SECTION 7.1 APPENDIX B

RESIDENTIAL WOOD COMBUSTION

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

2009 Methodology for Fireplaces

Summary 

This Appendix presents the emission factors and activity data used to estimate the criteria 

pollutant emissions from fireplaces in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) for the year 2009 and 

thereafter. As discussed in the main methodology document, Air Resources Board and District 

staff determined that the historical fireplace wood consumption rate in SJV was probably best 

represented by the results of a district survey conducted in 1997. However, after full 

implementation of District Rule 4901, Wood Burning Fireplaces and Wood Burning Heaters, in 

2009 (which calls for curtailment of residential wood burning when ambient PM2.5 levels reach a 

predetermined concentration), and an extensive public education campaign, staff determined that 

the lower wood consumption rates used as the statewide default values would be more 

representative of fireplace wood consumption rates in SJV. 

This adjustment applies only to fireplaces. The tables below present the summary of fireplace 

fuel use and associated emissions in 2009 for all counties in SJV.

List of Tables

Table B-1: Fireplaces - Number of Devices in 2009 (SJV)

Table B-2: Fireplaces – Amount of Cord Wood Burned in 2009 (SJV)

Table B-3: Fireplaces – Fuel Use and Emissions Estimates in 2009 (SJV)

7.1A-1
Table B-1: FIREPLACES - Number of Devices in 2009 (SJV)

AB Dis County (AB) Htotal Pfp Pfp,u [Pfp]x[Pfp,u] Hfp,u Mfp FP Ref.

(# of 

homes in 

2005)

(% of 

homes with 

wood 

burning 

fireplaces)

(% of homes 

that use their 

wood 

burning 

fireplace)

(% of homes 

with wood 

burning 

fireplaces that 

are in use)

(# of 

homes 

with 

fireplaces 

in use)

(# of 

fireplaces 

per 

home)

(# of 

fireplaces 

in use)

SJV SJU Fresno 261,554 41 34 13.9 36,461 1.1 40,107 1,2,3

SJV SJU Kern (SJV) 181,734 32 37 11.8 21,517 1.1 23,669 1,2,3

SJV SJU Kings 35,812 32 37 11.8 4,240 1.1 4,664 1,2,3

SJV SJU Madera 38,051 33 43 14.2 5,399 1.1 5,939 1,2,3

SJV SJU Merced 67,116 33 43 14.2 9,524 1.1 10,476 1,2,3

SJV SJU San Joaquin 193,423 54 49 26.5 51,180 1.1 56,298 1,2,3

SJV SJU Stanislaus 153,742 46 43 19.8 30,410 1.1 33,451 1,2,3

SJV SJU Tulare 114,640 33 57 18.8 21,564 1.1 23,720 1,2,3

1,046,072 198,324

Htotal: Number of occupied housing units/homes in 2003.

Pfp: Percent of homes with wood burning fireplaces.

Pfp,u: Percent of homes with a fireplace, where the fireplace was actually used during the burn season.

Hfp,u: Number of homes with fireplaces that are actually being used. Hfp,u = [Htotal]*[Pfp]*[Pfp,u]

Mfp = 1.1 fireplaces per home (OMNI, 2003)

FPall = Total number of fireplaces that are actually being used. FPall = [Htotal]*[Pfp]*[Pfp,u] *[Mfp]

References:

1 Total Homes Data Obtained From:

State of California, Department of Finance; E-5 Population and Housing Estimates for Cities, Counties and the State, 2001-2010, with 2000 Benchmark;

May 2010; For the San Joaquin Valley, the data represent the number of Occupied Housing Units during 2003, because of a district moratorium on new woodburning fireplaces after 2003.

2 SJVUAPCD, 2010. San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District; "District's Comprehensive Public Outreach and Education Program"; 

summary of survey conducted by CC&G (Feb.-May 2010); presented at the September 29-30, 2010 board hearing.

County-level data provided by SJV/Jessica Fierro on 06/07/2011.

3 OMNI, 2003. D. Broderick and J. Houck; OMNI Consulting Services, Inc.; "Results of Wood Burning Survey - Sacramento, San Joaquin, 

and San Francisco Areas, University of California Berkeley/California Air Resources Board - GIS Study", Table 2.3a; 

Jan. 15, 2003; http://www.omni-test.com/publications/final.pdf

7.1A-2
Table B-2: Fireplaces – Amount of Cord Wood Burned in 2009 (SJV)

AB Dis County (AB) Pfp,cord Pfp,aes Pfp,heat FPaes Ncord,aes Faes FPheat Ncord,heat Fheat Faes+Fheat Ref.

% of people who 

used their 

fireplaces and 

primarily burned 

cord wood

% of 

fireplace 

use that is 

for aesthetic 

purposes

% of fireplace 

use that is for 

heating 

purposes

# of Fireplaces 

Being Used 

for Aesthetic 

Purposes

# of cords 

burned in 

fireplaces –

aesthetics 

(cord/ 

fireplace/yr)

Cord Wood 

Burned in 

Fireplaces for 

Aesthetics, 

tons/yr

# of Fireplaces 

Being Used 

for Heating 

Purposes

# of cords 

burned in 

fireplaces –

heating (cord/ 

fireplace/yr)

Cord Wood 

Burned in 

Fireplaces for 

Heating, 

tons/yr

Total Cord 

Wood Burned 

in Fireplaces, 

tons/yr

SJV SJU Fresno 88.0 59.7 40.3 21,070 0.069 2,239 14,223 0.656 14,369 16,608 1,2

SJV SJU Kern (SJV) 88.0 50.8 49.2 10,581 0.069 1,124 10,248 0.656 10,353 11,477 1,2

SJV SJU Kings 88.0 52.6 47.4 2,159 0.069 229 1,946 0.656 1,965 2,195 1,2

SJV SJU Madera 88.0 21.6 78.4 1,129 0.069 120 4,098 0.656 4,140 4,260 1,2

SJV SJU Merced 88.0 50.0 50.0 4,610 0.069 490 4,610 0.656 4,657 5,147 1,2

SJV SJU San Joaquin 88.0 52.6 47.4 26,059 0.069 2,769 23,483 0.656 23,723 26,492 1,2

SJV SJU Stanislaus 88.0 61.5 38.5 18,104 0.069 1,924 11,333 0.656 11,449 13,373 1,2

SJV SJU Tulare 88.0 52.6 47.4 10,980 0.069 1,167 9,894 0.656 9,995 11,162 1,2

90,714

Pfp,cord: Percent of people who used their fireplaces who primarily used cord wood.

Pfp,aes: Percent of fireplace use that is for aesthetic purposes.

Pfp,heat: Percent of fireplace use that is for heating purposes.

FPaes: Number of fireplaces used for aesthetic purposes

Faes: Amount of cord wood burned in fireplaces for aesthetics, tons/yr (Faes = [FPall]*[Pfp,cord]*[Pfp,aes]*[Ncord,aes]*[Wcord]) ,where Ncord,aes = 0.069 cords/fireplace/year (Houck, 2001); Wcord = 1.54 tons/cord

(OMNI, 2006)

FPheat: Number of fireplaces used for heating

Fheat: Amount of cord wood burned in fireplaces for heating, tons/yr (Fheat = [FPall]*[Pfp,cord]*[Pfp,heat]*[Ncord,heat]*[Wcord]), where; Ncord,heat = 0.656 cords/fireplace/year (Houck, 2001); Wcord = 1.54 tons/cord

(OMNI, 2006)

[Faes]+[Fheat]: Total amount of cord wood burned in fireplaces, tons/yr.

References: 

1 Houck, 2001. Houck, James E. (OMNI Consulting, Inc.), "Recommended Procedure for Compiling Emission Inventory Data for Manufactured Wax/Sawdust Fireplace Logs", 

prepared for Roy Huntley (U.S. EPA, OAQPS); October 10, 2001; http://www.omni-test.com/publications/actfire.pdf

2 Sierra, 1989. Sierra Research, Inc.; "Draft Report, Residential Wood Use in California", prepared for the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Table D-3; October 20, 1989.

3 OMNI, 2006. J.E. Houck and B.N. Eagle; OMNI Environmental Services, Inc.; "Residential Wood Combustion Emission Inventory

South Coast Air Basin and Coachella Valley Portion of Salton Sea Air Basin, 2002 Base Year", Table 4.6; October 24, 2006;

http://www.omni-test.com/publications/SCAQMD-RWC4.pdf

7.1A-3
Table B-3: Fireplaces – 2009 Fuel Use and Emissions Estimates (SJV)

FUEL USE (Tons/Yr) 2009 EMISSIONS (Tons/Year)

AB Dis County (Air Basin) Cord 

Wood

Mfrd. 

Logs

Total All 

Fuels CO NOX PM2.5 PM10 SO2 ROG NH3

SJV SJU Fresno 16,608 715 17,323 1,286 24 205 213 5 169 15

SJV SJU Kern (SJV) 11,477 422 11,899 884 16 140 146 3 116 10

SJV SJU Kings 2,195 83 2,278 169 3 27 28 1 22 2

SJV SJU Madera 4,260 106 4,365 325 6 51 53 1 42 4

SJV SJU Merced 5,147 187 5,333 396 7 63 65 1 52 5

SJV SJU San Joaquin 26,492 1,003 27,496 2,042 38 324 337 7 267 24

SJV SJU Stanislaus 13,373 596 13,969 1,037 19 166 172 4 136 12

SJV SJU Tulare 11,162 423 11,585 861 16 137 142 3 113 10

Totals (tons/year) = 90,714 3,534 94,248 7,000 129 1,112 1,156 26 917 82

Totals (Annual Avg. tons/day) = 249 10 258 19 0 3 3 0 3 0

Fireplace Emission Factors (lb/ton fuel burned)

CO NOX PM2.5 PM10 SO2 ROG NH3

Cord Wood / Bundles 149 2.6 22.7 23.6 0.4 18.9 1.8

Mfrd. Log 137 6.5 46.4 48.2 4.2 33.8 0.004

[Emissions, tons/yr] = [Emission Factor, lb/ton]*[Fuel Use, tons/yr]/[2000 lbs/ton]

[Total PM] = [PM10]/[0.935], per ARB particulate matter profile code #424

[PM2.5] = [Total PM]*[0.9001] = [PM10]*[0.9001/0.935] = [PM10]*[0.963], per ARB particulate matter profile code #424

[Total Organic Gases, TOG] = [ROG]/0.4385, per ARB organic profile code #549

7.1A-4