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Over the last 18 years, the US Environmental Protections Agency has worked to implement a tiered system of emissions standards to address pollution issues in non-road diesel engines. Every year, the standards have become more stringent on manufacturers to utilize technological advancements in order to lower the total emission levels, and in 2015, these standards reached their highest limitations with the introduction of ‘Tier 4 Final’ compliance. Generators complying with 4F standards require exhaust emissions to decrease by more than 90%.

The EPA has been implementing these standards every year since 1994, so it’s important to back up a minute and understand what’s happened since then. These changes can be most easily understood by separating them into two categories: Tier 1-3 Standards and Tier 4 Standards. 

Tier 1-3

In 1996, the EPA, California Air Resource Board, and a number of engine manufacturers signed a Statement of Principles regarding non-road diesel engines. Between 1994 and 2008, standards for Tiers 1-3 were phased-in to reduce pollution from the emissions of off-road diesel engines.

The following elements were increasingly regulated in these tiers based on horsepower:

• Nitrogen oxide (NOx)
• Particulate matter (PM)
• Smoke standards
• Hydrocarbons (HC)
• Averaging, banking, and trading of emissions; maximum ‘family emission limits’ (FEL) for emission averaging

Tier 1 phased in between 1996 and 2000, Tier 2 between 2001 and 2006, and Tier 3, which only applied to engines with 37-560kW,  between 2006 and 2008.

Sulfur content was not regulated by the agency for Tiers 1-3.

Tier 4

Tier 4 Compliance is what will most affect manufacturers and owners now and into the future. Since 2008, the EPA has more stringently regulated:

• NOx (engines above 56kW)
• PM (above 19kW)
• HC

The EPA also requires the use of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel, which reduces the amount of sulfur emissions emitted by these generators by 99 percent to a level of less than 15 parts per million in concentration. 

Unchanged from Tier 1 and 2 are CO2 limits, the same averaging, banking, and trading of emission credit, as well as FEL limits for emission averaging. From Tier 2 and 3, smoke opacity standards are the same, except engines with a PM emission level of < .07g/kWh are exempt. Tier 4 compliance did not require closed crankcase ventilation, though if open, crankcase emissions are measured and added to the exhaust emissions total.

So what happens in 2015?

You may notice that some equipment is Tier 4i Compliant while others are Tier 4F Compliant. Tier “4i”, or interim, regards the emission standards set forth in 2011 for high-horsepower diesel generator engines. As discussed below, Tier 4i introduced even lower NOx emissions, in addition to expanding operational use to include non-emergency use with Tier 4i certification.

Tier “4F”, or final, are those standards effective for all large stationary generator sets as of 2015. With another reduction in PM levels, F4 is the highest level of clean air regulations.

Allowable Emissions

Emergency vs. Non-Emergency Use

“Stationary emergency applications,” as defined by the EPA, are those when the generator set runs only during periods of outage of the normal utility power supply. The EPA doesn’t limit the number of hours a generator may operate during emergency use, though keep in mind that Tier 2 emission standards are in place during emergency usage.

For non-emergency use, the EPA limits operation to 100 hours per year, which includes maintenance, testing, and exercise usage. Prime power, rate curtailment, and storm avoidance are all considered non-emergency use.

What if my generator is already Tier 4i certified?

The 2015 4F classification applies only to new generator sets installed after the standard’s effective date. 4i certifications have been in effect since 2011, so all units installed since 2011 are acceptable for continued usage without being re-certified.

Certified, compliant, or verified?

You may see all of these terms when looking for 4i or 4F compliance, so it’s important to understand what they mean.

Certified: Your complete system was tested by the EPA on the manufacturer’s site. No additional testing is required once installed.

Compliant: This means your system was tested internally by its manufacturer and complies with 4i or 4F standards, but must be tested again by the EPA once installed to verify compliance. This is also referred to as “verified.” Site verification is not a substitute for EPA certification.

The Outcome?

With the completion of Tier 4, annual emission reductions are estimated at 738,000 tons of NOx and 129,000 tons of PM. By 2030, an annual 12,000 premature deaths would be prevented.

Absolute Generators is proud to carry a selection of EPA Tier 4 Certified generators for our customers. Many of the machines we offer are EPA Tier 3 certified, CARB Compliant, and accordant with a number of other agencies. When you're searching for a new generator, you can find out what agencies have approved your generator by using the search tool bar on the left side of the page, scrolling all the way down to 'Agency Compliance', and selecting the agencies from the dropdown menu. 

Some generators are built especially for heavy-duty, intensive applications. This week we'll compare and contrast some of the top professional-grade diesel generator models ideal for military applications. 

 Gillette GPED-65EK Portable Diesel Generator

This professional grade diesel generator is designed to provide clean, temporary electric power to lighting, small electric motors, power tools, and other similar commercial and industrial machinery. Gillette's exclusive excitation system, "Power Assist," uses a power capacitor and a unique new winding design to insure minimum power fluctuations. This model features an output of 6,500 surge and 5,000 rated watts, offers electric and recoil start, and is CARB approved.

Voltmaster XDR60EL Portable Diesel Generator

The XDR60EL provides an electric and recoil starting 10HP Kohler diesel engine with an output of 6,000 surge and 5,500 rated watts. This model is great for difficult portable power environments, featuring low oil shutdown, a heavy duty frame, steel fuel tank, and a fully equipped control panel with GFCI protected receptacles. EPA compliant and CARB approved. 

Multiquip DA7000SSA2 Silent Diesel Generator

This compact and portable single-phase WhisperWatt Super-Silent military generator pvodies 7,000 watts with 120 and 240 Volt outputs and a 2-pole field. You can rely on consistent, clean power and enhanced fuel efficiency, and feel confident with your robust analog control panel featuring an amp meter, voltmeter, frequency meter, circuit breaker, (2) 30A and (1) 50A twist lock plugs, and (1) duplex 120V receptacle. Consider adding a trailer for enhanced portability. CARB approved. 

Multiquip DCA45SSIV4F Silent Diesel Generator

When you need a lot of power, look towards the DC45 and higher. With an output of 40,000 Watts, this model is ideal for your construction project, event, military exercise, and other professional tasks, and will support your heavy-duty operations with switchable and even simultaneous single and three-phase power capabilities. This Multiquip model features auto start and stop, Isuzu industrial diesel engine, high-tech brushless alternator, 79.2 gallon fuel tank, and a sound-attenuated exterior boasting an incredibly low noise rating of 66dB. CARB approved. 

Multiquip DCA70SSJU4I Silent Diesel Generator

This emergency grade portable diesel generator offers an output of 62,000 Watts, electric start, and an industrial grade DOC and DPF fitted 107HP turbocharged John Deere engine to maximize operational strength. With a significant investment in quality, versatility, dependability, and long-term durability, you'll receive simultaneous single and three-phase power, ample 3-phase terminals and single phase receptacles, limitless excitation for easy starting, and limited down time enhanced by an open delta brushless alternator design. CARB approved. 

 Multiquip DCA125SSJU4I Silent Diesel Generator

One of the highest output ratings provided by Absolute Generators, the DCA125 provides 110,000 surge and 100,000 continuous watts, and a 4-cycle, direct injection, watercooled, 166HP turbocharged diesel John Deere engine. Surrounded by a weatherproof steel housing coated with E-coat and powder paint for suppressed noise level of just 70dB, this model features a 168 gallon fuel tank with direct reading gauges, partial GFCI panel protection, extensive output terminals, cold starting button and ignition, electric start, brushless alternator design, and more. This is a CARB approved military generator.

If you have additional questions about purchasing a military grade diesel generator, please contact us.

For 30 years, Voltmaster was the leading manufacturer of highway safety and traffic control products. When acquired by Wanco in 2008, Voltmaster used their knowledge and expertise to produce high-end, top quality inverter and portable generators. We're proud to offer a wide selection of these Voltmaster generators alongside our other exceptional brands. Here are a few of our favorite Voltmaster inverter generators. 

Voltmaster VI770 Inverter Generator

This model of voltmaster inverter generator caters towards our customers who want back up power, but don't need too much of it, clocking in an output of up to 770 watts. This single-phase, gas powered, recoil start generator is approved by CARB and offers 3 hours of full load operation on a small fuel capacity of .41 gallons. Excellent for well-surrounded and busy areas with a low noise level of just 65 dB. Easily transport this light (only 23 pounds), durable generator wherever you might need a little back up power. 

Voltmaster VI2000P Inverter Generator

With 2,000 watts of output, this generator will be able to power almost all of your small appliances for just under four hours at full load on its 1 gallon (gasoline) fuel tank. The VI2000P provides a low operating noise of just 60 dB, is ready for parallel operation control, and is CARB approved. 

Voltmaster VI6000 Inverter Generator

For bigger tasks and applications, we recommend a larger machine like the Voltmaster VI6000 Inverter generator. This model provides up to 6,000 watts, offers electric and recoil start, and a low operational volume of 65 dB. With its 5.8 gallon (gasoline) fuel tank, you can power your equipment for up to 7.5 hours at full load. This larger voltmaster inverter generator model offers more outlets, including 12V DC, NEMA 5-20R Duplex with GFCI protection, and NEMA 14-30R. Getting this powerful generator to and from the worksite is simple with the included wheel kit and portability handle. 

Do you Fear the Walking Dead? Whether you like it or not, the zombies are coming. The new AMC show 'Fear the Walking Dead', a spin off of the popular 'Walking Dead', is set to premier next month.  This got us thinking - if there were a real zombie attack and traditional sources of power were gone, where would everyone turn? On the show, people are able to find some gasoline (in abandoned cars and the few gas stations that weren't overrun), but supplies are short as there is no refining capacity.  What about other fuel types?

If (or when) the zombie apocolypse hits, you're definitely going to need emergency backup power – and who knows for how long. Have you started your emergency planning kit? A list of what you think you'll need once the windows and doors are barred shut and you and your family are safe inside?  We've put together some suggestion to keep you safe and zombie free.  

Whenever an emergency hits, you should always be prepared by knowing just how much power you'll need to make it through the night, week, or even months ahead. To figure that out, we suggest you use our generator wattage calculator. This tool should be one of the first steps in figuring out the right emergency backup generator for you. When purchasing a generator for backup power, you never want to overload the machine. Having too much power is better than having too little. Powering your home espresso machine or PlayStation might not be very useful, but things like a refrigerator for food storage, lighting, and medical equipement could mean life or zombie-life.

The next step is deciding what fuel type is best for you. In a zombie apocolypse, it probably won't be safe to leave your house to get more gasoline. Like many storm-ridden areas, the gasoline might already be gone, or the gas station might not even have power to service you. In that case, you might want to invest in a bi-fuel or a tri-fuel generator. These multi-fuel generators allow you to burn two or three different types of fuel so you never have to be worried about running out of power. Once you run through your gas supplies, you could switch to diesel fuel or propane. If you're in it to really survive, having a solar power generator system is the best way to go.

Emergency generators are affordable machines that feature more powerful engines with a larger fuel capacity to power your home appliances, like refrigerators, lights, and air conditioners. When the zombies start walking, you'll need one of these durable emergency generators to keep your family safe and comfortable without fear.