)
14.................................................. 17:00 14.0 (53.0) 3 (11.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Volume Drawn Per Day: 84 gallons (318 L)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Denotes draws in first draw cluster.
6. Computations
6.1 First-Hour Rating Computation. For the case in which the
final draw is initiated at or prior to one hour from the start of
the test, the first-hour rating, Fhr, shall be computed
using,
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.067
Where:
n = the number of draws that are completed during the first-hour
rating test.
V*i = the volume of water removed during the ith draw of
the first-hour rating test, gal (L) or, if the mass of water is
being measured,
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.068
Where:
M*i = the mass of water removed during the ith draw of
the first-hour rating test, lb (kg).
[rho] = the water density corresponding to the average outlet
temperature measured during the ith draw, (T*del,i), lb/gal (kg/L).
For the case in which a draw is not in progress at one hour from
the start of the test and a final draw is imposed at the elapsed
time of one hour, the first-hour rating shall be calculated using
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.069
where n and V*i are the same quantities as defined above,
and
V*n = the volume of water drawn during the nth (final)
draw of the first-hour rating test, gal (L).
T*del,n-1 = the average water outlet temperature measured
during the (n-1)th draw of the first-hour rating test, [deg]F
([deg]C).
T*del,n = the average water outlet temperature measured
during the nth (final) draw of the first-hour rating test, [deg]F
([deg]C).
T*min,n-1 = the minimum water outlet temperature measured
during the (n-1)th draw of the first-hour rating test, [deg]F
([deg]C).
6.2 Maximum GPM (L/min) Rating Computation. Compute the maximum
GPM (L/min) rating, Fmax, as:
[[Page 40576]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.070
Where:
M10m = the mass of water collected during the 10-minute
test, lb (kg).
Tdel = the average delivery temperature, [deg]F ([deg]C).
Tin = the average inlet temperature, [deg]F ([deg]C).
[rho] = the density of water at the average delivery temperature,
lb/gal (kg/L).
If a water meter is used, the maximum GPM (L/min) rating is
computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.071
Where:
V10m = the volume of water measured during the 10-minute
test, gal (L).
Tdel = as defined in this section.
Tin = as defined in this section.
6.3 Computations for Water Heaters with a Rated Storage Volume
Greater Than or Equal to 2 Gallons.
6.3.1 Storage Tank Capacity. The storage tank capacity,
Vst, is computed as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.072
Where:
Vst = the storage capacity of the water heater, gal (L)
Wf = the weight of the storage tank when completely
filled with water, lb (kg)
Wt = the (tare) weight of the storage tank when
completely empty, lb (kg)
[rho] = the density of water used to fill the tank measured at the
temperature of the water, lb/gal (kg/L)
6.3.2 Recovery Efficiency. The recovery efficiency for gas, oil,
and heat pump storage-type water heaters, [eta]r, is
computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.073
Where:
M1 = total mass removed from the start of the 24-hour
simulated-use test to the end of the first recovery period, lb (kg),
or, if the volume of water is being measured,
M1 = V1[rho]1
Where:
V1 = total volume removed from the start of the 24-hour
simulated-use test to the end of the first recovery period, gal (L).
[rho]1 = density of the water at the water temperature
measured at the point where the flow volume is measured, lb/gal (kg/
L).
Cp1 = specific heat of the withdrawn water evaluated at
(Tdel,1 + Tin,1)/2, Btu/(lb[middot][deg]F)
(kJ/(kg[middot][deg]C))
Tdel,1 = average water outlet temperature measured during
the draws from the start of the 24-hour simulated-use test to the
end of the first recovery period, [deg]F ([deg]C).
Tin,1 = average water inlet temperature measured during
the draws from the start
[[Page 40577]]
of the 24-hour simulated-use test to the end of the first recovery
period, [deg]F ([deg]C).
Vst = as defined in section 6.3.1.
[rho]2 = density of stored hot water evaluated at
(Tmax,1 + To)/2, lb/gal (kg/L).
Cp2 = specific heat of stored hot water evaluated at
(Tmax,1 + To)/2, Btu/(lb[middot][deg]F) (kJ/
(kg[middot][deg]C).
Tmax,1 = maximum mean tank temperature recorded after
cut-out following the first recovery of the 24-hour simulated use
test, [deg]F ([deg]C).
To = maximum mean tank temperature recorded prior to the
first draw of the 24-hour simulated-use test, [deg]F ([deg]C).
Qr = the total energy used by the water heater between
cut-out prior to the first draw and cut-out following the first
recovery period, including auxiliary energy such as pilot lights,
pumps, fans, etc., Btu (kJ). (Electrical auxiliary energy shall be
converted to thermal energy using the following conversion: 1 kWh =
3412 Btu).
The recovery efficiency for electric water heaters with immersed
heating elements is assumed to be 98 percent.
6.3.3 Hourly Standby Losses. The energy consumed as part of the
standby loss test of the 24-hour simulated-use test,
Qstby, is computed as:
Qstby = Qsu,f - Qsu,o
Where:
Qsu,0 = cumulative energy consumption of the water
heater from the start of the 24-hour simulated-use test to the time
at which the maximum mean tank temperature is attained starting five
minutes after the recovery following the end of the first draw
cluster, Btu (kJ).
Qsu,f = cumulative energy consumption of the water
heater from the start of the 24-hour simulated-use test to the
minute prior to the start of the draw following the end of the first
draw cluster or the minute prior to a recovery occurring at the
start of the draw following the end of the first draw cluster, Btu
(kJ).
The hourly standby energy losses are computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.075
Where:
Qhr = the hourly standby energy losses of the water
heater, Btu/h (kJ/h).
Vst = as defined in section 6.3.1 of this appendix.
[rho] = density of stored hot water, (Tsu,f +
Tsu,0)/2, lb/gal (kg/L).
Cp = specific heat of the stored water, (Tsu,f
+ Tsu,0)/2, Btu/(lb[middot]F), (kJ/(kg[middot]K))
Tsu,f = the mean tank temperature observed at the minute
prior to the start of the draw following the first draw cluster or
the minute prior to a recovery occurring at the start of the draw
following the end of the first draw cluster, [deg]F ([deg]C).
Tsu,0 = the maximum mean tank temperature observed
starting five minutes after the first recovery following the final
draw of the first draw cluster, [deg]F ([deg]C).
[eta]r = as defined in section 6.3.2 of this appendix.
[tau]stby,1 = elapsed time between the time at which the
maximum mean tank temperature is observed starting five minutes
after recovery from the first draw cluster and the minute prior to
the start of the first draw following the end of the first draw
cluster of the 24-hour simulated-use test or the minute prior to a
recovery occurring at the start of the draw following the end of the
first draw cluster, h.
The standby heat loss coefficient for the tank is computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.076
Where:
UA = standby heat loss coefficient of the storage tank, Btu/
(h[middot][deg]F), (kJ/(h[middot][deg]C).
Tt,stby,1 = overall average storage tank temperature
between the time when the maximum mean tank temperature is observed
starting five minutes after cut-out following the first draw cluster
and the minute prior to commencement of the next draw following the
first draw cluster of the 24-hour simulated-use test or the minute
prior to a recovery occurring at the start of the draw following the
end of the first draw cluster, [deg]F ([deg]C).
Ta,stby,1 = overall average ambient temperature between
the time when the maximum mean tank temperature is observed starting
five minutes after cut-out following the first draw cluster and the
minute prior to commencement of the next draw following the first
draw cluster of the 24-hour simulated-use test or the minute prior
to a recovery occurring at the start of the draw following the end
of the first draw cluster, [deg]F ([deg]C).
6.3.4 Daily Water Heating Energy Consumption. The daily water
heating energy consumption, Qd, is computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.077
Where:
Q = Qf + Qe = total energy used by the water
heater during the 24-hour simulated-use test, including auxiliary
energy such as pilot lights, pumps, fans, etc., Btu (kJ).
(Electrical energy shall be converted to thermal energy using the
following conversion: 1kWh = 3412 Btu.)
Qf = total fossil fuel energy used by the water heater
during the 24-hour simulated-use test, Btu (kJ).
Qe = total electrical energy used during the 24-hour
simulated-use test, Btu (kJ).
Vst = as defined in section 6.3.1 of this appendix.
[rho] = density of the stored hot water, evaluated at
(T24 + T0)/2, lb/gal (kg/L)
Cp = specific heat of the stored water, evaluated at
(T24 + T0)/2, Btu/(lb[middot]F), (kJ/
(kg[middot]K)).
T24 = mean tank temperature at the end of the 24-hour
simulated-use test, [deg]F ([deg]C).
T0 = mean tank temperature at the beginning of the 24-
hour simulated-use test, recorded one minute before the first draw
is initiated, [deg]F ([deg]C).
[eta]r = as defined in section 6.3.2 of this appendix.
6.3.5 Adjusted Daily Water Heating Energy Consumption. The
adjusted daily water heating energy consumption, Qda,
takes into account that the ambient temperature may differ from the
nominal value of 67.5[emsp14][deg]F (19.7[deg]C) due to the
allowable variation in surrounding ambient temperature of
65[emsp14][deg]F (18.3 [deg]C) to 70 [deg]C (21.1[deg]C). The
adjusted daily water heating energy consumption is computed as:
[[Page 40578]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.078
Where:
Qda = the adjusted daily water heating energy
consumption, Btu (kJ).
Qd = as defined in section 6.3.4 of this appendix.
Ta,stby,2 = the average ambient temperature during the
total standby portion, [tau]stby,2, of the 24-hour
simulated-use test, [deg]F ([deg]C).
UA = as defined in section 6.3.3 of this appendix.
[tau]stby,2 = the number of hours during the 24-hour
simulated-use test when water is not being withdrawn from the water
heater.
A modification is also needed to take into account that the
temperature difference between the outlet water temperature and
supply water temperature may not be equivalent to the nominal value
of 67[emsp14][deg]F (125[emsp14][deg]F-58[emsp14][deg]F) or 37.3
[deg]C (51.7 [deg]C-14.4 [deg]C). The following equations adjust the
experimental data to a nominal 67 [deg]F (37.3 [deg]C) temperature
rise.
The energy used to heat water, Btu/day (kJ/day), may be computed
as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.079
Where:
N = total number of draws in the draw pattern.
Mi = the mass withdrawn for the ith draw (i = 1 to N), lb
(kg)
Cpi = the specific heat of the water of the ith draw
evaluated at (Tdel,i + Tin,i)/2, Btu/
(lb[middot][deg]F) (kJ/(kg[middot][deg]C)).
Tdel,i = the average water outlet temperature measured
during the ith draw (i = 1 to N), [deg]F ([deg]C).
Tin,i = the average water inlet temperature measured
during the ith draw (i = 1 to N), [deg]F ([deg]C).
[eta]r = as defined in section 6.3.2 of this appendix.
The energy required to heat the same quantity of water over a
67[emsp14][deg]F (37.3 [deg]C) temperature rise, Btu/day (kJ/day),
is:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.080
The difference between these two values is:
QHWD = QHW,67 [deg]F - QHW
or QHWD = QHW,37.3[deg]C - QHW
This difference (QHWD) must be added to the adjusted
daily water heating energy consumption value. Thus, the daily energy
consumption value which takes into account that the ambient
temperature may not be 67.5 [deg]F (19.7 [deg]C) and that the
temperature rise across the storage tank may not be 67 [deg]F (37.3
[deg]C) is:
Qdm = Qda + QHWD
6.3.6 Uniform Energy Factor. The uniform energy factor, UEF, is
computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.082
Where:
N = total number of draws in the draw pattern
Qdm = the modified daily water heating energy consumption
as computed in accordance with section 6.3.5 of this appendix, Btu
(kJ)
Mi = the mass withdrawn for the ith draw (i = 1 to N), lb
(kg)
Cpi = the specific heat of the water of the ith draw,
evaluated at (125[emsp14][deg]F + 58[emsp14][deg]F)/2 =
[[Page 40579]]
91.5[emsp14][deg]F ((51.7[emsp14][deg]C + 14.4[emsp14][deg]C)/2 = 33
[deg]C), Btu/(lb[middot] [deg]F) (kJ/(kg[middot] [deg]C)).
6.3.7 Annual Energy Consumption. The annual energy consumption
for water heaters with rated storage volumes greater than or equal
to 2 gallons is computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.083
Where:
UEF = the uniform energy factor as computed in accordance with
section 6.3.6 of this appendix
365 = the number of days in a year
V = the volume of hot water drawn during the applicable draw
pattern, gallons
= 10 for the very-small-usage draw pattern
= 38 for the low-usage draw pattern
= 55 for the medium-usage draw pattern
= 84 for high-usage draw pattern
[rho] = 8.24 lbm/gallon, the density of water at
125[emsp14][deg]F
CP = 1.00 Btu/lbm[emsp14][deg]F, the specific
heat of water at 91.5[emsp14][deg]F
67 = the nominal temperature difference between inlet and outlet
water
6.3.8 Annual Electrical Energy Consumption. The annual
electrical energy consumption in kilowatt-hours for water heaters
with rated storage volumes greater than or equal to 2 gallons,
Eannual,e, is computed as:
Eannual,e = Eannual*(Qe/Q)/3412
Where:
Eannual = the annual energy consumption as determined in
accordance with section 6.3.7, Btu (kJ)
Qe = the daily electrical energy consumption as defined
in section 6.3.4 of this appendix, Btu (kJ).
Q = total energy used by the water heater during the 24-hour
simulated-use test in accordance with section 6.3.4 of this
appendix, Btu (kJ)
3412 = conversion factor from Btu to kWh
6.3.9 Annual Fossil Fuel Energy Consumption. The annual fossil
fuel energy consumption for water heaters with rated storage volumes
greater than or equal to 2 gallons, Eannual,f, is
computed as:
Eannual,f = Eannual - (Eannual,e x
3412)
Where:
Eannual = the annual energy consumption as determined in
accordance with section 6.3.7 of this appendix, Btu (kJ)
Eannual,e = the annual electrical energy consumption as
determined in accordance with section 6.3.8 of this appendix, kWh
3412 = conversion factor from kWh to Btu
6.4 Computations for Water Heaters With Rated Storage Volume
Less Than 2 Gallons.
6.4.1 Recovery Efficiency. The recovery efficiency, [eta]r, is
computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.084
Where:
M1 = total mass removed during the first draw of the 24-
hour simulated-use test, lb (kg), or, if the volume of water is
being measured, M1 = V1 [middot] [rho]
Where:
V1 = total volume removed during the first draw of the
24-hour simulated-use test, gal (L).
[rho] = density of the water at the water temperature measured at
the point where the flow volume is measured, lb/gal (kg/L).
Cp1 = specific heat of the withdrawn water,
(Tdel,1 [mnplus] Tin,1)/2, Btu/(lb [middot]
[deg]F) (kJ/(kg [middot] [deg]C)).
Tdel,1 = average water outlet temperature measured during
the first draw of the 24-hour simulated-use test, [deg]F ([deg]C).
Tin,1 = average water inlet temperature measured during
the first draw of the 24-hour simulated-use test, [deg]F ([deg]C).
Qr = the total energy used by the water heater between
cut-out prior to the first draw and cut-out following the first
draw, including auxiliary energy such as pilot lights, pumps, fans,
etc., Btu (kJ). (Electrical auxiliary energy shall be converted to
thermal energy using the following conversion: 1 kWh = 3412 Btu.)
6.4.2 Daily Water Heating Energy Consumption. The daily water
heating energy consumption, Qd, is computed as:
Qd = Q
Where:
Q = Qf + Qe = the energy used by the water
heater during the 24-hour simulated-use test.
Qf = total fossil fuel energy used by the water heater
during the 24-hour simulated-use test, Btu (kJ).
Qe = total electrical energy used during the 24-hour
simulated-use test, Btu (kJ).
A modification is needed to take into account that the
temperature difference between the outlet water temperature and
supply water temperature may not be equivalent to the nominal value
of 67 [deg]F (125 [deg]F-58 [deg]F) or 37.3 [deg]C (51.7 [deg]C-14.4
[deg]C). The following equations adjust the experimental data to a
nominal 67 [deg]F (37.3 [deg]C) temperature rise.
The energy used to heat water may be computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.085
Where:
N = total number of draws in the draw pattern
Mi = the mass withdrawn for the ith draw (i = 1 to N), lb
(kg)
Cpi = the specific heat of the water of the ith draw
evaluated at (Tdel,i + Tin,i)/2, Btu/(lb
[middot] [deg]F) (kJ/(kg [middot] [deg]C)).
Tdel,i = the average water outlet temperature measured
during the ith draw (i = 1 to N), [deg]F ([deg]C).
Tin,i = the average water inlet temperature measured
during the ith draw (i = 1 to N), [deg]F ([deg]C).
[eta]r = as defined in section 6.4.1 of this appendix.
The energy required to heat the same quantity of water over a 67
[deg]F (37.3 [deg]C) temperature rise is:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.086
[[Page 40580]]
Where:
N = total number of draws in the draw pattern
Mi = the mass withdrawn during the ith draw, lb (kg)
Cpi = the specific heat of water of the ith draw, Btu/(lb
[middot] [deg]F) (kJ/(kg [middot] [deg]C))
[eta]r = as defined in section 6.4.1 of this appendix.
The difference between these two values is:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.095
This difference (QHWD) must be added to the daily water
heating energy consumption value. Thus, the daily energy consumption
value, which takes into account that the temperature rise across the
water heater may not be 67 [deg]F (37.3 [deg]C), is:
Qdm = Qd + QHWD
6.4.3 Uniform Energy Factor. The uniform energy factor, UEF, is
computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.087
Where:
N = total number of draws in the draw pattern
Qdm = the modified daily water heating energy consumption
as computed in accordance with section 6.4.2 of this appendix, Btu
(kJ)
Mi = the mass withdrawn for the ith draw (i = 1 to N), lb
(kg)
Cpi = the specific heat of the water at the ith draw,
evaluated at (125 [deg]F + 58 [deg]F)/2 = 91.5 [deg]F ((51.7 [deg]C
+ 14.4 [deg]C)/2 = 33.1 [deg]C), Btu/(lb [middot] [deg]F) (kJ/(kg
[middot] [deg]C)).
6.4.4 Annual Energy Consumption. The annual energy consumption
for water heaters with rated storage volumes less than 2 gallons,
Eannual, is computed as:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.088
Where:
UEF = the uniform energy factor as computed in accordance with
section 6.4.3 of this appendix
365 = the number of days in a year.
V = the volume of hot water drawn during the applicable draw
pattern, gallons
= 10 for the very-small-usage draw pattern
= 38 for the low-usage draw pattern
= 55 for the medium-usage draw pattern
= 84 for high-usage draw pattern
[rho] = 8.24 lbm/gallon, the density of water at
125[emsp14][deg]F
CP = 1.00 Btu/lbm [deg]F, the specific heat of
water at 91.5[emsp14][deg]F
67 = the nominal temperature difference between inlet and outlet
water
6.4.5 Annual Electrical Energy Consumption. The annual
electrical energy consumption in kilowatt-hours for water heaters
with rated storage volumes less than 2 gallons,
Eannual, e, is computed as:
Eannual,e = Eannual*(Qe/Q)/3412
Where:
Qe = the daily electrical energy consumption as defined
in section 6.4.2 of this appendix, Btu (kJ)
Eannual = the annual energy consumption as determined in
accordance with section 6.4.4 of this appendix, Btu (kJ)
Q = total energy used by the water heater during the 24-hour
simulated-use test in accordance with section 6.4.2 of this
appendix, Btu (kJ)
Qdm = the modified daily water heating energy consumption
as computed in accordance with section 6.4.2 of this appendix, Btu
(kJ)
3412 = conversion factor from Btu to kWh
6.4.6 Annual Fossil Fuel Energy Consumption. The annual fossil
fuel energy consumption for water heaters with rated storage volumes
less than 2 gallons, Eannual,f, is computed as:
Eannual,f = Eannual-(Eannual,e x
3412)
Where:
Eannual,e = the annual electrical energy consumption as
defined in section 6.4.5 of this appendix, kWh.
Eannual = the annual energy consumption as defined in
section 6.4.4 of this appendix, Btu (kJ)
3412 = conversion factor from kWh to Btu
[[Page 40581]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.089
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.090
[[Page 40582]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.091
[[Page 40583]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.092
[[Page 40584]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.093
[[Page 40585]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR11JY14.094
0
11. Section 430.32 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read as
follows:
Sec. 430.32 Energy and water conservation standards and their
compliance dates.
* * * * *
(d) Water heaters. The energy factor of water heaters shall not be
less than the following for products manufactured on or after the
indicated dates.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy factor as of Energy factor as of April
Product class Storage volume January 20, 2004 16, 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas-fired Storage Water Heater..... >=20 gallons and <=100 0.67-(0.0019 x Rated For tanks with a Rated
gallons. Storage Volume in Storage Volume at or below
gallons). 55 gallons: EF = 0.675-
(0.0015 x Rated Storage
Volume in gallons). For
tanks with a Rated Storage
Volume above 55 gallons:
EF = 0.8012-(0.00078 x
Rated Storage Volume in
gallons).
[[Page 40586]]
Oil-fired Storage Water Heater..... <=50 gallons.......... 0.59-(0.0019 x Rated EF = 0.68-(0.0019 x Rated
Storage Volume in Storage Volume in
gallons). gallons).
Electric Storage Water Heater...... >=20 gallons and <=120 0.97-(0.00132 x Rated For tanks with a Rated
gallons. Storage Volume in Storage Volume at or below
gallons). 55 gallons: EF = 0.960-
(0.0003 x Rated Storage
Volume in gallons). For
tanks with a Rated Storage
Volume above 55 gallons:
EF = 2.057-(0.00113 x
Rated Storage Volume in
gallons).
Tabletop Water Heater.............. >=20 gallons and <=120 0.93-(0.00132 x Rated EF = 0.93-(0.00132 x Rated
gallons. Storage Volume in Storage Volume in
gallons). gallons).
Instantaneous Gas-fired Water <2 gallons............ 0.62-(0.0019 x Rated EF = 0.82-(0.0019 x Rated
Heater. Storage Volume in Storage Volume in
gallons). gallons).
Instantaneous Electric Water Heater <2 gallons............ 0.93-(0.00132 x Rated EF = 0.93-(0.00132 x Rated
Storage Volume in Storage Volume in
gallons). gallons).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The Rated Storage Volume equals the water storage capacity of a water heater, in gallons, as certified by
the manufacturer.
Exclusions: The energy conservation standards shown in this
paragraph do not apply to the following types of water heaters: gas-
fired, oil-fired, and electric water heaters at or above 2 gallons
storage volume and below 20 gallons storage volume; gas-fired water
heaters above 100 gallons storage volume; oil-fired water heaters above
50 gallons storage volume; electric water heaters above 120 gallons
storage volume; gas-fired instantaneous water heaters at or below
50,000 Btu/h.
* * * * *
PART 431--ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT
0
12. The authority citation for part 431 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6291-6317.
0
13. Section 431.102 is amended by adding the definition of
``Residential-duty commercial water heater'' in alphabetical order to
read as follows:
Sec. 431.102 Definitions concerning commercial water heaters, hot
water supply boilers, and unfired hot water storage tanks.
* * * * *
Residential-duty commercial water heater means any gas-fired,
electric, or oil storage or instantaneous commercial water heater that
meets the following conditions:
(1) For models requiring electricity, uses single-phase external
power supply;
(2) Is not designed to provide outlet hot water at temperatures
greater than 180[emsp14][deg]F; and
(3) Does not meet any of the following criteria:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicator of non-residential
Water heater type application
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gas-fired Storage...................... Rated input >105 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >120 gallons.
Oil-fired Storage...................... Rated input >140 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >120 gallons.
Electric Storage....................... Rated input >12 kW; Rated
storage volume >120 gallons.
Heat Pump with Storage................. Rated input >12 kW; Rated
current >24 A at a rated
voltage of not greater than
250 V; Rated storage volume
>120 gallons.
Gas-fired Instantaneous................ Rated input >200 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >2 gallons.
Electric Instantaneous................. Rated input >58.6 kW; Rated
storage volume >2 gallons.
Oil-fired Instantaneous................ Rated input >210 kBtu/h; Rated
storage volume >2 gallons.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
0
14. In Sec. 431.106, paragraph (b), Table 2, is revised to read as
follows:
Sec. 431.106 Uniform test method for the measurement of energy
efficiency of commercial water heaters and hot water supply boilers
(other than commercial heat pump water heaters).
* * * * *
(b) * * *
Table 2 to Sec. 431.106--Test Procedures for Commercial Water Heaters and Hot Water Supply Boilers
[Other Than Commercial Heat Pump Water Heaters]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Test procedure required for With these additional
Equipment type Energy efficiency descriptor Test procedure compliance on and after stipulations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Residential-Duty Commercial Water Uniform Energy Factor........... 10 CFR Part 430, December 31, 2015***............ None.
Heater. Subpart B, Appendix
E.
[[Page 40587]]
Gas-fired Storage and Thermal Efficiency.............. Use test set-up, May 13, 2013.................... A. For all products, the
Instantaneous Water Heaters and equipment, and duration of the standby
Hot Water Supply Boilers*. procedures in loss test shall be until
subsection labeled whichever of the
``Method of Test'' following occurs first
of ANSI Z21.10.3- after you begin to
2011**, Exhibit G1. measure the fuel and/or
electric consumption:
(1) The first cut-out
after 24 hours or (2) 48
hours, if the water
heater is not in the
heating mode at that
time.
Standby Loss.................... Use test set-up, May 13, 2013.................... B. For oil and gas
equipment, and products, the standby
procedures in loss in Btu per hour
subsection labeled must be calculated as
``Method of Test'' follows: SL (Btu per
of ANSI Z21.10.3- hour) = S (% per hour) x
2011**, Exhibit G2. 8.25 (Btu/gal-F) x
Measured Volume (gal) x
70 (degrees F).
Oil-fired Storage and Thermal Efficiency.............. ANSI Z21.10.3-2011**, May 13, 2013.................... C. For oil-fired
Instantaneous Water Heaters and Standby Loss.................... Exhibit G1. May 13, 2013.................... products, apply the
Hot Water Supply Boilers*. Use test set-up, following in conducting
equipment, and the thermal efficiency
procedures in and standby loss tests:
subsection labeled (1) Venting
``Method of Test'' Requirements--Connect a
of ANSI Z21.10.3- vertical length of flue
2011**, Exhibit G2. pipe to the flue gas
outlet of sufficient
height so as to meet the
minimum draft specified
by the manufacturer. (2)
Oil Supply--Adjust the
burner rate so that: (a)
The hourly Btu input
rate lies within 2 percent of the
manufacturer's specified
input rate, (b) the CO2
reading shows the value
specified by the
manufacturer, (c) smoke
in the flue does not
exceed No. 1 smoke as
measured by the
procedure in ASTM-D2156-
80 (reference for
guidance only, see Sec.
431.104), and (d) fuel
pump pressure lies
within 10
percent of
manufacturer's
specifications.
Electric Storage and Instantaneous Standby Loss.................... Use test set-up, May 13, 2013.................... D. For electric products,
Water Heaters. equipment, and apply the following in
procedures in conducting the standby
subsection labeled loss test: (1) Assume
``Method of Test'' that the thermal
of ANSI Z21.10.3- efficiency (Et) of
2011**, Exhibit G2. electric water heaters
with immersed heating
elements is 98 percent.
(2) Maintain the
electrical supply
voltage to within 5 percent of the
center of the voltage
range specified on the
water heater nameplate.
(3) If the set up
includes multiple
adjustable thermostats,
set the highest one
first to yield a maximum
water temperature in the
specified range as
measured by the topmost
tank thermocouple. Then
set the lower
thermostat(s) to yield a
maximum mean tank
temperature within the
specified range.
E. Install water-tube
water heaters as shown
in Figure 2,
``Arrangement for
Testing Water-tube Type
Instantaneous and
Circulating Water
Heaters.''
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* As to hot water supply boilers with a capacity of less than 10 gallons, these test methods become mandatory on October 21, 2005. Prior to that time,
you may use for these products either (1) these test methods if you rate the product for thermal efficiency, or (2) the test methods in subpart E if
you rate the product for combustion efficiency as a commercial packaged boiler.
** Incorporated by reference, see Sec. 431.105.
*** Because the statute permits use of a conversion factor until the later of December 31, 2015 or one year after publication of a conversion factor
final rule, DOE may amend the mandatory compliance date for use of this amended test procedure, as necessary.
0
15. Section 431.107 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 431.107 Uniform test method for the measurement of energy
efficiency of commercial heat pump water heaters.
[[Page 40588]]
Table 1 to Sec. 431.107--Test Procedures for Commercial Heat Pump Water Heaters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use test set-up,
equipment, and Test procedure required
Equipment type Energy efficiency procedures in for compliance on and
descriptor subsection labeled after
``Method of Test'' of
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Residential-Duty Heat Pump Water Uniform Energy Factor.. 10 CFR Part 430, December 31, 2015*.
Heater with Integrated Storage Tank. Subpart B, Appendix E.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Other Types...................... [Reserved]............. [Reserved]............. [Reserved].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Because the statute permits use of a conversion factor until the later of December 31, 2015 or one year after
publication of a conversion factor final rule, DOE may amend the mandatory compliance date for use of this
amended test procedure, as necessary.
[FR Doc. 2014-15656 Filed 7-10-14; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
