With Andy Burnham now Prime Minister, the Labour government is revisiting its solid fuel burning regulations as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). The proposals aim to introduce stricter emission limits for wood and log burners, increase fines for selling wet wood to £2,000, and mandate new warning labels on stove products.
Calvin May, HETAS Head of Technical & Certification, emphasizes that wood burners are long-term home fixtures, often used for over fifteen years. While he welcomes the tighter smoke limits for new stoves, May warns the impact will be slow, taking more than a decade to influence most households. He urges the government to also tackle pollution from outdated stoves and open fires, which currently contribute the bulk of solid fuel emissions.
May highlights the critical difference between burning damp, smoky wood and dry, “Ready to Burn” firewood. He critiques the proposed warning labels for failing to educate consumers about how fuel choice and stove maintenance affect emissions, focusing only on health risks without offering practical guidance.
READ MORE: Andy Burnham’s £45 VAT Cut on Electricity Bills Nullified by Rising Energy Price Cap
READ MORE: State Pensioners Face Automatic £200 Reduction in Winter Fuel Payments Under Andy Burnham
Helen Bentley-Fox, Director of Woodsure, supports the increased fine for selling non-compliant wet wood, calling £2,000 a significant step toward cracking down on dishonest suppliers. However, she stresses that enforcement must be consistent to create a level playing field, as many genuine sellers feel undercut by competitors who evade regulations by selling in bulk or ignoring the rules.
Both experts agree that while the proposed regulations mark progress, without effective enforcement and measures targeting existing outdated appliances, the proposals will only partially address air pollution from solid fuel burning.