Voluntary Hangtag Guidelines for Manufacturers of Wood-Burning Devices

The voluntary hangtag program for wood-burning devices is designed to provide an incentive to manufacturers to meet the federal 2020 standards early,  and therefore accelerate emission reductions and protect public health sooner than is required under the federal regulation. The models are tested by an EPA-approved laboratory, as specified in the 2015 New Source Performance Standard (NSPS), and EPA verifies that the test results meet the required levels.

The 2015 NSPS (PDF) (83 pp, 2.4 MB, About PDF) allows a voluntary hangtag for:

1. Wood heaters that meet the 2020 particulate matter emission standards early when tested with crib wood, cord wood, or pellets. The option to apply for a temporary hangtag ended on May 15, 2020. Models certified to meet the emissions standards below may display the voluntary hangtag:

• Wood and wood pellet stoves: 2.0 g/hr
• Hydronic heaters: 0.10 lbs/mmBtu for each burn rate
• Forced-air furnaces: 0.15 lbs/mmBtu for each burn rate

2. Wood heaters that meet the 2020 particulate matter cord wood alternative compliance option. Models certified to meet the emissions standards below with cord wood may display the voluntary hangtag:

• Wood and wood pellet stoves: 2.5 g/hr
• Hydronic heaters: 0.15 lbs/mmBtu for each burn rate
• Forced-air furnaces: hangtag is not available because these appliances already test with cord wood (CSA B415.1-10).

NOTE: To qualify for a hangtag, manufacturers must comply with all requirements of the 2015 NSPS, including the requirement to make the complete test report (excluding design drawings) and owner's manual for the subject model available to the public on the manufacturer's website.

• The requirements for a complete test report and public availability are found in the March 16, 2015 final rule, sections 60.533(b)(5) and (b)(12), 60.5475 (b)(5) and (b)(12).  The test report, for example, should include raw data, calculations, notes and test results.
• The owner's manual requirement, including a statement that operation inconsistent with the manufacturer's guidance found in the manual will void the the warranty, is found in sections 60.532(g), 60.533(b)(6), 60.536(g), 60.5474(g), 60.5475(b)(6) and 60.5478(f).

The manufacturer will supply the values for emissions, efficiency, recommended heating area, company, model, and fuel type from the test report submitted to EPA by a EPA-accredited lab. The manufacturer may add the required values to the label template, but may not change the size of the label, color, fonts, or language included in this template.  The seller should ensure that these labels remain affixed until each heater is purchased.

Room Heater Manufacturer's Checklists for applying for Voluntary Hangtags: Checklist for manufacturers of Room Heaters (docx) (59.46 KB)

Central Heater Manufacturer's Checklists for applying for Voluntary Hangtags: Checklist for manufacturers of Central Heaters (docx) (59.6 KB)

HANGTAG DEFINITIONS

• Efficiency: Weighted average efficiency calculated using the higher heating value of fuel (HHV) from the test report submitted to EPA by an EPA-accredited lab.  Lower Heating Value (LHV) efficiency and other efficiency measures are not acceptable.
• Smoke Emissions: Weighted average particulate matter emissions (in grams per hour for wood/pellet stoves, or pounds per million Btu heat output for each burn category for hydronic heaters and forced-air furnaces.
• Heating Area: The size of the area that the device can heat as specified in the owner’s manual.
• Fuel Tested: Wood pellet: ground wood or biomass that is compressed into a pellet; Crib wood: '2 x 4' or '4 x 4' cut lumber that is stapled together;  Cord wood: typical firewood used in homes.  Considered a better measure of how a heater will perform in residential settings.