New rules govern use of outdoor furnaces

[ Originally published on: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 ]

GREENFIELD -- The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued new regulations governing the installation and use of outdoor wood-fired boilers that restrict how much smoke they put out and control how they can be operated.

According to Joe Ferson, a spokesman for the DEP, his agency has been working on the regulations for many months and they have promulgated the rules after considerable input from the public hearings in June.

Wood-fired boilers, also known as outdoor hydronic heaters, are generally located outside the structures that they heat in small, insulated sheds with short smokestacks that are usually 6 to 10 feet tall. They are used to heat water that is then piped underground to occupied buildings.

A major reason for the imposition of the regulations, officials said, is that outdoor heaters can produce heavy smoke and dangerous particulate matter that is released close to the ground, where it can linger and expose people nearby to health risks and nuisance conditions.

According to Ferson, wood smoke contains particles of various sizes, and a variety of toxic substances, including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene, naphthalene and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons.

Under the rules, which took effect on Friday, the regulations establish strict limits on total particle emissions from new units and requirements for the location and operation of all outdoor boilers purchased or installed in Massachusetts after that date.

The new regulations also limit what periods during the year older models can be used.

These regulations apply to all outdoor boilers, even if they were bought outside of the state and later installed in Massachusetts.

Ferson said that all units now sold in the state must be labeled as ''Phase II'' units and meet the new emission standards.

From now on, all wood-fired boilers must be located so as to minimize their impact on surrounding residents.

For residential-sized boilers, those with a thermal output of less than 350,000 BTUs per hour, they must be located at least 50 feet from the property line and at least 75 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling not served by the unit.

Commercial units, with a thermal output equal to, or greater than, 350,000 BTUs per hour, must be located at least 275 feet from the property line and at least 300 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling not served by the unit.

According to the DEP, any outdoor boiler with a thermal output over 1 million BTUs per hour must seek a site specific permit from the state.

Wood-fired boilers installed or sold for installation before Friday do not have to meet the new emission standard for total particle emissions. However, depending on how close they are to an existing residence and the height of their smoke stack, there may be limits on the times in which they can be operated.

These limits, according to the DEP, are designed to reduce the effects of smoke on neighbors.

Under the new guidelines, older wood-fired boilers that are less than 150 feet from a neighboring residence must have a smoke stack at least two feet higher than the roof of that home and may only be operated during the ''heating season'' which is defined as Oct. 1 to May 15.

Outdoor boilers installed more than 150 feet, but less than 500 feet from another residence are allowed to have a smoke stack at whatever height is suggested by the manufacturer, but are limited to operations during the ''heating season.''

If the wood-fired boiler is more than 500 feet from neighboring houses, there is no limitation on season of operation and the smoke stack can be set at whatever height is suggested by the manufacturer of the unit.

The DEP notes that people can apply for a variance in the setback from property lines for commercial units, but not for residential boilers.

''No outdoor hydronic heater is allowed to cause a nuisance for neighbors, or a condition of air pollution,'' Ferson said.

According to the state, only clean, seasoned wood, or other bio-mass approved by the DEP can legally be burned in outdoor boilers.

Garbage, tires, yard waste, construction debris and materials containing hazardous constituents such as plastic, asbestos, petroleum products, lead and mercury are forbidden.

The smoke and particles from wood-fired boilers has been linked to a number of health problems including decreased lung function, increased respiratory irritation, aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis, irregular heartbeat, heart attack and premature death in people with existing cardiopulmonary problems.

Further information about the regulation of, or use of, wood-fired boilers can be found at the DEP Internet site at:

www.mass.gov/dep/air/laws/regulati.htm

You can reach George Claxton at: gclaxton@recorder.com or (413) 772-0261 Ext. 279

 

---