Flue, chimney and renewable heat technology supplier, Specflue, has defended clean-burning wood-fuelled stoves following the announcement of a government consultation on the impact of solid fuel on air quality.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is seeking information on the use of fuels such as wood, house coal and manufactured solid fuel for domestic heating, and the effect that changes to the availability of these fuels would have on consumers and businesses.
Ian Sams, Specflue’s commercial director, said: “Even in the face of rising wood burning stove sales, particulate matter (PM) from wood burning is diminishing, according to a study from Kings College London published by Defra on January 30 this year.
“Open fires and older stoves are being replaced with more modern appliances, so they produce lower volumes of PM. New Ecodesign regulations are due in 2022 to encourage even cleaner wood burners, but industry body the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) already has an accredited list of SIA Ecodesign Ready appliances that meet these regulations now.
“An SIA Ecodesign Ready stove can slash PM emissions by 90% compared to an open fire, 80% compared to a ten-year-old stove and more than 40% compared with a DEFRA Exempt stove.”