The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking information on the use of fuels such as wood, house coal and manufactured solid fuel for domestic heating, and the effect that changes to the availability of these fuels would have on consumers and businesses.

Ian Sams, Specflue's commercial director, said: “Even in the face of rising wood burning stove sales, particulate matter from wood burning is diminishing, according to a study from Kings College London published by Defra on January 30 this year (http://bit.ly/2EQkG7F).

“As open fires and older stoves are replaced with more modern appliances, so they produce lower volumes of particulate matter. New Ecodesign regulations are due in 2022 to encourage even cleaner wood burners, but industry body the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) already has an accredited list of SIA Ecodesign Ready appliances that meet these regulations now.

'An SIA Ecodesign Ready stove can slash particulate matter emissions by 90 percent compared to an open fire, 80 percent compared to a 10-year-old stove, and more than 40 percent compared with a Defra Exempt stove.'

Mr Sams has encouraged people in the heating industry to get involved in Defra's consultation. He said: “This is an important piece of work that will affect the solid fuel sector for years to come because responses to it will influence the Government's Clean Air Strategy due to be published for consultation later this year. The more input the Government recieves, the better the outcome will be.”

The consultation will consider how to encourage consumers to shift from burning more polluting fuels, such as wet wood, towards less polluting fuels such as dry wood.

The consultation closes on the February 27. To contribute, visit: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/airquality/domestic-burning-of-wood-and-coal/