EPA Fireplace Regulations

Manufactured Fireplace Program

• Through a two-tiered program, the EPA issues either an orange tag or a white tag to fireplace manufacturers. According to the EPA website, a manufactured fireplace must burn approximately 57 percent cleaner than older fireplace models in order to qualify for an orange tag. For a white tag, the fireplace must burn about 70 percent cleaner. Both tags are indicators of emission levels that have been tested by an independent EPA-accredited laboratory.

Orange Tag Qualifications

• A manufactured fireplace with an orange EPA tag emits no more than 7.3 grams of particle pollution per kilogram of wood burned (7.3 g/kg). Check the orange and black triangles in the white box on the tag for more detailed information: the rating for the specific model is printed under an orange triangle and the maximum EPA emission rating is printed under a black triangle. Example: all orange tags will show 7.3 under the black triangle, the highest pollution particles this model can emit and still qualify for an orange tag. The orange triangle will show the actual rating between 0 and 7.3. For example: comparing all fireplaces with an orange EPA tag, you might choose to buy a cleaner burning model with a 6.2 rating instead of one with a 7.1 rating, both of which qualify for the EPA orange tag.

White Tag Qualifications

• Orange tags are part of the EPAs Phase 1 emissions level program. Phase 2, white tag qualifications, set a higher standard that requires lower emission levels. A white tag on a new, manufactured fireplace indicates that it emits no more than 5.1 g/kg of wood burned. The white tag also has an orange triangle over the model emissions and a black triangle over the standard against which the model was tested. For example: comparing all fireplaces with a white EPA tag, you might choose to buy a cleaner burning 3.7 rated model instead of one with a 4.9 rating, both of which qualify for the EPA white tag.