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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.

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