US EPA Qualifies Clean Wood Burning Fireplace From FMI Products LLC

Online, June 11, 2010 (Newswire.com) - In some areas of the US, wood smoke causes up to 80% of wintertime air pollution and wood burning fireplaces pose the biggest health problem. Many fireplaces are intended to burn cord wood and those fireplaces are consistently being banned and regulated throughout the country in an effort to improve air quality. To address this problem, the US Environmental Protection Agency has started a program to promote the development of a new generation of cleaner wood burning fireplaces.

The EPA Wood-burning Fireplace Qualification Program requires a stringent Phase II particulate matter emission level of less than 5.1 g/kg for official qualification. A conventional wood burning fireplace produces an average of 12-15 g/kg of particulates. Several factory built fireplace models have already been qualified to meet the new EPA Phase II emissions requirement but they are more expensive units that don't fit the affordability profile for the homebuilder looking for an EPA Qualified, clean burning "builder box" fireplace at a competitive price.

The Craftsman 36" Fireplace from FMI Products is an affordable, clean burning unit designed especially for the homebuilder. The Craftsman Model 36 was successfully EPA qualification tested by Myren Emissions Laboratory @ 4.8 g/kg.

The Craftsman Model 36 is manufactured by FMI Products LLC of Santa Ana, CA. FMI plans to offer a complete line of affordable EPA Phase II Qualified factory built fireplaces to homeowners, builders and architects across the US. The FMI Plantation Model 50" Fireplace is next in line for EPA Qualification. (See website @ www.fmiproducts.com ).

These clean burning fireplace models are part of the new PureFire Series from FMI They utilize the revolutionary HearthCAT technology from Clear Skies Unlimited. The HearthCAT System is an emission control technology that reduces particulate emissions in wood burning fireplaces by as much as 90%. This state-of-the-art catalytic system is maintenance free and is affordable to the homebuilder. The HearthCAT System was recently awarded the 2009 Clean Air Excellence Award by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The HearthCAT will work successfully in all wood burning fireplaces including new home construction and wood burning fireplace retro-fits. (See website @ www.clearskiesunlimited.com ).

By 2012, all wood burning fireplaces will be required to meet new EPA emissions standards for residential home construction. (Ref: US EPA NSPS Revision).