With the controversy over wood burning stoves, BFCMA’s Dennis Milligan explains why it is worth looking at the benefits of modern stoves.
Combined with quality wood, modern stoves offer significant benefits that align with reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality.
At the start of 2025 the Scottish Government changed the law on the use of bioenergy heating systems in new builds and amended the Scottish New Build Heat Standard (NBHS) to allow bioenergy systems, including wood burning stoves, to be installed in all new homes and in existing buildings that are being converted. The minister heralded it as a “common sense and progressive step”. The Scottish Government now considers the combustion of biomass to produce net zero CO2 emissions at the point of use.
Wood fuel is a renewable resource that, when sourced sustainably, is a very low carbon option for heating. The carbon dioxide released during combustion is offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed by trees during their growth, making wood fuel an extremely low CO2 energy source, with the biogenic carbon content being carbon-neutral. The sustainable nature of wood burning comes from the fact logs are generally the off-cuts that come from pruning trees. Woodlands need to be managed to stay healthy and part of that management is pruning.
When used together, modern wood burning stoves and heat pumps can provide a comprehensive and flexible heating option and perhaps the most cost-effective solution to decarbonising domestic heat. Stoves can complement heat pumps by providing additional warmth during extremely cold periods.
With the pressure to reduce particle emissions, it is often overlooked that modern wood burning stoves burn wood more efficiently and cleanly than open fires and older stoves. The use of modern wood burning results in significantly lower levels of PM2.5 emissions.
When choosing a stove, it is worth checking out the independently verified Clear Skies website. Clear Skies can help you identify stoves that produce fewer emissions, including those that are suitable for use in smoke control areas.
Secondary heating is not regarded as essential in the SAP assessment, used to measure the energy efficiency of a house design. SAP focuses on primary central heating systems like heat pumps. However, this does not mean that a stove cannot be added to a house design. In many households secondary heating is an important part of the heating mix, especially in areas off the gas grid. In the early autumn and late spring, when it is not cold enough to justify turning on the central heating system a wood burning stove can be used to keep the whole house warm. As the operation of a stove is independent of the national grid it can be used in a power cut, providing welcome heat.
It is generally accepted that the warm glow of a fire creates a feeling of wellbeing. In addition to these psychological benefits wood burning stoves are a cost effective way to heat your home. During the cost of living crisis, when energy costs dramatically increased, the sales of modern wood burning stoves grew significantly.
When designing your new home, it is necessary to think about the heating system. Stoves require a flue/chimney and to work effectively the route of the flue/chimney should be planned. The draw in the chimney/flue is even important with modern wood burning stoves. Most people’s desire is to make the flue/chimney as discrete as possible inside the building. This needs to be balanced with the need to keep the flue/chimney as straight as possible. The draw in flues/chimneys rely on the pressure differential between inside and outside the building to release the products of combustion to the atmosphere. Bends in the flue/chimney can restrict the flow of the gases. Where bends are required to suit the design of the dwelling, the number of bends should be kept to a minimum and not exceed more than four. The angle of the bends should not be greater than 45° from the vertical, and horizontal lengths should be avoided.
Insulation is another key factor in keeping the flue gases above the dew point. Clay, concrete and pumice flue liners require insulation to be prepared and added onsite. Stainless steel system chimneys are supplied with effective insulation. Double wall pumice chimney systems have an air gap between the walls of the inner and outer blocks. The air gap combined with the natural insulating properties of pumice provide effective insulation.
Stoves operate under what is referred to as negative pressure, so if you are installing a ventilation system it is important to keep the room in which the stove is to be installed under negative pressure.
Including a wood burning stove with a heat pump can provide a versatile hybrid heating system, able to deal with fluctuating temperature conditions. If you consider installing a stove, remember the flue/chimney requirements and incorporate them into the house design.
The BFCMA is the UK’s only trade association representing the chimney and flue industry and works closely with the government, public bodies and other organisations to further the interest of the chimney and flue industry. It represents the majority of manufacturers and sole distributors in the industry.
Dennis Milligan is President at BFCMA