Indoor air quality

Indoor air refers to the air in enclosed spaces like homes, offices, schools and vehicles. Indoor air quality has a significant impact on health. 

Indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor air quality.

Indoor air quality is affected by things like:

  • cooking
  • wood burning
  • smoking
  • damp 
  • mould
  • chemicals found in cleaning products, glues and furniture

Indoor air quality is important because we spend so much time indoors.

How you can improve indoor air quality

  • Ventilate indoor space by opening a window (or using an extractor) when: cooking / cleaning / burning candles / showering (to help prevent black mould)
  • Stop smoking and prevent people smoking in or near your home.
  • Don’t burn wood in open fires, wood stoves and bonfires.
  • Try to remove damp and mould in the home.
  • Use milder cleaning products.
  • Avoid sprays or aerosols.
  • Use solid or liquid substitutes where possible - these may be labelled as fragrance free or “ecological” products.
Check how to improve indoor air quality with the NHS ‘Air You Breathe’ leaflet (PDF 2.16 MB).

Use the Clean Air Hub, clean air action planner and make air quality improvements 

Housing, damp and mould

If you are struggling with damp and mould at home, check our damp mould and condensation advice.

For free support services and home checks to Barnet residents, sign up to Groundwork London’s Green Doctors service.

Check how you can get further help with heating or saving energy.

Wood burning

Wood burning and open fires may look warm, cosy and inviting, but they are responsible for a significant portion of our avoidable emissions.

All wood burning stoves emit tiny particles called PM2.5. When inhaled, these soot particles can decrease your lung function and increase the risk of stroke, dementia, lung cancer and heart disease.

WHO Guidelines on indoor fuel use (PDF, 1.8MB)

A 2023 study found that higher wood stove/fireplace usage was associated with 70% higher incidence of lung cancer in women.

Wood burning doesn't just affect those inside the home. It also impacts people living nearby when these fumes are released into the environment.

The only way to avoid these risks is to avoid burning wood, coal or solid fuels.

Barnet is a smoke control area

Under the Clean Air Act 1993, Barnet along with other places in the UK, was declared a smoke control area. These are designated areas where the burning of certain types of fuel like coal or wood are restricted to reduce air pollution.

This means you cannot emit smoke from a chimney unless you are using authorised fuels and approved appliances that meet strict emissions standards. The aim is to reduce smoke and harmful pollutants, to improve air quality and public health.