Smoke Control and the Clean Air Act

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a smoke control area. This means it is an offence to emit smoke from a chimney of a building, or from a furnace or any fixed boiler. It is also an offence to use an 'unauthorised fuel' unless it is in an 'exempt' appliance, and even then, it must be a specified fuel for that exempt appliance.  The current maximum level of fine is £1,000 for each offence.

We have produced a series of frequently asked questions about the legislation and what can and can't be done.  If, after reading this, you are still in doubt, please visit www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk, or email us at air.quality@rbkc.gov.uk

• What is the Clean Air Act and why do I need to know about it?
• Why is a bit of smoke a problem?
• Can I enjoy a real fire?
• Where can I get smokeless coal?
• Can I burn a few logs as well as, or instead of, smokeless coal?
• How can I find out about wood burning stoves?
• In my restaurant, I want to have a charcoal grill for cooking meat and fish - is it allowed?
• Am I allowed to serve traditional pizzas in my restaurant using a log burning oven?
• Can I burn wood outdoors in my garden?
• Is there anything to stop me having a barbecue? 
• Where can I get a copy of the Smoke Control Order?

Open fires are also a source of dust and grime in the home which can reduce the quality of indoor air. It is important to have your chimney swept regularly and to store the fuel correctly, and in dry conditions. It is also important to ensure that the ventilation to rooms with open fires is adequate. For more information about indoor air quality and what can be done to improve it please see the indoor air quality page on the Council's website.

Advice on how to minimise harmful emissions from using solid fuel is provided in the Environmental Protection UK’s Using Wood and Coal for Home Heating leaflet.