What's new in Lombardy for the maintenance of biomass installations

As of this winter, heating systems using wood, pellets or wood chips in Lombardy are subject to new regulations for maintenance, which guarantee greater safety, efficiency and durability over the years and aim to reduce emissions of pollutant dust in the Po Valley basin.

With the new regional regulations for thermal plants, Lombardy aims to promote the improvement of air quality through a widespread regulation of periodic checks and maintenance of woody biomass thermal plants carried out by qualified technicians.

Among the novelties in force are some changes in the compulsory periodicity of the inspections, which for the flue become annual, while for the maintenance of the plant they vary from one to four years depending on the thermal power at the hearth of the plant.

Another important aspect of the standard is for thermal plants in operation but never inspected by a qualified operator or not entered in the Catasto Unico Regionale Impianti Termici (CURIT). By 31 July 2023, these plants must undergo inspection and maintenance by a qualified operator. In this case, penalties of up to EUR 3,000 may be applied.

From 1 August 2022, inspections of biomass installations must take place:

• annually, for appliances with a heat output of more than 15 kW;
• every two years, for appliances with a heat output at the hearth greater than 10 kW and less than or equal to 15 kW;
• every four years for generators with a rated heat output of 10 kW or less.

Flue cleaning must be carried out before each energy efficiency check and any maintenance of the system, and in any case at least once a year or every 4 tonnes of biomass burned, to reduce harmful emissions due to excessive soot thickness and to avoid fire hazards.