Clean Air Act 1993

Overview

The Clean Air Act 1993 sets out a number of prohibitions and controls in respect of Clean Air. These cover: 

• Dark smoke from industrial or trade premises
• Installations of furnaces, which need to need to be smokeless
• Requirements for arrestment plant for furnaces and limitations on grit and dust
• Limitations and approvals for the height of chimneys
• The creation of smoke control areas
• Prohibitions on unauthorised fuels in smoke control areas
• Controls on certain forms of air pollution, including that caused by motor fuels

Background

Air pollution can cause both short term and long term effects on both human and environmental health and many people are concerned about pollution in the air that they breathe. A variety of air pollutants have known or suspected harmful effects on human health and the environment. In most areas of Europe, these pollutants are principally the products of combustion from space heating, power generation or from motor vehicle traffic. Pollutants from these sources may not only prove a problem in the immediate vicinity of these sources but can travel long distances.

Pollution is often found in the form of dark smoke, which is emitted from Boilers and Furnaces. This legislation defines the types of boilers and furnace that are controlled and the permitting process. 

A smoke control order will be issued by the Local Authority and sets out the limitations on what smoke can be emitted. This may be different across the area to which the order pertains. The order will define the classes of building in the area which can emit smoke. Organisations can apply for exemptions which may be granted under certain conditions.