DOE Issues a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Public Meeting and Request for Comment Pertaining to Test Procedures for Furnace Fans

DOE Issues a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Public Meeting and Request for Comment Pertaining to Test Procedures for Furnace Fans

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice proposing to amend the test procedure for consumer furnace fans to: clarify the scope of applicability; incorporate by reference the most recent version of industry test methods; establish a test method for furnace fans incapable of operating at the required external static pressure; clarify testing of certain products, including furnace fans with modulating controls, furnace fans and modular blowers tested with electric heat kits, certain two-stage furnaces that operate at reduced input only for a preset period of time, dual-fuel furnaces, and certain oil-fired furnaces; and make updates to improve test procedure repeatability and reproducibility. DOE is seeking comment from interested parties on the proposals.

• DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this NOPR until 60 days after date of publication in the Federal Register. DOE will send a follow-up e-mail once the notice publishes to announce the closing date of the comment period.
• Interested persons may submit comments identified by docket number EERE- 2020-BT-TP-0041, by email (FurnFans2020TP0041@ee.doe.gov), Federal eRulemaking portal (http://www.regulations.gov).
• DOE will hold a webinar on Thursday, May 19, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Click here to register for the webinar.
• Foreign Nationals interested in participating in this webinar, must be screened by DOE Headquarters Security prior to being granted access. Please email Regina.Washington@ee.doe.gov to complete the necessary documentation at least two weeks prior to scheduled meeting date.
• Additional webinar registration information, participant instructions, and information about the capabilities available to webinar participants will be published on DOE’s website: https://energy.gov/eere/buildings/public-meetings-and-comment-deadlines
• Find product information for Consumer Furnace Fans including current standards and test procedures, statutory authority, waivers, exceptions and contact information.