DEFRA WET WOOD BAN
Defra finalised their decision on 21 February 2020 that sales of wet wood in units under 2m3 and bagged traditional house coal will be phased out by February 2021, as well as the sale of loose coal direct to customers via approved coal merchants by February 2023. Units of firewood over 2m3 will have special guidelines applied at the point of sale.
Why Buy Kiln Dried Firewood from Ashwin’s?
As a family run business Ashwin’s only sell Kiln Dried Firewood well within the 20% moisture content specified by DEFRA. We welcome the news as one cannot underestimate the impact of burning wood that is not properly dried. Burning dry wood only means you get more heat output and a cleaner burn and burning wood in an efficient wood burning stove, then you will use far less wood too.
DEFRA defines ‘wet wood’ as firewood with a moisture content of 20% or more. Ashwin’s has only ever sold kiln dried firewood with a moisture content below 20%. By checking our stock daily our moisture content is between 8 – 12% for our firewood products and our customers are not affected by the ban.
Why, all of a sudden is there an emphasis on burning dry wood?
It has been known for a long time that dry wood fuels produce much less pollution than wet firewood and house coal. In addition to this wet wood produces less heat so it is not economical to burn. Current estimates are that kiln dried wood produces up to double the amount of heat than wetter wood can provide.
In addition, smoke produced by burning low quality fuels can severely damage stoves and flue pipes, increasing the risk of chimney fires. The primary concern of DEFRA and the UK government however, is the dispersion of PM2.5 particles which are known as carcinogen.
Recent government guidance suggests that wet or poorly seasoned wood releases four times the amount of PM2.5 particles that firewood under 20% moisture releases.
Defra finalised their decision on 21 February 2020 that sales of wet wood in units under 2m3 and bagged traditional house coal will be phased out by February 2021, as well as the sale of loose coal direct to customers via approved coal merchants by February 2023. Units of firewood over 2m3 will have special guidelines applied at the point of sale.
Why Buy Kiln Dried Firewood from Ashwin’s?
As a family run business Ashwin’s only sell Kiln Dried Firewood well within the 20% moisture content specified by DEFRA. We welcome the news as one cannot underestimate the impact of burning wood that is not properly dried. Burning dry wood only means you get more heat output and a cleaner burn and burning wood in an efficient wood burning stove, then you will use far less wood too.
DEFRA defines ‘wet wood’ as firewood with a moisture content of 20% or more. Ashwin’s has only ever sold kiln dried firewood with a moisture content below 20%. By checking our stock daily our moisture content is between 8 – 12% for our firewood products and our customers are not affected by the ban.
Why, all of a sudden is there an emphasis on burning dry wood?
It has been known for a long time that dry wood fuels produce much less pollution than wet firewood and house coal. In addition to this wet wood produces less heat so it is not economical to burn. Current estimates are that kiln dried wood produces up to double the amount of heat than wetter wood can provide.
In addition, smoke produced by burning low quality fuels can severely damage stoves and flue pipes, increasing the risk of chimney fires. The primary concern of DEFRA and the UK government however, is the dispersion of PM2.5 particles which are known as carcinogen.
Recent government guidance suggests that wet or poorly seasoned wood releases four times the amount of PM2.5 particles that firewood under 20% moisture releases.
