CPSC Proposes Rule to Establish Safety Standard for Residential Gas Furnaces and Boilers

On October 25, 2023, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a proposed rule to establish a safety standard for residential gas furnaces and boilers. In the proposed rule, CPSC announces its preliminary determination that these products pose an unreasonable risk of injury and death. Therefore, CPSC’s proposed rule would require all residential gas furnaces and boilers to, either directly or indirectly, continuously monitor the concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) produced during the combustion process. The gas furnace or boiler would also be required to prevent dangerous CO levels through a shutdown or modulation mechanism.

The Commission has prepared an initial regulatory flexibility analysis for the rulemaking outlining the costs and impacts to small businesses. The analysis finds that the rulemaking will result in a maximum conversion cost of $13.80 million for each of the five small furnace and boiler manufacturers identified by CPSC. CPSC requests comments on the rule, and small businesses are encouraged to provide detailed information on the direct cost implications and whether any regulatory alternatives would minimize the impact on small entities.

Written comments are due by December 26, 2023.

• Read the proposed rule and submit comments.
• Advocacy contact: Email Meagan Singer at meagan.singer@sba.gov or call (202) 921-4843 with your concerns.