What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in an area where smoke is controlled, it's essential to purchase a DEFRA exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove permits you to burn wood legally in a smoke-controlled area.

They are independently tested to provide the lowest possible emissions. 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 Control Area means you can't have a wood burning stove however this isn't true. Most cities and large towns are in a smoke control zone, however, that doesn't mean that they can't use a wood burning stove. It's simply that they have to burn approved fuels in their stove (usually briquettes). The Defra approved stove is a kind of wood burning stove that has been tested to ensure it meets certain requirements regarding the emissions it emits when burning authorised fuels and consequently, it is able to be legally used in a Smoke Control Area.

The Defra logo is widely used by the industry and a large number of the stoves that are approved bear SE after their names which means they are smoke-free. To be SE approved, a stove must meet strict emission requirements. This means you can be sure that you are purchasing the top wood stove that is available.

If you are looking for a stove that burns wood that is Defra exempt or is marked with SE after its name, you'll often find that the manufacturer has taken care of things like ensuring that 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 because it ensures that smoke from the wood stove doesn't escape through the chimney and into your home.

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

At Stovax we are pleased to offer a variety of Defra approved stoves and fires. We also have our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been created with future air quality standards in mind. In fact, a lot of our Defra approved stoves are also able to be used with smoke control kits for those properties that are located in a Smoke Control Area and can therefore be used with a variety of smokeless fuels that are authorised, such as fire logs.

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

The only stove that can be put in in a smoke-control area is one that is a DEFRA approved wood burner, DEFRA approved energy-efficient stoves also known as DEFRA approved energy-efficient stoves exempt. This stove should be used with a solid fuel, which means wood, preferably well-seasoned. The government tests these stoves to ensure that they don't release excessive smoke and are only suitable for use with 'authorized' fuels.

The difference between the difference between a DEFRA approved stove and a non-approved one typically is very small. A lot of modern stoves can be transformed into DEFRA certified by a kit that is supplied by the manufacturer and fitted within a matter of minutes. This is because the Defra approved stove must undergo very rigorous tests and must be restricted to the amount of smoke it can produce.

To ensure that these limitations remain in place during the testing process, the stove needs to be capable of limiting the combustion air supply to ensure that it doesn't deplete itself of oxygen, which may cause it to smoke. This is accomplished by a mechanism that opens the air in the firebox when it's burning. It is usually hidden in the stove or under the base of its firebox.

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

Smoke Control Areas are usually located in large cities and towns and you can visit the official website of your local authority to see if your area is classified as one. If you live in a smoke-free zone, it is very important to purchase a DEFRA approved stove for your home, to avoid being fined by the local authority. If you burn coal or any other solid fuels in a non approved stove, you could be fined PS300.

Approved for wood

A DEFRA approved wood stove also called a smoke-free stove is an appliance that can be utilized in a Smoke Control Area when burning wood. The stove will have the Defra approved symbol or 'SE' the front of its name, which means it can only be used in smoke-controlled areas if you burn approved fuels. In this case wood.

Many older wood stoves emit a lot of particulate matter into the atmosphere that can trigger or contribute to respiratory issues, asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. Therefore, it is essential to purchase a stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for the "EPA 2020 Certified Label" which indicates that the stove has met the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase a cooktop which 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 costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. In addition, homeowners who sell their home with a wood stove that isn't certified could be subject to clean air tax credits as well as fines.

With a kit, or an adjustment made by the installer, most modern stoves can become Defra-approved. The main difference between DEFRA approved stoves and those that aren't combustion air control system that regulates the amount of air that passes through the stove when it is in normal operation. The modification will usually be placed on the underside of the firebox or within the base.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stoves, one that is Defra approved and the other not. This is due to the process of running a stove through the strict Defra tests is expensive in order to recover some of the cost, they will sell the non-approved version at a cheaper price. The DEFRA stoves ratings approved version will have been subjected to the modification of combustion air done as part of the testing procedure.

Approved Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes were able to burn any fuel they wanted to, which resulted in excessive smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To stop this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that residential homes could not emit any smoke in the event that their wood burners or multifuel stoves were approved by Defra for burning only approved materials like manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved stoves, also referred to as SE (Smoke Exempt) Stoves, have been subjected to rigorous tests to prove that they can cleanly burn approved fuels in a Smoke Control Zone. They achieve this by utilising the most advanced combustion technology that constantly delivers a minimum level of secondary air to the firebox to ensure that even if the stove is operating with fuels that are authorised, such as anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals, it will still be able to comply with Defra's rules for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a large selection of Defra-approved stoves that are perfect for those who reside in a smoke-free zone and require a brand new wood burning fireplace. We offer a variety of stoves that are Defra-approved, including traditional modern, contemporary and inset models from top brands like Stovax. Arada, Burley, and AGA.

The good news is that there is no difference in appearance between a stove that is Defra-approved and one that isn't. However the models that are Defra-approved include a few features that are designed to help them burn cleaner. They usually have an unintentionally different grate as well as air vents as well as on gas models they may have a slightly different size flue outlet.

Another benefit of an DEFRA stoves features Approved stove is that they will almost always have a 5" (125mm) flue outlet. This means that you can use a smaller stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is cheaper than the standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is beneficial when putting an approved wood burning stove from Defra in an older or non-standard chimney stack. It can save money on re-lining a larger diameter chimney liner.