If you’re lighting a woodburner, open fire or outdoor stove, it’s important to understand the rules around what you can and can’t burn — especially if you live in a Smoke Control Area (SCA).
In this guide, we’ll explain what smoke control areas are, how they affect homeowners and businesses, and why choosing the right firewood matters — including how our Ready to Burn certified logs, briquettes and kindling meet UK requirements.
What is a Smoke Control Area?
A Smoke Control Area (SCA) is a legally designated zone where only authorised fuels and exempt appliances can be used. These areas are usually in urban locations — towns, cities or built-up regions — where air pollution from solid fuels could affect public health.
SCAs are enforced under the Clean Air Act, with penalties for burning unauthorised fuels or using non-compliant stoves. Fines can be up to £1,000 if you’re found burning smoky fuel in the wrong appliance.
How do I know if I live in one?
You can check with your local council, or use the postcode search tool on GOV.UK by searching “Smoke Control Area check”. Many areas in Greater London, Manchester, Birmingham and other large cities fall under this legislation.
What can I burn in a Smoke Control Area?
You must either:
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Burn authorised fuels (like kiln dried wood and briquettes that meet Ready to Burn standards)
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Or use DEFRA-exempt appliances, which are designed to burn wood cleanly and efficiently
You can’t burn:
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Wet wood (with more than 20% moisture)
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House coal
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Treated or painted wood
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Non-authorised fuel types in standard, non-exempt stoves
What makes our logs and briquettes compliant?
All firewood and briquettes sold by The Logsmith are Ready to Burn certified. That means they’ve been independently tested to have moisture content below 20%, making them suitable for use in a Smoke Control Area — provided you’re using a compliant appliance. Our logs go even further, with ultra-low moisture content below 15% for cleaner, hotter, and more efficient burns.
Specifically:
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Our kiln dried logs are dried to under 15% moisture
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Our briquettes are even lower — typically under 10%
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Our kindling and firelighters are chemical-free and suitable for clean combustion
This ensures a clean, hot burn with minimal smoke, less soot, and lower emissions — making them a smarter choice both inside and outside of a smoke controlled zone.
What if I use a woodburner or open fire?
You can still burn wood in a Smoke Control Area, but it must be:
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A DEFRA-approved stove or appliance
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Using Ready to Burn certified wood (like ours)
Open fires are legal in most areas for occasional use, but not encouraged in SCAs unless the fuel is fully dry and clean. Using wet or unseasoned wood in open fires contributes heavily to particulate pollution and can lead to enforcement action.
Why this matters to businesses too
If you run a business — like a holiday let, spa, glamping retreat, pizzeria or pub with a fire pit — you also need to comply. Providing guests with the wrong kind of fuel can lead to complaints, fines or reputational damage.
By supplying certified Ready to Burn logs and briquettes, we help your business stay compliant, environmentally responsible, and confident in what you’re offering.
At The Logsmith, everything we sell is Ready to Burn certified, delivered in plastic-free packaging, and dried for maximum performance and minimal emissions. Whether you're heating a home in London or running a fire-heated hot tub in the countryside, we help you stay warm without breaking the rules.