Apply for chimney height approval
We must approve the chimney height and associated arrestment plant of large boilers and furnaces to ensure that emissions are at a safe height and dispersed sufficiently into the atmosphere and not be detrimental to health or cause a nuisance.
Chimney height approval is required for commercial furnaces if they:
- burn pulverised fuel
- burn at a rate of 45.4 kg or more per hour any other solid matter
- burn at a rate equivalent to 366.4 kilowatts or more of any liquid or gaseous matter
It is an offence to operate a furnace meeting any of the above conditions if the chimney height has not been approved, or if any conditions that we have applied to the approval have not been complied with.
Exemptions apply where a chimney height approval is not required:
- a temporary replacement boiler or plant which is being maintained or repaired
- a temporary source of heat or power for building, construction works or research
- auxiliary plant used to bring other plant to an operating temperature; a mobile or transportable source of heat or power for agricultural operations
If you are considering installing a furnace then chimney height approval is required and you should request an application form via our 'Air quality - request information or data' webpage.