Significance and Use
This test method is used for determining emission rates and emission factors for wood heaters.
The emission factor is useful for determining emission performance during product development.
The emission factor is useful for the air quality regulatory community for determining compliance with emission performance limits.
The emission rate may be useful for the air quality regulatory community for determining impacts on air quality from wood heaters.
The reporting units are grams of particulate per hour, grams of particulate per kilogram of dry fuel and grams of particulate per megajoule of heat output.
Appropriate reporting units for comparing emissions from all types of solid fuel fired appliances: g/kg.
Appropriate reporting units for predicting atmospheric emission impacts: g/h or g/MJ.
The fuel load specified in this test method is a lumber crib of uniform dimensions, identical to that specified in EPA Method 28. Cribs were specified in EPA Method 28 to provide a reproducible and repeatable test method. In normal operation the majority of fuel used by consumers is cordwood with irregular shapes and dimensions. Very little data exists to indicate whether or not the fuel cribs specified in this standard yield results that are predictive of performance using cordwood fuel. This standard, therefore, includes Annex A1 which provides a fueling procedure using cordwood. It is provided so that those interested in measuring emissions performance with cordwood will have a consistent method to follow. A comparative database using the two fueling procedures will provide data to determine whether test results using crib fuel correlate to test results using cordwood fuel.
Scope
1.1 This test method covers the fueling and operating protocol for determining particulate matter emissions from wood fires in wood-burning room heaters and fireplace inserts as well as determining heat output and efficiency.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
