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Smoke Controlled Information

Smoke Controlled Information

If you are planning to use a wood-burning stove, or fireplace in a smoke control zone then you require smokeless fuel and a DEFRA Approved stove that is authorised for use in specified areas. The information below gives a brief outline of the current legislation and options for DEFRA Approved exempt appliances and fuel sources along with links to sites where you can find out if you are within a Smoke Control Area.

Smoke Control Areas

There are a number of legislative acts currently in place to help deal with historical air pollution that was caused by the widespread burning of coal by industry and for domestic heating. The Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 were introduced to deal with the subsequent poor air pollution of the 1950s and 1960s. The poor air conditions were attributed to a number of premature deaths within the UK. The Clean Air Acts gave local authorities powers to control the emissions of dark smoke, grit, dust and fumes from industrial premises and to declare ‘smoke controlled areas’ in which the emissions from domestic properties are actually banned. Many towns and cities within the UK are now within smoke control areas.

Authorised Fuels

You are not permitted to burn fuel that produces smoke if you are within a Smoke Control Area, whether using a stove or fireplace. There are a number of fuels that are smokeless by nature, such as gas, electricity and anthracite, alongside a growing array of manufactured smokeless fuels, which means that these particular fuels have passed tests to confirm they would not produce smoke when burned with an open fireplace or stove.

Click the Link to see a list of Authorised Fuels within your area.

Click the link to see the Locations of Smoke Control Zones.

If you are in any doubt then contact your local authority, they will be able to inform you if your property is within a Smoke Controlled Area.

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Smoke Controlled Information