{"id":10731,"date":"2023-11-29T12:00:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T11:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.gsa-messgeraete.de\/air-pollutants-in-small-combustion-plants\/"},"modified":"2025-04-25T12:21:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T10:21:19","slug":"air-pollutants-in-small-combustion-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.gsa-messgeraete.de\/en\/air-pollutants-in-small-combustion-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"Air pollutants in small combustion plants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Small combustion plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Small combustion plants <\/strong>are usually operated with fossil fuels such as natural gas<\/em>, heating oil<\/em>, coal <\/em>or wood<\/em>. They are designed for private use and small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the 1st BImSchV<\/strong> (Ordinance on Small and Medium-Sized Combustion Plants<\/em>), all plants with a rated thermal input of less than 1000 kW are considered small combustion plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Nowadays, these mostly include oil heating systems, gas boilers and condensing boilers. Pellet heating systems<\/em> and wood chip heating systems<\/em> that run on wood<\/em> are also gaining in popularity. However, burning wood can lead to harmful air pollution<\/em> with dioxins<\/em> and particulate matter<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


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Dioxins – harmful to the environment and carcinogenic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dioxins<\/strong> are two groups of chemically similar, chlorinated organic compounds that belong to the oxygenated derivatives of halogenated hydrocarbons. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD\/PCDF)<\/em> are each assigned to one of these groups. Even in small quantities, dioxins<\/em>and furans<\/em> can cause cancer<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dioxins<\/strong><\/a> can be produced asharmful by-products<\/em> in processes such as waste incineration<\/em>, in the metal industry<\/em> or through private use of fireplaces<\/em> and can be released into the air. Natural processes such as forest fires<\/em> and volcanic eruptions<\/em> can also produce dioxins. The majority of these harmful substances come from human processes, in particular from illegal<\/em> waste incineration<\/em> in the garden or fireplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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Small combustion plants – air pollution from fine dust<\/h2>\n\n\n\n


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Nitrogen oxide emissions from small combustion plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, emissions of nitrogen oxides<\/em> from small combustion plants accounted for around 75 thousand tons, or around 8% of total emissions in Germany (National Emissions Inventory for Air Pollutants, Submission 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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Carbon dioxide emissions from small combustion plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At 114.0 million tons, carbon dioxide emissions<\/em> from fossil fuels (heating oil, natural gas, coal) from small combustion plants were slightly lower in 2021 than in the previous year (National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, submission 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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Operation of small combustion plants in accordance with 1 BImSchV<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 1st BImSchV (Ordinance on Small and Medium-Sized Combustion Plants)<\/strong> regulates the operation of combustion plants that are not subject to approval in accordance with \u00a7 4 BImSchG. This ordinance applies in particular to small combustion plants in the domestic sector<\/em> and for small businesses<\/em>. The aim is to further reduce emissions from small combustion plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In particular, the 1st BImSchV contains requirements for:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to data from the “National Emissions Inventory for Air Pollutants, Submission 2023<\/em>“, particulate matter emissions from all small combustion plants<\/em> such as oil, gas, coal and wood amount to around 21.3 thousand tons. Wood firing systems<\/em> such as wood boilers<\/em> and single-room firing systems<\/em> are particularly significant here,<\/em> emitting around 19.4 thousand tons. The total emissions of particulate matter from small combustion plants exceed those from road traffic. Wood combustion<\/em>, in particular, accounts for 97 percent of harmful particulate matter. Particularly dangerous are the respirable particles in fine dust, which can cause respiratory and lung problems and even cancer. The E-dust fraction<\/a><\/strong> comprises particles with such a small diameter that they can enter the respiratory tract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n