1. 3D-01-P101-EP

2. Where to get more information
Spark Arrester qualification & testing:
 USDA Forest Service
Technology & Development Center
Lesson East Bonita Avenue
444 Objectives
San Dimas, CA 91773
Name three types of spark arresters
Attn: Ralph Gonzales
State the maximum size of carbon
particle that can safely enter the air
(909) 599-1267 x 212
Name(909) 592-2309 where spark arrester
Fax: the facility
programs and the Spark Arrester Guide
are managed
Website: http://fsweb.sdtdc.wo.fs.fed.us
3D-02-P101-EP

3. Introduction
The inspection of spark
arresters is a complicated
process.
3D-03-P101-EP

4. Spark Arrester Qualification
Program
3D-04-P101-EP

5. Cone of Learning
10 % of what we read Reading
20 % of what we hear Hearing Words
30% of what we see Looking at Pictures
Watching a Movie
50 % of what we
hear and see Looking at an Exhibit
Watching a Demonstration
Seeing it done on Location
70% of what Participating in a
we say Discussion
Giving a Talk
Doing a Dramatic
Presentation
90% of what we
both say Simulating the Real Experience
and do
Doing the Real Thing
3D-05-P101-EP

6. How It All Began
3D-06-P101-EP

7. The Basics
 Wildland fuels may ignite at 400 oF to 500 oF
3D-07-P101-EP

8. The Basics
Exhaust streams and
surfaces reach 1000
o
F during operation
3D-08-P101-EP

9. The Basics – Ways to Prevent Fire
Starts From Internal Combustion
Engines
 Reduce exhaust gas temperature
 Reduce surface temperature or
prevent from contact with fuels
 Limit carbon particle size to
under 0.023 inches (0.058 mm)
3D-09-P101-EP

10. The Basics
Carbon particles greater than 0.023 inch in
diameter have enough energy to start a fire
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11. Carbon Accumulation
back
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12. The Basics
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13. What Is A Spark Arrester?
A spark arrester is a device which
pulverizes or traps exhaust
particles.
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14. Types of Spark Arresters
3D-14-P101-EP

15. General Purpose – Trap Type
trap
Stationary
vane
cleanout
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16. General Purpose – Trap Type
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17. Screen Type Spark Arrester
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18. Disc Type Spark Arrester
3D-18-P101-EP

19. Required Features on General Purpose
Spark Arresters
Markings
 Manufacturer name or trademark
 Spark arrester model number
 “Screen type” for screen type spark arresters
Cleanout device
 Cleanout plug
 Removable end cap
 Cleanout band
3D-19-P101-EP

20. What Kinds Of
Equipment
Need A Spark
Arrester?
3D-20-P101-EP

21. Federal Code for Public Lands
 36 Code of Federal Regulations
 Section 261.52
All internal and external combustion
engines operated in Federally managed
lands must be equipped with a qualified
spark arrester.
3D-21-P101-EP

22. External Combustion Engine
3D-22-P101-EP

23. External Combustion Engine
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24. Exemptions
 Power units equipped with a turbocharger.
 100 % of exhaust gasses must pass thru the
turbine wheel.
 No waste gate or any other by-pass
 Registered vehicles
o Check with Your Local agency. Generally Street
legal vehicles do not require an approved spark
arrester device.
3D-24P101-EP

25. What Makes A spark Arrester
Qualified?
It Must meet one of these standards
USDA 5100-1c
SAE J335
SAE J350
SAE J342
(SAE= Society of American
Engineers)
3D-25-P101-EP

26. How can it be determined that it
meets those standards?
The easiest way (the only way) is
that it is listed in one of the Spark
Arrester Guides
3D-26-P101-EP

27. Spark Arrester Guides
The Spark Arrester
Guide is a set of
books listing all spark
arresters evaluated at
SDTDC that meet the
requirements in FS
5100-1c
3D-26-P101-EP

28. Types of Power Units
(combustion engines)
3D-28-P101-EP

29. Types of Engines (Power units)
General Purpose
o Heavy equipment
o Portable power equipment
o OHV vehicles
o Small engines
Multi-position Small Engines
o Chainsaw
o Other than Chainsaw (string trimmers, brush cutters)
Locomotives
o Diesel
o Coal-fired, oil-fired
3D-29-P101-EP

30. General Purpose Spark Arresters
Requirements
Trap or pulverizing type
 80 % effectiveness (90% hot test)
 80 % cleanout effectiveness
Screen Type
 no opening greater than .023 inch
diameter
 effective screen open area is 200 %
greater than smallest restriction on
exhaust port.
3D-30-P101-EP

31. General Purpose Spark Arrester
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32. General Purpose Test
How is it done?
3D-32-P101-EP

33. Trap / Pulverizing Type Testing
• arrester is mounted in the test chamber
• the blower provides air into the arrester
• carbon is injected into the arrester
• the carbon is collected, sieved and weighed
• a minimum of ten runs is required
• five test points (100 % of rated flow, 10 % rated
flow, & three evenly spaced in between)
• two runs per test point
• 2 runs at 2 psi back pressure
next
3D-33-P101-EP

34. General Purpose – Marking
Requirement
Manufacturer Name or Trademark
Spark Arrester Model Name or Number
“Screen type” if a screen type spark
arrester
3D-34-P101-EP

35. Multi-position Small Engine
 Tested in accordance with:
 SAE J335 Multi-position Small Engine Exhaust
System Fire Ignition Suppression
 Types of MSE
 Chain Saw
 Other than chain saws
 trimmers
 blowers
 high pressure washers
 etc...
3D-35-P101-EP

36. Multi-position Small Engine
Most MSE spark arresters are screen types,
chainsaws etc.
3D-36-P101-EP

37. Multi-position Small Engine (other)
3D-37-P101-EP

38. Multi-position Small Engine
 Exposed Surface Temperature - not to exceed
550oF
• exposed surface is an surface which comes in contact with or
intersects the contact plane
 Exhaust Gas Temperature - not to exceed
475oF
• measured were exhaust gas impinges on contact plane
 Contact Plane
• a flat plane around the exhaust system
• determined by moving a test plate around the exhaust system
with power head on a flat surface.
3D-38-P101-EP

39. Multi-position Small Engine
Chain Saw Contact Planes
3D-39-P101-EP

40. Multi-position Small Engine
How is it done?
3D-40-P101-EP

41. Marking Requirements
Manufacturer generated number
 Does not have to be a full model number
Power unit needs to be marked:
 With manufacturer name or trademark
 Power unit model number
3D-41-P101-EP

42. General Purpose & Multi-position
Small Engine Spark Arresters
 General Purpose  Multi-position
 particle size no greater Small Engine
than .023 in diameter  particle size no greater
 waivers are allowed than .023 in diameter
 must be positively  waivers are allowed
identifiable  must be positively
 fixed position (45o identifiable
deviation)  Multi-position
 assigned a rated flow  qualified with a specific
 no temperature power head
requirements  surface & exhaust gas
temps.
3D-42-P101-EP

43. Quiz #1
GO
3D-43-P101-EP

44. Quiz #1
1. What is a spark arrester?
2. Which pieces of equipment are required to have a spark
arrester?
3. What is a general purpose engine?
4. What is a multi-position small engine?
5. What are the three types of spark arresters?
a.
b.
c.
6. What are the marking requirements for a trap type and for a
screen type?
next
3D-44-P101-EP

45. Quiz #1
7. Name one thing that a trap type arrester must
have?
8. How do you know if a spark arrester is qualified?
9. What is the largest screen opening that a screen
type spark arrester may have?
back
3D-45-P101-EP

46. Spark Arrester Identification
3D-46-P101-EP

47. Identifying Spark Arresters
General Purpose Multi-position
• Displays MFG Small Engine
Trademark or name • It must be in the
• Stamped with the Guide
Model number • Displays the Model
• “Screen type” number of power unit
• Has Cleanout Device
• Must be in the Guide
3D-47-P101-EP

48. Identifying Spark Arresters
 US Forest Service
Approved
 Forestry Approved
 Department of
Forestry Approved
Does not
mean its
qualified!
3D-48-P101-EP

49. Cleanout Devices
3D-49-P101-EP

50. Cleanout Devices
3D-50-P101-EP

51. Cleanout Devices
3D-51-P101-EP

52. Spark Arrester Maintenance
3D-52-P101-EP

53. Spark Arrester Maintenance
 Spark Arrester must
be properly
maintained to be
effective
 Cleanout must be
emptied periodically
 Condition of the
engine affects spark
arrester
effectiveness
3D-53-P101-EP

54. Spark Arrester Maintenance
3D-54-P101-EP

55. Spark Arrester Maintenance
3D-55-P101-EP

56. Modified Spark Arresters
3D-56-P101-EP

57. Modified Spark Arresters
3D-57-P101-EP

58. Modified Spark Arresters
3D-58-P101-EP

59. Modified Spark Arresters
3D-59-P101-EP

60. Modified Spark Arresters
3D-60-P101-EP

61. Modified Spark Arresters
3D-61-P101-EP

62. Turbo vs. Superchargers
 Turbocharger
• Exhaust is directed thru a turbine to run a
compressor
• 100 % of exhaust must pass thru turbine wheel
• Not waste gate allowed
 Supercharger
• Direct link to engine
• Does not function as an arrester
3D-62-P101-EP

63. Turbocharged Engines
3D-63-P101-EP

64. Turbocharged Engines
3D-64-P101-EP

65. Position of Application
 Only applies to
General Purpose
 Horizontal
 Vertical
 Inverted
 Multi-position (Screen
Type)
 Not more than 45
degrees from the
mounted position
3D-65-P101-EP

66. Mufflers
Mufflers
 Mandatory for street legal vehicles
 Designed for sound, they do not arrest carbon particles
Catalytic Converter
 Also required for post 1975 gas powered vehicles
 For emissions,they do not arrest sparks
 Subject to high temperatures (2000 F)
 Some qualified spark arresters have catalyst
3D-66-P101-EP

67. Spark Arrester Guides
SAG Volume 1 &2
Online SAG
3D-67-P101-EP

68. Spark Arrester Guide Vol. 1 & 2
SAG is no longer published on paper
Updates are done electronically for both
MSE & GP spark arresters
Updates include all qualified spark
arresters since the publication of the
latest SAG
SDTDC is available for reference
3D-68-P101-EP

69. On-Line Spark Arrester Guide
 Searchable Database
 By manufacturer name
 Model number
 Power unit
 Position
 More Frequent Updates
 Quarterly
 Downloadable
 PDF
3D-69-P101-EP

70. On-Line Spark Arrester Guide
3D-70-P101-EP

71. On-Line Spark Arrester Guide
3D-71-P101-EP

72. On-Line Spark Arrester Guide
3D-72-P101-EP

73. On-Line Spark Arrester Guide
3D-73-P101-EP

74. On-Line Spark Arrester Guide
3D-74-P101-EP

75. On-Line Spark Arrester Guide
3D-75-P101-EP

76. Fire Investigations
What can San Dimas Technology
Development Center Do for You?
3D-76-P101-EP

77. Fire Investigation
The have test records for everything
tested at the facility
They can run efficiency tests on exhaust
hardware for evidentiary purposes
Can provide expert testimony (If the US
Forest Service is party to suit)
3D-77-P101-EP

78. Fire Investigation
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79. Fire Investigations
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80. Fire Investigations
3D-81-P101-EP

81. Fire Investigation
What SDTDC cannot do.
 Cannot do analysis on collected debris.
(They are not an approved Crime Lab for
evidence processing)
3D-78-P101-EP

82. Locomotive Spark Arresters
3D-82-P101-EP

83. Locomotive Spark Arresters
 Tested in accordance with:
 Association of American Railroads
Recommended practice
 SAE Recommended Practice J342
 Tested on site with a portable unit.
3D-83-P101-EP

84. Locomotive Spark Arrester
Spark
arresters
3D-84-P101-EP

85. Locomotive Spark Arrester
3D-85-P101-EP

86. Locomotive Spark Arrester
trap
3D-86-P101-EP

87. Locomotive Spark Arrester
3D-87-P101-EP

88. Locomotive Spark Arrester
3D-88-P101-EP

89. Where to get more information
Spark Arrester qualification & testing:
 USDA Forest Service
Technology & Development Center
444 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, CA 91773
Attn: Ralph Gonzales
(909) 599-1267 x 212
Fax: (909) 592-2309
Website: http://fsweb.sdtdc.wo.fs.fed.us
3D-89-P101-EP

90. Where to get more information
Spark Arrester qualification & testing:
 USDA Forest Service
Technology & Development Center
Summary & Bonita Avenue
444 East Review Lesson Objectives
San Dimas, CA 91773
Name three types of spark arresters
Attn: Ralph Gonzales
State the maximum size of carbon
particle that can safely enter the air
(909) 599-1267 x 212
Name(909) 592-2309 where spark arrester
Fax: the facility
programs and the Spark Arrester Guide
are managed
Website: http://fsweb.sdtdc.wo.fs.fed.us
3D-90-P101-EP