Chimney height approval and installing a furnace

When smoke and flue gases are discharged from a chimney, at any height, sooner or later gravity will cause particles of grit, dust and soot to fall to ground level. In addition, turbulence in the air will result in a proportion of gases and fine particles also coming to ground.

It is important that the height of any chimney is sufficient to avoid the likelihood of particles becoming harmful to health or a nuisance.

Under Section 14 of the Clean Air Act, unless the height of a chimney has been approved by the local authority and any conditions attached to approval have been complied with, it is an offence to cause or knowingly permit a furnace to be used to:

• burn pulverised fuel
• burn at a rate of 45.4kg or more per hour any other solid matter; or
• burn at a rate equivalent to 366.4 kilowatts or more of any liquid or gaseous matter

These are commercial burning conditions and it is not expected that domestic furnaces would require this type of approval.

An application for chimney height approval must contain adequate information to enable the necessary calculations to be carried out - please see the form below.

We must consider an application for chimney height approval for a furnace and provide a written decision within 28 days of receipt, unless it is agreed in writing that a longer period is allowed. If we fail to deal with the application within this time period, then approval without qualification can be given.

Installing a furnace

Council approval is required to install a furnace (except domestic) and grit and dust arrestment plant where appropriate.