The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 has been created to tackle levels of PM2.5 emitted from solid fuel burning. The legislation will help to reduce levels of PM2.5 by removing the most polluting fuels from sale and encouraging the use of more efficient wood and manufactured solid fuels.
This new legislation dictates that
- Wood sold in quantities smaller than 2 meters cubed must be sold ‘Ready to Burn’ with below 20% moisture.
- Wood sold in quantities larger than 2 meters cubed may be sold above 20% moisture with a specific note detailing the process of seasoning the wood to 20% moisture.
- Manufactured solid fuels must fit the set requirements to be considered ‘Ready to Burn’, these relate to sulphur content and smoke emissions.
- Bituminous coal cannot be supplied unless in special circumstances (loose coal from approved coal merchants will be allowed for the first two years).
In order to be certified ‘Ready to Burn’, a sample of the fuel must be tested by an approved body. The fuels can then be sold with this certification.
Businesses will have until 1st May 2021 to comply with these new rules. There will be some expectations such as for forest of dean miners to continue mining and to allow small foresters longer to bring their procedures inline.
Any sales which do not comply with this legislation would leave the seller liable to a fine.
To read the full legislation, please click here.