EPA proposes rules on wood burning

US Environmental Protection Agency considers new standard for emissions generated by some residential woodstoves and heaters from 2015

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering a standard for emissions generated by new woodstoves and heaters from 2015.

Under the proposal, the agency suggests the next generation of wood burners would be an estimated 80% cleaner than those manufactured today, leading to improvements in air quality and public health across the United States.

The next generation of wood burners would be 80% cleaner under the new standard, the EPA claims

At present, smoke from residential heaters can increase fine particulates in the air — a mixture of carbon monoxide and organic compounds that have been linked to strokes as well as heart and asthma attacks.

The EPA proposal covers several types of newly-developed wood fired heaters, including woodstoves, fireplace inserts, indoor and outdoor wood boilers, forced air furnaces and masonry heaters.

A large amount of residential wood heaters already meet the first set of proposed standards, which would be phased in over a five-year period in order to allow manufacturers enough time to adapt emission control technologies to model lines.

EPA hopes the standard will help counter problems caused by wood smoke, but when finalised it would not cover fireplaces, fire pits, pizza ovens, barbecues or chimeneas.

The organisation will take comments on the proposed standard for 90 days after it is published in the Federal Register, and is due to hold a public hearing on February 26 this year.

A final ruling is expected to follow in 2015.