Curious about IEEE 387 Class 1E backup power

I know some of you guys come from the nuclear industry. My question; Is there an emission exemption for IEEE 387 Nuclear Class 1E diesel backup power? I could dive into it, but I don’t want to. Because I swear, I saw a picture of brand new Cat 3516C power plants being installed in a new facility.

Do gensets in a fixed plant even have to comply with emissions.? Which classification would they fall in.? Obviously not onroad or offroad.

I’m not following specifics nowadays, but I’m fairly certain new installs have to be tier 4. EPA can provide a waiver for certain remote Alaska installations, tier 3. S.163 - Alaska Remote Generator Reliability and Protection Act 116th Congress (2019-2020) Funny story. I got invited to attend Diesel Instructors Day in Peoria. Trying to remember the year. We toured the C15 plant and they were doing a batch of truck engines. I noticed an assembly cell with new mechanical 3406C’s. My curiosity, made me start asking questions. The guy installing power-packs got very chatty about this oddity and the tour guide moved us along quickly. lol. The engines were going to Australia. I think they were 2 gram engines.

I worked doing emission testing for 12 years, but now retired. Traveled 8 states in the north east and have lots of stories! My initial answer is yes, they need testing. Although there are special exemptions, the EPA has regulations on just about everything that is considered a polluter in industry. Even stationary use. Usually a full annual test and lesser quarterly testing. Requirements are in their operating permit. I tested plenty of emergency standby generators with that same engine. Even factory emission certified engines that still need some testing, maybe just less frequently. The EPA has a website that you can look up information and even specific site details. Company name and site name required. Reading through permits is complicated and exhausting.

We installed new standby generators at a hospital a couple years ago. They were not emission compliant. The EPA allowed it under a "temporary use" exemption. They are only supposed to run them a max number of hours per year. The way the guy we were working for explained it, the emissions bugs weren't worked out for the high hp gen sets, so the hospital falls under some emergency use regulation. No DPF no DEF fluid. Just exhaust manifolds headed to a muffler out the top of the enclosure.

crane operator said: We installed new standby generators at a hospital a couple years ago. They were not emission compliant. The EPA allowed it under a "temporary use" exemption. They are only supposed to run them a max number of hours per year. Click to expand... That was the type of use I was thinking about with my comment above, expressed better than I did.

crane operator said: Just exhaust manifolds headed to a muffler out the top of the enclosure Click to expand... Send that soot right where it belongs . . .

In my experience, when it’s a new install, and they are say temporary use and limited hours, it might be confused with the initial grace period time frame to complete the install, testing and tuning to be able to meet emission compliance requirements. Each site permit has all the details.

crane operator said: No DPF no DEF fluid. Just exhaust manifolds headed to a muffler out the top of the enclosure. Click to expand... As it should be. People's lives are at stake.

Update: My kiddo got transferred off this project. Now, he is burying drums of radioactive tools and PPE in a salt cavern at White Sands. Too bad, I was hoping he could experience the Cats fire up for the first time.

Future is crazy & still burying it but better than a battery backup generator