Why Solid Fuel Stoves in Thatched Properties?
The cost of fuel, heating and hot water costs are high on everyone’s agenda at the moment, resulting in us having a lot of enquiries regarding solid fuel burning and stoves in thatched properties. This method of heating has been used for years, but the question of fire safety is always on people’s minds. It is easy to say don’t use them but, with greater understanding of the causes of thatch fires and therefore how to understand the risks, we dont want to ignore options. We decided to contact our friends at the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) for some more information on the benefits of Ecodesign compliant solid fuel stoves for thatched properties. This allows our visitors to make more informed decisions.
When thinking about solid fuel stove installations remember that insurance requirements, building regulations and listed building/conservation requirements should all be addressed. Please also be aware of the importance of understanding the up-to-date Thatch Fire Safety information and how it is beyond the regulations in some instances. We think it is important that you have up to date information in order to make sensible and informed decisions on what you do with your thatched property. We are sure that this important contribution from the SIA about Ecodesign compliant stoves will help to answer some of the many questions we are getting. They say…
“Modern Wood Burning Stoves
Modern wood burning stoves, Ecodesign compliant, offer a very low emission, low carbon, renewable and sustainable way to heat your home. Not only are modern wood burners highly efficient and cost-effective, they are also key to delivering our net zero commitments – and complement other forms of heating such as gas central heating or heat pumps.
Wood burning stoves provide a warming backdrop to family life, creating a sense of wellbeing and the security of heating your home in the absence of gas or electricity. With an estimated two million stove and fireplace installations in the UK, representing a domestic investment of approximately £4 billion in people’s homes, wood burning also makes a genuine contribution to economic growth.
The Evolution of Wood Burning to Ecodesign
While the practice of burning wood for heat may be prehistoric, the combustion technology employed in modern wood burning stoves is anything but. The latest buzz word in solid fuel stoves is “Ecodesign” but what exactly does that mean?
Ecodesign is legislation adopted by the UK covering all forms of energy consuming products. The Ecodesign Regulation for solid fuel space heating appliances came into force on 1st January 2022 and it means that manufacturers must meet tough new standards for efficiency and emissions, specifically particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and organic gaseous compound emissions.
Thanks to significant investment in product development by stove manufacturers over the last five years, combustion efficiency has vastly improved, and emissions have been significantly reduced. So much so, that a modern Ecodesign compliant stove produces up to 90% less particulate matter than an open fire. With less than 1/10th of the carbon intensity of gas, electricity, and oil fuel, when wood fuel is used for heating, it helps to displace fossil fuel or electric heating too.
How Do I Know Which Stoves Are Compliant With Ecodesign?
Any new stove manufactured on or after 1st January 2022 must comply with the Ecodesign Regulation. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to seek independent testing to confirm compliance.
To help consumers easily identify an Ecodesign stove model and decide between the best performing stoves on the market, a new independent appliance certification scheme, called clearSkies, has been established.
All appliances certified by clearSkies have been independently verified as meeting the requirements of Ecodesign. A Level 3 clearSkies appliance has also been checked for Defra Exemption which means it can be used within a Smoke Control Area. Furthermore, appliances given a clearSkies Level 4 or 5 rating, have even further reduced emissions and even greater efficiency than required by the Ecodesign Regulation. This represents a new benchmark for appliance efficiency and emissions well beyond what is required under law.
A clearSkies certified stove features the very latest firebox technology that has been specifically designed for more complete combustion and employs secondary and tertiary air systems to burn off excess hydrocarbons, in conjunction with more efficient baffle and aeration systems. A clearSkies stove is more efficient by virtue of its design, but more importantly, it is significantly less polluting.
Protecting the Pocket
A modern wood burning stove, such as a clearSkies certified model, costs about a third of the price of electric heating and less than gas central heating for the average household under the current price cap, with that saving set to further increase as fuel prices continue to rise. This cost effectiveness, combined with wood fuel’s renewable and sustainable credentials, and the ability to source fuel locally, further reducing the carbon intensity of home heating, means responsible wood burning has a clear role to play in our low carbon future.
Because modern Ecodesign compliant stoves
- use less fuel than an open fire and some older, basic stove models,
- burn the fuel they do use much more efficiently
Indeed, anyone in a thatched property that currently uses an open fire should consider upgrading to a clearSkies stove – not only will you cut your fuel bill, you can also be assured that you are taking an important step to lowering emissions.
There is a huge choice of wood burners available on the market today from numerous manufacturers. Gone are the days of the choice being limited to a little black box; virtually every interior style can be catered for from modern Scandi style to country living chic.
When it comes to stove body materials you will most likely be choosing between cast iron or steel. Cast iron will be hard wearing and offers longer heat retention whilst a steel stove will have different advantages, such as heating up more quickly, typically lower cost and offering different design possibilities.
Looking at features such as material thickness, engineering design and operation characteristics will give you the best guide to what is a well-made appliance.
Appliance output calculation is best left to the experts. Getting it right will ensure the feeling of warmth and comfort that attracts so many of us to a stove. Local independent stove and fireplace retailers are ideally placed to offer advice and guidance on stove output.
The SIA recommends speaking to an SIA Retail Group or SIA Supporter member who will be able to provide the right pre-sales advice and after-sales support and spare parts, as well as having a wide range of Ecodesign compliant stoves to choose from.
What are the Benefits of Ecodesign compliant for Thatch?
Burning sustainably produced wood on a modern clearSkies certified appliance gives you the knowledge that you are producing low carbon heat, in the space where you need it most. Installing a stove to replace an open fire has other benefits such as improving the controllability of the fire, improving combustion enormously and also reducing heat losses up the chimney
In Conclusion – Why Ecodesign ready stoves?
If installing a solid fuel stove please go for the best stove to meet your and any regulation/insurance requirements. Clearskies certified appliances are verified as meeting the requirements of Ecodesign compliance. Please don’t buy an old model which has been put up for sale on Ebay or Facebook Marketplace!
Please do your homework and get the best, most efficient, safest and appropriate one for your installation by asking the right people to help you. If in doubt, why not speak to our friends at the Stove Industry Alliance.
Please also remember that what and how you burn are also important, not just for efficiency but for safety. Read our Thatch Fire Safety Leaflet and make informed decisions on your solid fuel burning.