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OWB Dealer
Information |
If you sell or plan to sell or lease outdoor wood boilers, this page provides
much of the information you need to know to ensure that you are complying
with Sections 5-204 and 5-205 of Vermont's Air Pollution Control Regulations
(APCR).
Vermont Regulations: Vermont
adopted a regulation, Section 5-204 of the APCR, that affects OWBs installed
after October 1, 1997. Prior to that date OWBs in Vermont were subject only
to a generic regulation regarding public nuisances or odors caused by air
pollution sources. Section 5-205 of the APCR was adopted in April of 2007.
Some of the requirements of these regulations and your responsibility as
a dealer are discussed below.
Set Back Requirement:
Section 5-204 prohibits any OWB from being installed within
200 feet of a residence not owned by the OWB owner or heated by the OWB.
In other words, an OWB must be located more than 200 feet from the nearest
neighbor's house that is not served by the OWB. Note that accurately determining
this distance is critical. The distance is measured from the nearest point
on the residence to the nearest point on the OWB, excluding any concrete
or other pad. An attached garage is considered part of the residence, but
if the garage is detached from the house, it is not considered part of the
residence. It is best to add a 10 or 15 foot buffer when determining where
to install an OWB. Also, the Division has found that, in many cases, 200
feet is not far enough away to prevent nuisance or excessive smoke exposures
to neighbors, even with a tall stack.
Stack Height Requirement:
Under Section 5-204, if a neighbor's residence is between
200 and 500 feet from an OWB, the stack on the OWB must extend higher (in
elevation) than the peak of the roof of the tallest structure being served
by the OWB. Note that OWBs that comply with the standard set in Section 5-205
(see below) are not required to have taller stacks but we recommend that
the stack be tall enough to avoid nuisance to neighbors. Locating the OWB
downhill from the house it is heating may make the stack height requirement
much more difficult to meet. Here are some examples of stacks that have been
raised to comply with this stack height requirement.
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Section 5-205 Standard:
After March 31, 2008, no dealer or manufacture is allowed
to sell or lease an OWB in Vermont or for installation in Vermont unless
that OWB has been certified by Vermont to meet a particulate emission standard
of 0.44 lb/mmBTU of heat input. An exception allows Vermont dealers to sell
OWBs that they had in stock as of October 1, 2007 after the March 31, 2008
date. The dealer will need to prove that the OWB was purchased and in-stock
prior to October 1, 2007. Note that Section 5-205 also applies to dealers
or manufacturers outside of Vermont that sell OWBs that are destined to be
installed in Vermont and the same penalties or other sanctions will apply
as for in-state dealers. Manufacturers are require to notified which models
have been certified for sale in Vermont. Certified models will also be posted
on this website at:
VT
Certified OWBS
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Dealer Responsibility: Be
aware that under Section 5-204 OWB dealers are required to inform purchasers
of the regulations. This is documented by having purchasers sign a one page
form that tells them about the requirements. Dealers are required to send
a signed copy of the form to the Air Pollution Control Division (at the address
on the form) before the purchaser takes possession of the OWB.
IMPORTANT: If a dealer does
not inform the purchaser of the rules, obtain their signature on the form
and submit the form to the Division, the dealer is in violation of Section
5-204 of the APCR. Such a violation may be considered to be more serious
when the OWB involved has been illegally installed. The Agency has
required dealers to buy back improperly installed OWBs and has fined dealers
for not complying with this notification requirement. Please protect yourself
by informing the OWB customer and sending-in the forms as required. Dealers
or others who install OWBs should also be aware that they may be held in
violation of Section 5-204 if the installation does not comply with the
regulation as discussed above. Carbonless triplicate forms are available
from the Air Pollution Control Division by calling (802) 241-3840. Here is
an example of the form:
Notification Form (pdf)
Beyond the Rules: Be responsible
and discuss proper operation of their OWBs with the purchasers. Encourage
OWB owners to burn only seasoned hardwood in a manner that will minimize
smoke emissions. Be aware that some OWBs cause complaints even when installed
in compliance with the regulation as discussed above. It is also very important
that the OWBs be sized properly for the application. Likewise, installations
need to be evaluated to ensure that all piping and pumps are sized properly
as dictated by plumbing and heating standards.
Most importantly, be smart. Read the reports and other information on this
website. Some OWB manufacturers make unsupported and unrealistic claims about
the heating efficiency or capacity or other performance characteristics of
their units. Don't further misinformation by repeating these claims to potential
buyers. Your customers will appreciate your honesty. We will be posting test
data and other information on new, more efficient OWB units as it becomes
available.
The Future: Other rules and
emission standards being adopted by states or towns could impact on your
business because many of the OWBs currently on the market could not comply
with reasonable emission standards. However, some current OWBs have been
shown to meet Vermont's proposed standard and other manufacturers are rapidly
developing cleaner, more efficient devices. As a dealer, you may want to
monitor the OWB markets and technologies and consider changing products as
appropriate. Selling OWBs that have been proven to be clean and efficient
can only improve your credibility with clients. Cleaner models will be
highlighted on this website and will be promoted by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's Voluntary Program (see discussion and link on this website).
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to Vermont OWB Regulation |
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Vermont Department of Environmental
Conservation
Air Pollution Control Division
©
Copyright VT DEC, All Rights Reserved
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