Technical Note SB22: Residential wood fuelled heaters

Residential wood fuelled heaters typically use solid wood fuel or wood pellets. Each type has different characteristics and different attributes.

Old style open fireplaces are no longer acceptable when building new homes and regulations in a number of regions across New Zealand are requiring homeowners to replace open fires with latest design low emission wood burners or pellet heaters.  The key reason for this change relates to efforts to reduce emissions of CO2 and particulates to the air.  Only those wood fuelled heating plant that meets the air emission standards set by the Ministry of Environment are acceptable.  A full list of acceptable residential wood fuelled heaters is available on the Ministry for the Environment website.