Guide To Smoke Control Areas

The Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 were introduced to deal with the smogs of the 1950s and 1960s which were caused by the widespread burning of coal for domestic heating and by industry. These smogs were blamed for the premature deaths of hundreds of people in the UK. The Acts gave local authorities powers to control emissions of dark smoke, grit, dust and fumes from industrial premises and furnaces and to declare "smoke control areas" in which emissions of smoke from domestic properties are banned. Since then, smoke control areas have been introduced in many of our large towns and cities in the UK and in large parts of the Midlands, North West, South Yorkshire, North East of England, Central and Southern Scotland. The implementation of smoke control areas, the increased popularity of natural gas and the changes in the industrial and economic structure of the UK lead to a substantial reduction in concentrations of smoke and associated levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2) between the 1950s and the present day.

These Acts, together with other associated clean air legislation, were repealed and consolidated by the Clean Air Act 1993 which, together with regulations and Orders made under the Act, provide the current legislative controls. Control of smoke emissions may also help reduce emission of a wide range of other pollutants such as particles, sulphur dioxide, PAH and PCDD/F (dioxins and furans) which may be present in smoke.

Can I Still Have a Multifuel Stove If I Live In A Smoke Control Area?

Yes! Although there are some exceptions, most multi-fuel stoves can only burn authorised smokeless fuels, which means that logs are not an option. Only stoves that have been DEFRA approved for smokeless zones can burn logs in smoke control areas due to their high efficiency.

Stoves such as the Broseley Fires Serrano 5 have been DEFRA approved and are suitable to burn logs in smoke control areas allow you to burn arguably the most eco-friendly fuel while not damaging the surrounding atmosphere.

If you do not know whether you live in a smoke control area then check with your local council or simply visit this website