Gatineau will require that new wood stoves and fireplaces have environmental certification 

Sophie Demers

Gatineau held a public information session for residents about a variety of by-law changes, one of which was a modification regarding indoor wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. No participant in the public consultation voiced concerns for the modification. 

The bylaw modification would prohibit the installation of indoor wood-burning appliances or fireplaces that don’t have environmental certification. The by-law is set to be approved by the municipal council on November 14. Montreal instated a similar law modification a few years ago. 

The modification to the by-law will only apply to new solid burning appliances when requesting a permit to install it on or after November 18, when the regulation will come into effect if approved. Already installed appliances will not require a certification. 

To get an environmental certification for a wood-burning appliance, residents must contact the manufacturer at the time of purchase to ensure the product is certified. Proof of certification will be required when applying for the installation permit. 

This type of heating poses environmental and health risks. When wood is burned, it releases contaminants int the air such as carbon monoxide, black carbon, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter, among others. 

Environment Canada states that an uncertified wood stove running for nine hours emits as much as a certified stove running for 60 hours, and a car driven 18,000 km. Residential wood heating is responsible for 44.1% of all fine particle emissions from human activity.