Free UK Mainland Delivery On All Bulk Orders*
Money Back Guarantee
Earn Loyalty Points
01981 251796
Firewood Regulations
What is the Ready to Burn scheme, and why do I have to comply?
The Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) appointed HETAS and Woodsure to run the Ready to Burn fuel certification scheme. This scheme helps consumers easily identify solid fuels that are legal to burn at home in compliance with the new Air Quality Regulations. To make it easier to digest, we have pulled together the key facts and regulations you now must follow. Read the blog here.
Are wood burners being banned in the UK?
No. Wood burners are not banned in the UK; however, all new wood-burning stoves must meet EU eco standards. To help you prepare, we have compiled all the relevant data and finding you need to know. Read now.
No smoke zones
Many parts of the UK are referred to as ‘smoke control areas’ where:
- There is a limit on how much smoke you can release from a chimney and
- You can only burn authorised fuels, unless you use an exempt appliance.
In England, new regulations suggest that you may have to pay a penalty of up to £300 if your local council decides your chimney releases too much smoke. You can be fined upto £1000 if you burn unauthorized fuel without an exempt appliance.
Firewood can only be used in a smoke control area if used in an ‘exempt appliance’
Is there any quality assurance when buying firewood?
The supply of firewood is a traditional industry and has not had much control regarding quality or standardisation in the past. However, some years ago, we worked with HETAS to develop a quality control system for firewood to provide standardisation and a quality ‘mark’ – Quality Assured Fuel. This is monitored by HETAS, the equivalent of CORGI for the gas industry.
HETAS provides certification for wood-burning stoves, qualified installers and now wood fuel. This quality system is now being run by a company called Woodsure but is still overseen by HETAS. Look out for the HETAS or Woodsure certification logos on packaging or websites. This will provide you with the comfort and knowledge that wood fuel from these suppliers will have been tightly monitored through production to provide you with a consistent product below 20% moisture content and supplied in a known and approved volume.
