EPA Wood Smoke Regulations & Health Effects

Burn Wise
Wood Smoke Education & Training

Part 1
Learn how the EPA addresses wood smoke emissions
through regulatory, partnership programs, and
outreach measures.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1

This section covers:
• An overview of EPA‟s mission

• EPA‟s authority under the Clean Air Act

• Fine particle pollution and its dangers

• How it all connects to wood smoke


EPA‟s mission
• EPA‟s mission is to protect human health and the environment.

• The Agency‟s primary responsibility is for setting and enforcing national
standards under a variety of laws.

• EPA also works through Partnership Programs. These Programs
address a wide variety of environmental issues by working
collaboratively with companies, organizations, communities, and
individuals.


EPA‟s authority to reduce pollution comes from the
Clean Air Act
• The Clean Air Act is a federal law that authorizes EPA to establish
national standards to protect public health and public welfare and to
regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants (also known as air
toxics).

• The Clean Air Act requires EPA to sets standards for six common air
pollutants.

• Of the six common pollutants, particle pollution and ground-level ozone
are the most widespread health threats.

• For more information on the Clean Air Act read the EPA‟s Plain English
Guide to the Clean Air Act
– It can be accessed here: http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/peg/


In 2010 alone…
EPA estimates that the combined reductions in fine
particle and ozone pollution from the Clean Air
Act prevented more than:
– 160,000 cases of premature mortality
– 130,000 heart attacks
– 13 million lost work days
– 1.7 million asthma attacks

• A full summary of the report can be found here

What is fine particle pollution (PM2.5)?
• Fine particle pollution is also known as particulate matter or PM2.5

• It is made up of very fine dusts, soot, smoke and droplets that are
formed from chemical reactions

• It is produced when combustion takes place (e.g. burning oil or wood)

• It is a common pollutant that is a widespread health threat

• The 2.5 stands for 2.5 micrometers
– In relatable terms, a human hair is approximately 70 micrometers in diameter, making it
30 times larger than the largest fine particle

• The Clean Air Act requires EPA to establish health and environmental
standards for PM2.5


How big are fine particles?
• Fine particles, such as those found in smoke and haze, are 2.5
micrometers in diameter and smaller. In relatable terms, a human hair
is approximately 70 micrometers in diameter, making it 30 times larger
than the largest fine particle

• Because of their small size,
fine particles can get
trapped deep in the
lungs and may even
get into the bloodstream.

• Can remain suspended in air
and travel long distances,
spreading pollution.


Fine particle pollution can be harmful to your health
• Causes watery eyes, stuffy noses, and chest tightness;

• Irritates the airways causing coughing or difficulty breathing;

• Decreases lung function;

• Triggers asthma attacks; Children under 18, older
adults, people with diabetes,
heart disease, asthma or
• May lead to: other lung diseases are the
– Chronic bronchitis; most vulnerable.
– Irregular heartbeat;
– Nonfatal heart attacks; and
– Premature death in people with heart or lung disease.


For more information on health effects
please see these resources:

• Particle Pollution and Your Health Brochure: click here

• Health Effects of Breathing Wood Smoke Review: click here

• Consumer Health Effects: click here


Why is wood smoke regulated?
• It is a primary source of people‟s exposure to fine particle pollution
– Residential wood smoke contributes 6 percent of the total fine particle pollution in the
United States each year.
– This adds up to about 420,000 tons per year.

• It contains other toxic (and some cancer-causing) compounds, sulfur
oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons, benzene, formaldehyde and dioxins

• It reduces how far you can see and creates haze

• EPA currently regulates newly manufactured wood heaters (e.g. wood
stoves) and coordinates voluntary programs for fireplaces and hydronic
heaters

• Certain states have established wood heater regulations that go
beyond the EPA wood heater regulations (e.g. Washington)

What are the primary sources of residential
wood smoke?

•Wood Stoves
–Catalytic and Non-Catalytic

•Fireplaces

•Hydronic Heaters


What are the Current EPA Regulations?
Requires manufacturers of new residential wood heaters (e.g. wood
stoves) to build heaters to:

• Meet particulate emission limits

• Have model lines tested by independent EPA-accredited labs

• Attach hang tags and labels after EPA approval

• Implemented in 1990

• Proposal was first a regulatory negotiation by EPA and included
industries, states, laboratories and consumer advocates


Regulatory Limits
These are the current EPA requirements for wood stoves. Pellet stoves are not required to
meet these limits, but manufacturers can opt to have pellet stoves tested and certified. For a
full list of stoves that meet these limits, visit
http://www.epa.gov/Compliance/resources/publications/monitoring/caa/woodstoves/certified
wood.pdf

Appliance Required Phase 1 Phase 2
Limit
Catalytic Stoves 4.1 g/kg n/a n/a

Non-catalytic Stoves 7.5 g/kg n/a n/a

Units are grams particulate emission/kg of wood burned unless otherwise noted.

Standards are currently being reviewed and a new proposal for required emissions is expected in 2012.


Non-Regulatory Limits
These appliances are part of the Burn Wise Partnership Program that voluntary meet EPA
program limits. They are not required to meet EPA regulatory requirements. For a list of
appliances that are included, visit http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/participation.html

Appliance Required Phase 1 Phase 2
Limit
Fireplaces 7.3 g/kg 5.1 g/kg

Hydronic Heaters n/a but likely 0.6 lbs. of PM 0.32 lbs of
to be included per million BTU particulate matter
in 2012 output (PM) per million
BTU
Units are grams particulate emission/kg of wood burned unless otherwise noted

Standards are currently being reviewed and a new proposal for required emissions is expected in 2012.


State Wood Smoke Regulations
• Several states have regulations are more stringent than the federal regulations:
– Colorado
– Michigan
– Utah
– Vermont
– Washington
– Wisconsin

• State regulations cannot be weaker than federal regulations

• Some communities have restrictions on installing wood-burning appliances in new
construction, although the most common and least restrictive action is to limit
wood burning when air quality is threatened.

• For examples of state regulations please visit:
http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/ordinances.html


How do you know whether the air in your
community is meeting EPA standards?
• You have several resources for determining air quality including:
– Enviroflash- a system that sends e-mails about your daily air
quality forecast can be accessed by clicking here or at
http://www.enviroflash.info/

– Air Now- which offers daily air quality forecasts as well as real-time
air quality conditions for over 300 cities across the US, and
provides links to more detailed State and local air quality Web sites.
It can be found at http://www.airnow.gov/ or by clicking here

• Before proceeding visit and see the air quality today in your area.


Ways to reduce wood smoke emissions:
• Temporary bans on some types of indoor and outdoor burning when
the weather trends toward stagnant conditions (e.g. light winds,
inversions)

• Requirements on the type of wood-burning appliance that can be
installed in an area

• Promoting newer, cleaner technologies

• Education efforts to encourage proper operation and maintenance
including how and what to burn

• Restricting the sale of wood with a moisture content higher than 20%


Burn Bans
• In areas where air quality is unhealthy due to particle pollution, officials
may issue a burn ban

• A burn ban is when a local agency restricts the amount or type of
burning that can take place in an area for a specified period of time

• Burn bans will be announced through local media, with signs, and on
many websites

• The penalty for violating a burn ban is usually a fine which can be over
$1,000

• If burn bans are relevant in your area of the country, please share
information about burn bans and how to find out about them with
customers


Incentive Programs and Changeouts
• Changeout and incentive programs encourage manufacturers to create
cleaner and more efficient appliances

• But consumers have to choose to use the appliances for the program to
be effective

• Wood stove changeout and fireplace retrofit programs encourage
consumers to switch to cleaner burning appliances

• Why would consumers participate in changeouts?


Where do these programs fit?
• Technology is always changing.
Cleaner-burning appliances are
often available that perform better
(emit less particle pollution) than
those required by regulation

• Incentive programs can more
quickly promote new technologies
through consumer education and
consumer incentives (e.g. rebates)

9/6/2012 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 20

Hydronic Heaters
• Hydronic Heaters, also known as Outdoor Wood Boilers, combust
wood to heat water that is typically piped to another building for heat
and hot water


Why are Hydronic Heaters a Concern?
• Hydronic Heaters are controversial in many areas of the U.S.

– High emissions create air pollution issues

– Short stack heights keep smoke
emissions closer to the ground
(and closer to homes)

– Too close to neighbors – in many
cases the heaters are located
away from the primary residence
and closer to property lines where
the emissions can adversely
impact neighboring homes.


Photos of Hydronic Heater Emissions

Photos courtesy of
Vermont DEC


Hyrdronic Heater Program
• First launched in 2007, providing criteria for units to be 70 percent
cleaner than unqualified models (Phase 1 of the program: 0.6 lbs. of
particulate matter (PM) per million BTU heat output)

• The goal is to achieve emission reductions and protect public health
sooner than a federal rule

• Today the program has evolved to Phase 2, and EPA-qualified units
are up to 90 percent cleaner than older unqualified units. (Phase 2:
0.32 lbs of particulate matter (PM) per million BTU heat output)

• Models must be tested by an EPA-accredited laboratory to verify that
they meet established emission levels


What are hydronic heater manufacturers required to
do to participate in the program?
• Sign a Partnership Agreement with EPA to bring cleaner hydronic
heaters to the market.

• Use a descriptive hang tag that provides information on smoke
emissions (see examples on next slide)

• Display information about the program in sales areas

• Include text in each qualifying owner‟s manual on proper operation and
maintenance of the hyrdonic heater including how and what to burn

• Submit sales and test data on improved hydronic heaters


Hydronic Heater Hangtags

Shows how models
rate vs. the
emission limit

70% Cleaner 90% Cleaner
Phase 1 - Good Phase 2 - Better

Fireplace Program
Similar to hydronic heater program:

• Encourages the development and sale of a new generation of lower-
emitting fireplaces and fireplace retrofits that effectively burn cord
wood.

• Expected to reduce air pollution emissions from new wood-burning
fireplaces and retrofits sooner than could be achieved by federal
regulation.

• Covers new masonry, prefabricated (low-mass) fireplaces and retrofit
devices for existing fireplaces.


Fireplace Program
• Started in 2009, emission limits are phased in over time

• Phase 1: emissions must be below 7.3 grams particulate
emissions/kilogram (g/kg) of wood burned (through 2/19/12)

• Phase 2 (after 2/19/12): emissions must be below 5.1 g/kg (limit is
subject to change)

• As of July 2012, there are 15 Phase 2 qualified fireplaces. To see list,
click here or go to: http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/fireplacelist.html

• Note that while the cleaner burning fireplaces do burn cleaner than
traditional fireplaces they still emit more pollution than a certified wood
stove (“certified” wood stoves will be explained later in the course).


What are fireplace manufacturers required to do to
participate in the program?
• Sign a Partnership Agreement with EPA to bring cleaner fireplaces and
retrofit devices to the market.

• Use a descriptive hang tag provided by EPA that gives information on
smoke emissions.

• Display information about the program in sales areas.

• Include text in each qualifying owner‟s manual on proper operation and
maintenance of the fireplace and retrofit including how and what to
burn.

• Submit sales and test data on improved fireplaces.

Fireplace Tags
57% Cleaner 70% Cleaner
Phase 1 - Good Phase 2 - Better


Close-up of Tag:

Before proceeding:
• Click here to learn more about
the Fireplace Phase 2 tag


Fireplace Retrofits
•Fireplace retrofits can reduce PM 2.5 emisisons up to 70% if installed properly.
•EPA added retrofits as part of the Fireplace Program in July 2012.

Catalyst
Gas-wood hybrid


How can you use these programs to help your
customers and the environment?
• If a customer needs a new hydronic heater or fireplace, you can
mention that there are models available with 90% less smoke
emissions and more efficient heating- look for the hangtag.

• Refer the customer to www.epa.gov/burnwise for listings of Phase II
Fireplaces and Phase II Hydronic Heaters

• Know the facts about fireplace retrofit options and how they can help
consumers burn more efficiently

• Point out the section in the manual that describes proper operation and
maintenance including how and what to burn

• Use outreach tools we‟ll show later in this course


EPA-Certified vs. EPA-Qualified
• At this time, wood stoves and some pellet stoves are the only wood
burning appliance that are EPA-certified under the 1988 federal
regulations (implemented in 1990)
– Meet the emission limits of 7.5 grams particulate matter /hr
– Tested by an EPA-accredited lab

• Hydronic heaters and fireplaces may be EPA-qualified under their
respective non-regulatory programs
– Meet the program emission limits
– Tested by an EPA-accredited lab

• Key difference: regulatory v. non-regulatory


Identifying an EPA-Certified Appliance .

Look for the EPA tag on the back of the wood stove


Old „conventional‟ stoves built before 1990


Old „conventional‟ stoves built before 1990
Most old
stoves do not
have glass
doors


„Un-conventional‟ stoves


New certified stoves


Catalytic stoves and Non-catalytic stoves
• EPA has different standards for catalytic and non-catalytic
stoves

• Catalytic stoves can emit 4.1 grams of smoke per hour

• Non-catalytic stoves can emit 7.5 grams of smoke per hour (g/h)


Inside a „Non-Cat‟ Wood Stove

1. Firebox insulation 2. A large baffle
3. Preheated combustion air

Uses the 3 Ts: time, temperature & turbulence

Inside a Catalytic Wood Stove

Smoke passes through a catalytic honeycomb that lowers smoke ignition
temperature. Catalysts will need to be replaced approximately every
seven years (or less if the wood stove is used more frequently).


Burn Wise
Wood Smoke Education &
Training
Part 2


In this section we‟ll cover:
• The effects of older appliance and the benefits of
replacing older with newer cleaner-burning appliance
– Health

– Economics

– Environmental

– Safety


Benefits of Wood Stove Changeouts
New, EPA-certified wood stoves offer more than just good looks:

• Health benefits

• Environmental benefits

• Safety benefits

• Economic benefits

Courtesy of Libby, MT


Benefits of Wood Stove Changeouts

• Newer wood stoves emit
less than older stoves.

• Newer wood stoves emit
less than fireplaces.

• Switching to newer
woodstove reduces
emissions of fine particles
improving, health and the
environment.

Health Effects
• We spend an average of 60-70% of our time in our homes
• An estimated 70% of smoke emitted from chimneys can actually reenter the
home and neighborhood dwellings

• Studies of adults have shown that prolonged inhalation of wood smoke can
cause or trigger:
– Asthma
– Chronic bronchitis
– Pulmonary arterial hypertension
– Chronic interstitial lung disease

• Studies of preschool children have shown:
– Decreased pulmonary lung function in young asthmatics
– Increased incidence of acute bronchitis
– Increased incidence and duration of acute respiratory infections

• A review of medical studies on the health effects of wood smoke is here

Health Effects
• Chronic bronchitis: long-term inflammation of the medium-sized airways
of the lungs.
– Includes persistent cough that produces phlegm and mucus for at least three months to
two years.

• Pulmonary arterial hypertension is high blood pressure in the arteries of
the lungs placing greater strain on the right side of the heart which is
responsible for pumping blood to the lungs.
– Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, increased heart rate, weakness, ankle
and leg swelling.

• Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) affects the tissue and pace around the
air sacs of the lungs. It is different from airway obstructions like
bronchitis or asthma.
– Instead, the disease causes scarring of the lung tissue which is generally irreversible. It
affects the ability to breathe and get enough oxygen in the blood stream. (Asbestosis is
a form of ILD)


Environmental Effects
• Wood smoke has been found to contribute to unhealthy levels of fine
particle pollution in the air. Changing to cleaner-burning technology
can help make the air cleaner to provide better visibility, especially in
national parks and scenic areas.


Safety Benefits
• Newer stoves produce less smoke and less creosote build up

• 70% of home fires are
caused by chimney
fires

• Incomplete burning
creates carbon
monoxide in the home


Economic Benefits
• Newer stoves burn 1/3 less wood and are up to 50% more efficient

• Newer wood stoves use less fuel for the same amount of heat than
older models

• Wood-burning fireplaces have an efficiency range of (-)10% to (+)10%
when burning. Replacing a wood-burning fireplace with a gas
appliance or wood stove insert can increase efficiency and save
money.

• Time equals Money
If you use less wood, you cut less; requiring less splitting, stacking and
hauling of wood

In this Section we‟ll cover:
• How to encourage your customers to make changes?

• What to burn

• Wood moisture

• What to do with your wood


Educating the Consumer
• Educating the consumer can help reduce wood smoke pollution indoors
and out. Cleaner burning technologies and best burn tips can make a
difference

• Despite success in getting some consumers to choose cleaner-burning
appliances, we still see wood smoke issues

• How people burn wood can be just as important as which appliance
they use to burn


How are People Burning?
• Burning wet wood

• Burning trash

• Using older technology

• Not performing annual maintenance


What is important to the consumer (based on
focus group feedback):
• Saving money and time

• Being Safe

• Good health

• Having a cleaner indoor environment

• Keeping children healthy and safe

• Being a good citizen and neighbor


Burn Wise Campaign Objective
• To promote responsible wood-burning techniques and educate users
on the connection between what they burn, how they burn, and the
impacts on their health and the environment.

• Promote safety, savings, and energy efficiency.

• Do not want to encourage more wood burning, just responsible burning.

• We don‟t want people to buy a product, but rather buy into a behavior
– What is going to motivate the change? It will be different for everyone.


Burn Wise Message
Burn the right wood. Save money
and time. Burn only dry, seasoned
wood and maintain a hot fire.

The right way. Keep your home
safer. Have a certified technician
install and annually service your
appliance.

In the right appliance. Make your
home healthier. Upgrade to an
efficient, EPA-approved wood-
burning appliance.


What to Burn Hardest (long burning)
Ironwood
Rock elm
Hickory
Trees at the top of the list have the most Oak
energy per cord, while those toward the Sugar maple
Beech
bottom of the list have the least energy Yellow birch
per cord. Ash
Red elm
Red maple
Tamarack
Although they are less dense, the species Douglas fir
in the lower half of the list can make White birch
excellent firewood for spring and fall Manitoba maple
Red alder
because they make heat control easier Hemlock
and don‟t tend to overheat the house. Poplar
Pine
Basswood
Spruce
Balsam
Softest (shorter burns)


What Not to Burn
Never Burn the following items. These can release harmful chemicals.

• Household garbage or cardboard

• Coated, painted, or pressure-treated wood

• Ocean driftwood, plywood, particle board, or any wood with glue on or
in it

• Wet, rotted, diseased, or moldy wood

• Before proceeding read about best burn practices here.


Wood Moisture
• Complete combustion of wood results in carbon dioxide and water.

• Incomplete combustion results in smoke, creosote, the condensed
portion of smoke, and harmful emissions.

• The more complete the combustion, the less smoke, creosote and
emissions produced.

• Moisture content can effect the level of combustion.


Wood Moisture
• Moisture content is the amount
of water that is in the wood, but
not part of wood molecules

• Moisture meters are
inexpensive ways to measure
water in wood

• The meters use metal prongs to
send an electrical current
through the wood and
determine how much water is
present


Wood Moisture
• Wood does not dry uniformly. The outside dries more quickly than the
inside and moisture meter readings may be skewed if the prongs only
reach the surface.

• Most moisture readers measure the wettest wood they come in contact
with, generally at the tip of the probes.

• Moisture content should be around 20%. Emissions and efficiency
performance standards for appliances are measured using wood at this
level.

• Wet wood reduces efficiency, requiring more wood for the same energy
output and generates creosote.

• Wood that is too dry burns too fast and can result in higher emissions.
Rick Curkeet, Chief Engineer for Hearth Products, Inertek
Testing Services, HPBA 2011 Presentation.


Same wood – different readings

Before splitting After splitting
Always split wood first, then check moisture.

Wood Moisture
• Other ways to tell if wood is
dry:
– Bark is loose or falling off

– Ringing sound if dry vs. dull
thump if wet when struck

– Relative Weight: wet wood
is heavier


Wood Moisture
• Green wood contains roughly 50% water depending on the species and
the season it‟s cut.

• A 34 lb load of green wood may contain roughly 17 lbs (about 2
gallons) of water.

• Dried to 20% moisture, this same load of wood weighs roughly 27 lbs
and contains about 7 lbs of water.


Wood Moisture
43 lbs of green sugar maple at ~40% moisture


Wood Moisture
43 lbs of green sugar maple with approx. water content

How do we get the water out of the wood?

Split, Stack, Cover & Store
Split Wood

• Start with the right sized wood

• Split wood dries much faster

• Split the wood in a range of sizes
to fit your stove, but no larger
than 6 inches in diameter

• Split small pieces for kindling


Stack Wood

• Stack wood to allow air to
circulate

• Build the stack away from
buildings

• Keep wood off the ground
– stack it on rails

• Stack wood in a single row with the split side down


Store Wood

• Allow enough time to dry

• Softwoods take about 6 months

• Hardwoods take around
12 months

• Look for cracked ends


How can Chimney Sweeps get the
message out?
• We know CSIA has its own checklist when walking into a home but here
are some Burn Wise suggestions:
– Identify if the stove is EPA certified
• One way to do this is check the back of the appliance for the EPA label. In general,
stoves built after 1988 have glass doors and are certified while those with solid doors
are usually not

– Make sure the client isn‟t burning trash or wrapping paper, just dried wood

– Check where the wood is stored
• Ask how long they store wood before burning
• If it‟s inside, encourage homeowners to move it outdoors for pest and safety reasons
• If it‟s outside, is it split, stacked, covered and stored? If not provide guidance

– Leave something behind
• Leave EPA literature and guidance that has burn tips and encourages annual
inspections

What tools can you use to get this information
to your Customer ?
• Burn Wise Website (www.epa.gov/burnwise)

• Postcards

• Tear Pads

• Social Media (Facebook and Twitter)

• Videos

• Contact Us


Tools You Can Use

www.epa.gov/burnwise


Chimney Sweep Postcard
• Developed with CSIA

• Postcard size comes in packs
of 250

• Great reminder for homeowners
to schedule their annual
inspection

• FREE!

• Contact Kristen Bremer at
Bremer.Kristen@epa.gov to obtain


Chimney Sweep Tear Pad
• Developed with CSIA and NFI

• Pads of 50 measuring
8-1/2” x 3-1/2”

• Provides quick tips to review with homeowners

• Include in billing statements

• Use at local expos

• Contact Kristen Bremer at Bremer.Kristen@epa.gov
to obtain

Additional Materials
• Widgets – small graphics that can be placed on your
own website. Every week there‟s a new wood burning
tip.

• Public Service Announcements (15, 30 and 60-
second) – scripts that can be used by local media to
promote proper wood burning.

• “Dirty Little Secrets” Brochures and Posters – provide
valuable information about the benefits of changing out
old wood stoves.

• Contact Kristen Bremer at Bremer.Kristen@epa.gov or
go online to www.epa.gov/burnwise/burnwisekit.html

Learn Before You Burn Video PSA

LEARN BEFORE YOU BURN
Check your local air quality forecast before you burn.

Click here to view the video

Social Media

• Subscribe to RSS content

• Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/EPABurnWise

• Follow us on Twitter
http://twitter.com/epaburnwise

• Find photos on Flickr
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/epaburnwise/


Want More Information?

bremer.kristen@epa.gov or 919-541-9424

herrington.leigh@epa.gov or 919-541-0882



EPA Wood Smoke Regulations & Health Effects

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (7)

Similar to EPA Wood Smoke Regulations & Health Effects

Similar to EPA Wood Smoke Regulations & Health Effects (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

EPA Wood Smoke Regulations & Health Effects