What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

If you live in a region where smoke is controlled, it's essential to purchase a DEFRA endorsed stoves - Lineyka.Org, exempt stove. A DEFRA exempt (or SE) stove permits you to legally burn wood in a smoke-controlled zone.

They are independently tested to provide the lowest emissions possible. Stoves with this status are usually 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 Control Area means you can't have a wood burning stove but this isn't the case. The majority of towns and cities are in a smoke control zone but that doesn't mean they can't use a wood burning stove. It's just that they need to burn authorised fuels in their stove (usually briquettes). The DEFRA approved low emission stoves-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to make sure that it is in compliance with certain requirements in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised materials. It can therefore be legally used in areas of smoke control.

The Defra logo is widely used by the industry and a large number of the stoves approved have SE after their names, meaning they are smoke free. In order for a stove to be SE approved, it must meet strict criteria in regards to emissions and emissions, so you can be assured that if you choose a stove that is defra exempt, you are getting the cleanest and best burning wood stove on the market.

If you are looking for a wood burning stove that is Defra exempt or has SE after its name, you'll usually find that the manufacturer has done things such as made sure there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to allow for full combustion of the fuel, and that the chimney outlet size is adequate to prevent soot build-up. This is crucial because it ensures that the smoke from the wood burning stove does not escape through the chimney into your home.

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

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

Approved for Smokeless Fuels

A DEFRA approved wood burning stove, also referred to as a DEFRA exempt stove is the only kind of stove you can install in a smoke control area if you plan to use it to burn solid fuel (wood or wood that is well-seasoned). The government tests these stoves to ensure that they don't release excessive smoke and that they can be used only with 'authorized' fuels.

The difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that is not typically is very small. Modern stoves can be made DEFRA conforming with a kit that is supplied by the manufacturer and installed in a matter of minutes. This is due to the fact that a Defra approved stove has to undergo rigorous testing and is limited in the amount of smoke it is able to produce.

To ensure that the restrictions are kept the stove must be able to limit the amount of combustion air to ensure that it doesn't deprive itself of oxygen, which could cause it to smolder. This is done through a mechanism within the stove that opens a small amount of air into the firebox during the process of combustion, which is typically hidden within the stove, and under the base of the firebox.

Stove World UK has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves, made by some of the best manufacturers in the country including Stovax Arada and Burley. They are available in a vast range of styles and finishes. You can also choose from an impressive variety of Ecodesign ready stoves that are designed to meet future requirements for air quality.

Smoke Control Zones are mostly in towns and cities with large populations. You can go to the website of your local authority to determine whether you reside in one. It is crucial to buy an approved DEFRA stove if you reside in a zone that is smoke-controlled. This will allow you to avoid a fine from the local authority. This is because if you burn unauthorised fuel in an unapproved stove, such as coal or other solid fuels, you could be fined up to PS300.

Approved for Wood

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

The older wood stoves can release a lot of particulate matter into the atmosphere, which can cause or contribute to respiratory problems, asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. It is therefore essential to buy a wood stove that meets strict emission standards as set by the Environmental Protection Agency. You should look for the "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which indicates that the stove meets the emissions limits that are now in place.

If you buy a stove that isn't EPA-certified and you reside in a smoking zone it is necessary to recertify it before you can use the stove. It is costly and time-consuming, but the law requires it. Homeowners who decide to sell a property with wood stove that is not certified could be subject to tax credits or fines related to the clean air.

With a kit, or an adjustment supplied by the installer, a majority of modern stoves can be Defra approved. The major difference between DEFRA approved high-quality stoves approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system, which controls the amount of air that flows through the stove in normal operation. Modifications are typically applied to the base or underside of a stove's firebox.

Certain manufacturers will make two versions of their wood stoves, one that is Defra approved and the other not. The reason for this is that the cost of putting a wood stove through the rigorous Defra testing is high. To reduce these costs, they sell the non approved version at a cheaper price. The DEFRA approved version will have been able to have the modification to the combustion air included in the testing procedure.

Approved for Gas

Prior to the Clean Air Acts, residential homes could burn any fuel they wanted to, which resulted in large amounts of smoke emissions. This led to health issues. To prevent this, Defra established Smoke Control Areas. This meant that homes could not emit any smoke except if their wood burners and multifuel stoves were approved by Defra for burning only approved materials such as manufactured smokeless coke and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous tests to prove they can safely burn approved fuels within a Smoke Control Area. They achieve this by utilising the latest technology for combustion that continuously delivers a minimum amount of secondary air to the firebox so that even if the stove is used with approved fuels like anthracite or manufactured smokeless coals it can still meet Defra's regulations for Smoke Control Areas.

The Stove Yard has a wide range of Defra-approved stoves that are perfect for those who live in a smoke control zone and require a brand Defra Endorsed Stoves new wood-burning fireplace. We have a wide range of Defra-approved stoves, including traditional, contemporary and inset models, from leading manufacturers like Stovax. Arada, Burley and AGA.

The good news is that there isn't much of a distinction in appearance between an Defra approved woodburning stove and one that isn't, however the Defra approved models have a number of features which are designed to ensure they burn more efficiently. In general, they have a different grate and air vents, and on the gas versions they might also have an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

Another benefit of the Defra Approved stove is that they will almost always come with five" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can use a narrower stainless steel twin wall chimney liner that is cheaper than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. We've found this useful when the customer has an old or non-standard chimney stack that we are installing the Defra approved wood burning stove in to and it saves the cost of re-lining the chimney stack with a larger diameter liner.