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Are wood burning stoves going to be banned?
3rd January 2024
Are woodburning Stoves going to be BANNED?
With Woodburning stoves and Multifuel Stoves being in the press almost daily at the moment, the question of are logburners likely to be outlawed is frequently being asked.
The problems that have been highlighted in News features are related to the emissions of PM2.5 particles that are released by stoves. These PM2.5 particles have been measured in cities and have found to be a contributing factor to Asthma and some other respiratory-related illness.
Pollution Wood burning stoves
Diesel engines are also a huge contributor to this problem and the government is making changes to legislation to tackle this the issue of pollution from a number of sources including log burners.
The Stove industry is well ahead of the Government on these changes and we have already been working tirelessly to increase the efficiency of all woodburning stoves
New schemes such as ready to burn are attempting to tackle the quality of fuels burned
Woodsure, the UK’s only wood fuel quality assurance scheme, has launched a Ready to Burn initiative to help homeowners look after their stoves and improve air quality.
Air quality and wood fuel has become a hot topic and stove owners are being asked to think about the impact of burning poor quality firewood has on the environment. A stove is only as good as the wood it burns and so the Ready to Burn stamp of approval will reassure those who purchase firewood/briquettes with its logo that they are dry enough and immediately ready to burn.
Vesta Stove feature on BBC news regarding the Banning of woodburning stoves
What do we know about the new legislation for wood burning stoves?
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs unveiled a consultation on Friday on how to introduce tighter restrictions on burning solid fuels for heating in homes. Ministers are also considering tougher regulation to deter the burning of wet unseasoned wood in private dwellings
The actual new legislation coming into force in 2022 can be found here This legislation aims to improve the efficiency of woodburning stoves and reduce the emission of PM2.5 particulates.
When does the legislation come into force?
The new legislation relating to woodburning stoves (Regulation (EU) 2015/1185 24/5/2015) is due to come into force on the 1st January 2022. At this point the finalized legislation will apply to new installations only and all stoves installed prior to this will be legal.
The legislation is an EU initiative to increase the efficiency of stoves and fuel burned in them.
The stove industry responds to the new legislation
In order to meat the new legislation we have been working to improve the efficiency of all our wood burning stoves and are proud to say the least efficient stove in our range has now exceeded the requirements at 80.9% efficiency.
Wood burning stoves have been a popular choice for heating homes in the UK for decades. However, concerns have been raised about their impact on air quality, leading to speculation that they could be banned in the future. Despite this, it is unlikely that wood burning stoves will be banned in the UK anytime soon.
Firstly, it is important to note that the government has not yet announced any plans to ban wood burning stoves. While there has been some discussion about restricting their use in certain areas, such as urban centers with high levels of air pollution, there is currently no indication that a nationwide ban is on the horizon.
Secondly, wood burning stoves are an important source of heat for many households in the UK, particularly in rural areas where other forms of heating may be more expensive or difficult to access. Banning them outright would have a significant impact on these communities, many of whom rely on their stoves to keep warm during the colder months.
Thirdly, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the environmental impact of wood burning stoves without resorting to a ban. For example, using dry, seasoned wood instead of wet or unseasoned wood can reduce emissions, as can using a stove that meets modern efficiency standards. Encouraging households to make these changes and providing incentives to do so may be a more effective way to tackle the issue.
Finally, it is worth noting that wood burning stoves are not the only source of air pollution in the UK. Cars, industrial processes, and other forms of heating all contribute to the problem, and it would be unfair to single out wood burning stoves as the sole cause. A more holistic approach that tackles all sources of air pollution would be more effective in improving air quality.
In conclusion, while there may be concerns about the impact of wood burning stoves on air quality, it is unlikely that they will be banned in the UK anytime soon. There are other measures that can be taken to reduce their environmental impact, and a ban would have a significant impact on the households that rely on them for heat. Instead, a more measured approach that takes into account the wider context of air pollution in the UK is needed to address the issue.
