Commercial Packaged Boilers
The Department of Energy (DOE) has regulated the energy efficiency level of commercial packaged boilers since 1994. Commercial packaged boilers are low pressure packaged boilers that supply steam or hot water for buildings, primarily for heating and space conditioning applications. Commercial packaged boilers are industrial equipment with a maximum rated input capacity of 300,000 Btu/h or more.
Standards mandatory in 2012 and 2022 will save approximately 0.11 quads of energy for products shipped from 2013 to 2042. The standards will avoid about 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of 1.2 million automobiles.
Recent Updates | Standards | Test Procedures | Waiver, Exception, and Exemption Information | Statutory Authority | Historical Information | Contact Information
DOE has issued a pre-publication Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking and public meeting pertaining to test procedures for commercial packaged boilers (February 22, 2016). DOE will hold a public meeting on April 4, 2016 in Washington, DC. For more information, please see the rulemaking page.
DOE published a Federal Register notice of withdrawal of its proposed determination of natural draft commercial packaged boilers as covered industrial equipment. 80 FR 51487 (August 25, 2015). For more information, please see the rulemaking page.
DOE issued a Federal Register notice of public meeting and availability of the preliminary technical support documents for commercial packaged boilers. 79 FR 69066 (November 20, 2014). For more information, please see the rulemaking page.
Standards for Commercial Packaged Boilers
The following content summarizes the energy conservation standards for commercial packaged boilers. The text is not an official reproduction of the Code of Federal Regulations and should not be used for legal research or citation.
Current Standard
These standards cover gas-fired and oil-fired packaged low-pressure steam and hot water boilers that are industrial equipment with maximum rated input capacities of 300,000 Btu/h or more, which are disturbed in commerce for: (1) heating or space conditioning in buildings or (2) for service water heating in buildings, but do not meet the definition of "hot water supply boiler."
Commercial packaged boilers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291 (16), on or after March 2, 2012 must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 431.87. These levels are shown in Table 1 below. In addition, DOE established future updates to the energy conservation standards for two classes of commercial packaged boilers, which are shown in Table 2. The future energy conservation standards are applicable starting on March 2, 2022.
Each commercial packaged boiler listed in Table 2 and manufactured on or after the effective date listed must meet the applicable energy conservation standard in Table 2.
Table 1. Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Packaged Boilers
| Equipment type |
Subcategory |
Size category
(input)
|
Efficiency level—Effective date:
March 2, 2012
|
| Hot Water Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Gas-fired |
 300,000 Btu/h and
 2,500,000 Btu/h |
80.0% ET |
| Hot Water Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Gas-fired |
>2,500,000 Btu/h |
82.0% EC |
| Hot Water Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Oil-fired |
300,000 Btu/h and
2,500,000 Btu/h |
82.0% ET |
| Hot Water Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Oil-fired |
>2,500,000 Btu/h |
84.0% Ec |
| Steam Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Gas-fired—all, except natural draft |
300,000 Btu/h and
2,500,000 Btu/h |
79.0% ET |
| Steam Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Gas-fired—all, except natural draft |
>2,500,000 Btu/h |
79.0% ET |
| Steam Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Gas-fired—natural draft |
300,000 Btu/h and
2,500,000 Btu/h |
77.0% ET |
| Steam Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Gas-fired—natural draft |
>2,500,000 Btu/h |
77.0% ET |
| Steam Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Oil-fired |
300,000 Btu/h and
2,500,000 Btu/h |
81.0% ET |
| Steam Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Oil-fired |
>2,500,000 Btu/h |
81.0% ET |
Table 2. Future Energy Conservation Standards for Gas-Fired Natural Draft Steam Commercial Packaged Boilers
| Equipment type |
Subcategory |
Size category (input) |
Efficiency level—
Effective date: March 2, 2022
|
| Steam Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Gas-fired—natural draft |
300,000 Btu/h and
=2,500,000 Btu/h |
79.0% ET |
| Steam Commercial Packaged Boilers |
Gas-fired—natural draft |
>2,500,000 Btu/h |
79.0% ET |
For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of this standard, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.
Waivers
Test procedure waivers have not been issued for commercial packaged boilers.
For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 431 subpart V.
Exceptions
DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for commercial packaged boilers.
For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.
State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption
DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the Federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 431, subpart W.
The current energy conservation standards for commercial packaged boilers are mandated by Part A–1, the "Certain Industrial Equipment" of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended. (42 U.S.C. 6311–6317). This equipment is treated as covered equipment under Part A-1. (42 U.S.C. 6311(1)(J))
EPCA sets energy conservation standards for commercial packaged boilers. (42 U.S.C. 6313(a)) EPCA established Federal energy conservation standards that generally correspond to the levels set in the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1.
EPCA directs DOE to consider amending the existing Federal energy conservation standard for each type of equipment listed whenever ASHRAE amends the efficiency levels in Standard 90.1. For each type of listed equipment, EPCA directs that if ASHRAE amends Standard 90.1, DOE must adopt amended standards at the new ASHRAE efficiency level unless clear and convincing evidence supports a determination that adoption of a more stringent level would produce significant additional energy savings and would be technologically feasible and economically justified. (42 U.S.C. 6313(a)(6) In 2009, DOE published a final rule amending the energy conservation standards for commercial packaged boilers to correspond to the levels in the most recent ASHRAE Standard 90.1 which amended commercial package boiler efficiency levels (i.e., ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007).
EPCA also directs DOE to amend the existing test procedure for each type of equipment listed each time the industry test procedure is amended for such equipment. (42 U.S.C. 6314(4)) In 2009, DOE published a final rule updating the test procedure for commercial packaged boilers to reference the most recent industry test method.
Previous Test Procedures
Helpful Links and Contact Information
Helpful Links
Find tips and guidance for making your home, workplace, or vehicle more energy efficient visit EnergySavers.gov.
For more information related to the regulation of this product, please email:
commercial_packaged_boilers@ee.doe.gov
