With an array of misleading information in the media regarding the future of the wood burning stove industry, it's becoming increasingly confusing for our customers to separate the facts from fiction…
Here at Hampton Court Chimney Services Ltd., we specialise in the installation of Eco Design 2022 ready log burning and multi fuel stoves. Please see the common questions below for more information.
In short - yes!
By purchasing an Ecodesign Ready stove, you unlock the full potential of a modern, highly-efficient wood burning stove. This could slash your particulate emissions by up to 84% vs your existing stove (SIA research), cut fuel costs and reduce your carbon footprint whilst continuing to enjoy all the benefits that you love from your wood burning stove.
In simple terms, the Ecodesign Regulations set 1) new minimum seasonal efficiency and 2) maximum emission requirements for solid fuel burning room-heater appliances (commonly called log burners).
Only appliances that have been tested and verified as meeting the new limits will be able to be sold. The emission limits include those for Particulate Matter (PM), Organic Gaseous Compounds (OGC), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx).
Put simply, the new regulations have been introduced to protect our environment and limit air pollution, which can only be a good thing for all of us.
In an effort to further reduce the impact that solid fuel burning room-heater appliances have on our environment, stricter guidelines concerning efficiency levels and particulate matter have been introduced. Stove manufacturing companies must adhere to these regulations and stoves that have been independently tested and meet the new criteria are known as "Ecodesign 2022 Ready".
After 1st January 2022, all solid fuel burning room-heater appliances now require independent testing to show that they meet the seasonal efficiency and four emission limit provisions as laid down within the Ecodesign regulations.
Prior to the 2022 legislation, any stove installed within a Smoke Control Area was legally required to be an exempt appliance (often referred to as DEFRA exempt). Exempt appliances were designed to burn fuel more efficiently and so reduced potential air pollution. With the new 2022 rules now in place, these supersede the DEFRA exemption as the Particulate Matter Limit for Ecodesign stoves is 55% percent lower than the previous limit for DEFRA exempt stoves.
No. The new regulations only apply to newly produced solid fuel burning room-heater appliances.
The following link will take you to the clearSkies website, where you can search for your make and model of stove to see if it meets the 2022 Ecodesign Ready criteria. www.clearskiesmark.org/product-search/ (ClearSkies are an objective, independent and not-for-profit certification scheme).