Burners for Beginners

Follow these steps to learn key information about enclosed burners, if you are affected by the Nelson Air Quality rules, and what you need to do.

Important

Enclosed solid fuel burners cannot be installed in the Nelson Urban Area unless they are replacing an existing lawfully established solid fuel burner. If there is no existing solid fuel burner in your home you can install an ultra-low emission pellet fire, gas or diesel burner or electric heating such as a heat pump. If you live in Airshed B2 (Stoke) or Airshed C (Brook, Maitai, Wood, Atawhai) you can also install an Ultra low emission woodburner (ULEB).

Note if you are replacing an existing solid fuel burner with another solid fuel burner, you must have your building consent for the new burner lodged with Council and issued before you remove the existing burner.

What is an Enclosed Burner?

An enclosed burner is a small-scale fuel burning appliance, where combustion of solid fuel occurs within a firebox enclosed by a door, and where there is generally a controlled supply of air to the fire. It includes free-standing or in-built woodburners, pellet fires, potbelly stoves, multi-fuel burners like Junos and 'chippies', and coal ranges, but excludes any open fire.

Do I have to stop using my burner?

Use of some enclosed burners has been banned. Depending on the airshed in which you live, and depending on when your burner was originally installed, you may very well be affected. Find out by following the steps below:

Step 1: Locate which airshed you live in

Lookup your address on Nelson's address list (no names or ownership information) to learn which airshed you live in. You will not be able to modify and save any data or make any changes, only lookup.

Link to general airshed locations

Step 2: Find if your airshed is affected

I live in Either Airshed A or Airshed B1

• Enclosed burners installed before 1996 cannot be used or replaced after 1 January 2010.
• Enclosed burners installed between 1996 and 1999, cannot be used or replaced after 1 January 2012.
• If your existing enclosed burner was installed between 2000 and 2003, you can now use it after 1 January 2013.

I live in Airshed B2

• Enclosed burners installed before 1991 cannot be used or replaced after 1 January 2010.
• Enclosed burners installed between 1991 and 1995 cannot be used or replaced it after 1 January 2012.
• If your existing enclosed burner was installed after 1995, you can carry on using it, there is no phase out date for your burner.
• If you don’t have an existing solid fuel burner (or it has been phased out as outlined above) you can install an Ultra Low Emission Burner.

I live in Airshed C or the Glen

There is no scheduled phase out of enclosed burners in these areas. An existing enclosed burner can only be replaced with an authorised burner from the Council list, except at The Glen where any house can have an authorised burner. If you don’t have an existing solid fuel burner you can install an Ultra Low Emission Burner.

Step 3: If you don't know when your burner was installed

Your installation records will provide an answer to this, but if you cannot locate this information, phone Council on +64 3 546 0200 to find out.

Optional: Nelson's Air Quality Plan

If you want more detail, feel free to read more detail about the new Air Quality Rules, see Nelson's Air Quality Plan for more information.

For more information or help

• Contact the Customer Services team on +64 3 546 0200.