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CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956
The provisions of the Clean Air Act, 1956, relating to smoke
from domestic chimneys came into operation in December, 1956, and
were detailed in the Annual Report for that year.
Two other important provisions came into force at that time.
One, Section 3, provided that no new furnace may be installed which
is not capable of being operated continuously without emitting smoke
and that notice must be given to the Local Authority of intention to
Install a new furnace.
The other. Section 10, provided that when considering plans
deposited in accordance with the building byelaws which show that
it is proposed to construct a chimney, the Local Authority must
satisfy themselves that the chimney will be high enough to prevent
a nuisance or danger to health.
This is an important provision which will contribute not only
to the control of smoke nuisance but also to the control of ground
level concentration of sulphur gases which are invisible. The main
function of a chimney used to be to induce sufficient draught for the
combustion of the fuel on the grate. Now, this can be provided more
easily and cheaply by fans and the chimney is used for the dispersal
of the products of combustion. As a general rule the higher the
chimney the better the dispersal of the gases and it is therefore
important to ensure that new chimneys are high enough for the
purpose.
In anticipation of the coming into force of the provisions relating
to industrial smoke, your officers brought them to the notice of
industrialists. Were necessary it was pointed out that improved
methods of combustion or additional plant would be required to
ensure compliance with the new legislation.
As a result of these activities a number of firms have made
changes in their fuel burning installations with the object of reducing
smoke emission. These changes have included converting a number
of furnaces fuel oil burning and in other cases installing chain
Indusiria1 Smoke
Thirty-four thousand of coal are consumed annually in
Barking by industrial user. One and a half million tons are consumed
at the Electricity Generating Station and one and three-quarter
million tons at the Gas Works.
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