Definitions
Area Source facility is one that emits less than 10 tons per year of any single air toxic and less than 25 tons per year of any combination of air toxics. Most boilers covered by the Area Source Rule are located at commercial and institutional facilities, with a smaller number in the industrial sector.Commercial boilers include those found in stores/malls, laundries, apartments, restaurants, and hotels/motels. Institutional boilers are found in many locations, including medical centers (hospitals, clinics, nursing homes), educational and religious facilities (schools, churches), amusement parks, and municipal buildings (courthouses, prisons).
Boiler is an enclosed device using controlled flame combustion in which water is heated to recover thermal energy in the form of steam or hot water. Controlled flame combustion refers to a steady-state, or near steady-state, process wherein fuel and/or oxidizer feed rates are controlled.
Energy Assessment is required for all existing boilers with a design heat capacity of 10 MMBTU/hr or greater and must be performed by a qualified energy assessor, such as Armstrong International or Swagelok Energy Advisors. The energy assessment includes the following: a visual inspection of the boiler system; an evaluation of operating characteristics of the facility; an inventory of major systems consuming energy away from affected boiler(s); a review of available architectural and engineering plans, facility operation, and maintenance; a list of major energy conservation measures; a list of the energy savings potential of the energy conservation measures identified; and a comprehensive report detailing the ways to improve efficiency. An energy assessment conducted after January 1, 2008, that meets guidelines can be used for compliance purposes. For more information, read "Navigating an Energy Audit" or contact the U.S. Department of Energy.
Notification of Applicability is a form required by the EPA to denote if a facility is an Area Source or a Major Source.The form was due September 17, 2011, if startup was before May 20, 2011. If startup was on or after May 20, 2011, the notification was due September 17, 2011, or within 120 days after startup. If you missed the notification deadline, send in the form as soon as possible.
Gas-fired boiler is one that burn fuels, including: natural gas, process gas, landfill gas, coal-derived gas, refinery gas, hydrogen, or biogas, not combined with any solid fuels. If a unit burns liquid fuel (e.g., oil) only during periods of gas curtailment, gas supply emergencies, or periodic testing, it is considered a gas-fired boiler. Periodic burning of a liquid fuel shall not exceed a combined total of 48 hours during any calendar year in order to maintain status as a gas-fired boiler. A boiler must be individually metered for fuel quantity and run time if it uses a backup fuel that does not qualify as gas based on the above list.
Notification of Compliance is a form to be submitted to the EPA indicating that a unit is adhering to the required standards for tune-ups, emission limits, and energy audits, as required.
Major Source facility emits 10 or more tons per year of any single air toxic or 25 tons or more per year of any combination of air toxics. The majority of Major Source boilers and process heaters are located at industrial facilities, such as: refineries, chemical and manufacturing plants, and paper mills. They may also stand alone to provide heat for commercial facilities such as warehouses, or institutional facilities such as universities.
Process heater is an enclosed device using controlled flame, and the unit’s primary purpose is to transfer the heat indirectly to a process material (liquid, gas, or solid) or to a heat transfer material for use in a process unit, instead of generating steam.Process heaters are devices in which the combustion gases do not come into direct contact with process materials. Process heaters do not include units used for comfort heat or space heat, food preparation for on-site consumption, or autoclaves.
Record keeping is required under the EPA rules. Although the type of records may vary according to the fuel type, size, and age of a boiler, most facilities will be required to maintain the following: boiler tune-up logs, records of fuel types used by boiler each month, record of fuel analysis, corrective actions associated with boiler/control equipment, performance tests, and fuel switching records.