Essential for homes in areas without a mains gas supply. These systems burn solid fuels like wood, coal, or biomass to generate heat and hot water.
Popularity of open fires and wood-burning stoves have risen over recent years and as a result, they have become major contributors to air pollution. All larger towns and cities have Smoke Control Areas, often called “Smokeless zones”. It is important to know the rules or you may unknowingly be committing an offence, visit UK-Air DEFRA page for more information.
To get up to date information and map you might also visit UK-Air DEFRA website.
Essential for homes in areas without a mains gas supply. These systems burn solid fuels like wood, coal, or biomass to generate heat and hot water.
All stoves placed on the market after January 2022 must be Ecodesign compliant. This legislation does not apply to appliances purchased before this date.
| Ecodesign requirements set criteria around a stove’s emissions and efficiency, in order to be compliant: |
|---|
| The stove must not emit more than a specified amount of pollutants( including: particulate matter (PM), organic gaseous compounds (OGC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). |
| The stove must reach a certain level of efficiency, a more efficient stove can product more heat using less fuel. |
| Check whether your stove is ecodesign compliant by checking your brochure or contacting your retailer. |
If you want to ensure that you are making the most sustainable and the least polluting choice, you may wish to purchase a wood burning stove that meets one of the following certifications:
| Certification:
|
details: |
|---|---|
| HETAS Cleaner Choice Approval Scheme | As well as being DEFRA-exempt and listed on the DEFRA-website, these stoves emit at least 50% less particulates than required for DEFRA-exemption. |
| Clearskies
|
There are 5 levels to the Clearskies certification scheme. Level 3 stoves are DEFRA-exempt and ecodesign compliant. Level 4 stoves release 15% less pollutants than required to be ecodesign compliant, and level 5 stoves release 15% less than level 4. |
| Nordic Ecolabel or Nordic Swan
|
Stove brands from Nordic countries may also show this certification, which sets out rigorous emission and efficiency targets for both stove production and usage. |
HETAS registered installers can self-certify that their work complies with the relevant building regulations and issue the customer with a certificate of compliance. A copy of the certificate is also sent to HETAS who will notify us on their behalf.
Alternatively, if the installer is not HETAS registered you must apply to the Building Control department for a building notice, and pay the appropriate fee.
Some appliances are exempt in England when using the specified fuels and operated in accordance with the conditions. For further information on exempt appliances For further information on exempt appliances visit DEFRA's website.
The purpose of the scheme is to help inform consumers about the importance of using clean, quality wood fuel to help reduce the impacts of domestic burning on the environment. Further information can be found on Ready to Burn website.
Read Woodsure Ready to Burn guide provides simple steps for those that use wood burning stoves or open fires to reduce environmental and health impacts.
Other useful guides on wood burning and open fires can be found on Defra website.
Visit Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs webpage for more information on Open fires and wood burning stoves.
Environmental Health team
If you have an enquiry, send a message to the Environmental Health team
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