[AT] Profane propane prices; was Fuel prices

[Phil M. Vorwerk]

The EPA has already set standards.  The insert that I recently installed
came with certifications and guidelines on how to keep the "opacity" of the
smoke at levels within the EPA spec's.  From what I understand, the EPA
standards have been in place since the 80's, and had driven many wood stove
manufacturers out of business.

The instructions that came with the insert state the obvious - use well
cured, dry wood.  They also instruct you to open up the flue whenever adding
wood to speed up the time it takes to get the firebox up to a temp that
burns clean.  Courtland has no regulations on any kind of wood burning, but
7 miles down the road the New Ulm city council is having fun with some local
residents.  The council had passed an ordinance that stated that outdoor
heaters needed to meet the EPA specs, and have certification to that effect.
The problem is with the enforcement.  It is making for a lot of fun for the
building inspector, who is running into complaints from both ends.
Supposedly, there are a bunch of burners that have been installed that are
supposed to be in spec, but have no certification from the manufacturer.  I
would say then that they in fact don't meet the requirements of the
ordinance, but I'm staying out of that fight.....

Phil
Courtland, MN

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Roy Morgan
Sent: December 10, 2008 9:14 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Profane propane prices; was Fuel prices


On Dec 10, 2008, at 8:41 AM, Bob McNitt wrote:

> ... people buy the cheaper models... dinky stovepipe is so short,  
> the smoke
> hugs the ground and infiltrates the surrounding area...... a common  
> sense code that
> called for minimum height stacks and what could/should be burned.

Then Stephen writes:
> You guys are missing a tiny little detail. ... How do you measure the
density of smoke?

A very good  point.  This brings up an idea from the world of  
standards and specifications (from which I retired recently):  You can  
write performance standards or you can write procedural or  
installation guidelines or requirements.  Performance standards might  
well rely on the measurements Stephen asks about.  That kind of thing,  
of course, is done in the case of nuclear power plants and coal fired  
generating plants and the like, and is very expensive.  Not practical  
for either the homeowner with an outdoor furnace or a county or town.

There are requirements for chimneys on houses.  Stainless steel liners  
and ceramic tile and the like.  Height of chimney above any building  
part within 20 feet.  Maybe licensing for people who install that kind  
of thing.  There are guidelines and recommendations:  dry your wood a  
year before burning, for  example.  "Don't use no green or rotten  
wood ... they'll get you by the smoke", as one folk song advises the  
whiskey still operator.

Somewhere between the folk song advice and the carefully calibrated,  
continuously operating and monitored power plant smoke stack emissions  
measurement system there might be a practical combination of  
requirements and guidelines that wold help the situation.  One thing  
is pretty sure: standards and regulations are compromises, and hastily  
enacted rules often lead to trouble sooner or later.

Then comes the damp foggy no-wind day when smoke from any source goes  
right to the ground and stays there and maybe triggers Aunt Jane's  
emphysema and sends her to the hospital.  Oh, yes.  We  know she  
should not have smoked all her life, but that's not enforceable in any  
way.

Oh, well.

Roy

Roy Morgan
k1lky at earthlink.net
529 Cobb St.
Groton NY, 13073





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