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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Proposed Rules
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS3

water supply temperature 120125 F
and the cold water supply temperature 5560 F.
DOE agrees with AHAM and GEA that changing the hot water supply temperature would likely impact measured efficiency because hot water energy consumption is a significant component in the calculation of the IMEF metric. As a result, DOE is proposing to update the hot water supply temperature only in the proposed new Appendix J and not in existing Appendix J2. Therefore, DOEs proposal would not affect the measured efficiency of clothes washers currently tested using Appendix J2. The ongoing RCW and CCW energy conservation standards rulemakings would consider the impact of this proposed modification to the hot water supply temperature on measured efficiency.
DOE requests comment on its proposal to update the hot water supply temperature for the proposed new Appendix J from 130135 F to 120
125 F. DOE seeks more recent data on hot water supply temperatures in consumer clothes washer installations.
DOE also requests comment on any potential impact to testing costs that may occur by harmonizing temperatures between the clothes washer and dishwasher test procedures, and the impacts on manufacturer burden associated with any changes to the hot water supply temperature.
In the NOPR preceding the July 2014
Water Heater Final Rule, DOE cited a comment from Applied Energy Technology,18 which stated that water temperatures in the range of 120 F are adequate to prevent Legionella growth as long as the water is maintained at a temperature high enough, long enough, and often enough. 78 FR 66202, 66219
Nov. 4, 2013. In that NOPR, DOE also cited the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers ASHRAE guideline 19
which states that hot water should be stored above 140 F only for high-risk applications such as health-care facilities and nursing homes. 78 FR
66202, 66218 Nov. 4, 2013. Moreover, 18 See comment number 22 in Docket number EERE2011BTTP0042. Available at www.regulations.gov/docket/EERE2011BTTP
0042.
19 ASHRAE Guideline 12, Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems, states that the temperature range most favorable for amplification of legionellae bacteria is 77108 F 2542 C and recommends that when practical, hot water should be stored at temperatures of 120 F 49 C or above. The guideline states that hot water should be stored above 140 F 60 C for high-risk settings such as in health care facilities and nursing homes. For more information visit: www.ashrae.org.

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DOE testing of a broad range of clothes washers 21 indicates that over 70
percent of Extra-Hot cycles have a wash water temperature that exceeds 140 F, despite the threshold temperature for Extra-Hot Wash changing to 135 F in the August 1997 Final Rule.
Furthermore, DOE research indicates that 140 F is widely cited as a threshold for achieving sanitization by organizations including the World Health Organization and the United Kingdoms National Health Service.22 23
Based on DOEs data indicating that a majority of existing Extra-Hot cycles b. Extra-Hot Wash Determination have wash water temperatures that Clothes washers are tested using an exceed 140 F, and based on the cited energy test cycle that is comprised of reports finding that washing textiles at certain cycles taking into consideration 140 F is an accepted sanitation all cycle settings available to the end threshold, DOE proposes specifying the user. Section 2.12 of Appendix J2.
Extra-Hot Wash threshold as 140 F.
Figure 2.12.5 of Appendix J2 specifies Based on the research described above, that for the energy test cycle to include DOE preliminarily concludes that a an Extra-Hot Wash/Cold Rinse, the temperature threshold of 140 F would clothes washer must have an internal align with 140 F as an accepted heater and the Normal cycle 20 must, in temperature threshold for sanitization, part, contain a wash/rinse temperature and therefore may be more selection that has a wash temperature representative of consumer expectations greater than 135 F. The 135 F threshold and usage of the Extra-Hot Wash cycle, matches the current hot water inlet than the current 135 F threshold.
target temperature, as specified in In addition to improving section 2.2 of Appendix J2.
representativeness, changing the ExtraDOE has revised the Extra-Hot wash Hot Wash temperature threshold to temperature parameters previously. In 140 F could potentially reduce test the August 1997 Final Rule, DOE
changed the minimum hot water supply burden. As discussed more fully in temperature from 140 F in Appendix J section III.C.4 of this document, a threshold of 140 F would enable easier 1977 to 135 F in Appendix J11997, confirmation that an Extra-Hot and also revised the threshold temperature has been achieved when temperature for Extra-Hot Wash from measuring wash temperature with non140 F to 135 F accordingly. 62 FR
reversible temperature indicator labels, 45484, 45497. As noted, Appendix J2
as permitted by section 3.3 of Appendix retains this threshold temperature of J2. Temperature indicator labels are 135 F for Extra-Hot Wash.
widely available with a 140 F indicator, As described previously, DOE is whereas DOE is not aware of any proposing to update the hot water inlet commercially available temperature temperature from 135 F to 125 F see indicator labels that provide a 135 F
section III.C.3.a of this document. This indicator.
proposed change to the hot water inlet temperature prompted DOE to reassess In summary, DOE is proposing to the threshold temperature for the Extraspecify in the proposed new Appendix Hot wash temperature. Because the J that the minimum temperature inclusion of an Extra-Hot Wash/Cold threshold for the Extra-Hot Wash/Cold Rinse in the energy test cycle requires Rinse is 140 F. This change would be the clothes washer to have an internal reflected in the proposed Extra Hot heater, the threshold temperature is not Wash/Cold Rinse flowchart in section limited to the input temperature.
2.12 of the proposed new Appendix J as well as any references to this 20 Section 1.25 of Appendix J2 defines the Normal temperature threshold elsewhere the specification of hot water supply temperature in the clothes washer test procedure is intended to be representative of consumer clothes washer installations, as supported by the data described previously. The target temperature defined in the clothes washer test procedure does not and would not introduce any regulatory requirement on water heater manufacturers, installers, or consumers regarding the set point temperature that can be chosen for any individual water heater installation.

cycle as the cycle recommended by the manufacturer considering manufacturer instructions, control panel labeling, and other markings on the clothes washer for normal, regular, or typical use for washing up to a full load of normally-soiled cotton clothing. For machines where multiple cycle settings are recommended by the manufacturer for normal, regular, or typical use for washing up to a full load of normally-soiled cotton clothing, then the Normal cycle is the cycle selection that results in the lowest IMEF or MEF
value.

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21 DOE analyzed test data from 2 top-loading and 15 front-loading models representing 7 different manufacturers and 9 different brands.
22 World Health Organization. Boil Water.
Available at: www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/
dwq/Boiling_water_01_15.pdf.
23 National Health Service. Can clothes and towels spread germs? Available at: www.nhs.uk/
common-health-questions/infections/can-clothesand-towels-spread-germs/.

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