EUROPEAN STANDARD (EN 14961) FOR WOOD CHIPS AND HOG FUEL

Eija Alakangas, convenor of WG2 for CEN/TC 335 and ISO/TC 238
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, P.O. Box 1603; FI-40101 Jyväskylä, Finland
[email protected]

ABSTRACT: Wood chips and hog fuel can be specified according to standard EN 14961-1 for general
use and for wood chips for non-industrial use according EN 14961-4. Non-industrial use means fuel
intended to be used in smaller appliances, such as, in households and small commercial and public
sector buildings. EN 14961-1 includes also classification of the raw material e.g. woody biomass. The
specification of traded forms e.g. wood chips is flexible in EN 14961-1, and the producer or the
consumer may select from each property class the classification that corresponds to the produced or
desired fuel quality. In EN 14961-1 does not bind different characteristics with each other. An
advantage of this classification is that the producer and the consumer may agree upon characteristics
case-by-case. EN 14961-4 is a product standard and in this product standard properties are normative
and they are bind together to form a class. The product standards are approved and they will be
published in spring 2011. This paper is concentrated on the following solid biofuels in EN 14961-1:
wood chips and hog fuel and in product standard EN 14961-4: Wood chips for non-industrial use.

1 INTRODUCTION

The European Committee for Standardization, CEN under committee TC335 has published 27
technical specifications (pre-standards) for solid biofuels during 2003 – 2006. Now these technical
specifications are upgraded to full European standards (EN). When EN-standards are in force the
national standards has to be withdrawn or adapted to these EN-standards. The two most important
standard series being developed deal with classification and specification (EN 14961 [5, 6]) and
quality assurance for solid biofuels (EN 15234 [19]). Both these standards will be published as
multipart standards. The Part 1 – General requirements of EN 14961-1 [5] includes all solid biofuels
and is targeted for all user groups.
EN 14961 consists of the following parts, under the general title Solid biofuel-Fuel specification
and classes:
- Part 1: General requirements (published in January 2010)
- Part 2: Wood pellets for non-industrial use (approved)
- Part 3: Wood briquettes for non-industrial use (approved)
- Part 4: Wood chips for non-industrial use (approved)
- Part 5: Firewood for non-industrial use (approved)
- Part 6:Non-woody pellets for non-industrial use (under approval)
EN 14961-1 is for general specification of traded form e.g. wood chips and classification of the raw
material. The classification in EN 14961-1 is flexible, and the producer or the consumer may select
from each property class the classification that corresponds to the produced or desired fuel quality. In
Part 1 different properties are not bind together with each other. An advantage of this classification is
that the producer and the consumer may agree upon characteristics case-by-case. In Part 1 properties
are normative (mandatory) or informative (voluntary).
EN 14961 parts 2 – 6 are products standards and in these product standards – non-industrial use
means fuel intended to be used in smaller appliances, such as, in households and small commercial and
public sector buildings. In the product standards properties are normative and are bind together to form
a class. Although these product standards may be obtained separately, it should be recognized that
they require an understanding of the standards based on and supporting EN 14961-1. The product
standards are ready for approval (for voting) and if accepted they will be published end of the year
2010.
There has been several EU-project supporting to the upgrading of technical specifications to EU-
standards. The BioNormII project (www.bionorm2.eu [1-3] and EUBIONET II (www.eubionet.net [4]
has collected feedback from market actors for fuel specification and classes standards. The Phydades
project (www.phydades.info) has carried out on-job training for laboratory staff, developed BioDat
database of solid biofuels tested according to EN standards [8 – 24] and prepared training material.

2 DEFINITION OF WOOD CHIPS AND HOG FUEL

Hog fuel is defined as following: fuelwood in the form of pieces of varying size and shape, produced
by crushing with blunt tools such as rollers, hammers, or flails [7]. Wood chips are defined as
following: chipped woody biomass in the form of pieces with a defined particle size produced by
mechanical treatment with sharp tools such as knives. Wood chips have a sub-rectangular shape with a
typical length 5 to 50 mm and a low thickness compared to other dimensions [7].

Figure 1. Wood chips (left) and hog fuel (right).

2 CLASSIFICATION OF RAW ESPECIALLY WOODY BIOMASS ACCORDING EN 14961-1

The classification of solid biofuels is based on their origin and source. The fuel production chain of
fuels shall be unambiguously traceable back over the whole chain. The solid biofuels are divided to
the following sub-categories for classification in EN 14961-1 [5]:
1) Woody biomass (Table 1)
2) Herbaceous biomass,
3) Fruit biomass and 4) Blends and mixtures.
Woody biomass is biomass from trees, bushes and shrubs. Herbaceous biomass is from plants that
have a non-woody stem and which die back at the end of the growing season. It includes grains and
their by-products such as cereals. Fruit biomass is the biomass from the parts of a plant which are from
or hold seeds.
If appropriate, also the actual species (e.g. spruce) of biomass should be stated. The actual wood
species (e.g. spruce) can be stated according to EN 13556 "Round and sawn timber Nomenclature".
The term “Blends and mixtures” in Table 1 refers to material of various origin within the given box
in the classification table and appears on four levels. Blends are intentionally mixed solid biofuels,
whereas mixtures are unintentionally mixed solid biofuels. The origin of the blend and mixture shall
be described using Table 1 in EN 14961-1.
The purpose of classification is to allow the possibility to differentiate and specify raw material
based on origin with as much detail as needed. For the avoidance of doubt, demolition wood is not
included in the scope of the EN 14961-1. Demolition wood is “used wood arising from demolition of
buildings or civil engineering installations” (EN 14588 [7]). The EN14961 – 1 includes also wood
waste (term used wood), if it is not containing halogenated organic compounds or heavy metals as a
result of treatment with wood preservatives or coating. Examples for classification according to Table
1: Whole trees without roots from birch (1.1.1.1); logging residues from spruce stands (1.1.4.2);
mixture of stem wood from broadleaf and coniferous trees (more broadleaf in mixture) (1.1.3.1,
1.1.3.2).
Table 1. Classification of 1 Woody biomass (EN 14961-1)[5]
1.1 Forest, plantation and 1.1.1 Whole trees 1.1.1.1 Broadleaf
other virgin wood without roots 1.1.1.2 Coniferous
1.1.1.3 Short rotation coppice
1.1.1.4 Bushes
1.1.1.5 Blends and mixtures
1.1.2 Whole trees with 1.1.2.1 Broadleaf
roots 1.1.2.2 Coniferous
1.1.2.3 Short rotation coppice
1.1.2.4 Bushes
1.1.2.5 Blends and mixtures
1.1.3 Stemwood 1.1.3.1 Broadleaf
1.1.3.2 Coniferous
1.1.3.3 Blends and mixtures
1.1.4 Logging residues 1.1.4.1 Fresh/Green, Broadleaf (including leaves)
1.1.4.2 Fresh/Green, Coniferous (including needles)
1.1.4.3 Stored, Broadleaf
1.1.4.4 Stored, Coniferous
1.1.4.5 Blends and mixtures
1.1.5 Stumps/roots 1.1.5.1 Broadleaf
1.1.5.2 Coniferous
1.1.5.3 Short rotation coppice
1.1.5.4 Bushes
1.1.5.5 Blends and mixtures
1.1.6 Bark (from forestry operations) a
1.1.7 Segregated wood from gardens, parks, roadside maintenance, vineyards and
fruit orchards
1.1.8 Blends and mixtures
1.2 By-products and 1.2.1 Chemically 1.2.1.1 Without bark, Broadleaf
residues from wood untreated wood 1.2.1.2 Without bark, Coniferous
processing industry residues 1.2.1.3 With bark, Broadleaf
1.2.1.4 With bark, Coniferous
1.2.1.5 Bark (from industry operations) a
1.2.2 Chemically 1.2.2.1 Without bark
treated wood residues, 1.2.2.2 With bark
fibres and wood 1.2.2.3 Bark (from industry operations) a
constituents 1.2.2.4 Fibres and wood constituents
1.2.3 Blends and mixtures
1.3 Used wood 1.3.1 Chemically 1.3.1.1 Without bark
untreated wood 1.3.1.2 With bark
1.3.1.3 Bark a
1.3.2 Chemically 1.3.2.1 Without bark
treated wood 1.3.2.2 With bark
1.3.2.3 Bark a
1.3.3 Blends and mixtures
1.4 Blends and mixtures
a
Cork is included in bark.

3. SPECIFICATION OF WOOD CHIPS AND HOG FUEL IN EN 14961-1

The quality classification in a table form was prepared only for major traded solid biofuels.
Properties to be specified are listed in EN 14961-1 for the following traded forms of solid biofuels
(EN 14961-1): briquettes, pellets, wood chips (see Annex 1), hog fuel (see Annex 2), log
wood/firewood, sawdust, shavings, bark, straw bales, reed canary grass bales and Miscanthus bales,
energy grain, olive residues and fruit seeds.
The most significant characteristics are mandatory, normative, and shall be given in the fuel
specification (EN 14961-1). These characteristics vary for different traded form, while the most
significant characteristics for all solid biofuels are moisture content (M), particle size/dimensions (P or
D/L) and ash content (A). For example, the average moisture content of fuels is given as a value after
the symbol (e.g. M35), which means that the average moisture content of the fuel shall be  35 w-%.
Some characteristics, e.g., bulk density (BD), are voluntary, informative. Specification of wood chips
is presented in Annex 1 and hog fuel in Annex 2.

4. SPECIFICATION OF WOOD CHIPS FOR NON-INDUSTRIAL USE ACCORDING EN 14961-4

Specification of the wood chips for non-industrial is stated in Annex 3 and particle size according
to Table 2. Analysis of the properties shall be carried out in accordance with the methods mentioned in
the Annex 3 [8 – 24].
Property classes A1 and A2 represent virgin woods and chemically untreated wood residues. A1
represents fuels with lower ash content indicating no or little bark, and lower moisture content, while
class A2 has slightly higher ash content and/or moisture content. B1 extended the origin and source of
class A to include other material, such as, short rotation coppice, wood from gardens and plantation
etc, and chemically untreated industrial by-products and residues. Property class B2 also includes
chemically treated industrial by-products and residues and used wood.
Chemically treated wood residues, fibres and wood constituents from wood processing (1.2.2) and
used wood (1.3) are included in property class B2 as long as they do not contain heavy metals or
halogenated organic compounds as a result of treatment with wood preservatives or coating. In case of
raw materials belonging to 1.2.2 and 1.3.2 (chemically treated wood, see Table 1) the actual origin of
the raw material shall be closer described, e.g. 1.2.2, Residues from laminated wood production.
To protect small-scale consumer some heavy metals are normative for wood chips, if wood chips
are produced from short rotation forestry, chemically treated wood or used wood. Chemical treatment
is any treatment except by heat, water or air.
The particle size of wood chips for non-industrial use is stated according to the Table 2. In EN
14961-4 there is also one additional particle size, P31.5, which is not included in EN 14961-1. When
setting particle size threshold values several screening tests were carried out with different chippers in
Denmark and in Finland.

Table 2 – Particle size of wood chips for non-industrial use (EN 14961-4)[6]

Dimensions (mm), Analysis method EN 15149-1 [16]

Minimum 75 w-% in Fines fraction, Coarse fraction, (w-%), max. length of particle (mm), max.
main fraction, mm a w-% (< 3,15 cross sectional area (cm2)
mm)
P16A 3,15 < P < 16 mm < 12 % < 3 % > 16 mm, and all < 31,5 mm
The cross sectional area of the oversized particles < 1 cm²

P16B 3,15 < P < 16 mm < 12 % < 3 % > 45 mm and all < 120 mm
The cross sectional area of the oversized particles < 1 cm²
P31,5 8 < P < 31,5 mm <8% < 6 % > 45 mm, and all < 120 mm
The cross sectional area of the oversized particles < 2 cm²
P45 8 < P < 45 mm <8% < 6 % > 63 mm and maximum 3,5 % > 100 mm, all < 120
mm
The cross sectional area of the oversized particles < 5 cm²
a
The numerical values (P-class) for dimension refer to the particle sizes (at least 75 w-%) passing through the
mentioned round hole sieve size (EN 15149-1).
5. QUALITY ASSURANCE OF WOOD CHIPS

Fuel quality assurance standard (EN 15234) is also published as a multipart standard. Part 1 (EN
15234-1 [19]) is approved and other parts similar to EN 14961 are under voting for approval.
According to the terminology of ISO 9001 a Quality Management system generally consists of quality
planning, quality control, quality assurance and quality improvement. EN 15234 covers fuel quality
assurance (focused on providing confidence that the quality requirements will be fulfilled) and quality
control (focused on fulfilling the quality requirements). The users of this standard may integrate the
EN 15234-1 in their general quality assurance scheme, e.g. the ISO 9000 series. If the company does
not have a quality management system, this standard can be used on its own to help the supplier in
documenting fuel quality and creating adequate confidence between the supplier and the end-user.
This standard for fuel quality assurance is only concerned with the fuel part. To ensure the efficient
use of solid biofuels, the relationship between the fuel and the combustion unit is also important to
consider. It is recommended that the end-users ensure that the combustion technology used and the
solid biofuels are compatible to achieve an optimised burning process. In addition to high efficiency,
the environmental impact is reduced when the combustion process is optimised (e.g. unburnt carbon in
the ash will be reduced; the emissions from the flue gases are reduced, etc.).
The production requirements for solid biofuels vary depending on the complexity of the production
process as well as on the requirements of the biofuel (for example between small-scale users that may
require high-grade biofuels and large-scale users who may take advantage of fuel flexible combustion
units). This leads to different measures and requirements for the quality assurance and quality control
process.
The EN 15234-1 also included instructions how to state the fuel quality by a product declaration.
The product declaration for the solid biofuel shall be issued by the supplier (trader or producer) to the
end-user or retailer. The fuel product declaration shall be issued for each defined lot. The quantity of
the lot shall be defined in the delivery agreement. Delivery lot can be an individual delivery lot, which
is agreed quantity of fuel (e.g. a package, shipload or truck load), or continuous delivery, where
several loads are delivered to end-user during agreed time period (usually daily or weekly delivery).
The supplier shall date the declaration and keep the records for a minimum of one year after the
delivery. The fuel product declaration shall state the quality in accordance to the appropriate part of
EN 14961. In Table 3 there is an example of specification of wood chips according to EN 14961-4.
The product declaration shall as a minimum include:
 Supplier (body or enterprise) including contact information
 A reference to appropriate part of EN 15234-Fuel quality assurance standard
 Origin and source (according to EN 14961-1)
 Country/countries (locations) of origin
 Traded form (e.g. wood chips)
 Specification of properties according to appropriate part of EN 14961
o Normative properties
o Informative properties
 Chemical treatment if chemically treated biomass is traded (yes/no)
 Signature (by operational title or responsibility), name, date and place
The product declaration can be approved electronically. Signature and date can be approved by
signing of the waybill or stamping of the packages in accordance with the appropriate part of EN
14961.
Table 3. Example of the product declaration for wood chip according to EN 14961-1

Product declaration – wood chips

Supplier EAA Biofuels, P.O. Box 1603; FI-40101
Jyväskylä, Finland
Quality assurance standard EN 15234-1
Country of origin (location) Finland, Jämsä
Traded form Wood chips
Normative properties – EN 14961-1
Origin Mixture of stem wood from broadleaf and
coniferous trees (1.1.3.1, 1.1.3.2)
Particle size, P, mm P45B
Moisture content, M, w-% M35
Ash content, w-% of dry matter A1.5
Informative properties – EN 14961-1
Net calorific value as received, Q, MJ/kg Q11.5
(minimum value
Bulk density, BD, kg/m3 BD200
Chemical treatment No

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author is grateful to the Wood heat solution project funding under the EU Intelligent Energy for
Europe - programme.

REFERENCES

1. Alakangas, E. European standards for fuel specification and classes of solid biofuels,
Manuscript to Springer publication, Energy production from solid biofuels towards global
warming abatement, June 2009, 25 p.
2. Alakangas, E. European standards for solid biofuels – case wood pellets and wood chips, Riga
6 – 7 May 2009, Wood combustion and standards, Proc. Environmental and climate
technologies, Serija 13, sejums 2, p. 7 – 20.
3. Alakangas, E., Rathbauer, J., Sulzbacher, L., Kilgus, D., Baumbach, G., Grammelis, P.&
Malliopoulou, A., Blumberga, D. & Gushcha, J. Feedback on prEN 14961 standards from
industry and workshops BioNormII- Pre-normative research on solid biofuels for improved
European standards, Project no. 038644, DIV6-Part 1. 51 p. (www.bionorm2.eu).
4. Alakangas, E., Wiik, C. & Lensu, T. CEN 335 – Solid biofuels, Feedback from market actors,
EUBIONET report – VTT Report VTT-R-00430-07, Jyväskylä 2007. 58 p. + app. 13 p.
(www.eubionet.net)
5. EN 14961. Solid biofuels – Fuel Specification and classes, Part 1 – General requirements. CEN
(European Committee for Standardization). January 2010. 52 p.
6. EN 14961-4. Solid biofuels – Fuel Specification and classes, Part 4 – Wood chips for non-
industrial use. March 2011. 10 p.
7. EN 14588, Solid biofuels ― Terminology, definitions and descriptions
8. EN 14774-1, Solid biofuels – Methods for the determination of moisture content – Oven dry
method – Part 1: Total moisture – Reference method
9. EN 14774-2, Solid biofuels – Methods for the determination of moisture content – Oven dry
method – Part 2: Total moisture – Simplified procedure
10. EN 14775, Solid biofuels – Methods for the determination of ash content
11. EN 14778, Solid Biofuels –Sampling
12. EN 14780, Solid Biofuels – Methods for sample preparation
13. EN 14918, Solid Biofuels – Method for the determination of calorific value
14. EN 15103, Solid Biofuels – Methods for the determination of bulk density
15. EN 15104, Solid Biofuels – Determination of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen – Instrumental
method
16. EN 15149-1 , Solid biofuels – Determination of particle size distribution - Part 1: Oscillating
screen method using sieve apertures of 1 mm and above.
17. EN 15149-2 Solid biofuels – Determination of particle size distribution - Part 2: Horizontal
screen method using sieve apertures of 3,15 mm and below.
18. EN 15150, Solid Biofuels – Methods for the determination of particle density
19. EN 15234-1, Solid Biofuels – Fuel quality assurance, Part 1: General requirements
20. EN 15289, Solid Biofuels – Determination of total content of sulphur and chlorine
21. EN 15290, Solid Biofuels –Determination of major elements
22. EN 15296, Solid Biofuels – Conversion of analytical results from one basis to another
23. EN 15297, Solid Biofuels – Determination of content of minor elements
24. EN 15370, Solid Biofuels – Methods for the determination of ash melting behaviour
 Annex 1 – Specification of wood chips based on EN 14961-1 [5].
Master table
Origin: According to 6.1 and Table 1. Woody biomass (1)
Traded Form Wood chips
Dimensions (mm) EN 15149-1, EN15149-2
Main fraction Fines fraction, w-% Coarse fraction, (w-%), max. length of particle, mm
(minimum 75 w-%), (< 3,15 mm)
mm a
P16A c 3,15 < P < 16 mm < 12 % < 3 % > 16 mm and all < 31,5 mm
P16B c 3,15 < P < 16 mm < 12 % < 3 % > 45 mm and all < 120 mm
P45A c 8 < P < 45 mm <8%b < 6 % > 63 mm and maximum 3,5 % > 100 mm, all < 120 mm
c b
P45B 8 < P < 45 mm <8%b < 6 % > 63 mm and maximum 3,5 % > 100 mm, all < 350 mm
P63 c 8 < P < 63 mm b <6%b < 6 % > 100 mm, all < 350 mm
P100 c 16 < P < 100 mm b <4%b < 6 % > 200 mm, all < 350 mm
Moisture, M (w-% as received) EN14774-1, EN 14774-2
M10  10 %
M15  15 %
M20  20 %
M25  25 %
Normative

M30  30 %
M35  35 %
M40  40 %
M45  45 %
M50  50 %
M55  55 %
M55+ > 55 % (maximum value to be stated)
Ash, A (w-% of dry basis), EN 14775
A0.5  0,5 %
A0.7  0,7 %
A1.0  1,0 %
A1.5  1,5 %
A2.0  2,0 %
A3.0  3,0 %
A5.0  5,0 %
A7.0  7,0 %
A10.0  10,0 %
A10.0+ > 10,0 % (maximum value to be stated)
Nitrogen, N (w-% of dry basis), EN 15104
N0.3  0,3 % Normative:
N0.5  0,5 % Chemically treated biomass (1.2.2; 1.3.2)
Normative / informative

N1.0  1,0 % Informative:

N2.0  2,0 % All fuels that are not chemically treated (see the exceptions above)
N3.0  3,0 %
N3.0+ > 3,0 % (maximum value to be stated)
Chlorine, Cl (w-% of dry basis), EN 15289
Cl0.02  0,02 % Normative:
Cl0.03  0,03 % Chemically treated biomass (1.2.2; 1.3.2)
Cl0.07  0,07 % Informative:
Cl0.10  0,10 % All fuels that are not chemically treated (see the exceptions above)
Cl0.10+ > 0,10 % (maximum value to be stated)
 Net calorific value, Q (MJ/kg or kWh/kg as received) or energy density, E (MJ/ m3 loose or kWh/m3 loose)
EN 14918
Minimum value to be stated
Bulk density (BD) as received (kg/m3) EN 15103
BD150 > 150 Recommended to be stated if traded by volume basis
Informative

BD200 > 200

BD250 > 250
BD300 > 300
BD350 > 350
BD400 > 400
BD450 > 450
BD450+ > 450 (minimum value to be stated)
Ash melting behaviour (°C) EN 15370 Deformation temperature, DT should be stated
a
The numerical values (P-class) for dimension refer to the particle sizes (at least 75 w-%) passing through the
mentioned round hole sieve size (EN 15149-1). The cross sectional area of the oversized particles shall be P16 < 1
cm², for P45 < 5 cm², for P63 < 10 cm² and P100 < 18 cm².
b
For logging residue chips, which include thin particles like needles, leaves and branches, the main fraction for P45B
is 3,15 < P < 45 mm, for P63 is 3,15 < P < 63 mm and for P100 is 3,15 < P < 100 mm and amount of fines (< 3,15
mm) may be maximum 25 w-%.
c
Property classes P16A, P16B and P45A are for non-industrial and property class P45B, P63 and P100 for industrial
appliances. In industrial classes P45B, P63 and P100 the amount of fines may be stated from the following F04,
F06, F08.
NOTE Special attention should be paid to the ash melting behaviour for some biomass fuels, for example
eucalyptus, poplar, short rotation coppice.

Figure 2. Example of a particle size for wood chips according to EN 14961-1.

 Annex 2 – Specification of hog fuel based on EN 14961-1 .[5]
Master table
Origin: According to 6.1 and Table 1. Woody biomass (1)
Traded Form Hog fuel
Dimensions (mm) EN 15149-1, EN 15149-2
Main fraction (minimum 75 w-%), mm a Coarse fraction, w-% (max. length of particle, mm) b
P16 3,15< P < 16 mm < 6 % > 45 mm and all < 120 mm
P45 3,15 <P < 45 mm < 10 % > 63 mm and all < 350 mm
P63 3,15 < P < 63 mm < 10 % > 100 mm and all < 350 mm
P100 3,15 < P < 100 mm < 10 % > 125 mm and all < 350 mm
P125 3,15 < P < 125 mm < 10 % > 150 mm and all < 350 mm
P200 3,15 < P < 200 mm to be specified
P300 3,15 < P < 300 mm to be specified
Fine fraction (< 3,15 mm), % of weight EN 15149-2
F06 <6%
F10 < 10 %
F12 < 12 %
F15 < 15 %
F20 < 20 %
F25 < 25 %
Moisture, M (w-% as received) EN 14774-1, EN 14774-2
M10  10 %
M15  15 %
Normative

M20  20 %
M25  25 %
M30  30 %
M35  35 %
M40  40 %
M45  45 %
M50  50 %
M55  55 %
M55+ > 55 % (maximum value to be stated)
Ash, A (w-% of dry basis) EN 14775
A0.5  0,5 %
A0.7  0,7 %
A1.0  1,0 %
A1.5  1,5 %
A2.0  2,0 %
A3.0  3,0 %
A5.0  5,0 %
A7.0  7,0 %
A10.0  10,0 %
A10.0+ > 10,0 % (maximum value to be stated)
Net calorific value, Q (MJ/kg as received) or energy Minimum value to be stated
density, E (kWh/m3 loose) EN 14918
Nitrogen, N (w-% of dry basis) EN 15104
N0.3  0,3 % Normative:
N0.5  0,5 % Chemically treated biomass (1.2.2, 1.3.2)
Normative / informative

N1.0  1,0 % Informative:

N2.0  2,0 % All fuels that are not chemically treated (see the exceptions
N3.0  3,0 % above)
N3.0+ > 3,0 % (maximum value to be stated)
Chlorine, Cl (w-% of dry basis) EN 15289
Cl0.02  0,02 % Normative:
Cl0.03  0,03 % Chemically treated biomass (1.2.2; 1.3.2)
Cl0.07  0,07 % Informative:
Cl0.10  0,10 % All fuels that are not chemically treated (see the exceptions
Cl0.10+ > 0,10 % (maximum value to be stated) above)
 Bulk density (BD) as received (kg/m3) EN 15103
BD150 > 150 Recommended to be stated if traded by volume basis
BD200 > 200
BD250 > 250
Informative

BD300 > 300

BD350 > 350
BD400 > 400
BD450 > 450
BD450+ > 450 (minimum value to be stated)
Ash melting behaviour (°C) EN 15370 Deformation temperature, DT should be stated
a
The numerical values (P-class) for dimension refer to the particle sizes (at least 75 w-%) passing through the mentioned round hole
sieve size (EN 15149-1).
b
The cross sectional area of the oversized particles shall be P16 < 1 cm², for P45 < 5 cm², for P63 < 10 cm² and P100 < 18 cm².
NOTE Special attention should be paid to the ash melting behaviour for some biomass fuels, for example eucalyptus,
poplar, short rotation coppice.
Annex 3 – Specification of wood chips for non-industrial use (EN 14961-4).[6]
Property class Unit A B
Analysis method
1 2 1 2
Origin and source 1.1.1 Whole trees 1.1.1 Whole trees 1.1 Forest, 1.2. By-products
without roots a without roots a plantation and and residues
other virgin from wood
1.1.3 Stemwood 1.1.3 Stemwood
wood b processing
1.2.1 Chemically 1.2.1 Chemically industry
1.2.1
untreated wood untreated wood
Chemically 1.3.Used wood
residues residues
untreated wood
1.1.4.3 Logging 1.1.4.3 Logging residues
residues, stored residues, stored
broadleaf broadleaf
Particle size, P mm to be selected from to be selected from to be selected from Table 1
Table 1 Table 1
Moisture, M c, w-% M10 < 10 M35 < 35 to be specified
EN 14774-1,
M25 < 25
EN 14774-2
Ash, A, A, w-% dry A1.0 < 1,0 A1.5 < 1,5 A3.0 < 3,0
EN 14775
Net calorific value MJ/kg or Q13.0 > 13,0 or Q11.0 > 11,0 or To be specified
as received, Q, kWh/kg Q3.6 > 3,6 Q3.1 > 3,1
EN 14918
Normative

Bulk density, BD, kg/loose m3 BD150  150 BD150  150 To be specified

d
as received , BD200  200 BD200  200
EN 15103
Nitrogen, N, w-% dry - - N1.0 < 1,0
EN 15104
Sulphur , S, w-% dry - - S0.1 < 0,1
EN 15289
Chlorine, Cl, w-% dry - - Cl0.05 < 0,05
EN 15289
Arsenic, As, mg/kg dry - - <1
EN 15297
Cadmium, Cd, mg/kg dry - - < 2,0
EN 15297
Chromium, Cr, mg/kg dry - - < 10
EN 15297
Copper, Cu, mg/kg dry - - < 10
EN 15297
Lead, Pb, mg/kg dry - - < 10
EN 15297
Mercury, Hg, mg/kg dry - - < 0,1
EN 15297
Nickel, Ni, mg/kg dry - - < 10
EN 15297
Zinc, Zn, mg/kg dry - - < 100
EN 15297
a
Excluding class 1.1.1.3 Short rotation coppice, if reason to suspect contamination of land or if planting has been used for the
sequestration of chemicals or wood is fertilized by sewage sludge (issued from waste water treatment or chemical process.
b
Excluding classes 1.1.5 Stumps/roots and 1.1.6 Bark
c
Actual property class for moisture content to be stated. Moisture class M10 is for artificial dried wood chips.
d
Actual property class for Bulk density to be stated. The bulk density is lower for coniferous (BD150) than for broadleaf wood
(BD200), see informative Annex A.