This sounds like it could end up just like the schools where the student are not taught to learn, but how to pass a test. The end result is a poorly educated student. The same thing with a dumb stove. That doesn't help the consumer or the industry IMO.
I'm intrigued by the Australian stove testing standards. They appear to be more rigid and hardwood based instead of cribwood. It was very interesting to see how an American stove like the Lopi Liberty was adapted to meet the Australian standard by removing two burn tubes and increasing the size of the remaining tube at the rear of the firebox. I'd love to see this version tested in November at Brookhaven.
BeGreen,
Hope you are well. There are very complex issues related to testing.
First, it should be acknowledged crib fuel based testing was NEVER meant to be representative of how a stove performs in the real world burning cord wood. The crib fuel based testing was done so to establish an apple to apple comparison between various product designs.
Second, these crib fuels have been Douglas Fir based. Regulators in the east wish to know how the stoves sold in their part of the country do based upon hard woods. Whether that be cribs or cord wood.
Third, when EPA suggested cord wood testing with hard wood, our (yours and mine) states objected in that they will no longer know how the stoves perform on the soft woods of the NW. We do not want different, mostly redundant tests that drive up costs.
You are correct and what ever test method is found to be the most effective and also satisfies as many regulators as possible, should not force the design and engineering of stoves that are diffuclt to operate in the field.
I would invite you to come visit me (as I have done in the past) in the middle of September and sit and answer phone calls. It might suprise you how many folks do not understand how their wood stove (of any brand) is supposed to work and be operated.
Many folks read about our products and claim they want one to replace their 2-3 year "X" brand stove. After 20 minutes of intro to wood burning, they set about using their other brand and finding it works just fine. As many have said in our industry, we have designed stoves to burn the fuel we test with. And standards have been also established based on the premise.
Cord wood testing will not come easy.
Stay cool on the other side!