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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 194 / Tuesday, October 12, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
Whirlpool, No. 19, p. 1; Sub Zero, No.
17, p. 2
Based on consideration of the industry test standard HRF12019 and of comments received in response to the December 2019 NOPR, DOE is incorporating by reference section 5.5.2r of HRF12019, which specifies testing units with communication modules with the communication modules on but not connected to any communication network. DOE has determined that the adopted approach provides a representative measure of the energy use during an average period of use. DOE acknowledges that manufacturers market connected functions available on refrigeration products and consumers purchasing such products will likely use the connected functions to some extent.
However, the range of functions available varies by model and DOE lacks information on how consumers use such functions e.g., which connected functions consumers choose to use, how frequently consumers access such functions, etc.. Accordingly, DOE has determined that measuring energy consumed by the communication module rather than any specific connected function provides a representative, repeatable, and reproducible test procedure for these products. Additionally, this approach reflects current industry practiceas it is the approach specified in the industry test procedureand therefore does not add an undue burden.
In response to AHAMs concern, the adopted procedure for testing communication modules measures energy consumed by the communication module while not connected to a network rather than the energy consumed while the unit is performing any connected functions. Therefore, the test procedure would not introduce any additional burden associated with testing multiple connected functions or modes that manufacturers may choose to introduce in products with communication modules.
With regard to comments suggesting that DOE incorporate standby and offmode energy use into the standard metrics for refrigerators, as discussed, EPCA requires that DOE amend its test procedures for refrigeration products to integrate measures of standby mode and off mode energy consumption into the overall energy efficiency, energy consumption, or other energy descriptor, unless the current test procedure already incorporates the standby mode and off mode energy consumption, or if such integration is technically infeasible. 42 U.S.C.
6295gg2A If an integrated test
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procedure is technically infeasible, DOE
must prescribe separate standby mode and off mode energy use test procedures for the covered product, if a separate test is technically feasible. Id. Any such amendment must consider the most current versions of the IEC
Standard 62301 and IEC Standard 62087
as applicable. 42 U.S.C. 6295gg2A
As described in the April 2014 Final Rule, the DOE test procedures for refrigeration products measure the energy use of these products during extended time periods that include periods when the compressor and other key components are cycled off. All of the energy these products use during the off cycles is already included in the measurements. 79 FR 22320, 22345. The approach of testing with connected functions on but not connected to a network accounts for energy consumption of such functions as part of active mode testing, and as a result, this method provides consumers with representative estimates of energy consumption. DOE reiterates its conclusion from the April 2014 Final Rule that by measuring the energy use during off cycles, the current test procedures already address EPCAs requirement to include standby mode and off mode energy consumption in the overall energy descriptor for refrigeration products. Id.
Through incorporation by reference of HRF12019, DOE is adopting the provision in section 5.5.2r of HRF1
2019, which states that units shipped with communication devices shall be tested with the communication device on but not connected to any communication network. This approach also requires testing communication modules for demand-response functions on but not connected to a network, amending the current requirements in sections 2.10 of appendix A and 2.8 of appendix B that such communication modules be tested in the as-shipped position.
DOE does not currently have test data as to the extent of energy use of connected functions. DOE did not receive such data from stakeholders.
DOE is adopting the amended approach in HRF12019 as it is reflective of the industry consensus for testing refrigeration products with communication modules. Absent data which would suggest otherwise, DOE
agrees with AHAMs comment indicating that the HRF12019
approach is not expected to impact measured energy use and thus would not impact compliance of these products. Hence DOE has also concluded that an amendment to the energy conservation standards with
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respect to this amendment is not necessary.
I. Corrections In the December 2019 NOPR, DOE
proposed several corrections to the test procedures in appendices A and B, which included amendments to improve clarity and consistency with the industry test procedure proposed to be incorporated by reference i.e., AHAM HRF12016. 84 FR 70842, 7085770858.
The inadvertent omission of calculations associated with the optional test for models with two compartments and user-operable controls according to AS/NZS
4474.1:2007 is discussed in section III.B.2 of this final rule. Similarly, the updates to Table 1 in appendices A and B, as proposed in the December 2019
NOPR, are discussed in section III.B.2 of this final rule.
In this final rule, DOE is incorporating by reference HRF12019, which resolves the need to issue separate corrections regarding other issues identified in the December 2019 NOPR.
Re-ordering of definitions in Appendix A is no longer necessary given the updated incorporation by reference of HRF12019. Similarly, updating appendix B, as proposed, to ensure consistent terminology and instructions as appendix A is no longer necessary given that the volume instructions for both Appendices are now included by reference to HRF12019. Additionally, HRF12019 includes the proposed clarification to the instructions in section 3.2.1 of appendices A and B, which would have clarified the instructions regarding electronic control settings for the median test.
DOE identified one additional error, which is corrected in this final rule. In 10 CFR 429.14d1, the instructions regarding compartment volumes used to determine product category refer to 10
CFR 429.72d rather than c. 10 CFR
429.72d provides the alternative method for determining volume in miscellaneous refrigeration products. 10
CFR 429.72c provides this method for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. DOE is amending 10 CFR
429.14d1 to correctly refer to 10 CFR
429.72c.
J. Effective Date, Compliance Date, and Waivers The effective date for the adopted test procedure amendments will be 30 days after publication of this final rule in the Federal Register. EPCA prescribes that all representations of energy efficiency and energy use, including those made on marketing materials and product
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