Wood and solid fuel burning in commercial premises is a main source of small particle (PM2.5) air pollution in London.
Burning wood and other solid fuels always releases small harmful particles, even if you can’t see smoke. This polluted air is bad for people’s health. Use electricity or gas for cooking and heating when you can; this helps to reduce air pollution and protect everyone’s health.
Most of London is covered by smoke control areas, where smoke is not allowed to come out of any chimney or flue.
A “chimney” is any structure or opening through which smoke, grit, dust or fumes may be released, and includes flues, and similar outlets even if the chimney is separate from the building it serves.
Smoke from a chimney can lead to a fine of up to £300 for the person responsible.
For more information about the smoke control area rules, please visit the UK Government Smoke Control Area rules page.
To see whether your premises is in a smoke control area, ask your local council.
In smoke control areas it is only legal to burn certain “smokeless” or “authorised” fuels or to use an appliance with an exemption from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Why do these rules exist?
Air pollution in London exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines. Burning wood, charcoal and other solid fuels releases dangerous pollution known as small particulate matter (often referred to as PM2.5). The WHO has said that PM2.5 can cause cancer, asthma, heart disease and other serious illnesses affecting our lungs, hearts, and brains. Exposure to particulate air pollution can also worsen existing health conditions like asthma or heart disease.
Reducing air pollution, including from wood, charcoal and other solid fuel burning, will help to protect your health, the health of your employees, your customers and your neighbours.
Take Action
Check the list of authorised fuels here.
Check the list of exempt appliances and allowed fuel here.
Penalties
Even if a “smokeless” or “authorised” fuel or a Defra exempt appliance is used, it is not allowed to release smoke from a chimney, and this can lead to a fine of up to £300.
Using unauthorised fuels in a non-exempt appliance can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.
Outdoor smoke can be a nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Heating
If your premises uses wood or other solid fuel for heating this may be harming the health of you, your employees, customers and neighbours.
Cooking
Commercial cooking in restaurants, cafés and takeaways is a large source of PM2.5 air pollution in London. Some of the pollution is food particles produced by grilling and frying, some is oil and fat from cooking, some is from cooking with gas hobs, and the rest will be smoke and soot from burning wood, charcoal and other solid fuels. All this pollution can be bad for health.
Health & Safety
Burning wood, charcoal and other solid fuels may release carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that can cause illness or death. This risk can be controlled through effective ventilation, maintenance, management arrangements and monitoring. For more information see the Health & Safety Executive guide to preventing exposure to carbon monoxide from use of solid fuel appliances in commercial kitchens.
Installation
When you install or change your kitchen please contact your local council to make sure that your installation is safe and legal. Think about using electric appliances rather than wood, charcoal or other solid fuels for cooking and heating.
