If you have an open fireplace in Cambridge, you do not automatically need to stop using it when Smoke Control Area rules apply to your home.

The important change is what you burn.

In a Smoke Control Area, an open fireplace should be used with fuel permitted under Smoke Control Area rules. Ordinary wood or logs cannot simply be burned on an open fire in the same way that wood can be burned in a suitable exempt stove.

Can I Still Use an Open Fireplace in a Smoke Control Area?

Yes.

A Smoke Control Area does not ban open fireplaces.

Instead, the rules restrict smoke from chimneys and the fuels that can be burned. In general, you can burn authorised fuel in a Smoke Control Area. Unauthorised fuels such as wood can only be burned in an appliance that is specifically exempt for use with that fuel.

That distinction matters for an open fireplace. If you have a traditional open fire rather than an exempt appliance, you cannot simply continue burning ordinary logs once Smoke Control Area rules apply to your home.

What Can I Burn on an Open Fire in a Smoke Control Area?

You can keep using an open fireplace in a Smoke Control Area, but you need to use a permitted fuel.

For a traditional open fire, practical options include anthracite, semi-anthracite, low volatile steam coal and manufactured solid fuels that have been authorised for use in Smoke Control Areas.

Government guidance identifies anthracite, semi-anthracite and low volatile steam coal as inherently smokeless fuels. Other manufactured solid fuels must appear on the authorised-fuels list.

Traditional house coal (bituminous coal) is different: it is illegal to sell it for use in homes in England, so don’t confuse it with anthracite or other permitted smokeless fuels.

If you’re buying a manufactured smokeless fuel, don’t rely solely on the word “smokeless” on the packaging. Check that the particular product is authorised for use in a Smoke Control Area.

Read our guide to authorised fuels and smokeless fuel →

Can I Burn Wood or Logs on an Open Fire in a Smoke Control Area?

Not if Smoke Control Area rules apply to your home.

Wood is an unauthorised fuel. In a Smoke Control Area it can only be burned in an exempt appliance that is permitted to burn that fuel.

A conventional open fireplace does not become exempt simply because the wood is:

• seasoned;
• kiln dried;
• below 20% moisture; or
• sold with a Ready to Burn logo.

Those are separate issues from the Smoke Control Area rules.

So if you currently burn logs on an open fire and your property becomes part of Cambridge’s citywide Smoke Control Area, switching to dry or Ready to Burn logs would not make the open fire compliant for wood burning.

Can I Use Kindling on an Open Fire in a Smoke Control Area?

This is an area where it’s worth being precise.

Cambridge City Council recognises that kindling may be used during the lighting-up period and that some smoke can occur while a fire reaches its normal operating conditions.

That does not mean ordinary wood or logs can be used as the main fuel on an open fireplace. Once the fire is established, the main fuel still needs to comply with Smoke Control Area rules.

Do I Need to Replace My Open Fireplace Because of the Smoke Control Area?

No.

If you enjoy having an open fire, the introduction of Smoke Control Area rules does not in itself mean that the fireplace has to be removed, blocked up or replaced with a stove.

You can continue to use an open fireplace with fuel permitted under the Smoke Control Area rules.

Installing an exempt stove is a different option. Certain exempt appliances can burn specified unauthorised fuels, including wood, provided the appliance is exempt for that particular fuel and is operated in accordance with the conditions of its exemption.

So the choice is not simply replace your fireplace or stop using it. For many homeowners who only use their open fire occasionally, continuing to use the existing fireplace with a suitable permitted fuel may be an option.

What If I Don’t Currently Live in a Cambridge Smoke Control Area?

Cambridge currently has three Smoke Control Areas covering parts of the west and centre of the city.

If your property is outside those existing areas, the planned citywide Smoke Control Area is not a reason to stop using your open fire now.

The council is progressing the citywide area, but it has not announced that the new area is in force. Once the new citywide Smoke Control Area takes effect, the Smoke Control Area rules will apply more widely across Cambridge.

See the current Cambridge Smoke Control Area status and what the changes mean →

How Do I Check Which Fuels Are Permitted in a Smoke Control Area?

If you’re buying a manufactured smokeless fuel, don’t rely solely on the word “smokeless”. Check that the particular product is authorised for use in a Smoke Control Area.

Defra maintains the official list of authorised fuels for England. Anthracite, semi-anthracite and low volatile steam coal are inherently smokeless fuels; our separate fuel guide explains these options and how to check manufactured fuels before you buy.

Authorised Smokeless Fuels: What Can You Burn in a Smoke Control Area? →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use an open fireplace in a Cambridge Smoke Control Area?

Yes. An open fireplace is not banned in a Smoke Control Area. You can continue using it with permitted fuel such as anthracite, semi-anthracite, low volatile steam coal or an authorised manufactured solid fuel, while complying with the rules on smoke from your chimney.

Can I burn wood or logs on an open fire in a Smoke Control Area?

No. Ordinary wood and logs are unauthorised fuels and cannot be burned on a conventional open fire in a Smoke Control Area. Wood can only be burned in an exempt appliance that is permitted to burn that fuel.

Can I use kindling to light an open fire in a Cambridge Smoke Control Area?

Yes, during lighting-up. Cambridge City Council recognises that kindling may be used during the lighting-up period and that some smoke can occur while a fire reaches its normal operating conditions. This does not mean ordinary wood or logs can be used as the main fuel on an open fire.

Do I have to replace my open fireplace with a DEFRA-exempt stove in a Smoke Control Area?

No. You do not have to replace an open fireplace. You can continue using it with fuel permitted under Smoke Control Area rules. An exempt stove is relevant if you want to burn an unauthorised fuel such as wood, provided that particular appliance is exempt for that fuel.