Cut-off date looms for fire ban | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Most homeowners can qualify for Heatsmart grants to help them convert open fires in their homes as the January 1 cut-off date looms closer.

In just over two months domestic open fires will be prohibited in Napier and Hastings as Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) brings in legislation to lower the amount of particulate matter (PM10) in the air to meet national environment standards. Currently PM10 concentrations in Napier and Hastings on cold clear winter nights exceed the standard.

The requirements for phasing out open fires and replacing burners only applies to residents within the Napier and Hastings air sheds, areas where PM10 regularly exceeds 50mcg/cu m

It is estimated that there were originally 1000 open fires in Napier and 2000 in Hastings, however some of these have already been replaced through the Government Warm up New Zealand scheme and the HBRC grants and loans for clean heat programme.

HBRC Heatsmart programme co-ordinator Mark Heaney said: "Phasing out of open fires has always been considered an essential part of being able to achieve the air quality standards in Napier and Hastings, as open fires are an inefficient form of heating and generate significant levels of smoke that contribute to smoggy winter nights."

Changes to Hawke's Bay's air quality rules were brought out by the HBRC in 2008. "Waiting for people to upgrade their fires over time in the course of property upgrades would not have achieved the national standards in either Napier or Hastings by 2020, so we planned the phasing to target the most inefficient fires first and dates were set to phase out open fires, older style solid fuel burners in 2014 and 2016," said Mr Heaney.

The original phase out date for open fires was January 2011, but when the date for meeting the standard was changed by the Government to 2020, it was pushed back a year to 2012. The decision by HBRC was announced 18 months ago. Mr Heaney said it was well publicised "in the media, via the HBRC website and in information packs posted to potential applicants to the HBRC grant and loan scheme".

PM10 comes from sources such as burning wood, coal, oil and light fuel oil in domestic fires, transportation and industrial processes. Natural sources of this particulate matter include sea salt, dust, pollens and volcanic activity. The Ministry for the Environment set a national target date of September 2013 to have reduced the amount of PM10 in the airsheds, where the standards for outdoor air quality in a 24-hour average exceed more than 50mcg/cu m more than once per year.

HBRC has put in place the Heatsmart programme funding scheme to financially assist homeowners to replace open fires and older woodburners.

The number of Heatsmart grants the regional council has given to people to help with the cost of new efficient home heating has increased and more than 1000 homes have now taken advantage of the scheme. Heat Smart Hawke's Bay assists ratepayers with the cost of fitting ceiling and underfloor insulation and replacing non-compliant burners and open fires.

Funding is open to homeowners with properties built before 2000. All residents are encouraged to burn dry wood in their fires, to ensure a good fire that gives off plenty of heat with minimum smoke pollution.

Phase-out dates

January 1, 2012: Open fires in some urban areas will be prohibited from further use. If you live on a property 2 ha and over in size, or in the Napier or Hastings Airzone 2, or outside the airsheds for Napier and Hastings, then you will not be required to replace fires by next year.

January 1, 2014: Non-complying burners installed before 1996 will be prohibited from use.

January 1, 2016: Non-complying burners installed between 1996 and 2005 will be prohibited.

Non-complying burners installed after 2005 will be prohibited from use from January 2018 in Airzone 1 of the Hastings Airshed, and January 1, 2020 in Airzone 1 of the Napier Airshed.

Since 2005 building inspectors have been checking that new wood burner installations comply with NES burner emission standards.