Voluntary Programs for More Efficient Wood-Burning Appliances
EPA has two voluntary programs to encourage manufacturers to improve air quality through developing and distributing cleaner, more efficient wood-burning appliances. They include:
The wood-burning appliances that are qualified under the EPA's Voluntary Fireplace and Hydronic Heater Programs are not certified per EPA's Wood Heater New Source Performance Standard. Learn more about the difference between qualified and certified appliances. Contact your state or local air quality agency for clarification on any wood-burning appliances that may legally be installed in your area.
Voluntary Wood-Burning Fireplace Program
The wood-burning fireplace program encourages the development and sale of lower-emitting wood-burning fireplaces. EPA's fireplace program covers new masonry and prefabricated (low-mass) fireplaces and retrofit devices for existing fireplaces. Fireplace retrofits can reduce pollution up to 70 percent if installed properly.
- Current program partners
- List of qualified fireplaces and retrofit devices
- Technical Fact Sheet and Questions and Answers
Information for Manufacturers
How a manufacturer can participate in the Wood-burning Fireplace Program:
- Sign a Partnership Agreement with EPA to bring cleaner fireplace models and retrofit devices to the market
- Use a descriptive hang tag on fireplaces and retrofit devices that provides information on smoke emissions
- Display information about the voluntary program in fireplace sales areas
- Include text in each qualifying owner’s manual on proper operation and maintenance of the fireplace or retrofit device, including how and what to burn
- Submit sales and test data on improved fireplaces
In order to assist manufacturing partners, EPA provides program support to encourage the purchase of cleaner, more efficient fireplaces. As part of the program, EPA provides:
- text labels that identify which models meet EPA program requirements
- outreach and educational materials
If you are a manufacturer and would like to participate in the program, email Brockman.Larry@epa.gov.
Hydronic Heaters Program (terminated)
The voluntary EPA hydronic heaters program was first launched in 2007, providing a process for manufacturers to demonstrate that their models were 70 percent cleaner than unqualified models. The goal of the program was to achieve emission reductions and protect public health sooner than a federal rule. The program evolved to Phase 2, and EPA-qualified units were up to 90 percent cleaner than older unqualified units.
The spreadsheet Updated EPA Certified Hydronic Heaters lists Hydronic Heaters (HH) formerly included in the Voluntary Program that meet Step 1, and in some cases Step 2, of the 2015 NSPS, and are therefore certified. Some models previously in the Voluntary program are not deemed certified under the NSPS because they were tested with a previous hydronic heater test method: M28 OWHH. However, the 2015 NSPS did provide a sell-through period for these models, which gives manufacturers and retailers a chance to sell them until December 31, 2015. After this date the models on the Hydronic Heater Sell-Through List (pdf) (119 KB) can no longer be sold in the United States.