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The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), as amended, requires U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to amend test procedures with respect to commercial warm air furnaces (CWAFs) at least once every 7 years, if it determines that amended test procedures would more accurately produce test results which measure energy efficiency, or make a determination not to amend test procedures. Once completed, this rulemaking will fulfill DOE’s statutory obligation to either propose amended test procedures for this equipment or determine that the existing test procedures do not need to be amended.

In the final rule, DOE is amending the Federal test procedures for commercial warm air furnaces CWAFs to incorporate the latest versions of the industry test standards that are currently incorporated by reference. DOE is also establishing a new metric, Thermal Efficiency Two (TE2), and corresponding test procedure. Use of the newly established test procedure would become mandatory at such time as compliance with amended energy conservation standards based on TE2 is required, should DOE adopt such standards. DOE also is adopting additional specifications for CWAFs with multiple flue outlets or small flue outlets.