Can I burn Ash and Beech logs in a smoke control area?
You can burn Ash and Beech logs in a smoke control area, but only if you use them in a suitably exempt appliance and follow the conditions attached to that appliance. Ordinary wood is not automatically permitted simply because it is kiln-dried or certified as Ready to Burn.
Smoke control areas are designated by local authorities to restrict emissions from chimneys. In these areas, it is generally an offence to release smoke from a chimney unless you are burning an authorised fuel or using an exempt appliance correctly. A DEFRA-exempt wood-burning stove has been tested and approved to burn specified fuels without producing excessive smoke when operated according to its instructions.
This distinction is important. Ready to Burn certification relates to the moisture content and sale of the firewood. It confirms that the wood contains no more than 20% moisture. It does not, by itself, make wood an authorised smokeless fuel. If you are in a smoke control area and want to burn Ash or Beech, you therefore need to check that your particular stove is listed as exempt for burning wood.
Open fires are generally unsuitable for burning ordinary wood within a smoke control area because they are not exempt appliances. An open fire may instead require a specifically authorised smokeless fuel. Never assume that the rules for a stove and an open fireplace are interchangeable.
Before ordering firewood, check whether your property is located within a smoke control area. Your local authority should be able to confirm this. You can then check your stove’s make and model against the official exempt-appliance list. The conditions may specify the type of fuel that can be burned and how the appliance must be operated.
Even with an exempt appliance, use properly dried logs and avoid shutting down the airflow until the fire smoulders. A stove only performs as cleanly as intended when it is maintained, supplied with dry fuel and used correctly.
The rules in the UK vary by nation, so householders outside England should consult the guidance applicable to their location. For customers in England, the government’s domestic firewood guidance confirms that wood may only be used in an exempt appliance within a smoke control area.
