Quality Standards
In Europe, from the first quarter of 2010 has introduced a new standard for pellets ENplus everyday and EN-V for "industrial" pellets used in industrial and utility boilers. Initiated the development of new standards were held by Germany. The introduction of a single quality standard for residential and industrial pellets will keep a clear account of consumption and control the quality of products.
New European standards for wood pellets in comparison with the German standard DIN plus
Quality standards |
DIN plus |
EN plus-A1 |
EN plus-A2 |
EN-B |
Diameter (mm) |
4-10 |
6 (± 1) |
6 (± 1) |
6 (± 1) |
Length (mm) |
≤ 5 x D |
3,15 ≤ L ≤ 40 |
3,15 ≤ L ≤ 40 |
3,15 ≤ L ≤ 40 |
Bulk density (kg/m3) |
------------ |
≥ 600 |
≥ 600 |
≥ 600 |
The heat of combustion (MJ / kg) |
≥ 18 |
≥ 16,5 |
≥ 16,5 |
≥ 16,0 |
Moisture (%) |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
Abrasion / dust (%) |
≤ 1 |
≤ 1 |
≤ 1 |
≤ 1 |
Hardness (%) |
≥ 97,7 |
≥ 97,5 |
≥ 97,5 |
≥ 97,5 |
Ash (%) |
≤ 0,5 |
≤ 0,7 |
≤ 1,0 |
≤ 3,0 |
Ash melting temperature (≥ C) |
--------------- |
≥ 1200 |
≥ 1100 |
≥ 1100 |
Chlorine (mg / kg) |
≤ 0,02 |
≤ 0,02 |
≤ 0,03 |
≤ 0,03 |
Sulphur (mg / kg) |
≤ 0,04 |
≤ 0,05 |
≤ 0,05 |
≤ 0,05 |
Nitrogen (mg / kg) |
≤ 0,3 |
≤ 0,3 |
≤ 0,5 |
≤ 1,0 |
Lead (mg / kg) |
--------------- |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
Chromium (mg / kg) |
-------------- |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
Arsenic (mg / kg) |
--------------- |
≤ 1 |
≤ 1 |
≤ 1 |
Cadmium (mg / kg) |
-------------- |
≤ 0,5 |
≤ 0,5 |
≤ 0,5 |
Mercury (mg / kg) |
--------------- |
≤ 0,1 |
≤ 0,1 |
≤ 0,1 |
Copper (mg / kg) |
--------------- |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
Nickel (mg / kg) |
--------------- |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
≤ 10 |
Zinc (mg / kg) |
--------------- |
≤ 100 |
≤ 100 |
≤ 100 |
Today in Ukraine there are no standards for pellets, so most manufacturers cater to western standards, which, by the way, differ from country to country, or invent their specifications. In addition, existing Western standards often include not only the standard for themselves pellets, as well as standards for their production, storage and transportation.
A single European standard for wood pellets is not there yet, so the following are the names of some of the existing national standards:
Austria - ONORM M 7135 Austrian Association pellets (briquettes and pellets)
England - The British BioGen Code of Practice for biofuel (pellets)
Germany - DIN 51731 (briquettes and pellets)
USA - Standard Regulations & Standards for Pellets in the US: The PFI (pellet)
Switzerland - SN 166000 (briquettes and pellets)
Sweden - SS 187120 (pellets);
Pellets according to Swedish Standard (SS 187 120) - is pressed cylinders with a maximum diameter of 25 mm. According to this standard, the pellets are divided into three groups, starting with the I-th (granules of the highest quality) to the III-s (industrial).
Austrian standard ONORM M 7135 classifies the type of pellet feed: pellets for wood and bark pellets. Dimensions in both cases is as follows: diameter 4-20 mm, length 100 mm.
According to the German standard DIN 51731, pellets have a diameter in the range of 4-10 mm and a length not exceeding 50 mm.
All standards govern such an option as ash, which has a major impact in the feed raw bark, twigs and other impurities.