Explanatory note

Section 18 of the Clean Air Act 1993 empowers local authorities to declare the whole or any part of their district to be a smoke control area. Section 20 of the Act generally prohibits the emission of smoke in smoke control areas. By order made under section 21 of the Act specified classes of fireplace may be exempted from the provisions of section 20.

This Order, which applies throughout Great Britain, exempts the classes of fireplace mentioned in the Schedule from the provisions of section 20 subject to conditions requiring installation, maintenance and operation in accordance with the relevant manufacturer’s instructions and subject to certain conditions as to the fuel to be used. If these instructions cannot be obtained from the manufacturer, copies may be obtained, free of charge, from the Department of the Environment, Room B350, Romney House, 43 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3PY.