The sale of traditional house coal has been banned in England since 1 May 2022, according to HETAS, the solid fuel safety and certification body. The ban applies to sales in England and was introduced because of the volume of emissions the fuel produces when burned1.
HETAS states the change in its guidance on log burner rules:
The same guidance sets out what replaces it. Smokeless fuel, also called manufactured solid fuel, looks similar to coal but must meet strict emissions standards to be legally sold in England, and alternatives to traditional house coal must carry the Ready to Burn certification mark for manufactured solid fuels1. HETAS adds that modern log burners are not designed to burn coal, and that attempting to do so would damage the appliance and could cost up to thousands of pounds to replace1.
The coal ban sits alongside other dates in the same set of rules:
| Measure | Date | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wood sold in volumes under 2m³ must be certified Ready to Burn | 1 May 2021 | England |
| All stoves sold in the UK must meet Ecodesign standards | 1 January 2022 | UK |
| Sale of traditional house coal banned | 1 May 2022 | England |
Wood sold in volumes under 2m³ must be certified Ready to Burn in England, meaning it is verified as having a moisture content of 20 per cent or less1. Sellers should display the Ready to Burn mark on firewood bags1. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not currently have this regulation in place, according to HETAS1. Separately, stoves placed on the market since 1 January 2022 must meet Ecodesign limits, and manufacturers and retailers must only sell stoves that meet those standards1.
Why it matters for households
For a household that burns solid fuel, the coal ban changes what can legally be bought in England, not what can be burned in every case. Traditional house coal can no longer legally be sold there, and HETAS states that alternatives must be used instead, carrying the Ready to Burn mark for manufactured solid fuels1. Homes that hold existing coal stocks are not addressed in the guidance, and no position on burning already-purchased coal is reported.
The wider rules shape how a home can use a stove at all. Many urban areas across England are designated as Smoke Control Areas under the Clean Air Act 1993, where wood is classed as an unauthorised fuel and may only be burned in an exempt appliance, and it is an offence to emit smoke from a chimney1. Where an appliance is not on the exempt list, only smokeless fuels may be burned1. HETAS states that all Cleaner Choice appliances are on the exempt list and are tested to emit at least 50 per cent less than Smoke Control Area requirements1. For a household weighing up a stove as a source of heat it controls itself, the practical position is that the appliance, the fuel and the location all determine what is permitted. The UK home energy regulation and policy guide sets out the wider framework, and the penalty position for burning unauthorised fuel in a smoke control area is covered in the guide to fines for burning unauthorised fuel.
Installation carries its own requirements. A stove installation must be notified to the local authority, and building regulations must be met; using a registrant of a competent person scheme means the installer can sign the work off and notify the authority1. All log burner and multifuel stove installations must have a working carbon monoxide alarm appropriately placed in the room, with differing rules between England and Scotland or Wales1.
What happens next
No further dates are given in the guidance beyond those already in force. HETAS states that if a household has an older stove, it recommends looking at an upgrade, and that Cleaner Choice certified appliances are guaranteed to go above and beyond current UK requirements1. No future change to the coal ban, the Ready to Burn rules or the Ecodesign standards is reported.