Solid fuels you can and cannot burn - rules affecting businesses

These changes affect the sales of wood fuel, coal, and other solid fuels for use in domestic fires helping to address issues surrounding climate change and air pollution.

Burning cleaner fuels will help to improve air quality through the introduction of measures designed to minimise release of harmful pollutants into the air.

How the changes affect your business

If you sell firewood

• Wood fuel, when sold in quantities under 2 cubic metres (m³) must have a moisture content of not more than 20%.
• Wood fuel must have supplier details and a unique certification number from an approved certification body, on the packaging, beside the wood or next to the price.
• The firewood must also be marked with a logo - 'Ready to Burn'.
• For quantities of wood over 2 m³, the wood must be accompanied with wording on suitability and drying instructions:

  • 'This wood is not suitable for burning until it has been dried. You should not burn wood until it has a moisture content of 20% or less. Wet wood contains moisture which creates smoke and harmful particulates when burnt. As well as being harmful to your health and the environment, this can damage your stove and chimney and is an inefficient way to heat your home. Dry it in a sunny, well-aired space for at least two years, keeping rain off in the winter. Radial cracks and bark that comes off easily suggests wood that is ready for burning. Test the wood when you think it is ready for burning, ideally with a moisture meter. First calibrate the meter and then measure a freshly split surface to get the best reading'.

If you sell manufactured solid fuel

• Manufactured solid fuels will need to be authorised and display the 'Ready to Burn' mark.
• The list of approved manufactured solid fuels, can be found at DEFRA: Authorised fuels England.
• DEFRA have not yet appointed a certification body for overseeing approved manufactured solid fuel.
• Further guidance on what you need to do to supply, distribute and sell manufactured solid fuels for use in domestic heating appliances in England is found on Gov.uk: Selling manufactured solid fuels for domestic use in England.

For traditional house coal

It is now illegal for a business to sell traditional house coal also known as bituminous coal) for use in homes.

Businesses can continue to sell 'smokeless' fuels including:

• anthracite coal
• semi-anthracite coal
• low volatile steam coal

How to prepare your business

The following links will signpost you to further information which will help your business comply with solid fuel regulations:

• Read the Air Quality Regulations at The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020.
• Further guidance for businesses on the sale of solid fuel and wood fuel is available at Business Companion: Selling solid fuel and wood fuel.
• If you are a fuel manufacturer, importer or distributor, find out how to apply for authorisation or apply to get fuel authorised for use in smoke control areas at Gov.uk: Getting fuel authorised for sale in smoke control areas.
• Sign up for the relevant accreditation schemes such as Approved Coal Merchants Scheme. See Solid Fuel Association.
• Hetas: Ready to burn has been appointed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to run the Ready to Burn certification scheme for solid fuel
• Woodsure: Ready to burn has been appointed by Defra to run the certification scheme for wood fuel.
• Rules for coal merchants and retailers selling traditional house coal for use in domestic appliances in England can be seen at Gov.uk: Selling coal for domestic use in England.
• What you need to do to supply, distribute and sell manufactured solid fuels for use in domestic heating appliances in England. See Gov.uk: Selling manufactured solid fuels for domestic use in England.