Smoke control area
Kirklees is a smoke control area. This means you cannot emit smoke from a chimney unless you're burning an authorised fuel or using 'exempt appliances', for example burners or stoves. These rules also apply to moored boats.
There are only a few exempted properties in certain areas. If you think your property maybe exempt, please contact us to check.
Anyone can install an exempted appliance as defined by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). If installed by a HETAS (Heating Equipment & Testing Approval Scheme) engineer, in accordance with building regulations and, if used in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, then you should be adhering to regulations.
You must not buy an unauthorised fuel for use in a smoke control area (unless it is to be used in an exempt appliance).
You can be fined up to £1,000 if you break the rules.
Smoke control areas - The rules
In a smoke control area, you can only burn fuel on the list of authorised fuels, or any of these 'smokeless' fuels (unless you're using an exempt appliance):
- anthracite
- semi-anthracite
- gas
- low volatile steam coal
You can use oil or other liquid fuels in specially designed or adapted fireplaces.
Kindling can be used in Kirklees, but there may be different rules in other areas.
Unauthorised fuels, such as wood, can only be burned in exempt appliances such as some boilers, cookers and stoves.
You must only use the types of fuel that the manufacturer says can be used in the appliance.
If you need to burn solid fuels to heat your home, choosing what you burn and how you burn can make a big difference to the pollution created. Burn Better, Breathe Better and Open fires and wood-burning stoves tell you how to reduce environmental and health impacts when using wood-burning stoves or open fires.
Energy at home also provides advice on reducing your environmental impact and ensuring your home is as energy efficient as possible. Greener Heating Guide tells you about upgrading to a more efficient heating system.
Local authorities can issue financial penalties under a civil penalty regime, rather than as a criminal offence. This will impact on guidance provided by retailers and installers to consumers of installations within smoke control areas. It is no longer a simple defence that an authorised or exempt appliance was used at the time of an offence.
Sale of certain fuels within England, including wet wood and bituminous house coals, are prohibited. All domestic sale of fuels under a certain delivery size will require verification that the fuel meets a moisture content of 20% or below for wood (2m3).
More information
Most chimney fires are preventable but every year there are more than 3000 chimney fires in the UK. The most common causes of chimney fires are improper appliance sizing, burning unseasoned wet wood, overnight burning or smouldering wood for long periods in wood stoves and infrequent sweeping and cleaning. Vist West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for advice on heating safely.
More information
Notify us of the installation of all non-domestic furnaces (16.12 kW or above). They should be capable of operating smokelessly.
We must approve chimney height and arrestment plant of furnaces which either:
- burn pulverised fuel, or
- burn at a rate of 45.4 kg or more an hour any other solid matter, or
- burn at a rate equivalent to 366.4 kW or more any liquid or gaseous matter
Contact us
- Email pollution@kirklees.gov.uk
- Phone 01484 414739