Wood Burning Stove Regulations: A Simple Guide

Date Published: 8th November 2022

The winter months are rolling in thick and fast! As the nights grow colder, you can still bring warmth into your home with the glow of a wood-burning stove. They are a worthwhile, long-term investment to keep all corners of your home roasted and toasted.

But wait! Before you set your sights on the perfect stove, there are a few regulations that you need to catch up on. For example, what is EcoDesign, energy labelling, and how does it change which wood-burning stoves you can purchase? 

We will guide you through what to consider before proceeding with your investment. Plus, we’ll give you the inside scoop on what logos and labels to look for if you want a stove with the best energy performance. 

For all this and more, stay with Fires2U. If you’re already savvy on the regulations of wood-burning stoves, don’t hesitate to browse our extensive selection of high-end products.

What are the new regulations surrounding Wood-Burning stoves?

In 2019, the government released their Clean Air Strategy. It sought to identify sources of air pollution and find ways to tackle its rising levels. Their principal findings centred on reducing emissions from transport, farming, and UK homes. 

Individual sources of pollution can be harmful when considered as one statistic. The Clean Air Strategy found that burning wood and coal in open fires and stoves makes up 38% of the UK’s primary pollutant emissions. 

However, different regulatory bodies, such as the Heating Equipment Testing and Approvals Scheme (HETAS) and the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA), say the figure given by the Clean Air Strategy is an overestimation, as it incorporates other kinds of burning. 

Nevertheless, The Clean Air Strategy wants to prohibit the sale of the most polluting fuels. To do this, they want to ensure that only the cleanest stoves are available by 2022. 

They began this process on the 1st of January 2022, when prospective wood-burning stove owners could only purchase products that meet EcoDesign standards. But what does this mean?

What types of Wood-Burning Stoves can I buy?

Despite the rules and regulations, purchasing a wooden stove after January 2022 is a simple business. EcoDesign stoves are the more futuristic successors of the wood-burning stove. 

They even exceed the air quality standards the Clean Air Strategy set, making them an environmentally friendly way to warm your home. However, these fires are not your only option. 

You could also purchase a DEFRA-approved stove: these are fires specifically manufactured to reduce combustion, limiting the amount of black smoke a fire produces. 

But let’s go into greater detail about these two new types of wood-burning stoves! 

What is an EcoDesign Stove? 

As of January 2022, those in the market for a wood-burning stove will likely purchase an EcoDesign model. 

They are meticulously tested to ensure they meet five of the EU’s chief regulations on air quality. Before being sold to stores, their nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide levels, particulate matter, organic gas production, and seasonal efficiency are measured.

They have been clean air approved since 2017 when they first hit UK markets. Their low-carbon emissions mean that particulate matter is reduced by up to 90%, compared to open fires, and has a greater energy efficiency of 80%. 

What is a DEFRA-approved Stove? 

DEFRA stands for The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. This government body works with other departments, such as the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), to tackle the rising rates of air pollution. 

In some areas, such as compacted cities and towns, owning a DEFRA-approved stove is compulsory. 

These are likely to be considered ‘smoke-controlled areas’ by local authorities, where the stoves burnt by residents must be controlled to prevent the health implications of particulate matter. 

A DEFRA-approved fire has a top air vent that does not shut all the way: this feature is what characterises its environmental friendliness. Cutting off the air supply to your wood-burning stove causes it to smoulder and release black smoke. 

But a DEFRA-approved wood-burning stove is thought to be even more energy efficient than EcoDesign models due to its lower emission production. 

What are the rules for installing a Wood-Burning Stove?

If we’ve convinced you to get your hands on an environmentally-friendly wood-burning stove, great! But now, you might be thinking about the installation process. How long will it take? Do I have to have building permits, and what about the rules and regulations? 

It is highly recommended to employ a HETAS-registered installer when fitting a wood-burning or multi-fuel stove. They will advise on the size of the hearth required and the ideal size of stove suitable for your home.

Choose Fires2U for your energy-saving wood-burning stove!

Now you’re up to speed on the rules, start the search for your perfect wood-burning stove! Consider what type of hearth you want: modern or traditional? Marble or wood? Do you want your fire to be a centrepiece or an understated part of your room? 

Whatever wood-burning stove you choose, we’re here to help. Visit Fires2U and check out our range of EcoDesign stoves.