Opinion
Q&A
Helen Bentley Fox
Helen Bentley Fox, Director of
Woodsure – the UK’s only quality
assurance scheme for woodfuel
– answers some of the burning
questions affecting the industry!
Woodsure
Tell us about Woodsure
Woodsure is the UK’s only woodfuel quality
assurance scheme, which ensures its suppliers
are certified for reliable, high-quality products.
The Woodsure stamp of approval means that
a supplier of woodfuel has been through
rigorous checks and testing to ensure their
fuel meets the correct standards. Since the
scheme was introduced, consumers now have
the opportunity to choose from a growing
network of trusted suppliers, and consequently
we’ve seen an improvement in fuel quality
levels. It has boosted industry confidence,
reduced boiler damage but, most importantly,
it’s helping to protect UK air quality from
pollutants caused by poor quality fuel.
What are the benefits of using Woodsure
approved fuel?
The Woodsure certification scheme and
its logo gives those burning woodfuel a
brand they can trust. Customers purchasing
woodfuel from a Woodsure certified producer
can be assured the woodfuel will provide
optimum efficiency and will come from a
sustainable source.
For installers, always using Woodsure
approved woodfuel ensures a smooth-running
and reliable installation that will enhance
the installer’s commercial reputation. The
hard work and commitment that goes into a
professionally delivered installation can be
jeopardised by poor or variable fuel quality.
What are the main objectives behind the
Woodsure quality assurance scheme?
To improve the standards of woodfuel and
increase the understanding that you can’t just
burn any old timber. There has been a loss of
understanding in this country about how to
burn wood correctly. In France, where there
is a tradition of using solid fuel woodburning
stoves and boilers to heat the home and the
water supply, it is second nature and the skills
have been passed on through the families. It
is something we’ve moved away from in this
country when we moved to coal and joined
the ‘dash for gas’. It would be great to see
Britain return to using homegrown fuel.
As a country we have just 13 percent
woodland cover – the lowest levels in
Europe – and 42 percent of our woodlands sit
unmanaged and neglected. Bringing these
neglected woodlands back into management
would allow them to be a perfect source
to supply the UK woodfuel market – a goal
that Woodsure is supporting by working in
partnership with Grown in Britain. A healthy,
quality woodfuel market holds the key to
getting our woodlands back into management.
What are the risks associated with burning
poor quality or inappropriate wood fuel?
It’s no secret that a woodstove or biomass
boiler is only as good as the wood you
burn in it. Waste wood or ineffectively
processed wood fuel simply doesn’t offer
a carbon neutral energy source. By making
responsible choices about fuel quality and the
woodland it’s sourced from, we can all play
our part in securing its future and reducing
carbon emissions.
The most common issues arise from
the origin of the wood, which can be
compromised by incorrect moisture content,
high ash content and even soil or stones, or
the presence of chemical contaminants with
waste wood. Inappropriate storage of the fuel
during production or trading can also affect
quality through exposure to impurities.
Poor quality, or inappropriate fuel affects
the efficiency of your boiler or wood burning
appliance. The correct quality wood fuel will
also maintain efficiency and minimise the
release of emissions and harmful particles
going up the chimney.
Do I save money by opting to use Woodsure
approved fuel?
Appropriate woodfuel not only provides
optimum efficiency, it also benefits
homeowners’ appliances, reducing the
chance of damaging your appliance and
therefore saving money in the long term.
Can I use Woodsure approved fuel with boilers
and stoves?
Yes, Woodsure approved fuel can be used
with both boilers and stoves. Achieving
Woodsure certification means that a woodfuel
supplier’s products have been tested to
meet recognised European and International
woodfuel standards for all renewable
energy heating appliances and the supplier
can ensure you get the right fuel for your
individual appliance.
Not only is this helping to guarantee a
high standard and reliability in the woodfuel
supply chain, but Woodsure certified suppliers
are identifiable on the Government’s Biomass
Suppliers List (BSL). It’s worth noting that
being on the BSL does not automatically
guarantee quality – you must select a
Woodsure supplier for this.
How do I know if my fuel is Woodsure approved?
Woodsure works with five woodfuel types:
woodchip, pellets, briquettes, hog fuel and
firewood. Certified fuel will always have the
Woodsure logo on it.
Products are tested to ISO, EN and
Önorm quality standards. Tests on pellets,
firewood