What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a smoke control area then it is crucial to purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove allows you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled space.

The stoves are tested independently to ensure the lowest emissions possible. Stoves with this status will often display the 'Defra-approved' logo on their specifications or name.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke control zone means they cannot use a fireplace with wood. This is not true. In reality, many cities and large towns are located in a smoke controlled zone however this doesn't mean that you can't have stoves, it just means that you must make use of an exempt device and only use authorised fuels (usually briquettes) in your stove. The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it is in compliance with certain requirements regarding the emissions it produces when burning approved materials. It can therefore be legally used in a smoke control area.

The Defra logo is widely used by the industry and a large number of the stoves approved have SE after their names, meaning they are smoke exempt. To be able to be SE approved, it must meet strict requirements in relation to emissions, so you can be assured that if you select 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 that has SE after its title You will see that the manufacturer might have taken measures to make sure that there are enough air intakes in the front of stove to ensure that there is a full combustion of the fuel, and that the size of the chimney outlet is sufficient to avoid soot accumulation. 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 generally allows you to fit it with five" chimney liner, which is in compliance with 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 range of Defra-approved Fireplaces And Stove and stoves and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed keeping future air quality standards at heart. Many of our Defra-approved stoves can also be used combination with a smoke control system for properties that are located in Smoke Control Zones. They can be used to burn a variety of in smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be used inside a smoke-control zone is a DEFRA approved wood burner, which is also known by the designation DEFRA exempt. The stove has to be used with a solid fuel, which means wood, preferably well-seasoned. They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't produce excessive levels of smoke. They can be used with 'authorised' fuels (coal only).

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that is not approved is usually minimal. Many modern stoves can easily be transformed into DEFRA certified by an approved kit supplied by the manufacturer and then fitted in just a few minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass extremely rigorous tests and have a limit on the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are maintained the stove has to be able to limit its combustion air to ensure that it doesn't rob itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smolder. This is achieved through a mechanism within the stove which opens the air into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is usually hidden within the stove and beneath the base of the fire box.

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

Smoke Control Areas are typically located around large cities and towns and you can visit the website of your local authority to see if your area is classified as one. If you reside in a smoke controlled area it is very important to purchase an DEFRA approved stove for Fireplaces And Stove your property, to avoid being fined by your local authority. This is because if you burn unauthorised fuel in a non-approved stove, for example coal or any other solid fuels and you are fined up to PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved wood stove, also known as a smoke exempt stove, is an appliance that can be used in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will be marked with the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' front of its name meaning it can only be used in areas controlled by smoke if you burn approved fuels. In this instance wood is the fuel.

The older wood stoves produce large quantities of particulate matter. This can lead to or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart problems. This is why it's crucial to purchase an updated wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You should look for the "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which signifies that the stove has met the emissions limits that are currently in place.

If you buy a stove that isn't EPA-certified and you live in a smoking area it is necessary to get it recertified before you can use the stove. It is expensive and time-consuming, however the law requires it. Homeowners who sell a home with a wood stove that is not certified could be liable for tax credits or fines that relate to the clean air.

Modern stoves can be altered to be Defra approved with 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 quantity of air that goes through the stove when it is operating normally. The modifications are usually located on the bottom of the firebox or in the base.

Certain manufacturers make two versions of a wood stove. One is Defra-approved while the other not. This is because the process of placing a stove through rigorous Defra tests can be very costly and to offset some of the costs, they will sell the non-approved model at a lower cost. The DEFRA-approved version will have been subjected to the modification of the combustion air in the course of the test procedure.

Gas Approved

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted, resulting in large amounts of smoke emissions. This caused health problems. To combat this Defra established Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes couldn't produce any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved to burn only authorised fuels such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous testing to prove that they can safely burn approved fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. The latest combustion technology delivers an indefinite amount of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove comply with Defra regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is used with approved fuels like anthracite and manufactured smokeless coals.

If you're looking to purchase an all-new wood burning stove and are in a Smoke Control Area then we recommend to look into the range of Defra approved stoves which can be found here at The Stove Yard. We offer a variety of stoves that are Defra-approved, including traditional, contemporary and inset models that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good news is that there is no difference in appearance between a Defra-approved woodburning stove and Fireplaces And Stove a stove that is not approved. However, the Defra-approved models do come with a few extra features that are designed to ensure they burn cleaner. They generally have a different grate NRG 4.5KW Eco Design Stove Portable Fireplace and air vents, and on the gas models they may also feature an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

Another benefit of the Defra Approved stove is that they will almost always have a 5" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner, which is cheaper than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is a great option when you install an approved wood burning stove from Defra into an old or non-standard chimney stack. It will save you money the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.