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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
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TABLE III.7MAXIMUM AVAILABLE EFFICIENCY LEVELS FOR THE VENTED HEATER PRODUCT CLASSESCURRENT AND
PREVIOUS RULEMAKINGS
Input rate, kBtu/h
Product class Gas Wall Fan Type
Gas Wall Gravity Type
Gas Floor

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Gas Room

In the April 2010 final rule, DOE
determined max-tech efficiency levels using the technology options available at that time. For gas wall fan type vented heaters with an input rate over 42,000 Btu/h, DOE identified a max-tech efficiency level design with induced draft combustion and electronic ignition, resulting in an AFUE of 80
percent. For gas wall gravity type vented heaters with an input rate over 27,000
Btu/h and up to 46,000 Btu/h, DOE
identified 70 percent AFUE as a theoretical max-tech level, which was achievable with an improved heat exchanger design and electronic ignition. For gas floor vented heaters with an input rate over 37,000 Btu/h, DOE identified the max-tech efficiency level as 58 percent AFUE, which DOE
stated could be reached using a standing pilot light and an improved heat exchanger design. For gas room vented heaters with an input rate over 27,000
Btu/h and up to 46,000 Btu/h, DOE
identified a theoretical max-tech efficiency level of 83 percent AFUE, which manufacturers could achieve using an electronic ignition and a multiple heat exchanger design. 75 FR
20112, 2014520146 April 16, 2010.
In the October 2016 final determination, DOE noted that condensing gas wall fan type vented heater models with input rates at or below 42,000 Btu/h had become available, and DOE considered this the max-tech level for all gas wall fan type vented heaters. Based on information obtained during manufacturer interviews and a manufacturer production cost developed through a teardown analysis performed for the proposed determination, DOE
determined that condensing technology was not economically justified for gas wall fan type vented heaters at that time. 81 FR 21276, 21280 April 11, 2016; 81 FR 71325, 7132871329 Oct.
17, 2016.

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42
>42
27
>27
>46
37
>37
20
>20
>27
>46

and 46


and 27
and 46

Since the October 2016 final determination, the highest efficiency condensing gas wall fan type vented heater, with an input rate at or below 42,000 Btu/h, available on the market has been rerated e.g., the same model number has been rated with at least two different AFUE values between the October 2016 final determination and this NOPD from an AFUE of 92 percent to an AFUE of 90 percent, which is the only condensing AFUE level on the market. The maximum available AFUE
for gas wall gravity type vented heaters, with an input rate over 27,000 Btu/h and up to 46,000 Btu/h, increased to 70
percent, which is the max-tech level analyzed in the April 2010 final rule. In total, the maximum available AFUE
decreased for two input rate ranges and increased for one input rate range. All other input rate ranges have the same maximum available AFUE as in the October 2016 final determination.
In response to the December 2020
NOPD, NEEA urged DOE to consider condensing technology as a technology option and analyze the maximum levels technologically feasible, not just those available. NEEA, No. 150 at p. 2 The CA IOUs recommended DOE conduct an updated analysis to reconsider the maxtech levels for all DHE products rather than rely on max-tech levels from the analysis conducted for the April 2010
final rule. CA IOUs, No. 17 at p. 1 The CA IOUs also stated that without a thorough engineering analysis of gas wall fan type vented heaters, the December 2020 NOPD gives insufficient justification that the AFUE level attained by the few condensing products on the market can be considered maxtech and that if DOE were to apply a different max-tech level for condensing technology, the energy savings threshold to initiate a new rulemaking could be met. CA IOUs, No. 17 at p. 2
For gas wall gravity type and gas room vented heaters, CA IOUs asserted that
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October 2016
final determination
2021
90
80
72
70
70
57
58
71
66
68
70

92
80
80
69
70
57
58
71
66
68
70

April 2010
final rule 83
80
80
69
69
57
58
59
63
83
70

the absence of any condensing efficiency level products on the market does not relieve DOE of the obligation to explore condensing tech as max-tech for these categories. CA IOUs, No. 17 at p. 2
DOE has included condensing technology in the list of technology options for the entirety of the analysis conducted for this final determination.
Gas wall fan type vented heaters could have a theoretical AFUE above the level analyzed in the October 2016 final determination and December 2020
NOPD as max-tech and this theoretical level results in increased energy savings. 81 FR 71325, 71327 Oct. 17, 2016; 85 FR 77017, 77030 Dec. 1, 2020. As discussed in section III.B.1.a, in screening for technologies that are technologically feasible, DOE considers technologies incorporated in commercial products or in working prototypes. 10 CFR part 430 subpart C
appendix A section 6c3i. DOE did not identify gas wall gravity type and gas room vented heaters with condensing technologies on the market or as prototypes that incorporated condensing technology, that achieved an AFUE higher than that considered.
As discussed in the following sections, DOE has determined that energy conservation standards do not need to be amended based on the continued likelihood that amending the vented heater energy conservation standards would impose a substantial burden on manufacturers of vented heaters, particularly to small manufacturers. For gas wall gravity type, gas floor, and gas room vented heaters, the technologies available on the market produce AFUE values that are well below near-condensing operation, suggesting significant redesign would be required to incorporate condensing technology, likely resulting in increasing potential costs to manufacturers. Given that an
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