What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a smoke control area it is essential 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 have this status will often display the 'Defra-approved logo on their name or the specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke-free zone means they cannot use a fireplace with wood. This isn't the case. In reality, many cities and large towns are within an area that is smoke-free, but that doesn't mean you cannot have stoves, it just means that you must use an exempt appliance and only burn authorised fuels (usually brquettes) in your stove. The Defra approved stove is a kind of wood burning stove that has been inspected to ensure it meets certain criteria regarding the emissions it releases when burning authorised fuels, and therefore, it can be used legally in the Smoke Control Area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves feature the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. To be SE approved the stove must meet strict emission requirements. This means you can be sure that you are purchasing the top wood stove on the market.

If you are looking for a wood-burning stove that is Defra-exempt or has SE after its name, you will find that the manufacturer might have taken measures to ensure that there are sufficient air intakes on the front of stove to allow full combustion of fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to avoid soot accumulation. This is important as it helps to ensure that the smoke from the stove does not escape through the chimney and into your home.

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

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

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also known as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only kind of stove you can install in a smoke control zone if you plan to make use of it for solid fuel (wood, 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 the differences between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't typically is very small. A lot of modern stoves can be made DEFRA certified by the kit supplied by the manufacturer and then fitted in just a few minutes. This is due to the fact that Defra approved appliances must pass extremely stringent tests and have a limit on the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that these limitations remain in place during the testing process, the stove will have to be capable of limiting the combustion air supply so that it does not starve itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smoke. This is accomplished through an opening mechanism that lets a small amount air into the firebox when it's burning. It is usually hidden in the stove or under the base of its fire box.

Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves, made by some of the best manufacturers in the country including Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast variety of styles and finishes. Select from a broad selection of Ecodesign stoves, which are designed to meet future requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are located mainly in large towns and cities. You can go to the website of your local authority to find out whether you reside in one of these. If you live in a smoke controlled area it is crucial to purchase a DEFRA approved stove for your home to avoid being fined by the local authority. If you burn coal or any other solid fuels in a stove that is not approved stove, you may be fined up PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved wood stove also called a smoke exempt 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' front of its name that means it is only permitted to be used in smoke-controlled areas if you burn approved fuels. In this case, wood.

A lot of older wood stoves release a lot 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 essential to buy an updated wood stove that meets the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which means that the stove has met the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA-certified and you reside in a smoke-free area you'll have to recertify it before you can use the stove. It's costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. Homeowners who sell a house with wood stoves that are not certified may be liable for tax credits or fines related to clean air.

Most modern stoves can be altered to be Defra approved by an adjustment kit or kit that the installer provides. The major difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system, which regulates the amount of air that passes through the stove when it's in normal operation. Modifications are usually done to the base or underside of a stove's firebox.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stoves, one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. This is because the process of placing a stove through stringent Defra tests can be very costly and to offset some of the cost, they'll offer the non-approved version at a cheaper price. The DEFRA-approved version has been through the modification to the combustion air as part of the testing process.

Approved for Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in homes for residential use, homeowners could burn any type of fuel they wanted which led to large quantities of smoke emissions and health problems. 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 approved to burn only fuels that were authorised, such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have undergone rigorous tests to prove that they can burn cleanly authorized fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. The latest combustion technology delivers a constant minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This allows the stove to meet Defra standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is used with approved fuels like anthracite as well as manufactured smokeless coals.

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

The good news is that there isn't much of a distinction in appearance between the appearance of a Defra approved woodburning stove and one that isn't, DEFRA approved stylish stoves however the DEFRA approved efficient stoves approved models do come with various features that are designed to ensure they burn cleaner. They usually have an unintentionally different grate as well as air vents as well as on gas models they might have a slightly larger flue outlet.

Another benefit of a Defra Approved stove is that they'll almost always have five" (125mm) flue outlet. This means that you can choose a narrower stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner, which is cheaper than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is beneficial when putting wood-burning stoves that are DEFRA Approved Stylish stoves-approved in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It saves money on the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.