Following the Great Smog of 1952, Parliament introduced The Clean Air Act in 1956 in order to combat the lack of quality air that London had as a result of burning fuels like coal and wood. In fact, research has shown that the air was so bad that you couldn’t see your hand if you put it out in front of you. Here at Pearson Fuels, we try our very best to promote safe coal usage and, in this blog, we have decided to go over everything you need to know about Smoke Control Zones…

Authorised Fuels

Living in a Smoke Control Zone means that you are limited in the fuels that you can burn as you are not allowed to emit smoke from a chimney. This is where the term ‘smokeless fuels’ comes from; homeowners are permitted to burn anthracite, semi-anthracite, gas and low volatile steam coal inside their home as they are considered the safest fuels.

Exemptions

With this said, homeowners that own exempt appliances like boilers, cookers and stoves do not have to follow these rules and are permitted to use unauthorised fuels like wood and bituminous coal in line with what the manufacturer recommends on the packaging. As always, the Pearson Fuels team advise our readers to check with their local council before buying and burning unauthorised fuels in a smoke control zone as it is important to ensure that you are following the rules. After all, the government issues £1,000 fines to homeowners who emit smoke from a chimney in a smoke control zone.

Areas in the UK

The majority of smoke control zones tend to be found within large cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds; however, there are also many areas where parts of the local authority have been declared a ‘smoke control area’. As a result, this means that it is important for homeowners to check with their local council ahead of time in order to avoid prosecution.

With over 70 million new cars hitting the road each day, the need to promote clean air is more important than ever. After all, poor respiratory health can lead to things like pneumonia and even lung cancer. Here at Pearson Fuels, we stock and supply a wide range of smokeless coals that are perfect for homeowners who live in smoke control zones. To find out more information, get in contact with a member of the team today!