UK Smoke control areas
The Contura 50 series has been recommended as suitable for use in smoke control areas when burning wood logs and operated in accordance with these
instructions and when fitted with a permanent stop to prevent closure of the air control vent beyond the 30% open position when sold into smoke control
areas. The instructions for modifying the air control with the permanent stop (damper blocker) are provided at page 40.
USER OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Please read these important notices before referring to the main
instruction for detailed operating instructions.
Stove performance
Refer to the main instruction manual for details of the stove’s
performance.
Recommended fuels:
The stoves have a refuelling interval of 0.75h to achieve the nominal rated
output. Wood logs should be seasoned with a moisture content of around
30%.
Refuelling on to a low fire bed:
If there is insufficient burning material in the firebed to light a new fuel
charge, excessive smoke emission can occur. Refuelling must be carried
out onto a sufficient quantity of glowing embers and ash that the new fuel
charge will ignite in a reasonable period. If there are too few embers in the
fire bed, add suitable kindling to prevent excessive smoke.
Fuel overloading:
The maximum amount of fuel specified in this manual should not be
exceeded, overloading can cause excess smoke.
Air Controls:
To avoid the risk of excess smoke emission the air controls should always be
used as directed in the instructions.
Operation with door left open:
Operation with the door open can cause excess smoke. The appliance must
not be operated with the appliance door left open except as directed in the
instructions.
HEALTH AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Special care must be taken when installing the stove such that the
requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act are met.
Handling
Adequate facilities must be available for loading, unloading and site
handling.
Fire Cement
Some types of fire cement are caustic and should not be allowed to come
into contact with the skin. In case of contact wash immediately with plenty
of water.
Asbestos
This stove contains no asbestos. If there is a possibility of disturbing any
asbestos in the course of installation then please seek specialist guidance
and use appropriate protective equipment.
Metal Parts
When installing or servicing this stove care should be taken to avoid the
possibility of personal injury.
THE CLEAN AIR ACT 1993 AND 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. It is also an offence to
acquire an ”unauthorised fuel” for use within a smoke control area unless
it is used in an ”exempt” appliance (”exempted” from the controls which
generally apply in the smoke control area).
In England appliances are exempted by publication on a list by the
Secretary of State in accordance with changes made to sections 20 and 21
of the Clean Air Act 1993 by section 15 of the Deregulation Act 2015.
In Scotland appliances are exempted by publication on a list by Scottish
Ministers under section 50 of the Regulatory Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.
Similarly, in Northern Ireland appliances are exempted by publication on a
list by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs under
Section 16 of the Environmental Better Regulation Act (Northern Ireland)
2016. In Wales appliances are exempted by regulations made by Welsh
Ministers.
Further information on the requirements of the Clean Air Act can be found
here: https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules
Your local authority is responsible for implementing the Clean Air Act 1993
including designation and supervision of smoke control areas and you can
contact them for details of Clean Air Act requirements.
