Smoke Control Explained
Smoke Control Stoves, Fuels and Areas Explained:
1. The Back Ground
2. Smoke Control Areas
3. Exempt Appliances and Stoves
1. The Back Ground In 1956 and 1968 clean air acts were introduced to deal with the smog’s that were caused due to the heavy use of coal that was been used as the main form of heating in homes and in industry. These Acts were introduced so that local authorities had the power to control emissions that industrial and domestic premises emitted into the air and to declare these area’s “smoke control areas”. Since then, smoke control areas or smoke free zones have been introduced in many of our large towns and cities in the UK.
2. Smoke Control Areas Under the clean air act local authorities have the power to make part of or all of a district smoke free. Emitting smoke from a stove, boiler or furnace in these areas’s from either a domestic or commercial property is an offence and local authorities can fine a person up to a £1000 if they are found to be burning non approved fuels or burning fuels in an appliance that hasn’t been approved for use in these areas. Under the powers of the clean air act DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) is able to approve fuel and exempt appliances and stoves for use in smoke control areas in England *(see notes). If a fuel has been authorized for use in smoke free zones it is know as smokeless coal. You can then use this fuel on any suitable stove in a smoke free zone. Appliances and stoves that have been exempt are also suitable for use in smoke free zones but are only allowed to burn either wood or smokeless fuels. * In Wales and Scotland the power to approve fuel and exempt appliances and stoves rests with the Ministers. In Northern Ireland the Clear Air Order 1981, applies and the power to approve fuel and exempt appliances and stoves rest with the Secretary of State. Defra Exempt Stoves and Appliances An appliance or stove (oven, boiler, wood burning stove or furnace) which is exempt has passed tests to show that it only emits a certain amount of smoke at certain temperatures using Statutory Instruments. These test show that the appliance or stove is capable of burning wood or an unauthorized fuel without emitting smoke.
3. Click here to view our range of Defra Exempt Stoves and Appliances
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