The national environmental standards for air quality require that all wood burners installed on properties less than 2 hectares must have a discharge of less than 1.5 grams of particles for each kilogram of dry wood burnt, and a thermal efficiency at least 65%.
The Ministry for the Environment maintains a list of authorised wood burners to assist consumers in purchasing a wood burner that will meet this air quality requirement.
Pellet burners are not included in the national environmental standard because they cannot be tested in accordance with the required method due to their automatic feed mechanism. Pellet burners are, however, extremely efficient and clean burning. To assist consumers in their decision-making, the Ministry for the Environment has compiled a list of pellet burners authorised by Environment Canterbury and Nelson City Council.
Note: The Ministry for the Environment does not accept any liability arising from either list and will not pay compensation to anyone relying on the lists in the event a wood burner or pellet burner is found to be non-complying and has to be removed.
Related Standards
- AS/NZS 4012:1999 Domestic solid fuel burning appliances – Method for determination of power output and efficiency
- AS/NZS 4013:1999 Domestic solid fuel burning appliances – Method for determination of flue gas emission
- AS/NZS 4886:2007 Domestic solid fuel burning appliance – Pellet heaters – Determination of flue gas emission
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