What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in an area where smoke is controlled, it's crucial to 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 certification typically have the 'Defra approved' logo in their names or specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke-free area means they can't use a fireplace with wood. This isn't the case. The majority of towns and cities are in the smoke control zone, but that doesn't mean you can't use a wooden burning stove. It's simply that they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually brquettes). The Defra approved stove is a kind of wood-burning stove that has been tested to ensure it meets certain requirements in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised fuels, and consequently, it is able to be used legally in a Smoke Control Area.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves have the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. In order for a stove to be SE approved it must meet strict criteria in regards to emissions So you can be certain that when you purchase an exempt defra stove, you will get the most clean and most efficient wood stove available.

If you are looking for a stove that burns wood that is Defra-exempt, or has SE after its name, you will find that the manufacturer may have done things like make sure 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 prevent accumulation of soot. 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 the Defra approved stove is that it usually permits you to use it with 5" chimney liner, which is in compliance with UK building regulations. However, non-Defra approved stoves will need to be fitted with a larger 6" liner.

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

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be used in a smoke-control area is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known as DEFRA exempt. The stove has to be used with a solid fuel, which is wood, which is best seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't emit excessive smoke and that they can only be used with 'authorized' fuels.

The difference between the difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't typically is very small. With a kit supplied by the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be made DEFRA conforming in just a few only a few minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove has to undergo very rigorous tests and has to be limited in the amount of smoke it can generate.

To ensure that these restrictions are maintained during testing the stove must be capable of limiting its combustion air supply so that it does not starve itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smolder. This is achieved by a mechanism inside the stove which opens a small amount of air into the firebox during the process of combustion, Defra Stove which is often hidden inside the stove, and under the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK offers a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from the top manufacturers in the country including Stovax, Arada and Burley. These are available in a vast variety of styles and finishes. Choose from a wide range of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet the future needs for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are located mostly in large towns and cities. You can visit the website of your local authority to see whether you reside in one of these. It is important to purchase an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will help you avoid a fine from the local authority. This is because if you burn 'unauthorised fuel on an unapproved stove, for example coal or other solid fuels, you could be fined up to 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 the front of its name that means it is only permitted to be used in areas controlled by smoke where you can burn approved fuels. In this instance wood is the fuel.

A lot of older wood stoves emit large quantities of particulate matter. This can lead to or worsen respiratory problems, asthma attacks and heart issues. This is why it is essential to buy new wood stoves that is compliant with the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which means that the stove is in compliance with the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase a cooktop that isn't EPA-certified and you reside in a smoking zone, you'll need to get it recertified before you can use the stove. It can be costly and time consuming, but it is required by law. In addition homeowners who sell a house with an uncertified wood stove could be liable for clean air tax credits as well as fines.

The majority of modern stoves can be modified to be Defra approved with an adjustment kit or a kit provided by the installer. This is because the primary difference between the DEFRA approved stove and those that aren't is the combustion air management system which controls how much air passes through the stove in normal operation. The modifications are usually located on the bottom of the firebox, or in the base.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stoves, one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. The reason is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is expensive. To reduce the costs, they sell the non approved version for a lower price. The DEFRA-approved version will have undergone the combustion air modification in the course of the test process.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted to, which resulted in large amounts of smoke emissions. This led to 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 approved for burning only approved fuels like 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 cleanly burn authorised fuels within a Smoke Control Area. They accomplish this by using the most advanced combustion technology that continually delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the firebox, so that even if the stove is operating 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 vast selection of stoves that are DEFRA requirements stoves approved that are ideal for DEFRA stove those who live in a smoke control area and require a new wood burning fireplace. We have a broad selection of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional modern, contemporary and inset models from top brands like Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good news is there is no difference in appearance between a stove that is Defra-approved and one that isn't. However, the Defra-approved models do have a few features designed to help them burn more efficiently. Generally they will have a different design of grate as well as air vents. On the gas models they may also feature an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

Another benefit of an Defra Approved stove is that they will almost always have five" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can choose 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 non-standard chimney stack. It can save money on replacing a bigger diameter chimney liner.