How to Obtain EPA Method 9 Certification
A description of the two methods used to obtain EPA Method 9 certification; in-person smoke school and virtual smoke school.
The Smoke School Process
Smoke school is the process of training and certification to perform EPA Method 9 observations. An individual who is certified to perform EPA Method 9 observations can determine the opacity of visible emissions (such as smoke) to ensure a facility is in compliance with their opacity limit.
Smoke school consists of a lecture and a visual test. The lecture covers proper observation techniques and documentation procedures. The visual test consists of viewing 25 black and 25 white smoke plumes of known opacity. Individuals assess the opacity of the smoke plumes in 5% increments and their answers are compared to the actual opacity. An individual is certified when they successfully pass the visual test. EPA Method 9 certification is valid for 6 months.
In-Person Smoke School
In-person smoke school is one method of obtaining EPA Method 9 certification. In-person smoke schools use a smoke generator to train and certify individuals at locations such as parks or other public venues. In-person events are usually operated in all weather conditions and are typically seasonal to accommodate a 6-month duration for EPA Method 9 certification. Test runs, consisting of white and black smoke, take up to 2 hours each due to crowd management, generator operation and manual grading. If multiple test runs are needed, a student may spend the entire day (or multiple days) at an in-person smoke school. If a student doesn’t pass one of the test runs, they may need to travel to another in-person event at a later date.
Virtual Reality (VR) Smoke School
Virtual smoke school is the other method of obtaining EPA Method 9 certification. Instead of viewing smoke plumes in-person, plumes are recorded and displayed to a student using equipment and guidelines established in EPA ALT-152. The visual test criteria and grading are the same as in-person smoke school. VR Smoke School allows you to obtain EPA Method 9 certification at anytime from the comfort of your home or office. Test runs can be completed in less than 30 minutes and grading is instant. Students can take the visual test as often as they like and only pay when they have successfully passed and choose to purchase their certification.
Create your free account for full access to the VR Smoke School Program and earn your EPA Method 9 certification today.