Winter is here and nothing warms the soul quite so thoroughly as a roaring fire on a cold winter's day. But you might be wondering if you are allowed to use the fireplace in London.
The simple answer is: yes!
London has strict laws about air pollution, so it's important that any fireplaces you have are free from smoke. Although many Londoners have gas fireplaces, real working fireplaces are relatively few and far between in the city. This is partly because many areas in London are subject to smoke restrictions, which prohibit the use of certain types of fireplace or fuel.
If you have a working chimney in your home, here’s what you need to know.
Smoke Area Control in London
London is known as a smokeless zone. This means that the use of wood and coal to fuel a fire is forbidden. In London, open fires are allowed only if the coal burned produces little smoke. If your house is located within a smoke control area, an approved fuel or exempt appliance must be used when you wish to ‘emit’ smoke from your chimney. Such "smokeless" coal releases 20% less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making for a more efficient fire.
If your chimney releases too much smoke, you may have to pay a penalty of up to £300 in England. And If you burn peat, wood or coal without an authorised appliance you can be fined up to £1,000
Why wood burning and coal burning is a problem?
Wood burning is a problem because it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change. It also affects the quality of air by releasing particulate matter and other pollutants into the air, which can cause health problems for humans and animals.
According to government statistics, domestic wood burning accounted for as much as 38 per cent of PM2.5 emissions in 2019. It is estimated that PM2.5 emissions from domestic wood burning have more than doubled between 2003 and 2019 (from 20 to 41 thousand tons).
In May 2021, the Government started banning the sale of coal and wet wood for use in home fires. The aim was to cut down on air pollution. Loose coal will no longer be sold directly to customers via approved coal merchants as of February 2023.
The move has been met with some resistance from those who believe that their right to smoke is being infringed upon. However, the government insists it is only trying to protect its citizens' health by reducing air pollution.
Air pollution costs the UK an estimated £2.7 billion every year in healthcare costs, lost working days, and damage to property and crops.
Smoke from home fires is a major source of air pollution in cities like London and Manchester, where it can be seen hanging over residential areas as black clouds for several days during the winter months when people burn wet wood and coal indoors to keep warm.
In 2021, a government-backed scheme was implemented to ensure that all fuel products are certified and labelled with a ‘ready to burn’ logo by suppliers so they can be easily identified as safe for use. Retail outlets will only be able to sell fuel that is accompanied by the correct label.
How to make sure yours isn't contributing to the problem, check out these tips for cleaning your fireplace:
1) Ensure that your chimney is free from debris and that it is properly ventilated
2) Use only approved fuels (less than 10% moisture content)
3) Make sure all flammable materials are at least three feet away from your fireplace before lighting it up.
Bluestone Properties are letting agents and estate agents in South West London. We cover South West London and surrounding areas. Free free to contact us for your property needs.
