What is a Defra Approved Efficient 8KW Black Cast Iron Eco Wood Stove Burning Stove?

If you live in an area where smoking is controlled, it's 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 independently tested for the lowest possible emissions. Stoves with 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 control zone means that they aren't able to make use of a fireplace that burns wood. It's not the case. The majority of towns and cities are in the smoke control zone, however, that doesn't mean that you can't use a wooden burning stove. It's simply that they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually briquettes). The stove that is Defra-approved is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it meets certain standards regarding the emissions it produces when burning authorised materials. It can therefore be legally used in a smoke control area.

The Defra logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of the stoves that have been approved bear SE after their names which means they are smoke-free. To be SE approved, a stove must meet strict emission standards. This means that you can rest assured that you're buying the best wood stove on the market.

If you search for a wood-burning stove that is Defra exempt or is marked with SE after its name, you will often find that the manufacturer has taken care of things such as made sure there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to permit full combustion of the fuel and that the chimney outlet size is adequate to stop the build-up of soot. This is important as it ensures that the smoke from the wood burning stove does not escape through the chimney and into your home.

Another benefit of an DEFRA regulations stoves approved stove is that it usually permits you to use it with 5" chimney liner, which will comply with the UK building regulations, whereas non-Defra approved stoves will need to be fitted with a bigger 6" liner.

At Stovax we are delighted to offer a variety of Defra approved stoves and fires, alongside our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been developed with future air quality standards in mind. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are also capable of being used with smoke control kits for properties located in a Smoke Control Area and therefore can be used with a range of authorised smokeless fuels including fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless fuels

The only stove that can be put in inside a smoke-control zone is one that is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known by the name DEFRA exempt. This stove must be used with a solid fuel, which means wood, and preferably well-seasoned. They are tested by the government to ensure that they don't generate excessive levels of smoke and can be used with 'authorised' fuels (coal only).

The difference between the differences between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't can be very minimal. With a kit supplied by the manufacturer, a lot of modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA compliant in only a few minutes. This is due to the fact that Defra approved appliances must pass extremely rigorous tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they are able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are not violated the stove has to be able limit its combustion air so that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen, which could cause it smoulder. This is done through a mechanism within the stove that opens the 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 the country's best manufacturers 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, which are designed to meet the future requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Areas are primarily located in cities and towns with large populations and you can check your local authority's website to determine if your area is classed as such. It is crucial to buy an approved DEFRA-approved stove if reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will help you avoid being fined by your local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised fuel in a non-approved stove, such as coal or any 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 exempt wood stove is a device that can be used to burn wood in a Smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved symbol or the word 'SE' in the front of its name that means it is only permitted to be used in areas controlled by smoke if you burn approved fuels. In this instance wood is the fuel.

Many older wood stoves emit large amounts of particulate matter into the air, which can cause or contribute to respiratory problems asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. This is why it is crucial to purchase an updated wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Look for an "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which means that the stove meets the emission limits that are now in place.

If you purchase a cooktop that isn't EPA-certified and you reside in a smoke-free area it is necessary to renew the certification before you can use the stove. This can be expensive and time-consuming, but it is required by law. Homeowners who sell a house with wood stove that is not certified could be subject to tax credits or fines that relate to clean air.

With a kit or an adjustment supplied by the installer, a majority of modern stoves can be made Defra-approved. This is because the main difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that aren't is the combustion air management system that regulates the amount of air that passes through the stove in normal operation. Modifications are usually applied to the base or underside of the firebox.

Some manufacturers produce two versions of a wood stove, one that is Defra-approved and the other is not. The reason is that the cost of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra testing is high. To help recoup these costs, they will sell the non approved version at a cheaper price. The DEFRA approved version will have been subjected to the modification of combustion air included in the testing procedure.

Approved Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted, resulting in high levels of smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To stop this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that 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 stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have undergone stringent testing to prove that they are able to burn cleanly approved fuels in a Smoke Control Zone. They do this by using the latest combustion technology which continuously delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the combustion chamber, so that even if the stove is being used with authorised fuels such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it will still be able to comply with the regulations of Defra for Smoke Control Areas.

If you're in the market for a brand DEFRA regulations stoves new wood-burning stove and live in an area that has a Smoke Control Area then we recommend that you look at the wide selection of Defra approved stoves that can be found at The Stove Yard. We have an extensive selection of contemporary, traditional and inset Defra approved stoves from industry-leading manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there is no distinction in appearance between a Defra-approved woodburning stove and a non-approved model. However the models that are Defra-approved include a few features that are designed to help them burn more efficiently. They typically have a slightly different grate and air vents and on gas models, they may have a smaller flue outlet.

A Defra Approved Stove will almost always have 5" flue outlet (125mm). This means that you can use a smaller stainless twin wall flexible liner that is cheaper than a 6" (150mm). This is a great option when you install wood-burning stoves that are Defra-approved in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It can save money on replacing a bigger diameter chimney liner.