Total Projected Particulate Em

from New Fireplaces in the Fi

from NSPS Effective Dat

Revised January 5, 2011

Presented for the Hearth, Patio & 

Barbecue Association Fireplace Caucus 
Purpose of the Analysi

• Compare estimated particulate emi

from fireplaces 5 years after the effof an NSPS to estimated particulate from fireplaces if an NSPS that inclufireplaces isn’t promulgated.
Information Needed 

1. Projected number of new housing 

‐ This is the primary multiplier for the o

analysis.

2. Percentage of new houses with fir

broken down by:

a. Gas Fireplacesb. Wood

‐burning Fireplaces

i. Those used for heating.ii. Those used for aesthetic enjoyment.iii. Those not used at all.
3. Wood Fireplace Fueling Informati

a. Amount of wood used in fireplaces 

i. In new fireplaces used for heating.ii. In new fireplaces used for aesthetic en

4. Emission factors for new fireplace

a. “Baseline” fireplaces – 11.3 g/kgb. NSPS fireplaces (Assumed EPA Phas

g/kg)
*Average annual housing starts for the period 2011 to 2016 based on the slope of 1995 to 2005 housing 

2009 housing starts.

1

2

3
New Single-Family Housing 

Starts Projection Basis

Cumulative New WBFP by 

Installed from 2011 

Heating Aesthet

1. ’96-’05 Pre-Downturn

Ten-Year Average 112,135 700,15

2. ’00-’09 Ten-Year Average 101,382 633,013. ’95-’05 Slope + ’09 

Intercept Projected Ave. ’11-’16

57,167 356,94

Note: WBFP = Wood‐burning fireplaces without fireplace inserts
Fireplace Ownership 

in New Construction

(% of Single‐Family New Construction Homes,

Multiple Ownership Factor of 1.17 Not Considered in 

Chart)

Wood‐Burnin

in New C

(% of Wood‐
Value 

Average Cordwood Use in WBFPw/oI, Heating 0.656 cords/yeAverage Cordwood Use in WBFPw/oI, Aesthetic 0.069 cords/yeAverage Dry Mass of Cordwood 1.23 tons/dry cEmission Factor, Cordwood, Phase II 5.1 g/kg, 5G Emission Factor, Cordwood, Baseline 11.3 g/kg, 5G Firelog Percentage† 25% 

Average Firelog Use 16 firelogs/yeAverage Firelog Weight 4.74 lb/firelog (Emission Factor, Wax‐Fiber Firelog(Emission Rate)

21.2 g/kg, 5G

(15.69 g/h) 

*See “References” for full citations.†Fraction of homes that use their fireplace for aesthetics and norma

assumed that the overwhelming majority of firelog use is aesthetic.

Summary of Wood Burning Fireplace Fu

Data and Emission Factors 
5th – Year Emissions Proje

1. By calculation, project the 5th – Ye

emissions from baseline and NSPS using the three housing start proje

2. Average the three results to give t

values.
New Single-Family Housing 

Starts Projection Basis

Emission 

Factor

Projected Ton

Emitted 

Heating

Wood

Aesth

Wood 

1. ’96-’05 Pre-Downturn

Ten-Year Average

Phase II 538 265

Baseline 1,193 588 

2. ’00-’09 Ten-Year 

Average

Phase II 487 240

Baseline 1,078 531 

3. ’95-’05 Slope + ’09 

Intercept Projected Ave. 

’11-’16

Phase II 274 135

Baseline 608 300 

Average

Phase II 433 213

Baseline 960 473 

Total Particulate Emissions for New ConstructWood‐Burning Fireplaces without Inserts Emit

*The wax‐fiber firelog emission factor remains the same in both em

scenarios.
Sensitivity Analysis – Incre

Penetration of Gas Firepla

• Over time, the percentage of gas fir

has been increasing. 

• Increasing the cost of wood burning 

with the addition of emission controtechnology is likely continue or accetrend.

• The sensitivity case evaluates the p

5th

‐ Year emissions if the gas firepla

proportion of new fireplaces increapercentage points (~65% to ~75%).
Percentage of New Fireplaces 

that are Gas-Fired

Emission 

Factor

Projected Ton

Emitted 

Heating

Wood

Aesth

Wood 

65.43% Gas Fireplaces

Phase II 433 213

Baseline 960 473 

75% Gas Fireplaces

Phase II 202 163 

Baseline 447 361 

Total Particulate Emissions for New Construct

Wood‐Burning Fireplaces Emitted in 2016 Us

of the Three Housing Start Project

Sensitivity Analysis, Gas‐Fired Fireplace Proportion of 

Increased from 65.43% to 75%

*The wax‐fiber firelog emission factor remains the same in both emis

scenarios.

†Total values based on the average of new single‐family housing star

shown in previous table.
*Average annual housing starts for the period 2011 to 2016 based on the slope of 1995 to 2005 housing 

2009 housing starts.

1

2

3
Percentage of New Fireplaces 

that are Gas-Fired

Emission 

Factor

Projected Ton

Emitted 

Heating

Wood

Aesth

Wood 

65.43% Gas Fireplaces

Phase II 274 135

Baseline 608 300 

75% Gas Fireplaces

Phase II 128 103 

Baseline 283 229 

Total Particulate Emissions for New Construct

Wood‐Burning Fireplaces Emitted in 2016 Usi

Projection 3

Sensitivity Analysis, Gas‐Fired Fireplace Proportion of 

Increased from 65.43% to 75%

*The wax‐fiber firelog emission factor remains the same in both emis

scenarios.

†Total values based on the third projection of new single‐family hous

earlier.