EPA Method 9 Visible Emission Reader Certification
We offer the state required online certification for first time students, as well as field certification.
What is Smoke School?
Mines, powerhouses, asphalt plants, rock crushers, incinerators, "dirt burners", and many other structures produce varying levels of emissions. These "stationary sources" are required by their operating permits to have certified opacity readers. These readers evaluate the emissions. The opacity limits vary depending on operating permit and federal and state regulations.
Every six months Safety First Nevada Smoke School provides a certification course. A certified opacity reader can accurately evaluate the emissions and "read" the percentage of light blocked by the visible emissions.
New opacity readers are required to complete the online classroom and sucessfully pass the associated quiz before attending a field exam. The field exam employs a smoke generator that produces both black and white smoke. Once participants pass the field component they receive a certificate that is valid for six months. This certificate is valid for a strict six months.
Online Classroom
First time participants are required to register for and take a classroom presentation explaining opacity. Safety First Nevada Smoke School is proud to offer this training online. The one time fee for the course is $45.
You are able to sign up for the online course below. Once you are registered, you will receive a link to the video and quiz from registration@nevadasmokeschool.com.
It is recommended that participants occasionally review this information once they take the course. If a participant cannot provide proof of prior certification they will need to take the online classroom portion.
Quiz scores will be recorded online and certificates will be sent to participants along with the field certification after the field course pending payment.
Field Certification information
Arrive Prepared
- Bring a clipboard and pencil. We often have extras, but we can run out depending on the class size. We also recommend you bring a folding chair to sit on.
- Arrive early to find a viewing spot in time for the test runs.
- Dress for the weather - you will be stationary for over an hour, maybe several. Dress to stay comfortable.
- The field exam may be delayed, postponed, or rescheduled if winds are over 25 mph, though usually we can find a spot out of the wind behind a building.
- Three-part carbonless forms will be provided. Write neatly and do not erase. You may cross out and re-write. The field exam form includes a diagram where you must include wind direction, sun position, distance to the smoke stack and north arrow in order to pass. A correctly filled out form demonstrates observer understanding of basic Method 9 requirements. Incomplete forms will result in failure.
- Test runs for opacity observers to initially calibrate their eye to opacity levels will be conducted prior to the field exam.
- A field exam consists of 25 black and 25 white readings.
- To pass, an observer must correctly indicate each of the 25 readings within 15 percent for each smoke color, with a total deviation for each color of less than 190 and an average deviation of all 50 readings of less than 7.5 percent.
- Observers must pass consecutive black and white runs to be certified.
- An observer can repeat a field exam either onsite the day of the exam (by notifying the instructor of a failed test). Field exams will end when all readers leave the site.