Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
Department of Energy
The Department of Energy (DOE) has regulated the energy efficiency level of commercial warm air furnaces since 1994. Commercial warm air furnaces are self-contained oil-fired or gas-fired furnaces that are designed to supply heated air through ducts to spaces that require it. The standard covers gas-fired and oil-fired warm air furnaces that are industrial equipment and that have a capacity (maximum rated input) of 225,000 Btu per hour or more.
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Current Standard:
The standard covers gas-fired and oil-fired warm air furnaces that are industrial equipment and that have a capacity (maximum rated input) of 225,000 Btu per hour or more. Commercial warm air furnaces manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 10 CFR 431.72, on or after January 1, 2023, must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 431.77.
|
Equipment Class |
Input Capacity *(Btu/h) |
Thermal Efficiency (%) |
Thermal Efficiency (%) |
|
Gas-fired Furnaces |
≥ 225,000 |
80 |
81 |
|
Oil-Fired Furnaces |
≥ 225,000 |
81 |
82 |
Links:
- Final Rule: Standards, Federal Register, 81 FR 2420 (Jan. 15, 2016)
- Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-STD-0007 and EERE-2013-BT-STD-0021 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.
For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this standard, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.
To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 431.76 for commercial warm air furnaces manufactured or distributed into commerce.
- Final Rule: Test Procedure, Federal Register, 81 FR 2420 (Jan. 15, 2016)
- Docket No. EERE-2013-BT-STD-0007 and EERE-2013-BT-STD-0021 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.
Amended Test Procedures
Energy Conservation Standards for Small, Large, and Very Large Commercial Package A/C and Heating Equipment and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
Summary: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as amended, requires DOE to periodically review its standards for small, large, and very large commercial package air conditioners and heating equipment (also commonly known as commercial unitary air conditioners and heat pumps -- or CUACs). Under recent amendments to EPCA made by the American Efficient Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act of 2012 Pub. L. No. 112-210 (Dec. 18, 2012), DOE must review its standards for this equipment every six years and determine whether they need amending. More than six years has elapsed since the standards for this equipment were last amended. After reviewing these standards and the available data, DOE has determined that amending the current energy conservation standards for this equipment would be technologically feasible and economically justified. Accordingly, DOE is proposing to amend the current standards for this equipment.
Type of Regulation: Energy Conservation Standards
Rulemaking Link: Rulemaking Webpage
Docket ID: EERE-2013-BT-STD-0007
UPDATES:
- Posted: May 24, 2016 — Notice of Effective Date and Compliance Dates
- Posted: January 15, 2016 — Direct Final Rule
- Posted: April 1, 2015 — Notice of intent and announcement of a public meeting.
- Posted: May 2, 2013 — Request for information (RFI)
Comment Period Close Date: Closed
Where to Comment: EERE-2013-BT-STD-0007
Dates: The effective date of this rule is May 16, 2016 unless adverse comment is received by May 4, 2016. If adverse comments are received that DOE determines may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule, a timely withdrawal of this rule will be published in the Federal Register. If no such adverse comments are received, compliance with the amended standards in this final rule will be required for small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment as detailed in the supplementary information. Compliance with the amended standards established for commercial warm air furnaces in this final rule is required starting on January 1, 2023.
AHRI Comments to Previous Stages of Rulemaking:
- 2015-04-28 — Transcript: U.S. DOE Public Meeting Commercial AC/Furnace Working Group Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
- 2015-03-02 — Joint letter requesting that ASRAC consider a negotiated rulemaking for commercial package air conditioners and commercial furnaces at its upcoming meeting on March 19, 2015.
- 2014-12-22 — AHRI Comment response to the published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR); includes Shorey Consulting comments on behalf AHRI, report: "Incremental Markups - A Critical Review of Theory and Practice", and comment retraction dated February 18, 2015
- Link 1 – 02.18.15 Retraction of December 22, 2014 comment about the classification of dual-duct air conditioners
- Link 2 – AHRI Comments Docket EERE-2013-BT-STD-0007 (December 22, 2014)
- Link 3 – Commercial Unitary Comments – Shorey Consulting
- Link 4 – Incremental Markups – A Critical Review of Theory and Practice
- 2014-10-27 — AHRI Comment response to the published NOPR and request for extension of comment period
- 2013-03-04 — AHRI Comment response to the published Request for Information (RFI)
Staff Contact: Shannon Corcoran
Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
Summary: N/A
Type of Regulation: Energy Conservation Standard
Rulemaking Link: Rulemaking Webpage
Docket ID: EERE-2013-BT-STD-0021
UPDATES:
- Posted: May 24, 2016 — Notice of Effective Date and Compliance Dates
- Posted: January 15, 2016 — Direct Final Rule
- Posted: February 4, 2015 — Notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) and public meeting
- Posted: May 2, 2013 — Request for information (RFI)
Comment Period Close Date: Closed
Where to Comment: EERE-2013-BT-STD-0021
AHRI Comments to Previous Stages of Rulemaking:
- 2015-06-10 — Meeting Transcript: ASRAC Commercial Unitary Air Conditioners Working Group Meeting
- 2015-06-09 — Meeting Transcript: ASRAC Commercial Unitary Air Conditioners Working Group Meeting
- 2015-04-28 — Transcript: U. S. Department of Energy Public Meeting Commercial AC/Furnace Working Group ASRAC Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps and Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
- 2015-04-06 — AHRI Comment response to the published notice of proposed rulemaking and public meeting
- 2015-03-02 — Transcript: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Public Meeting: Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
- 2013-06-03 — AHRI Comment response to the published RFI
Staff Contact: Shannon Corcoran
EPA ENERGY STAR
Not currently an Energy Star certified product.
Current Product Specifications:
N/A
In Development:
N/A
Applying for Energy Star:
To qualify a new product, contact an EPA-recognized Certification Body (CB) to have the product's performance certified. A list of EPA-recognized CBs, as well as an overview of EPA's third-party certification procedures, is available at Third-Party Certification. AHRI is an EPA-recognized CB. Email AHRICert_EnergyStar@ahrinet.org for more information.
More Information:
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