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The rules explained
Ready to Burn explained: the wood-fuel label

Ready to Burn explained: the wood-fuel label

By the Logcroft team · Last checked 21 October 2026

Fire and carbon monoxide: Fit a working carbon monoxide alarm in the room with your stove and test it regularly, have your chimney swept, and burn only dry, untreated wood or approved fuel. If your alarm sounds, open windows, let the fire die down, get out and call the Gas Emergency or a professional. In a chimney fire, call 999.

The rules: A guide to the rules, not legal advice. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and from one council to another. Always check the official pages linked here and with your local council.

Work it out: the log moisture checker shows the sum for your own figures, with every figure editable.

Worked example: Ready to burn: average 19.0%.

Open the log moisture checker

On this page

What the rule says
England
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
How to check where you live
FAQs

What the rule says

England

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

How to check where you live

Check before you burn

Dry fuel: logs at or below 20% moisture on a freshly split face, or approved fuel.
CO alarm: a working carbon monoxide alarm in the room, checked with its test button as often as its manual says.
Sweep date: chimney swept as often as your sweep recommends for your fuel and use.
Smoke control: check with your council and the Defra exempt-appliance list if you're in a smoke control area.

FAQs

The log pile

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Logcroft is an independent UK site for wood-burning and multi-fuel stove owners and buyers. Every figure is a guide, not advice: check your stove's manual and use a HETAS-registered installer. We don't test products.

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