Salford citywide smoke control area frequently asked questions

Using the Clean Air Act 1993, smoke control areas can be declared by local authorities by order. These aim to improve air quality and protect public health by restricting chimney smoke emissions and the use of more polluting solid fuels and solid fuel appliances.

In a smoke control area, a financial penalty of between £175 to £300 may be issued by the Council to the person liable for emissions of smoke from a relevant chimney* (chimney of any building/ moored vessel or the furnace of any fixed boiler or industrial plant). Note: For moored vessels, to be liable for a financial penalty for smoke emissions under Schedule 1A of the Clean Air Act 1993, the smoke must have been emitted from an appliance used for heating or cooking – smoke emissions solely from the vessel’s engine to propel the vessel or to provide electric power to the vessel are exempted.

In a smoke control area, it is also an offence to acquire or sell controlled (unauthorised) solid fuels for use in a smoke control area and with a non-approved appliance. The fine can be up to £1000. Note: for moored vessels, this doesn’t apply to fuel to be used to propel the vessel or to provide electric power to the vessel.

Further information about smoke control area rules can be found from Smoke control areas: the rules - GOV.UK. 

* Under the Clean Air Act 1993 - “chimney” includes structures and openings of any kind from or through which smoke, grit, dust or fumes may be emitted, and, in particular, includes flues, and references to a chimney of a building include references to a chimney which serves the whole or a part of a building but is structurally separate from the building.

• Controlled solid fuel – A fuel that is not on the list of authorised fuels in England approved by the government Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra). Controlled solid fuels are not suitable to be used in a smoke control area unless they are used in an approved appliance.
• Authorised fuel – A fuel that has passed official tests to confirm that it can be burnt with low smoke emissions and is authorised by regulations made under the Clean Air Act 1993 and Environment Act 1995 to be used in a smoke control area. This includes inherently smokeless fuels such as anthracite, semi-anthracite, gas, low volatile steam coal and specific manufactured solid smokeless fuel products. A list of fuels which are authorised for use in smoke control areas in England is available from Defra - Authorised Fuels.
• Approved appliance (also known as an ‘exempt appliance’ or ‘Defra approved appliance’) – A solid fuel burning appliance that has passed official tests to confirm that it can operate with low smoke emissions and is suitable for burning controlled solid fuels in a smoke control area. A list of appliances which are suitable for use in smoke control areas in England as specified by the Clean Air Act 1993 is available from Defra - Exempt Appliances. An approved appliance must also be operated in accordance with its operating manual and any exemption conditions - these will be noted for the individual appliance in the online published list under the ‘View detailed information’ section.

Yes – there are already 84 separate known smoke control areas covering most of the city, that were introduced between 1959 and 1976 by the previous district and borough councils that merged to form Salford City Council. Therefore the vast majority of properties in Salford are already subject to smoke control area requirements.

As part of a wider effort to improve air quality and protect health, Salford City Council is proposing to remove all of the existing separate smoke control areas and replace them with a single city wide smoke control area so that: 

• the whole of the city including moored vessels on the city’s waterways are covered. Since the existing smoke control orders were made, Salford has been subject to boundary changes and new development. Some pockets of land now developed for residential use are not covered by a smoke control order. Whilst these areas are relatively small, there is a risk that unauthorised fuels or non-exempt appliances can be used, leading to reduced air quality and associated health impacts across the city;
• some redundant provisions are removed from the existing smoke control orders;
• enforcement of chimney smoke emissions would be consistent across the city and fairer for all; and
• consistent and accurate information would be provided to home buyers as to whether their property is located in a smoke control area.

Amendments to Part VI, section 44 of the Clean Air Act 1993 allow moored vessels to come into the scope of a smoke control area. 

Local authorities are expected to take action to reduce emissions of fine particulate matter air pollution (known as (PM2.5). Although canal boats are responsible for only a small part of the overall emissions in Salford, unregulated burning practices present an environmental health risk for those who live and work around the waterways, including the boating community. 

Bringing moored vessels into the scope of the new smoke control area means that enforcement of chimney smoke emissions would be consistent across the city and fairer for all. Canal boat owners/ occupiers may qualify for financial help from the Council to make adaptions to their vessel to avoid a penalty for chimney smoke emissions under Schedule 1A of the Clean Air Act 1993 if certain criteria are met after the smoke control order is made e.g. if:

• they have right to moor the vessel at a single mooring place within Salford for the period which begins on the day on which the smoke control order is made, and ends six months after it comes into operation; 
• they do not have access to a mains electricity or gas supply at the mooring place;
• they rely on a non-approved solid fuel burning appliance for heating/ cooking and authorised fuel cannot be used in it; 
• the owner or occupier incurs expenditure on adaptions to or in connection with the vessel to comply with Schedule 1A of the Clean Air Act before the order comes into operation; 
• the expenditure on adaptions for this purpose is appropriate and approved by Salford City Council; and
• the adaptions are completed to the satisfaction of Salford City Council.

No, you can use an existing stove. If it is a non-approved appliance it must be used with an authorised fuel. 

If you wish to purchase a new stove and want to use a controlled fuel e.g. wood, you must use an approved appliance from the Defra list of exempt appliances.

A small amount of kindling can be used to light the stove.

Yes. You can use a non-approved appliance with an authorised fuel.

Under The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020, authorised fuels that are suitable for use in smoke control areas and to be used in domestic properties must be certified and labelled by the Ready to Burn scheme – this is the suppliers responsibility. Retailers such as some petrol filling stations, hardware stores and DIY stores sell Ready to Burn authorised fuel. Authorised fuel is also available at long term mooring locations in Salford. Look out for the label on the packaging:

Wood logs sold in quantities under 2 cubic meters must be also certified as Ready to Burn. This means that the fuel has a moisture content of less than 20% and will be less polluting and more efficient than burning wet wood. However, please note that wood is not an authorised fuel – it is only suitable to be used in a smoke control area with an exempt appliance.

Authorised solid fuels are designed to burn efficiently. However, if you are concerned about the cost of heating your home there is help and advice available. You can find details about grants, tips to make your home more energy efficient and advice on your bills and links to Cost of Living help pages from the Salford City Council website. 

If you have a gas central heating system or an air source heat pump, research has shown that using this may be cheaper to run than using a solid fuel burning stove.

Yes, but only in an approved appliance from the Defra list of exempt appliances. Dry wood burns more efficiently and is less polluting than burning wet wood. Before burning foraged wood in your appliance, you should:

• Store it in a dry area, allowing the logs to air dry for at least two years before burning.
• Use a moisture meter to check that moisture levels are 20% or less before burning.
• Check for signs your wood is ready to burn if you cannot use a moisture meter:
  
  • Weight – when comparing similar sized logs from the same tree species, if the log is heavier this can indicate it is still wet.
  • Sound – a hollow sound when tapping indicates dry logs.
  • Cracked ends – can indicate dry logs.
  • Bark – the looser the bark the drier the log.
  • Colour – dry wood can be lighter in colour.

Where possible, look for sustainably sourced wood by checking it comes from a sustainably managed woodland that is nearby.

Do not burn treated wood, such as painted, stained or chemically treated wood (which includes old furniture, pallets and medium density fibreboard). These release dangerous pollutants which could have a serious impact on human health.

Further information is available from the government Burn Better, Breathe Better website pages.

You can only use an authorised fuel in an open fire place, although a small amount of kindling or timber wood can be used to light the fire.

All other Greater Manchester local authorities also have smoke control areas.

A written warning will be sent to the occupier of the property or moored vessel where chimney smoke emissions have been witnessed. If chimney smoke emissions continue to be witnessed after the initial written warning, a civil penalty ranging between £175 and £300 can be issued to the person liable where appropriate and proportionate. There are also options to appeal the penalty. Further information about smoke control area enforcement by local authorities in England is available from Defra. 

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, if smoke emissions are harmful to health or a causing a statutory nuisance, an abatement notice must be served by the local authority on the owner/ occupier of the property/ moored vessel or person responsible where smoke emissions have been witnessed. Anyone who breaches an abatement notice would be committing a criminal offence and therefore, this enforcement option could be used where appropriate and proportionate for serious and/or repeat offenders. Further information about how local authorities deal with complaints about statutory nuisance is available from GOV.UK and Salford City Council.

The acquiring or selling of controlled (unauthorised) solid fuels for use in a smoke control area with a non-approved appliance is subject to a prosecution procedure. A person guilty of an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000).

Domestic burning of solid fuel is a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions in the UK. PM2.5 is recognised as being one of the most harmful air pollutants to health. It can get into the lungs and blood and be transported around the body, lodging in the heart, brain and other organs causing both short term and long term health effects.

Even a modern, lower polluting Ecodesign compliant stove can emit over 400 times more PM2.5 than a gas fired boiler per unit of heat produced.

Domestic solid fuel burning also releases other pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

These pollutants can also be released into your home and have a negative impact on indoor air quality and health. Poor air quality has the most impact on people who are the most vulnerable in society e.g. the youngest, the oldest, those living in areas of deprivation, and those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

Smoke and soot released from solid fuel burning contains black carbon, which is a potent climate change pollutant.

As the popularity of solid fuel burning appliances increases, it is more important than ever to reduce the harmful impacts on health and the environment. In Salford, there have been over 2000 solid fuel stove installations in properties since 2005. Research carried out for Defra shows that nationally, over 99% of dwellings are using solid fuel as a secondary form of heating.

• Try to avoid or reduce the amount of solid fuel burning if it is not your main source of heating.
• Follow the product instructions when using appliances to minimise exposure to pollutants.
• Always use the correct fuel and look for the 'Ready to Burn' logo. Do not burn treated waste wood (e.g. old furniture, pallets, painted wood or fence panels) or household rubbish.
• If using foraged wood, ensure it is dry before burning - wet wood with a moisture content above 20% produces lots of smoke, particles and tar deposits which can damage your health and the environment. This can also damage your appliance and chimney, increasing maintenance costs and the risk of chimney fires. Further advice is available from the government Burn Better, Breathe Better website pages.
• If you have an older existing appliance, consider upgrading to an Ecodesign compliant enclosed solid fuel burning appliance and if you want to burn controlled fuel e.g. wood, ensure that it is also on the Defra list of exempt appliances.
• Solid fuel appliances must have local authority building control consent to be installed, or be installed by a member of a Competent Persons Scheme, for example HETAS.
• The chimney must be swept at least once per year by a professional and/or registered chimney sweep.
• Install a carbon monoxide monitor in the same room to alert you to dangerous fumes.
• Keep your home well ventilated if using a solid fuel fire or appliance by using background ventilation (such as trickle vents), mechanical ventilation or opening windows if possible and safe.
• Further advice is available from the council's smoke page and the government Burn Better, Breathe Better website pages.

Yes. You can use outdoor barbecues, chimineas, fireplaces or pizza ovens within smoke control areas. However, if your appliance uses a chimney on the roof of a building (for example, a summerhouse), then Clean Air Act requirements apply and you can only burn authorised fuel or use an exempt appliance.

No. Garden bonfires are allowed within smoke control areas. However, they contribute to local air pollution and you need to follow the rules on bonfires.

Garden waste can be disposed of by composting it or taking it to your local recycling centre. The council can also collect it in your pink lidded bin (if you have one).

Never burn any toxic items such as treated or painted wood, rubber, plastic, foam or paint – these can release toxic pollutants. These items can be disposed of at your local recycling centre or the council can collect bulky items. 

Further advice on domestic bonfires is available from the council's smoke page.

Before installing a furnace in an industrial or commercial building, you must inform the local authority. Such furnaces also require approval of the chimney height and installation of grit and dust arrestment equipment from the local authority if the furnace is burning pulverised fuel, burning solid fuel at a rate of 45.4 kilograms per hour or at a rate equivalent to 366.4 kilowatts per hour.

The furnace must be capable of operating continuously, without emitting smoke, when burning fuel for which it was designed.

In a smoke control area, you can only burn an authorised fuel or use an exempt appliance.

If you wish to install a log burning pizza oven in your food business, then there are some solid fuel pizza ovens included in the Defra list of exempted appliances that you may use. Alternatively, an authorised fuel must be used.

For charcoal grills, only restaurant grade charcoal that is included on the Defra list of authorised fuels is permitted to be used.

Please note that the premises must have a suitable extraction system in place to ensure that no nuisance, disturbance or loss of amenity is caused by odour, fumes, food droplets or noise to nearby properties. Further information is available from the Ricardo 2026 guidance ‘Control of Odour and Noise from Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Systems’.