WHEREAS the cost of heating homes continues to rise and with many homeowners looking for economic alternative heating sources, an option that is gaining popularity is the outdoor solid fuel burning boiler which is currently unregulated by the Province; AND WHEREAS in comparison to indoor stoves and fireplaces, these units generate excessive smoke with particulates that are extremely detrimental to the health of any adjacent property owners: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities appeal to the provincial government to immediately establish standards regulating outdoor solid fuel burning boilers similar to those standards that are in place for indoor woodstoves.
Ministry of Environment British Columbia is a national leader in controlling emissions associated with residential wood heating. In 1994, British Columbia became the first Canadian jurisdiction to require that new woodstoves and fireplace inserts meet stringent emission standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Act by enacting the Solid Wood Burning Domestic Appliance Regulation. The current US and British Columbia regulatory requirements were put in place prior to outdoor boilers coming on the market. Therefore, there are no emission regulations that pertain to outdoor boilers. The Province is working with the federal government to develop a national regulation that will cover all types of wood burning appliances, including outdoors boilers. Meanwhile, local bylaws that restrict the use of outdoor boilers within populated areas of the Province are likely the most effective option for dealing with these units. The Greater Vancouver Regional District, the Regional District of Central Okanagan, the City of Quesnel and the District of Sparwood are a few local governments that have bylaws in place, essentially banning outdoor boilers within populated areas. These bylaws are fine examples of shared stewardship in efforts to reduce emissions and improve the health of British Columbians by providing clean and safe water, land and air.