Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products and Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures for Showerheads, Faucets, Water Closets, Urinals, and Commercial Prerinse Spray Valves

On May 30, 2012, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to amend the test procedures for showerheads, faucets, water closets, urinals, and prerinse spray valves. Following consideration of comments received in response to the NOPR, DOE issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR) on April 8, 2013. The SNOPR included revisions to the definitions of showerhead and hand-held showerhead; removal of body sprays from the proposed showerhead definition; requirements pertaining to testing of showerheads that are components of shower towers; a standardized test method to be used when verifying the mechanical retention of a showerhead flow control insert when subject to 8 pounds force (lbf); clarification of permissible trim adjustments for tank-type water closets; amendments to the required static test pressures to be used when testing flushometer valve siphonic and blowout water closets; and clarifications of the definition of basic model with respect to flushometer valve water closets and urinals, as well as associated changes to certification reporting requirements for both of these products. These proposed rulemakings serve as the basis for this action.