The San Joaquin Valley Air District will hold a free training workshop on Tuesday, July 28 for enterprising individuals interested in being placed on the District’s list of Registered Wood Burning Heater Professionals (RWBHP).
In accordance with recent amendments to Rule 4901, Wood Burning Fireplaces and Wood Burning Heaters, also known as “Check Before You Burn,” Valley residents planning to use clean-burning wood and pellet-fueled devices this winter need to register their devices with the Air District. Verification by a RWBHP with appropriate credentials will be necessary to complete the registration process.
Residents who own EPA Phase II certified wood burning and pellet-fueled stoves and inserts will contact RWBHPs from a list posted on the Valley Air District’s website. The RWBHPs will inspect and verify that the device is certified and in good working condition. Once approved, registration of these devices allows the resident to burn during the period from Nov. 1 through the end of February, when the daily wood burning status for their county is “No Burning Unless Registered.”
During the training workshop, District staff will explain the process for becoming a RWBHP; outlining the requirements, experience and certifications that may be necessary and the specific duties to be performed when inspecting and verifying residential wood burning devices for Valley residents.
“The Air District is helping boost the local economy by creating a pool of professionals that will provide a necessary service for Valley residents who are helping improve our air by investing in clean-burning devices,” said Seyed Sadredin, air pollution control officer. “We want to make sure that an adequate number of registered heater professionals are available to the community so that residents will be able to use their devices when they need to.”
This training workshop is open to all interested individuals with one of the following professional certifications:
Fireplace Investigation Research and Education (F.I.R.E.) Certified Inspector, or
Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certification, or
National Fireplace Institute (NFI) certification.
Alternatively, the training is appropriate for individuals who have three years of experience in the hearth industry installing, repairing or servicing these types of devices, including but not limited to:
Hearth retailers;
Chimney sweeps;
Wood and pellet stove installers;
Licensed construction contractors with documented experience in the hearth industry.
The training workshop will be video teleconferenced between all three regional offices of the Valley Air District in Modesto, Fresno and Bakersfield, Tuesday, July 28 at 5:30 p.m.
For more information, visit www.valleyair.org/rule4901 or call a District office in Fresno (559-230-6000), Modesto (209-557-6400) or Bakersfield (661-392-5500).
The District has also partnered with the National Fireplace Institute to conduct a training Aug. 13-14 in each District office. Completion of the course will provide the necessary credentials to become a RWBHP.
