What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

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

The stoves are tested independently to ensure the lowest emission possible. Stoves that are certified as such 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 wood burning fireplace. This is not true. In reality, a majority of cities and towns are located in a smoke controlled zone however this doesn't mean that you cannot have stoves, it just means that you must use an exempt appliance and only burn fuels that are approved (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 authorised fuels. It is therefore able to be legally used in areas of smoke control.

The Defra Logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of stoves feature the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. In order for a stove to be SE approved, defra Approved low emission stoves it must meet strict requirements in relation to its emissions and emissions, so you can be sure that if you select an exempt defra stove, you will get the most clean and best burning wood stove available.

When you look for a wood burning stove that is Defra exempt or is marked with SE after its name, you'll often discover that the manufacturer has done things such as made sure there are enough air inlets on the front of the stove to allow for full combustion of the fuel and that the chimney outlet size is sufficient to stop the build-up of soot. This is important because it ensures that smoke from the wood stove doesn't escape through the chimney into your home.

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

At Stovax we are pleased to offer a selection of Defra approved stoves and fires. We also have our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been developed with future air quality standards in mind. Many of our stoves that are Defra-approved can also be used conjunction with a smoke control system for properties that are located in Smoke Control Areas. They can be utilized to burn a variety of smokeless fuels, including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

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

The difference between the differences between a DEFRA approved stove and one that is not is usually very little. With a kit supplied by the manufacturer, many modern stoves can be made DEFRA compliant in just a few minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass extremely stringent tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are maintained, the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air so that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen and cause it to smolder. This is accomplished through a mechanism within the stove that opens the air into the firebox during combustion, which is usually hidden within the stove, DEFRA Approved Low Emission Stoves and under the base of the fire box.

Stove World UK has a wide range of DEFRA approved stoves from some of the best brands in the country such as Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in an enormous variety of styles and designs. Pick from a variety of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet the future demands for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are located predominantly in large cities and towns. You can check the website of your local authority to determine whether you are in one of these. It is important to purchase an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will help you avoid a fine from the local authority. If you burn coal or any other solid fuels in a stove that is not approved stove, you could be fined up PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also known as a smoke-free wood stove is an appliance that can be used to burn wood in the Smoke Control Area. The stove will be stamped with the Defra approved logo or have the word "SE" after its name, which means that it can be used in smoke controlled areas when burning approved fuels only that is, in this instance, wood.

A lot of older wood stoves emit large amounts of particulate matter, which can lead to or worsen asthma attacks, respiratory problems and heart problems. 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 means that the wood stove meets the emission limits that are currently in place.

If you purchase a stove that isn't EPA certified and you reside in a zone of smoke control it is necessary to be able to get it certified before you can use it. This can be expensive and time consuming, but it is legally required. Homeowners who sell a home with a wood stove that is not certified may be liable for tax credits or fines relating to pollution-free air.

Modern stoves can be altered to be Defra approved with an adjustment kit or kit that the installer offers. The primary difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't is the combustion air control system that controls the amount of air that passes through the stove when it's in normal operation. The modifications are usually made on the underside of the firebox or in the base.

Some manufacturers produce two types of wood stove: one that is Defra-approved while the other is not. The reason behind this is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is high. To help recoup these costs, they sell the non approved version for a lower cost. The defra approved low emission stoves-approved model will have been subjected to the modification of the combustion air as part of the testing process.

Approved Gas

Before the Clean Air Acts were brought in residential homes could burn any type of fuel they liked which led to large quantities of smoke emissions and health problems. To stop this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not produce any smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were Defra-approved to allow burning only approved materials like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been subjected to rigorous testing to prove they can burn authorised fuels cleanly within a Smoke Control Area. The most modern combustion technology allows an indefinite amount of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove comply with DEFRA endorsed stoves regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels like anthracite as well as manufactured smokeless coals.

The Stove Yard has a wide range of Defra-approved stoves which are perfect for those who reside in a smoke-free area and need a new wood burning fireplace. We have a wide range of stoves that are Defra-approved, including traditional models, modern and inset that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there's not much of a difference in appearance between a Defra approved woodburning stove and one which isn't, but the Defra approved models have several features that are designed to ensure they burn cleaner. Generally they will have a different design of grate and air vents, and on the gas versions they might also have an alternative size flue outlet.

Another benefit of an Defra Approved stove is that they'll typically have five" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is less expensive than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've found this useful when a customer has an old or non-standard chimney stack that we are installing the Defra approved wood burning stove into and also saves the expense of re-lining the chimney stack with a wider diameter liner.