Rules and Regulations for Wood Burners
Common Questions Answered:
The national environmental standards (NES) for air quality are 14 standards set for the protection of human health. These standards include:
- Five outdoor air quality standards (limits for air pollution)
- Seven standards that ban activities which discharge toxic substances to the air
- A design standard for new wood burners in urban areas
- A standard requiring landfills to collect and destroy their greenhouse gas emissions.
- All new wood burners installed after 1 September 2005 must have a particle emission of less than 1.5 grams per kilogram of dry wood burnt.
- They must also have a thermal efficiency of greater than 65%.
- The requirements exclude open fires, multi-fuel heaters, pellet heaters, and cooking stoves.
- Note: some council’s may have more stringent rules
- MORE ABOUT MFE RULING
What is treated timber?
Treated timber is treated with a preservative called Chromate Copper Arsenate (CCA) or other chemicals. Timber is generally treated with a preservative to resist decay and insect attack to make it more suitable for use as building material. It should not be burned in wood burners or open fires.
Can I burn treated timber in my wood burner?
No. Burning treated timber in wood burners or open fires may result in harmful pollutants being released into the air, which can be bad for human health. You should not burn timber from building sites, fences or decks as this may be treated.
What is the best wood to burn in my fire?
Can you consider wood burners on a case-by-case basis, to allow for exemptions in certain circumstances?
No. The air quality standards are national regulations, so it would be illegal to use a non-compliant wood burner if it was installed on a property less than 2 Ha in size after September 2005.
Why do certain regional councils have more stringent rules than the national standard?
The air quality standards also require regional councils to meet limits for air pollution by 2013. In the more polluted areas of New Zealand, regional councils may impose more stringent rules on burners to ensure they meet the standards by 2013.
What is the authorised list of wood burners?
The Ministry for the environment (MFE) provides a national list of authorised wood burners. This list contains burners that comply with the wood burner standard. Including Firenzo of course!
What does authorised mean?
There are two steps for a burner to be authorised: The emissions and efficiency are tested by a laboratory. The laboratory issues a test report to state whether it meets the emissions and efficiency standards.
An alternative authorisation scheme was introduced (June 2011) for wood burners that are excluded from being tested using the prescribed AS/NZS testing protocol. These wood burners can now demonstrate compliance with the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality using a functionally equivalent method.
The burner is then physically checked against the test report by an independent body (this is done by Environment Canterbury or Nelson City Council)
Can I install a burner that is not on your ‘authorised’ list, but advertised as meeting the standards?
We advise caution. Yes, if the burner has been tested in accordance with AS/NZ4012:1999 and AS/NZ4013:1999 to demonstrate it meets the standards or was authorised using a functionally equivalent method.
However, we advise the district and city councils to give building consents only to those wood burners present on the authorised list. This is because wood burners advertised on the authorised list have been through a rigorous checking process to assess compliance. A national review of performance of wood burners in 2006 revealed poor compliance overall. If a wood burner has not been through the authorisation process, there is less certainty that it is compliant with the standards.
In Canterbury, air quality rules are set by Environment Canterbury (ECan) and are among the strictest in New Zealand. Within Clean Air Zones like Christchurch, only ULEB (Ultra Low Emission Burners) are permitted for new installations. If a property is in the CHCH clean air zone and greater than two hectares the a low emission burner can be installed.
These must meet tight emission limits (around 0.5g/kg or less) and minimum efficiency standards, ensuring cleaner, more controlled combustion. All installations must comply with AS/NZS 2918, including correct clearances, approved flue systems, and often interconnected smoke alarms.
Existing older fires can’t be replaced with non-compliant models and are being phased out over time. On rural properties over 2 hectares, there is more flexibility, but using features like a rural damper on a low-emission fire can make it non-compliant within Clean Air Zones.
Moisture content of firewood is also critical — typically required to be under 25% — as wet wood increases smoke and reduces efficiency. The overall goal is to significantly reduce winter air pollution while still allowing effective home heating.
Can I install a second hand burner?
You can still install a second hand wood burner as long as it meets the standards and rules in your area, or if you live on a property of 2Ha or greater outside a clean air zone. It should be noted that older second-hand burners are less likely to meet the standards. Check with your local council.
Some council’s regulate multi-fuel and or coal burners through their regional rules. You will need to find out from your regional council whether it is legal to install these burners in your region. If you live outside a clean air zone and greater than two hectares this model can be permitted no problem.
As long as it is designed and used for cooking and is heated by burning wood, you can install a cooking stove. Check with your local council if unsure or message us as we know the rules. Generally the property must be located outside a clean air zone sized two hectares or larger.
Are wetbacks still allowed? ABOUT WETBACKS
Wetbacks have not been banned. They simply have to meet the minimum efficiency standard of 65%.
There are a number of wetback burner options on our list of authorised wood burners.
Can I make modifications to my wood burner?
Authorised wood burners have been designed and tested to ensure that they meet emissions and efficiency limits set out in the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality. Modifications may result in more emissions being discharged and an increase in fuel use. Modifying your wood burner without the advice of the manufacturer may also lead to safety risks (fire hazards). As such, we strongly advise that you contact your wood burner retailer or manufacturer before making any modifications to your wood fire.
Why is there the 2 Ha rule?
Most built up areas in New Zealand suffer from air pollution during winter. Our focus is on improving air quality in those areas. As there is no nationally consistent definition for an urban environment, a property size of less than 2 Ha was used.
Open fires are outside the national environmental standards. However, a number or regional councils have rules about open fires in their regional plan. You will need to contact your regional council to see whether it is legal to install an open fire in your region. See ''Why do certain regional councils have more stringent rules than the national standard?'' via the MFE website for more information. Generally an open fire can be permitted but the property must be located outside a clean air zone sized two hectares or more.
Where do I get a building consent?
Contact your local city or district council.
If I move my wood burner from one room to another (within the same house), does the wood burner need to comply with the design standard?
Technically an existing burner that is moved within a house is considered a newly installed burner and therefore must be re permitted.
Can I still use my existing wood burner even though it does not meet the standard?
The wood burner standard is not retrospective, so existing wood burners will not be affected - check with your local council if unsure - or contact us
Note: Some councils may have more stringent rules about existing burners. See ''why do certain regional councils have more stringent rules than the national standard?'' via the MFE website for more information.
Why are some wood burners graded as ‘pass’ ‘fail’ or ‘resolved’ on the authorised list?
During Phase 1 of the review, wood burners were physically checked in comparison with their original design. During Phase 2 of the review, wood burners were physically checked and then put through full emissions and efficiency testing in an accredited laboratory.
Wood burners failed the review if they deviated from their original design or they failed to meet the national environmental standards. Depending on how the change in design affects the wood burners’ emissions and efficiency, or the tested results, failures were classed as either ‘minor’, ‘moderate’ or ‘serious’. If we could not determine whether a wood burner passed or failed, their results were classed as ‘undetermined’.
Wood burners with serious or moderate failures were removed from the list until the problems were resolved. The final outcome of the review (i.e. whether problems were resolved), is also shown on the authorised list.
