If after considering all the potential health and environmental impacts of installing a solid fuel appliance you still decide to go ahead there are some further things you need to consider.
Fitting, altering or replacing an external flue or chimney, or installing a new woodburning stove all fall under the Building Regulations and must be notified to the local authority.
The most common approach is to use a HETAS installer registered under the government’s Competent Person Scheme to self-certify the work and send a HETAS certificate of compliance to the local authority on your behalf, or you can make other arrangements for the installation and arrange for the completed works to be inspected and signed off by a qualified building control inspector.
Failure to comply with building regulation requirements is an offence which can result in enforcement action and could make it difficult to sell your home at a later date.
Since 1 January 2022 all solid fuel burning roomheater appliances for sale in England must have been independently tested to show that they meet Ecodesign regulations.
The local authority cannot recommend any particular type of stove or supplier but if you do decide to purchase one we recommend you choose one which carries either a Clear Skies certification mark or the HETAS Cleaner Choice Mark. Stoves carrying these logos should have been independently tested to ensure they meet the minimum requirements of the Ecodesign regulations. In many cases stoves carrying these logos will go well beyond the minimum standards.
Remember, even though a stove is marked as ‘Ecodesign’ it will still emit much higher concentrations of pollutants than other types of heating appliances and some of these pollutants are likely to enter your home.
More information on these testing schemes and the different levels of certification for solid fuel appliances are available here:
If you live in a Smoke Control Area (SCA) you must use an appliance which is authorised for use in a SCA and use authorised fuels in your appliance.
