Association for Ecological Wood Heating

Legislation

Even smoke has its boundaries.

Heating with wood is nice, but it should also be the right thing to do - not only respectful of your neighbours, but also respectful of the regulations. The legislation around wood burning is not just a scarecrow, but a useful guide to worry-free heating. Sometimes it's easy to get lost in it, so we've put together a round-up of the essentials. No paragraph hell, just the essentials.

Laws

Laws are the foundation - without them, anarchy would reign in our chimneys. Here you will find the main ones that concern heating, boilers and air protection.

NumberNameWhat it solves
201/2012 Coll.On air protectionWood burning, ban on burning waste and wet wood, boiler inspections (once every 3 years)
369/2016 Coll.Act amending Act No. 201/2012 Coll., on air protection, as amended, and Act No. 634/2004 Coll., on administrative feesIt tightens the rules for the combustion of fuels in small pollution sources, introduces checks on the technical condition of boilers and specifies the administrative fees for certain air protection activities.
541/2020 Coll.Waste ActProhibits the burning of waste (including e.g. painted wood)
22/1997 Coll.On technical requirements for productsCE marking, compliance with standards, sponsored access to selected CSNs
283/2021 Coll.New Building ActHeater location, project documentation, construction processes
133/1985 Coll.Fire Protection ActDetermines the obligations of authorities, organisations and citizens and the position and powers of state administration bodies in the field of fire protection
183/2006 Coll.Older Building Act (temporarily valid for some cases)Design and implementation of buildings including heaters

Decrees

The ordinances are so local "traffic signs" for heating. Each county or municipality may add Rulesmainly for the clean air.

NumberNameWhat it solves
415/2012 Coll.Decree on the Air ActEmission limits, equipment categorisation
23/2008 Coll.Decree on technical conditions of fire protection of buildingsTechnical conditions of fire protection for the design, implementation and use of the building
246/2001 Coll.Decree on fire preventionEstablishes the conditions for fire safety and the exercise of state fire supervision
34/2016 Coll.About cleaning, inspection and revision of the flueIt specifies the method of cleaning, inspection and revision of the flue pipe. The annexes give time limits for cleaning and inspection of flue gas ducts for different types of fuel, including explanatory notes and conditions, and specimen reports on the cleaning, inspection and inspection of the flue gas duct.

Standards

Standards are not laws, but they say how it should right work. They help with stove construction, boiler inspection and fuel selection.

Standards are not binding, but only until they are directly referred to by law or decree. After that, they are legally binding in their entirety.
General standards for appliances
NumberWhat it solves
EN 14785Appliances for pellets
EN 16510-1 ed.2 (060211)New general standard for appliances (efficiency, emissions, etc.)
CSN 724710Ceramic stoves - Requirements, test methods and marking
Specific standards for stoves, fireplaces and cookers
NumberWhat it solves
CSN 73 4230Fireplaces with open/closable fireplace
CSN 73 4231Individually built stoves (tiled, etc.)
EN 15544Sizing of individually built stoves
EN 15250Accumulation stoves (e.g. radiant stoves)
CSN 73 4232Individually built cookers
Exhaust gas ducts
NumberWhat it solves
CSN 73 4201design, implementation and connection of fuel appliances
EN 1443 (73 4200)general requirements
EN 15287-1 (73 4241)Design, execution and acceptance - Part 1: Chimneys and flues for open fuel appliances