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As shown in Figure III.4, moisture regain and loss relative to the immediately measured FMC were observed at the various time periods, with more significant changes in FMC
as the time periods increased. At the 5minute waiting period, however, variation in FMC was consistently within 0.1 percentage points of the FMC
recorded immediately after the drying cycle terminated for all units tested.
According to these results, and in order to ensure repeatability, reproducibility, and representativeness of the FMC
measurement, a time limit of 5 minutes, within which the test load must be weighed, appears appropriate to minimize variability in FMC from the value immediately upon completion of the cycle.
As best practice would result in weighing the test load without any unnecessary delay, and DOE has no indication that testing is currently conducted inconsistent with best practices, DOE does not expect any increase in test burden associated with adoption of a reasonable time limit on weighing the test cloth after termination of a drying cycle to ensure repeatable, reproducible, and representative results.
Therefore, to limit any potential variability in the test procedure associated with moisture reabsorption following the test cycle, DOE is amending section 3.3 of appendix D1
and sections 3.3.1 and 3.3.2 of appendix D2 to specify that FMC must be recorded within 5 minutes following the termination of the drying test cycle.

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iii. Final Moisture Content Requirements for Automatic Termination Control Dryers Section 3.3.2 of appendix D2 specifies that for automatic termination control dryers, the clothes dryer is operated until the completion of the programmed cycle, including the cool down period.
The test procedure provides that, if the FMC is greater than 2 percent, the test is invalid and a new run must be conducted using the highest dryness level setting. In guidance issued on January 10, 2017 2017 Guidance,32
DOE provided its interpretation that the 2-percent FMC threshold for a valid test also applies to a test run conducted using the highest dryness level setting, if required. As explained in the 2017
Guidance, DOEs interpretation that the 2-percent final moisture content threshold for a valid test should apply to all test cycles conducted according to section 3.3.2 of Appendix D2, including test runs using the highest 2 dryness level setting, is consistent with the EPCA requirements that test procedures must be reasonably designed to produce test results that measure energy use during a representative average use cycle. 42 U.S.C. 6293b3.
Based on the information presented during the prior rulemaking, during the representative average use of a clothes dryer, clothes are dried to an FMC that 32 Clothes Dryer Final Guidance issued January 10, 2017. Available at www1.eere.energy.gov/
guidance/detail_
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is equivalent to 2-percent FMC in the DOE test load.
DOE noted in the July 2019 NOPR
that, as part of the August 2013 Final Rule, interested parties submitted a joint comment presenting test results that demonstrate that an FMC of 2 percent using the DOE test cloth is representative of the consumer-accepted dryness level after completion of a drying cycle. 84 FR 35484, 35497 July 23, 2019; see also 78 FR 49608, 49614
Aug. 14, 2013. DOE agreed with this conclusion and adopted provisions that specify that a test conducted on the normal or medium dryness setting is considered valid only if the FMC is 2 percent or lower. 78 FR 49608, 49621, 49624 Aug. 14, 2013.
The California IOUs and the Joint Commenters supported DOEs clarification that the second test following a failed first test in which the clothes dryer did not achieve an FMC
less than or equal to 2 percent should be held to the same FMC requirements as the first test. The California IOUs stated that the second test should not provide a loophole, whereby a unit could fail the first test and then use the results of the second test regardless of the FMC. The California IOUs suggested that without this consistency in test procedure and results, clothes dryers that are certified to the second test would not be comparable to those that passed the first test. California IOUs, No. 29 at p. 20; Joint Commenters, No.
34 at p. 3
AHAM and Whirlpool expressed concern that it is unclear how
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 193 / Friday, October 8, 2021 / Rules and Regulations