Finland’s only sauna stove laboratory expects testing rush in Kouvola as new EU rules take effect

Finland’s only laboratory for testing wood-burning sauna stoves expects a surge in demand this year as manufacturers gear up for tighter European Union regulations, the facility’s operators told Yle.

The laboratory, run by the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), has operated for 13 years and recently moved from Kotka to new premises in the Anjala district of Kouvola. The new facility, which includes winches to move stoves, makes testing smoother and easier, according to Hanna-Kaisa Koponen, director of Xamk’s research unit.

Testing had been slow in recent years as manufacturers waited for the EU to finalize new directives. The updated requirements now include mandatory measurement of fine particle emissions from wood-burning stoves for CE marking.

“Manufacturers have finally been able to start developing new models. We are expecting quite a testing rush later this year,” said Mikko Nykänen, a research engineer at Xamk.

Nykänen said testing a single stove model takes a few days, and the lab expects about 40 models to be tested before the end of the year. The lab has acquired new equipment and updated staff skills to handle the new tests.

Over 13 years, around 15 Finnish stove manufacturers have tested about 30 different stove models at the lab. One of them is Misa, based in Lemi, South Karelia. Misa’s production manager Sami Sinkko confirmed that the company had reduced new model development while awaiting the new standards. “We waited for information on the new requirements for wood stoves. In the near future we will bring one or two new models to market each year,” Sinkko said. He welcomed the EU rules, saying they give consumers more information and ensure uniform standards across Europe.

The lab tests not only emissions but also efficiency and safety. Efficiency tests measure how much heat from a given amount of wood remains in the sauna. Safety tests use a built-in sauna with wall sensors to verify the manufacturer’s stated safety distance and measure flue gas temperature. Nykänen noted that manufacturers have significantly improved stove efficiency in recent years.

Tags: sauna stoves, EU regulations, product testing