Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Extends Comment Period on the NOPR on a Proposed Safety Standard for Gas Furnaces, Boilers, etc. to January 25, 2024.

In the October 27, 2023 Update on End Use Codes and Standards, we reported that the CPSC published an October 25, 2023 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR)  Federal Register Notice and notice of opportunity for oral presentation of comments on a proposed safety standard for residential gas furnaces, boilers, wall furnaces and floor furnaces.  According to the NOPR, “ The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) has determined preliminarily that there is an unreasonable risk of injury and death associated with residential gas fired central furnaces, boilers, wall furnaces, and floor furnaces (gas furnaces and boilers). To address this risk, the Commission proposes a rule to detect and prevent dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) production and leakage from residential gas furnaces and boilers.”  This action is a continuation of the CPSC November 19, 2019, Federal Register Notice, “ Performance Requirements for Residential Gas Furnaces and Boilers; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” (ANOPR). That ANOPR proposed that a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor be installed within the residential gas fired central furnace or boiler that would shut them down in the event of excessive CO production in the exhausted combustion products from these vented heating products. This NOPR adds gas fired wall furnace and floor furnaces to the proposed standard.”  That Notice also announced that , “Written comments must be received by December 26, 2023. Deadline for Request to Present Oral Comments: Any person interested in making an oral presentation must send an email indicating this intent to the Office of the Secretary at cpsc-os@ cpsc.gov by December 26, 2023.” However, on November 3, 2023, the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) requested the public comment period be extended for an additional 60 days to February 26, 2024.  On November 17, 2023, AGA, the American Public Gas Association (APGA), and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) also requested a 60-day extension on the deadline for submitting comments (attached) and we have been notified by CPSC that a 30-day extension to January 25, 2024 notice (attached) will be published this coming Monday, December 11th.  AGA staff continues reviewing the proposal and requests BECS Committee members to also review it to assess possible responses to the information that CPSC is requesting in the NOPR.

AHRI Releases the October 2023 Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data.

For those interested in shipment trends for residential and commercial gas and electric storage type water heaters, residential gas and oil furnaces, electric heat pumps and air-conditioners, click here for the December 8, 2023 Air-Conditioning Heating, & Refrigeration (AHRI) Press Release that provides the October, 2023 U.S. Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data. For previous monthly shipment releases and historical data, please click here . You may also wish to share this information with other groups or individuals within your organization that would be interested in this shipment data.

State Codes Activity Update.

Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.