What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

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

They are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions. Stoves with this status typically carry the logo 'Defra-approved' in their name or on their specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't use a wood-burning stove but this isn't the case. Most cities and large towns are within a smoke control zone but that doesn't mean you can't use a wooden burning stove. It's simply that they need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually brquettes). The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been rigorously tested to ensure that it meets certain standards regarding the emissions it produces when burning authorised fuels. It can therefore be legally used in smoke-control zones.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves have the SE after their names to indicate that they are smoke-free. In order for a stove to be SE approved, it must meet strict requirements in relation to emissions So you can be certain that when you purchase a defra exempt stove you are getting the cleanest and best burning wood stove on the market.

If you search for a wood burning stove that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you'll usually find that the manufacturer has carried out things like making sure there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow full combustion of the fuel and that the chimney outlet size is sufficient to prevent the build-up of soot. This is crucial as it helps to ensure that the smoke from the stove doesn't escape through the chimney into your home.

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

Stovax is proud to offer a variety of fireplaces and stoves that are Defra-approved as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed with 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 homes 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 put in in a smoke-control area is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known by the name DEFRA exempt. This stove must be used for solid fuel, which means wood, and preferably well-seasoned. They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't generate excessive amounts of smoke and are able to be used with 'authorized' fuels (coal only).

The difference between a DEFRA-approved kitchen and one that is not approved is usually quite small. Many modern stoves can easily be made DEFRA certified by the kit supplied by the manufacturer and fitted in a matter of minutes. This is because a Defra approved stove must undergo rigorous testing and must be restricted to the amount of smoke it can generate.

To ensure that the restrictions are kept, the stove must be able limit its combustion air so that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen and cause it to smolder. This is achieved by the mechanism that allows an air pocket in the firebox when it's burning. It is typically hidden in the stove or under the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves, from some of the most reputable manufacturers in the world, including Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a huge variety of styles and finishes. You can also pick from a vast variety of Ecodesign ready stoves that have been specifically designed to meet future air quality requirements.

Smoke Control Zones are mostly in large towns and cities. You can go to the website of your local authority to determine if you live in one of these. If you reside in a smoke controlled area it is crucial that you purchase an DEFRA approved stove for your property, to avoid being fined by your local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised' fuel in an unapproved stove, like coal or other solid fuels that could result in fines of up to PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also referred to as a smoke-free wood stove is an appliance which can be used to burn wood in the Smoke Control Area. The stove will have the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' the title, which means it can only be used in areas controlled by smoke where you can burn approved fuels. In this case, wood.

Many older wood stoves emit a lot of particulate matter into the air which can trigger or contribute to respiratory problems, asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. This is why it's crucial to purchase a new wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for a "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which indicates that the stove has met the emissions limits that are now in place.

If you purchase a cooktop that is not EPA-certified, and you live in a smoking area it is necessary to get it recertified before you can use the stove. It is time-consuming and expensive, but the law requires it. Additionally, homeowners who sell a house 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, the majority of modern stoves can be Defra approved. This is because the primary difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that aren't is the combustion air management system that regulates how much air flows through the stove in normal operation. The modification will usually be made on the underside of the firebox or in the base.

Some manufacturers produce two versions of their wood stove one that is Defra approved and the other that is not. The reason is that the cost of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra testing is high. To reduce these costs, they will sell the non approved version at a cheaper price. The DEFRA regulations stoves-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, leading to excessive smoke emissions. This caused health problems. To combat this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not emit smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were approved by Defra for burning only approved materials like manufactured smokeless coke and DEFRA approved energy-efficient stoves anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also known as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to stringent testing to prove that they can cleanly burn authorized fuels within a Smoke Control Zone. They achieve this by utilising the most advanced combustion technology that continually delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the firebox to ensure that even if the stove is operating with authorised fuels 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 wide range of Defra-approved stoves that are ideal for those who reside in a smoke control zone and require a brand new wood-burning fireplace. We offer a wide range of traditional, contemporary and inset Defra approved stoves from industry-leading manufacturers like Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good part is that there's much of a distinction in appearance between the appearance of a Defra approved woodburning stove and one that isn't, however the Defra approved models do have various features that are designed to ensure they burn more efficiently. They typically have a slightly different grate and air vents and on gas models, they might have a slightly smaller flue outlet.

Another benefit of an Defra Approved stove is that they will almost always come with a 5" (125mm) flue outlet, which means you can use 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 Energy-Efficient Stoves-approved in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It saves money on replacing a bigger diameter chimney liner.