EPA's Air Emissions Rules for Residential Wood Heaters
OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED UPDATES TO AIR EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL WOOD HEATERS
ACTION
•	On Jan. 3, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to make new
residential wood heaters significantly cleaner than currently required, through updates to
its Clean Air Act standards for residential wood heaters. Today's proposed updates would
strengthen the emissions standards for new wood stoves, while establishing federal air
standards for other new wood heaters, including outdoor and indoor wood-fired boilers
(also known as hydronic heaters). The proposed rule would not affect existing woodstoves
and other wood-burning heaters currently in use in people's homes.
•	Smoke from residential wood heaters contains fine particle pollution, also known as fine
particulate matter or PM2.5, along with other pollutants including carbon monoxide, volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), black carbon, and air toxics such as benzene. Smoke from
residential wood heaters, which are used around the clock in some areas, can increase
particle pollution to levels that pose serious health concerns. In some areas, residential
wood smoke constitutes a significant portion of the fine particle pollution problem.
•	EPA issued the existing regulations for wood heaters in 1988. That rule applied to adjustable
burn-rate woodstoves (including a type of adjustable burn-rate woodstove known as a
fireplace insert). Since that time, the technology for reducing emissions from wood heaters
has significantly improved and now is available to make a range of wood heaters more
efficient and less-polluting.
•	Today's proposed standards, known as new source performance standards, or NSPS, also
would set PM emission limits for newly manufactured adjustable-rate woodstoves, pellet
stoves, wood-fired hydronic heaters, forced-air furnaces, masonry wood heaters, and a type
of previously unregulated woodstove known as a "single burn-rate" stove.
•	EPA is proposing to phase in emission limits over five years for most wood heaters to allow
manufacturers time to adapt emission control technologies to their particular model lines.
The proposal would allow manufacturers of new residential wood heaters to meet PM
emission limits in two steps, with the first limit taking effect 60 days after the final rule is
published in the Federal Register, and the second limit taking effect five years later. EPA
also is seeking comment on whether to phase in the limits in three steps over an eight-year
period.
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o Masonry heaters compliance deadlines would be set based on the number of
heaters manufactured each year: either 60 days after the final rule is published in
the Federal Register, or within five years, depending on the number of heaters built.
Proposal would not cover some heaters
•	Today's proposed rule would not affect existing woodstoves and other wood-burning
heaters currently in use in people's homes. The proposal also would not apply to outdoor
fireplaces, pizza ovens, barbecues or chimineas, and it would not apply to new or existing
heaters that are fueled solely by oil, gas or coal. In addition, the proposal would not prohibit
or restrict the use of wood-burning appliances for residential heating.
•	EPA has a number of tools available to help state and local governments address particle
pollution from existing heaters, including "Strategies for Reducing Residential Wood
Smoke." Issued by EPA's Burn Wise program, this comprehensive document covers options
for local regulations, voluntary programs, funding mechanisms and best burn practices - all
of which can help reduce particle pollution from existing wood-burning appliances.
•	In addition, EPA did not include new indoor fireplaces for regulation in the proposal,
because fireplaces are not effective heaters and thus would not be subject to the rule.
However, the agency is seeking additional data and comments on this issue. Fireplaces are
included in an EPA voluntary program that encourages manufacturers to make cleaner-
burning fireplaces and retrofits available for consumers.
•	EPA conducted extensive public outreach as it developed the proposed rule, seeking input
from numerous wood heater manufacturers, state, local and tribal governments, regional
air quality agencies, and citizen and environmental groups. The agency also participated in a
Small Business Advocacy Review Panel to seek input and advice as it developed the
proposed rule.
•	EPA will take public comment on today's proposal for 90 days after it is published in the
Federal Register. The agency will hold a public hearing Feb. 26, 2014 in Boston.
Proposal would lead to cleaner, more efficient heaters
•	Wood smoke is made up of a mixture of gases and fine particles that are produced when
wood and other organic matter burns. The fine particles in smoke - also called fine particle
pollution or PM2.5 - can get deep into the lungs, harming the lungs, blood vessels and
heart. People with heart, vascular or lung disease, older adults and children are the most at
risk.
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•	Today's proposed rule would reduce emissions of fine particle pollution from new
manufactured woodstoves, pellet stoves, hydronic heaters and forced air furnaces by an
estimated 4,825 tons a year - an 80 percent reduction over estimated emissions without
the rule. EPA projects that VOC emissions from future new heaters would be 76 percent
lower as a result of the rule; and carbon monoxide emissions would be 72 percent lower
compared to current requirements. VOCs are a key ingredient in smog.
•	EPA estimates the benefits of the proposed requirements for new residential wood heaters
at $1.8 to $4.2 billion annually, with costs estimated at $15.7 million - or $118 to $267 in
benefits for every dollar spent to comply. The projected benefits do not include the value of
the carbon monoxide, VOCs, air toxics (including formaldehyde, benzene and polycyclic
organic matter), and black carbon emissions that would be reduced along with PM
emissions.
•	In addition to the health benefits provided by the proposed rule, wood heaters meeting the
proposed standards generally would be more efficient than older ones, meaning
homeowners will be able to heat their homes using less wood.
•	Homeowners will play an important role in ensuring new stoves and other heaters are as
efficient and clean as possible, by operating heaters according to the manufacturer's
instructions. In many cases, not doing so could void the heater's warranty.
•	Wood heaters sold in the United States would have to have a permanent label indicating
they are EPA-certified to meet emission limits in the proposed rule. This label - currently
required for adjustable burn-rate woodstoves ~ will signal to consumers that the heater
meets EPA standards. Today's proposal also would require efficiency and carbon monoxide
testing and reporting, which will provide consumers additional information to help them
select the best wood heater for their homes.
•	EPA's Burn Wise program provides a wealth of information to help consumers ensure wood
heaters burn as cleanly and efficiently as possible. For more information, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/bestburn.html
BACKGROUND
•	The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set new source performance standards (NSPS) for
industrial categories that cause, or significantly contribute to, air pollution that may
endanger public health or welfare. The law requires EPA to review these standards every
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eight years.
•	EPA issued the first NSPS for residential wood heaters in 1988. The agency amended the
standards once - in 1998 - to prohibit the sale of wood heaters to consumers if the
manufacturer had used an invalid test to obtain EPA certification that the heater met NSPS
requirements. The 1998 amendments did not change the emission limits in the original rule.
HOW TO COMMENT
•	Please identify all comments with Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0734. Comments may
be submitted by any of the following methods:
o www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments,
o E-mail: Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov.
o Fax: Fax your comments to: (202) 566-9744.
o Mail: Send your comments to: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW,
Washington, DC 20460.
o Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver your comments to: EPA Docket Center, Room 3334,
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. Such deliveries are only
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements
should be made for deliveries of boxed information. To make special arrangements or
for questions, call (202) 566-1742.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
•	Today's proposed rule and additional background information is available at:
http://www2.epa.gov/residential-wood-heaters .
•	Information also is available at EPA's electronic public docket and comment system,
(http://www.regulations.gov). using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0734.
•	The proposed rule and materials also are available in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center's
Public Reading Room, room 3334 in the EPA West Building, located at 1301 Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744.
o Visitors to the Public Reading Room are required to show photo identification, pass
through a metal detector and sign the EPA visitor log. All visitor materials will be
processed through an X-ray machine. Visitors will be provided a badge that must be
visible at all times.
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