431.174—Additional requirements applicable to Voluntary Independent Certification Program participants.
(a) Description of Voluntary Independent Certification Program participant.
For purposes of this subpart, a manufacturer that participates in a Voluntary Independent Certification Program (VICP) approved by the Department for a commercial HVAC and WH product, as described in § 431.176, and that complies with all requirements imposed by that program, is a “VICP participant” with respect to that product.
(b) Testing.
A VICP participant that tests a basic model pursuant to this subpart must use statistically valid and accurate methods to arrive at the efficiency rating of such basic model.
(c) Alternative efficiency determination methods.
Before using an AEDM to determine the efficiency of a basic model pursuant to this subpart, a VICP participant must apply the AEDM to one or more basic models that have been tested in accordance with §§ 431.173(b) and 431.174(b) of this subpart, and the predicted efficiency calculated for each such basic model from application of the AEDM must be within 5 percent of the efficiency determined from testing that basic model. In addition, the predicted efficiency(ies) calculated for the tested basic model(s) must on average be within one percent of the efficiency(ies) determined from testing such basic model(s).
(d) Limitation on use of an Alternative Efficiency Determination Method.
A manufacturer may not use an AEDM to overrate the efficiency of a basic model.