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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 22, 2021 / Proposed Rules
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to be tested on a more energy-intensive cycle compared to the normal cycle.
However, if stakeholder feedback indicates that a cleaning index threshold of 70 is appropriate, DOE will consider establishing 70 as the cleaning index threshold value for a test cycle to be considered valid.
DOE proposes to specify the same cleaning index threshold value for all tested soil loads because it does not have information to suggest that consumer expectations for the cleaning performance of the load at the end of the cycle differ based on the initial soil load of the dishware.
DOE requests feedback on the proposed cleaning index threshold value of 65 for each test cycle or whether it should consider a threshold value of 70 instead.
DOE requests additional data on consumer dishwasher cycle selections.
In particular, DOE requests data indicating the frequency with which consumers select the normal cycle; and, for cycles not conducted on the normal cycle, the frequency with which a more energy-intensive cycle is selected.
DOE also requests additional data on how frequently consumers are dissatisfied with the cleaning performance of the normal cycle as well as the actions, and the frequency of each action, that consumers would take if the load is not satisfactorily clean.
3. Validation of the Test Cycle Similar to the ENERGY STAR
Cleaning Performance Test Method, DOE proposes that the cleaning index of the test cycles be determined for the same test cycles required for the energy and water tests for both soil-sensing and non-soil-sensing dishwashers. The following paragraphs discuss specific details regarding implementation of this proposal for soil-sensing and non-soilsensing dishwashers, respectively.
For soil-sensing dishwashers, Section 2.6.3 of appendix C1 specifies that the normal cycle shall be tested first for the sensor heavy response, then for the sensor medium response, and finally for the sensor light response, using a defined combination of soiled and clean test load items for each test cycle. DOE
proposes maintaining this test sequence, which is also specified in Section 2.6.3
of AHAM DW12020. As discussed, DOE proposes that each of the sensor heavy, medium, and light response test cycles would be required to achieve a cleaning index of 65 or greater to constitute a valid cycle. If a test cycle at a particular soil level does not achieve the defined cleaning index threshold, that soil level would need to be re-tested using the most energy-

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intensive cycle to be determined using the proposed methodology discussed in Section III.G.4 of this document that achieves a cleaning index threshold of 65 or greater. For the soil level under consideration, the test results from the most energy-intensive valid cycle that achieves a cleaning index threshold of 65 or greater would be used in the calculation of EAOC, EAEU, and percycle water consumption.
In the event that a test cycle at a particular soil level does not achieve the defined cleaning index threshold, DOE
proposes that the filter should be cleaned prior to testing the soil level at the most energy-intensive cycle that achieves a cleaning index of 65 or greater. Cleaning the filter before transitioning from the normal cycle to the specified most energy-intensive cycle at a given soil load would ensure that residual particles from the normal cycle test run do not impact the cleaning performance evaluation for that most energy-intensive cycle. It would also promote repeatability and reproducibility of the test results when testing according to the proposed amendments in which the sequence of test cycles may requiring switching from the normal cycle to a different program cycle.
Non-soil-sensing dishwashers are currently tested with a clean i.e., unsoiled test load. Under the proposal that a test cycle would be considered valid if its cleaning index threshold is 65 or greater, DOE proposes that nonsoil-sensing dishwashers must be tested instead with a soiled load. Specifically, for non-soil-sensing dishwashers, DOE
proposes incorporating the same procedure for evaluating the validity of the normal cycle and, if necessary, testing the most energy-intensive cycle that achieves a cleaning index threshold of 65 or greater, as proposed for soilsensing dishwashers. The same equations specified for soil-sensing dishwashers in Section 5 of appendix C1 and newly proposed appendix C2, Calculations of Derived Results from Test Measurements, would apply to non-soil-sensing dishwashers. The proposed test procedure would specify testing the heavy, medium, and light soil levels, in that sequence.
Since non-soil-sensing dishwashers consume a fixed amount of water and energy independent of the amount of soil present in the test load, it is assumed that if the normal cycle obtains a cleaning index of 65 or greater at a given soil load e.g., for the sensor heavy response test, that the normal cycle would also achieve the cleaning index threshold for any lesser soil loads e.g., the sensor medium and sensor light
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response tests. Therefore, if a tested soil load for a non-soil-sensing dishwasher meets the defined threshold criteria when tested on the normal cycle, no additional testing would be required of cycles with lesser soil loads. If a nonsoil-sensing dishwasher is not tested at a certain soil load because the preceding heavier soil loads meets the cleaning index threshold on the normal cycle, the energy and water consumption values of the preceding soil load would be used to calculate the weighted-average energy and water consumption values. For example, if the sensor medium response and sensor light response tests on the normal cycle are not conducted, the values of the sensor heavy response test on the normal cycle would be used for all three soil loads; whereas, if only the sensor light response test is not conducted, the values of the sensor medium response test on the normal cycle would be used for the sensor medium and the sensor light response tests.
DOE could also consider other potential methods to validate that the measured energy and water consumption of dishwashers is representative of consumer use. For example, the test procedure could define an energy adder or multiplicative factor that would be applied to the energy and water consumption values for any test cycle that does not meet the defined cleaning index threshold e.g., DOE could specify a constant adder that could be included to the measured energy consumption of a cycle that does not meet the cleaning index threshold. Such adder or multiplicative factor would compensate for the additional energy and water needed to achieve a consumer-accepted level of cleaning. This example approach would eliminate the need to run additional test cycles, thereby mitigating test burden.
As discussed at the beginning of Section III.G of this document, the representative average use of a dishwasher is represented in DOEs test procedure by the normal cycle. The normal cycle definition includes the phrase completely wash a full load of normally soiled dishes. See 10 CFR
part 430 subpart B appendix C1. The discussion in Sections III.G.13 of this document illustrates that it is likely that dishwashers exist that are testing using the normal cycle, but are not completely washing dishes, leading consumers to pre-rinse and use additional cycles, etc. Thus, the testing of those dishwashers is not representative of energy use, energy efficiency, and water use during a representative average use cycle. In
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