THe NEw Irish solid fuel regulations explained

​The Woodfuel Quality Assurance (WFQA) scheme has been in existence since 2009. Our main aim is to provide assurance to woodfuel users that the fuels they buy meet best international standards. For that reason, we welcome and fully support the introduction by government of the Solid Fuel Regulations for Ireland, which commenced on the 31 October 2022.

Under the regulations firewood for sale must have a moisture content below 25%. WFQA members were already certified to that level under our rules, which are based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 17225, which has also been adopted at EU (CEN) and national (IS) levels. We use this standard as it has global acceptance for specification and trading woodfuels. It provides the level of assurance that customers need, to know that the firewood they are burning will give a good heat output, and will make for cleaner air.

WFQA members are also required to demonstrate that the wood raw materials they use come from sustainable sources. This requirement is fundamental to our processes, because we want to ensure that when WFQA certified woodfuels displace coal, oil and gas, they will reduce the level of greenhouse gases and thereby help to combat climate change.