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.

All properties within the London Borough of Richmond are within the Smoke Control Area (SCA), therefore you are committing an offence if you

• Allow smoke emissions from the chimney of a building
• Obtain and use solid fuel, other than authorised fuel

There are some exemptions where

• The fuel being used is authorised by the SCA (Authorised Fuel) Regulations. These fuels have passed tests to confirm that they are capable of burning in an open fireplace without producing smoke
• The fuel is being burnt on a fireplace exempted by a SCA (Exempted Fireplace) Regulations. These have passed tests to confirm that they are capable of burning an unauthorised or inherently smoky solid fuel without emitting smoke

For additional information visit the visit the HETAS website. HETAS is the official body recognised by the government to approve solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services.

To complain about smoke from a chimney of a building contact the Residential Environmental Health Team on 020 8487 5123.