What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in a zone of smoke control then you must purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove allows you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled space.

They are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions. Stoves with this status typically carry the 'Defra approved' logo in their names or specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke-free zone means they cannot use a wood burning fireplace. It's not the case. Most cities and large towns fall under the smoke control zone, however that doesn't mean you can't use a wooden burning stove. It just means they need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually Briquettes). The Defra approved stove is a kind of wood-burning stove that has been tested to ensure that it meets certain standards regarding the emissions it emits when burning fuels that are approved and therefore, it can be used legally in a Smoke Control Area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and many stoves feature the SE after their names to signify that they are smoke-free. To be able to be SE approved it must meet strict criteria with regards to its emissions, so you can be assured that when you purchase an exempt defra stove, you will receive the cleanest and best burning wood stove available.

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

Another benefit of a Defra approved stove is that it typically allows you to install it with five" chimney liner, which is in compliance with UK building regulations, whilst non-Defra approved stoves will need to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a range of Defra-approved stoves and fireplaces, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with future standards for air quality in mind. A large portion of our approved stoves can also be used in conjunction with a smoke-control system for properties that are located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be utilized to burn a variety of non-smokeless fuels, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless fuels

The only stove that can be used within a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also referred to as DEFRA exempt. This stove should be used with solid fuel, that is wood, and preferably well-seasoned. They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't produce excessive amounts of smoke and are able to be used with 'authorized' fuels (coal only).

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that is not approved is usually very small. With a kit supplied by the manufacturer, many modern stoves can be made DEFRA conforming in just a few only a few minutes. This is because a Defra approved stove must undergo rigorous testing and is limited to the amount of smoke it can produce.

To ensure that these restrictions remain in place during the testing process, the stove must be capable of limiting the amount of combustion air it gets so that it does not deplete itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smolder. This is accomplished through a mechanism that opens a small amount air into the firebox when it is burning. It is usually concealed inside the stove or underneath the base of its fire box.

Stove World UK offers a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the best brands in the country such as Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a vast range of styles and 5Kw defra multifuel stove finishes. You can also select from a vast selection of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet future air quality requirements.

Smoke Control Zones are predominantly in towns and cities with large populations. You can go to the website of your local authority to see whether you are in one of these. It is crucial to buy a DEFRA-approved stove if you reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will allow you to avoid being fined by your local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised' fuel in an unapproved stove, for example coal or other solid fuels that could result in fines of up to PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also referred to as a smoke-free wood stove is a device that can be used to burn wood in a Smoke Control Area. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or the word "SE" after its name, which means that it can be used in smoke controlled areas when burning approved fuels which is in this case wood.

The older wood stoves produce large quantities of particulate matter. These can trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart issues. This is why it's crucial to purchase a new wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the stove is in compliance with the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that is not EPA certified and you live in a smoke control area it is necessary to be able to get it certified before you can use it. It's expensive and time-consuming, however the law requires it. Homeowners who sell a home with wood stove that is not certified could be subject to tax credits or fines that relate to pollution-free air.

With a kit, or an adjustment made by the installer, most modern stoves can become Defra-approved. The major difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system, which regulates the amount of air that flows through the stove when it's in normal operation. The modifications are usually placed on the underside of the firebox or within the base.

Some manufacturers will produce two versions of their wood stoves, one that is Defra approved and the other not. This is due to the process of running a stove through the strict Defra tests can be very costly in order to recover some of this expense they will sell the non-approved version at a cheaper cost. The DEFRA approved energy-efficient stoves-approved version will have been through the modification to the combustion air as part of the test process.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could burn any fuel they wanted, 5Kw Defra multifuel stove which resulted in excessive smoke emissions. This led to health issues. To prevent this Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their multifuel stoves or wood burners unless the appliance was Defra certified to burn only approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous tests to prove they can safely burn approved fuels in a Smoke Control Zone. They do this by using the latest combustion technology which continually delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the firebox, so that even when the stove is operating with approved fuels like anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals it will still be able to comply with the regulations of Defra for Smoke Control Areas.

If you're looking to purchase a new wood burning stove and are in Smoke Control Area then we recommend that you take a look at the selection of Defra approved stoves that can be found at The Stove Yard. We offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional models, modern and inset from top DEFRA stoves brands like Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good part is that there's really a difference in appearance between the appearance of a 5kw Defra Multifuel stove approved woodburning stove and one which isn't. However, the Defra approved models do have several features that are designed to ensure they burn more efficiently. They usually have a slightly different grate and air vents, and on gas versions they might have a slightly larger flue outlet.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have five" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can choose a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible liner that is cheaper than a 6" (150mm). We've seen this helpful when customers have an old or non-standard chimney stack which we are installing the Defra approved wood burning stove in to and it saves the cost of relining the chimney with a wider diameter liner.