What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

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

The stoves are tested independently to ensure the lowest possible emissions. Stoves that have this status 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 controlled 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's simply that they have to burn approved 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 criteria regarding the emissions that it produces when burning authorised fuels 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 indicate they are smoke-free. In order for a stove to be SE approved, it must meet strict criteria in regards to its emissions, so you can be assured that if you choose a defra exempt stove you will receive the cleanest and most efficient wood stove on the market.

If you're looking for DEFRA Stoves Comparison a wood-burning stove which is top DEFRA stoves-exempt, or has SE after its title You will notice that the manufacturer has taken measures to make sure that there are enough 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 crucial as it helps to ensure that the smoke from the stove does not escape through the chimney and into your home.

A stove that is Defra-approved permits you to use a 5" liner which is compliant with UK building regulations. Non-Defra-approved stoves require a 6" liner.

Stovax is proud to offer a range of fireplaces and stoves that are DEFRA Stoves comparison-approved and 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 combination with a smoke control system for properties located in Smoke Control Zones. They can be used to burn a variety of non-smokeless fuels, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be installed in a smoke-control area is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also referred to by the designation DEFRA exempt. This stove must be used for solid fuel, that is wood, which is best seasoned. The government tests them to ensure they don't release excessive smoke and that they can only be used with fuels that are 'authorized.

The difference between a DEFRA approved stove and a non-approved one is usually very little. Many modern stoves can easily be converted to DEFRA conforming with the kit supplied by the manufacturer and fitted in a matter of minutes. This is due to the fact that Defra approved appliances must pass very strict tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they are able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove must be able limit its combustion air so that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen and cause it smoulder. This is achieved by a mechanism inside the stove which opens a small amount of air into the firebox during combustion which is usually hidden within the stove and underneath the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK offers a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the best brands in the country including Stovax, Arada and Burley. They are available in an enormous variety of styles and finishes. You can also choose from a wide range of Ecodesign ready stoves that are specifically designed to meet future air quality requirements.

Smoke Control Areas are typically situated around cities and towns with large populations and you can look up your local authority's website to determine if your area is classified as one. It is essential to buy an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will allow you to avoid being fined by the local authority. If you burn coal or other solid fuels using a non approved stove, you could be fined up PS300.

Approved for wood

A luxury DEFRA stoves approved wood stove, also known as a smoke exempt stove, is a device that can be used in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will bear the Defra approved logo or have 'SE' after its name meaning it is able to be used in smoke controlled areas that burn approved fuels, in this case wood.

A lot of older wood stoves emit large amounts of particulate matter. This can cause or worsen respiratory problems, asthma attacks and heart issues. This is why it is 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 has met the emission limits currently in place.

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

With a kit, or an adjustment provided by the installer, a majority of modern stoves can become Defra-approved. The primary difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system that regulates the amount of air that passes through the stove in normal operation. Modifications are typically done to the base or underside of the firebox.

Certain manufacturers make two versions of a wood stove: one that is Defra-approved, and the other is not. The reason for this is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is expensive. To offset these costs, they will sell the non approved version for a lower price. The DEFRA approved version will have had the combustion air modification included in 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 led to large amounts of smoke emissions as well as health problems. To combat this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This means that residential homes can not produce any smoke in the event that their wood burners or multifuel stoves were Defra-approved to allow burning only approved materials such as manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous testing to demonstrate that they can burn authorised fuels cleanly within a Smoke Control Zone. They accomplish this by using the latest technology for combustion 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 Defra's rules for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a vast selection of stoves that are Defra approved that are ideal for those who reside in a smoke-free area and require a new wood-burning fireplace. We have a broad collection of traditional, contemporary and inset Defra approved stoves from the most reputable manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there's not much of a distinction in appearance between the appearance of a Defra approved woodburning stove and one which isn't. However, the Defra approved models do have several features that are designed to ensure that they burn more efficiently. They typically have an unintentionally different grate as well as air vents, and on gas versions they may have a larger flue outlet.

Another benefit of the Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically have a 5" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can use a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner, which is less expensive than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've used this when a customer has an older or non-standard chimney stack which we are installing a Defra approved wood burning stove in to and it saves the cost of relining the chimney with a larger diameter liner.