The Clean Air Act was passed in 1956 to reduce pollution from smoke.
The current Clean Air Act was implemented in 1993. It introduced a wide range of new regulations - including controlling smoke emissions and the height of chimneys.
Dark smoke
It is an offence to cause or permit the emission of dark smoke from industrial or trade premises including bonfires.
Smoke control areas
These are intended to control pollution in areas where the predominant fuel used for domestic heating is coal. In these areas it is an offence for the occupier of a building to allow smoke emission from a chimney unless it is produced by an 'authorised fuel'. There are currently no smoke control areas in North West Leicestershire.
Clean Air Act 1993 - chimney height approvals
When a new heating appliance is to be installed, in some circumstances, it is necessary to obtain approval for the height of the chimney to be used in conjunction with the appliance.
The Clean Air Act 1993 makes it an offence to cause or knowingly permit a furnace to be used to:
- Burn pulverised fuel, or
- Burn any solid matter at a rate of 45.4 kg or more an hour, or
- Burn any liquid or gaseous matter at a rate equivalent to 366.4 kW or more.
unless the height of the chimney has been approved by us and any conditions attached to approval adhered to.
In order to apply for a chimney height approval you must complete an application form and submit this to our Environmental Protection section. The application for chimney height approval must contain adequate information to enable the necessary calculations to be carried out.
We aim to give a written decision on the application within 28 days of receiving it, unless it is agreed in writing between us and the applicant that a longer period is allowed.
Last updated: Thu 17 April, 2014 @ 10:23