Code of Good Practice for Wood-burning and Small Combustion Installations

Domestic wood heating is a major source of emissions of particulate matter, including black carbon (BC), and organic pollutants, such as dioxins/furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P), in the ECE region, resulting in poor local air quality conditions and significant negative effects on human health. The present document responds to the need to inform the general public of: available best practices for domestic wood heating in order to minimize emissions and increase efficiency, reducing expenditure due to decreased storage needs and the use of wood, while reducing the negative impact on the environment and human health; the best heating devices currently available on the market; the proper origin and characteristics of wood biomass and the need to burn dry, clean wood and thus to avoid use of composite, treated and/or contaminated wood.