What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in a zone of smoke control then it is crucial to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove permits you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled area.

The stoves are independently tested for the lowest emissions possible. Stoves that are certified will often display the 'Defra-approved' logo on their name or specification.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke control zone means they cannot use a wood burning fireplace. It's not the case. Many towns and cities fall under the smoke control zone, however that doesn't mean they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It's simply that they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually briquettes). The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it is in compliance with certain requirements regarding the emissions it produces when burning authorised materials. It is therefore able to be used legally in areas of smoke control.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and many stoves have the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. To be able to be SE approved, it must meet strict criteria in regards to its emissions, so you can be certain that if you choose a defra exempt stove you will get the most clean and most efficient wood stove on the market.

If you are searching for a wood-burning stove that is Defra-exempt, or has SE after its title You will see that the manufacturer may have taken measures to ensure that there are enough air intakes on the front of stove to allow for full combustion of fuel and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to avoid soot accumulation. This is crucial because it ensures that smoke from the wood burning stove doesn't escape through the chimney and into your home.

Another benefit of an Defra approved stove is that it generally permits you to use it with a 5" chimney liner, which will comply with UK building regulations. However, stoves that aren't Defra-approved will have to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a range of fireplaces and stoves that are Defra-approved and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future standards for recommended DEFRA stoves air quality in mind. In fact, many of our Defra approved stoves are also able to be used with a smoke control kit for properties in a Smoke Control Area and can therefore be used with a variety of authorised smokeless fuels including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also known as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only type of stove you can install in a smoke-control area if you plan to use it for solid fuel (wood or wood that is well-seasoned). They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't create excessive levels of smoke. They can be used with approved fuels (coal only).

The difference between a DEFRA-approved stove and one that is not approved is usually minimal. Many modern stoves can easily be transformed into DEFRA compliant with the kit supplied by the manufacturer and installed within a matter of minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass extremely rigorous tests and have a limit on the amount of smoke they are able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are kept the stove must be able limit its combustion air so that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen and cause it to smolder. This is achieved by an opening mechanism that lets a small amount air into the firebox while it is burning. It is typically hidden in the stove or under the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK offers a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from the country's best manufacturers including Stovax, Arada and Burley. They are available in a wide variety of styles and finishes. You can also select from a vast variety of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet future standards for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are located mostly in large towns and cities. You can visit the website of your local authority to find out if you live in one of these. It is important to purchase a defra stove-approved stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will help you avoid being fined by your local authority. If you use coal or other solid fuels in a non approved stove, you may be fined up PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also called a smoke-free wood stove is an appliance which can be used to burn wood in smoke Control Area. The stove will be marked with the Defra approved symbol or the word 'SE' in front of its name, which means it is only permitted to be used in areas controlled by smoke where you can burn approved fuels. In this instance, wood.

The older wood stoves produce large amounts of particulate matter, which can trigger or exacerbate respiratory problems, asthma attacks and heart problems. Therefore, it is essential to buy a wood stove that meets strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which means that the wood stove meets the emission limits currently in place.

If you buy a stove that is not EPA-certified, and you reside in a smoke-free area, you'll need to renew the certification before you can use the stove. This can be expensive and time-consuming, but it is required by law. Additionally homeowners who sell a home with a wood stove that isn't certified could be subject to clean air tax credits and fines.

With a kit or an adjustment made by the installer, most modern stoves can be made Defra-approved. This is because the primary difference between a Recommended DEFRA Stoves approved stove and one that are not, is the combustion air management system which regulates how much air flows through the stove during normal operation. The change is usually placed on the underside of the firebox, or in the base.

Some manufacturers produce two versions of a wood stove: one that is Defra-approved, and the other that isn't. This is because the process of placing a stove through stringent Defra tests is very expensive in order to recover some of the costs, they will sell the non-approved version at a cheaper cost. The DEFRA approved version will have been able to have the modification to the combustion air done as part of the testing procedure.

Approved Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in homes for residential use, homeowners could burn any type of fuel they liked which resulted in huge amounts of smoke emissions as well as health issues. To combat this Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes could not emit any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra certified to burn only approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have undergone stringent testing to prove that they can cleanly burn authorized fuels within a Smoke Control Area. They achieve this by utilising the latest technology for combustion that continuously delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the combustion chamber, so that even if the stove is being used with fuels that are authorised, such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals it can still comply with the regulations of Defra for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a large selection of Defra-approved stoves that are perfect for those who live in a smoke control area and need a new wood burning fireplace. We offer a wide range of traditional, contemporary and inset Defra approved stoves from industry-leading manufacturers like Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good part is that there's much of a distinction in appearance between the appearance of a DEFRA stoves disadvantages approved woodburning stove and one that isn't. However, the Defra approved models have various features that are designed to ensure they burn more efficiently. They generally have a different grate design and air vents and on gas stoves they may also feature a different sized flue outlet.

Another benefit of a Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically come with five" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner, which is cheaper than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is useful when installing a Defra-approved wood burning stove into an old or recommended defra stoves non-standard chimney stack. It will save you money the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.