4
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
“The Clean Air Act 1993 and Smoke Control Areas”
Under the Clean Air Act local authorities may declare the whole or part of the district of the authority to be a
smoke control area. It is an offence to emit smoke from a chimney of a building, from a furnace or from any
fixed boiler if located in a designated smoke control area. It is also an offence to acquire an "unauthorised
fuel" for use within a smoke control area unless it is used in an "exempt" appliance ("exempted" from the
controls which generally apply in the smoke control area).
In England appliances are exempted by publication on a list by the Secretary of State in accordance with
changes made to sections 20 and 21 of the Clean Air Act 1993 by section 15 of the Deregulation Act 2015.
Similarly, in Scotland appliances are exempted by publication on a list by Scottish Ministers under section 50
of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.
In Wales and Northern Ireland these are authorised by regulations made by Welsh Ministers and by the
Department of the Environment respectively.
Further information on the requirements of the Clean Air Act can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules
Your local authority is responsible for implementing the Clean Air Act 1993 including designation and
supervision of smoke control areas and you can contact them for details of Clean Air Act requirem
ents”
“The Saltfire
ST2/ ST4 has been recommended as suitable for use in smoke control areas when burning wood.
Refuelling on to a low fire bed
If there is insufficient burning material in the fire bed to light a new fuel charge, excessive smoke emission can
occur. Refuelling must be carried out onto a sufficient quantity of glowing embers and ash that the new fuel
charge will ignite in a reasonable period. If there are too few embers in the fire bed, add suitable kindling to
prevent excessive smoke.
Fuel overloading
The maximum amount of fuel specified in this manual should not be exceeded, overloading can cause excess
smoke.
Operation with door left open
Operation with the door open can cause excess smoke. The appliance must not be operated with the
appliance door left open except as directed in the instructions.
Dampers left open
Operation with the air controls or appliance dampers open can cause excess smoke. The appliance must not
be operated with air controls, appliance dampers or door left open except as directed in the instructions.
FUEL
Wood only - All types of wood are suitable provided they are well seasoned, UNTREATED, and have a moisture
level between 12% and 20%. For soft woods, typically they will need to have been left in suitable storage for
9+ months in order for the moisture to evaporate. For hardwoods, this will usually be 18 . It is
recommended that logs should be no more than 4
” or 125mm in diameter.
If you are unsure of the moisture content of your fuel, then you can buy a moisture meter which will indicate
the moisture levels in your fuel.
