Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Uninterruptible Power Supplies, 5742-5747 [2022-01921]
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5742
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
Vol. 87, No. 22
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains notices to the public of the proposed
issuance of rules and regulations. The
purpose of these notices is to give interested
persons an opportunity to participate in the
rule making prior to the adoption of the final
rules.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[EERE–2022–BT–TP–0005]
RIN 1904–AF11
Energy Conservation Program: Test
Procedure for Uninterruptible Power
Supplies
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Request for information.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (‘‘DOE’’) is undertaking the
preliminary stages of a rulemaking to
consider amendments to the test
procedure for uninterruptible power
supplies. This request for
information(‘‘RFI’’) seeks data and
information regarding issues pertinent
to whether amended test procedures
would more accurately or fully comply
with the requirement that the test
procedure produces results that measure
energy use during a representative
average use cycle or period of use for
the product without being unduly
burdensome to conduct, or reduce
testing burden. DOE welcomes written
comments from the public on any
subject within the scope of this
document (including topics not raised
in this document), as well as the
submission of data and other relevant
information.
SUMMARY:
Written comments and
information are requested and will be
accepted on or before March 4, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Alternatively, interested persons may
submit comments, identified by docket
number EERE–2022–BT–TP–0005, by
any of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
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DATES:
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2. Email: to UPS2022TP0005@
ee.doe.gov. Include docket number
EERE–2022–BT–TP–0005 in the subject
line of the message.
No telefacsimiles (‘‘faxes’’) will be
accepted. For detailed instructions on
submitting comments and additional
information on this process, see section
III of this document.
Although DOE has routinely accepted
public comment submissions through a
variety of mechanisms, including postal
mail and hand delivery/courier, the
Department has found it necessary to
make temporary modifications to the
comment submission process in light of
the ongoing corona virus 2019
(‘‘COVID–19’’) pandemic. DOE is
currently suspending receipt of public
comments via postal mail and hand
delivery/courier. If a commenter finds
that this change poses an undue
hardship, please contact Appliance
Standards Program staff at (202) 586–
1445 to discuss the need for alternative
arrangements. Once the COVID–19
pandemic health emergency is resolved,
DOE anticipates resuming all of its
regular options for public comment
submission, including postal mail and
hand delivery/courier.
Docket: The docket for this activity,
which includes Federal Register
notices, comments, and other
supporting documents/materials, is
available for review at
www.regulations.gov. All documents in
the docket are listed in the
www.regulations.gov index. However,
some documents listed in the index,
such as those containing information
that is exempt from public disclosure,
may not be publicly available.
The docket web page can be found at
www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE2022-BT-TP-0005. The docket web page
contains instructions on how to access
all documents, including public
comments, in the docket. See section III
for information on how to submit
comments through
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Jeremy Dommu, 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–
9870. Email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@
ee.doe.gov.
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Mr. Michael Kido, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
GC–33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585–0121.
Telephone: (202) 586–8145. Email:
Michael.kido@hq.doe.gov.
For further information on how to
submit a comment or review other
public comments and the docket,
contact the Appliance and Equipment
Standards Program staff at (202) 287–
1445 or by email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@
ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
A. Authority and Background
B. Rulemaking History
II. Request for Information
A. Scope and Definitions
B. Test Procedure
1. Updates to Industry Standards
2. Load Weightings
C. Test Procedure Waivers
III. Submission of Comments
I. Introduction
Uninterruptible power supplies
(‘‘UPSs’’) are a class of battery chargers
and fall among the consumer and
industrial equipment for which DOE is
authorized to establish and amend test
procedures and energy conservation
standards. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)) DOE’s
test procedures for UPSs are prescribed
in the Code of Federal Regulation
(‘‘CFR’’) at appendix Y to subpart B of
10 CFR part 430 (‘‘appendix Y’’). The
following sections discuss DOE’s
authority to establish and amend test
procedures for UPSs, as well as relevant
background information regarding
DOE’s consideration of test procedures
for this product.
A. Authority and Background
The Energy Policy and Conservation
Act, as amended (‘‘EPCA’’),1 authorizes
DOE to regulate the energy efficiency of
a number of consumer products and
certain industrial equipment. (42 U.S.C.
6291–6317) Title III, Part B 2 of EPCA
established the Energy Conservation
Program for Consumer Products Other
Than Automobiles, which sets forth a
variety of provisions designed to
1 All references to EPCA in this document refer
to the statute as amended through the Energy Act
of 2020, Public Law 116–260 (Dec. 27, 2020).
2 For editorial reasons, upon codification in the
U.S. Code, Part B was redesignated Part A.
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improve energy efficiency. These
products include UPSs, the subject of
this RFI. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u))
The energy conservation program
under EPCA consists essentially of four
parts: (1) Testing, (2) labeling, (3)
Federal energy conservation standards,
and (4) certification and enforcement
procedures. Relevant provisions of
EPCA specifically include definitions
(42 U.S.C. 6291), test procedures (42
U.S.C. 6293), labeling provisions (42
U.S.C. 6294), energy conservation
standards (42 U.S.C. 6295), and the
authority to require information and
reports from manufacturers (42 U.S.C.
6296).
Federal energy efficiency
requirements for covered products
established under EPCA generally
supersede State laws and regulations
concerning energy conservation testing,
labeling, and standards. (42 U.S.C. 6297)
DOE may, however, grant waivers of
Federal preemption for particular State
laws or regulations, in accordance with
the procedures and other provisions of
EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d))
The Federal testing requirements
consist of test procedures that
manufacturers of covered products must
use as the basis for: (1) Certifying to
DOE that their products comply with
the applicable energy conservation
standards adopted pursuant to EPCA (42
U.S.C. 6295(s)), and (2) making
representations about the efficiency of
those consumer products (42 U.S.C.
6293(c)). Similarly, DOE must use these
test procedures to determine whether
the products comply with relevant
standards promulgated under EPCA. (42
U.S.C. 6295(s))
Under 42 U.S.C. 6293, EPCA sets forth
the criteria and procedures DOE must
follow when prescribing or amending
test procedures for covered products.
EPCA requires that any test procedures
prescribed or amended under this
section be reasonably designed to
produce test results that 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 not be
unduly burdensome to conduct. (42
U.S.C. 6293(b)(3))
In addition, EPCA requires that DOE
amend its test procedures for all covered
products to integrate measures of
standby mode and off mode energy
consumption into the overall energy
efficiency, energy consumption, or other
energy descriptor, taking into
consideration the most current versions
of Standards 62301 and 62087 of the
International Electrotechnical
Commission (‘‘IEC’’), unless the current
test procedure already incorporates the
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standby mode and off mode energy
consumption, or if such integration is
technically infeasible. (42 U.S.C.
6295(gg)(2)(A)) If an integrated test
procedure is technically infeasible, DOE
must prescribe separate standby mode
and off mode energy use test procedures
for the covered product, if a separate
test is technically feasible. (Id.)
EPCA also requires that, at least once
every 7 years, DOE review test
procedures for all types of covered
products, including UPSs, to determine
whether amended test procedures
would more accurately or fully comply
with the requirements that the test
procedures be reasonably designed to
produce test results that reflect energy
efficiency, energy use, and estimated
operating costs during a representative
average use cycle or period of use and
to not be unduly burdensome to
conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A)) If the
Secretary determines, on her own behalf
or in response to a petition by any
interested person, that a test procedure
should be prescribed or amended, the
Secretary shall promptly publish in the
Federal Register proposed test
procedures and afford interested
persons an opportunity to present oral
and written data, views, and arguments
with respect to such procedures. The
comment period on a proposed rule to
amend a test procedure shall be at least
60 days and may not exceed 270 days.
In prescribing or amending a test
procedure, the Secretary shall take into
account such information as the
Secretary determines relevant to such
procedure, including technological
developments relating to energy use or
energy efficiency of the type (or class)
of covered products involved. (42 U.S.C.
6293(b)(2)) If DOE determines that test
procedure revisions are not appropriate,
DOE must publish its determination not
to amend the test procedure. DOE is
publishing this RFI to collect data and
information to inform its decision in
satisfaction of the 7-year review
requirement specified in EPCA. (42
U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A))
DOE has established a process to
develop energy conservation standards
and test procedures for covered
products and equipment. 10 CFR part
430, subpart C, appendix A, Procedures,
Interpretations, and Policies for
Consideration of New or Revised Energy
Conservation Standards and Test
Procedures for Consumer Products and
Certain Commercial/Industrial
Equipment (‘‘Appendix A’’). While the
procedures, interpretations, and policies
laid out in the appendix A are generally
applicable to DOE’s rulemaking
program, application of these guidelines
to a specific rulemaking is determined
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on a case-by-case basis. 86 FR 70892,
70900–70901, 70925 (December 13,
2021). DOE may, as necessary, deviate
from the appendix A to account for the
specific circumstances of a particular
rulemaking. See appendix A, section
3(a).
DOE’s general procedure is to follow
an early assessment process for test
procedure rulemakings, in which DOE
will first publish a notice in the Federal
Register whenever DOE is considering
initiation of a rulemaking to amend a
test procedure. In that notice, DOE will
request submission of comments,
including data and information on
whether an amended test procedure
would: (1) More accurately measure
energy efficiency, energy use, water use
(as specified in EPCA), or estimated
annual operating cost of a covered
product during a representative average
use cycle or period of use without being
unduly burdensome to conduct; or (2)
reduce testing burden. Appendix A,
section 8(a). DOE will review comments
submitted and determine whether it
agrees with the submitted information.
If DOE determines that an amended test
procedure is not justified at that time, it
will not pursue the rulemaking and will
publish a notice in the Federal Register
to that effect. If DOE receives sufficient
information suggesting an amended test
procedure (1) could more accurately
measure energy efficiency, energy use,
water use (as specified in EPCA), or
estimated annual operating cost of a
covered product during a representative
average use cycle or period of use and
not be unduly burdensome to conduct,
(2) reduce testing burden, or (3) the
information received is inconclusive
with regard to these points, DOE would
undertake the preliminary stages of a
rulemaking to amend the test procedure.
Id. If DOE determines that it is
appropriate to continue the test
procedure rulemaking after the early
assessment process, DOE would provide
further opportunities for early public
input through Federal Register
documents, including notices of data
availability and/or RFIs. See appendix
A, section 8(b).
Based on the identification of key
issues described in section II of this
document, DOE has determined that it
is appropriate to initiate a test
procedure rulemaking for UPSs and is
providing opportunity for public input
through this RFI. In particular, as
discussed in section II.B.1 of this RFI,
DOE has identified relevant and
substantive updates to industry test
standards that are incorporated by
reference in DOE’s test procedure for
UPSs. These updates warrant
consideration by DOE through the
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notice and comment rulemaking
process.
B. Rulemaking History
On December 12, 2016, DOE amended
its battery charger test procedure by
adding a discrete test procedure for
UPSs. 81 FR 89806 (‘‘December 2016
Final Rule’’). The December 2016 Final
Rule incorporated by reference specific
sections of the relevant industry
standard for UPSs, with additional
instructions, into the current battery
charger test procedure published at
appendix Y. Id. The December 2016
Final Rule also established definitions
related to UPSs and revised the
compliance certification requirements
for battery chargers more generally at 10
CFR 429.39. Id.
II. Request for Information
In the following sections, DOE has
identified a variety of issues on which
it seeks input to determine whether, and
if so how, an amended test procedure
for UPSs would: (1) More accurately or
fully comply with the requirements in
EPCA that test procedures be reasonably
designed to produce test results that
reflect energy use during a
representative average use cycle or
period of use, without being unduly
burdensome to conduct (42 U.S.C.
6293(b)(3)); or (2) reduce testing burden.
Additionally, DOE welcomes
comments on any aspect of the existing
test procedure for UPSs that may not
specifically be identified in this
document.
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A. Scope and Definitions
DOE defines a UPS as a battery
charger consisting of a combination of
convertors, switches and energy storage
devices (such as batteries), constituting
a power system for maintaining
continuity of load power in case of
input power failure. Appendix Y,
section 2.27. The scope of the current
test procedure at appendix Y, as
applicable to UPSs, covers UPSs that
utilize the standardized National
Electrical Manufacturer Association
(‘‘NEMA’’) plug, 1–15P or 5–15P,3 and
have an alternating current (‘‘AC’’)
output. Appendix Y, section 1.
Issue 1: DOE seeks information on
whether the current definition for UPS
is still appropriate or whether DOE
should consider an amended definition.
DOE additionally seeks comment on
whether the scope of the test procedure
as it pertains to UPSs is still appropriate
or whether DOE should consider any
3 Plug
designations are as specified in American
National Standards Institute (‘‘ANSI’’)/NEMA WD
6–2016 incorporated by reference at 10 CFR 430.2.
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changes in scope. If either the definition
of UPS or scope of the test procedure
should be updated, DOE seeks comment
and information on how these should be
updated.
B. Test Procedure
Section 4 of appendix Y specifies
testing requirements specific to UPSs,
summarized as follows.
Section 4.1.1 of appendix Y specifies
requirements for the power or energy
measuring meter, including uncertainty
requirements, calibration requirements,
and a requirement that the meter must
measure input and output values
simultaneously. Section 4.1.2 of
appendix Y specifies maximum air
speed requirements within the test
room; specifies allowable ambient air
temperature conditions; prohibits the
use of intentional cooling of the unit
under test (‘‘UUT’’); and requires testing
the UUT on a thermally non-conductive
surface. Section 4.1.3 of appendix Y
specifies that the AC input voltage and
frequency must be within 3 percent of
the highest rated voltage and within 1
percent of the highest rated frequency of
the UUT.
Section 4.2.1 of appendix Y specifies
general setup requirements and requires
configuring the UPS according to Annex
J.2 of International Electrotechnical
Commission’s (‘‘IEC’’) Standard 62040–
3 Edition 2.0 (‘‘IEC 62040–3 Ed. 2.0’’),4
with additional specified requirements.
Specifically, section 4.2.1(a) of
appendix Y specifies that if the UPS can
operate in two or more distinct normal
modes as more than one UPS
architecture, conduct the test in its
lowest input dependency as well as in
its highest input dependency mode
where voltage and frequency dependent
(‘‘VFD’’) represents the lowest possible
input dependency, followed by voltage
independent (‘‘VI’’) and then voltage
and frequency independent (‘‘VFI’’).
Section 4.2.1(b) of appendix Y specifies
that the UPS must not be modified or
adjusted to disable energy storage
charging features. This section also
provides specific instructions for
ensuring that the energy storage system
is fully charged at the start of testing in
order to minimize the transfer of energy
to and from the energy storage system.
Section 4.2.1(c) specifies that all direct
current (‘‘DC’’) output ports of the UUT
must remain unloaded during testing.
Section 4.2.2 of appendix Y addresses
additional features that may be present
on the UUT; specifically: (a) Any feature
4 IEC 62040–3, ‘‘Uninterruptible power systems
(UPS)—Part 3: Methods of specifying the
performance and test requirements,’’ Edition 2.0,
available on IEC webstore at webstore.iec.ch.
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unrelated to maintaining the energy
storage system at full charge or delivery
of load power (e.g., LCD display) shall
be switched off; or, if it is not possible
to switch such features off, they shall be
set to their lowest power-consuming
mode during the test; (b) if the UPS
takes (i.e., accepts) any physically
separate connectors or cables not
required for maintaining the energy
storage system at full charge or delivery
of load power but associated with other
features (such as serial or USB
connections, Ethernet, etc.), these
connectors or cables shall be left
disconnected during the test; and (c)
any manual on-off switches specifically
associated with maintaining the energy
storage system at full charge or delivery
of load power shall be switched on for
the duration of the test.
Section 4.3 of appendix Y specifies
that efficiency can be calculated from
either average power or accumulated
energy. Section 4.3.1 specifies the
calculation method if efficiency is to be
calculated using average power and
requires sampling the power at a rate of
at least one sample per second. Section
4.3.2 requires operating the UUT and
the load for a sufficient length of time
to reach steady state conditions and
specifies a procedure for determining if
steady state conditions have been
attained. Section 4.3.3 of appendix Y
specifies measuring either the input and
output power of the UUT according to
Section J.3 of Annex J of IEC 62040–3
Ed. 2.0, or measuring the input and
output energy of the UUT for efficiency
calculations, with the following
exceptions: (a) Test the UUT at the
following reference test load conditions,
in the following order: 100 percent, 75
percent, 50 percent, and 25 percent of
the rated output power; and (b) perform
the test at each of the reference test
loads by simultaneously measuring the
UUT’s input and output power in Watts
(‘‘W’’), or input and output energy in
Watt-Hours (‘‘Wh’’) over a 15-minute
test period at a rate of at least 1 Hertz.
Equations for calculating the efficiency
for each reference load are provided.
Section 4.3.4 of appendix Y specifies an
optional test for the determination of
UPS architecture by performing the tests
specified in the definitions of VI, VFD,
and VFI (sections 2.28.1 through 2.28.3
of appendix Y).
Section 4.3.5 of appendix Y specifies
equations for calculating output
efficiency of the UUT. This section
includes a table of weightings applied to
the measured efficiency at each
reference test load, as discussed further
in section II.B.2 of this RFI.
Issue 2: DOE requests comment on
any aspect of the current test procedure
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requirements provided in Section 4 of
appendix Y for testing UPSs, including
whether DOE should consider any
amendments to these procedures. If any
amendments should be considered, DOE
requests data and specific information
to provide justification for considering
such amendments.
1. Updates to Industry Standards
As discussed, the current UPS test
procedure incorporates by reference
certain sections of IEC 62040–3 Ed. 2.0
regarding test setup, input and output
power measurement, and for the
optional determination of UPS
architecture. Since publication of the
December 2016 Final Rule, IEC has
updated the IEC 62040–3 standard to its
third edition (‘‘IEC 62040–3 Ed. 3.0’’).
The following paragraphs summarize
the key changes from the second
edition, based on DOE’s initial review of
the revised standard.
Section 4 of IEC 62040–3 Ed. 3.0
includes updates to various
environmental conditions, such as the
general test environment and operating
conditions when testing UPSs.
Appendix Y, however, does not refer to
section 4 of the IEC 62040–3 standard
but instead provides its own
environmental and operating conditions
for testing purposes. DOE has therefore
determined that its test procedure for
measuring the efficiency of UPSs will
remain unaffected by the updates to
section 4 of the IEC 62040–3 Ed. 3.0.
Section 5.2 of IEC 62040–3 Ed. 2.0
addresses UPS input specifications,
such as the input voltage range, input
frequency range and total harmonic
distortions during which the UPS under
test must remain in normal mode of
operation. While an initial review of IEC
62040–3 Ed. 3.0 shows significant
editorial changes to the sections that
define these parameters, except for
Table 3, which provides the maximum
level of individual harmonic voltages
allowed, the remainder of the
parameters remain unchanged.
Similarly, section 5.3 of IEC 62040–3
Ed. 3.0 provides the minimum output
specifications for UPSs that must be
declared by manufacturers such as its
input dependency, rated output voltage
and RMS output voltage tolerance band,
rated frequency tolerance band, rated
output active and apparent power, total
harmonic distortion, etc. As before, the
majority of the changes to this section
are editorial except for the criteria in
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section 5.3.4 of Edition 2.0 that are used
to classify the output waveform shape
when paired with linear and reference
non-linear loads (reorganized to section
5.3.4.3 in Edition 3.0).
Issue 3: DOE requests detailed
comment on the updates made to
sections 5.2 and 5.3 of IEC 62040–3 Ed.
3.0 and whether DOE should revise all
or parts of its incorporation by reference
to harmonize with these changes. DOE
also requests feedback on whether any
of the specific updates found in the new
standard has the potential to alter the
recorded efficiency of UPSs as currently
measured by appendix Y. As an
example, DOE requests comment on
whether updating its reference to the
revised total harmonic distortion
requirements found in Table 3 of IEC
62040–3 Ed. 3.0 is necessary and would
doing so alter the recorded efficiency as
currently measured by appendix Y.
Section 6 of IEC 62040–3 Ed. 2.0
previously provided instructions for
performing the AC input failure test
(subsection 6.2.2.7), the steady-state
input voltage tolerance test (subsection
6.4.1.1), and the input frequency
tolerance test (subsection 6.4.1.2) that
are used to classify the input
dependency of a UPS as VFD, VI or VFI.
IEC 62040–3 Ed. 3.0 has since updated
these subsections with the following
changes: Subsection titles and
numbering have been updated to
specifically refer to them as VI, VFD and
VFI input dependency tests, additional
criteria have been added for meeting the
VI, VFD and VFI classifications and a
new test load condition at 0% (i.e., noload) has been added.
Issue 4: DOE requests comment on the
benefits and consequences of aligning
its test procedure with the above
changes to section 6 of IEC 62040–3 Ed.
3.0. Specifically, DOE requests
information on whether incorporating
the additional no-load test and updated
criteria for determining input
dependency of a UPS has the potential
to cause currently reported UPS inputdependency classifications to change.
Additional updates to Annex J to IEC
62040–3 Ed. 3.0 require multi-mode
UPSs to be tested at all dependency
modes, whereas DOE’s current test
procedure explicitly requires UPSs to be
tested at only their highest and lowest
input dependency modes, as discussed
previously in section II.B of this RFI.
Annex J has also been updated to allow
manufacturers to test UPSs with
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functions or ports set to the lowest
power consuming mode or disconnected
if they are not related to maintaining the
energy storage device (i.e., batteries) at
full charge, along with added reporting
requirements for manufacturers to
report these features, interfaces, or ports
that have been turned off or set to the
lowest power consuming mode. This
updated clarification regarding
additional features is similar to DOE’s
current test procedure, which requires
UPSs to be tested with such features off
or disconnected, as discussed
previously; however, DOE currently
does not require manufacturers to report
these manually switched off features.
Issue 5: DOE requests comment on the
updates to Annex J—and more
specifically on whether DOE should
align its own certification requirements
with the additional criteria in IEC
62040–3 Ed. 3.0 to report features,
interfaces, or ports that have been
turned off or set to the lowest power
consuming mode during testing.
Issue 6: DOE requests comment on its
summary of changes in IEC 62040–3 Ed.
3.0, and whether any other changes not
discussed in this RFI would be relevant
to DOE’s test procedure for UPSs. DOE
requests comment on whether DOE
should further align any aspects of
appendix Y with IEC 62040–3 Ed. 3.0,
and on any impact such alignments may
have on test results, test procedure
representativeness, and test burden.
2. Load Weightings
As discussed, section 4.3.3 of
appendix Y specifies determining the
UPS’s efficiency at four reference
loading points: 25%, 50%, 75%, and
100%. The measured efficiency values
from each reference test load are
multiplied with their respective load
weightings, shown in Table 1, to
determine the average load adjusted
efficiency. The load weightings
represent the portion of time spent at
the specified loading point. These
weightings were established in the
December 2016 Final Rule consistent
with the load weightings specified in
ENERGY STAR UPS Specification
Version 1.0.5 81 FR 89806, 89816
(December 12, 2016).
5 The ENERGY STAR UPS Specification Version
1.0 can be found at https://www.energystar.gov/
products/spec/uninterruptible_power_supplies_
specification_version_1_0_pd.
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TABLE 1—LOAD WEIGHTINGS SPECIFIED IN TABLE 4.3.1 OF APPENDIX Y
Rated output power (W)
Portion of time spent at
reference load
UPS architecture
25%
P ≤1500 W ........................................
P >1500 W ........................................
VFD ..................................................
VI or VFI ...........................................
VFD, VI, or VFI ................................
50%
0.2
0*
0*
75%
0.2
0.3
0.3
100%
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.3
* Measuring efficiency at loading points with 0 time-weighting is not required.
Issue 7: DOE requests comment on
whether the UPS load weightings
specified in Table 4.3.1 are
representative of current UPS usage
patterns. DOE also requests data on the
consumer usage profile of UPSs with
respect to each architecture (i.e., VFD,
VI, and VFI).
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
C. Test Procedure Waivers
A person may seek a waiver from the
test procedure requirements for a
particular basic model of a type of
covered product upon the grounds that
the basic model for which the petition
for waiver is submitted contains one or
more design characteristics that: (1)
Prevent testing of the basic model
according to the prescribed test
procedure, or (2) cause the prescribed
test procedures to evaluate the basic
model in a manner so unrepresentative
of its true energy consumption
characteristics as to provide materially
inaccurate comparative data. 10 CFR
430.27(a)(1). DOE has not granted any
test procedure waivers for the current
UPS test procedure.
III. Submission of Comments
DOE invites all interested parties to
submit in writing by the date specified
under the DATES heading, comments and
information on matters addressed in this
RFI and on other matters relevant to
DOE’s consideration of amended test
procedures for UPSs. These comments
and information will aid in the
development of a test procedure notice
of proposed rulemaking for UPSs if DOE
determines that amended test
procedures may be appropriate for these
products.
Submitting comments via
www.regulations.gov. The
www.regulations.gov web page will
require you to provide your name and
contact information. Your contact
information will be viewable to DOE
Building Technologies staff only. Your
contact information will not be publicly
viewable except for your first and last
names, organization name (if any), and
submitter representative name (if any).
If your comment is not processed
properly because of technical
difficulties, DOE will use this
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:06 Feb 01, 2022
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information to contact you. If DOE
cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, DOE may not be
able to consider your comment.
However, your contact information
will be publicly viewable if you include
it in the comment or in any documents
attached to your comment. Any
information that you do not want to be
publicly viewable should not be
included in your comment, nor in any
document attached to your comment.
Following this instruction, persons
viewing comments will see only first
and last names, organization names,
correspondence containing comments,
and any documents submitted with the
comments.
Do not submit to www.regulations.gov
information for which disclosure is
restricted by statute, such as trade
secrets and commercial or financial
information (hereinafter referred to as
Confidential Business Information
(‘‘CBI’’)). Comments submitted through
www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed
as CBI. Comments received through the
website will waive any CBI claims for
the information submitted. For
information on submitting CBI, see the
Confidential Business Information
section.
DOE processes submissions made
through www.regulations.gov before
posting. Normally, comments will be
posted within a few days of being
submitted. However, if large volumes of
comments are being processed
simultaneously, your comment may not
be viewable for up to several weeks.
Please keep the comment tracking
number that www.regulations.gov
provides after you have successfully
uploaded your comment.
Submitting comments via email.
Comments and documents submitted
via email also will be posted to
www.regulations.gov. If you do not want
your personal contact information to be
publicly viewable, do not include it in
your comment or any accompanying
documents. Instead, provide your
contact information on a cover letter.
Include your first and last names, email
address, telephone number, and
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optional mailing address. The cover
letter will not be publicly viewable as
long as it does not include any
comments.
Include contact information each time
you submit comments, data, documents,
and other information to DOE. Faxes
will not be accepted.
Comments, data, and other
information submitted to DOE
electronically should be provided in
PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or
Excel, or text (ASCII) file format.
Provide documents that are not secured,
written in English and free of any
defects or viruses. Documents should
not contain special characters or any
form of encryption and, if possible, they
should carry the electronic signature of
the author.
Campaign form letters. Please submit
campaign form letters by the originating
organization in batches of between 50 to
500 form letters per PDF or as one form
letter with a list of supporters’ names
compiled into one or more PDFs. This
reduces comment processing and
posting time.
Confidential Business Information.
According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any
person submitting information that he
or she believes to be confidential and
exempt by law from public disclosure
should submit via email two wellmarked copies: One copy of the
document marked confidential
including all the information believed to
be confidential, and one copy of the
document marked ‘‘non-confidential’’
with the information believed to be
confidential deleted. DOE will make its
own determination about the
confidential status of the information
and treat it according to its
determination.
It is DOE’s policy that all comments
may be included in the public docket,
without change and as received,
including any personal information
provided in the comments (except
information deemed to be exempt from
public disclosure).
DOE considers public participation to
be a very important part of the process
for developing test procedures and
energy conservation standards. DOE
actively encourages the participation
E:\FR\FM\02FEP1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 2, 2022 / Proposed Rules
and interaction of the public during the
comment period in each stage of this
process. Interactions with and between
members of the public provide a
balanced discussion of the issues and
assist DOE in the process. Anyone who
wishes to be added to the DOE mailing
list to receive future notices and
information about this process should
contact Appliance and Equipment
Standards Program staff at (202) 287–
1445 or via email at
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@
ee.doe.gov.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of
Energy was signed on January 26, 2022,
by Kelly J. Speakes-Backman, Principal
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
pursuant to delegated authority from the
Secretary of Energy. That document
with the original signature and date is
maintained by DOE. For administrative
purposes only, and in compliance with
requirements of the Office of the Federal
Register, the undersigned DOE Federal
Register Liaison Officer has been
authorized to sign and submit the
document in electronic format for
publication, as an official document of
the Department of Energy. This
administrative process in no way alters
the legal effect of this document upon
publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on January 26,
2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022–01921 Filed 2–1–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA–2022–0025; Airspace
Docket No. 21–ACE–2]
RIN 2120–AA66
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Proposed Amendment of Multiple Air
Traffic Service (ATS) Routes and
Establishment of Area Navigation
(RNAV) Routes in the Vicinity of
Liberal, KS
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
This action proposes to
amend Jet Routes J–19, J–20, J–52, J–98,
J–134, and J–231; amend RNAV route
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:06 Feb 01, 2022
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Q–176; amend VHF Omnidirectional
Range (VOR) Federal airways V–210, V–
234, V–304, V–350, and V–507; and
establish Area Navigation (RNAV)
routes T–418 and T–431. The FAA is
proposing this action due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of
the Liberal, KS, VOR/Tactical Air
Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid
(NAVAID). The Liberal VOR is being
decommissioned in support of the
FAA’s VOR Minimum Operational
Network (MON) program.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before March 21, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this
proposal to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590; telephone:
1(800) 647–5527, or (202) 366–9826.
You must identify FAA Docket No.
FAA–2022–0025; Airspace Docket No.
21–ACE–2 at the beginning of your
comments. You may also submit
comments through the internet at
https://www.regulations.gov.
FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace
Designations and Reporting Points, and
subsequent amendments can be viewed
online at https://www.faa.gov/air_
traffic/publications/. For further
information, you can contact the Rules
and Regulations Group, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267–8783.
FAA Order JO 7400.11F is also available
for inspection at the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA).
For information on the availability of
FAA Order JO 7400.11F at NARA,
email: fr.inspection@nara.gov or go to
https://www.archives.gov/federalregister/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations
Group, Office of Policy, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267–8783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority for This Rulemaking
The FAA’s authority to issue rules
regarding aviation safety is found in
Title 49 of the United States Code.
Subtitle I, Section 106 describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator.
Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the
agency’s authority. This rulemaking is
promulgated under the authority
described in Subtitle VII, Part A,
Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that
section, the FAA is charged with
prescribing regulations to assign the use
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5747
of the airspace necessary to ensure the
safety of aircraft and the efficient use of
airspace. This regulation is within the
scope of that authority as it would
modify the National Airspace System
(NAS) as necessary to preserve the safe
and efficient flow of air traffic.
Comments Invited
Interested parties are invited to
participate in this proposed rulemaking
by submitting such written data, views,
or arguments as they may desire.
Comments that provide the factual basis
supporting the views and suggestions
presented are particularly helpful in
developing reasoned regulatory
decisions on the proposal. Comments
are specifically invited on the overall
regulatory, aeronautical, economic,
environmental, and energy-related
aspects of the proposal.
Communications should identify both
docket numbers (FAA Docket No. FAA–
2022–0025; Airspace Docket No. 21–
ACE–2) and be submitted in triplicate to
the Docket Management Facility (see
ADDRESSES section for address and
phone number). You may also submit
comments through the internet at
https://www.regulations.gov.
Commenters wishing the FAA to
acknowledge receipt of their comments
on this action must submit with those
comments a self-addressed, stamped
postcard on which the following
statement is made: ‘‘Comments to FAA
Docket No. FAA–2022–0025; Airspace
Docket No. 21–ACE–2.’’ The postcard
will be date/time stamped and returned
to the commenter.
All communications received on or
before the specified comment closing
date will be considered before taking
action on the proposed rule. The
proposal contained in this action may
be changed in light of comments
received. All comments submitted will
be available for examination in the
public docket both before and after the
comment closing date. A report
summarizing each substantive public
contact with FAA personnel concerned
with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.
Availability of NPRMs
An electronic copy of this document
may be downloaded through the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through
the FAA’s web page at https://
www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/
airspace_amendments/.
You may review the public docket
containing the proposal, any comments
received and any final disposition in
person in the Dockets Office (see
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5742-5747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01921]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 2, 2022 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 5742]]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[EERE-2022-BT-TP-0005]
RIN 1904-AF11
Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Uninterruptible
Power Supplies
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is undertaking the
preliminary stages of a rulemaking to consider amendments to the test
procedure for uninterruptible power supplies. This request for
information(``RFI'') seeks data and information regarding issues
pertinent to whether amended test procedures would more accurately or
fully comply with the requirement that the test procedure produces
results that measure energy use during a representative average use
cycle or period of use for the product without being unduly burdensome
to conduct, or reduce testing burden. DOE welcomes written comments
from the public on any subject within the scope of this document
(including topics not raised in this document), as well as the
submission of data and other relevant information.
DATES: Written comments and information are requested and will be
accepted on or before March 4, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments. Alternatively, interested persons
may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-2022-BT-TP-0005,
by any of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
2. Email: to [email protected]. Include docket number EERE-
2022-BT-TP-0005 in the subject line of the message.
No telefacsimiles (``faxes'') will be accepted. For detailed
instructions on submitting comments and additional information on this
process, see section III of this document.
Although DOE has routinely accepted public comment submissions
through a variety of mechanisms, including postal mail and hand
delivery/courier, the Department has found it necessary to make
temporary modifications to the comment submission process in light of
the ongoing corona virus 2019 (``COVID-19'') pandemic. DOE is currently
suspending receipt of public comments via postal mail and hand
delivery/courier. If a commenter finds that this change poses an undue
hardship, please contact Appliance Standards Program staff at (202)
586-1445 to discuss the need for alternative arrangements. Once the
COVID-19 pandemic health emergency is resolved, DOE anticipates
resuming all of its regular options for public comment submission,
including postal mail and hand delivery/courier.
Docket: The docket for this activity, which includes Federal
Register notices, comments, and other supporting documents/materials,
is available for review at www.regulations.gov. All documents in the
docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. However, some
documents listed in the index, such as those containing information
that is exempt from public disclosure, may not be publicly available.
The docket web page can be found at www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE-2022-BT-TP-0005. The docket web page contains instructions on how
to access all documents, including public comments, in the docket. See
section III for information on how to submit comments through
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeremy Dommu, 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) 586-9870. Email:
[email protected].
Mr. Michael Kido, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General
Counsel, GC-33, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121.
Telephone: (202) 586-8145. Email: [email protected].
For further information on how to submit a comment or review other
public comments and the docket, contact the Appliance and Equipment
Standards Program staff at (202) 287-1445 or by email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
A. Authority and Background
B. Rulemaking History
II. Request for Information
A. Scope and Definitions
B. Test Procedure
1. Updates to Industry Standards
2. Load Weightings
C. Test Procedure Waivers
III. Submission of Comments
I. Introduction
Uninterruptible power supplies (``UPSs'') are a class of battery
chargers and fall among the consumer and industrial equipment for which
DOE is authorized to establish and amend test procedures and energy
conservation standards. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u)) DOE's test procedures for
UPSs are prescribed in the Code of Federal Regulation (``CFR'') at
appendix Y to subpart B of 10 CFR part 430 (``appendix Y''). The
following sections discuss DOE's authority to establish and amend test
procedures for UPSs, as well as relevant background information
regarding DOE's consideration of test procedures for this product.
A. Authority and Background
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (``EPCA''),\1\
authorizes DOE to regulate the energy efficiency of a number of
consumer products and certain industrial equipment. (42 U.S.C. 6291-
6317) Title III, Part B \2\ of EPCA established the Energy Conservation
Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles, which sets forth
a variety of provisions designed to
[[Page 5743]]
improve energy efficiency. These products include UPSs, the subject of
this RFI. (42 U.S.C. 6295(u))
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All references to EPCA in this document refer to the statute
as amended through the Energy Act of 2020, Public Law 116-260 (Dec.
27, 2020).
\2\ For editorial reasons, upon codification in the U.S. Code,
Part B was redesignated Part A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The energy conservation program under EPCA consists essentially of
four parts: (1) Testing, (2) labeling, (3) Federal energy conservation
standards, and (4) certification and enforcement procedures. Relevant
provisions of EPCA specifically include definitions (42 U.S.C. 6291),
test procedures (42 U.S.C. 6293), labeling provisions (42 U.S.C. 6294),
energy conservation standards (42 U.S.C. 6295), and the authority to
require information and reports from manufacturers (42 U.S.C. 6296).
Federal energy efficiency requirements for covered products
established under EPCA generally supersede State laws and regulations
concerning energy conservation testing, labeling, and standards. (42
U.S.C. 6297) DOE may, however, grant waivers of Federal preemption for
particular State laws or regulations, in accordance with the procedures
and other provisions of EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6297(d))
The Federal testing requirements consist of test procedures that
manufacturers of covered products must use as the basis for: (1)
Certifying to DOE that their products comply with the applicable energy
conservation standards adopted pursuant to EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6295(s)),
and (2) making representations about the efficiency of those consumer
products (42 U.S.C. 6293(c)). Similarly, DOE must use these test
procedures to determine whether the products comply with relevant
standards promulgated under EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6295(s))
Under 42 U.S.C. 6293, EPCA sets forth the criteria and procedures
DOE must follow when prescribing or amending test procedures for
covered products. EPCA requires that any test procedures prescribed or
amended under this section be reasonably designed to produce test
results that 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 not be unduly burdensome to conduct. (42
U.S.C. 6293(b)(3))
In addition, EPCA requires that DOE amend its test procedures for
all covered products to integrate measures of standby mode and off mode
energy consumption into the overall energy efficiency, energy
consumption, or other energy descriptor, taking into consideration the
most current versions of Standards 62301 and 62087 of the International
Electrotechnical Commission (``IEC''), unless the current test
procedure already incorporates the standby mode and off mode energy
consumption, or if such integration is technically infeasible. (42
U.S.C. 6295(gg)(2)(A)) If an integrated test procedure is technically
infeasible, DOE must prescribe separate standby mode and off mode
energy use test procedures for the covered product, if a separate test
is technically feasible. (Id.)
EPCA also requires that, at least once every 7 years, DOE review
test procedures for all types of covered products, including UPSs, to
determine whether amended test procedures would more accurately or
fully comply with the requirements that the test procedures be
reasonably designed to produce test results that reflect energy
efficiency, energy use, and estimated operating costs during a
representative average use cycle or period of use and to not be unduly
burdensome to conduct. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A)) If the Secretary
determines, on her own behalf or in response to a petition by any
interested person, that a test procedure should be prescribed or
amended, the Secretary shall promptly publish in the Federal Register
proposed test procedures and afford interested persons an opportunity
to present oral and written data, views, and arguments with respect to
such procedures. The comment period on a proposed rule to amend a test
procedure shall be at least 60 days and may not exceed 270 days. In
prescribing or amending a test procedure, the Secretary shall take into
account such information as the Secretary determines relevant to such
procedure, including technological developments relating to energy use
or energy efficiency of the type (or class) of covered products
involved. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(2)) If DOE determines that test procedure
revisions are not appropriate, DOE must publish its determination not
to amend the test procedure. DOE is publishing this RFI to collect data
and information to inform its decision in satisfaction of the 7-year
review requirement specified in EPCA. (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(1)(A))
DOE has established a process to develop energy conservation
standards and test procedures for covered products and equipment. 10
CFR part 430, subpart C, appendix A, Procedures, Interpretations, and
Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation
Standards and Test Procedures for Consumer Products and Certain
Commercial/Industrial Equipment (``Appendix A''). While the procedures,
interpretations, and policies laid out in the appendix A are generally
applicable to DOE's rulemaking program, application of these guidelines
to a specific rulemaking is determined on a case-by-case basis. 86 FR
70892, 70900-70901, 70925 (December 13, 2021). DOE may, as necessary,
deviate from the appendix A to account for the specific circumstances
of a particular rulemaking. See appendix A, section 3(a).
DOE's general procedure is to follow an early assessment process
for test procedure rulemakings, in which DOE will first publish a
notice in the Federal Register whenever DOE is considering initiation
of a rulemaking to amend a test procedure. In that notice, DOE will
request submission of comments, including data and information on
whether an amended test procedure would: (1) More accurately measure
energy efficiency, energy use, water use (as specified in EPCA), or
estimated annual operating cost of a covered product during a
representative average use cycle or period of use without being unduly
burdensome to conduct; or (2) reduce testing burden. Appendix A,
section 8(a). DOE will review comments submitted and determine whether
it agrees with the submitted information. If DOE determines that an
amended test procedure is not justified at that time, it will not
pursue the rulemaking and will publish a notice in the Federal Register
to that effect. If DOE receives sufficient information suggesting an
amended test procedure (1) could more accurately measure energy
efficiency, energy use, water use (as specified in EPCA), or estimated
annual operating cost of a covered product during a representative
average use cycle or period of use and not be unduly burdensome to
conduct, (2) reduce testing burden, or (3) the information received is
inconclusive with regard to these points, DOE would undertake the
preliminary stages of a rulemaking to amend the test procedure. Id. If
DOE determines that it is appropriate to continue the test procedure
rulemaking after the early assessment process, DOE would provide
further opportunities for early public input through Federal Register
documents, including notices of data availability and/or RFIs. See
appendix A, section 8(b).
Based on the identification of key issues described in section II
of this document, DOE has determined that it is appropriate to initiate
a test procedure rulemaking for UPSs and is providing opportunity for
public input through this RFI. In particular, as discussed in section
II.B.1 of this RFI, DOE has identified relevant and substantive updates
to industry test standards that are incorporated by reference in DOE's
test procedure for UPSs. These updates warrant consideration by DOE
through the
[[Page 5744]]
notice and comment rulemaking process.
B. Rulemaking History
On December 12, 2016, DOE amended its battery charger test
procedure by adding a discrete test procedure for UPSs. 81 FR 89806
(``December 2016 Final Rule''). The December 2016 Final Rule
incorporated by reference specific sections of the relevant industry
standard for UPSs, with additional instructions, into the current
battery charger test procedure published at appendix Y. Id. The
December 2016 Final Rule also established definitions related to UPSs
and revised the compliance certification requirements for battery
chargers more generally at 10 CFR 429.39. Id.
II. Request for Information
In the following sections, DOE has identified a variety of issues
on which it seeks input to determine whether, and if so how, an amended
test procedure for UPSs would: (1) More accurately or fully comply with
the requirements in EPCA that test procedures be reasonably designed to
produce test results that reflect energy use during a representative
average use cycle or period of use, without being unduly burdensome to
conduct (42 U.S.C. 6293(b)(3)); or (2) reduce testing burden.
Additionally, DOE welcomes comments on any aspect of the existing
test procedure for UPSs that may not specifically be identified in this
document.
A. Scope and Definitions
DOE defines a UPS as a battery charger consisting of a combination
of convertors, switches and energy storage devices (such as batteries),
constituting a power system for maintaining continuity of load power in
case of input power failure. Appendix Y, section 2.27. The scope of the
current test procedure at appendix Y, as applicable to UPSs, covers
UPSs that utilize the standardized National Electrical Manufacturer
Association (``NEMA'') plug, 1-15P or 5-15P,\3\ and have an alternating
current (``AC'') output. Appendix Y, section 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Plug designations are as specified in American National
Standards Institute (``ANSI'')/NEMA WD 6-2016 incorporated by
reference at 10 CFR 430.2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue 1: DOE seeks information on whether the current definition
for UPS is still appropriate or whether DOE should consider an amended
definition. DOE additionally seeks comment on whether the scope of the
test procedure as it pertains to UPSs is still appropriate or whether
DOE should consider any changes in scope. If either the definition of
UPS or scope of the test procedure should be updated, DOE seeks comment
and information on how these should be updated.
B. Test Procedure
Section 4 of appendix Y specifies testing requirements specific to
UPSs, summarized as follows.
Section 4.1.1 of appendix Y specifies requirements for the power or
energy measuring meter, including uncertainty requirements, calibration
requirements, and a requirement that the meter must measure input and
output values simultaneously. Section 4.1.2 of appendix Y specifies
maximum air speed requirements within the test room; specifies
allowable ambient air temperature conditions; prohibits the use of
intentional cooling of the unit under test (``UUT''); and requires
testing the UUT on a thermally non-conductive surface. Section 4.1.3 of
appendix Y specifies that the AC input voltage and frequency must be
within 3 percent of the highest rated voltage and within 1 percent of
the highest rated frequency of the UUT.
Section 4.2.1 of appendix Y specifies general setup requirements
and requires configuring the UPS according to Annex J.2 of
International Electrotechnical Commission's (``IEC'') Standard 62040-3
Edition 2.0 (``IEC 62040-3 Ed. 2.0''),\4\ with additional specified
requirements. Specifically, section 4.2.1(a) of appendix Y specifies
that if the UPS can operate in two or more distinct normal modes as
more than one UPS architecture, conduct the test in its lowest input
dependency as well as in its highest input dependency mode where
voltage and frequency dependent (``VFD'') represents the lowest
possible input dependency, followed by voltage independent (``VI'') and
then voltage and frequency independent (``VFI''). Section 4.2.1(b) of
appendix Y specifies that the UPS must not be modified or adjusted to
disable energy storage charging features. This section also provides
specific instructions for ensuring that the energy storage system is
fully charged at the start of testing in order to minimize the transfer
of energy to and from the energy storage system. Section 4.2.1(c)
specifies that all direct current (``DC'') output ports of the UUT must
remain unloaded during testing.
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\4\ IEC 62040-3, ``Uninterruptible power systems (UPS)--Part 3:
Methods of specifying the performance and test requirements,''
Edition 2.0, available on IEC webstore at webstore.iec.ch.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 4.2.2 of appendix Y addresses additional features that may
be present on the UUT; specifically: (a) Any feature unrelated to
maintaining the energy storage system at full charge or delivery of
load power (e.g., LCD display) shall be switched off; or, if it is not
possible to switch such features off, they shall be set to their lowest
power-consuming mode during the test; (b) if the UPS takes (i.e.,
accepts) any physically separate connectors or cables not required for
maintaining the energy storage system at full charge or delivery of
load power but associated with other features (such as serial or USB
connections, Ethernet, etc.), these connectors or cables shall be left
disconnected during the test; and (c) any manual on-off switches
specifically associated with maintaining the energy storage system at
full charge or delivery of load power shall be switched on for the
duration of the test.
Section 4.3 of appendix Y specifies that efficiency can be
calculated from either average power or accumulated energy. Section
4.3.1 specifies the calculation method if efficiency is to be
calculated using average power and requires sampling the power at a
rate of at least one sample per second. Section 4.3.2 requires
operating the UUT and the load for a sufficient length of time to reach
steady state conditions and specifies a procedure for determining if
steady state conditions have been attained. Section 4.3.3 of appendix Y
specifies measuring either the input and output power of the UUT
according to Section J.3 of Annex J of IEC 62040-3 Ed. 2.0, or
measuring the input and output energy of the UUT for efficiency
calculations, with the following exceptions: (a) Test the UUT at the
following reference test load conditions, in the following order: 100
percent, 75 percent, 50 percent, and 25 percent of the rated output
power; and (b) perform the test at each of the reference test loads by
simultaneously measuring the UUT's input and output power in Watts
(``W''), or input and output energy in Watt-Hours (``Wh'') over a 15-
minute test period at a rate of at least 1 Hertz. Equations for
calculating the efficiency for each reference load are provided.
Section 4.3.4 of appendix Y specifies an optional test for the
determination of UPS architecture by performing the tests specified in
the definitions of VI, VFD, and VFI (sections 2.28.1 through 2.28.3 of
appendix Y).
Section 4.3.5 of appendix Y specifies equations for calculating
output efficiency of the UUT. This section includes a table of
weightings applied to the measured efficiency at each reference test
load, as discussed further in section II.B.2 of this RFI.
Issue 2: DOE requests comment on any aspect of the current test
procedure
[[Page 5745]]
requirements provided in Section 4 of appendix Y for testing UPSs,
including whether DOE should consider any amendments to these
procedures. If any amendments should be considered, DOE requests data
and specific information to provide justification for considering such
amendments.
1. Updates to Industry Standards
As discussed, the current UPS test procedure incorporates by
reference certain sections of IEC 62040-3 Ed. 2.0 regarding test setup,
input and output power measurement, and for the optional determination
of UPS architecture. Since publication of the December 2016 Final Rule,
IEC has updated the IEC 62040-3 standard to its third edition (``IEC
62040-3 Ed. 3.0''). The following paragraphs summarize the key changes
from the second edition, based on DOE's initial review of the revised
standard.
Section 4 of IEC 62040-3 Ed. 3.0 includes updates to various
environmental conditions, such as the general test environment and
operating conditions when testing UPSs. Appendix Y, however, does not
refer to section 4 of the IEC 62040-3 standard but instead provides its
own environmental and operating conditions for testing purposes. DOE
has therefore determined that its test procedure for measuring the
efficiency of UPSs will remain unaffected by the updates to section 4
of the IEC 62040-3 Ed. 3.0.
Section 5.2 of IEC 62040-3 Ed. 2.0 addresses UPS input
specifications, such as the input voltage range, input frequency range
and total harmonic distortions during which the UPS under test must
remain in normal mode of operation. While an initial review of IEC
62040-3 Ed. 3.0 shows significant editorial changes to the sections
that define these parameters, except for Table 3, which provides the
maximum level of individual harmonic voltages allowed, the remainder of
the parameters remain unchanged. Similarly, section 5.3 of IEC 62040-3
Ed. 3.0 provides the minimum output specifications for UPSs that must
be declared by manufacturers such as its input dependency, rated output
voltage and RMS output voltage tolerance band, rated frequency
tolerance band, rated output active and apparent power, total harmonic
distortion, etc. As before, the majority of the changes to this section
are editorial except for the criteria in section 5.3.4 of Edition 2.0
that are used to classify the output waveform shape when paired with
linear and reference non-linear loads (reorganized to section 5.3.4.3
in Edition 3.0).
Issue 3: DOE requests detailed comment on the updates made to
sections 5.2 and 5.3 of IEC 62040-3 Ed. 3.0 and whether DOE should
revise all or parts of its incorporation by reference to harmonize with
these changes. DOE also requests feedback on whether any of the
specific updates found in the new standard has the potential to alter
the recorded efficiency of UPSs as currently measured by appendix Y. As
an example, DOE requests comment on whether updating its reference to
the revised total harmonic distortion requirements found in Table 3 of
IEC 62040-3 Ed. 3.0 is necessary and would doing so alter the recorded
efficiency as currently measured by appendix Y.
Section 6 of IEC 62040-3 Ed. 2.0 previously provided instructions
for performing the AC input failure test (subsection 6.2.2.7), the
steady-state input voltage tolerance test (subsection 6.4.1.1), and the
input frequency tolerance test (subsection 6.4.1.2) that are used to
classify the input dependency of a UPS as VFD, VI or VFI. IEC 62040-3
Ed. 3.0 has since updated these subsections with the following changes:
Subsection titles and numbering have been updated to specifically refer
to them as VI, VFD and VFI input dependency tests, additional criteria
have been added for meeting the VI, VFD and VFI classifications and a
new test load condition at 0% (i.e., no-load) has been added.
Issue 4: DOE requests comment on the benefits and consequences of
aligning its test procedure with the above changes to section 6 of IEC
62040-3 Ed. 3.0. Specifically, DOE requests information on whether
incorporating the additional no-load test and updated criteria for
determining input dependency of a UPS has the potential to cause
currently reported UPS input-dependency classifications to change.
Additional updates to Annex J to IEC 62040-3 Ed. 3.0 require multi-
mode UPSs to be tested at all dependency modes, whereas DOE's current
test procedure explicitly requires UPSs to be tested at only their
highest and lowest input dependency modes, as discussed previously in
section II.B of this RFI. Annex J has also been updated to allow
manufacturers to test UPSs with functions or ports set to the lowest
power consuming mode or disconnected if they are not related to
maintaining the energy storage device (i.e., batteries) at full charge,
along with added reporting requirements for manufacturers to report
these features, interfaces, or ports that have been turned off or set
to the lowest power consuming mode. This updated clarification
regarding additional features is similar to DOE's current test
procedure, which requires UPSs to be tested with such features off or
disconnected, as discussed previously; however, DOE currently does not
require manufacturers to report these manually switched off features.
Issue 5: DOE requests comment on the updates to Annex J--and more
specifically on whether DOE should align its own certification
requirements with the additional criteria in IEC 62040-3 Ed. 3.0 to
report features, interfaces, or ports that have been turned off or set
to the lowest power consuming mode during testing.
Issue 6: DOE requests comment on its summary of changes in IEC
62040-3 Ed. 3.0, and whether any other changes not discussed in this
RFI would be relevant to DOE's test procedure for UPSs. DOE requests
comment on whether DOE should further align any aspects of appendix Y
with IEC 62040-3 Ed. 3.0, and on any impact such alignments may have on
test results, test procedure representativeness, and test burden.
2. Load Weightings
As discussed, section 4.3.3 of appendix Y specifies determining the
UPS's efficiency at four reference loading points: 25%, 50%, 75%, and
100%. The measured efficiency values from each reference test load are
multiplied with their respective load weightings, shown in Table 1, to
determine the average load adjusted efficiency. The load weightings
represent the portion of time spent at the specified loading point.
These weightings were established in the December 2016 Final Rule
consistent with the load weightings specified in ENERGY STAR UPS
Specification Version 1.0.\5\ 81 FR 89806, 89816 (December 12, 2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The ENERGY STAR UPS Specification Version 1.0 can be found
at https://www.energystar.gov/products/spec/uninterruptible_power_supplies_specification_version_1_0_pd.
[[Page 5746]]
Table 1--Load Weightings Specified in Table 4.3.1 of Appendix Y
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portion of time spent at reference load
Rated output power (W) UPS architecture ---------------------------------------------------------------
25% 50% 75% 100%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P <=1500 W.................... VFD............. 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3
VI or VFI....... 0 * 0.3 0.4 0.3
P >1500 W..................... VFD, VI, or VFI. 0 * 0.3 0.4 0.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Measuring efficiency at loading points with 0 time-weighting is not required.
Issue 7: DOE requests comment on whether the UPS load weightings
specified in Table 4.3.1 are representative of current UPS usage
patterns. DOE also requests data on the consumer usage profile of UPSs
with respect to each architecture (i.e., VFD, VI, and VFI).
C. Test Procedure Waivers
A person may seek a waiver from the test procedure requirements for
a particular basic model of a type of covered product upon the grounds
that the basic model for which the petition for waiver is submitted
contains one or more design characteristics that: (1) Prevent testing
of the basic model according to the prescribed test procedure, or (2)
cause the prescribed test procedures to evaluate the basic model in a
manner so unrepresentative of its true energy consumption
characteristics as to provide materially inaccurate comparative data.
10 CFR 430.27(a)(1). DOE has not granted any test procedure waivers for
the current UPS test procedure.
III. Submission of Comments
DOE invites all interested parties to submit in writing by the date
specified under the DATES heading, comments and information on matters
addressed in this RFI and on other matters relevant to DOE's
consideration of amended test procedures for UPSs. These comments and
information will aid in the development of a test procedure notice of
proposed rulemaking for UPSs if DOE determines that amended test
procedures may be appropriate for these products.
Submitting comments via www.regulations.gov. The
www.regulations.gov web page will require you to provide your name and
contact information. Your contact information will be viewable to DOE
Building Technologies staff only. Your contact information will not be
publicly viewable except for your first and last names, organization
name (if any), and submitter representative name (if any). If your
comment is not processed properly because of technical difficulties,
DOE will use this information to contact you. If DOE cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, DOE may not be able to consider your comment.
However, your contact information will be publicly viewable if you
include it in the comment or in any documents attached to your comment.
Any information that you do not want to be publicly viewable should not
be included in your comment, nor in any document attached to your
comment. Following this instruction, persons viewing comments will see
only first and last names, organization names, correspondence
containing comments, and any documents submitted with the comments.
Do not submit to www.regulations.gov information for which
disclosure is restricted by statute, such as trade secrets and
commercial or financial information (hereinafter referred to as
Confidential Business Information (``CBI'')). Comments submitted
through www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed as CBI. Comments received
through the website will waive any CBI claims for the information
submitted. For information on submitting CBI, see the Confidential
Business Information section.
DOE processes submissions made through www.regulations.gov before
posting. Normally, comments will be posted within a few days of being
submitted. However, if large volumes of comments are being processed
simultaneously, your comment may not be viewable for up to several
weeks. Please keep the comment tracking number that www.regulations.gov
provides after you have successfully uploaded your comment.
Submitting comments via email. Comments and documents submitted via
email also will be posted to www.regulations.gov. If you do not want
your personal contact information to be publicly viewable, do not
include it in your comment or any accompanying documents. Instead,
provide your contact information on a cover letter. Include your first
and last names, email address, telephone number, and optional mailing
address. The cover letter will not be publicly viewable as long as it
does not include any comments.
Include contact information each time you submit comments, data,
documents, and other information to DOE. Faxes will not be accepted.
Comments, data, and other information submitted to DOE
electronically should be provided in PDF (preferred), Microsoft Word or
Excel, or text (ASCII) file format. Provide documents that are not
secured, written in English and free of any defects or viruses.
Documents should not contain special characters or any form of
encryption and, if possible, they should carry the electronic signature
of the author.
Campaign form letters. Please submit campaign form letters by the
originating organization in batches of between 50 to 500 form letters
per PDF or as one form letter with a list of supporters' names compiled
into one or more PDFs. This reduces comment processing and posting
time.
Confidential Business Information. According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any
person submitting information that he or she believes to be
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via
email two well-marked copies: One copy of the document marked
confidential including all the information believed to be confidential,
and one copy of the document marked ``non-confidential'' with the
information believed to be confidential deleted. DOE will make its own
determination about the confidential status of the information and
treat it according to its determination.
It is DOE's policy that all comments may be included in the public
docket, without change and as received, including any personal
information provided in the comments (except information deemed to be
exempt from public disclosure).
DOE considers public participation to be a very important part of
the process for developing test procedures and energy conservation
standards. DOE actively encourages the participation
[[Page 5747]]
and interaction of the public during the comment period in each stage
of this process. Interactions with and between members of the public
provide a balanced discussion of the issues and assist DOE in the
process. Anyone who wishes to be added to the DOE mailing list to
receive future notices and information about this process should
contact Appliance and Equipment Standards Program staff at (202) 287-
1445 or via email at [email protected].
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on January 26,
2022, by Kelly J. Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, pursuant to delegated
authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original
signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes
only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal
Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been
authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for
publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This
administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this
document upon publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on January 26, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-01921 Filed 2-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
