What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?

A Defra Stoves ratings and Reviews-approved multi-fuel stove is one that has passed the Defra test for smoke. They can also be referred to as SE (smoke exempt) stoves.

The government Defra department handles rules and regulations pertaining to the environment, farming and rural issues. The Defra test ensures you can burn wood or approved smokeless fuels like Anthracite in a smoke-free area without causing annoyance to neighbors with noisy smoke.

Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly stoves use sustainable fuels and materials to reduce emissions. Eco-friendly stoves are typically built to burn wood, or in combination with other approved fuels. There are many eco-friendly multi-fuel stoves as well as log burners to choose from, defra stoves ratings and reviews ranging from traditional to modern models. Some eco-friendly stoves even use dung (the excrement of domestic livestock) as an extremely efficient and carbon negative alternative to wood.

The most important thing you can do to ensure your stove is green is to make sure that the fuel is properly seasoned or dried and kiln-fired. This reduces the moisture content of the wood, allowing it to burn more efficiently. It is also a good idea to buy only wood that comes from sustainable forests. When buying wood, look for the Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' label to verify that it has been dried properly.

The majority of newer stoves are built to meet the strict EU EcoDesign standards. These standards require that stove makers create wood-burning stoves that have energy efficiency and environmental protection in the back of their minds. Manufacturers must consider emissions as well as resource efficiency and waste reduction when they design Ecodesign stoves. These are among the most eco-friendly and cleanest stoves available.

Another option to make your stove green is to substitute the grate with a ceramic one. Ceramic is not only aesthetically pleasing but also anti-smoking and helps to reduce the amount of sulphur oxide found in the air. Ceramic grates also have a longer life duration and are much easier to clean than steel grate inserts.

In a Smoke Control Area you can still use a wood burner or multi-fuel stove, however it is important to use only fuels that have been approved by Defra. You could be in violation of the law if you do not. It is recommended to only use approved fuels by Defra, such as anthracite manufactured round in your stove.

Clean Burning

Multi fuel stoves that have been approved by Defra can only be used in smoke-controlled areas in the event that they burn only smokeless fuel. It could be a form of manufactured or natural smokeless log or anthracite and it must adhere to certain regulations in order to meet the requirements for an Defra approved wood burning stove. The stove manufacturers must adhere to the regulations for selling a DEFRA-exempted wood burner. Here at The Stove Yard we have an incredible selection of DEFRA approved wood burning stoves as well as multi fuel stoves from leading brands like Arada, Parkray, Burley, Stovax and many more.

These Defra-exempt stoves use the most advanced combustion technology to reduce the amount of tar and emissions within your chimney or flue system. They employ the most advanced secondary and tertiary airflow systems that ignite tar gases and particulates before they can escape into the atmosphere - this is the reason why an Defra approved stove so much cleaner than older generation stoves that burn wood and open fires.

The design of a stove that is Defra-approved is different. Most of our stoves have a hidden mechanism that allows an intermittent flow of air to the flame even after the vents for air have been shut. This prevents soot and ash from being sent up the chimney which can cause obstruction to your stove and cause dangerous chimney fires.

The new Defra-approved stoves don't allow you to completely close the air vents and slumber the stove for a night that could release part burned combustibles in the atmosphere.

A DEFRA approved stove will also offer you a much longer burn time than non-Defra models, but it's important to note that if you switched your approved fuel for smokeless coal and you wanted to slumber your stove overnight it would reduce the time to burn as the continuous supply of air required for slumber burning would curb the combustion of the smokeless fuel.

Emissions Reductions

If properly used, a stove that is exempt from DEFRA can produce very low levels of emissions. These emissions are usually PM2.5 particles, which can cause a range of health issues that include heart ailments and lung disease, when inhaled.

The high combustion efficiency of a DEFRA approved wood burner decreases the amount of harmful particles and pollutants released during the burning process. This reduces the impact of the burning process on the environment.

In addition to cutting harmful emissions, the efficiency of a stove reduces the cost of heating your home. Using the DEFRA approved wood-burning stove instead of gas boilers that are conventional can help reduce your carbon footprint as well as save money on your energy bills.

If you reside in a smoke-free zone, you must ensure that your fireplace is DEFRA permitted stoves approved or Smoke Exempt because this permits you to use Defra approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coal ovals like Anthracite and Homefire as well as dried wood and other authorised solid fuels. This will allow you to relax in the fireplace, without worrying that nuisance smoke could disturb your neighbors.

In addition to being DEFRA approved and DEFRA Approved, a lot of stoves are tested to clearSkies standards and are able to be identified with the clearSkies label. The clearSkies scheme is an independent scheme which requires stove makers to provide information about the efficiency and emissions of their appliances, allowing consumers make an informed choice. The information must include the stove's efficiency rating, emissions, as well as type and size.

It is important to remember that, as with Ecodesign, the clearSkies regulations are minimum standards, and the manufacturers can go beyond these. ESSE has developed its most recent stoves to make them even more efficient and clean, producing less dust without any compromise in efficiency or control. This latest development uses Twin Catalytic Combustion Technology, a patent-pending technology that burns all smoke particles which reduces their impact on the atmosphere.

If you live in a smoke-free zone and use a DEFRA Approved Stove with a high-quality, kiln-dried or seasoned log, you'll get the same amount of heat, or even more, from the same amount dry wood as when it was burned in an non DEFRA Approved Stove. It is up to 24 percent less expensive to heat your home using an newest DEFRA Approved Stove than using gas boiler.

Conforms to Building Regulations

If you reside in an area that is under smoke control, it is important to choose a multi-fuel stove that has been approved by DEFRA. These stoves have been tested to ensure that they do not emit smoke when burning approved fuel. Therefore, you can use them in areas with a significant amount of buildings. At Choice Stoves, we supply and install a variety of DEFRA approved log burners from the top brands like Mi-fires, Contura, Stovax, ACR, Broseley, Tiger, Cast Tec and more.

You can also safely burn peat, wood, and Defra Stoves Ratings and reviews other solid fuels by using a DEFRA-approved multi-fuel stove. You should be aware that some fuels are not permitted in Smoke Control Areas, so it's important to be aware of local guidelines and restrictions.

To ensure that a multi-fuel stove can operate safely, it is essential that you have the right ventilation. This will reduce the buildup of carbon monoxide within your home. DEFRA approved multi fuel stoves have an inbuilt venting system that is able to automatically deliver sufficient air to the combustion process, meaning that your home will be properly ventilated and safe for use.

In addition, DEFRA approved stoves have a minimum flue size of 550mm2, meaning they can be used with a standard twinwall system. Our extensive selection of flue liners is compatible with DEFRA approved stoves, which means you can utilize them to enhance your fireplace to ensure it is compliant with the latest emissions requirements.

When selecting the DEFRA approved stove look for the 'DEFRA symbol on its packaging or in the manufacturer's information online. This information is also available on a variety of reliable retailers' websites as well as in the store displays.

It's important to hire an expert who is certified when you are planning to install a multi-fuel fireplace. This will ensure that the installation is in compliance with building codes. If you don't follow the correct instructions for installation and procedures, you could face the issuance of a fine or damage to your home. We recommend choosing a HETAS approved installer to complete your stove installation, because they are familiar with the manufacturer's guidelines and building regulations.