Immission control; advice and information

Small domestic heating systems such as heating systems, stoves and fireplaces must meet certain requirements in accordance with the Federal Immission Control Act and the Ordinance on Small and Medium-Sized Firing Systems (1st BImSchV).

This ordinance contains a binding list of fuels (e.g. heating oil, gas, various types of coal, wood in all possible processing stages) that may be used. For heating systems fired with solid fuels, the regulation specifies limit values for dust emissions and carbon monoxide concentration in flue gas, which vary depending on the nominal heat output of the heating system and the fuel used.

For all oil and gas heating systems, a limit on flue gas losses is prescribed, graded according to nominal heat output and age of the system. Flue gas loss means: the difference between the heat content of the flue gas and the combustion air, in relation to the calorific value of the fuel. This should not only protect the environment, but also the heating system owner's wallet: Anyone with a heating system that complies with this regulation will save energy. In the case of new oil and gas heating systems, emissions of nitrogen oxides must also be "limited in accordance with the state of the art".

Chimney sweeps use their modern measuring devices to monitor the extent to which private heating systems actually comply with these regulations. The measurement results provide information on whether a small combustion system complies with the immission control requirements. If the requirements are not met even after a repeat measurement, the chimney sweep notifies the district office, which agrees maintenance or renovation with the owner of the heating system or issues orders to this effect.

Wood burns in open fireplaces with comparatively high environmental impact. For this reason, the use of open fires for permanent room heating is not permitted. Accordingly, they may only be used occasionally. If you have any questions regarding the choice of stove or correct heating, you can also contact your local master chimney sweep.

At the beginning and end of each heating period, complaints from residents about smoke and odor nuisance from their neighbors' fireplaces increase. In particular, the burning of unsuitable fuels and the incorrect operation of the system cause excessive smoke emissions and the formation of environmentally harmful air pollutants. If combustion systems for solid fuels are operated in accordance with the Small Combustion Systems Ordinance, the above-mentioned nuisances should not occur.

If you are bothered by unpleasant odors or soot flakes from a small combustion system in the neighborhood, please contact the environmental department at the district office.