Trustpilot
Designed in the UK
FREE Delivery*
Flexible Payment Options
  • Trustpilot
  • Designed in the UK
  • FREE Delivery*
  • Flexible Payment Options
Stow white bioethanol fireplace

A 2026 Guide to the UK Fireplace Safety Regulations

My Custom Image
Author
Imaginfires
Updated
Categories

Key takeaways:

Wood-burning and gas fireplaces are subject to some of the strictest UK fireplace safety regulations, with smoke control areas continuing to tighten restrictions on solid fuel appliances. Electric fires may seem simpler from a compliance point of view, but they fall short when it comes to delivering the look and feel of a real flame. Bioethanol fireplaces offer an ideal alternative, as they require no chimney, no flue, and produce no smoke emissions – making them one of the most attractive fireplace options for UK homes in 2026.

Farmhouse style bioethanol fireplace

If you’re thinking about installing or upgrading a fireplace this year, you need to have a solid grasp of the UK fireplace safety regulations. Legislation around smoke emissions and building standards is getting much tighter, while scrutiny around traditional woodburners is continuing to grow – so it’s vital that you understand what’s allowed (and what isn’t) when it comes to fireplaces.

We’ve put together this comprehensive guide to give you a clear insight into UK fireplace compliance and help you understand what’s expected for each type of fireplace.

Understanding fireplace safety regulations in the UK

UK fireplace safety regulations primarily sit under Part J of the Building Regulations, which covers combustion appliances and fuel storage systems. These regulations are designed to protect building occupants from fire risk, carbon monoxide exposure, and structural damage.

However, it’s important to note that compliance doesn’t look the same for every fireplace, and the rules vary significantly depending on whether your fireplace burns wood, gas, electricity, or bioethanol. Here’s are the rules surrounding each type of fireplace:

Wood-burning fireplaces

Woodburners are one of the most popular fireplace choices in the UK – but they’re also the most heavily regulated option. 

The current indoor fire regulations state that your woodburner must:

  • Be installed or signed off by a HETAS-registered installer

  • Have a compliant chimney or flue system

  • Feature permanent ventilation openings

  • Be positioned at the specified minimum distance from combustible materials 

In addition, many UK homes now fall within smoke control areas. This means that you must not emit smoke from a chimney and you can only burn authorised fuel (excluding wood), so woodburners are not an option in these areas. Even if your home doesn’t fall under smoke control rules, you may still be governed by local restrictions to preserve air quality and minimise particulate emissions, which can limit where and how your wood-burning fireplace can be installed.

You can find out more about the woodburner regulations in this Energy Saving Trust blog post.

Wood burner

Gas fireplaces

Gas fireplaces are often seen as a cleaner alternative to wood, but they still fall under strict safety requirements, with the main legislation being The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

Under The Gas Safety Regulations, your fireplace must:

  • Be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer

  • Have adequate ventilation and flue arrangements to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide build-up

  • Be serviced annually by a Gas Safe engineer

  • Adhere to strict clearance distances which dictate how close the fire can be installed to walls, surrounds, and flooring

While gas fires produce fewer emissions than woodburners, they still involve active combustion and carbon monoxide risk, so the above steps must be adhered to from a safety perspective.


Electric fireplaces

Electric fireplaces are the simplest from a regulatory point of view. They don’t require flues, ventilation, or specialist installers beyond standard electrical safety.

However, electric fires don’t produce real flames, so they lack the look and feel of a traditional fireplace. They can be visually appealing, but they’re often chosen as a design feature rather than an authentic fireplace solution.

Electric fireplace

Bioethanol fireplaces

Bioethanol fires offer the ideal fireplace solution, giving you the regulation-free benefits of an electric fireplace, but with the same real flame feeling as a traditional woodburner. 

They burn clean bioethanol fuel, meaning:

  • You don’t need a chimney or flue

  • No smoke, soot, or ash is produced

  • You don’t need permanent ventilation openings

  • Installation is straightforward and can be completed yourself

Bioethanol fireplaces are perfect for homes in smoke control areas, rented accommodation, and apartments or flats where traditional woodburners simply wouldn’t be possible; making them one of the most flexible fireplace options out there.

Fireplace regulation comparison

Fireplace type

Chimney/flue
required

Ventilation needed

Installer certification

Emissions & smoke

Regulatory complexity

Wood-

burning

Yes

Yes

HETAS

High

High

Gas

Yes

Usually

Gas Safe

Moderate

Medium-high

Electric

No

No

No

None

Low

Bioethanol

No

No 

No

None

Very low

Discover the beauty of bioethanol in 2026

Bioethanol fireplace dining room scene

As indoor fireplace safety regulations tighten, you don’t just want a fireplace that looks good today. You want one that won’t become a regulatory headache tomorrow.

Bioethanol fireplaces deliver the warmth, movement, and atmosphere of a real flame, without the need for chimneys, flues, permanent ventilation, or invasive building work. With no harmful smoke emissions to worry about, bioethanol fireplaces align perfectly with the eco-friendly direction that UK regulations are heading in, making them a future-proof choice for all types of homes. 

At imaginfires, we supply a range of bioethanol fireplaces in all shapes and sizes that comply with BS EN 16647:2015: the recognised European safety standard for decorative fuel-effect fireplaces. While bioethanol fires are not subject to the same regulations as wood or gas fires, this standard specifies that bioethanol fireplaces are designed for use in domestic and residential settings only, and as a supplementary heat source rather than a primary form of heating. Alongside this, all our fires come with a patented (GB2555760) ‘no-spill’ fuel box to give you a smoother, safer, and cleaner-burning flame every time. 

So, are you ready to enjoy the beauty of real flames without the regulatory headache?

Explore our range of bioethanol fireplaces today

Frequently asked questions

  • Are bioethanol fireplaces safe?

    Are bioethanol fireplaces safe?

    Bioethanol fireplaces produce real flames, so it's important that they should be treated with the same level of caution and safety as any other object that produces flames. Having said this, bioethanol fireplace safety procedures are very easy to follow, meaning that they are suitable for use in most homes.  

    To ensure that our customers stay as safe as possible, Imaginfires are constantly updating and improving our biofires. This means that our ethanol fireplace safety features have been tested by a world-renowned testing laboratory to ensure they meet the new British and European safety standard BS EN 16647:2015. Customers can rest assured that we only sell products that we would and have been delighted to install in our own homes.

    What makes bioethanol fires safe indoors?

    Recent updates include the introduction of a new, patented, ‘no-spill’ fuel box into our freestanding, fire basket and woodburner biofires. This means that the biofuel is quickly absorbed by a special internal absorption feature, reducing the risk of any biofuel spilling out of the fireplace when knocked.

    Of course, despite every effort being made to make biofires as safe as possible, there are a few basic safety measures biofire users should always follow. These are all listed in the supplied product manual, but include:

    Taking care with biofuel

    Biofuel is obviously a flammable substance, so it should be handled with care for maximum ethanol fireplace safety. It is important never to pour biofuel onto a lit or warm fireplace. Rather, users should only refuel the fireplace once it has been turned off and cooled down. 

    Before refilling the steel fuel box with the bioethanol fuel, always ensure the fuel box has returned to room temperature (this takes approximately 30 minutes from extinguishing the fire). You should also clean up any biofuel spillages before lighting the fire.

    Purchase high-quality fuel

    To keep your running costs reasonable and to avoid any potential problems that low quality biofuel could cause, we recommend buying the fuel that is of a high quality and has at least 95% alcohol. This provides the best and longest flame.  

    We offer some of the best value biofuel in the market, and our fuel is developed and bottled specifically for Imaginfires biofires. You can read many great Trustpilot reviews we have received from customers for our biofuel.  

  • How do you safely dispose of bioethanol fuel?

    To safely dispose of bioethanol fuel, follow these steps:

    • Allow the fuel to cool: Ensure the bioethanol fuel has completely cooled down to room temperature before disposal.
    • Store in a dedicated container: Use a dedicated container designed for bioethanol fuel to minimise the risk of spills or leaks. Ideally keep the biofuel in the bottle it came in. Decanting to other bottles that have not been approved for the use of ethanol based contents is not recommended.
    • Check local regulations: Consult local authorities or waste management facilities to understand specific procedures and requirements for disposal.
    • Contact recycling or hazardous waste facilities: Inquire with local recycling or hazardous waste facilities about their processes for disposing of bioethanol fuel.
    • Follow manufacturer's instructions: Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for safe disposal of bioethanol fuel.

    Consult your biofuel experts today

    If you’re looking for more information on biofuel or bioethanol fireplaces, our team is happy to assist you. Contact us today!

  • Are log burners dangerous?

    Log burners carry considerably more health and safety risks than biofires, mainly because they are designed to emit a far higher amount of heat, and also they usually burn wood, which of course is a source of smoke and various particulate matter.  

    They are far more difficult to install, and usually this should only be done by a recognised professional.  Nevertheless, if they are installed correctly, and maintained regularly, then they are built to provide a primary source of heat.  

    Bioethanol fireplaces, on the other hand, are designed for use as a secondary heat source, and not intended for regular use. They are also not intended to perform in the same way as a woodburner.  There are of course still some important health and safety issues to be aware of even when using a biofire, but we feel the combination of common sense, and reading the safety manual, results in bio fires being an ideal, safer, secondary heat source. 

  • Are bioethanol fires dangerous?

    As with any type of fireplace that produces fire and heat, ethanol fireplaces must be used correctly. Although they are extremely easy to use, we do supply a simple to use instruction manual which should be read before use.

    The manual will remind you, for example, that you should always wait until the fuel box has cooled to room temperature before refilling, and that you must not overfill the fuel box with biofuel, as spillages can of course catch alight if not cleaned up for example.

    Most of our fuel boxes have a patented non-spill feature, which helps reduce the possibility of liquid fuel spilling out when the fireplace is accidentally knocked. Nevertheless, since safety should always be the first priority, we would request that you read the safety manual before use.