DEFRA is an acronym for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is a department of the government of the UK. You can find out more information about them by visiting https://www.defra.gov.uk
DEFRA are responsible for the development and implementation of a number of regulations and guidelines that are related to the topic of air quality control.
Smoke Control Areas
In the 1950s and 1960s the UK suffered from terrible air quality. Winter time would bring about what was known as ‘pea-soupers’ when the air was so thick with smog and fog that it was impossible to see even just 10 feet in front. People could get lost just visiting their local shops. The quality of air was low due to the number of home coal fires and industrial smoke produced at that time.
It was for this reason that the Clean Air Act was introduced. Local authorities were responsible for applying this act to either the whole of their districts or just part of them.
Those who live in a smoke control area are required to adhere to the laws. This means that no fuel that produces smoke can be burnt in a boiler, fireplace, stove or a furnace. If you are found to be burning any fuel that does produce smoke then you may put yourself into a position where you will be fined up to £1,000.
Retailers are required to adhere to this act also and unless they have permission to do so, they are not allowed to sell fuels that produce smoke to anybody within an area that has been deemed as a smoke control area.
DEFRA Approved Stoves
The laws states that within smoke control areas, any heating appliance that burns solid fuels must be approved by DEFRA which will make it exempt from this act. This appliance is required to burn only fuel that is listed in the instructions for the appliance.
If you do not have a DEFRA approved appliance but live in a smoke control area, you are only allowed to burn fuels that have been authorised as smoke-free. One of these is anthracite. It is low in volatile matter but high in carbon. You can find a list of fuels that are both exempt and whether you live in an area that is listed as smoke controlled on the DEFRA website.
The Leeds Stove Centre has DEFRA approved stoves in stock.
