Why EPA certified catalytic stoves require lower emission limits.

It is best stated in the 1988 September issue, of one of the industry's leading magazines and I quote word for word from the article:
The article reads:
The EPA is on record stating catalytics represent the "best demonstrated technology" the industry has today. In other words, it's the federal agency's policy that combustors are the best solution to the wood smoke problem.
The EPA points to the following factors:
-More than 60 manufacturers use combustors in their stove designs.
-Catalytics deteriorate, but the EPA figures consumers can expect to squeeze more than 10,000 hours out of the combustor. The deterioration of combustors is an improvement point, because the agency compared the lifetime performance of catalyst and noncatalyst units. They note that catalytics burn cleaner than noncats during a stoves early years.
However, the emmissions put out by a catalytic stove increases as the combustor ages. Both types of units burn about as clean, when averaged over the lifetime of the stoves, according to the EPA. (end of article)
This is why the EPA's Phase I and Phase II emission limits, on wood burning stoves, are set the way they are. However, catalytic stove technology has came a long way since this article was written. Catalytic stove designs have changed since 1988. The combustor is now well protected from firebox flames in all the catalytic stove models.

I would like to add this comment:
I have talked to consumers in the past few years, that had catalytic units that held up for 10 to 15 years and were still working the day they called me. Easy to see why FIRECAT combustors are offered to the consumer with a 6 year prorated warranty from the date they buy a new catalytic stove.

A few more related comments:
1. FIRECAT catalytic combustors are made of high temperature, honeycomb ceramic and will take up to 2400 degrees F. before they reach, what I call a glazing point. Naturally, the stove will never reach this kind of operating temperature to destroy the combustor. They are durable and hold up well under proper operating methods. Flame impingement and thermal shock, not normal operating methods, can be another story altogether. Read more about them in my article titled Trouble Shooting Guide posted earlier.
2. FIRECAT combustors are coated with nobel metals that act as the catalyst. They never go away or burn out like a light bulb. Only ageing, abuse or improper operating of the stove will stop them from doing their job.
3. FIRECAT combustors can save the stove owner a lot of money over the years. Consider fuel costs alone. (as much as 1 less cord out of every 3) By burning low, they will save on fuel costs and best of all with no sacrifice of BTU output. The FIRECAT combustor will produce temperatures that are at least twice that of the firebox. Therefore, they don't need high flames in the firebox to produce heat to keep warm.
You don't have to take my word for it, check out a catalytic stove's efficiency and do some comparing for yourself.

Definition: Wood stove or heater…

Wood heater means an enclosed, wood burning appliance capable of and intended for space heating or domestic water heating that meets all of the following criteria:

An air-to-fuel ratio in the combustion chamber averaging less than 35-to-1 as determined by the test procedure performed at an accredited laboratory, like Omni.A usable firebox volume of less than 0.57 cubic meters (20 cubic feet);

A minimum burn rate of less than 5 kg/hr (11 lb/hr) as determined by the test procedure prescribed in §60.534 of the U.S. EPA Federal Register and performed at an accredited laboratory;

A maximum weight of 800 kg (1,760 lb). In determining the weight of an appliance for these purposes, fixtures and devices that are normally sold separately, such as flue pipe, chimney and masonry components that are not an integral part of the appliance or heat distribution ducting, shall not be included.

EPA Standards on particulate matter emissions

Unless exempted under §60.530 of the U.S. EPA Federal Register, each wood burning appliance manufactured on or after July 1, 1990, or sold at retail on or after July 1, 1992, shall comply with the following particulate matter emission limits as determined by the test methods and procedures in §60.534 of the U.S. EPA Federal Register:

A wood burning stove equipped with a catalytic combustor shall not discharge into the atmosphere any gases which contain particulate matter in excess of a weighted average of 4.1 g/hr (0.009 lb/hr).

A wood burning stove not equipped with a catalytic combustor shall not discharge into the atmosphere any gases which contain particulate matter in excess of a weighted average of 7.5 g/hr or (0.017 lb/hr).

What do the EPA Phase Programs mean?

Pre-Phase I stoves…
these were stoves that could not be manufactured after June 30, 1988.
However, stoves were sold at retail level for two more years.

Phase I program….
went into effect on July 1, 1988 and was effective through June 30, 1990.
Manufacturers were not aloud to build these stoves after this dead-line.
Again, these stoves were sold at retail level for two more years.

Phase II program…
went into effect on July 1, 1990 and is effective still today.
All models must re-certified by the manufacturers every 5 years under the Phase II program.

How to tell that your stove is EPA approved and certified.

All certified woodstoves offered for sale will have a permanent and a temporary label indicating that the stoves are EPA-certified. The temporary label will also contain information that you will find useful when shopping for a new stove.

The label will tell you generally how clean and how efficient each woodstove is.

However, because regulations require all new stoves to burn much cleaner and more efficiently than unregulated woodstoves, there should not be significant differences in efficiency and emissions performance among the certified catalytic models. This holds true for the non-catalytic models as well.

The label will also indicate which stoves are equipped with catalytic combustors. Perhaps the most important information on the label you will need when selecting a stove is the heat output range.

Use this information to help select the right size stove for the space you will be heating.

Why the EPA regulates wood burning stoves.

Old residential woodstoves are one of the nation's largest sources of particulate matter (smoke). Woodsmoke also contains significant amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and many other organic compounds. These pollutants are known to cause respiratory and cardiovascular illness and contribute to atmospheric visibility problems and property damage.

The EPA regulations require woodstove manufacturers produce stoves that emit less pollution. As consumers replace their older woodstoves with cleaner, more efficient, new stoves, the quality of the air will improve. Particularly in residential neighborhoods where wood burning stoves are popular.

Be sure and ask your local stove dealer about the high efficient, clean burning catalytic stoves and watch for my future articles on "Buying an EPA-Certified Woodstove"

U.S. EPA Certified Stoves

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires manufacturers of wood stoves to produce clean-burning wood stoves. New wood stoves (those built after July 1, 1988) cannot produce smoke-related pollutants beyond certain limits. New wood stoves must be affixed with the following two labels:

A temporary label with information on the compliance status of the model, the particulate matter emission rate, overall thermal efficiency, heat output range, and possibly the overall efficiency of the model.

A permanent label with the month and year the wood stove was manufactured, model name or number, and serial number.

If the wood stove is equipped with catalytic combustors, the permanent label also should indicate the catalytic combustor's inspection and maintenance needs.

If you own a wood stove, do not remove these labels. If you are looking to purchase a wood stove, check to make sure this label has not been removed.

A holiday wish