Wood burning (stoves and other ways)

David WE Roberts · 2010-05-10T11:40:47+00:00

A friend sent me this - I haven't located the paper yet"the following was a Q & A in the Sunday paper, thought it may be of help?QMy neighbour has built a workshop in his garden, with planning approval from the District Council. It has a wood-buring stove with a flue that emits smoke, which I have read could contain carcinogens. Is there anything I can do?AMuch depends on whether you are living in a smoke-control area. If so, it is an offence under the Clean Air Act 1993 for your neighbour to emit smoke from a chimney, whether domestic or commercial, unless he is burning an 'authorised fuel' or using an 'exempt appliance' - one that produces very little or no smoke. Visit for further information. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the smoke might also be a statutory nuisance. In either case, consult your Local Authority Environment Department. You could take action under the 1990 Act or common law.If you are not in a smoke-control area, your situation is covered only by the 1990 Act - but, again, the local authority should assist you. If you wish to take proceddings yourself, you should consult a solicitor."My first reaction was this was a red herring, assuming the stove was included in the plans.The statutory nuisance regulation IIRC are intended to cover stuff like bonfires on washing days etc.However a quick Google to see if I could locate the newspaper article turned up stuff like"?Although wood smoke conjures up fond memories of sitting by a cozy fire, it is important to know that the components of wood smoke and cigarette smoke are quite similar, and that many components of both are carcinogenic. Wood smoke contains fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide and various irritant gases such as nitrogen oxides that can scar the lungs. Wood smoke also contains chemicals known or suspected to be carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dioxin.?Wood smoke interferes with normal lung development...

May 10, 2010 21 Replies

Rate this thread:

Onetap 16 years ago

You should try to see a top of the range gasiffier boiler running, they have lamba sensors ( as in car exhaust systems) and automatic adjustment of the primary and secondary air ratios and volumes to minimize smoke and emissions. You'd see no visible emissions other than the heat haze.

Most 'exempt' solid-fuel appliances are obviously less complicated but are regarded as smokeless for the purposes of the smoke control legislation.

Vote

Jules Richardson 16 years ago

Yeah... 2003 I think, which means there are an awful lot of decks etc. still out there that people might be tempted to cut up and burn when they reach end of life.

People in this area of the US seem pretty clued-up about not burning treated stuff, but I suspect that's not the case country-wide.

cheers

Jules

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required