Under the Clean Air Act, we can make all or part of the Falkirk Council area a smoke control area.
If you live in a smoke control area, it is an offence to produce smoke from a chimney of a building, or a chimney of any fixed boiler or industrial plant. You must use an authorised fuel in your appliances. The only exception is if your appliance is classed as exempt. The current maximum fine for an offence is £1,000.
If you do not live in a smoke control area, you do not have to use an authorised fuel or an exempt appliance. However, it is an offence to cause dark smoke to be produced.
Authorised fuels are fuels which have passed tests to confirm that they can be burned in a fireplace without producing smoke.
Exempt appliances are appliances, such as ovens, wood burners and stoves, that have passed tests to confirm that they can burn fuel without producing smoke.
To find out if a fuel is authorised, or to view the current list of exempt appliances in Scotland, please visit the Defra Smoke Control Areas website.
