UK SMOKE CONTROL AREAS
The Clean Air Act 1993 and Smoke Control Areas
Under the Clean Air Act local authorities may declare
the whole or part of the district of the Authority to
be a Smoke Control Area. It is an offence to emit
smoke from a chimney of a building, from a furnace
or from any fixed boiler if located in a designated
Smoke Control Area. It is also an offence to acquire
an ‘unauthorised fuel’ for use within a Smoke Control
Area unless it is used in an ‘exempt’ appliance
(‘exempted’ from the controls which generally apply in
the Smoke Control Area).
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs has powers under the Act to authorise
smokeless fuels or exempt appliances for use in
Smoke Control Areas in England. In Scotland and
Wales this power rests with Ministers in the devolved
administrations for those countries. Separate
legislation, the Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order
1981, applies in Northern Ireland. Therefore it is a
requirement that fuels burnt or obtained for use
in smoke control areas have been ‘authorised’
in Regulations and that appliances used to burn
solid fuel in those areas (other than ‘authorised’
fuels) have been exempted by an Order made and
signed by the Secretary of State or Minister in the
devolved administrations. Further information on the
requirements of the Clean Air Act can be found at the
following website: www.smokecontrol.defra.gov.uk.
Your local authority is responsible for implementing
the Clean Air Act 1993 including designation and
supervision of Smoke Control Areas and you can
contact them for details of Clean Air Act requirements
The Hi-Flame Inset Convector HF5902 has a factory-
fitted modified control damper to prevent closure
of the secondary air control beyond the 5mm open
position and has been recommended as suitable for
use in Smoke Control Areas when burning wood logs.
In addition, the appliance can burn Authorised Solid
Smokeless Fuels in Smoke Control Areas
RECOMMENDED FUELS
Please note If you live in a UK Smoke Control Area
you must only burn approved smokeless fuels. The
following fuels are approved by Hi-Flame for use in
the HF5902 inset Convector:
• Wood Logs Only ever use dried, fully seasoned
chopped wood logs with a moisture content of less
than 20%.
Wood which is well seasoned makes a distinctive
‘clack’ rather than a dull ‘thud’ when knocked
together. It will also feel much lighter than an
unseasoned log. Other indicators include bark peeling
away and cracking and splitting around the outside.
Ideally wood should be seasoned outdoors for
between 18 to 24 months – the harder the wood
then the longer the seasoning. It should be stacked
off the ground with plenty of space between the logs
to allow air movement and with the top covered to
keep rain and snow out. Seasoned wood will give
you approximately 50% more heat output than the
equivalent unseasoned log.
Most types of hardwood, for instance Ash (generally
regarded as the best), Birch, Beech, Oak and Elm can
be used. However, avoid woods with a high resin
content. As a rule of thumb, the heavier the wood,
then the greater the heat output and the longer burn
time – the time between refills. All of this is providing
it is fully seasoned wood.
Never use wet or unseasoned (green) wood as this will
cause nuisance smoke and a very disappointing fire.
Its use could quickly result in the build up of soot and
creosote which, because of the higher temperatures
of stove flue gases, could easily cause a flue or
chimney fire. In addition, burning wet wood creates
other environmental problems, a less efficient fuel
economy and can eventually clog your flue system
and cowl. It will also reduce the effectiveness of the
stove’s Airwash system thus causing staining and
blackening of the glass.
Wet or unseasoned would produces the following
poor performance:
• Hard to light fires
• Fires that are difficult to keep going or to keep
burning well
• Smoky fires with fewer flames which are also of a
dull orange colour
• Increased dense grey / blue smoke from the chimney
• Shorter burn times
• Low heat output
• Dirty glass and firebricks
• Excessive and rapid creosote build-up in the flue
system and chimney
• Unpleasant smoky smells both inside and sometimes
outside the house
Manufactured or finished wood products, such as
plywood and chipboard, must also be strictly avoided
because of the high chemical adhesive content used
in their production which will also leave harmful
residue inside the stove and flue system.
For more information about wood fuel visit the DEFRA
funded National Energy Foundation website
Logpile at www.nef.org.uk/logpile.
• Peat or Turf Do not use in a Smoke Control Area.
Peat is an excellent cost-effective fuel alternative and
provides a similar calorific heat output to wood.
However, you must ensure that the peat is kept
thoroughly dry as it absorbs and retains unwanted
moisture very easily.
You can find out more about Peat by visiting these
suppliers’ useful websites – �www.peatheat.co.uk
(Scotland) and www.bnm.ie/fuels (Ireland).
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