clearSkies Mark
We’re proud to announce that our Hobbit SE and Little Range Cook Stove have obtained the clearSkies mark!
The Hobbit SE has achieved clearSkies Level 4 and our Little Range has achieved clearSkies Level 5. You can find the clearSkies listing for the Hobbit SE here and you can click here to view the clearSkies listing for our Little Range.
Levels of the clearSkies Mark Explained
The emissions and efficiency limits for clearSkies Levels 2 & 3 are the same as those set under Ecodesign, meaning these products comply with all the standards requirements that came into force in the UK on 1st January 2022.
In addition to meeting the requirements of Ecodesign, all clearSkies certified appliances at Level 3 or above will also have been verified by the scheme administrator as meeting the requirements for Defra Exemption.
Defra Exemption is where an appliance’s emissions have been independently tested and are low enough that Defra has granted exemption to allow the appliance to be burnt with wood in a Smoke Control Area.
Products that achieve a clearSkies Level 4 or 5 not only meet these requirements, but go a considerable way beyond them as well, giving you even greater reassurance that your choice of stove is more environmentally friendly than other appliances by minimising emissions and maximising efficiency.
What is the clearSkies Mark and who is it run by?
clearSkies is an objective and independent emissions and energy performance certification scheme for stoves and fireplaces. The key objective of the clearSkies Scheme is to incentivise the development of cleaner and more efficient appliances and to provide a nationally recognised standard of verified appliance performance in terms of emissions and efficiency.
The clearSkies Scheme has been developed jointly by representatives of appliance manufacturers through the Stove Industry Association (SIA), chimney system manufacturers, appliance testing laboratories and bodies providing certification of biomass fuelled appliances. clearSkies is designed to drive the development of cleaner and more efficient appliances.
The clearSkies Board is made up of industry professionals, including representatives of the SIA, and consultants and academics specialising in air quality and bioenergy.
The clearSkies Scheme is owned by clearSkies Mark Limited, a new not-for-profit and independent body created to monitor, control and develop the scheme.
Kiwa Ltd has been appointed by clearSkies Mark Limited as the independent administrator of the scheme. They have the responsibility of certifying appliances that have been tested by appropriately qualified third party test laboratories, in order to verify their energy performance efficiency and emissions.
A bit more about the clearSkies Mark
Going above and beyond
Stoves and fireplaces with the clearSkies certification produce significantly lower levels of emissions compared to open fires and older stoves. Independent tests have shown a clearSkies stove produces up to 90% less emissions than an open fire and 80% less emissions than the average 10-year-old stove.
If a stove or fireplace is clearSkies certified you can be assured that it meets ALL the criteria needed to be legally installed and meets the latest environmental standards. You don’t need to look for any other certification.
Future proofed
Put simply, choosing a clearSkies certified appliance gives you the assurance that you are buying a legally compliant and environmentally sound stove or fireplace for your home, and one that is future proofed with even greater efficiency and lower emissions for you and your family to enjoy for many years to come.
Stringent testing and manufacturing control
In order to attain the clearSkies mark, a manufacturer needs to demonstrate that its product meets or exceeds the requirements for four different maximum emission limit tests and an efficiency test.
The emission tests cover carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), organic gaseous compounds (OGC) and particulate matter (PM).
Furthermore, all manufacturers with appliances certified under the clearSkies Scheme have had all of their emission and efficiency performance data in respect of their Ecodesign compliance and CE mark verified, and the manufacturers have self-certified to clearSkies that they have complied with all other aspects of Ecodesign and CE mark compliance.
In addition to providing evidence to confirm the efficiency and emissions of an appliance, manufacturers also need to confirm that they have a process in place for ensuring manufacturing control over their clearSkies certified appliances to ensure consistency of production. This is a requirement of the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125 and gives further assurance that your clearSkies certified fireplace or stove is manufactured to the highest standards.
