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Originally Posted by Johnny Redgate  Hmmm. Thanks for the info, that's something to think about. Looking on the web "indoor pollution" seems to be the cause for concern, so as long as my stove isn't leaking smoke inside it should be OK? My briquettes are very dry and although there is some mould I wouldn't say there is much more than the average piece of wood I end up burning. I am quite interested in powered briquette makers but have yet to find a moderate output domestic one. Something to run off the tractor pto would be good. I have plenty of wood from my hedgelaying at the moment but it won't last forever. Seems I won't be making my fortune in horse poo briquettes after all.  |
So long as the burn is uniformly hot - which is a function of the fire bed design, inward ventilation and fluing - and the fluing is adequate to take all the exhaust material away from the house/hut interior, then there should be no problem.
The domestic pollution that affects many Third World populations is primarily a result of inadequate or non existant fluing which results in large soot particles affecting the lungs and bronchiae of those who spend most time within the home - typically wonen and children. I'm not sure any of the studies into the problem have consider whether mold or bacterial spores are an issue.
The term Farmers Lung is these days mostly used in connection with infections that come from poor handling of dry materials where the spores are dust borne, however in the past there was a lot of concern in the UK about the burning of partially rotted vegetation, particularly hay. With wet material bonfires didn't reach high temperatures and the smoke was heavily ladden with spores. It was this scenario that seemed to me to potentially have relevance to your home made fuel and fire systems.
CM