HETAS appointed by Defra to run Ready to Burn scheme for manufactured solid fuels

HETAS, the non-profit organisation supporting cleaner and safer choices for the use of biomass and other solid fuels, appliances and associated technologies, has been appointed by Defra to run its Ready to Burn certification scheme that will underpin The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 that will come into force in England from 1 May 2021 for manufactured solid fuels.

A “manufactured solid fuel” means a fuel manufactured from coal, wood, plant-derived materials, waxes or petroleum products with other ingredients, for the purposes of combustion in domestic premises in England.

Manufactured solid fuels will be required to meet certain standards to be listed as Ready to Burn, these standards being:

1. in respect of sulphur content, either—

(i) BS1016 – 106.5: 1996; or

(ii) ISO 157:1996; and

2. in respect of smoke emissions, BS3841.

In this regulation, “prohibited characteristics” in respect of a manufactured solid fuel means—

1. a sulphur content of 2% or more calculated on an ash-free dry basis; and
2. the emission of smoke at a rate of five grams or more an hour.

From 1st May Part 4, Regulation 10 of the Legislation identifies that a  person must not supply a manufactured solid fuel that is not an authorised fuel and a person must not supply a manufactured solid fuel that is not listed on the list maintained by the Secretary of State under regulation 12.

Enforcement of the legislative requirements will be undertaken by local authorities.

HETAS has a strong history of approval, with long running schemes for appliances and fuels, running the list of authorised fuels for Defra since 2018. 

HETAS is already working with Defra and fuel suppliers to ensure a smooth transition from the current fuels list maintained by the Secretary of State for the purposes of Part 3 of the Clean Air Act 1993(2) to the Ready to Burn fuels on the 1st May 2021.

Commenting on the awarding of the contract, HETAS CEO Bruce Allen said:

HETAS is extremely pleased to be supporting Defra in this new area, enabling us to continue working with suppliers of manufactured solid fuels to identify their products as Ready to Burn and assist in guiding on the labelling of manufactured smokeless solid fuels. Air quality is an important issue that affects us all and as an industry we want to do what we can to improve air quality. Combining quality fuels with modern appliances used properly and a good servicing regime can all help reduce particulate emissions. We are already working with suppliers to ensure they can meet the new legislative requirements for fuel and product labelling by 1st May.

Firewood

Woodsure has been appointed by Defra to run the Ready to Burn scheme for firewood. Both fuels will be easily identifiable through the unique ‘Ready to Burn’ mark.

Click here to find out more about the Ready to Burn firewood scheme.