Source Emissions testing, or stack testing, is mandated by the Clean Air Act of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which sets forth guidelines and requirements that must be met to determine a facility's compliance with emission limits. Any and all plants, factories, and facilities that utilize a stack as part of manufacturing or production operations are required to undergo stack testing in order to demonstrate compliance with current EPA standards. There is more to stack testing than simple compliance, however. A properly-executed testing plan gives you the diagnostic tools to help optimize your operations and improve energy efficiency -- quality incentives for voluntary stack testing that is not simply driven by EPA requirements. With careful preparation for stack-testing compliance and the proper execution of the test plan, a company can save money, protect workers, and effectively streamline their operations.

As a company prepares their facility for an upcoming stack test, reviewing the state-approved test plan is the best way to ensure that you understand all of the testing requirements. Doing so is your greatest insurance that the stack testing results will show proper compliance with all relevant EPA air emission standards. However, in many cases technical or legal jargon may make a portion or the entirety of the test plan difficult to understand, and it may not contain all of the required information necessary to conduct a successful test. To assist you with this, we have put together the following Stack Testing Preparation Checklist to help you make sure that your company is properly prepared for your upcoming testing. All items on this checklist should be reviewed with your qualified stack-testing team.

1. What Load you will test at - This information is typically in your air permit

2. What Fuel you will burn - Different fuel types can have vastly different emission limits.

3. OSHA compliant platforms - How will the stack test team reach the sampling plane?

4. Power Requirements - Do you have enough circuits?

5. Safety/Insurance Concerns- What are your facility requirements? Does your stack test company meet these requirements?

6. Are your test ports free from blockage and EPA Method 1 Compliant?

7. What process data are you required to document, and how will that data be logged?

This checklist is compiled by an experienced stack testing company familiar with the pitfalls a company can experience when faced with an upcoming test. Advance preparation, with these guidelines in mind, will provide your company the ability to address any issues or questions prior to the stack testing date, saving the time, hassle, and money that late revisions and changes inevitably cause. These guidelines are also helpful in maintaining high levels of safety and compliance regardless of a scheduled stack test, benefitting overall operations and their environmental impact.

Choosing a stack testing company that has the appropriate background and experience for your industry will help ensure that your stack test will be successful. The stack testing company should have the capability to execute the testing types and methodologies that govern your specific operations, and they should be using equipment that is well-maintained and up-to-date. Just as importantly, they should be current and informed on the changes and revisions to existing testing methodologies, since the EPA air emission limits and standards are subject to change as the Agency sees fit.

Stack testing is required and performed for the health and safety of the plant, the workers, and the environment. It is also a diagnostic tool that provides insight into the efficiency of your operations. But whether you test for compliance or diagnostic purposes, careful preparation is the key to ensuring that your stack testing project gives you data that you can use effectively.