New regs for Tuesday: Breathing machines, warranties, energy standards

Tuesday’s edition of the Federal Register contains a final rule to allow travelers with breathing problems to carry oxygen machines onboard flights, a new rule from the Federal Trade Commission to allow manufacturers to post product warranty information online and new energy conservation standards from the Energy Department for air conditioners and hearing equipment.

Here’s what to look for:

Breathing machines: The Federal Aviation Administration is finalizing a rule to allow travelers with medically diagnosed breathing problems to carry their oxygen machines with them on flights. 

The portable oxygen concentrator must comes from a manufacturer that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration, must not contain any hazardous materials and must not interfere with aircraft systems.

The FAA said manufacturers will save $108,000 over 10 years from no longer having to petition the FAA for a rulemaking with each new device they want to add to the list of POCs approved for use aboard an aircraft.

The agency estimates that airlines will save an additional $39 million in the time it takes crew members to review notes from physicians.

Warranties: The Federal Trade Commission is considering a rule that would allow manufacturers to post product warranty information online.

Under the Disclosure Rule, manufacturers are required to issue a written warranty on products that cost more than $15 and under the Pre-Sale Availability Rule, make that warranty information available prior to a sale for certain products.

The rule will allow that information to be displayed online at the point of sale or prior to it.  The public will have until June 17 to submit comments.

Air conditioners: The Energy Department is finalizing new energy conservation standards for small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment and commercial warm air furnaces.

The agency said the comments it received in response to the direct final rule is issued in January do not provide a reasonable basis for withdrawing the direct final rule.

Manufacturers of small, large and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment will be required to comply with the first set of standards by Jan. 1, 2018, and with the second set by Jan. 1, 2023.