What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you reside in a smoke control area it is essential to buy a Defra Stoves Benefits 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 possible emissions. Stoves that have this status are often branded with the 'Defra-approved logo on their name or the specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people believe that living in a smoke-free zone means they cannot make use of a fireplace that burns wood. It's not the case. Most cities and large towns fall under a smoke control zone, but that doesn't mean they aren't able to use a wood burning stove. It just means they need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually Briquettes). The Defra approved stove is a type of wood burning stove that has been tested to ensure that it meets certain standards regarding the emissions that it produces when burning authorised fuels, and therefore it can be used legally in a Smoke Control Area.

The DEFRA recognized stoves Logo is widely used in the industry, and many stoves feature the SE after their names to indicate they are smoke-free. In order for a stove to be SE approved, it must meet strict criteria with regards to its emissions, so you can be sure that when you purchase an exempt defra stove, you are getting the cleanest and most efficient wood stove available.

If you search for a wood-burning stove that is Defra exempt or is marked with SE after its name, you'll usually discover that the manufacturer has taken care of things like ensuring that there enough air inlets on the front of the stove to permit full combustion of the fuel, and that the chimney outlet size is adequate to prevent the build-up of soot. This is crucial because it ensures that smoke from the wood burning stove does not escape through the chimney into your home.

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

Stovax is proud to offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves and fireplaces and Ecodesign Ready stoves which have been designed keeping future standards for air quality in mind. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are capable of being used with a smoke control kit for properties in a Smoke Control Area and therefore can be used with a range of smokeless fuels that are authorised, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless fuels

The only stove that can be installed in a smoke-control area is one that is a DEFRA approved wood burner, also known by the designation DEFRA exempt. This stove must be used with solid fuel, which means wood, which is best seasoned. They are inspected by the government to ensure that they don't generate excessive levels of smoke. They can be used with approved fuels (coal only).

The distinction between a stove that is DEFRA approved and one that is not approved is usually very small. With a kit provided by the manufacturer, many contemporary stoves can be easily transformed into DEFRA certified in a matter of minutes. This is due to the fact that Defra approved appliances must pass extremely stringent tests and are restricted in the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that these restrictions remain in place during the testing process, the stove needs to be able to limit the amount of combustion air it gets to ensure that it doesn't starve itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smolder. This is accomplished by an opening mechanism that lets an air pocket in the firebox when it's burning. It is typically hidden inside the stove or underneath the base of its firebox.

Stove World UK offers a vast selection of DEFRA approved stoves from the country's best manufacturers such as Stovax, Arada and Burley. They are available in a huge variety of styles and colors. Pick from a variety of Ecodesign stoves that are designed to meet future demands 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 determine if the area you live in is classed as such. It is crucial to buy an approved DEFRA-approved stove if reside in a smoke-controlled zone. This will help you avoid being fined by the local authority. This is because if you use 'unauthorised' fuel in a non-approved stove, like coal or any other solid fuels and you are fined up to PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also known as a smoke exempt wood stove is an appliance that can be used to burn wood in a Smoke Control Area. The stove will bear the Defra approved logo or have an 'SE' in its name meaning it is able to be used in smoke controlled areas, when burning approved fuels only, in this case wood.

Many older wood stoves emit large amounts of particulate matter. This can lead to or worsen respiratory problems, Defra Stoves Benefits asthma attacks and heart problems. It is therefore essential to buy a wood stove that is in compliance with strict emission standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency. 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 cooktop that isn't EPA-certified and you live in a smoking area, you'll need to get it recertified before you can use the stove. It can be expensive and time-consuming, however the law requires it. In addition, homeowners who sell a home that has a wood stove that is not certified may be liable for clean air tax credits as well as fines.

Modern stoves can be upgraded to be Defra approved by a kit or an adjustment that the installer provides. The main difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system that controls the quantity of air that goes through the stove when it is operating normally. The change is usually placed on the underside of the firebox or in the base.

Certain manufacturers make two different versions of a wood stove. One is DEFRA stoves cost-approved and the other is not. This is because the process of placing a stove through strict Defra tests can be very costly, so to help recoup some of the costs, they will sell the non-approved version at a lower cost. The DEFRA approved version will have been able to have the modification to the combustion air performed 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 wanted which resulted in large quantities of smoke emissions and health problems. To stop this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas which meant that homes in residential areas couldn't emit any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved for burning only approved fuels like manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to rigorous testing to demonstrate that they can cleanly burn authorised fuels within a Smoke Control Area. The latest technology for combustion delivers a constant minimum of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet Defra standards for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels like anthracite as well as manufactured smokeless coals.

The Stove Yard has a vast selection of stoves that are Defra approved that are ideal for those who reside in a smoke-free zone and require a brand new wood-burning fireplace. We have a wide range of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional, contemporary and inset models that are made by top manufacturers such as Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good thing is that there is no distinction in appearance between a stove approved by Defra and one that isn't. However the stoves that are approved by Defra come with a few extra features that are designed to help them burn cleaner. They usually have an unintentionally different grate as well as air vents, and on gas versions they may have a slightly smaller flue outlet.

Another benefit of a Defra Approved stove is that they will almost always have a 5" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can choose a narrower stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner which is less expensive than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is beneficial when putting a Defra-approved wood burning stove in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It will save you money replacing a bigger diameter chimney liner.