What is a Defra Approved Wood Burning Stove?

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

They are independently tested to ensure the lowest emissions. Stoves with this certification typically have the word 'Defra approved' in their name or on their specifications.

Approved for Smoke Controlled Areas

Many people think that living in a Smoke Control Area means you can't have a stove that burns wood but this isn't the case. In reality, most cities and towns are located in a smoke-free zone, but that doesn't mean you cannot have an oven, it simply means that you must make use of an exempt appliance and only burn fuels that are approved (usually brquettes) in your stove. The Defra-approved stove is a wood-burning stove that has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it meets certain criteria in regards to the emissions it emits when burning authorised fuels. It can therefore be used legally in a smoke control area.

The premium DEFRA stoves logo is widely used in the industry, and a lot of the stoves that have been approved bear SE after their names, meaning they are smoke free. In order for a stove to be SE approved it must meet strict criteria with regards to emissions So you can be certain that when you purchase an exempt defra stove, you are getting the cleanest and best burning 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 often find that the manufacturer has carried out things like making sure there are enough air intakes on the front of the stove to permit full combustion of the fuel, and that the chimney outlet is large enough to prevent the build-up of soot. This is important as it will ensure that the smoke from the stove does not escape through the chimney and into your home.

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

At Stovax we are proud to offer a selection of DEFRA compliant stoves UK approved stoves and fires, as well as our Ecodesign Ready stoves that have been designed with the future standards of air quality in mind. In fact, many of our Defra approved stoves are able to be used with a smoke control kit for properties in a Smoke Control Area and therefore can be used with a variety of approved smokeless fuels, including 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, which is also known by the name DEFRA exempt. The stove has to be used with a solid fuel, that is wood, which is best seasoned. The government tests these stoves to ensure that they don't produce excessive smoke and that they are only suitable for use with approved fuels.

The difference between a DEFRA approved stove and one that isn't is usually very little. Many modern stoves can easily be converted to DEFRA compliant with the kit supplied by the manufacturer and installed within a matter of minutes. This is because Defra approved appliances must pass extremely rigorous tests and have a limit on the amount of smoke they can produce.

To ensure that these limitations remain in place during the testing process, the stove needs to be capable of limiting the amount of combustion air it gets to ensure that it doesn't deplete itself of oxygen, which can cause it to smoulder. This is done by a mechanism in the stove which 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 has a large selection of DEFRA approved stoves, DEFRA stove 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 select from a vast selection of Ecodesign ready stoves that have been specifically designed to meet future air quality requirements.

Smoke Control Zones are located mostly in towns and cities with large populations. You can go to 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 live in a smoke-controlled area. This will allow you to avoid being fined by your local authority. If you burn coal or other solid fuels in a stove that is not approved stove, you may be fined PS300.

Approved for Wood

A DEFRA approved stove, also called 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 logo or the word "SE" after its name, meaning it is able to be used in smoke controlled areas that burn approved fuels only that is, in this instance, wood.

Many older wood stoves emit a lot of particulate matter into the air that can trigger or contribute to respiratory problems, asthma attacks, heart issues and premature death. It is therefore essential to buy a wood stove that is compliant with the strict emission standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for an "EPA 2020 Certified" label, which means that the stove is in compliance with the emission limits currently in place.

If you purchase an appliance that isn't EPA certified and you live in a smoke control area you must be able to get it certified before you can use it. This can be expensive and time-consuming, but it is required by law. Additionally, homeowners who sell their home with a wood stove that isn't certified could be liable for clean air tax credits and fines.

The majority of modern stoves can be modified to become Defra approved with a kit or an adjustment that the installer provides. The main difference between DEFRA approved stoves and ones that aren't is the combustion air control system, which controls the amount of air that flows through the stove when it is in normal operation. Modifications are typically made to the base or the side of the firebox that is underneath the stove.

Some manufacturers produce two versions of a wood stove, one that is Defra-approved while the other that isn't. This is because the process of putting a stove through the rigorous Defra tests is very expensive, so to help recoup some of the cost, they will sell the non-approved model at a lower price. The DEFRA approved version will have been able to have the modification to the 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, resulting in excessive smoke emissions. This could cause health problems. To combat this Defra created Smoke Control Areas which meant that residential homes could not emit any smoke from their wood burners or multifuel stoves unless the appliance was Defra approved to burn only fuels that were authorised, such as manufactured smokeless coals and anthracite.

Defra approved SE (Smoke-Exempt) Stoves have been put through rigorous testing in order to prove that they can burn authorised fuels cleanly within a Smoke Control Zone. The latest technology for combustion delivers an indefinite amount of secondary air into the firebox. This lets the stove meet Defra regulations for Smoke Control Areas even when it is using authorised fuels like anthracite as well as manufactured smokeless coals.

If you're looking to purchase an all-new wood burning stove and live in an area that has a Smoke Control Area then we would recommend that you look at the range of Defra approved stoves which can be found at The Stove Yard. We offer a variety of Defra-approved stoves. These include traditional models, modern and inset 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 Defra-approved woodburning stove and a stove that is not approved. However, the Defra-approved models do come with a few extra features designed to help them burn cleaner. Generally they will have a different grate and air vents, and on the gas models they might also have an outlet for the flue that is different in size.

Another benefit of an Defra Approved stove is that they'll almost always have five" (125mm) flue outlet which means that you can use a smaller stainless steel twin wall flexible chimney liner, which is cheaper than a standard 6" (150mm) liner. This is a great option when you install an approved wood burning stove from Defra into an old or nonstandard chimney stack. It will save you money the cost of relining a chimney with a larger diameter liner.