Protocols Overview
Laboratory-based tests evaluate stove performance and quality under controlled, repeatable settings, allowing testers to quantify differences between stoves. Field-based tests demonstrate how stoves perform with local cooks, foods, practices, and fuels. The Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) maintains this list of protocols for a range of stove and fuel types.
Both laboratory- and field-based protocols have been developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee on Clean Cookstoves and Clean Cooking Solutions (TC285). The Controlled Cooking Test, Kitchen Performance Test, Biomass Stove Safety Protocol, Durability Test, and Water Boiling Test were developed collaboratively by multiple CCA partners. The other protocols shared below were developed by individual partner organizations or countries. CCA partners continue to develop and improve standards for the betterment of the clean cooking sector.
Developed by ISO TC 285
ISO/TR 19867-3:2018 — Harmonized laboratory test protocols — Part 3: Voluntary performance targets for cookstoves based on laboratory testing
ISO/TR 21276:2018 — Vocabulary
ISO 19869:2019 — Field Testing methods for cookstoves
ISO/TR 19915:2023 — Guidelines for social impact assessment
Developed Collaboratively by CCA Partners
Controlled Cooking Test
The Controlled Cooking Test (CCT) is a field test that measures stove performance relative to the traditional cooking methods that the improved model is meant to replace. Stoves are assessed as local cooks prepared a pre-determined meal in a controlled setting, using local fuels, pots, and cooking practices.
As of April 2025, the CCT is undergoing revisions following a public commenting period. An updated version will be posted in the months ahead.
CCT 2.0 PROTOCOL (ENGLISH)
CCT 2.0 SPREADSHEET (ENGLISH)
CCT 2.0 SPREADSHEET (FRANÇAIS)
Kitchen Performance Test
The Kitchen Performance Test (KPT) is a field test used to measure household fuel consumption. It evaluates the impact of a cooking intervention by quantifying fuel consumption by all stoves and fuels used in an household under typical, real-world household and stove usage conditions, which can be compared before and after the introduction of a new cooking device. KPTs are typically conducted in the course of dissemination efforts with real consumers cooking normally, giving the best indication of real-world impacts.
As of April 2025, the KPT is undergoing revisions following a public commenting period. An updated version will be posted in the months ahead.
KPT 4.0 PROTOCOL (ENGLISH)
KPT 3.0 PROTOCOL (ENGLISH)
KPT 3.0 SPREADSHEET
Cookstove Field Study Resources
The Cookstove Field Study Resources document aims to assist teams in developing and implementing field studies to evaluate the performance of cookstoves. It also provides basic information on comparing different options for study design, determining sample size, considering different sampling methods, and selecting means of data collection.
This document was developed to facilitate the work of the Field Testing Working Group of TC 285, which resulted in ISO 19869:2019 – Field Testing Methods for Cookstoves.
COOKSTOVE FIELD STUDY RESOURCES
Testing and Reporting Solar Cooker Performance
The Testing and Reporting Solar Cooker Performance is the American Society of Agricultural Engineers’ (ASAE) standard procedure to address all solar-powered, batch-process food and water heating devices (solar cookers). This standard is designed to promote uniformity and consistency in the terms and units used to describe, test, rate, and evaluate solar cookers, solar cooker components, and solar cooker operation.
ASAE STANDARD S 5801 (ENGLISH)
Durability Protocol
The Durability Protocol provides methods for evaluating cookstove durability and quality by identifying the highest risks for component failure for a given stove model. Durability is not included as part of ISO 19867, developed by TC 285.
DURABILITY 1.0 PROTOCOL (ENGLISH)
DURABILITY 1.0 PROTOCOL (FRANÇAIS)
Biomass Stove Safety Protocol
The Biomass Stove Safety Protocol (BSSP) includes guidelines and safety evaluation procedures. The safety test results in an overall safety rating calculated through a combination of individual test results. Safety is now included as part of ISO 19867, developed by TC 285.
BSSP 1.1 PROTOCOL (ENGLISH)
BSSP 1.1 SPREADSHEET
Water Boiling Test
The Water Boiling Test (WBT) is a laboratory-based test that can be used to measure how efficiently a stove uses fuel to heat water in a cooking pot and the quantity of emissions produced while cooking. Version 4.2.3 reflects comments submitted during a public comment period ending in late 2009 and includes recommendations for both standardized testing and using local pots and fuels.
The WBT was the basis of IWA 11:2012, which was replaced by ISO 19867 in 2018.
WBT 4.2.3 PROTOCOL (ENGLISH)
WBT 4.2.2 ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES (ENGLISH)
WBT 4.1.2 PROTOCOL CHANGES (ENGLISH)
WBT 4.1.2 SPREADSHEET CHANGES (ENGLISH)
WBT 4.2.3 SPREADSHEET CHANGES (ENGLISH)
WBT 4.2.3 PROTOCOL (ESPAÑOL)
WBT 4.2.3 PROTOCOL (FRANÇAIS)
WBT 4.2 PROTOCOL FOR CHARCOAL STOVES (ENGLISH)
WBT 4.2.4 SPREADSHEET
UPDATE FOR TESTING PLANCHA STOVES (SPANISH)
Developed by Individual CCA Partner Organizations or Countries
Adapted Water Boiling Test
The Adapted Water Boiling Test was designed by the GERES stove testing center in Cambodia. The main characteristics of the AWBT are that both cookstoves are tested at the same time (when possible); the same quantity of fuel is used in both cookstoves; there is no “hot start” step; the fuel is not weighed during the test; approximate local cooking conditions are used.
Emissions and Performance Test Protocol
The Stove Manufacturers Emissions & Performance Test Protocol (EPTP), developed by the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado State University, updates WBT version 3.0. Key modifications in the EPTP include floating a layer of foam insulation on top of the water to reduce vaporization and using 90°C, rather than boiling, as the target temperature.
Heterogeneous Testing Procedure
This standard operating procedure, developed for use at the SeTAR Centre at the University of Johannesburg, is intended to describe routine operation of stove emissions performance and stove efficiency performance with detailed quality control procedures for the reproduction of results. This procedure uses mass loss and temperature gain for the determination of thermal efficiency.
Indian Standard on Solid Biomass Chulha-Specification – Test For Thermal Efficiency
This methodology is specified in India to be used on portable solid biomass cookstoves, or chulhas, through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Bureau of Indian Standard.
INDIAN CIS 1315 STANDARD (ENGLISH)
Indonesian Clean Stove Initiative Water Boiling Test
This test methodology was developed under the Indonesia Clean Stove Initiative (CSI), a joint program by the Indonesian government and the World Bank. The baseline products are assessed using cooking tests which are combined to create a “Technical Test” (TT). The TT is a lab-based water heating test (WHT) or water boiling test (WBT). The TT combines typical cooking cycles weighted for frequency and validated against the cooking cycles used to create it. Cooking power, fuel consumption and emissions are calculated and the product is rated relative to local baseline products. Ratings for acceptability, safety and durability are conducted separately. Indonesia CSI places products on performance tiers using a “Three Star” rating system. The tiers are not part of the CSI-WBT/WHT test method. Additional test information is provided to stove submitters as to how the candidate technology performs in terms of the minimum expectations and aspirations of the community.
CSI INDONESIA TEST METHODS 2014 (ENGLISH)
Proposal for New World Standard for Testing Solar Cooker
Publication in the Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, proposing a protocol to test solar cookers, including thermal efficiency, stagnation capacity, cost per watts delivered, weight of the cooker, ease of handling and aesthetics. Recommendations for standardized reporting are also included.
PROPOSED PROTOCOL FOR TESTING SOLAR COOKERS (ENGLISH)
Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau of Beijing Municipality – Thermal performance test for biomass cooking and heating stoves
This methodology is specified to be used on household biomass stoves in China, through the Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau of Beijing Municipality’s General specifications for biomass household stoves (DB11/T 540—2008). The methodology is outlined in Appendices A – D
CHINA DB11 T540 2008 (ENGLISH)
CHINA DB11 T540 2008 (CHINESE)
Uncontrolled Cooking Test
The University of Johannesburg SeTAR Centre has developed this method that is similar to the CCT, but meal is not constrained and the cook is free to prepare what they want, how they want, with the only measurements being that of the firewood used and the final mass of food cooked as part of an actual household meal.
Thermal-Optical-Transmittance Analysis for Organic, Elemental, Carbonate, Total Carbon, and OCX2 in PM2.5 by the EPA/NIOSH Method – #83
Research Triangle Institute (RTI) performs thermal-optical-transmittance (TOT) analyses for carbon species in PM2.5 collected on quartz fiber filters in support of several Federal and State ambient air monitoring programs and human exposure studies. U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 5040, an evolved gas TOT method, was chosen for measurement of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), carbonate carbon (CC), total carbon (TC), and OCX2 (the most refractory component of OC) in PM2.5 samples collected in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) nationwide chemical speciation program. This paper presents: an overview of the EPA/NIOSH TOT analysis method, sometimes called the Speciation Trends Network (STN) method; observations on the challenges posed by using multiple instruments for an analysis in which the analytes are defined by the conditions of the analysis; a comparison of the conditions used for the EPA/NIOSH method with the conditions used for other thermal-optical analysis methods and how these differences affect measurement results; and the dependence of the OC-EC analysis split time, which is used to determine the proportions of OC and EC in a sample, on sampling location.