Chapter 12.52
WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES
Sections:
12.52.020 Residential installations.
12.52.030 Commercial installations.
12.52.050 Additions, alterations or repairs.
12.52.060 Unauthorized appliances prohibited.
12.52.010 Definitions.
The definitions set forth in this part shall govern the application and interpretation of this chapter.
(1) “Bay Area Air Quality Management District” means the air quality agency for the San Francisco Bay Area established pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 40200.
(2) “EPA” means United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(3) “EPA certified wood heater” means any wood heater that meets the standards in Title 40, Part 60, Subpart AAA, Code of Federal Regulations in effect at the time of installation and is certified and labeled pursuant to those regulations.
(4) “Fireplace” means any permanently installed masonry or factory-built wood burning appliance, except a pellet-fueled wood heater, designed to be used with an air-to-fuel ratio greater than or equal to thirty-five (35) to one (1).
(5) “Gas fireplace” means any device designed to burn natural gas in a manner that simulates the appearance of a wood burning fireplace.
(6) “Paints” means all exterior and interior house and trim paints, enamels, varnishes, lacquers, stains, primers, sealers, undercoatings, roof coatings, wood preservatives, shellacs, and other paints or paint-like products.
(7) “Paint solvents” means all original solvents sold or used to thin paints or to clean up painting equipment.
(8) “Pellet-fueled wood heater” means any wood burning appliance that operates exclusively on wood pellets.
(9) “Solid fuel” means wood or any other non-gaseous or non-liquid fuel.
(10) “Treated wood” means wood of any species that has been chemically impregnated, painted or similarly modified to improve resistance to insects or weathering.
(11) “Waste petroleum products” means any petroleum product other than gaseous fuels that has been refined from crude oil, and has been used, and as a result of use, has been contaminated with physical or chemical impurities.
(12) “Wood burning appliance” means fireplace, wood heater, or pellet-fired wood heater or any similar device burning any solid fuel used for aesthetic or space-heating purposes. (Ord. 966 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 911 § 2 (part), 2002. Formerly 12.48.010).
12.52.020 Residential installations.
All wood burning appliances installed in new residential units or wood burning appliances being added to or replacing wood burning appliances in existing residential units shall comply with this chapter. (Ord. 966 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 911 § 2 (part), 2002. Formerly 12.48.020).
12.52.030 Commercial installations.
All wood burning appliances installed in new commercial buildings or wood burning appliances being added to or replacing wood burning appliance in existing commercial buildings shall comply with this chapter. Commercial buildings shall include, but not be limited to, hotels and restaurants. (Ord. 966 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 911 § 2 (part), 2002. Formerly 12.48.030).
12.52.040 Gas fireplaces.
Gas fireplaces shall be exempt from this chapter. However, the conversion of a gas fireplace to burn wood shall constitute the installation of a wood burning appliance and shall be subject to the requirements of the chapter. (Ord. 966 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 911 § 2 (part), 2002. Formerly 12.48.040).
12.52.050 Additions, alterations or repairs.
A wood burning appliance shall comply with this chapter, if:
(a) The appliance is reconstructed.
(b) There are any additions, alterations, or repairs to the appliance, excepting minor repairs, such as damper repairs, firebox repairs, seismic bracing and/or flue liner replacement, which repairs shall be exempt.
(c) There is any remodel or renovation work that requires opening up walls within twelve inches of the appliance, excepting minor repairs, which shall be exempt.
(d) The building official shall have the final authority to determine whether a repair constitutes a “minor repair” for purposes of this Section 12.52.050. (Ord. 966 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 911 § 2 (part), 2002. Formerly 12.48.050).
12.52.060 Unauthorized appliances prohibited.
No person shall install a wood burning appliance that is not one of the following:
(a) A pellet-fueled wood heater, or
(b) An EPA certified wood heater, or
(c) A fireplace or emission reduction device certified by the EPA, or a fireplace or emission reduction device certified by an EPA-accredited laboratory as being compliant with the Northern Sonoma County air pollution control district standards for fireplaces, using that district’s testing protocol for fireplaces. (Ord. 966 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 911 § 2 (part), 2002. Formerly 12.48.060).
12.52.070 Prohibited fuels.
The following fuels are prohibited from use in a wood burning appliance:
(a) All treated wood, plastic products, rubber products, glossy or colored papers and particle board;
(b) Any solid, semi-solid and liquid wastes generated from residential, commercial and industrial sources, including trash, refuse, rubbish, industrial wastes, asphaltic products, manure, vegetable or animal solids and semi-solid wastes, or other discarded solid and semi-solid wastes;
(c) Waste petroleum products;
(d) Paints or paint solvents;
(e) Coal;
(f) Salt water driftwood. (Ord. 966 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 911 § 2 (part), 2002. Formerly 12.48.070).
12.52.080 Certification.
Any person who plans to install a wood burning appliance must submit documentation to the building official demonstrating that the appliance is a pellet-fueled wood heater, or an EPA certified wood heater. (Ord. 966 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 911 § 2 (part), 2002. Formerly 12.48.080).