An important obligation for fireplace owners. You have to reckon with a severe penalty
At the beginning of the heating season, it is worth remembering that in most regions, owners of outdated fireplaces must expect severe penalties. We are talking about up to PLN 5,000.
The arrival of autumn means that the heating season is fast approaching. Owners of fireplaces, as well as their manufacturers, are subject to important regulations.
Regulations regarding owners of fireplaces
The latter – as “Rzeczpospolita” reminds us – must be guided by the principles contained in the EU directive commonly called Ecodesign (it also applies to many other energy-related devices, including electronic devices). In turn, the regulations addressed directly to property owners with fireplaces or stoves are anti-smog resolutions adopted in individual voivodeships (currently in force in 14 regions). They indicate, among other things, until when equipment that does not meet the Ecodesign requirements (or other standards specified in these resolutions) can be used in a given city or region.
If the concentration of dust in a given location is too high, local government officials introduce resolutions to reduce pollution produced by users of stoves, fireplaces, goats, etc. In such places, only devices with specific parameters can be used and ecological heating fuels can be used.
In addition to anti-smog resolutions, provincial governments also adopt local Air Protection Programs. These may include bans on using fireplaces on so-called smog days.
What does all this mean for fireplace owners? In the case of devices installed relatively recently, there is a good chance that they meet the requirements of the aforementioned directive. New devices – according to the industry – have the appropriate certificates. The newspaper reminds that the Ekprojekt requirements must be met by “local solid fuel space heaters” introduced to the market after January 1, 2022. The situation may be different with devices purchased second-hand.
Harsh penalties
If a fireplace does not meet anti-smog regulations, the owner faces severe penalties. People who continue to use outdated fireplaces or burn prohibited materials in them after the restrictions contained in anti-smog resolutions come into force must expect fines of up to PLN 500 (if they break several regulations, this amount can be even higher) or a fine of PLN 20 to PLN 5,000.
