Verified Retrofits for Off-Road Diesel Vehicles

This page last reviewed March 7, 2013

Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation and Verified Diesel Emissions Control Strategies (VDECS)

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Currently Verified Devices   -   3 Steps to Getting Started

VDECS are exhaust retrofits, the most common types of which are diesel particulate filters (DPF). VDECS have been evaluated and verified by the Air Resources Board (ARB) to lower the harmful emissions from diesel exhaust.

Owners of off-road diesel vehicles may elect to install ARB-verified exhaust retrofits on their vehicles to comply with the in-use off-road diesel vehicle regulation. Only retrofits that have been verified by ARB to reduce emissions, meet durability standards, and come with a manufacturer's warranty will provide credit towards the off-road diesel vehicle regulation.

Due to ARB off-road regulation changes approved in 2011, exhaust retrofits are no longer mandatory. Fleets have the option to install exhaust retrofits as part of their overall strategy to meet performance requirements. Exhaust retrofits provide an emissions reduction benefit which will assist a fleet in meeting fleet average targets. In addition, installing exhaust retrofits can provide Best Available Control Technology (BACT) credit to a fleet, as well as other benefits, such as exempting a vehicle from future turnover requirements.


-VDECS Installation & Maintenance-
VDECS installation and maintenance, and related advisories

-Verification Page-

-VDECS Safety-



Currently Verified Devices for Off-Road Diesel Vehicles
For each verified Level 3 device for off-road vehicles (Level 3 means they reduce Particulate Matter (PM) by at least 85 percent), the table below links to the verification page which details more information about the types of engines for which the device is approved for use. For more information about each device, click on the device name link below. For contact information check the Installers and Contacts List.

***Cleaire has ceased operations, and currently their products are not available for sale or lease.  Vehicles that have the Cleaire devices already installed in a verified configuration will continue to meet applicable in-use fleet rule requirements.  The CLEAIRE website will be updated as new information becomes available.***
Device Name Engine Applicability
Passive Devices Cleaire Allmetal 150-600 HP
1996-2010 Models
Cleaire Lonestar 150-350 HP
1996-2009 Models
DCL MINE-X SOOTFILTER 100-1000 HP
1996-2011 Models
Donaldson NR-LNF 100 - 600 HP
3 to 27 L Displ.
1996-2010 Models

Active Devices Cleaire Phoenix 100-450 HP
3.4 to 12 L Displ.
1996-2010 Models
ECS Combifilter Up to 600 HP
Up to 12 L Displ.
Through 2007 Models
ESW ThermaCat 100-350 HP
5 to 15.2 L Displ.
1996-2010 Models
HUSS MK 810 HP or less
2011 Model or older
Internal but not external EGR



Three Steps to Getting Started

  1. Find out which VDECS may be verfied for your vehicle's engine(s).
  2. Contact an installer or manufacturer.
  3. Find out which VDECS is most appropriate for your vehicle.

1. Find out which VDECS may be verified for your vehicle's engine(s).

Only Level 2 (reduces PM by at least 50 percent) or Level 3 VDECS that have been verified by ARB for your engine and application will provide credit toward the off-road reguation (except in limited situations for experimental devices). Once you decide that VDECS may be a compliance option you wish to pursue, the first step is to determine which VDECS are verified for your off-road engines. You may examine the applicability in the table above to see which devices may be appropriate. Alternatively, the VDECS database allows fleets to search for verified devices by entering the engine family name, or by listing the engine model year, manufacturer, and displacement.
2. Contact an installer or manufacturer.

After reviewing the available VDECS, the next step is contacting the appropriate manufacturer(s) to get a list of installers, or contacting an installation facility from our online list. The installers may need to data log your engine, perform an inspection to see if mounting the device is feasible, and discuss additional options with you. In some cases, even though the device is verified for your engine, the installer will not be able to perform the installation (due to exhaust temperature, vehicle structure, or safety concerns).
3. Find out which VDECS is most appropriate for your vehicle.

There are a number of considerations fleets should account for when choosing an exhaust retrofit. When there are multiple devices verified for an engine, fleets should consider:
  • Which is the highest level device.
  • Can the device be safely installed? (View our page on VDECS visibility).
  • Are the retrofit's regeneration requirements appropriate given the vehicle use.
  • Additional impacts on vehicle operation.




Back to the homepage for the off-road diesel vehicle regulation.

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