What is Eco Design 2022
Eco Design 2022 is the stove industry’s response to the DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) Clean Air Strategy, and is a Government backed and European Wide programme, the aim of which is to improve air quality and reduce pollutions/emissions. It will set regulations to achieve those goals for all stoves. Only stoves complying with Eco Design 2022 will be sold and installed within the UK from 1st January 2022. The new legislation will be written in to UK Law and is not affected by Brexit.
A number of stoves are already compliant with Eco Design 2022 and will bear the following logo.
Existing stoves are not affected, as the Eco Design 2022 scheme is not retrospective and applies only to stoves sold and installed after 1st January 2020.
The Key Areas of Eco Design 2022
Limiting the Sale of Polluting Fuels :-
Burning any wood produces Particulate Matter, known as PM, the amount of PM depends on how the fuel is being burnt. Wet wood and inappropriate fuel reduces the efficiency of stoves and leads to high emissions. Despite this being widely known and being contained in the usage instruction manuals, many people burn wet wood or inappropriate fuel – possibly because it is cheaper than the seasoned fuel. There is legislation the government is bringing in to restrict this. The correct wood to burn should have a moisture content of less than 20%, seasoned hardwoods are preferable to softwoods, as some softwoods produce a larger amount of smoke and do not burn for as long.
Improving the efficiency of stoves:-
By 2022 all solid fuel stoves must be at least 80% efficient and meet strict emissions criteria. The Stove Industry have already been working the targets and criteria laid down are met.
Update Legislation and Smoke Control Zones :-
Smoke Control Zones are already in existence, but councils have differing ways of adhering to them. The government are creating a cohesive national approach and councils will be given greater power to implement legislation. Further information will be available when the final report is published.