Is a woodburning stove still allowed?

Yes - providing you comply with the law

Gathering wood, lighting a fire, and then enjoying the sight of real burning logs is one of life’s great pleasures, but for how much longer? In view of current and future environmental policies, the continued existence of woodburning stoves seems uncertain. So, is it still sensible to buy a woodburning stove? Here is our advice.

Woodburning stoves emit CO2 and other particulate matter. Therefore, stoves are seen as environmental polluters, but is this true, and what about the requirements – both now and in the future?

In short: is a wood-burning stove still allowed?

We answer these questions in the following sections:

Ecodesign 2022 legislation
The expected future of woodburning stoves
Points to consider when buying
Alternatives to woodburning stove

Sometimes it is better to see a stove or fire in real life with a specialist who will answer all your questions. Make an appointment with a dealer in your area to see the full range.

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1. EcoDesign 2022 legislation

Our government has strict requirements for the emission of harmful substances. These requirements are laid down in the Ecodesign 2022 legislation:

Efficiency of +75%
Fine dust emissions of -40 mg/m3

With the approved appliance and installation by a qualified installer, it is possible to comply with this legislation. But you as a user can also influence the efficiency and level of emissions by adjusting how you control your heating.

Next to EcoDesign, thu UK has several other approvals for woodburning fires and stoves:

Clearskies

In UK the ClearSkies scheme has been set up to independently certify that accredited stoves meet or exceed minimum EcoDesign Regulations. Under this scheme there is a simple scoring system from 2 to 5 to help consumers identify the stoves with the best energy efficiency and lowest emissions.

DEFRA

Exemption Some parts of UK are designated by the local council as smoke control areas. In these parts of the country it is not allowed to emit smoke from a chimney unless the fuel or appliance is DEFRA approved.

HETAS

HETAS , a non-profit organisation run their own independent special approval scheme. Their mission is to mobilise change in the industry toward lower emissions, higher efficiency and better understanding of wood burning, and having their approval is an extra mark of distinction.

2. The future of woodburning stoves

Woodburning stoves will continue to exist with no prospect of a ban. You can continue to burn wood, but you must comply with all regulations. Fortunately, this can be done quite easily!

80% of wood burning pollution is caused by stoves more than 15 years old. Modern woodburning stoves cannot be compared with older, more polluting models. Modern stoves extract all the heat from the wood because...

there is more control over the air supply.
can optimise the combustion process
achieve greater efficiency (up to 90%).

But what is a 'good' wood stove?

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3. Points to consider when buying

A wood stove lasts for 15 years on average. Has your stove been around for a while? Then check whether it meets the requirements of Ecodesign 2020, because a poorly functioning wood stove emits more harmful substances than is legally required.

Is the efficiency low, are the heating costs high or would you like to change the design? Then your stove needs to be replaced. Please pay attention to the following points when buying a new stove:

1. Power
How big is the room you want to heat? The size has an impact on the power needed for your stove. Too low a capacity will not heat the room sufficiently and too high a capacity will overheat the room.

2. Efficiency
Is your stove the main source of heat or is it just supplementary heating? In both cases, you want to create a pleasant warmth and use as little firewood as possible, that is why we recommend choosing a stove with high efficiency and low emissions. This is how you will lower your energy bills and reduce your impact on the environment.

3. Models and styles
Woodburning stoves come in a variety of designs and finishes to suit any interior. Will you choose a wood fire insert or built-in stove, or is a freestanding or suspended stove better suited to your needs?

Discover our collection!

Check the chimney or flue

A chimney or flue is essential for the extraction of combustion air, so ensure that either of these are allowed for before you purchase a stove.

Firstly, check whether the existing chimney or flue can be used for your new wood stove. Is the current flue pipe the right size, is it in good condition or does it meet regulations? If the answer to any of these is no, replace it with one that fits your new stove. Want to know what else you need to think about? These are all the points to consider when buying a new wood stove.

4. Alternatives to woodburning stoves

Are you moving away from a woodburning stove? Fortunately, there are alternatives that will provide warmth and atmosphere in your home.

Gas fire
A contemporary gas fire transforms your living room. It introduces an ambiance of warmth and comfort in your home. And if you don’t have mains gas, you can still use propane.

Electric fire
Plug your fire into the wall and at the push of a button you are ready to go. With an electric fire, the atmosphere is created instantly. You don't need a flue pipe and you can place your fire almost anywhere that there is a mains connection.

Visit a dealer for more information

Are you keen to choose a new fireplace for your home? Come to DRU Inspiration Shops for inspiration, advice, and a great selection. To decide on your purchase, you can visit your nearest DRU dealer.

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