Dundee Business Turns up the Heat on Wood-Burning Stoves

Published

20th January 2020

A Dundee family business is on a mission to promote the benefits of wood-burning stoves, which they claim suffer from ‘an image problem’.


Fire Surround Centres, owned by brothers Gary and Graeme Turnbull, has joined the Stove Industry Alliance. Formed in 2008, the UK body promotes the benefits of wood-burning stoves and biomass appliances and is the industry voice to Government.


By joining the SIA, Fire Surround Centres hope to combat widespread misconceptions about wood-burning stoves, with many people and businesses claiming they are to be banned and are dangerous to both the environment and consumers.


From 2022, any new stoves produced must meet strict, new requirements set out by the European Union, using less energy and producing fewer harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. These products are labelled ‘Ecodesign Ready’.


As well as selling Ecodesign stoves now and removing all products from their catalogue which will not comply in 2022, two years earlier than they require to, Fire Surround Centres, which celebrated their 50th birthday last year, are actively reducing their carbon footprint across the business. Staff are now using an electric forklift for all heavy lifting and 48 solar panels on their showroom roof generate more than enough energy to power their entire electric fire and stove range, with the rest ploughed back into the national grid.


Gary Turnbull said, “Recent publicity has linked emissions from wood-burning with emissions from wood-burning stoves rather than open fires, which is incorrect and misleading. Indeed, we are often asked if wood-burning stoves are dangerous in terms of the emissions they produce, with many people and businesses thinking they are to be banned. Despite being fashionable, they also suffer from an image problem, and people are confused about their safety. Yes, older stoves are less efficient and produce more emissions but, in actual fact, assuming you’re burning the right type of logs, the new stoves are not only more efficient but can make a significant improvement to air quality, heat homes more efficiently and cut fuel bills in the process.”


Independent tests have shown that new Ecodesign stoves and glass-fronted fires emit an impressive 90% fewer particles than open fires and between 80 and 84% less emissions than the average 10 year old stove. Wood-burning stoves also have strong green credentials as the CO2 produced by Ecodesign stoves, when the logs are burnt, is absorbed by growing trees making them the ultimate low carbon heating solution compared with gas, oil or electricity.


Commending Fire Surround Centres on their pro-active stance to support the environment and educate the wider public, Morley Sage, Chair of SIA said, “We welcome the pro-active approach from Fire Surround Centres as there is a lot of incorrect information being broadcast about wood burning stoves. Modern Ecodesign stoves, used correctly and with the right fuel, are an environmentally sound, low emission and low carbon heating solution using a total renewable fuel. They also provide a relaxing focal point in people’s homes helping them de-stress, which brings its own health benefits.”

The brothers are also taking to Dundee city centre this weekend (Friday 24 to Sunday 26 January 2020), demonstrating the stoves and their benefits outside Overgate shopping centre, by the Steeple Church, from 9am-5pm.


For more information, visit www.firesurroundcentres.co.uk  or www.stoveindustryalliance.com 

Fire Surround Centres

Heating stylish homes since 1969, Fire Surround Centres are a long established family business with a heritage built on craftsmanship and great service.

Back to news