What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in an area where smoking is controlled, it's crucial to buy a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt stove (or SE) permits you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled area.

They are independently tested to provide the lowest emissions. Stoves that are certified are usually branded with the 'Defra approved' logo on their name or the specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't have a stove that burns wood and this is not true. Many towns and cities are in the smoke control zone, however that doesn't mean they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It just means they need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually Briquettes). The Defra approved stove is a specific type of wood burning stove that has been inspected to ensure it meets certain standards in relation to the emissions it emits when burning fuels that are approved and therefore it can be legally used in 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 SE approved the stove must satisfy strict emission criteria. This means that you can be confident you are purchasing the top wood stove that is available.

If you are looking for a wood-burning stove which is Defra-exempt, or has SE after its name You will notice that the manufacturer may have taken measures to ensure that there are sufficient air intakes on the front of the stove to allow full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is adequate to prevent the accumulation of soot. This is important as it ensures that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape through the chimney and enter your home.

Another benefit of the DEFRA approved stylish stoves approved stove is that it usually allows you to install it with 5" chimney liner, which complies with UK building regulations. However, stoves that are not Defra approved will need to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are delighted to offer a variety of Defra approved stoves and fires, alongside our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with the future of air quality standards in mind. In fact, many of our Defra approved stoves are also capable of being used with smoke control kits for those properties that are in a Smoke Control Area and so can be used with a variety of approved smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

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

The difference between the difference between a DEFRA approved stove and a non-approved one typically is very small. With a kit from the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be easily transformed into DEFRA certified in a matter of only a few minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass very strict tests and are limited in the amount of smoke they are able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are not violated the stove has to be able limit its combustion air so that it doesn't rob itself of oxygen and cause it smoulder. This is achieved by an opening mechanism that lets the air in the firebox while it is burning. It is usually hidden in the stove or under the base of its firebox.

Stove World UK offers a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from the best brands in the country, including Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a huge variety of styles and colors. You can also pick from a vast selection of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet future standards for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are mainly in large towns and cities. You can go to the website of your local authority to determine if you live in one. It is important to purchase a DEFRA registered stoves-approved stove if you live in a smoke-controlled area. This will help you avoid being fined by the local authority. If you use coal or other solid fuels using a non approved stove, you may be fined PS300.

Approved for wood

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

The older wood stoves can release lots of particles into the air, which can cause or contribute to respiratory issues asthma attacks, heart problems and premature death. This is why it is important to purchase new wood stoves that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for an "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which means that the stove has met the emissions limits that are now in place.

If you purchase an appliance that isn't EPA certified and you live in a smoke-free zone, you will need to have it recertified before you can use it. It can be costly and time-consuming, however it is legally required. In addition homeowners who sell their home that has a wood stove that is not certified could be liable for clean air tax credits as well as fines.

Most modern stoves can be modified to be Defra approved by an adjustment kit or a kit that the installer provides. The major difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system that controls the amount of air that passes through the stove when it is in normal operation. The modifications are 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 while the other that isn't. The reason behind this is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is costly. To help recoup these costs, they will sell the non approved version at a cheaper price. The DEFRA-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 use any fuel they wanted to, resulting in large amounts of smoke emissions. This caused health problems. To stop this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not emit any smoke in the event that their wood burners or multifuel stoves were approved by Defra for burning only approved materials like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have undergone stringent testing to prove that they are able to burn cleanly authorised fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. The latest technology for luxury Defra stoves combustion delivers a constant minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove comply with Defra regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals.

The Stove Yard has a wide range of Defra-approved stoves which are perfect for those who reside in a smoke control area and require a new wood burning fireplace. We offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional, contemporary and inset models that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good thing is that there is no distinction in appearance between a Defra-approved woodburning stove and a stove that is not approved. However the models that are Luxury Defra Stoves-approved come with a few extra features that are designed to make them burn more efficiently. In general, they have a different grate design as well as air vents. On gas stoves, they may also have an alternative size flue outlet.

Another benefit of a Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically come with a 5" (125mm) flue outlet, which means you can choose a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is cheaper than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've seen this helpful when customers have an old or non-standard chimney stack which we are installing a Defra approved wood burning stove into and also saves the expense of re-lining the chimney stack with a larger diameter liner.