“Codes and Standards Issues Impacting Natural Gas Service

and Appliances”

SGA Residential Marketing ConferenceCovington, Kentucky July 14, 2004

Jim Ranfone

Managing Director, Building Codes & StandardsAmerican Gas Association

Marketing Implication

Codes and Standards Impact

WHICH, HOW, WHEN & IF

appliances can be installed

AGA’S Role

• Building Energy Codes and Standards Committee– 34 Member Companies

– SGA, APGA, GAMA, GTI, NFPA, NPGA, etc. Represented

• Set Priorities and Guide Activities

• Identifies C&S Research Needs

 

AGA’S Role

• Secretariat to the National Fuel Gas Code Committee– ANSI Accredited Committee Z223– 2002 Edition Published

• Partner with the International Code Council– Co-sponsor the International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)– 2003 ICC Code Published

Can Be Adopte

d Directly

• AGA Website: www.aga.org

• To Order: 1.866.816.9444

AGA’S Role

• Interact with Voluntary Codes and Standards Writing Organizations– IAPMO UMC and UPC

• AGA Successful In Blocking ANSI Approval– Building Code Groups

– International Code Council’s IBC – NFPA 5000 Building Code

– ASHRAE– Building Efficiency and Ventilation Standards– ASHRAE 90.1 (Commercial Buildings)– ASHRAE 90.2 (Residential)– 62.1 (Commercial Buildings) – 62.2P(Residential IAQ)

AGA’S Role

• Interact with Voluntary Codes and Standards Writing Organizations– CSA International

• Gas Appliance Standards (Some utility representation)– Underwriters Laboratories

• Gas Products Council

AGA’S Role

• Interact with Federal and State Agencies– Department of Energy

• Furnace Rulemaking– Federal Trade Commission

• Appliance Labeling– Consumer Product Safety Commission

Influence On Product Standards

AGA’S Role

• Interact with Federal and State Agencies– HUD Manufactured Home Standard

– State Hearings and Code Adoption Processes When Requested

Residential Gas Water Heating

• Importance

• Impacts Of Voluntary Standards Changes

• Impacts Of New Federal Minimum Efficiency Requirements

• NOx Requirements (Ca & Texas)

The Residential Market Importance

• Statistical Trends (2003)– Gas Water Heater Shipments

• 5,124,265 (53%)– Electric Water Heater Shipments

• 4,429,880 (47%)

• Annual Gas Consumption per household about 34 Mcf

Major Residential Safety Standard Changes for Gas Water

Heaters

– ANSI Z21.10.1 Requirements

– Flammable Resistant Requirement

– 18” Elevation Label Change

Effective Dates Established By CSA International

• July 1, 2003– Conv. 30, 40, & 50 gallon

• January 1, 2005 (Change)– Power Vent, etc. 30, 40, & 50 gallon

WH Installation Code Changes

• National Fuel Gas Code

• International Fuel Gas Code• Eliminated 18” elevation requirement

New Federal (DOE) Minimum Efficiency Requirements

• New Minimums From a .54 EF to .59 EF (40 gal. Gas Water Heater)

• Effective Date: 1/20/04• Design Changes to Meet

– Heat traps, Increased insulation and flue baffles– Cost increase $58 (DOE 1/17/01)– Savings $12.74/year (DOE 1/17/01)– Can be met with atmospheric type designs but concerns about

reduced margin of safety

FTC Label

• Does provide Estimated Annual Operating Cost

Sample FTC Label

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Rulemaking

Impact of Rulemaking Limiting NOX

Emissions from Residential Water Heaters

Prepared by GARD Analytics, Inc. under contract to the American Gas Association

Overview

• TCEQ rulemaking designed to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions from new natural gas appliances sold and installed in Texas. – Rulemaking covers water heaters, small boilers,

and process heaters. – Objective is to reduce the level of ozone in non-

attainment and near non-attainment areas.

Overview (cont’d.)

– Includes provision that residential water heaters sold after January, 2005 must be certified to have a NOX emission level no

greater than 10ng/j of heat output (15 ppmv at 3.0% O2, dry).

Overview (cont’d.)

Source: Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission

El Paso

Houston

Corpus Christi

Dallas-Ft. Worth

Austin

San Antonio

Tyler - Longview

Victoria

Background

• Ozone (O3) is a photochemical oxidant and the major component of smog. – High concentrations of O3 at ground level are a major

health and environmental concern.

– O3 is formed through chemical reactions between volatile organic compounds (VOC) and NOX.

– Both VOCs and NOX are emitted by transportation and industrial sources, including autos, chemical manufacturing, dry cleaners, paint shops and other sources using solvents.

Source: EPA Green Book

Background (cont’d.)

Source: EPA Technology Transfer Network

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Emissions (percent of total)

Metals Processing

Solvent Utilization

Storage & Transport

Waste Disposal & Recycling

Natural Sources

Miscellaneous

Chemical & Allied Product Mfg

Fuel Comb. Other *

Petroleum & Related Industries

Other Industrial Processes

Fuel Comb. Industrial

Fuel Comb. Elec. Utility

Off-Highway

Highway Vehicles

Texas Annual NOX Emissions

* Includes emissions from residential natural gas combustion (0.50% of total)

Background (cont’d.)

• 1-Hour Ozone Standard – The ozone threshold value is 0.12 parts per million (ppm),

measured as 1-hour average concentration. – An area meets the ozone National Ambient Air Quality

Standards (NAAQS) if there is no more than one day per year when the highest hourly value exceeds the threshold.

– To be in attainment, an area must meet the ozone NAAQS for three consecutive years.

Source: EPA Green Book

Background (cont’d.)

EPA Designations – Nonattainment - any area that does not meet (or that

contributes to ambient air quality in a nearby area that does not meet) the air quality standard for the pollutant.

– Attainment - any area that meets the national primary or secondary ambient air quality standard for the pollutant.

– Unclassifiable - any area that cannot be classified on the basis of available information

Source: Clean Air Act, Section 107(d)1

Background (cont’d.)

Ozone Classifications– Extreme - Area has a design value of 0.280 ppm

and above. – Severe 17 - Area has a design value of 0.190 up

to 0.280 ppm and has 17 years to attain. – Severe 15 - Area has a design value of 0.180 up

to 0.190 ppm and has 15 years to attain. – Serious - Area has a design value of 0.160 up to

0.180 ppm.

Source: Clean Air Act, Section 181

Background (cont’d.)

Ozone Classifications (cont’d.)– Moderate - Area has a design value of 0.138 up to 0.160

ppm. – Marginal - Area has a design value of 0.121 up to 0.138

ppm. – Submarginal - Area has a design value of less than 0.121

parts per million. – Section 185A - Area has not violated air quality standard for

ozone from Jan. 1987 to Dec. 1989. – Incomplete Data

Source: Clean Air Act, Section 181

Background (cont’d.)

South Coast Air Quality Management District – Established NOX emission limit for residential gas

water heaters in California of 10ng/j of heat output (Rule 1121)

– GAMA requested that implementation of this provision be delayed until January 1, 2006

– GAMA has proposed similar delay for the TCEQ rulemaking

The Problem

• The impact of the TCEQ rulemaking on the market for residential gas water heaters is expected to be dramatic.

• No atmospherically vented units that meet the provision’s criteria of the are thought to be commercially available at this time.

• Only viable substitute, electric resistance water heaters, would only aggravate the current situation.

Project Objectives

• Analyze the impact of the TCEQ rulemaking concerning the control of air pollution from NOX, specifically as it

pertains to residential water heaters.• Support Texas utilities efforts to reshape

the debate on NOX reduction in nonattainment areas.

• Help other utilities deal with similar future legislation in their service territories.

Analysis Approach

• Obtain more detailed information on the subject rulemaking, including any analyses used to substantiate the proposed emission levels

• Obtain information regarding the process for amending the language of the rulemaking and its implementation.

Analysis Approach (cont’d.)

• Ascertain the availability and installed cost of natural gas water heaters that currently meet the proposed NOX emission levels.

• Project NOX emission levels in

nonattainment areas before and after implementation of the rulemaking taking into account market shifts from natural gas water heaters to electric resistance units.

Analysis Approach (cont’d.)

• Determine whether the rulemaking’s objective of reducing the level of ozone in non-attainment and near non-attainment areas is achievable with the current provisions.

Project Deliverables

• Report summarizing analysis approach, results and recommendations. – Support possible AGA filing. – Resource for other utilities faced with similar

legislative action.

• Presentation materials.

Who’s Next?

Commercial Water Heater Market Trends

COMMERCIAL WATER HEATER SHIPMENTS: GAMA TEN YEAR STATISTICAL SUMMARY

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Fuel Type

Un

its

GAS

ELECTRIC

MARKET SHARES FOR SHIPMENTS: COMMERCIAL WATER HEATERS

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Years

% S

har

e

GAS

ELECTRIC

Market Shares: Commercial Water Heaters

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

GAS ELECTRIC

Fuel Type

% S

har

e

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

PERCENT CHANGE IN MARKET SHARE FOR SHIPMENTS: 1991 BASIS

-40.00%

-20.00%

0.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

120.00%

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Years

Per

cen

t C

han

ge

GAS

ELECTRIC

Residential Gas Central Heating

• Importance

• Impacts Of Voluntary Standards Changes

• Impacts Of New Federal Minimum Efficiency Requirements

The Residential Market Importance

• Statistical Trends (2003)– Gas Furnace Shipments

• 3,265,550 (31.4% Condensing i.e. 88% AFUE +)

– Gas Boilers• 240,000 (est.)

– Annual Gas Consumption per household about 67.9 Mcf

Major Residential Safety Standards:Residential Gas Central Heating

Equipment

• ANSI Z21.47 (Furnaces)• Combustion Sensors?

• ANSI Z21.13 (Boilers)

Installation Codes

• National Fuel Gas Code (2002)– Currently Working On the 2005 Edition– Over 166 Active Proposals– All 12 AGA Proposals Tentatively Approved

• International Fuel Gas Code (2003)– New requirements for combustion air to provide

reasonable alternatives for builders.

Current Federal (DOE) Minimum Efficiency Requirements

• Effective Date: 1/01/92• Furnace Minimums 78% AFUE(ICS)• Boiler Minimum 80% AFUE (Indoor) 75%

Steam• Manufactured Home 75% AFUE• DOE has been conducting Analysis• Last Workshops July 17, 2001, & May 8, 2002

(Venting issues)

Status of DOE Rulemaking

• DOE Notice expected this month? Will it happen?

• Impact Of DOE Air Conditioner Rule - 13 SEER Effective 1/23/06

Comparing Estimated Annual Operating Costs

• DOE National Average Energy Costs:

2003 2004– Natural Gas: $ 8.16 $ 9.10 per million Btu– Propane: $13.25 $13.46 per million

Btu– Electricity: $24.65 $25.20 per million Btu– Oil: $ 8.80 $ 9.23 per million

Btu

FTC Label

• Does provide AFUE Ranges

• No Estimated Annual Operating Cost

Sample FTC Label – Natural Gas Furnace

Sample FTC Label – Electric Furnace

Summary

For More Information Contact

Jim Ranfone

AGA

202-824-7310

jranfone@aga.org