Under the Clean Air Act (1993) local authorities may declare the whole or part of the district of the authority to be a smoke control area. It is an offence to emit smoke from the chimney of a building, from a furnace or from any fixed boiler if located in a designated smoke control area. It is also an offense to acquire an “unauthorised fuel” for use within a smoke control area unless it is used in an “exempt” appliance (“exempted” from the controls which generally apply in the smoke control area).

Exempt appliances are appliances (ovens, wood burners and stoves) which have been exempted by Statutory Instruments (Orders) under the Clean Air Act 1993 or Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. These have passed tests to confirm that they are capable of burning an unauthorised or inherently smoky solid fuel without emitting smoke. Often reffered to as ‘Defra Approved’, we offer a range of appliances approved under this legislation, and suitable for use in these areas.