Commercial Warm Air Furnaces
As defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), “commercial warm air furnace” means a warm air furnace that is industrial equipment, and that has a capacity (rated maximum input) of 225,000 Btu per hour or more. A “warm air furnace” is defined as a self-contained oil-fired or gas-fired furnace designed to supply heated air through ducts to spaces that require it and includes combination warm air furnace/electric air conditioning units but does not include unit heaters and duct furnaces.10 CFR 431.72. Manufacturers have been required to comply with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy conservation standards for commercial warm air furnaces since 1994.
Current Standard | Current Test Procedure |
Ongoing Rulemaking for Standards | Ongoing Rulemaking for Test Procedure |
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Recent and Ongoing Activities
DOE has published a Federal Register notice reopening to comment period for the request for information (RFI) pertaining to the energy conservation standards for air-cooled commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment (ACUACs and ACUHPs) and commercial warm air furnaces (CWAFs) notice that published on May 12, 2020. The RFI provided an opportunity for submission of written comments, data, and information to the Department by June 11, 2020. Prior to the end of the comment period for the RFI, DOE received a request from the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), as well as from the American Public Gas Association (APGA), seeking additional time to consider the applicability and impact of an updated energy conservation standard for this equipment. In light of these requests, DOE is reopening the comment period for the subject RFI for an additional 14 days.
- Frequently Asked Questions on the Request for Information pertaining to Standards for air-cooled commercial unitary air conditioning and heat pumps and commercial warm air furnaces.
DOE has published a Federal Register notice initiating a data collection process through this request for information (RFI), to consider whether to amend DOE’s current energy conservation standards for air-cooled commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment (ACUACs and ACUHPs) and commercial warm air furnaces (CWAFs). This RFI solicits information from the public to help DOE determine whether amended standards for ACUACs, ACUHPs, and CWAFs, subsets of covered commercial equipment, would result in significant additional energy savings and whether such standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified.
DOE has published a Federal Register notice initiating a data collection process through this request for information (RFI), to consider whether to amend DOE’s current test procedure for commercial warm air furnaces, in large part by updating references to the most recent versions of the relevant industry test standards. DOE also seeks information on any additional topics that may assist with DOE’s decision whether to conduct a future test procedure rulemaking, including whether amended test procedures would more accurately or fully comply with the requirement that they be reasonably designed to produce test results that measure energy efficiency of commercial warm air furnaces during a representative average use cycle, and not be unduly burdensome to conduct.
For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.
Standards
DOE has published a Federal Register notice reopening to comment period for the request for information pertaining to energy conservation standards for commercial warm air furnaces. 85FR36517 (June 17, 2020).
DOE has published a Federal Register notice request for information pertaining to energy conservation standards for commercial warm air furnaces. 85FR27941 (May 11, 2020).
DOE has published a Federal Register notice of correction pertaining to energy conservation standards for small, large, and very large commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps. 81 FR 53907 (August 15, 2016).
DOE has published a Federal Register notice detailing the effective date and compliance dates for DOE's direct final rule (DFR) pertaining to energy conservation standards for small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioning, heating equipment, and commercial warm air furnaces. 81 FR 32628 (May 24, 2016).
DOE published a direct final rule amending the energy conservation standards for commercial warm air furnaces. 81 FR 2420 (January 15, 2016). The commercial warm air furnaces energy conservation standard rulemaking docket EERE-2013-BT-STD-0021 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.
In addition, as required by law when issuing a direct final rule, DOE published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR). The proposed energy conservation standards for commercial warm air furnaces are identical to those set forth in the direct final rule. 81 FR 2111 (January 15, 2016).
Public Meeting Information:
There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.
Submitting Public Comments
Test Procedure
DOE has published a Federal Register notice request for information pertaining to test procedures for commercial warm air furnaces. 85FR26626 (May 5, 2020).
DOE published a final rule pertaining to commercial warm air furnace test procedures. 77 FR 28928 (May 16, 2012). The commercial warm air furnace test procedure rulemaking docket EERE-2011-BT-STD-0029 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.
Public Meeting Information
There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.
Submitting Public Comments
Current Standard
Commercial warm air furnaces manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 431.77.
To determine that commercial warm air furnaces that are currently manufactured or distributed into commerce are in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 431.76.
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Compliance
DOE has established regulations on certification, compliance, and enforcement in the CFR at 10 CFR Part 429. These regulations cover statistical sampling plans, certified ratings, certification reports, record retention, and enforcement. More information on these regulations is available here.
Waivers
For information on current test procedure waivers, see DOE’s Waivers webpage.
For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 430.401.
Exceptions
DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for commercial warm air furnaces.
For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.
Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions
For information on further guidance and answers to Frequently Asked Questions on all covered products, see DOE’s Further Guidance database.
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.
For more information related to this product, please email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov
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