Model Municipal By-Law for Regulating Wood Heating Appliances

Background

• When the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) agreed upon Canada-Wide Standards for particles and ozone (2000), they identified a set of measures to reduce emissions of the pollutants that are responsible for particulate matter and ground-level ozone. These measures had to be undertaken by federal provincial/territorial or municipal governments. Key sectors were identified according to the importance of their emissions to the environment. Those key sectors were transportation, industrial sectors and residential wood combustion.
• An Intergovernmental Working Group on Residential Wood Combustion (IGWGRWC) co-chaired by Environment Canada and Newfoundland (now replaced by Nova Scotia) was formed to work on initiatives to reduce emissions from residential wood combustion. In 2005, it reported to the CCME on the progress of this initiative.
• The model municipal by-law has been produced by Environment Canada in collaboration with representatives from Industry, Municipalities, Provincial/Territorial Governments, and Environmental Non-governmental Organizations under the Intergovernmental Working Group on Residential Wood Combustion (IGWGRWC). This document is a tool to be used by a municipality wishing to develop and put in place a municipal by-law to regulate woodburning appliances.

Problem

• Woodburning generates smoke, which contains fine particulates. These fine particulates can remain in the air for days and have the potential to penetrate deep into the lungs if inhaled. The potential effects of fine particulates vary from irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, to more serious disorders, including asthma, bronchitis, reduced lung function and early mortality. Children, the elderly and people with lung disease tend to be the most vulnerable. Wood smoke also contains a number of compounds, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are also potentially harmful to human health.

This document is intended as an aid for municipalities where air quality problems due to residential wood burning are experienced and who therefore wish to put in place a municipal by-law for regulating woodburning appliances.

The Model Municipal By-law for Regulating Woodburning Appliances can be viewed at this link.

Website information regarding woodburning appliances:

British Columbia - District of Houston's new bylaw for woodburning appliances

http://www.burnitsmart.org/ : “Burn It Smart Program

Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association of Canada (HPBAC) : The trade association for manufacturers and retailers of wood stoves and fireplaces

Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc. (WETT): The training agency for wood energy professionals that certifies installers, chimney sweeps, retailers and inspectors under the Wood Energy Technical Training program.

Canadian Lung Association

British Columbia Lung Association

Dry Seasoned Wood Helps Minimize Pollution : Wood heat article

The Wood Heat Organization : a Canadian non-commercial, non-governmental organization in support of responsible home heating with wood.

That Nice Woodsy Smell: Combustion spillage from residential wood heating systems (PDF)

Woodsmoke and Air Pollution : Green Lane document

Is Your Fireplace Santa Clause Friendly? : EnviroZine article:

Buying a High-Efficiency Wood-Burning Appliance

Fine Particulates

Clean Burning Wood Stoves and Fireplaces

Air Quality - Wood Burning