Environment Improvement Plan – new particulate emissions limits
The recent publication of the governments Environment Improvement Plan generated a great deal of interest amongst industry and in the press, with proposals to change particulate emissions limits on appliances for use in smoke control areas. In this article, the HETAS Technical team clarifies the detail of the plan and provide further guidance and information. Firstly, a short summary on the main aims of the Environment Improvement Plan (EIP).
The Environment Improvement Plan clearly states that the government is not considering a ban on domestic burning in England and it recognises that some households are reliant on solid fuel burning for heating, hot water and cooking. Additionally, a ban on domestic outdoor burning would be considered disproportionate, however improvements are being considered in reducing impacts that solid fuel burning has on air quality.
Building on the 2019 Clean Air Strategy and Environment Act, the report outlines further measures relating to clean air and emissions from the home. Find out more about the proposed changes and how you can be ready for the future.
Smoke exemption limits
The EIP impact on the smoke emissions would lower the existing allowed limit to 3 g/h from the current 5 g/h limit. As smoke emissions limits for smoke control area exemption are based on appliance output, the result of this would mean that the limit would effectively lower by 2 g/h. However, the full calculation (based on the limits provided in BS PD 6434) states that emissions should not exceed 5 (EIP=3) g/h +0.1g per 0.3kW of output. Therefore, the new limit calculations would work as the following:
Current requirement for smoke control area exemption ≤44kW
(Output (kW) x 0.3333) + 5 = Particulate Emission Limit (g/h).
For a 5kW output appliance the particulate emission limit would be 6.7 g/h
EIP requirement for smoke control area ≤44kW
(Output (kW) x 0.3333) + 3 = Particulate Emission Limit (g/h).
For a 5kW output appliance the particulate emission limit would be 4.7 g/h
HETAS Cleaner Choice Approval Scheme
The HETAS Cleaner Choice scheme is an independent initiative for the UK and includes both biomass and solid fuel heating products. The scheme sets a lower level of particulate emissions than the most stringent legislation requires within current Smoke Control Areas, and that in which the EIP is based on. To meet the requirements of the scheme an appliance must meet both the current requirements for exemption and have attained listing on the DEFRA website, whilst also achieving at least a 50% improvement on current particulate limits for exemption. The requirement limit for Cleaner Choice is as follows:
((Output (kW) x 0.3333) + 5) /2 = Cleaner Choice Particulate Emission Limit (g/h).
For a 5kW output appliance the Cleaner Choice particulate emission limit would be 3.3 g/h
If we compare this against the current smoke control exemption limits and the proposed EIP exemption limits we can see that the Cleaner Choice scheme is 50% more stringent on current exemption limits and 30% more stringent than the limits set in the EIP. This would mean that any appliance meeting the Cleaner Choice requirements will have at least a 30% improvement for particulate emissions on the EIP limits set.
For a visual comparison of the limits please see below:
As shown from the above, the HETAS Cleaner Choice scheme allows for consumers to make a more informed choice around appliance selection, and ‘future-proofs’ manufacturers marketed products to meeting new legislation proposals, as this 50% improvement will automatically meet the new limits set in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) which will be introduced by DEFRA in the near future.
Manufacturers interested in promoting products that meet the new proposed particulate reduction limits, and showing government departments, authority bodies, stakeholders and consumers that these “best available” technology appliances already exist in readiness for changes to legislation, can apply for the HETAS Cleaner Choice scheme by contacting [email protected].uk.
