Agenda for 2 Day Smoke School EPA Method 9 Certification by Whitlow Enterprises Smoke School Nation
Our Preparations: We are prepared just like the Boy Scouts. We do our homework just to be sure that everything is ready and waiting for you when you get there. Our smoke machine will be calibrated and well maintained to avoid any significant delays. You will have a roof over your head in case it starts raining. You will have a contrasting background so you can read opacity on cloudy days. We will have fresh made coffee, fresh doughnuts, ice cold water and soft drinks. We will cook you up a mouth watering lunch.
Day 1 of Smoke School Aganda
8 AM: Roll call and instructional briefing on the fundamentals of reading opacity and how to pass the EPA Method 9 certification test. We will set up the optimal conditions for taking the certification test. We will double check to make sure you maintain the correct observer position with contrasting background, sun position, and parallel wind direction. We make sure that you are at least 3 stack-heights back so you will have the correct vertical angle of 18 degrees or less. Remember that you always read the background, not the smoke. 25% opacity means that 25% of the background is obscured by the smoke. Read the background using an observation point that is the densest part of the plume. This would be the first 2 feet at the end of our smokestack where the plume is still approximately 12 inches in diameter. We have a positive attitude and it is contagious. We bring prizes to add an element of competition to see who makes the best score. This is your game and you are a winner.
8:30 AM: Viewing and memorizing the smoke school standards of 25%, 50%, and 75%. These are your eyeball calibration points for the next 6 months. You will learn how to base every opacity reading on these calibration points. You will take a practice test and we will observe you to make sure you have learned the fundamentals.
9 AM: EPA Method 9 certification testing of 25 black plums and 25 white plums presented in random order from zero to 100. We start the test bright and early to take advantage of the optimal conditions with the sun to your back and low in the sky. We setup a background if it is too cloudy to read smoke. We also noticed what you are sharper earlier in the day. We want you to pass on the first test run so we can go fishing.
11:30 AM: You will grade your yellow copy of the test sheet and we will grade your white copy. We will inform you when you pass and are certified EPA Method 9 Evaluators. Do not leave until we inform you that you passed. Stay for the test retake, it will go quicker. We will also award prizes for the best score and random drawing of tickets.
11:45: We will make random smoke plumes and teach you how to fill out EPA Method 9 forms.
12 High Noon: We will serve you something very special for lunch.
12:30 PM: We will start the afternoon session if needed and repeat the agenda above. When you register you must notify us if you plan to report the the afternoon session. Otherwise we pack up and start for our next location.
12:30: Two hour full classroom recommended for all first timers and every 3rd year thereafter.
Day 2 Smoke School Agenda: Exact duplicate of Day 1 Agenda.
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