Wood-burning stoves enhance a room, especially in the winter when they can also keep your home warm.
With stoves being much more energy efficient and many looking to cut their bills, more people than ever may be relying on wood-burning stoves this year.
However, regulations that came into force in 2022 must be abided by, so here is a refresher on them.
Under new UK regulations, all new wood-burning stoves, multi-fuel stoves and fireplaces that are manufactured must meet strict new guidelines known as Ecodesign.
Installation must comply with Building Regulations and there are also rules about the type of fuel you can burn.
According to HomeOwners Alliance, the Ecodesign mark means the stove has been independently tested by an approved laboratory and meets requirements on air quality and particulates.
Stoves are tested on seasonal efficiency over a year, levels of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and organic gaseous compounds produced by burning fuel.
An Ecodesign stove which is correctly installed, well-maintained and uses good quality dry wood, is a low-carbon heating method using renewable and sustainable fuel, according to HomeOwners Alliance.
The new regulations came into force in order to cut the pollution which comes from wood burners after the Government’s Clean Air Strategy 2019 found burning stoves accounted for 38 percent of particulate matter air pollution.
If you already own one which doesn’t meet the Ecodesign standards, you can still use it but if you live in a smoke control area, this may not be the case as there are other criteria you’ll need to meet.
A smoke control area is a legally defined area where you cannot emit a substantial amount of smoke from a chimney, according to the Government website.
Households can be issued a financial penalty of between £175 to £300 if this rule is broken and there are smoke control maps online to see if you live near one.
You must not buy unauthorised fuel for use in a smoke control area unless it is to be used in an exempt appliance.
Under new log burner rules which came into force back in May 2021, sales of bagged house coal and wet wood in units under two cubic metres became unlawful.
This was after the World Health Organisation found this to be the most serious air pollutant for human health.
Only certain types of wood are suitable for burning and the wood must be dry, with a moisture content of less than 20 percent.
It can be very difficult to tell how wet a piece of wood is, so it’s recommended to invest in a moisture meter or buy from a bona fide supplier.
