New wood-burning and multifuel stoves have been required to meet strict limits on four pollutants, plus a minimum efficiency measured in real-world conditions, since 1 January 2022, according to the certification body HETAS1.
The four pollutants covered by the Ecodesign rules are particulate matter (PM), organic gaseous compounds (OGC, also called volatile organic compounds), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)1. HETAS describes PM as tiny particles released in smoke that can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, and sets out two measurements: PM10, particles up to 10 micrometres in diameter, and PM2.5, particles up to 2.5 micrometres1.
"Since 1 January 2022, new wood-burning and multifuel stoves must follow strict limits for these four pollutants, as well as a minimum efficiency in real-world conditions."
HETAS gives national emissions figures for 2023. Domestic combustion contributed an estimated 20 per cent of total UK PM2.5 emissions that year, while open fires accounted for 8.13 per cent and Ecodesign stoves burning dry wood for 0.84 per cent1. Annual UK PM2.5 emissions have fallen by 76 per cent since 1990, a reduction HETAS attributes in part to technological improvements, despite the growing popularity of wood burning1. The figures are based on a government-commissioned report into domestic burning and accredited national statistics1.
| Source of PM2.5 emissions, 2023 | Share of UK annual total |
|---|---|
| Domestic combustion (all) | 20% (estimated) |
| Open fires | 8.13% |
| Ecodesign stoves burning dry wood | 0.84% |
HETAS also points to the Cleaner Choice certification scheme, which it says identifies appliances surpassing the PM emission limits for smoke control areas by at least 50 per cent, and to Ready to Burn certification across England for fuel quality1. On maintenance, it states that chimneys should be swept at least twice a year when burning wood and once a year when burning smokeless fuels, with an annual service by a HETAS Approved Servicing Technician1.
Why it matters for households
The rules set a floor for any new stove bought since the start of 2022, so a household choosing a wood stove or biomass appliance now is buying an appliance that had to meet emissions and efficiency limits at the point of sale. That does not apply to stoves already installed, and the figures HETAS gives suggest the gap between old and new appliances is wide: open fires accounted for roughly ten times the share of national PM2.5 emissions attributed to Ecodesign stoves burning dry wood in 20231.
For a home relying on wood or solid fuel, the practical variables named by HETAS are fuel moisture, appliance type and age, how the stove is operated, and maintenance1. Wet or unseasoned wood and waste materials are described as bad practice because high moisture content causes incomplete burning and more smoke, while restricted airflow, slumbering and overloading are linked to smouldering fires and higher emissions1. Chimney sweeping and annual servicing are presented as factors in both efficiency and safety, including chimney fire risk and carbon monoxide exposure indoors1.
What happens next
No further dates are given. HETAS states that the UK government has pledged to reduce emissions and the impact of solid fuel burning on pollution and health, and that it will continue work through appliance certification, training and consumer education, but no timetable or forthcoming measure is set out1.