Regulation Information

There are other ovens available in the UK and many cheap imports are now starting to appear as demand for this type of oven increases. Read on and we hope you will realise cheapest is not always cheaper.

Historically there have been two main barriers to growth of wood ovens in the UK, refusal by local Environmental Departments and the effect on an establishments insurances, however there are many pitfalls to be aware of;

1. Regulation - It is fair to say that whilst there have been a few ovens in the UK over the past few years regulation and monitoring by Government and Local Authorities has been minimal. As this type of oven grows in popularity an increase in both regulation and monitoring is inevitable. We are already working closely with many Local Authorities as there is public concern about pollution and the affect on "greenhouse gas emissions".
   
   
2. Legality - To be legal your oven will require a license especially if you are in a smoke controlled area that is most UK towns and Cities. To get a license individually can cost up to £20,000 and take up to 3 years. We are already aware of two cases where this has happened. Without a license your oven or your establishment could be closed down. REMEMBER - your oven could FAIL the tests and your problems would escalate.
   
   
3. Insurance - an illegal oven will almost certainly invalidate your commercial insurances. If you do not notify your insurers you have an illegal oven they will find out at the time of a claim.
   
   
4. Quality - Be careful for example we can tell you that Valoriani themselves manufacture inferior ovens under license for other companies (Not Orchard Ovens) for legal reasons we cannot say who but we can show you documentation to prove it. These ovens are of an inferior grade, they do not use refractory clay, they are more fragile and are designed not to last as long or burn as efficiently or at as high temperature. It is almost guaranteed that these ovens would fail the Government tests.
   
   
5. Gas Conversion - Firstly as far as we can ascertain it is an infringement of CORGI regulations and may be illegal to burn wood in an oven which has been converted to gas. Both Valoriani and we insist our ovens are used either for wood or for gas NEVER both. Remember gas will be more costly because you will need to buy the oven and the gas conversion kit you will also need a CORGI registered fitter and a service and maintenance contract. You could have interruptions to your gas supply and there are components which could go wrong and put your oven out of use temporarily or even permanently.

RECOMENDATION - Install a wood oven, where there is almost nothing to go wrong and never a shortage of fuel, you could always burn the chairs in an emergency and installation and maintenance costs are lower. IF you find after using it you would still prefer gas, provided the initial installation is done properly we can convert your Orchard Oven to gas at no more increased cost than if it had been done at outset. We are yet to have a customer who has done so but we have many who followed this recommendation.

6. Value for money - We cannot speak about other ovens but suffice to say Valoriani are regarded as the best ovens of their type in the world and are the choice of professionals looking for quality, efficiency, longevity and value for money. To quote Jamie Oliver, with whom we have no association and who purchased his oven, "even the small ovens represent good value for money".

All ORCHARD OVENS are Government tested and approved you can have a copy of the certificate to keep on the premises or to give to your insurance company. All Orchard Ovens can also be converted for use with gas.