How to Determine White Smoke Opacity At Smoke School
Check out this video that shows you how to determine the opacity of white smoke on a smoke school test. It includes a helpful tip on setting a range when assessing the opacity of white visible emissions.
Accurately determining the opacity of white smoke is half the battle when attempting to pass a smoke school visual test to earn EPA Method 9 certification.
White smoke can be challenging because differences in lighting, background conditions and plume density can affect how opaque the smoke appears. Learning to recognize standard opacity values and narrowing your observation to a reasonable range can make your readings more consistent and accurate.
Watch: How to Determine the Opacity of White Smoke on a Smoke School Test
This video walks through a practical approach to assessing white smoke opacity during a smoke school test.
Watch “How to Determine the Opacity of White Smoke on a Smoke School Test” on YouTube
The video covers:
- What opacity is and how it applies to visible emissions.
- Where to make your observation, including identifying the point of highest opacity in the plume.
- How to record opacity in 5% increments, as required during a smoke school test.
- How standard white smoke opacity values appear at different percentages.
- How to establish an opacity range before selecting your final reading.
One of the most useful techniques is learning to set a reasonable range for the white smoke plume opacity instead of immediately trying to identify an exact percentage. By first deciding what the opacity is clearly higher than and clearly lower than, you can gradually narrow the range and select the most appropriate 5% value.
The Same Techniques Apply to Virtual and In-Person Smoke School
The techniques demonstrated in the video can be used whether you attend an in-person smoke school or complete your certification through a virtual smoke school like ours. The fundamental skill is the same: learning to accurately determine the opacity of a visible emission.
Virtual training can also be an effective way to develop that skill. In an EPA Study, observers trained and certified using our VR Smoke School program demonstrated greater opacity observation accuracy than observers trained through traditional in-person smoke school.
If you are preparing for EPA Method 9 certification, learn more about our online EPA Method 9 certification process and register for a free account. After registering, you can practice assessing white smoke plumes through our online program at no cost. No credit card or purchase necessary.