Essential UK Building Regulations for Wood-Burning Stoves | Log Dog Guide

Published on 1 August 2023

Posted in Stoves

Wood stoves are always a wonderful addition to any home. Burning seasoned firewood provides heat, light and a pleasant aroma to many places that feel warm and comforting. However, there are a number of UK building regulations for wood burning stoves that have been created. These regulations have been put in place to improve the safety and environmental impact of wood burning stoves.   

Luckily, there are no specific regulations surrounding the physical building and installation of a wood stove – you don’t need planning permission to install one. The new regulations mainly influence the type of fuels you’re allowed to burn. All newly manufactured certified wood stoves need to be compliant with Ecodesign, whether that be catalytic stoves or non-catalytic stoves. Alongside the physical stove itself, there are considerations to be made surrounding the hearth and flue liners.

The Importance of Using a HETAS Installer

When it comes to installing any heating appliances in your home, it’s always wise to consult a professional. Incorrectly installed appliances from unqualified workers may be unsafe depending on the situation.

Hiring a HETAS installer to install your desired certified wood stoves is essential in ensuring it’s installed correctly and follows all the new heating regulations and standards. When installing any heating appliance by a non-HETAS installer, you must notify your local authority and await an inspection. 

However, HETAS installers will understand the building regulations for wood burning stoves and can certify your stoves themselves. With their expertise and knowledge of installation, your stove will pass any inspection with flying colours.

Burning Logs

What is Ecodesign 2022?

To help reduce pollution around Europe, new wood stove regulations have been enacted to tackle the pollution produced by households using wood burning stoves. Regulations state what can be burned in a stove, and how stoves are manufactured. They apply to all stoves built and installed after January 2022, so there is no need to worry if you own one prior to this.

Ecodesign regulations dictate what fuels can be burned in a stove. In new stoves, you should only use ‘Ready to Burn’ sources of fuel which are combustibles with 20% or less of moisture. This would rule out any wet woods and shift the focus onto dry woods. 

Regardless of what types of wood stoves you have, you will need to comply with the ‘Ready to Burn’ rules. While it may be an initial inconvenience, dry woods tend to burn much cleaner and produce more heat, making them more cost effective in the long-term. This doesn’t mean any wet wood owned will go to waste either, you can dry this wood and turn it into ecodesign compliant dry wood!

 Do You Need High Quality, Sustainable Firewood for Your Log Burner?

The Log Dog is proud to provide high quality logs and kindling for your wood burning stove. All of our seasoned firewood is sustainably sourced and makes for clean, easy burning. 

Contact The Log Dog today to order your firewood today.

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