Review of Wood Heater and Fireplace Emission Factors

Wood heater and fireplace air pollutant emissions factors that are generally used in the calculation of emission inventories are those compiled in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AP-42 and Locating and Estimating (L &E) documents. For a number of pollutants the AP-42/L & E emission factors for wood heaters and fireplaces are based on a limited number of tests on few models. In addition, much of the data making up the wood ater emission factor database are from older models. In particular, two significant emission factor categories, which have a wider and more current database than is represented in the EPA documents, are polycyclic organic matter (POM) from wood heaters, and particles and carbon monoxide from fireplaces. Residential wood combustion (RWC) has been implicated as a major source of POM. New POM data for Phase 2 certified stoves and another conventional stove are now available that allow for the revisi n of POM emission factors. Fireplace emissions are becoming of increasingly more importance due to the fact fireplaces are installed in the construction of new homes. The number of fireplaces is growing more rapidly in comparison with the number of wood stoves. Already, in the South and West census regions nearly on