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Guidance Document - Off-Road Small Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations under CEPA, 1999

6. Emission Standards

The Regulations prescribe that the engine conform to applicable standards comprising provisions for:

  1. emission control system and defeat device (section 9 of the Regulations);
  2. exhaust emissions (section 10 of the Regulations);
  3. crankcase emissions (section 11 of the Regulations); and
  4. adjustable parameters (section 12 of the Regulations).

These standards are aligned with U.S. EPA rules for small spark-ignition engines as published in the CFR.

Under section 14 of the Regulations, an engine covered by an EPA certificate of conformity and sold concurrently in Canada and the U.S. is deemed to conform to the Canadian emission standards.

6.1  What is an emission control system?

Subsection 1(1) of the Regulations defines an emission control system as "any device, system or element of design that controls or reduces the exhaust emissions from an engine".

6.2  Are there restrictions on an emission control system installed on a prescribed engine?

Yes. Subsection 9(1) of the Regulations prescribes that an emission control system shall not release a substance that causes air pollution and that would not have been released if the system were not installed. In addition, the emission control system shall not make the engine or the machine in which the engine is installed unsafe or endanger persons or property near the engine or machine.

6.3  What is a defeat device?

A defeat device means any device, system, or element of design which senses operation outside emission certification test conditions and reduces emission control effectiveness. The Regulations incorporate by reference the CFR definition of defeat device.

Under subsection 9(2) of the Regulations, no engine can be equipped with a defeat device.

6.4  What are the exhaust emission standards?

The exhaust emission standards are aligned with those of the U.S. EPA and the Regulations incorporate by reference sections 90.103, 90.104 and 90.105 of the CFR.

The exhaust emission standards are divided into seven classes based on engine displacement and usage in either handheld or non-handheld applications. The Regulations establish a maximum level of carbon monoxide (CO) and combined hydrocarbon and oxides of nitrogen (HC+NOx) emissions for each engine class. The standards are defined as mass of pollutant per unit of engine work expressed in grams per kilowatt-hours (i.e., brake-specific emissions).

Table 2 provides a summary of the exhaust emission standards. Some engine classes include a combined non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) and NOx standard that applies when the engine is fuelled by natural gas.

Table 2  Engine classes and exhaust emission standards
Engine classEngine TypeEngine Displ. (cm3)Effective date (model year)standard HC+NOx (g/kW-hr)standard NMHC+NOxc (g/kW-hr)standard CO (g/kW-hr)
I-Anon-handheld<662005 and later50a--610a
I-Bnon-handheld<100 and >662005 and later40a37a610a
Inon-handheld<225 and >1002005 and later (1)
2005 and later (2)
2007 and later (3)
16.1b

16.1a

16.1a
--

14.8a

14.8a
519b

610a

610a
IInon-handheld>2252005 and later12.1a11.3a610a
IIIhandheld<202005 and later50a--805a
IVhandheld<50 and >202005 and later50a--805a
Vhandheld>502005
2006
2007 and later
119a
96a
72a
--
--
--
603a
603a
603a

a Standards apply throughout the engine useful life
b Standards apply only when the engine is new
c Some engine classes include a combined non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) and NOx standard that applies when the engine is fuelled by natural gas.

(1) For models already in production at coming into force of the proposed Regulations
(2) For models initially produced after coming into force of the proposed Regulations
(3) For all models

6.5  What are the procedures to measure the exhaust emissions?

The exhaust standards include the test procedures, fuels and calculations method set out in the CFR for those standards.

During aemission certification test, exhaust gases are sampled while the test engine is operated using a specified test cycle on a dynamometer. The exhaust gases receive specific component analysis determining concentration of pollutant. Emission concentrations are converted to weighted emission rates reported in grams per brake-kilowatt hour (g/kW-hr).

6.6  What are the alternative standards for niche Canadian products?

When less than 2,000 units of an handheld engine of a given model and model year are sold in Canada, the engine may conform to alternative standards described in section 10 of the Regulations instead of the exhaust emission standards set out in table 4 of section 90.103 of the CFR. These alternative standards are consistent with those available under the provisions for small volume engine families in the CFR.

For a class III or IV engine of the model year 2007 or earlier, the exhaust emission standards are set out in Table 1 of section 90.103 of the CFR applicable to an engine of the same class. For a class III or IV engine of the model year 2008 or later, the HC+NOx exhaust emission standards are set out in paragraph 90.203(f) of the CFR for the applicable class of engine and the CO emissions must not be greater than 805 g/kW-hr.

For a class V engine of the model year 2009 or earlier, the exhaust emission standards are set out in Table 1 of section 90.103 of the CFR applicable to an engine of the same class. For a class V engine of the model year 2010 or later, the HC+NOx exhaust emission standards are set out in paragraph 90.203(f) of the CFR and the CO emissions must not be greater than 603 g/kW-hr.

6.7  Why are there alternative standards for niche Canadian products?

The alternative standards described in section 6.6 of this document are provided to accommodate Canada-only niche products used by the forestry industry. The Department has concluded that allowing these products to meet alternative, less-stringent exhaust emission standards was the best option to keep these products available in Canada, considering their importance to the forestry sector and their small contribution to national air pollution.

6.8  What are the alternative exhaust standards for wintertime engines?

The exhaust emission standards include less stringent HC+NOx levels for engines in machines used exclusively in wintertime such as ice augers and snowblowers. These engines are subject to the applicable CO standard. These alternative standards are aligned with those found in paragraphs 90.103(a)(4) and (5) of the CFR .

Snowblower engines can also meet alternative crankcase emission standards (please refer to section 6.12 of this document).

6.9  For how long must an engine conform to the exhaust emission standards?

An engine must conform to the exhaust emission standards throughout its "useful life". The useful life period is incorporated by reference from the CFR. Section 90.105 of the CFR states that a manufacturer can select one of three specified periods (Table 3).

The selection of the useful life duration must be supported by technical documentation. Longer useful lives, which entail a higher manufacturing cost are typically found in commercial equipment while home consumer products are often designed for shorter useful lives

Table 3 Useful life
engine classUseful life category (hours)
CBA
I-A50125300
I-B125250500
I125250500
II2505001000
III50125300
IV50125300
V50125300

6.10  What are the standards for a class I engine in 2005 and 2006?

As shown in Table 2, there are two exhaust emission standards for a class I engine of model years 2005 and 2006. The applicable exhaust emission standards is conditional on whether or not the engine is already in production on January 1, 2005. A class I engine already in production on the coming into force date does not have to meet the useful life requirements and there is no combined NMHC+NOx standard for that engine.

After model year 2007, all class I engines must meet the same exhaust emission standard throughout their useful lives.

These standards are aligned with those in the CFR.

6.11  When can an engine be classified as "handheld"?

The Regulations incorporate by reference the definition of handheld engines provided in paragraph 90.103(a)(1) of the CFR. An engine is subject to the handheld exhaust emission standards only if it meets at least one of the following requirements:

  1. the engine must be used in a machine that is carried by the operator throughout the performance of its intended function(s);
  2. the engine must be used in a machine that must operate multi-positionally, such as upside down or sideways to complete its intended function(s);
  3. the engine must be used in a machine for which the dry weight is under 14 kilograms, no more than two wheels are present on the machine, and at least one of the following attributes is also present:
    • the operator must alternatively provide support or carry the machine throughout the performance of its intended function(s);
    • the operator must provide support or attitudinal control throughout the performance of its intended function(s); and
    • the engine must be used in a generator or a pump; or
  4. the engine must be used to power a one-person auger with a dry weight under 20 kilogram.

The weight limit defined in (3) or (4) may be exceeded if the machine exceeds the weight limit by no more than the extent necessary to allow for incremental weight of a four-stroke engine or the incremental weight of two-stroke engine having enhanced emission control.

6.12  What are the requirements for crankcase emissions?

Under subsection 11(1) of the Regulations, the crankcase of an engine must be closed.

Subsection 11(2) of the Regulations allows for an open crankcase for an engine designed to power a snowblower if the combination of exhaust and crankcase emissions meet the applicable standard.

6.13  What is an adjustable parameter?

Subsection 12(1) of the Regulations defines an adjustable parameter as "a device, system or element of design that is physically capable of being adjusted to affect emissions or engine performance during emission testing or in-use operation, but does not include devices, systems or elements of design that are permanently sealed by the engine manufacturer or that are inaccessible with the use of ordinary tools".

Engines with adjustable parameters must comply with the applicable standards regardless of the adjustment of these parameters. For example, if there is an adjustable screw on an engine carburetor, this engine must meet the exhaust emission standards regardless of the adjustment (fully, partly, or not tightened) of the screw.

6.14  Is it required for an engine covered by an EPA certificate of conformity and sold concurrently in Canada and the U.S. to meet the Canadian emission standards?

Under subsection 14(2) of the Regulations, an engine covered by an EPA certificate of conformity and sold concurrently in Canada and the U.S. is deemed to conform to the emission standards (i.e., sections 9 to 12 of the Regulations) if this engine meets all requirements set out in the EPA certificate of conformity. All other requirements of the Regulations (such as evidence of conformity, importation documents, notice of defect, etc.) must be met.

It is possible for the EPA to issue a certificate of conformity for an engine with emissions levels above the applicable standard. The EPA emission program incorporates an optional averaging, banking and trading program that allows manufacturers to certify engines to a level less stringent than the prescribed standard as long as the increased emissions are offset, on a sales weighted basis, by engines certified better than the standard. Engines certified under the averaging provisions cannot exceed a prescribed maximum emission level.

6.15  Is it necessary to have exactly the same engine sold concurrently in Canada and in the U.S.?

No. Under subsection 14(1) of the Regulations, an engine sold in Canada that shares all the features (used by the EPA to classify engines into engine families) with an engine in an engine family covered by an EPA certificate and sold in the U.S. in the same model year may conform to the emission standards referred to in the relevant EPA certificate, instead of standards set out in the Regulations. The engine sold in Canada must not have any features that could cause it to have a higher level of emissions than the engine family sold in the U.S.

 
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