Get acquainted with the “Guide to Best Practices for Inspecting Domestic Boilers and Anti-smog Resolutions”
Air pollution knows no administrative boundaries – which is why the effectiveness of anti-smog policy depends both on the consistency of national authorities and the determination of local governments in implementing and enforcing legal regulations, particularly Anti-smog resolutions.
In response to the need to standardize the approach to domestic boiler inspections nationwide, while taking local conditions into account, the Ministry of Climate and Environment has developed the “Guide for Municipalities on Best Practices for Inspecting Domestic Boilers and Anti-smog Resolutions.”
The publication is available at:
Purpose of the Guide
The publication serves as a support tool for employees of city and municipal offices as well as officers of municipal and city guards. It is a practical guide designed to assist in tasks related to improving air quality, providing reliable information on applicable legal requirements and their interpretation, as well as recommendations for properly conducting domestic boiler inspections
Scope and Structure of the Guide
The guide consists of two parts:
- Descriptive part – discusses the legal basis, the functioning of Anti-smog resolutions, and the role of inspection authorities.
- Practical part – includes examples of procedures, answers to frequently asked questions, tips on communication with residents, and templates of essential documents that can be directly used by inspectors in their work.
The authors emphasize that the purpose of inspections is not solely to detect violations and penalize offenders, but primarily to educate and support residents in complying with legal regulations and in taking advantage of available assistance, such as boiler replacement programs.
Why is this important?
Improving air quality remains one of the greatest challenges in modern Poland. Air pollution contributes annually to tens of thousands of premature deaths and diseases of the respiratory system, circulatory system, and cancers.
Although improvements have been observed in recent years thanks to the implementation of Air Quality Plans and Anti-smog resolutions – the number of zones exceeding allowable PM10 levels dropped from 39 in 2018 to 2 in 2023 – many regions still record values hazardous to health.
Therefore, in the coming years, it will be necessary to intensify inspection activities in municipalities. Domestic boiler inspections are a key tool for enforcing Anti-smog resolutions and achieving lasting improvements in air quality.
Municipal Responsibilities for Inspections
According to Article 379 of the Environmental Protection Law, the village mayor, town mayor, or city president are the authorities authorized and obliged to conduct inspections of compliance with environmental protection regulations.
In many regions, the applicable Air Quality Plans (AQP) specify the minimum number of inspections a municipality should carry out annually, depending on the number of residents and local conditions.
These inspections should be conducted not only as part of planned activities but also on an intervention basis – in response to reports from residents concerning waste burning or non-compliance with Anti-smog resolutions.
Get Acquainted with the Guide
We encourage all municipal employees, officers of municipal and city guards, and individuals involved in air protection activities to familiarize themselves with the content of the guide and apply its recommendations in daily practice.
Applying the best practices described in the publication will contribute to:
- improving the quality and effectiveness of inspections,
- streamlining work organization in municipalities,
- raising residents’ environmental awareness,
- achieving real improvements in air quality in our towns and cities.
