Chimney guidance
There are no smoke control areas in the city and therefore no controls on emissions from domestic chimneys. We are able to deal with smoke emissions under the Clean Air Act 1993 for commercial premises through controlling the chimney height of furnaces in the city.
The control of chimney heights enables local authorities to take into account a number of relevant factors in determining the height of a chimney.
We will consider an application for approval for the chimney height for a furnace and give a written decision within 28 days of receipt, unless it is agreed in writing between us and the applicant that a longer period is allowed.
If we fail to deal with the application within this time period then approval without qualification is given. An application for chimney height approval must contain adequate information to enable the necessary calculations to be carried out.
Under section 14 of the Clean Air Act 1993, unless the height of the chimney has been approved by the local authority and any conditions attached to approval adhered to, it is an offence to cause or knowingly permit a furnace to be used to:
- burn pulverised fuel
- burn at a rate of 45.4kg or more an hour any other solid matter or
- burn at a rate equivalent to 366.4kW or more any liquid or gaseous mater
For more information, please go to the DEFRA website.